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Chapter 21
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Madame Mantalini finds herself in a Situation ofsome Difficulty, and Miss Nickleby finds herself inno Situation at all.

  The agitation1 she had undergone, rendered Kate Nicklebyunable to resume her duties at the dressmaker’s for threedays, at the expiration2 of which interval3 she betook herselfat the accustomed hour, and with languid steps, to the temple offashion where Madame Mantalini reigned4 paramount5 andsupreme.

  The ill-will of Miss Knag had lost nothing of its virulence6 in theinterval. The young ladies still scrupulously7 shrunk from allcompanionship with their denounced associate; and when thatexemplary female arrived a few minutes afterwards, she was at nopains to conceal8 the displeasure with which she regarded Kate’sreturn.

  ‘Upon my word!’ said Miss Knag, as the satellites flocked round,to relieve her of her bonnet9 and shawl; ‘I should have thoughtsome people would have had spirit enough to stop awayaltogether, when they know what an incumbrance their presenceis to right-minded persons. But it’s a queer world; oh! it’s a queerworld!’

  Miss Knag, having passed this comment on the world, in thetone in which most people do pass comments on the world whenthey are out of temper, that is to say, as if they by no meansbelonged to it, concluded by heaving a sigh, wherewith she seemed meekly10 to compassionate11 the wickedness of mankind.

  The attendants were not slow to echo the sigh, and Miss Knagwas apparently12 on the eve of favouring them with some furthermoral reflections, when the voice of Madame Mantalini, conveyedthrough the speaking-tube, ordered Miss Nickleby upstairs toassist in the arrangement of the show-room; a distinction whichcaused Miss Knag to toss her head so much, and bite her lips sohard, that her powers of conversation were, for the time,annihilated.

  ‘Well, Miss Nickleby, child,’ said Madame Mantalini, when Katepresented herself; ‘are you quite well again?’

  ‘A great deal better, thank you,’ replied Kate.

  ‘I wish I could say the same,’ remarked Madame Mantalini,seating herself with an air of weariness.

  ‘Are you ill?’ asked Kate. ‘I am very sorry for that.’

  ‘Not exactly ill, but worried, child—worried,’ rejoined Madame.

  ‘I am still more sorry to hear that,’ said Kate, gently. ‘Bodilyillness is more easy to bear than mental.’

  ‘Ah! and it’s much easier to talk than to bear either,’ saidMadame, rubbing her nose with much irritability13 of manner.

  ‘There, get to your work, child, and put the things in order, do.’

  While Kate was wondering within herself what these symptomsof unusual vexation portended15, Mr Mantalini put the tips of hiswhiskers, and, by degrees, his head, through the half-opened door,and cried in a soft voice—‘Is my life and soul there?’

  ‘No,’ replied his wife.

  ‘How can it say so, when it is blooming in the front room like alittle rose in a demnition flower-pot?’ urged Mantalini. ‘May its poppet come in and talk?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ replied Madame: ‘you know I never allow youhere. Go along!’

  The poppet, however, encouraged perhaps by the relentingtone of this reply, ventured to rebel, and, stealing into the room,made towards Madame Mantalini on tiptoe, blowing her a kiss ashe came along.

  ‘Why will it vex14 itself, and twist its little face into bewitchingnutcrackers?’ said Mantalini, putting his left arm round the waistof his life and soul, and drawing her towards him with his right.

  ‘Oh! I can’t bear you,’ replied his wife.

  ‘Not—eh, not bear me!’ exclaimed Mantalini. ‘Fibs, fibs. Itcouldn’t be. There’s not a woman alive, that could tell me such athing to my face—to my own face.’ Mr Mantalini stroked his chin,as he said this, and glanced complacently16 at an opposite mirror.

  ‘Such destructive extravagance,’ reasoned his wife, in a lowtone.

  ‘All in its joy at having gained such a lovely creature, such alittle Venus, such a demd, enchanting17, bewitching, engrossing,captivating little Venus,’ said Mantalini.

  ‘See what a situation you have placed me in!’ urged Madame.

  ‘No harm will come, no harm shall come, to its own darling,’

  rejoined Mr Mantalini. ‘It is all over; there will be nothing thematter; money shall be got in; and if it don’t come in fast enough,old Nickleby shall stump18 up again, or have his jugular19 separated ifhe dares to vex and hurt the little—’

  ‘Hush!’ interposed Madame. ‘Don’t you see?’

  Mr Mantalini, who, in his eagerness to make up matters withhis wife, had overlooked, or feigned20 to overlook, Miss Nickleby hitherto, took the hint, and laying his finger on his lip, sunk hisvoice still lower. There was, then, a great deal of whispering,during which Madame Mantalini appeared to make reference,more than once, to certain debts incurred21 by Mr Mantaliniprevious to her coverture; and also to an unexpected outlay22 ofmoney in payment of the aforesaid debts; and furthermore, tocertain agreeable weaknesses on that gentleman’s part, such asgaming, wasting, idling, and a tendency to horse-flesh; each ofwhich matters of accusation23 Mr Mantalini disposed of, by one kissor more, as its relative importance demanded. The upshot of it allwas, that Madame Mantalini was in raptures24 with him, and thatthey went upstairs to breakfast.

  Kate busied herself in what she had to do, and was silentlyarranging the various articles of decoration in the best taste shecould display, when she started to hear a strange man’s voice inthe room, and started again, to observe, on looking round, that awhite hat, and a red neckerchief, and a broad round face, and alarge head, and part of a green coat were in the room too.

  ‘Don’t alarm yourself, miss,’ said the proprietor26 of theseappearances. ‘I say; this here’s the mantie-making consarn, an’tit?’

  ‘Yes,’ rejoined Kate, greatly astonished. ‘What did you want?’

  The stranger answered not; but, first looking back, as though tobeckon to some unseen person outside, came, very deliberately,into the room, and was closely followed by a little man in brown,very much the worse for wear, who brought with him a mingledfumigation of stale tobacco and fresh onions. The clothes of thisgentleman were much bespeckled with flue; and his shoes,stockings, and nether28 garments, from his heels to the waist buttons of his coat inclusive, were profusely29 embroidered30 withsplashes of mud, caught a fortnight previously—before the setting-in of the fine weather.

  Kate’s very natural impression was, that these engagingindividuals had called with the view of possessing themselves,unlawfully, of any portable articles that chanced to strike theirfancy. She did not attempt to disguise her apprehensions31, andmade a move towards the door.

  ‘Wait a minnit,’ said the man in the green coat, closing it softly,and standing32 with his back against it. ‘This is a unpleasant bisness.

  Vere’s your govvernor?’

  ‘My what—did you say?’ asked Kate, trembling; for she thought‘governor’ might be slang for watch or money.

  ‘Mister Muntlehiney,’ said the man. ‘Wot’s come on him? Is heat home?’

  ‘He is above stairs, I believe,’ replied Kate, a little reassured33 bythis inquiry34. ‘Do you want him?’

  ‘No,’ replied the visitor. ‘I don’t ezactly want him, if it’s made afavour on. You can jist give him that ’ere card, and tell him if hewants to speak to me, and save trouble, here I am; that’s all.’

  With these words, the stranger put a thick square card intoKate’s hand, and, turning to his friend, remarked, with an easy air,‘that the rooms was a good high pitch;’ to which the friendassented, adding, by way of illustration, ‘that there was lots ofroom for a little boy to grow up a man in either on ’em, vithoutmuch fear of his ever bringing his head into contract vith theceiling.’

  After ringing the bell which would summon Madame Mantalini,Kate glanced at the card, and saw that it displayed the name of ‘Scaley,’ together with some other information to which she hadnot had time to refer, when her attention was attracted by MrScaley himself, who, walking up to one of the cheval-glasses, gaveit a hard poke35 in the centre with his stick, as coolly as if it hadbeen made of cast iron.

  ‘Good plate this here, Tix,’ said Mr Scaley to his friend.

  ‘Ah!’ rejoined Mr Tix, placing the marks of his four fingers, anda duplicate impression of his thumb, on a piece of sky-blue silk;‘and this here article warn’t made for nothing, mind you.’

  From the silk, Mr Tix transferred his admiration36 to someelegant articles of wearing apparel, while Mr Scaley adjusted hisneckcloth, at leisure, before the glass, and afterwards, aided by itsreflection, proceeded to the minute consideration of a pimple37 onhis chin; in which absorbing occupation he was yet engaged, whenMadame Mantalini, entering the room, uttered an exclamation38 ofsurprise which roused him.

  ‘Oh! Is this the missis?’ inquired Scaley.

  ‘It is Madame Mantalini,’ said Kate.

  ‘Then,’ said Mr Scaley, producing a small document from hispocket and unfolding it very slowly, ‘this is a writ39 of execution, andif it’s not conwenient to settle we’ll go over the house at wunst,please, and take the inwentory.’

  Poor Madame Mantalini wrung40 her hands for grief, and rungthe bell for her husband; which done, she fell into a chair and afainting fit, simultaneously41. The professional gentlemen, however,were not at all discomposed by this event, for Mr Scaley, leaningupon a stand on which a handsome dress was displayed (so thathis shoulders appeared above it, in nearly the same manner as theshoulders of the lady for whom it was designed would have done if she had had it on), pushed his hat on one side and scratched hishead with perfect unconcern, while his friend Mr Tix, taking thatopportunity for a general survey of the apartment preparatory toentering on business, stood with his inventory42-book under his armand his hat in his hand, mentally occupied in putting a price uponevery object within his range of vision.

  Such was the posture43 of affairs when Mr Mantalini hurried in;and as that distinguished44 specimen45 had had a pretty extensiveintercourse with Mr Scaley’s fraternity in his bachelor days, andwas, besides, very far from being taken by surprise on the presentagitating occasion, he merely shrugged46 his shoulders, thrust hishands down to the bottom of his pockets, elevated his eyebrows,whistled a bar or two, swore an oath or two, and, sitting astrideupon a chair, put the best face upon the matter with greatcomposure and decency47.

  ‘What’s the demd total?’ was the first question he asked.

  ‘Fifteen hundred and twenty-seven pound, four and ninepenceha’penny,’ replied Mr Scaley, without moving a limb.

  ‘The halfpenny be demd,’ said Mr Mantalini, impatiently.

  ‘By all means if you vish it,’ retorted Mr Scaley; ‘and theninepence.’

  ‘It don’t matter to us if the fifteen hundred and twenty-sevenpound went along with it, that I know on,’ observed Mr Tix.

  ‘Not a button,’ said Scaley.

  ‘Well,’ said the same gentleman, after a pause, ‘wot’s to bedone—anything? Is it only a small crack, or a out-and-out smash?

  A break-up of the constitootion is it?—werry good. Then Mr TomTix, esk-vire, you must inform your angel wife and lovely family asyou won’t sleep at home for three nights to come, along of being in possession here. Wot’s the good of the lady a fretting48 herself?’

  continued Mr Scaley, as Madame Mantalini sobbed49. ‘A good half ofwot’s here isn’t paid for, I des-say, and wot a consolation50 oughtn’tthat to be to her feelings!’

  With these remarks, combining great pleasantry with soundmoral encouragement under difficulties, Mr Scaley proceeded totake the inventory, in which delicate task he was materiallyassisted by the uncommon51 tact52 and experience of Mr Tix, thebroker.

  ‘My cup of happiness’s sweetener,’ said Mantalini, approachinghis wife with a penitent53 air; ‘will you listen to me for two minutes?’

  ‘Oh! don’t speak to me,’ replied his wife, sobbing54. ‘You haveruined me, and that’s enough.’

  Mr Mantalini, who had doubtless well considered his part, nosooner heard these words pronounced in a tone of grief andseverity, than he recoiled55 several paces, assumed an expression ofconsuming mental agony, rushed headlong from the room, andwas, soon afterwards, heard to slam the door of an upstairsdressing-room with great violence.

  ‘Miss Nickleby,’ cried Madame Mantalini, when this sound mether ear, ‘make haste, for Heaven’s sake, he will destroy himself! Ispoke unkindly to him, and he cannot bear it from me. Alfred, mydarling Alfred.’

  With such exclamations56, she hurried upstairs, followed by Katewho, although she did not quite participate in the fond wife’sapprehensions, was a little flurried, nevertheless. The dressing-room door being hastily flung open, Mr Mantalini was disclosed toview, with his shirt-collar symmetrically thrown back: putting afine edge to a breakfast knife by means of his razor strop.

   ‘Ah!’ cried Mr Mantalini, ‘interrupted!’ and whisk went thebreakfast knife into Mr Mantalini’s dressing-gown pocket, whileMr Mantalini’s eyes rolled wildly, and his hair floating in wilddisorder, mingled27 with his whiskers.

  ‘Alfred,’ cried his wife, flinging her arms about him, ‘I didn’tmean to say it, I didn’t mean to say it!’

  ‘Ruined!’ cried Mr Mantalini. ‘Have I brought ruin upon thebest and purest creature that ever blessed a demnition vagabond!

  Demmit, let me go.’ At this crisis of his ravings Mr Mantalini madea pluck at the breakfast knife, and being restrained by his wife’sgrasp, attempted to dash his head against the wall—taking verygood care to be at least six feet from it.

  ‘Compose yourself, my own angel,’ said Madame. ‘It wasnobody’s fault; it was mine as much as yours, we shall do very wellyet. Come, Alfred, come.’

  Mr Mantalini did not think proper to come to, all at once; but,after calling several times for poison, and requesting some lady orgentleman to blow his brains out, gentler feelings came upon him,and he wept pathetically. In this softened57 frame of mind he did notoppose the capture of the knife—which, to tell the truth, he wasrather glad to be rid of, as an inconvenient58 and dangerous articlefor a skirt pocket—and finally he suffered himself to be led awayby his affectionate partner.

  After a delay of two or three hours, the young ladies wereinformed that their services would be dispensed59 with until furthernotice, and at the expiration of two days, the name of Mantaliniappeared in the list of bankrupts: Miss Nickleby received anintimation per post, on the same morning, that the business wouldbe, in future, carried on under the name of Miss Knag, and that her assistance would no longer be required—a piece ofintelligence with which Mrs Nickleby was no sooner madeacquainted, than that good lady declared she had expected it allalong and cited divers60 unknown occasions on which she hadprophesied to that precise effect.

  ‘And I say again,’ remarked Mrs Nickleby (who, it is scarcelynecessary to observe, had never said so before), ‘I say again, that amilliner’s and dressmaker’s is the very last description of business,Kate, that you should have thought of attaching yourself to. I don’tmake it a reproach to you, my love; but still I will say, that if youhad consulted your own mother—’

  ‘Well, well, mama,’ said Kate, mildly: ‘what would yourecommend now?’

  ‘Recommend!’ cried Mrs Nickleby, ‘isn’t it obvious, my dear,that of all occupations in this world for a young lady situated61 asyou are, that of companion to some amiable62 lady is the very thingfor which your education, and manners, and personal appearance,and everything else, exactly qualify you? Did you never hear yourpoor dear papa speak of the young lady who was the daughter ofthe old lady who boarded in the same house that he boarded inonce, when he was a bachelor—what was her name again? I knowit began with a B, and ended with g, but whether it was Watersor—no, it couldn’t have been that, either; but whatever her namewas, don’t you know that that young lady went as companion to amarried lady who died soon afterwards, and that she married thehusband, and had one of the finest little boys that the medical manhad ever seen—all within eighteen months?’

  Kate knew, perfectly63 well, that this torrent64 of favourablerecollection was occasioned by some opening, real or imaginary, which her mother had discovered, in the companionship walk oflife. She therefore waited, very patiently, until all reminiscencesand anecdotes66, bearing or not bearing upon the subject, had beenexhausted, and at last ventured to inquire what discovery hadbeen made. The truth then came out. Mrs Nickleby had, thatmorning, had a yesterday’s newspaper of the very firstrespectability from the public-house where the porter came from;and in this yesterday’s newspaper was an advertisement, couchedin the purest and most grammatical English, announcing that amarried lady was in want of a genteel young person as companion,and that the married lady’s name and address were to be known,on application at a certain library at the west end of the town,therein mentioned.

  ‘And I say,’ exclaimed Mrs Nickleby, laying the paper down intriumph, ‘that if your uncle don’t object, it’s well worth the trial.’

  Kate was too sick at heart, after the rough jostling she hadalready had with the world, and really cared too little at themoment what fate was reserved for her, to make any objection. MrRalph Nickleby offered none, but, on the contrary, highlyapproved of the suggestion; neither did he express any greatsurprise at Madame Mantalini’s sudden failure, indeed it wouldhave been strange if he had, inasmuch as it had been procuredand brought about chiefly by himself. So, the name and addresswere obtained without loss of time, and Miss Nickleby and hermama went off in quest of Mrs Wititterly, of Cadogan Place,Sloane Street, that same forenoon.

  Cadogan Place is the one slight bond that joins two greatextremes; it is the connecting link between the aristocraticpavements of Belgrave Square, and the barbarism of Chelsea. It is in Sloane Street, but not of it. The people in Cadogan Place lookdown upon Sloane Street, and think Brompton low. They affectfashion too, and wonder where the New Road is. Not that theyclaim to be on precisely68 the same footing as the high folks ofBelgrave Square and Grosvenor Place, but that they stand, withreference to them, rather in the light of those illegitimate childrenof the great who are content to boast of their connections,although their connections disavow them. Wearing as much asthey can of the airs and semblances69 of loftiest rank, the people ofCadogan Place have the realities of middle station. It is theconductor which communicates to the inhabitants of regionsbeyond its limit, the shock of pride of birth and rank, which it hasnot within itself, but derives70 from a fountain-head beyond; or, likethe ligament which unites the Siamese twins, it containssomething of the life and essence of two distinct bodies, and yetbelongs to neither.

  Upon this doubtful ground, lived Mrs Wititterly, and at MrsWititterly’s door Kate Nickleby knocked with trembling hand. Thedoor was opened by a big footman with his head floured, orchalked, or painted in some way (it didn’t look genuine powder),and the big footman, receiving the card of introduction, gave it to alittle page; so little, indeed, that his body would not hold, inordinary array, the number of small buttons which areindispensable to a page’s costume, and they were consequentlyobliged to be stuck on four abreast71. This young gentleman took thecard upstairs on a salver, and pending72 his return, Kate and hermother were shown into a dining-room of rather dirty and shabbyaspect, and so comfortably arranged as to be adapted to almostany purpose rather than eating and drinking.

   Now, in the ordinary course of things, and according to allauthentic descriptions of high life, as set forth73 in books, MrsWititterly ought to have been in her boudoir; but whether it wasthat Mr Wititterly was at that moment shaving himself in theboudoir or what not, certain it is that Mrs Wititterly gave audiencein the drawing-room, where was everything proper and necessary,including curtains and furniture coverings of a roseate hue74, toshed a delicate bloom on Mrs Wititterly’s complexion75, and a littledog to snap at strangers’ legs for Mrs Wititterly’s amusement, andthe afore-mentioned page, to hand chocolate for Mrs Wititterly’srefreshment.

  The lady had an air of sweet insipidity76, and a face of engagingpaleness; there was a faded look about her, and about thefurniture, and about the house. She was reclining on a sofa in sucha very unstudied attitude, that she might have been taken for anactress all ready for the first scene in a ballet, and only waiting forthe drop curtain to go up.

  ‘Place chairs.’

  The page placed them.

  ‘Leave the room, Alphonse.’

  The page left it; but if ever an Alphonse carried plain Bill in hisface and figure, that page was the boy.

  ‘I have ventured to call, ma’am,’ said Kate, after a few secondsof awkward silence, ‘from having seen your advertisement.’

  ‘Yes,’ replied Mrs Wititterly, ‘one of my people put it in thepaper—Yes.’

  ‘I thought, perhaps,’ said Kate, modestly, ‘that if you had notalready made a final choice, you would forgive my troubling youwith an application.’

   ‘Yes,’ drawled Mrs Wititterly again.

  ‘If you have already made a selection—’

  ‘Oh dear no,’ interrupted the lady, ‘I am not so easily suited. Ireally don’t know what to say. You have never been a companionbefore, have you?’

  Mrs Nickleby, who had been eagerly watching her opportunity,came dexterously77 in, before Kate could reply. ‘Not to any stranger,ma’am,’ said the good lady; ‘but she has been a companion to mefor some years. I am her mother, ma’am.’

  ‘Oh!’ said Mrs Wititterly, ‘I apprehend78 you.’

  ‘I assure you, ma’am,’ said Mrs Nickleby, ‘that I very littlethought, at one time, that it would be necessary for my daughter togo out into the world at all, for her poor dear papa was anindependent gentleman, and would have been at this moment ifhe had but listened in time to my constant entreaties79 and—’

  ‘Dear mama,’ said Kate, in a low voice.

  ‘My dear Kate, if you will allow me to speak,’ said Mrs Nickleby,‘I shall take the liberty of explaining to this lady—’

  ‘I think it is almost unnecessary, mama.’

  And notwithstanding all the frowns and winks80 with which MrsNickleby intimated that she was going to say something whichwould clench81 the business at once, Kate maintained her point byan expressive82 look, and for once Mrs Nickleby was stopped uponthe very brink83 of an oration25.

  ‘What are your accomplishments84?’ asked Mrs Wititterly, withher eyes shut.

  Kate blushed as she mentioned her principal acquirements,and Mrs Nickleby checked them all off, one by one, on her fingers;having calculated the number before she came out. Luckily the two calculations agreed, so Mrs Nickleby had no excuse fortalking.

  ‘You are a good temper?’ asked Mrs Wititterly, opening hereyes for an instant, and shutting them again.

  ‘I hope so,’ rejoined Kate.

  ‘And have a highly respectable reference for everything, haveyou?’

  Kate replied that she had, and laid her uncle’s card upon thetable.

  ‘Have the goodness to draw your chair a little nearer, and letme look at you,’ said Mrs Wititterly; ‘I am so very nearsighted thatI can’t quite discern your features.’

  Kate complied, though not without some embarrassment85, withthis request, and Mrs Wititterly took a languid survey of hercountenance, which lasted some two or three minutes.

  ‘I like your appearance,’ said that lady, ringing a little bell.

  ‘Alphonse, request your master to come here.’

  The page disappeared on this errand, and after a short interval,during which not a word was spoken on either side, opened thedoor for an important gentleman of about eight-and-thirty, ofrather plebeian87 countenance86, and with a very light head of hair,who leant over Mrs Wititterly for a little time, and conversed88 withher in whispers.

  ‘Oh!’ he said, turning round, ‘yes. This is a most importantmatter. Mrs Wititterly is of a very excitable nature; very delicate,very fragile; a hothouse plant, an exotic.’

  ‘Oh! Henry, my dear,’ interposed Mrs Wititterly.

  ‘You are, my love, you know you are; one breath—’ said Mr W.,blowing an imaginary feather away. ‘Pho! you’re gone!’

   The lady sighed.

  ‘Your soul is too large for your body,’ said Mr Wititterly. ‘Yourintellect wears you out; all the medical men say so; you know thatthere is not a physician who is not proud of being called in to you.

  What is their unanimous declaration? “My dear doctor,” said I toSir Tumley Snuffim, in this very room, the very last time he came.

  “My dear doctor, what is my wife’s complaint? Tell me all. I canbear it. Is it nerves?” “My dear fellow,” he said, “be proud of thatwoman; make much of her; she is an ornament89 to the fashionableworld, and to you. Her complaint is soul. It swells90, expands,dilates—the blood fires, the pulse quickens, the excitementincreases—Whew!”’ Here Mr Wititterly, who, in the ardour of hisdescription, had flourished his right hand to within something lessthan an inch of Mrs Nickleby’s bonnet, drew it hastily back again,and blew his nose as fiercely as if it had been done by some violentmachinery.

  ‘You make me out worse than I am, Henry,’ said Mrs Wititterly,with a faint smile.

  ‘I do not, Julia, I do not,’ said Mr W. ‘The society in which youmove—necessarily move, from your station, connection, andendowments—is one vortex and whirlpool of the most frightfulexcitement. Bless my heart and body, can I ever forget the nightyou danced with the baronet’s nephew at the election ball, atExeter! It was tremendous.’

  ‘I always suffer for these triumphs afterwards,’ said MrsWititterly.

  ‘And for that very reason,’ rejoined her husband, ‘you musthave a companion, in whom there is great gentleness, greatsweetness, excessive sympathy, and perfect repose91.’

   Here, both Mr and Mrs Wititterly, who had talked rather at theNicklebys than to each other, left off speaking, and looked at theirtwo hearers, with an expression of countenance which seemed tosay, ‘What do you think of all this?’

  ‘Mrs Wititterly,’ said her husband, addressing himself to MrsNickleby, ‘is sought after and courted by glittering crowds andbrilliant circles. She is excited by the opera, the drama, the finearts, the—the—the—’

  ‘The nobility, my love,’ interposed Mrs Wititterly.

  ‘The nobility, of course,’ said Mr Wititterly. ‘And the military.

  She forms and expresses an immense variety of opinions on animmense variety of subjects. If some people in public life wereacquainted with Mrs Wititterly’s real opinion of them, they wouldnot hold their heads, perhaps, quite as high as they do.’

  ‘Hush, Henry,’ said the lady; ‘this is scarcely fair.’

  ‘I mention no names, Julia,’ replied Mr Wititterly; ‘and nobodyis injured. I merely mention the circumstance to show that you areno ordinary person, that there is a constant friction92 perpetuallygoing on between your mind and your body; and that you must besoothed and tended. Now let me hear, dispassionately and calmly,what are this young lady’s qualifications for the office.’

  In obedience93 to this request, the qualifications were all gonethrough again, with the addition of many interruptions and crossquestionings from Mr Wititterly. It was finally arranged thatinquiries should be made, and a decisive answer addressed to MissNickleby under cover of her uncle, within two days. Theseconditions agreed upon, the page showed them down as far as thestaircase window; and the big footman, relieving guard at thatpoint, piloted them in perfect safety to the street-door.

   ‘They are very distinguished people, evidently,’ said MrsNickleby, as she took her daughter’s arm. ‘What a superior personMrs Wititterly is!’

  ‘Do you think so, mama?’ was all Kate’s reply.

  ‘Why, who can help thinking so, Kate, my love?’ rejoined hermother. ‘She is pale though, and looks much exhausted67. I hope shemay not be wearing herself out, but I am very much afraid.’

  These considerations led the deep-sighted lady into acalculation of the probable duration of Mrs Wititterly’s life, andthe chances of the disconsolate95 widower96 bestowing97 his hand onher daughter. Before reaching home, she had freed MrsWititterly’s soul from all bodily restraint; married Kate with greatsplendour at St George’s, Hanover Square; and only leftundecided the minor98 question, whether a splendid French-polished mahogany bedstead should be erected99 for herself in thetwo-pair back of the house in Cadogan Place, or in the three-pairfront: between which apartments she could not quite balance theadvantages, and therefore adjusted the question at last, bydetermining to leave it to the decision of her son-in-law.

  The inquiries94 were made. The answer—not to Kate’s very greatjoy—was favourable65; and at the expiration of a week she betookherself, with all her movables and valuables, to Mrs Wititterly’smansion, where for the present we will leave her.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
2 expiration bmSxA     
n.终结,期满,呼气,呼出物
参考例句:
  • Can I have your credit card number followed by the expiration date?能告诉我你的信用卡号码和它的到期日吗?
  • This contract shall be terminated on the expiration date.劳动合同期满,即行终止。
3 interval 85kxY     
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
参考例句:
  • The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
  • There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
4 reigned d99f19ecce82a94e1b24a320d3629de5     
vi.当政,统治(reign的过去式形式)
参考例句:
  • Silence reigned in the hall. 全场肃静。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Night was deep and dead silence reigned everywhere. 夜深人静,一片死寂。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
5 paramount fL9xz     
a.最重要的,最高权力的
参考例句:
  • My paramount object is to save the Union and destroy slavery.我的最高目标是拯救美国,摧毁奴隶制度。
  • Nitrogen is of paramount importance to life on earth.氮对地球上的生命至关重要。
6 virulence 3546191e2f699ac8cc1a5d3dc71755fe     
n.毒力,毒性;病毒性;致病力
参考例句:
  • The virulence of the café owner's anger had appalled her.咖啡店老板怒气冲天,充满敌意,把她吓坏了。
  • Medical authorities were baffled,both as to its causes and its virulence.医疗当局对其病因及有多致命都还不甚了解。
7 scrupulously Tj5zRa     
adv.一丝不苟地;小心翼翼地,多顾虑地
参考例句:
  • She toed scrupulously into the room. 她小心翼翼地踮着脚走进房间。 来自辞典例句
  • To others he would be scrupulously fair. 对待别人,他力求公正。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史
8 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
9 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。
10 meekly meekly     
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地
参考例句:
  • He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时,他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 compassionate PXPyc     
adj.有同情心的,表示同情的
参考例句:
  • She is a compassionate person.她是一个有同情心的人。
  • The compassionate judge gave the young offender a light sentence.慈悲的法官从轻判处了那个年轻罪犯。
12 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎
参考例句:
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽,豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
13 irritability oR0zn     
n.易怒
参考例句:
  • It was the almost furtive restlessness and irritability that had possessed him. 那是一种一直纠缠着他的隐秘的不安和烦恼。
  • All organisms have irritability while alive. 所有生物体活着时都有应激性。
14 vex TLVze     
vt.使烦恼,使苦恼
参考例句:
  • Everything about her vexed him.有关她的一切都令他困惑。
  • It vexed me to think of others gossiping behind my back.一想到别人在背后说我闲话,我就很恼火。
15 portended ee668368f920532349896fc9620e0ecd     
v.预示( portend的过去式和过去分词 );预兆;给…以警告;预告
参考例句:
  • It portended that there was one stone face too many, up at the chateau. 这说明庄园里多出了一张石雕人面。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She confusedly realised this reversal of her attitudes, but could not make out what it portended. 她糊里糊涂的意识到自己这种相反的态度,但是不知道它会带来什么。 来自辞典例句
16 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句:
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
17 enchanting MmCyP     
a.讨人喜欢的
参考例句:
  • His smile, at once enchanting and melancholy, is just his father's. 他那种既迷人又有些忧郁的微笑,活脱儿象他父亲。
  • Its interior was an enchanting place that both lured and frightened me. 它的里头是个吸引人的地方,我又向往又害怕。
18 stump hGbzY     
n.残株,烟蒂,讲演台;v.砍断,蹒跚而走
参考例句:
  • He went on the stump in his home state.他到故乡所在的州去发表演说。
  • He used the stump as a table.他把树桩用作桌子。
19 jugular oaLzM     
n.颈静脉
参考例句:
  • He always goes for the jugular.他总是直奔要害而去。
  • Bilateral internal jugular vein stenting is also a rare procedure.两侧内颈静脉支架置放术也是少见的技术。
20 feigned Kt4zMZ     
a.假装的,不真诚的
参考例句:
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work. 他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
  • He accepted the invitation with feigned enthusiasm. 他假装热情地接受了邀请。
21 incurred a782097e79bccb0f289640bab05f0f6c     
[医]招致的,遭受的; incur的过去式
参考例句:
  • She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚,使父亲震怒。
  • We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。
22 outlay amlz8A     
n.费用,经费,支出;v.花费
参考例句:
  • There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。
  • The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。
23 accusation GJpyf     
n.控告,指责,谴责
参考例句:
  • I was furious at his making such an accusation.我对他的这种责备非常气愤。
  • She knew that no one would believe her accusation.她知道没人会相信她的指控。
24 raptures 9c456fd812d0e9fdc436e568ad8e29c6     
极度欢喜( rapture的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Her heart melted away in secret raptures. 她暗自高兴得心花怒放。
  • The mere thought of his bride moves Pinkerton to raptures. 一想起新娘,平克顿不禁心花怒放。
25 oration PJixw     
n.演说,致辞,叙述法
参考例句:
  • He delivered an oration on the decline of family values.他发表了有关家庭价值观的衰退的演说。
  • He was asked to deliver an oration at the meeting.他被邀请在会议上发表演说。
26 proprietor zR2x5     
n.所有人;业主;经营者
参考例句:
  • The proprietor was an old acquaintance of his.业主是他的一位旧相识。
  • The proprietor of the corner grocery was a strange thing in my life.拐角杂货店店主是我生活中的一个怪物。
27 mingled fdf34efd22095ed7e00f43ccc823abdf     
混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系]
参考例句:
  • The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
  • The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
28 nether P1pyY     
adj.下部的,下面的;n.阴间;下层社会
参考例句:
  • This terracotta army well represents his ambition yet to be realized in the nether-world.这一批兵马俑很可能代表他死后也要去实现的雄心。
  • He was escorted back to the nether regions of Main Street.他被护送回中央大道南面的地方。
29 profusely 12a581fe24557b55ae5601d069cb463c     
ad.abundantly
参考例句:
  • We were sweating profusely from the exertion of moving the furniture. 我们搬动家具大费气力,累得大汗淋漓。
  • He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活,身上大汗淋漓的。
30 embroidered StqztZ     
adj.绣花的
参考例句:
  • She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
  • She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。
31 apprehensions 86177204327b157a6d884cdb536098d8     
疑惧
参考例句:
  • He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。
  • But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而,随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。
32 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
33 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》
34 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
35 poke 5SFz9     
n.刺,戳,袋;vt.拨开,刺,戳;vi.戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢
参考例句:
  • We never thought she would poke her nose into this.想不到她会插上一手。
  • Don't poke fun at me.别拿我凑趣儿。
36 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
37 pimple MAeyP     
n.丘疹,面泡,青春豆
参考例句:
  • His face was covered with pimples.他满脸粉刺。
  • This is also a way to prevent the pimple.这也是防止疙瘩的一个途径。
38 exclamation onBxZ     
n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词
参考例句:
  • He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
  • The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号,以引起读者的注意。
39 writ iojyr     
n.命令状,书面命令
参考例句:
  • This is a copy of a writ I received this morning.这是今早我收到的书面命令副本。
  • You shouldn't treat the newspapers as if they were Holy Writ. 你不应该把报上说的话奉若神明。
40 wrung b11606a7aab3e4f9eebce4222a9397b1     
绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水)
参考例句:
  • He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
  • He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
41 simultaneously 4iBz1o     
adv.同时发生地,同时进行地
参考例句:
  • The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
  • The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。
42 inventory 04xx7     
n.详细目录,存货清单
参考例句:
  • Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
  • We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。
43 posture q1gzk     
n.姿势,姿态,心态,态度;v.作出某种姿势
参考例句:
  • The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
  • He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣,摆出一副打架的架势。
44 distinguished wu9z3v     
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
参考例句:
  • Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
  • A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。
45 specimen Xvtwm     
n.样本,标本
参考例句:
  • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen.你要用镊子来夹这标本。
  • This specimen is richly variegated in colour.这件标本上有很多颜色。
46 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
47 decency Jxzxs     
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重
参考例句:
  • His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
  • Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
48 fretting fretting     
n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的
参考例句:
  • Fretting about it won't help. 苦恼于事无补。
  • The old lady is always fretting over something unimportant. 那位老妇人总是为一些小事焦虑不安。
49 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
50 consolation WpbzC     
n.安慰,慰问
参考例句:
  • The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
  • This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
51 uncommon AlPwO     
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的
参考例句:
  • Such attitudes were not at all uncommon thirty years ago.这些看法在30年前很常见。
  • Phil has uncommon intelligence.菲尔智力超群。
52 tact vqgwc     
n.机敏,圆滑,得体
参考例句:
  • She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
  • Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。
53 penitent wu9ys     
adj.后悔的;n.后悔者;忏悔者
参考例句:
  • They all appeared very penitent,and begged hard for their lives.他们一个个表示悔罪,苦苦地哀求饶命。
  • She is deeply penitent.她深感愧疚。
54 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。
55 recoiled 8282f6b353b1fa6f91b917c46152c025     
v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 );退缩;报应;返回
参考例句:
  • She recoiled from his touch. 她躲开他的触摸。
  • Howard recoiled a little at the sharpness in my voice. 听到我的尖声,霍华德往后缩了一下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
56 exclamations aea591b1607dd0b11f1dd659bad7d827     
n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 );感叹;感叹语;感叹词
参考例句:
  • The visitors broke into exclamations of wonder when they saw the magnificent Great Wall. 看到雄伟的长城,游客们惊叹不已。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • After the will has been read out, angry exclamations aroused. 遗嘱宣读完之后,激起一片愤怒的喊声。 来自辞典例句
57 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
58 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
59 dispensed 859813db740b2251d6defd6f68ac937a     
v.分配( dispense的过去式和过去分词 );施与;配(药)
参考例句:
  • Not a single one of these conditions can be dispensed with. 这些条件缺一不可。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • They dispensed new clothes to the children in the orphanage. 他们把新衣服发给孤儿院的小孩们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
60 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。
61 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的,处于某种境地的
参考例句:
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
62 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。
63 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
64 torrent 7GCyH     
n.激流,洪流;爆发,(话语等的)连发
参考例句:
  • The torrent scoured a channel down the hillside. 急流沿着山坡冲出了一条沟。
  • Her pent-up anger was released in a torrent of words.她压抑的愤怒以滔滔不绝的话爆发了出来。
65 favourable favourable     
adj.赞成的,称赞的,有利的,良好的,顺利的
参考例句:
  • The company will lend you money on very favourable terms.这家公司将以非常优惠的条件借钱给你。
  • We found that most people are favourable to the idea.我们发现大多数人同意这个意见。
66 anecdotes anecdotes     
n.掌故,趣闻,轶事( anecdote的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor 关于他短暂演员生涯的趣闻逸事
  • He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman. 他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
67 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。
68 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
69 semblances e8cd14e31ad1ced34eef0dff25c9c15e     
n.外表,外观(semblance的复数形式)
参考例句:
70 derives c6c3177a6f731a3d743ccd3c53f3f460     
v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 );(从…中)得到获得;源于;(从…中)提取
参考例句:
  • English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》
71 abreast Zf3yi     
adv.并排地;跟上(时代)的步伐,与…并进地
参考例句:
  • She kept abreast with the flood of communications that had poured in.她及时回复如雪片般飞来的大批信件。
  • We can't keep abreast of the developing situation unless we study harder.我们如果不加强学习,就会跟不上形势。
72 pending uMFxw     
prep.直到,等待…期间;adj.待定的;迫近的
参考例句:
  • The lawsuit is still pending in the state court.这案子仍在州法庭等待定夺。
  • He knew my examination was pending.他知道我就要考试了。
73 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
74 hue qdszS     
n.色度;色调;样子
参考例句:
  • The diamond shone with every hue under the sun.金刚石在阳光下放出五颜六色的光芒。
  • The same hue will look different in different light.同一颜色在不同的光线下看起来会有所不同。
75 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
76 insipidity 6ea3ca50e17e600b0d00d7dda2c8cc56     
n.枯燥无味,清淡,无精神;无生气状
参考例句:
  • The insipidity of the meeting was exactly such as Elinor had expected. 聚会的枯燥无味恰如埃莉诺预料的。 来自辞典例句
  • The English of the lieutenant general is very eccentric, empty insipidity, interpreter official leisurely, below drowsy. 中将的英语十分古怪,空洞无味,翻译官慢条斯理,下面昏昏欲睡。 来自互联网
77 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
78 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解,领悟,逮捕,拘捕,忧虑
参考例句:
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
79 entreaties d56c170cf2a22c1ecef1ae585b702562     
n.恳求,乞求( entreaty的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • He began with entreaties and ended with a threat. 他先是恳求,最后是威胁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The tyrant was deaf to the entreaties of the slaves. 暴君听不到奴隶们的哀鸣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
80 winks 1dd82fc4464d9ba6c78757a872e12679     
v.使眼色( wink的第三人称单数 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • I'll feel much better when I've had forty winks. 我打个盹就会感到好得多。
  • The planes were little silver winks way out to the west. 飞机在西边老远的地方,看上去只是些很小的银色光点。 来自辞典例句
81 clench fqyze     
vt.捏紧(拳头等),咬紧(牙齿等),紧紧握住
参考例句:
  • I clenched the arms of my chair.我死死抓住椅子扶手。
  • Slowly,he released his breath through clenched teeth.他从紧咬的牙缝间慢慢地舒了口气。
82 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。
83 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿
参考例句:
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
84 accomplishments 1c15077db46e4d6425b6f78720939d54     
n.造诣;完成( accomplishment的名词复数 );技能;成绩;成就
参考例句:
  • It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
  • Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
85 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。
86 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。
87 plebeian M2IzE     
adj.粗俗的;平民的;n.平民;庶民
参考例句:
  • He is a philosophy professor with a cockney accent and an alarmingly plebeian manner.他是个有一口伦敦土腔、举止粗俗不堪的哲学教授。
  • He spent all day playing rackets on the beach,a plebeian sport if there ever was one.他一整天都在海滩玩壁球,再没有比这更不入流的运动了。
88 conversed a9ac3add7106d6e0696aafb65fcced0d     
v.交谈,谈话( converse的过去式 )
参考例句:
  • I conversed with her on a certain problem. 我与她讨论某一问题。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She was cheerful and polite, and conversed with me pleasantly. 她十分高兴,也很客气,而且愉快地同我交谈。 来自辞典例句
89 ornament u4czn     
v.装饰,美化;n.装饰,装饰物
参考例句:
  • The flowers were put on the table for ornament.花放在桌子上做装饰用。
  • She wears a crystal ornament on her chest.她的前胸戴了一个水晶饰品。
90 swells e5cc2e057ee1aff52e79fb6af45c685d     
增强( swell的第三人称单数 ); 肿胀; (使)凸出; 充满(激情)
参考例句:
  • The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。
  • A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。
91 repose KVGxQ     
v.(使)休息;n.安息
参考例句:
  • Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
  • Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑,即使在睡眠时也是这样。
92 friction JQMzr     
n.摩擦,摩擦力
参考例句:
  • When Joan returned to work,the friction between them increased.琼回来工作后,他们之间的摩擦加剧了。
  • Friction acts on moving bodies and brings them to a stop.摩擦力作用于运动着的物体,并使其停止。
93 obedience 8vryb     
n.服从,顺从
参考例句:
  • Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
  • Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
94 inquiries 86a54c7f2b27c02acf9fcb16a31c4b57     
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听
参考例句:
  • He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
  • I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
95 disconsolate OuOxR     
adj.忧郁的,不快的
参考例句:
  • He looked so disconsolate that It'scared her.他看上去情绪很坏,吓了她一跳。
  • At the dress rehearsal she was disconsolate.彩排时她闷闷不乐。
96 widower fe4z2a     
n.鳏夫
参考例句:
  • George was a widower with six young children.乔治是个带著六个小孩子的鳏夫。
  • Having been a widower for many years,he finally decided to marry again.丧偶多年后,他终于决定二婚了。
97 bestowing ec153f37767cf4f7ef2c4afd6905b0fb     
砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖
参考例句:
  • Apollo, you see, is bestowing the razor on the Triptolemus of our craft. 你瞧,阿波罗正在把剃刀赠给我们这项手艺的特里泼托勒默斯。
  • What thanks do we not owe to Heaven for thus bestowing tranquillity, health and competence! 我们要谢谢上苍,赐我们的安乐、健康和饱暖。
98 minor e7fzR     
adj.较小(少)的,较次要的;n.辅修学科;vi.辅修
参考例句:
  • The young actor was given a minor part in the new play.年轻的男演员在这出新戏里被分派担任一个小角色。
  • I gave him a minor share of my wealth.我把小部分财产给了他。
99 ERECTED ERECTED     
adj. 直立的,竖立的,笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立,建立
参考例句:
  • A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。
  • A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。


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