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Chapter 9
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Of Miss Squeers, Mrs Squeers, Master Squeers, andMr Squeers; and of various Matters and Personsconnected no less with the Squeerses than NicholasNickleby.

  When Mr Squeers left the schoolroom for the night, hebetook himself, as has been before remarked, to hisown fireside, which was situated—not in the room inwhich Nicholas had supped on the night of his arrival, but in asmaller apartment in the rear of the premises1, where his lady wife,his amiable2 son, and accomplished3 daughter, were in the fullenjoyment of each other’s society; Mrs Squeers being engaged inthe matronly pursuit of stocking-darning; and the young lady andgentleman being occupied in the adjustment of some youthfuldifferences, by means of a pugilistic contest across the table,which, on the approach of their honoured parent, subsided4 into anoiseless exchange of kicks beneath it.

  And, in this place, it may be as well to apprise5 the reader, thatMiss Fanny Squeers was in her three-and-twentieth year. If therebe any one grace or loveliness inseparable from that particularperiod of life, Miss Squeers may be presumed to have beenpossessed of it, as there is no reason to suppose that she was asolitary exception to an universal rule. She was not tall like hermother, but short like her father; from the former she inherited avoice of harsh quality; from the latter a remarkable7 expression ofthe right eye, something akin8 to having none at all.

   Miss Squeers had been spending a few days with aneighbouring friend, and had only just returned to the parentalroof. To this circumstance may be referred, her having heardnothing of Nicholas, until Mr Squeers himself now made him thesubject of conversation.

  ‘Well, my dear,’ said Squeers, drawing up his chair, ‘what doyou think of him by this time?’

  ‘Think of who?’ inquired Mrs Squeers; who (as she oftenremarked) was no grammarian, thank Heaven.

  ‘Of the young man—the new teacher—who else could I mean?’

  ‘Oh! that Knuckleboy,’ said Mrs Squeers impatiently. ‘I hatehim.’

  ‘What do you hate him for, my dear?’ asked Squeers.

  ‘What’s that to you?’ retorted Mrs Squeers. ‘If I hate him, that’senough, ain’t it?’

  ‘Quite enough for him, my dear, and a great deal too much Idare say, if he knew it,’ replied Squeers in a pacific tone. ‘I onlyask from curiosity, my dear.’

  ‘Well, then, if you want to know,’ rejoined Mrs Squeers, ‘I’ll tellyou. Because he’s a proud, haughty9, consequential10, turned-upnosed peacock.’

  Mrs Squeers, when excited, was accustomed to use stronglanguage, and, moreover, to make use of a plurality of epithets,some of which were of a figurative kind, as the word peacock, andfurthermore the allusion11 to Nicholas’s nose, which was notintended to be taken in its literal sense, but rather to bear alatitude of construction according to the fancy of the hearers.

  Neither were they meant to bear reference to each other, somuch as to the object on whom they were bestowed12, as will be seen in the present case: a peacock with a turned-up nose being anovelty in ornithology13, and a thing not commonly seen.

  ‘Hem!’ said Squeers, as if in mild deprecation of this outbreak.

  ‘He is cheap, my dear; the young man is very cheap.’

  ‘Not a bit of it,’ retorted Mrs Squeers.

  ‘Five pound a year,’ said Squeers.

  ‘What of that; it’s dear if you don’t want him, isn’t it?’ repliedhis wife.

  ‘But we do want him,’ urged Squeers.

  ‘I don’t see that you want him any more than the dead,’ saidMrs Squeers. ‘Don’t tell me. You can put on the cards and in theadvertisements, “Education by Mr Wackford Squeers and ableassistants,” without having any assistants, can’t you? Isn’t it doneevery day by all the masters about? I’ve no patience with you.’

  ‘Haven’t you!’ said Squeers, sternly. ‘Now I’ll tell you what, MrsSqueers. In this matter of having a teacher, I’ll take my own way, ifyou please. A slave driver in the West Indies is allowed a manunder him, to see that his blacks don’t run away, or get up arebellion; and I’ll have a man under me to do the same with ourblacks, till such time as little Wackford is able to take charge of theschool.’

  ‘Am I to take care of the school when I grow up a man, father?’

  said Wackford junior, suspending, in the excess of his delight, avicious kick which he was administering to his sister.

  ‘You are, my son,’ replied Mr Squeers, in a sentimental14 voice.

  ‘Oh my eye, won’t I give it to the boys!’ exclaimed theinteresting child, grasping his father’s cane15. ‘Oh, father, won’t Imake ’em squeak16 again!’

  It was a proud moment in Mr Squeers’s life, when he witnessed that burst of enthusiasm in his young child’s mind, and saw in it aforeshadowing of his future eminence17. He pressed a penny into hishand, and gave vent18 to his feelings (as did his exemplary wifealso), in a shout of approving laughter. The infantine appeal totheir common sympathies, at once restored cheerfulness to theconversation, and harmony to the company.

  ‘He’s a nasty stuck-up monkey, that’s what I consider him,’ saidMrs Squeers, reverting19 to Nicholas.

  ‘Supposing he is,’ said Squeers, ‘he is as well stuck up in ourschoolroom as anywhere else, isn’t he?—especially as he don’t likeit.’

  ‘Well,’ observed Mrs Squeers, ‘there’s something in that. I hopeit’ll bring his pride down, and it shall be no fault of mine if itdon’t.’

  Now, a proud usher20 in a Yorkshire school was such a veryextraordinary and unaccountable thing to hear of,—any usher atall being a novelty; but a proud one, a being of whose existence thewildest imagination could never have dreamed—that MissSqueers, who seldom troubled herself with scholastic21 matters,inquired with much curiosity who this Knuckleboy was, that gavehimself such airs.

  ‘Nickleby,’ said Squeers, spelling the name according to someeccentric system which prevailed in his own mind; ‘your motheralways calls things and people by their wrong names.’

  ‘No matter for that,’ said Mrs Squeers; ‘I see them with righteyes, and that’s quite enough for me. I watched him when youwere laying on to little Bolder this afternoon. He looked as blackas thunder, all the while, and, one time, started up as if he hadmore than got it in his mind to make a rush at you. I saw him, though he thought I didn’t.’

  ‘Never mind that, father,’ said Miss Squeers, as the head of thefamily was about to reply. ‘Who is the man?’

  ‘Why, your father has got some nonsense in his head that he’sthe son of a poor gentleman that died the other day,’ said MrsSqueers.

  ‘The son of a gentleman!’

  ‘Yes; but I don’t believe a word of it. If he’s a gentleman’s son atall, he’s a fondling, that’s my opinion.’

  ‘Mrs Squeers intended to say ‘foundling,’ but, as she frequentlyremarked when she made any such mistake, it would be all thesame a hundred years hence; with which axiom of philosophy,indeed, she was in the constant habit of consoling the boys whenthey laboured under more than ordinary ill-usage.

  ‘He’s nothing of the kind,’ said Squeers, in answer to the aboveremark, ‘for his father was married to his mother years before hewas born, and she is alive now. If he was, it would be no businessof ours, for we make a very good friend by having him here; and ifhe likes to learn the boys anything besides minding them, I haveno objection I am sure.’

  ‘I say again, I hate him worse than poison,’ said Mrs Squeersvehemently.

  ‘If you dislike him, my dear,’ returned Squeers, ‘I don’t knowanybody who can show dislike better than you, and of coursethere’s no occasion, with him, to take the trouble to hide it.’

  ‘I don’t intend to, I assure you,’ interposed Mrs S.

  ‘That’s right,’ said Squeers; ‘and if he has a touch of pride abouthim, as I think he has, I don’t believe there’s woman in all Englandthat can bring anybody’s spirit down, as quick as you can, my love.’

  Mrs Squeers chuckled22 vastly on the receipt of these flatteringcompliments, and said, she hoped she had tamed a high spirit ortwo in her day. It is but due to her character to say, that inconjunction with her estimable husband, she had broken manyand many a one.

  Miss Fanny Squeers carefully treasured up this, and muchmore conversation on the same subject, until she retired24 for thenight, when she questioned the hungry servant, minutely,regarding the outward appearance and demeanour of Nicholas; towhich queries25 the girl returned such enthusiastic replies, coupledwith so many laudatory26 remarks touching27 his beautiful dark eyes,and his sweet smile, and his straight legs—upon which last-namedarticles she laid particular stress; the general run of legs atDotheboys Hall being crooked—that Miss Squeers was not long inarriving at the conclusion that the new usher must be a veryremarkable person, or, as she herself significantly phrased it,‘something quite out of the common.’ And so Miss Squeers madeup her mind that she would take a personal observation ofNicholas the very next day.

  In pursuance of this design, the young lady watched theopportunity of her mother being engaged, and her father absent,and went accidentally into the schoolroom to get a pen mended:

  where, seeing nobody but Nicholas presiding over the boys, sheblushed very deeply, and exhibited great confusion.

  ‘I beg your pardon,’ faltered28 Miss Squeers; ‘I thought my fatherwas—or might be—dear me, how very awkward!’

  ‘Mr Squeers is out,’ said Nicholas, by no means overcome bythe apparition29, unexpected though it was.

   ‘Do you know will he be long, sir?’ asked Miss Squeers, withbashful hesitation30.

  ‘He said about an hour,’ replied Nicholas—politely of course,but without any indication of being stricken to the heart by MissSqueers’s charms.

  ‘I never knew anything happen so cross,’ exclaimed the younglady. ‘Thank you! I am very sorry I intruded31, I am sure. If I hadn’tthought my father was here, I wouldn’t upon any account have—itis very provoking—must look so very strange,’ murmured MissSqueers, blushing once more, and glancing, from the pen in herhand, to Nicholas at his desk, and back again.

  ‘If that is all you want,’ said Nicholas, pointing to the pen, andsmiling, in spite of himself, at the affected32 embarrassment33 of theschoolmaster’s daughter, ‘perhaps I can supply his place.’

  Miss Squeers glanced at the door, as if dubious34 of the proprietyof advancing any nearer to an utter stranger; then round theschoolroom, as though in some measure reassured35 by thepresence of forty boys; and finally sidled up to Nicholas anddelivered the pen into his hand, with a most winning mixture ofreserve and condescension36.

  ‘Shall it be a hard or a soft nib37?’ inquired Nicholas, smiling toprevent himself from laughing outright38.

  ‘He has a beautiful smile,’ thought Miss Squeers.

  ‘Which did you say?’ asked Nicholas.

  ‘Dear me, I was thinking of something else for the moment, Ideclare,’ replied Miss Squeers. ‘Oh! as soft as possible, if youplease.’ With which words, Miss Squeers sighed. It might be, togive Nicholas to understand that her heart was soft, and that thepen was wanted to match.

   Upon these instructions Nicholas made the pen; when he gaveit to Miss Squeers, Miss Squeers dropped it; and when he stoopedto pick it up, Miss Squeers stopped also, and they knocked theirheads together; whereat five-and-twenty little boys laughed aloud:

  being positively39 for the first and only time that half-year.

  ‘Very awkward of me,’ said Nicholas, opening the door for theyoung lady’s retreat.

  ‘Not at all, sir,’ replied Miss Squeers; ‘it was my fault. It was allmy foolish—a—a—good-morning!’

  ‘Goodbye,’ said Nicholas. ‘The next I make for you, I hope willbe made less clumsily. Take care! You are biting the nib off now.’

  ‘Really,’ said Miss Squeers; ‘so embarrassing that I scarcelyknow what I—very sorry to give you so much trouble.’

  ‘Not the least trouble in the world,’ replied Nicholas, closing theschoolroom door.

  ‘I never saw such legs in the whole course of my life!’ said MissSqueers, as she walked away.

  In fact, Miss Squeers was in love with Nicholas Nickleby.

  To account for the rapidity with which this young lady hadconceived a passion for Nicholas, it may be necessary to state, thatthe friend from whom she had so recently returned, was a miller’sdaughter of only eighteen, who had contracted herself unto theson of a small corn-factor, resident in the nearest market town.

  Miss Squeers and the miller’s daughter, being fast friends, hadcovenanted together some two years before, according to a customprevalent among young ladies, that whoever was first engaged tobe married, should straightway confide40 the mighty41 secret to thebosom of the other, before communicating it to any living soul,and bespeak42 her as bridesmaid without loss of time; in fulfilment of which pledge the miller’s daughter, when her engagement wasformed, came out express, at eleven o’clock at night as the corn-factor’s son made an offer of his hand and heart at twenty-fiveminutes past ten by the Dutch clock in the kitchen, and rushedinto Miss Squeers’s bedroom with the gratifying intelligence. Now,Miss Squeers being five years older, and out of her teens (which isalso a great matter), had, since, been more than commonlyanxious to return the compliment, and possess her friend with asimilar secret; but, either in consequence of finding it hard toplease herself, or harder still to please anybody else, had neverhad an opportunity so to do, inasmuch as she had no such secretto disclose. The little interview with Nicholas had no soonerpassed, as above described, however, than Miss Squeers, puttingon her bonnet43, made her way, with great precipitation, to herfriend’s house, and, upon a solemn renewal44 of divers45 old vows46 ofsecrecy, revealed how that she was—not exactly engaged, butgoing to be—to a gentleman’s son—(none of your corn-factors, buta gentleman’s son of high descent)—who had come down asteacher to Dotheboys Hall, under most mysterious and remarkablecircumstances—indeed, as Miss Squeers more than once hintedshe had good reason to believe, induced, by the fame of her manycharms, to seek her out, and woo and win her.

  ‘Isn’t it an extraordinary thing?’ said Miss Squeers,emphasising the adjective strongly.

  ‘Most extraordinary,’ replied the friend. ‘But what has he saidto you?’

  ‘Don’t ask me what he said, my dear,’ rejoined Miss Squeers. ‘Ifyou had only seen his looks and smiles! I never was so overcome inall my life.’

   ‘Did he look in this way?’ inquired the miller’s daughter,counterfeiting, as nearly as she could, a favourite leer of the corn-factor.

  ‘Very like that—only more genteel,’ replied Miss Squeers.

  ‘Ah!’ said the friend, ‘then he means something, depend on it.’

  Miss Squeers, having slight misgivings47 on the subject, was byno means ill pleased to be confirmed by a competent authority;and discovering, on further conversation and comparison of notes,a great many points of resemblance between the behaviour ofNicholas, and that of the corn-factor, grew so exceedinglyconfidential, that she intrusted her friend with a vast number ofthings Nicholas had not said, which were all so verycomplimentary as to be quite conclusive48. Then, she dilated49 on thefearful hardship of having a father and mother strenuouslyopposed to her intended husband; on which unhappycircumstance she dwelt at great length; for the friend’s father andmother were quite agreeable to her being married, and the wholecourtship was in consequence as flat and common-place an affairas it was possible to imagine.

  ‘How I should like to see him!’ exclaimed the friend.

  ‘So you shall, ‘Tilda,’ replied Miss Squeers. ‘I should considermyself one of the most ungrateful creatures alive, if I denied you. Ithink mother’s going away for two days to fetch some boys; andwhen she does, I’ll ask you and John up to tea, and have him tomeet you.’

  This was a charming idea, and having fully23 discussed it, thefriends parted.

  It so fell out, that Mrs Squeers’s journey, to some distance, tofetch three new boys, and dun the relations of two old ones for the balance of a small account, was fixed50 that very afternoon, for thenext day but one; and on the next day but one, Mrs Squeers got upoutside the coach, as it stopped to change at Greta Bridge, takingwith her a small bundle containing something in a bottle, andsome sandwiches, and carrying besides a large white top-coat towear in the night-time; with which baggage she went her way.

  Whenever such opportunities as these occurred, it wasSqueers’s custom to drive over to the market town, every evening,on pretence51 of urgent business, and stop till ten or eleven o’clockat a tavern52 he much affected. As the party was not in his way,therefore, but rather afforded a means of compromise with MissSqueers, he readily yielded his full assent53 thereunto, and willinglycommunicated to Nicholas that he was expected to take his tea inthe parlour that evening, at five o’clock.

  To be sure Miss Squeers was in a desperate flutter as the timeapproached, and to be sure she was dressed out to the bestadvantage: with her hair—it had more than a tinge54 of red, and shewore it in a crop—curled in five distinct rows, up to the very top ofher head, and arranged dexterously55 over the doubtful eye; to saynothing of the blue sash which floated down her back, or theworked apron56 or the long gloves, or the green gauze scarf wornover one shoulder and under the other; or any of the numerousdevices which were to be as so many arrows to the heart ofNicholas. She had scarcely completed these arrangements to herentire satisfaction, when the friend arrived with a whity-brownparcel—flat and three-cornered—containing sundry57 smalladornments which were to be put on upstairs, and which thefriend put on, talking incessantly58. When Miss Squeers had ‘done’

  the friend’s hair, the friend ‘did’ Miss Squeers’s hair, throwing in some striking improvements in the way of ringlets down the neck;and then, when they were both touched up to their entiresatisfaction, they went downstairs in full state with the long gloveson, all ready for company.

  ‘Where’s John, ’Tilda?’ said Miss Squeers.

  ‘Only gone home to clean himself,’ replied the friend. ‘He willbe here by the time the tea’s drawn59.’

  ‘I do so palpitate,’ observed Miss Squeers.

  ‘Ah! I know what it is,’ replied the friend.

  ‘I have not been used to it, you know, ’Tilda,’ said Miss Squeers,applying her hand to the left side of her sash.

  ‘You’ll soon get the better of it, dear,’ rejoined the friend. Whilethey were talking thus, the hungry servant brought in the tea-things, and, soon afterwards, somebody tapped at the room door.

  ‘There he is!’ cried Miss Squeers. ‘Oh ‘Tilda!’

  ‘Hush!’ said ’Tilda. ‘Hem! Say, come in.’

  ‘Come in,’ cried Miss Squeers faintly. And in walked Nicholas.

  ‘Good-evening,’ said that young gentleman, all unconscious ofhis conquest. ‘I understood from Mr Squeers that—’

  ‘Oh yes; it’s all right,’ interposed Miss Squeers. ‘Father don’ttea with us, but you won’t mind that, I dare say.’ (This was saidarchly.)Nicholas opened his eyes at this, but he turned the matter offvery coolly—not caring, particularly, about anything just then—and went through the ceremony of introduction to the miller’sdaughter with so much grace, that that young lady was lost inadmiration.

  ‘We are only waiting for one more gentleman,’ said MissSqueers, taking off the teapot lid, and looking in, to see how the tea was getting on.

  It was matter of equal moment to Nicholas whether they werewaiting for one gentleman or twenty, so he received theintelligence with perfect unconcern; and, being out of spirits, andnot seeing any especial reason why he should make himselfagreeable, looked out of the window and sighed involuntarily.

  As luck would have it, Miss Squeers’s friend was of a playfulturn, and hearing Nicholas sigh, she took it into her head to rallythe lovers on their lowness of spirits.

  ‘But if it’s caused by my being here,’ said the young lady, ‘don’tmind me a bit, for I’m quite as bad. You may go on just as youwould if you were alone.’

  ‘’Tilda,’ said Miss Squeers, colouring up to the top row of curls,‘I am ashamed of you;’ and here the two friends burst into avariety of giggles60, and glanced from time to time, over the tops oftheir pocket-handkerchiefs, at Nicholas, who from a state ofunmixed astonishment61, gradually fell into one of irrepressiblelaughter—occasioned, partly by the bare notion of his being inlove with Miss Squeers, and partly by the preposterousappearance and behaviour of the two girls. These two causes ofmerriment, taken together, struck him as being so keenlyridiculous, that, despite his miserable62 condition, he laughed till hewas thoroughly63 exhausted64.

  ‘Well,’ thought Nicholas, ‘as I am here, and seem expected, forsome reason or other, to be amiable, it’s of no use looking like agoose. I may as well accommodate myself to the company.’

  We blush to tell it; but his youthful spirits and vivacity65 getting,for the time, the better of his sad thoughts, he no sooner formedthis resolution than he saluted66 Miss Squeers and the friend with great gallantry, and drawing a chair to the tea-table, began tomake himself more at home than in all probability an usher hasever done in his employer’s house since ushers67 were firstinvented.

  The ladies were in the full delight of this altered behaviour onthe part of Mr Nickleby, when the expected swain arrived, with hishair very damp from recent washing, and a clean shirt, whereofthe collar might have belonged to some giant ancestor, forming,together with a white waistcoat of similar dimensions, the chiefornament of his person.

  ‘Well, John,’ said Miss Matilda Price (which, by-the-bye, wasthe name of the miller’s daughter).

  ‘Weel,’ said John with a grin that even the collar could notconceal.

  ‘I beg your pardon,’ interposed Miss Squeers, hastening to dothe honours. ‘Mr Nickleby—Mr John Browdie.’

  ‘Servant, sir,’ said John, who was something over six feet high,with a face and body rather above the due proportion than belowit.

  ‘Yours to command, sir,’ replied Nicholas, making fearfulravages on the bread and butter.

  Mr Browdie was not a gentleman of great conversationalpowers, so he grinned twice more, and having now bestowed hiscustomary mark of recognition on every person in company,grinned at nothing in particular, and helped himself to food.

  ‘Old wooman awa’, bean’t she?’ said Mr Browdie, with hismouth full.

  Miss Squeers nodded assent.

  Mr Browdie gave a grin of special width, as if he thought that really was something to laugh at, and went to work at the breadand butter with increased vigour68. It was quite a sight to beholdhow he and Nicholas emptied the plate between them.

  ‘Ye wean’t get bread and butther ev’ry neight, I expect, mun,’

  said Mr Browdie, after he had sat staring at Nicholas a long timeover the empty plate.

  Nicholas bit his lip, and coloured, but affected not to hear theremark.

  ‘Ecod,’ said Mr Browdie, laughing boisterously69, ‘they dean’t puttoo much intiv’em. Ye’ll be nowt but skeen and boans if you stophere long eneaf. Ho! ho! ho!’

  ‘You are facetious70, sir,’ said Nicholas, scornfully.

  ‘Na; I dean’t know,’ replied Mr Browdie, ‘but t’oother teacher,‘cod he wur a learn ’un, he wur.’ The recollection of the lastteacher’s leanness seemed to afford Mr Browdie the mostexquisite delight, for he laughed until he found it necessary toapply his coat-cuffs to his eyes.

  ‘I don’t know whether your perceptions are quite keen enough,Mr Browdie, to enable you to understand that your remarks areoffensive,’ said Nicholas in a towering passion, ‘but if they are,have the goodness to—’

  ‘If you say another word, John,’ shrieked71 Miss Price, stoppingher admirer’s mouth as he was about to interrupt, ‘only half aword, I’ll never forgive you, or speak to you again.’

  ‘Weel, my lass, I dean’t care aboot ’un,’ said the corn-factor,bestowing a hearty72 kiss on Miss Matilda; ‘let ’un gang on, let ’ungang on.’

  It now became Miss Squeers’s turn to intercede73 with Nicholas,which she did with many symptoms of alarm and horror; the effect of the double intercession was, that he and John Browdie shookhands across the table with much gravity; and such was theimposing nature of the ceremonial, that Miss Squeers wasovercome and shed tears.

  ‘What’s the matter, Fanny?’ said Miss Price.

  ‘Nothing, ’Tilda,’ replied Miss Squeers, sobbing74.

  ‘There never was any danger,’ said Miss Price, ‘was there, MrNickleby?’

  ‘None at all,’ replied Nicholas. ‘Absurd.’

  ‘That’s right,’ whispered Miss Price, ‘say something kind to her,and she’ll soon come round. Here! Shall John and I go into thelittle kitchen, and come back presently?’

  ‘Not on any account,’ rejoined Nicholas, quite alarmed at theproposition. ‘What on earth should you do that for?’

  ‘Well,’ said Miss Price, beckoning75 him aside, and speaking withsome degree of contempt—‘you are a one to keep company.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ said Nicholas; ‘I am not a one to keepcompany at all—here at all events. I can’t make this out.’

  ‘No, nor I neither,” rejoined Miss Price; ‘but men are alwaysfickle, and always were, and always will be; that I can make out,very easily.’

  ‘Fickle!’ cried Nicholas; ‘what do you suppose? You don’t meanto say that you think—’

  ‘Oh no, I think nothing at all,’ retorted Miss Price, pettishly76.

  ‘Look at her, dressed so beautiful and looking so well—reallyalmost handsome. I am ashamed at you.’

  ‘My dear girl, what have I got to do with her dressingbeautifully or looking well?’ inquired Nicholas.

  ‘Come, don’t call me a dear girl,’ said Miss Price—smiling a little though, for she was pretty, and a coquette too in her smallway, and Nicholas was good-looking, and she supposed him theproperty of somebody else, which were all reasons why she shouldbe gratified to think she had made an impression on him,—‘orFanny will be saying it’s my fault. Come; we’re going to have agame at cards.’ Pronouncing these last words aloud, she trippedaway and rejoined the big Yorkshireman.

  This was wholly unintelligible77 to Nicholas, who had no otherdistinct impression on his mind at the moment, than that MissSqueers was an ordinary-looking girl, and her friend Miss Price apretty one; but he had not time to enlighten himself by reflection,for the hearth78 being by this time swept up, and the candle snuffed,they sat down to play speculation79.

  ‘There are only four of us, ’Tilda,’ said Miss Squeers, lookingslyly at Nicholas; ‘so we had better go partners, two against two.’

  ‘What do you say, Mr Nickleby?’ inquired Miss Price.

  ‘With all the pleasure in life,’ replied Nicholas. And so saying,quite unconscious of his heinous80 offence, he amalgamated81 into onecommon heap those portions of a Dotheboys Hall card of terms,which represented his own counters, and those allotted82 to MissPrice, respectively.

  ‘Mr Browdie,’ said Miss Squeers hysterically83, ‘shall we make abank against them?’

  The Yorkshireman assented—apparently quite overwhelmedby the new usher’s impudence—and Miss Squeers darted84 aspiteful look at her friend, and giggled85 convulsively.

  The deal fell to Nicholas, and the hand prospered86.

  ‘We intend to win everything,’ said he.

  ‘’Tilda has won something she didn’t expect, I think, haven’t you, dear?’ said Miss Squeers, maliciously87.

  ‘Only a dozen and eight, love,’ replied Miss Price, affecting totake the question in a literal sense.

  ‘How dull you are tonight!’ sneered88 Miss Squeers.

  ‘No, indeed,’ replied Miss Price, ‘I am in excellent spirits. I wasthinking you seemed out of sorts.’

  ‘Me!’ cried Miss Squeers, biting her lips, and trembling withvery jealousy89. ‘Oh no!’

  ‘That’s well,’ remarked Miss Price. ‘Your hair’s coming out ofcurl, dear.’

  ‘Never mind me,’ tittered Miss Squeers; ‘you had better attendto your partner.’

  ‘Thank you for reminding her,’ said Nicholas. ‘So she had.’

  The Yorkshireman flattened90 his nose, once or twice, with hisclenched fist, as if to keep his hand in, till he had an opportunity ofexercising it upon the features of some other gentleman; and MissSqueers tossed her head with such indignation, that the gust91 ofwind raised by the multitudinous curls in motion, nearly blew thecandle out.

  ‘I never had such luck, really,’ exclaimed coquettish Miss Price,after another hand or two. ‘It’s all along of you, Mr Nickleby, Ithink. I should like to have you for a partner always.’

  ‘I wish you had.’

  ‘You’ll have a bad wife, though, if you always win at cards,’ saidMiss Price.

  ‘Not if your wish is gratified,’ replied Nicholas. ‘I am sure I shallhave a good one in that case.’

  To see how Miss Squeers tossed her head, and the corn-factorflattened his nose, while this conversation was carrying on! It would have been worth a small annuity92 to have beheld93 that; letalone Miss Price’s evident joy at making them jealous, andNicholas Nickleby’s happy unconsciousness of making anybodyuncomfortable.

  ‘We have all the talking to ourselves, it seems,’ said Nicholas,looking good-humouredly round the table as he took up the cardsfor a fresh deal.

  ‘You do it so well,’ tittered Miss Squeers, ‘that it would be a pityto interrupt, wouldn’t it, Mr Browdie? He! he! he!’

  ‘Nay,’ said Nicholas, ‘we do it in default of having anybody elseto talk to.’

  ‘We’ll talk to you, you know, if you’ll say anything,’ said MissPrice.

  ‘Thank you, ’Tilda, dear,’ retorted Miss Squeers, majestically94.

  ‘Or you can talk to each other, if you don’t choose to talk to us,’

  said Miss Price, rallying her dear friend. ‘John, why don’t you saysomething?’

  ‘Say summat?’ repeated the Yorkshireman.

  ‘Ay, and not sit there so silent and glum95.’

  ‘Weel, then!’ said the Yorkshireman, striking the table heavilywith his fist, ‘what I say’s this—Dang my boans and boddy, if Istan’ this ony longer. Do ye gang whoam wi’ me, and do yon loightan’ toight young whipster look sharp out for a brokken head, nexttime he cums under my hond.’

  ‘Mercy on us, what’s all this?’ cried Miss Price, in affectedastonishment.

  ‘Cum whoam, tell ’e, cum whoam,’ replied the Yorkshireman,sternly. And as he delivered the reply, Miss Squeers burst into ashower of tears; arising in part from desperate vexation, and in part from an impotent desire to lacerate somebody’s countenancewith her fair finger-nails.

  This state of things had been brought about by divers meansand workings. Miss Squeers had brought it about, by aspiring97 tothe high state and condition of being matrimonially engaged,without good grounds for so doing; Miss Price had brought itabout, by indulging in three motives98 of action: first, a desire topunish her friend for laying claim to a rivalship in dignity, havingno good title: secondly99, the gratification of her own vanity, inreceiving the compliments of a smart young man: and thirdly, awish to convince the corn-factor of the great danger he ran, indeferring the celebration of their expected nuptials100; whileNicholas had brought it about, by half an hour’s gaiety andthoughtlessness, and a very sincere desire to avoid the imputationof inclining at all to Miss Squeers. So the means employed, andthe end produced, were alike the most natural in the world; foryoung ladies will look forward to being married, and will jostleeach other in the race to the altar, and will avail themselves of allopportunities of displaying their own attractions to the bestadvantage, down to the very end of time, as they have done fromits beginning.

  ‘Why, and here’s Fanny in tears now!’ exclaimed Miss Price, asif in fresh amazement101. ‘What can be the matter?’

  ‘Oh! you don’t know, miss, of course you don’t know. Pray don’ttrouble yourself to inquire,’ said Miss Squeers, producing thatchange of countenance96 which children call making a face.

  ‘Well, I’m sure!’ exclaimed Miss Price.

  ‘And who cares whether you are sure or not, ma’am?’ retortedMiss Squeers, making another face.

   ‘You are monstrous102 polite, ma’am,’ said Miss Price.

  ‘I shall not come to you to take lessons in the art, ma’am!’

  retorted Miss Squeers.

  ‘You needn’t take the trouble to make yourself plainer than youare, ma’am, however,’ rejoined Miss Price, ‘because that’s quiteunnecessary.’

  Miss Squeers, in reply, turned very red, and thanked God thatshe hadn’t got the bold faces of some people. Miss Price, inrejoinder, congratulated herself upon not being possessed6 of theenvious feeling of other people; whereupon Miss Squeers madesome general remark touching the danger of associating with lowpersons; in which Miss Price entirely103 coincided: observing that itwas very true indeed, and she had thought so a long time.

  ‘’Tilda,’ exclaimed Miss Squeers with dignity, ‘I hate you.’

  ‘Ah! There’s no love lost between us, I assure you,’ said MissPrice, tying her bonnet strings104 with a jerk. ‘You’ll cry your eyesout, when I’m gone; you know you will.’

  ‘I scorn your words, Minx,’ said Miss Squeers.

  ‘You pay me a great compliment when you say so,’ answeredthe miller’s daughter, curtseying very low. ‘Wish you a very good-night, ma’am, and pleasant dreams attend your sleep!’

  With this parting benediction105, Miss Price swept from the room,followed by the huge Yorkshireman, who exchanged withNicholas, at parting, that peculiarly expressive106 scowl107 with whichthe cut-and-thrust counts, in melodramatic performances, informeach other they will meet again. They were no sooner gone, thanMiss Squeers fulfilled the prediction of her quondam friend bygiving vent to a most copious108 burst of tears, and uttering variousdismal lamentations and incoherent words. Nicholas stood looking on for a few seconds, rather doubtful what to do, but feelinguncertain whether the fit would end in his being embraced, orscratched, and considering that either infliction109 would be equallyagreeable, he walked off very quietly while Miss Squeers wasmoaning in her pocket-handkerchief.

  ‘This is one consequence,’ thought Nicholas, when he hadgroped his way to the dark sleeping-room, ‘of my cursed readinessto adapt myself to any society in which chance carries me. If I hadsat mute and motionless, as I might have done, this would nothave happened.’

  He listened for a few minutes, but all was quiet.

  ‘I was glad,’ he murmured, ‘to grasp at any relief from the sightof this dreadful place, or the presence of its vile110 master. I have setthese people by the ears, and made two new enemies, where,Heaven knows, I needed none. Well, it is a just punishment forhaving forgotten, even for an hour, what is around me now!’

  So saying, he felt his way among the throng111 of weary-heartedsleepers, and crept into his poor bed.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 premises 6l1zWN     
n.建筑物,房屋
参考例句:
  • According to the rules,no alcohol can be consumed on the premises.按照规定,场内不准饮酒。
  • All repairs are done on the premises and not put out.全部修缮都在家里进行,不用送到外面去做。
2 amiable hxAzZ     
adj.和蔼可亲的,友善的,亲切的
参考例句:
  • She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
  • We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。
3 accomplished UzwztZ     
adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的
参考例句:
  • Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
  • Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。
4 subsided 1bda21cef31764468020a8c83598cc0d     
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上
参考例句:
  • After the heavy rains part of the road subsided. 大雨过后,部分公路塌陷了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • By evening the storm had subsided and all was quiet again. 傍晚, 暴风雨已经过去,四周开始沉寂下来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 apprise yNUyu     
vt.通知,告知
参考例句:
  • He came to apprise us that the work had been successfully completed.他来通知我们工作已胜利完成。
  • We must apprise them of the dangers that may be involved.我们必须告诉他们可能涉及的危险。
6 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
7 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的
参考例句:
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
8 akin uxbz2     
adj.同族的,类似的
参考例句:
  • She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
  • Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。
9 haughty 4dKzq     
adj.傲慢的,高傲的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
  • They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。
10 consequential caQyq     
adj.作为结果的,间接的;重要的
参考例句:
  • She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
  • This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。
11 allusion CfnyW     
n.暗示,间接提示
参考例句:
  • He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
  • She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。
12 bestowed 12e1d67c73811aa19bdfe3ae4a8c2c28     
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
  • He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
13 ornithology HJCxh     
n.鸟类学
参考例句:
  • He found his vocation in ornithology.他发现自己适于专攻鸟类学。
  • His main interests are botany and ornithology.他主要对植物学和鸟类学感兴趣。
14 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的,感伤的
参考例句:
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人,她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
15 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
16 squeak 4Gtzo     
n.吱吱声,逃脱;v.(发出)吱吱叫,侥幸通过;(俚)告密
参考例句:
  • I don't want to hear another squeak out of you!我不想再听到你出声!
  • We won the game,but it was a narrow squeak.我们打赢了这场球赛,不过是侥幸取胜。
17 eminence VpLxo     
n.卓越,显赫;高地,高处;名家
参考例句:
  • He is a statesman of great eminence.他是个声名显赫的政治家。
  • Many of the pilots were to achieve eminence in the aeronautical world.这些飞行员中很多人将会在航空界声名显赫。
18 vent yiPwE     
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄
参考例句:
  • He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
  • When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时,发动机就会停转。
19 reverting f5366d3e7a0be69d0213079d037ba63e     
恢复( revert的现在分词 ); 重提; 回到…上; 归还
参考例句:
  • The boss came back from holiday all relaxed and smiling, but now he's reverting to type. 老板刚度假回来时十分随和,满面笑容,现在又恢复原样了。
  • The conversation kept reverting to the subject of money. 谈话的内容总是离不开钱的事。
20 usher sK2zJ     
n.带位员,招待员;vt.引导,护送;vi.做招待,担任引座员
参考例句:
  • The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
  • They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。
21 scholastic 3DLzs     
adj.学校的,学院的,学术上的
参考例句:
  • There was a careful avoidance of the sensitive topic in the scholastic circles.学术界小心地避开那个敏感的话题。
  • This would do harm to students' scholastic performance in the long run.这将对学生未来的学习成绩有害。
22 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
23 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
24 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
25 queries 5da7eb4247add5dbd5776c9c0b38460a     
n.问题( query的名词复数 );疑问;询问;问号v.质疑,对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 );询问
参考例句:
  • Our assistants will be happy to answer your queries. 我们的助理很乐意回答诸位的问题。
  • Her queries were rhetorical,and best ignored. 她的质问只不过是说说而已,最好不予理睬。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 laudatory HkPyI     
adj.赞扬的
参考例句:
  • Now,when Carrie heard Drouet's laudatory opinion of her dramatic ability,her body tingled with satisfaction.听到杜洛埃这么称道自己的演戏才能,她心满意足精神振奋。
  • Her teaching evaluations are among the most laudatory in this department.她的教学评估在本系是居最受颂扬者之中。
27 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
28 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
(嗓音)颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 ); 支吾其词; 蹒跚; 摇晃
参考例句:
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着:“这孩子脑袋真长。”
29 apparition rM3yR     
n.幽灵,神奇的现象
参考例句:
  • He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
  • But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。
30 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
31 intruded 8326c2a488b587779b620c459f2d3c7e     
n.侵入的,推进的v.侵入,侵扰,打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 );把…强加于
参考例句:
  • One could believe that human creatures had never intruded there before. 你简直会以为那是从来没有人到过的地方。 来自辞典例句
  • The speaker intruded a thin smile into his seriousness. 演说人严肃的脸上掠过一丝笑影。 来自辞典例句
32 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
33 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
参考例句:
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
34 dubious Akqz1     
adj.怀疑的,无把握的;有问题的,靠不住的
参考例句:
  • What he said yesterday was dubious.他昨天说的话很含糊。
  • He uses some dubious shifts to get money.他用一些可疑的手段去赚钱。
35 reassured ff7466d942d18e727fb4d5473e62a235     
adj.使消除疑虑的;使放心的v.再保证,恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》
36 condescension JYMzw     
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人)
参考例句:
  • His politeness smacks of condescension. 他的客气带有屈尊俯就的意味。
  • Despite its condescension toward the Bennet family, the letter begins to allay Elizabeth's prejudice against Darcy. 尽管这封信对班纳特家的态度很高傲,但它开始消除伊丽莎白对达西的偏见。
37 nib jGjxG     
n.钢笔尖;尖头
参考例句:
  • The sharp nib scratched through the paper.钢笔尖把纸戳穿了。
  • I want to buy a pen with a gold nib.我要金笔。
38 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
39 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实
参考例句:
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
40 confide WYbyd     
v.向某人吐露秘密
参考例句:
  • I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
  • He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。
41 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的;巨大的
参考例句:
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
42 bespeak EQ7yI     
v.预定;预先请求
参考例句:
  • Today's events bespeak future tragedy.今天的事件预示着未来的不幸。
  • The tone of his text bespeaks certain tiredness.他的笔调透出一种倦意。
43 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
44 renewal UtZyW     
adj.(契约)延期,续订,更新,复活,重来
参考例句:
  • Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
  • Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
45 divers hu9z23     
adj.不同的;种种的
参考例句:
  • He chose divers of them,who were asked to accompany him.他选择他们当中的几个人,要他们和他作伴。
  • Two divers work together while a standby diver remains on the surface.两名潜水员协同工作,同时有一名候补潜水员留在水面上。
46 vows c151b5e18ba22514580d36a5dcb013e5     
誓言( vow的名词复数 ); 郑重宣布,许愿
参考例句:
  • Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
  • The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。
47 misgivings 0nIzyS     
n.疑虑,担忧,害怕;疑虑,担心,恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 );疑惧
参考例句:
  • I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
  • Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后, 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧! 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
48 conclusive TYjyw     
adj.最后的,结论的;确凿的,消除怀疑的
参考例句:
  • They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
  • Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。
49 dilated 1f1ba799c1de4fc8b7c6c2167ba67407     
adj.加宽的,扩大的v.(使某物)扩大,膨胀,张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • Her eyes dilated with fear. 她吓得瞪大了眼睛。
  • The cat dilated its eyes. 猫瞪大了双眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
50 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
51 pretence pretence     
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰
参考例句:
  • The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
  • He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。
52 tavern wGpyl     
n.小旅馆,客栈;小酒店
参考例句:
  • There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
  • Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。
53 assent Hv6zL     
v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可
参考例句:
  • I cannot assent to what you ask.我不能应允你的要求。
  • The new bill passed by Parliament has received Royal Assent.议会所通过的新方案已获国王批准。
54 tinge 8q9yO     
vt.(较淡)着色于,染色;使带有…气息;n.淡淡色彩,些微的气息
参考例句:
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
  • There was a tinge of sadness in her voice.她声音中流露出一丝忧伤。
55 dexterously 5c204a62264a953add0b63ea7a6481d1     
adv.巧妙地,敏捷地
参考例句:
  • He operates the machine dexterously. 他操纵机器动作非常轻巧。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • How dexterously he handled the mite. 他伺候小家伙,有多么熟练。 来自辞典例句
56 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
57 sundry CswwL     
adj.各式各样的,种种的
参考例句:
  • This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。
  • We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。
58 incessantly AqLzav     
ad.不停地
参考例句:
  • The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。
  • It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。
59 drawn MuXzIi     
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
参考例句:
  • All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
  • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
60 giggles 0aa08b5c91758a166d13e7cd3f455951     
n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 );傻笑;玩笑;the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Her nervous giggles annoyed me. 她神经质的傻笑把我惹火了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. 我不得不冲向卫生间,以免遭到别人的疯狂嘲笑。 来自辞典例句
61 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
62 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
63 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
64 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
65 vivacity ZhBw3     
n.快活,活泼,精神充沛
参考例句:
  • Her charm resides in her vivacity.她的魅力存在于她的活泼。
  • He was charmed by her vivacity and high spirits.她的活泼与兴高采烈的情绪把他迷住了。
66 saluted 1a86aa8dabc06746471537634e1a215f     
v.欢迎,致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 );赞扬,赞颂
参考例句:
  • The sergeant stood to attention and saluted. 中士立正敬礼。
  • He saluted his friends with a wave of the hand. 他挥手向他的朋友致意。 来自《简明英汉词典》
67 ushers 4d39dce0f047e8d64962e1a6e93054d1     
n.引座员( usher的名词复数 );招待员;门房;助理教员v.引,领,陪同( usher的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • Seats clicked, ushers bowed while he looked blandly on. 座位发出啪啦啪啦的声响,领座员朝客人们鞠躬,而他在一边温和殷勤地看着。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • The minister then offers a brief prayer of dedication, and the ushers return to their seats. 于是牧师又做了一个简短的奉献的祈祷,各招待员也各自回座位。 来自辞典例句
68 vigour lhtwr     
(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力
参考例句:
  • She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情,有朝气。
  • At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。
69 boisterously 19b3c18619ede9af3062a670f3d59e2b     
adv.喧闹地,吵闹地
参考例句:
  • They burst boisterously into the room. 他们吵吵嚷嚷地闯入房间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Drums and gongs were beating boisterously. 锣鼓敲打得很热闹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
70 facetious qhazK     
adj.轻浮的,好开玩笑的
参考例句:
  • He was so facetious that he turned everything into a joke.他好开玩笑,把一切都变成了戏谑。
  • I became angry with the little boy at his facetious remarks.我对这个小男孩过分的玩笑变得发火了。
71 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
72 hearty Od1zn     
adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的
参考例句:
  • After work they made a hearty meal in the worker's canteen.工作完了,他们在工人食堂饱餐了一顿。
  • We accorded him a hearty welcome.我们给他热忱的欢迎。
73 intercede q5Zx7     
vi.仲裁,说情
参考例句:
  • He was quickly snubbed when he tried to intercede.当他试着说情时很快被制止了。
  • At a time like that there has to be a third party to intercede.这时候要有个第三者出来斡旋。
74 sobbing df75b14f92e64fc9e1d7eaf6dcfc083a     
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
参考例句:
  • I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
  • Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。
75 beckoning fcbc3f0e8d09c5f29e4c5759847d03d6     
adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
  • He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
76 pettishly 7ab4060fbb40eff9237e3fd1df204fb1     
参考例句:
  • \"Oh, no,'she said, almost pettishly, \"I just don't feel very good.\" “哦,不是,\"她说,几乎想发火了,\"我只是觉得不大好受。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Then he tossed the marble away pettishly, and stood cogitating. 于是他一气之下扔掉那个弹子,站在那儿沉思。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
77 unintelligible sfuz2V     
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的
参考例句:
  • If a computer is given unintelligible data, it returns unintelligible results.如果计算机得到的是难以理解的数据,它给出的也将是难以理解的结果。
  • The terms were unintelligible to ordinary folk.这些术语一般人是不懂的。
78 hearth n5by9     
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
参考例句:
  • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
  • She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
79 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机
参考例句:
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
80 heinous 6QrzC     
adj.可憎的,十恶不赦的
参考例句:
  • They admitted to the most heinous crimes.他们承认了极其恶劣的罪行。
  • I do not want to meet that heinous person.我不想见那个十恶不赦的人。
81 amalgamated ed85e8e23651662e5e12b2453a8d0f6f     
v.(使)(金属)汞齐化( amalgamate的过去式和过去分词 );(使)合并;联合;结合
参考例句:
  • The company has now amalgamated with another local firm. 这家公司现在已与当地一家公司合并了。
  • Those two organizations have been amalgamated into single one. 那两个组织已合并为一个组织。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
82 allotted 5653ecda52c7b978bd6890054bd1f75f     
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
  • Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。
83 hysterically 5q7zmQ     
ad. 歇斯底里地
参考例句:
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。
  • She sobbed hysterically, and her thin body was shaken. 她歇斯底里地抽泣着,她瘦弱的身体哭得直颤抖。
84 darted d83f9716cd75da6af48046d29f4dd248     
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔
参考例句:
  • The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了,瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》
85 giggled 72ecd6e6dbf913b285d28ec3ba1edb12     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The girls giggled at the joke. 女孩子们让这笑话逗得咯咯笑。
  • The children giggled hysterically. 孩子们歇斯底里地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
86 prospered ce2c414688e59180b21f9ecc7d882425     
成功,兴旺( prosper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认,这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
  • Mr. Black prospered from his wise investments. 布莱克先生由于巧妙的投资赚了不少钱。
87 maliciously maliciously     
adv.有敌意地
参考例句:
  • He was charged with maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm. 他被控蓄意严重伤害他人身体。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • His enemies maliciously conspired to ruin him. 他的敌人恶毒地密谋搞垮他。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
88 sneered 0e3b5b35e54fb2ad006040792a867d9f     
讥笑,冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sneered at people who liked pop music. 他嘲笑喜欢流行音乐的人。
  • It's very discouraging to be sneered at all the time. 成天受嘲讽是很令人泄气的。
89 jealousy WaRz6     
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌
参考例句:
  • Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
  • I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
90 flattened 1d5d9fedd9ab44a19d9f30a0b81f79a8     
[医](水)平扁的,弄平的
参考例句:
  • She flattened her nose and lips against the window. 她把鼻子和嘴唇紧贴着窗户。
  • I flattened myself against the wall to let them pass. 我身体紧靠着墙让他们通过。
91 gust q5Zyu     
n.阵风,突然一阵(雨、烟等),(感情的)迸发
参考例句:
  • A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来,把前门关上了。
  • A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。
92 annuity Kw2zF     
n.年金;养老金
参考例句:
  • The personal contribution ratio is voluntary in the annuity program.企业年金中个人缴费比例是自愿的。
  • He lives on his annuity after retirement.他退休后靠退休金维生。
93 beheld beheld     
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
94 majestically d5d41929324f0eb30fd849cd601b1c16     
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地
参考例句:
  • The waters of the Changjiang River rolled to the east on majestically. 雄伟的长江滚滚东流。
  • Towering snowcapped peaks rise majestically. 白雪皑皑的山峰耸入云霄。
95 glum klXyF     
adj.闷闷不乐的,阴郁的
参考例句:
  • He was a charming mixture of glum and glee.他是一个很有魅力的人,时而忧伤时而欢笑。
  • She laughed at his glum face.她嘲笑他闷闷不乐的脸。
96 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
97 aspiring 3y2zps     
adj.有志气的;有抱负的;高耸的v.渴望;追求
参考例句:
  • Aspiring musicians need hours of practice every day. 想当音乐家就要每天练许多小时。
  • He came from an aspiring working-class background. 他出身于有抱负的工人阶级家庭。 来自辞典例句
98 motives 6c25d038886898b20441190abe240957     
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机
  • His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。
99 secondly cjazXx     
adv.第二,其次
参考例句:
  • Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二,动脑筋提出自己的见解。
  • Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次,需要确定所作用的载荷。
100 nuptials 9b3041d32e2bfe31c6998076b06e2cf5     
n.婚礼;婚礼( nuptial的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Their nuptials were performed by the local priest. 他们的婚礼由当地牧师主持。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • If he married, when the nuptials would take place, and under what circumstances? 如果他结婚,那么什么时候举行婚礼?在什么情况下举行婚礼? 来自辞典例句
101 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
102 monstrous vwFyM     
adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的
参考例句:
  • The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升,形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
  • Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人!
103 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
104 strings nh0zBe     
n.弦
参考例句:
  • He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上,随意地拨着吉他的弦。
  • She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
105 benediction 6Q4y0     
n.祝福;恩赐
参考例句:
  • The priest pronounced a benediction over the couple at the end of the marriage ceremony.牧师在婚礼结束时为新婚夫妇祈求上帝赐福。
  • He went abroad with his parents' benediction.他带着父母的祝福出国去了。
106 expressive shwz4     
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的
参考例句:
  • Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
  • He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的,富于表情的,生动活泼的脸。
107 scowl HDNyX     
vi.(at)生气地皱眉,沉下脸,怒视;n.怒容
参考例句:
  • I wonder why he is wearing an angry scowl.我不知道他为何面带怒容。
  • The boss manifested his disgust with a scowl.老板面带怒色,清楚表示出他的厌恶之感。
108 copious koizs     
adj.丰富的,大量的
参考例句:
  • She supports her theory with copious evidences.她以大量的例证来充实自己的理论。
  • Every star is a copious source of neutrinos.每颗恒星都是丰富的中微子源。
109 infliction nbxz6     
n.(强加于人身的)痛苦,刑罚
参考例句:
  • Don't immerse yourself in the infliction too long.不要长时间沉浸在痛苦经历中。
  • Instead of rivets there came an invasion,an infliction,and a visitation.但是铆钉并没有运来,来的却是骚扰、混乱和视察。
110 vile YLWz0     
adj.卑鄙的,可耻的,邪恶的;坏透的
参考例句:
  • Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢?
  • Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。
111 throng sGTy4     
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集
参考例句:
  • A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。
  • The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。


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