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Chapter 63
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The Brothers Cheeryble make various Declarationsfor themselves and others. Tim Linkinwater makesa Declaration for himself.

  S ome weeks had passed, and the first shock of these eventshad subsided1. Madeline had been removed; Frank hadbeen absent; and Nicholas and Kate had begun to try ingood earnest to stifle2 their own regrets, and to live for each otherand for their mother—who, poor lady, could in nowise bereconciled to this dull and altered state of affairs—when therecame one evening, per favour of Mr Linkinwater, an invitationfrom the brothers to dinner on the next day but one:

  comprehending, not only Mrs Nickleby, Kate, and Nicholas, butlittle Miss La Creevy, who was most particularly mentioned.

  ‘Now, my dears,’ said Mrs Nickleby, when they had renderedbecoming honour to the bidding, and Tim had taken hisdeparture, ‘what does this mean?’

  ‘What do you mean, mother?’ asked Nicholas, smiling.

  ‘I say, my dear,’ rejoined that lady, with a face of unfathomablemystery, ‘what does this invitation to dinner mean? What is itsintention and object?’

  ‘I conclude it means, that on such a day we are to eat and drinkin their house, and that its intent and object is to confer pleasureupon us,’ said Nicholas.

  ‘And that’s all you conclude it is, my dear?’

  ‘I have not yet arrived at anything deeper, mother.’

    1132‘Then I’ll just tell you one thing,’ said Mrs Nickleby, you’ll findyourself a little surprised; that’s all. You may depend upon it thatthis means something besides dinner.’

  ‘Tea and supper, perhaps,’ suggested Nicholas.

  ‘I wouldn’t be absurd, my dear, if I were you,’ replied MrsNickleby, in a lofty manner, ‘because it’s not by any meansbecoming, and doesn’t suit you at all. What I mean to say is, thatthe Mr Cheerybles don’t ask us to dinner with all this ceremonyfor nothing. Never mind; wait and see. You won’t believe anythingI say, of course. It’s much better to wait; a great deal better; it’ssatisfactory to all parties, and there can be no disputing. All I sayis, remember what I say now, and when I say I said so, don’t say Ididn’t.’

  With this stipulation3, Mrs Nickleby, who was troubled, nightand day, with a vision of a hot messenger tearing up to the door toannounce that Nicholas had been taken into partnership4, quittedthat branch of the subject, and entered upon a new one.

  ‘It’s a very extraordinary thing,’ she said, ‘a most extraordinarything, that they should have invited Miss La Creevy. It quiteastonishes me, upon my word it does. Of course it’s very pleasantthat she should be invited, very pleasant, and I have no doubt thatshe’ll conduct herself extremely well; she always does. It’s verygratifying to think that we should have been the means ofintroducing her into such society, and I’m quite glad of it—quiterejoiced—for she certainly is an exceedingly well-behaved andgood-natured little person. I could wish that some friend wouldmention to her how very badly she has her cap trimmed, and whatvery preposterous5 bows those are, but of course that’s impossible,and if she likes to make a fright of herself, no doubt she has a  1133perfect right to do so. We never see ourselves—never do, andnever did—and I suppose we never shall.’

  This moral reflection reminding her of the necessity of beingpeculiarly smart on the occasion, so as to counterbalance Miss LaCreevy, and be herself an effectual set-off and atonement, led MrsNickleby into a consultation6 with her daughter relative to certainribbons, gloves, and trimmings: which, being a complicatedquestion, and one of paramount7 importance, soon routed theprevious one, and put it to flight.

  The great day arriving, the good lady put herself under Kate’shands an hour or so after breakfast, and, dressing8 by easy stages,completed her toilette in sufficient time to allow of her daughter’smaking hers, which was very simple, and not very long, though sosatisfactory that she had never appeared more charming or lookedmore lovely. Miss La Creevy, too, arrived with two bandboxes(whereof the bottoms fell out as they were handed from the coach)and something in a newspaper, which a gentleman had sat upon,coming down, and which was obliged to be ironed again, before itwas fit for service. At last, everybody was dressed, includingNicholas, who had come home to fetch them, and they went awayin a coach sent by the brothers for the purpose: Mrs Nicklebywondering very much what they would have for dinner, and cross-examining Nicholas as to the extent of his discoveries in themorning; whether he had smelt9 anything cooking at all like turtle,and if not, what he had smelt; and diversifying10 the conversationwith reminiscences of dinners to which she had gone some twentyyears ago, concerning which she particularised not only the dishesbut the guests, in whom her hearers did not feel a very absorbinginterest, as not one of them had ever chanced to hear their names  1134before.

  The old butler received them with profound respect and manysmiles, and ushered11 them into the drawing-room, where they werereceived by the brothers with so much cordiality and kindnessthat Mrs Nickleby was quite in a flutter, and had scarcely presenceof mind enough, even to patronise Miss La Creevy. Kate was stillmore affected12 by the reception: for, knowing that the brotherswere acquainted with all that had passed between her and Frank,she felt her position a most delicate and trying one, and wastrembling on the arm of Nicholas, when Mr Charles took her inhis, and led her to another part of the room.

  ‘Have you seen Madeline, my dear,’ he said, ‘since she left yourhouse?’

  ‘No, sir!’ replied Kate. ‘Not once.’

  ‘And not heard from her, eh? Not heard from her?’

  ‘I have only had one letter,’ rejoined Kate, gently. ‘I thought shewould not have forgotten me quite so soon.’

  ‘Ah,’ said the old man, patting her on the head, and speaking asaffectionately as if she had been his favourite child. ‘Poor dear!

  what do you think of this, brother Ned? Madeline has only writtento her once, only once, Ned, and she didn’t think she would haveforgotten her quite so soon, Ned.’

  ‘Oh! sad, sad; very sad!’ said Ned.

  The brothers interchanged a glance, and looking at Kate for alittle time without speaking, shook hands, and nodded as if theywere congratulating each other on something very delightful13.

  ‘Well, well,’ said brother Charles, ‘go into that room, my dear—that door yonder—and see if there’s not a letter for you from her. Ithink there’s one upon the table. You needn’t hurry back, my love,  1135if there is, for we don’t dine just yet, and there’s plenty of time.

  Plenty of time.’

  Kate retired14 as she was directed. Brother Charles, havingfollowed her graceful15 figure with his eyes, turned to Mrs Nickleby,and said:

  ‘We took the liberty of naming one hour before the real dinner-time, ma’am, because we had a little business to speak about,which would occupy the interval16. Ned, my dear fellow, will youmention what we agreed upon? Mr Nickleby, sir, have thegoodness to follow me.’

  Without any further explanation, Mrs Nickleby, Miss LaCreevy, and brother Ned, were left alone together, and Nicholasfollowed brother Charles into his private room; where, to his greatastonishment, he encountered Frank, whom he supposed to beabroad.

  ‘Young men,’ said Mr Cheeryble, ‘shake hands!’

  ‘I need no bidding to do that,’ said Nicholas, extending his.

  ‘Nor I,’ rejoined Frank, as he clasped it heartily17.

  The old gentleman thought that two handsomer or finer youngfellows could scarcely stand side by side than those on whom helooked with so much pleasure. Suffering his eyes to rest uponthem, for a short time in silence, he said, while he seated himselfat his desk:

  ‘I wish to see you friends—close and firm friends—and if Ithought you otherwise, I should hesitate in what I am about to say.

  Frank, look here! Mr Nickleby, will you come on the other side?’

  The young men stepped up on either hand of brother Charles,who produced a paper from his desk, and unfolded it.

  ‘This,’ he said, ‘is a copy of the will of Madeline’s maternal  1136grandfather, bequeathing her the sum of twelve thousand pounds,payable either upon her coming of age or marrying. It wouldappear that this gentleman, angry with her (his only relation)because she would not put herself under his protection, anddetach herself from the society of her father, in compliance18 withhis repeated overtures19, made a will leaving this property (whichwas all he possessed) to a charitable institution. He would seem tohave repented20 this determination, however, for three weeksafterwards, and in the same month, he executed this. By somefraud, it was abstracted immediately after his decease, and theother—the only will found—was proved and administered.

  Friendly negotiations21, which have only just now terminated, havebeen proceeding22 since this instrument came into our hands, and,as there is no doubt of its authenticity23, and the witnesses havebeen discovered (after some trouble), the money has beenrefunded. Madeline has therefore obtained her right, and is, or willbe, when either of the contingencies24 which I have mentioned hasarisen, mistress of this fortune. You understand me?’

  Frank replied in the affirmative. Nicholas, who could not trusthimself to speak lest his voice should be heard to falter25, bowed hishead.

  ‘Now, Frank,’ said the old gentleman, ‘you were the immediatemeans of recovering this deed. The fortune is but a small one; butwe love Madeline; and such as it is, we would rather see you alliedto her with that, than to any other girl we know who has threetimes the money. Will you become a suitor to her for her hand?’

  ‘No, sir. I interested myself in the recovery of that instrument,believing that her hand was already pledged to one who has athousand times the claims upon her gratitude26, and, if I mistake  1137not, upon her heart, that I or any other man can ever urge. In thisit seems I judged hastily.’

  ‘As you always, do, sir,’ cried brother Charles, utterly27 forgettinghis assumed dignity, ‘as you always do. How dare you think,Frank, that we would have you marry for money, when youth,beauty, and every amiable28 virtue29 and excellence30 were to be hadfor love? How dared you, Frank, go and make love to MrNickleby’s sister without telling us first what you meant to do, andletting us speak for you?’

  ‘I hardly dared to hope—’

  ‘You hardly dared to hope! Then, so much the greater reasonfor having our assistance! Mr Nickleby, sir, Frank, although hejudged hastily, judged, for once, correctly. Madeline’s heart isoccupied. Give me your hand, sir; it is occupied by you, andworthily and naturally. This fortune is destined31 to be yours, butyou have a greater fortune in her, sir, than you would have inmoney were it forty times told. She chooses you, Mr Nickleby. Shechooses as we, her dearest friends, would have her choose. Frankchooses as we would have him choose. He should have yoursister’s little hand, sir, if she had refused it a score of times; ay, heshould, and he shall! You acted nobly, not knowing oursentiments, but now you know them, sir, you must do as you arebid. What! You are the children of a worthy32 gentleman! The timewas, sir, when my dear brother Ned and I were two poor simple-hearted boys, wandering, almost barefoot, to seek our fortunes:

  are we changed in anything but years and worldly circumstancessince that time? No, God forbid! Oh, Ned, Ned, Ned, what a happyday this is for you and me! If our poor mother had only lived to seeus now, Ned, how proud it would have made her dear heart at  1138last!’

  Thus apostrophised, brother Ned, who had entered with MrsNickleby, and who had been before unobserved by the young men,darted forward, and fairly hugged brother Charles in his arms.

  ‘Bring in my little Kate,’ said the latter, after a short silence.

  ‘Bring her in, Ned. Let me see Kate, let me kiss her. I have a rightto do so now; I was very near it when she first came; I have oftenbeen very near it. Ah! Did you find the letter, my bird? Did youfind Madeline herself, waiting for you and expecting you? Did youfind that she had not quite forgotten her friend and nurse andsweet companion? Why, this is almost the best of all!’

  ‘Come, come,’ said Ned, ‘Frank will be jealous, and we shallhave some cutting of throats before dinner.’

  ‘Then let him take her away, Ned, let him take her away.

  Madeline’s in the next room. Let all the lovers get out of the way,and talk among themselves, if they’ve anything to say. Turn ’emout, Ned, every one!’

  Brother Charles began the clearance33 by leading the blushinggirl to the door, and dismissing her with a kiss. Frank was not veryslow to follow, and Nicholas had disappeared first of all. So thereonly remained Mrs Nickleby and Miss La Creevy, who were bothsobbing heartily; the two brothers; and Tim Linkinwater, who nowcame in to shake hands with everybody: his round face all radiantand beaming with smiles.

  ‘Well, Tim Linkinwater, sir,’ said brother Charles, who wasalways spokesman, ‘now the young folks are happy, sir.’

  ‘You didn’t keep ’em in suspense34 as long as you said you would,though,’ returned Tim, archly. ‘Why, Mr Nickleby and Mr Frankwere to have been in your room for I don’t know how long; and I  1139don’t know what you weren’t to have told them before you cameout with the truth.’

  ‘Now, did you ever know such a villain35 as this, Ned?’ said theold gentleman; ‘did you ever know such a villain as TimLinkinwater? He accusing me of being impatient, and he the veryman who has been wearying us morning, noon, and night, andtorturing us for leave to go and tell ’em what was in store, beforeour plans were half complete, or we had arranged a single thing. Atreacherous dog!’

  ‘So he is, brother Charles,’ returned Ned; ‘Tim is a treacherousdog. Tim is not to be trusted. Tim is a wild young fellow. He wantsgravity and steadiness; he must sow his wild oats, and thenperhaps he’ll become in time a respectable member of society.’

  This being one of the standing36 jokes between the old fellowsand Tim, they all three laughed very heartily, and might havelaughed much longer, but that the brothers, seeing that MrsNickleby was labouring to express her feelings, and was reallyoverwhelmed by the happiness of the time, took her betweenthem, and led her from the room under pretence37 of having toconsult her on some most important arrangements.

  Now, Tim and Miss La Creevy had met very often, and hadalways been very chatty and pleasant together—had always beengreat friends—and consequently it was the most natural thing inthe world that Tim, finding that she still sobbed38, should endeavourto console her. As Miss La Creevy sat on a large old-fashionedwindow-seat, where there was ample room for two, it was alsonatural that Tim should sit down beside her; and as to Tim’s beingunusually spruce and particular in his attire39 that day, why it was ahigh festival and a great occasion, and that was the most natural  1140thing of all.

  Tim sat down beside Miss La Creevy, and, crossing one leg overthe other so that his foot—he had very comely40 feet and happenedto be wearing the neatest shoes and black silk stockings possible—should come easily within the range of her eye, said in a soothingway:

  ‘Don’t cry!’

  ‘I must,’ rejoined Miss La Creevy.

  ‘No, don’t,’ said Tim. ‘Please don’t; pray don’t.’

  ‘I am so happy!’ sobbed the little woman.

  ‘Then laugh,’ said Tim. ‘Do laugh.’

  What in the world Tim was doing with his arm, it is impossibleto conjecture41, but he knocked his elbow against that part of thewindow which was quite on the other side of Miss La Creevy; andit is clear that it could have no business there.

  ‘Do laugh,’ said Tim, ‘or I’ll cry.’

  ‘Why should you cry?’ asked Miss La Creevy, smiling.

  ‘Because I’m happy too,’ said Tim. ‘We are both happy, and Ishould like to do as you do.’

  Surely, there never was a man who fidgeted as Tim must havedone then; for he knocked the window again—almost in the sameplace—and Miss La Creevy said she was sure he’d break it.

  ‘I knew,’ said Tim, ‘that you would be pleased with this scene.’

  ‘It was very thoughtful and kind to remember me,’ returnedMiss La Creevy. ‘Nothing could have delighted me half so much.’

  Why on earth should Miss La Creevy and Tim Linkinwaterhave said all this in a whisper? It was no secret. And why shouldTim Linkinwater have looked so hard at Miss La Creevy, and whyshould Miss La Creevy have looked so hard at the ground?

    1141‘It’s a pleasant thing,’ said Tim, ‘to people like us, who havepassed all our lives in the world alone, to see young folks that weare fond of, brought together with so many years of happinessbefore them.’

  ‘Ah!’ cried the little woman with all her heart, ‘that it is!’

  ‘Although,’ pursued Tim ‘although it makes one feel quitesolitary and cast away. Now don’t it?’

  Miss La Creevy said she didn’t know. And why should she sayshe didn’t know? Because she must have known whether it did ornot.

  ‘It’s almost enough to make us get married after all, isn’t it?’

  said Tim.

  ‘Oh, nonsense!’ replied Miss La Creevy, laughing. ‘We are tooold.’

  ‘Not a bit,’ said Tim; ‘we are too old to be single. Why shouldn’twe both be married, instead of sitting through the long winterevenings by our solitary42 firesides? Why shouldn’t we make onefireside of it, and marry each other?’

  ‘Oh, Mr Linkinwater, you’re joking!’

  ‘No, no, I’m not. I’m not indeed,’ said Tim. ‘I will, if you will. Do,my dear!’

  ‘It would make people laugh so.’

  ‘Let ’em laugh,’ cried Tim stoutly43; ‘we have good tempers Iknow, and we’ll laugh too. Why, what hearty44 laughs we have hadsince we’ve known each other!’

  ‘So we have,’ cried’ Miss La Creevy—giving way a little, as Timthought.

  ‘It has been the happiest time in all my life; at least, away fromthe counting-house and Cheeryble Brothers,’ said Tim. ‘Do, my  1142dear! Now say you will.’

  ‘No, no, we mustn’t think of it,’ returned Miss La Creevy. ‘Whatwould the brothers say?’

  ‘Why, God bless your soul!’ cried Tim, innocently, ‘you don’tsuppose I should think of such a thing without their knowing it!

  Why they left us here on purpose.’

  ‘I can never look ’em in the face again!’ exclaimed Miss LaCreevy, faintly.

  ‘Come,’ said Tim, ‘let’s be a comfortable couple. We shall live inthe old house here, where I have been for four-and-forty year; weshall go to the old church, where I’ve been, every Sundaymorning, all through that time; we shall have all my old friendsabout us—Dick, the archway, the pump, the flower-pots, and MrFrank’s children, and Mr Nickleby’s children, that we shall seemlike grandfather and grandmother to. Let’s be a comfortablecouple, and take care of each other! And if we should get deaf, orlame, or blind, or bed-ridden, how glad we shall be that we havesomebody we are fond of, always to talk to and sit with! Let’s be acomfortable couple. Now, do, my dear!’

  Five minutes after this honest and straightforward46 speech, littleMiss La Creevy and Tim were talking as pleasantly as if they hadbeen married for a score of years, and had never once quarrelledall the time; and five minutes after that, when Miss La Creevy hadbustled out to see if her eyes were red and put her hair to rights,Tim moved with a stately step towards the drawing-room,exclaiming as he went, ‘There an’t such another woman in allLondon! I know there an’t!’

  By this time, the apoplectic47 butler was nearly in fits, inconsequence of the unheard-of postponement48 of dinner. Nicholas,  1143who had been engaged in a manner in which every reader mayimagine for himself or herself, was hurrying downstairs inobedience to his angry summons, when he encountered a newsurprise.

  On his way down, he overtook, in one of the passages, astranger genteelly dressed in black, who was also moving towardsthe dining-room. As he was rather lame45, and walked slowly,Nicholas lingered behind, and was following him step by step,wondering who he was, when he suddenly turned round andcaught him by both hands.

  ‘Newman Noggs!’ cried Nicholas joyfully‘Ah! Newman, your own Newman, your own old faithfulNewman! My dear boy, my dear Nick, I give you joy—health,happiness, every blessing49! I can’t bear it—it’s too much, my dearboy—it makes a child of me!’

  ‘Where have you been?’ said Nicholas. ‘What have you beendoing? How often have I inquired for you, and been told that Ishould hear before long!’

  ‘I know, I know!’ returned Newman. ‘They wanted all thehappiness to come together. I’ve been helping50 ’em. I—I—look atme, Nick, look at me!’

  ‘You would never let me do that,’ said Nicholas in a tone ofgentle reproach.

  ‘I didn’t mind what I was, then. I shouldn’t have had the heartto put on gentleman’s clothes. They would have reminded me ofold times and made me miserable51. I am another man now, Nick.

  My dear boy, I can’t speak. Don’t say anything to me. Don’t thinkthe worse of me for these tears. You don’t know what I feel today;you can’t, and never will!’

    1144They walked in to dinner arm-in-arm, and sat down side byside.

  Never was such a dinner as that, since the world began. Therewas the superannuated52 bank clerk, Tim Linkinwater’s friend; andthere was the chubby53 old lady, Tim Linkinwater’s sister; and therewas so much attention from Tim Linkinwater’s sister to Miss LaCreevy, and there were so many jokes from the superannuatedbank clerk, and Tim Linkinwater himself was in such tiptopspirits, and little Miss La Creevy was in such a comical state, thatof themselves they would have composed the pleasantest partyconceivable. Then, there was Mrs Nickleby, so grand andcomplacent; Madeline and Kate, so blushing and beautiful;Nicholas and Frank, so devoted54 and proud; and all four so silentlyand tremblingly happy; there was Newman so subdued55 yet sooverjoyed, and there were the twin brothers so delighted andinterchanging such looks, that the old servant stood transfixedbehind his master’s chair, and felt his eyes grow dim as theywandered round the table.

  When the first novelty of the meeting had worn off, and theybegan truly to feel how happy they were, the conversation becamemore general, and the harmony and pleasure if possible increased.

  The brothers were in a perfect ecstasy56; and their insisting onsaluting the ladies all round, before they would permit them toretire, gave occasion to the superannuated bank clerk to say somany good things, that he quite outshone himself, and was lookedupon as a prodigy57 of humour.

  ‘Kate, my dear,’ said Mrs Nickleby, taking her daughter aside,as soon as they got upstairs, ‘you don’t really mean to tell me thatthis is actually true about Miss La Creevy and Mr Linkinwater?’

    1145‘Indeed it is, mama.’

  ‘Why, I never heard such a thing in my life!’ exclaimed MrsNickleby.

  ‘Mr Linkinwater is a most excellent creature,’ reasoned Kate,‘and, for his age, quite young still.’

  ‘For his age, my dear!’ returned Mrs Nickleby, ‘yes; nobody saysanything against him, except that I think he is the weakest andmost foolish man I ever knew. It’s her age I speak of. That heshould have gone and offered himself to a woman who must be—ah, half as old again as I am—and that she should have dared toaccept him! It don’t signify, Kate; I’m disgusted with her!’

  Shaking her head very emphatically indeed, Mrs Nicklebyswept away; and all the evening, in the midst of the merrimentand enjoyment58 that ensued, and in which with that exception shefreely participated, conducted herself towards Miss La Creevy in astately and distant manner, designed to mark her sense of theimpropriety of her conduct, and to signify her extreme and cuttingdisapprobation of the misdemeanour she had so flagrantlycommitted.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 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》
2 stifle cF4y5     
vt.使窒息;闷死;扼杀;抑止,阻止
参考例句:
  • She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
  • It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈,我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。
3 stipulation FhryP     
n.契约,规定,条文;条款说明
参考例句:
  • There's no stipulation as to the amount you can invest. 没有关于投资额的规定。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The only stipulation the building society makes is that house must be insured. 建屋互助会作出的唯一规定是房屋必须保险。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 partnership NmfzPy     
n.合作关系,伙伴关系
参考例句:
  • The company has gone into partnership with Swiss Bank Corporation.这家公司已经和瑞士银行公司建立合作关系。
  • Martin has taken him into general partnership in his company.马丁已让他成为公司的普通合伙人。
5 preposterous e1Tz2     
adj.荒谬的,可笑的
参考例句:
  • The whole idea was preposterous.整个想法都荒唐透顶。
  • It would be preposterous to shovel coal with a teaspoon.用茶匙铲煤是荒谬的。
6 consultation VZAyq     
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
参考例句:
  • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
  • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
7 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。
8 dressing 1uOzJG     
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料
参考例句:
  • Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
  • The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。
9 smelt tiuzKF     
v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼
参考例句:
  • Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
  • Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法,他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼,而改用焦炭。
10 diversifying a1f291117de06530378940b8720bea5e     
v.使多样化,多样化( diversify的现在分词 );进入新的商业领域
参考例句:
  • Some publishers are now diversifying into software. 有些出版社目前正兼营软件。 来自辞典例句
  • Silverlit is diversifying into new markets, such as Russia and Eastern Europe. Silverlit正在使他们的市场变得多样化,开发新的市场如俄罗斯和东欧国家。 来自互联网
11 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
12 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。
13 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的
参考例句:
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
14 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。
15 graceful deHza     
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的
参考例句:
  • His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
  • The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。
16 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。
17 heartily Ld3xp     
adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很
参考例句:
  • He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
  • The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
18 compliance ZXyzX     
n.顺从;服从;附和;屈从
参考例句:
  • I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
  • She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。
19 overtures 0ed0d32776ccf6fae49696706f6020ad     
n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲
参考例句:
  • Their government is making overtures for peace. 他们的政府正在提出和平建议。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He had lately begun to make clumsy yet endearing overtures of friendship. 最近他开始主动表示友好,样子笨拙却又招人喜爱。 来自辞典例句
20 repented c24481167c6695923be1511247ed3c08     
对(自己的所为)感到懊悔或忏悔( repent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He repented his thoughtlessness. 他后悔自己的轻率。
  • Darren repented having shot the bird. 达伦后悔射杀了那只鸟。
21 negotiations af4b5f3e98e178dd3c4bac64b625ecd0     
协商( negotiation的名词复数 ); 谈判; 完成(难事); 通过
参考例句:
  • negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
  • Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。
22 proceeding Vktzvu     
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报
参考例句:
  • This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。
  • The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。
23 authenticity quyzq     
n.真实性
参考例句:
  • There has been some debate over the authenticity of his will. 对于他的遗嘱的真实性一直有争论。
  • The museum is seeking an expert opinion on the authenticity of the painting. 博物馆在请专家鉴定那幅画的真伪。
24 contingencies ae3107a781f5a432c8e43398516126af     
n.偶然发生的事故,意外事故( contingency的名词复数 );以备万一
参考例句:
  • We must consider all possible contingencies. 我们必须考虑一切可能发生的事。
  • We must be prepared for all contingencies. 我们要作好各种准备,以防意外。 来自辞典例句
25 falter qhlzP     
vi.(嗓音)颤抖,结巴地说;犹豫;蹒跚
参考例句:
  • His voice began to falter.他的声音开始发颤。
  • As he neared the house his steps faltered.当他走近房子时,脚步迟疑了起来。
26 gratitude p6wyS     
adj.感激,感谢
参考例句:
  • I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
  • She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。
27 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
28 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。
29 virtue BpqyH     
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
参考例句:
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
30 excellence ZnhxM     
n.优秀,杰出,(pl.)优点,美德
参考例句:
  • His art has reached a high degree of excellence.他的艺术已达到炉火纯青的地步。
  • My performance is far below excellence.我的表演离优秀还差得远呢。
31 destined Dunznz     
adj.命中注定的;(for)以…为目的地的
参考例句:
  • It was destined that they would marry.他们结婚是缘分。
  • The shipment is destined for America.这批货物将运往美国。
32 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
33 clearance swFzGa     
n.净空;许可(证);清算;清除,清理
参考例句:
  • There was a clearance of only ten centimetres between the two walls.两堵墙之间只有十厘米的空隙。
  • The ship sailed as soon as it got clearance. 那艘船一办好离港手续立刻启航了。
34 suspense 9rJw3     
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑
参考例句:
  • The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
  • The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
35 villain ZL1zA     
n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因
参考例句:
  • He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
  • The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。
36 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。
37 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。
38 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。
39 attire AN0zA     
v.穿衣,装扮[同]array;n.衣着;盛装
参考例句:
  • He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
  • Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。
40 comely GWeyX     
adj.漂亮的,合宜的
参考例句:
  • His wife is a comely young woman.他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
  • A nervous,comely-dressed little girl stepped out.一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。
41 conjecture 3p8z4     
n./v.推测,猜测
参考例句:
  • She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
  • This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。
42 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
43 stoutly Xhpz3l     
adv.牢固地,粗壮的
参考例句:
  • He stoutly denied his guilt.他断然否认自己有罪。
  • Burgess was taxed with this and stoutly denied it.伯杰斯为此受到了责难,但是他自己坚决否认有这回事。
44 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。
45 lame r9gzj     
adj.跛的,(辩解、论据等)无说服力的
参考例句:
  • The lame man needs a stick when he walks.那跛脚男子走路时需借助拐棍。
  • I don't believe his story.It'sounds a bit lame.我不信他讲的那一套。他的话听起来有些靠不住。
46 straightforward fFfyA     
adj.正直的,坦率的;易懂的,简单的
参考例句:
  • A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
  • I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。
47 apoplectic seNya     
adj.中风的;愤怒的;n.中风患者
参考例句:
  • He died from a stroke of apoplexy.他死于中风。
  • My father was apoplectic when he discovered the truth.我父亲在发现真相后勃然大怒。
48 postponement fe68fdd7c3d68dcd978c3de138b7ce85     
n.推迟
参考例句:
  • He compounded with his creditors for a postponement of payment. 他与债权人达成协议延期付款。
  • Rain caused the postponement of several race-meetings. 几次赛马大会因雨延期。
49 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
50 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
51 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。
52 superannuated YhOzQq     
adj.老朽的,退休的;v.因落后于时代而废除,勒令退学
参考例句:
  • Are you still riding that superannuated old bike?你还骑那辆老掉牙的自行车吗?
  • No one supports these superannuated policies.没人支持这些过时的政策。
53 chubby wrwzZ     
adj.丰满的,圆胖的
参考例句:
  • He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实,可并不发胖。
  • The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。
54 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
55 subdued 76419335ce506a486af8913f13b8981d     
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
  • I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候,我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。
56 ecstasy 9kJzY     
n.狂喜,心醉神怡,入迷
参考例句:
  • He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
  • Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具,高兴得说不出话来。
57 prodigy n14zP     
n.惊人的事物,奇迹,神童,天才,预兆
参考例句:
  • She was a child prodigy on the violin.她是神童小提琴手。
  • He was always a Negro prodigy who played barbarously and wonderfully.他始终是一个黑人的奇才,这种奇才弹奏起来粗野而惊人。
58 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。


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