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Chapter XVII RANCH ROSES
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 “OH, you Primrose1, that’s nuthin’. Do you ’spose I’d git mad if a nice feller tried to kiss me?” Sally laughed noisily. “Why, that’s all in the game, goosie.”
 
Alta’s face showed pain at this rude reception of her confidence. “Why, Sally, I’m shocked to hear you speak of such liberties so flippantly.”
 
“Oh, pshaw, it only shows he likes you. Dick is a jolly fellow. He don’t mean nuthin’ by it.”
 
“It only shows he has no respect for himself or me either.”
 
“You’ll get over that in time, Miss Tenderfoot,” Sally went on; “boys are boys, and we’ll have to take ’em as they are, or we’ll die old maids.”
 
“Well, I’ll die an old maid then, before I’ll sacrifice my self-respect to get a beau. Respect and love go together. That’s what Aunt Betty used to say, and I believe every word of it.{178}”
 
“My, how pretty you talk—jest like preachin’.”
 
“Well, I mean it.”
 
“Yes, but I don’t believe in bein’ so stiff with the boys that you drive ’em all away. And that’s what you’re doin’ with Dick. He’s a dandy fellow, too.”
 
“Yes, you’re right, he is a dandy.” Sally missed the double meaning.
 
“Well, you think a whole lot of him anyway.”
 
“I’d think a good deal more of him if he thought more of himself.”
 
“He’s conceited3 enough, if that’s what you want.”
 
“That’s just what I don’t want. Conceit2 and self-respect are two very different things.”
 
“Oh, you’ll forget all your fine talk one of these days and be glad to forgive him.”
 
“Sally, what do you take me for?”
 
“Just a silly little girl who’s got herself upset by a smart fellow, that’s all; but you’ll recover.”
 
“Indeed I will.”
 
“Yes, and so will he; for you’ll make up to-night and be swimmin’ in honey.”
 
Alta flushed. “Please don’t anger me, Sally. Be serious. I came to you for advice, and you{179} make light of my confidences. You surely don’t think I’m in love with Dick Davis.”
 
“Oh, no, not yet; but the signs are right for a real case.”
 
“Signs sometimes fail; don’t they, Aunt ‘Liza?” The bustling4 housekeeper5 had just come in with a bucket of eggs she had been gathering6.
 
“Law me, yes; they’ve certainly been failin’ ’bout here. I thought I’d see some signs o’ work, ’gin I got back. You gals7 better make ’em, stid o’ talkin’ ’bout fellers. That’s what you’ve been doin’, I’ll warrant.”
 
“Oh, no, we wouldn’t do anything like that—specially Alta. She don’t believe in fellers.”
 
“Don’t, eh? Well, they seem to b’lieve in her the way they keep shinin’ ’round.”
 
“Yes, but she—”
 
“Sally, please don’t,” pleaded Alta; “what can we do to help you, Aunt ‘Liza?”
 
“Jest pitch in brisk. We got to git this cookin’ goin’ lively, or we’ll never be ready fer that bunch o’ fellers that’s comin’ to-night. It flusters9 me to think about it. You wash this rice and get it cookin’, Sally; and Alta, you skip over to Willis’s and git some eggs; I ain’t found half enough. Tell her to let me hev all she kin8 spare. I’ll git the pie crust ready while you’re{180} gone. Missus Moffat says she’ll bring her girls over this afternoon and give us a lift. Goodness knows we need it.”
 
By the time she had finished her speech, Alta was at the corral, bridling10 Eagle. Leaping on him, she galloped11 off briskly along the winding12 trail that lay like a loose flung rope across the meadow. She was glad to be alone for a moment.
 
“What’s all this feller talk about?” was Aunt ‘Liza’s prying13 question when Alta had gone.
 
“Don’t know as I ought to tell,” Sally replied.
 
“Tell? Well, I guess you orter. Ain’t I that little gal’s protector and confider?”
 
“Then why ain’t she told you?”
 
“I dunno. The little puss has been kind o’ sly lately. There’s somethin’ worryin’ her mind and she ain’t so free with me as she was. What’s she been tellin’ you?”
 
“Oh, jist ’bout Dick Davis tryin’ to kiss her.”
 
“When?”
 
“Night of the Pioneer Dance.”
 
“And she wouldn’t let him?”
 
“No, she snubbed him for it.”
 
“Huh! so thet’s the reason Dick quit comin’ here so sudden. And thet’s what’s worrying her, I know, cause she likes Dick.{181}”
 
“Yes, and he’s gone on her, too.”
 
“Well, they’ll hev to untangle their own yarn15. I’ve got plenty o’ troubles of my own to look after,”—and Aunt ‘Liza began to rattle16 the pots and pans. Sally pitched into the work with vigor17.
 
“Beats me, though, how the fellers flock round Alta when she acts so independent. I guess it’s true that the meaner you treat ’em the better they like you,” said Sally.
 
“Yes, but it won’t allus work. I’ve seen many a smart girl who might a had her pick of all of ’em, and hev to take some scrub at last. Girls mustn’t be too particular.”
 
“You bet I—”
 
“Here are your eggs,” said Alta, tripping through the door; “and here come Mrs. Willis and Mary to help out.”
 
“Good fer us!” exclaimed Aunt ‘Liza; “we need their help. Come in, Marthy.”
 
“I thought you’d have your hands full trying to get ready for the crowd that’s coming. What can we do?” said Mrs. Willis, a motherly, helpful spirit, with a touch of refinement18 in her voice and manner. She had recently come from the city to try ranching20, her husband’s health having begun to break at too close work in the store.{182}
 
“You might make the cookies, Mrs. Willis. I’ll clear this table for you. And Mary can pitch in with Alta peelin’ the apples fer the pies, if she will. Sally, you jest make that rice puddin’. I’ll git these dishes washed. The bread’s baked, and the boys have got the steer21 a-roastin’. I guess we’ll git through; but it’s worse than feedin’ the threshers.”
 
“Of course we shall,” said Alta; “Aunt ‘Liza’s a good manager. I only wish I could handle the kitchen half so well.”
 
“You could if you’d keep your head on it; but a body can’t cook and read poetry at the same time; still you do mighty22 well,” said Aunt ‘Liza, inwardly pleased with the praise. “Here comes Mrs. Moffat. Glad to see her, too. Good mornin’, Sarah Jane, come right in.”
 
“Looks like you need another hand, ‘Liza. What can I do to help?”
 
“Set down with the girls there, if you will, and show ’em how to peel apples. I’m afraid they’re wastin’ too much.”
 
“All right; move ’round, Mary, and let’s have an apple peelin’ bee, like we used to have in pioneer days.”
 
“Oh, jolly,” exclaimed Alta, “and you tell us a story while we work.{183}”
 
“Name my apple first,” said Mary, jumping up and passing it for everybody to thump23.
 
“And mine too,” said Sally, grabbing one.
 
“Here, Aunt ‘Liza, let’s name one for you, too.”
 
“Oh, git away with your foolishness, ’tain’t no use.”
 
“Let’s name one for her anyway,” said Alta. “Now all together, think hard and thump. Maybe it will bring Aunt ‘Liza a beau to-night.”
 
“Now for the peelin’s,” said Sally, swinging hers carefully above her head, and letting the paring drop behind her.
 
“It’s a G,” cried Mary; “who’s that?”
 
“Law, that’s easy,” said Aunt Liza, not too absorbed in her work to keep in with the fun; “G’s for Jim, of course.”
 
The girls squealed24 their delight at Aunt ‘Liza’s happy blunder.
 
“Sure! sure! that’s it,” they exclaimed.
 
“Well, try your luck, Mary,” said Sally.
 
Mary’s paring was flung and it formed an O.
 
“Old maid, Mary!” teased Sally.
 
“I don’t believe it,” said Mary.
 
“Come, Alta,” said Sally, “come, yours next.”
 
Alta’s paring broke as it dropped.
 
“What does that mean?” she asked.{184}
 
“Broken hearts, we always used to say,” said Mrs. Moffat.
 
“Oh, that’s bad fortune,” said Alta; “it can’t be true.”
 
“Apple peelings never lie,” said Sally in mock seriousness.
 
“You certainly will break somethin’,” interjected Aunt ‘Liza, raising her dough25-covered finger to emphasize her remark, “if you don’t quit flirtin’ with the fellers. They won’t keep comin’ always, as I’m a shinin’ example to prove.”
 
A scream of fun greeted this sermon.
 
“Oh, Aunt ‘Liza’s had experience, I know—a real romance, I just know it,” said Alta, “but she never gave a hint of it before.”
 
“Tell us all about it,” teased Mary.
 
“Romance! shucks! d’ye think I’d hev fellers pesterin’ about me?”
 
“Oh, don’t be so practical, Auntie; tell us something really romantic,” said Alta.
 
“Yes, what did he say when he proposed?” added Sally; “why wouldn’t you have him?”
 
Aunt ‘Liza’s face flushed as she turned without a word to make the old rolling pin chuckle26 again across the pie dough. Sally had struck a tender chord rather roughly. All felt it. Mrs. Willis, with motherly instinct, turned their thoughts quickly, by saying{185}—
 
“Come, girls, stop teasing Aunt ‘Liza, and turn on me.”
 
“All right, you tell us how your beau popped the question,” said Sally.
 
“No, I won’t tell you that; but I’ll tell you about an apple tree romance with a proposal in it, if you wish.”
 
“Oh, jolly, jolly!” The girls dropped their apples and clapped their approval.
 
“Who was it about? Not you, mother?” asked Mary, a little anxiously.
 
“No, not me exactly, but I was in the fun. It is about John Watkins; you remember him, Aunt ‘Liza?”
 
“Yes, I reckon I do, lazy old scamp!” came the tart27 response. “After Maria died he wouldn’t do nuthin’ but read poetry and chase around tryin’ to git another wife to raise his pack o’ young uns—think I did know him.”
 
“Well, it’s ’bout his proposing to Jerusha Jones that I was going to tell.”
 
The girls were all interested.
 
“Oh, come now, you must work or I won’t talk.” The paring knives began to fly again.
 
“Well, Jerusha was one of my chums, as jolly a girl as you ever saw, pretty, too; and pranks28!—what that girl could not think of was hardly worth trying. The fellows were all{186} crazy over her, but she wouldn’t be serious with any of them.
 
“Well, Jerusha and Mary Snow—that’s the one this chicken is named for—and I were like triplets, together all the time, and we knew one another’s secrets and shared all our fun and trouble. For we had our troubles, hard work a-plenty, and precious little fun except what we made, but then that’s the best kind anyway.
 
“Well, as I was saying, Jerusha had plenty of strings29 to her bow, but that didn’t make any difference to Mr. Watkins. When his wife, Maria, died, he wanted another, of course, and no one but the best was good enough, that is, to begin with. He changed his mind later and took what he could get.”
 
“Yes, and he got a regular Tartar, too,” supplemented Aunt ‘Liza, “just as mean as Maria was good—served him right.”
 
“But what was the apple tree romance, mother?” Mary voiced the impatience30 of the listeners.
 
“I’m coming to it, girlie. You know we used to get up home dramatics, and Mr. Watkins, being rather literary in his tastes, used to play on the stage with us. Jerusha was generally the star with him, and they were fine, too. I{187} guess that’s how he came to take to Jerusha afterwards. He got used to making love to her.
 
“One night when Mary and I went over to Jones’s, we found Jerusha all flustered31 over something.
 
“‘It’s coming, girls, it’s coming,’ she broke out, clasping her hands and acting32 stage-struck.
 
“‘How am I to meet it—to meet it?’ She acted so tragic33 it half scared us.
 
“‘For goodness’ sake, what’s the matter?’ I guess I half screamed.
 
“Jerusha threw herself in a chair and laughed hysterically34. Of a sudden she stopped—
 
“‘Say, girls, I have a scheme. Will you do it? Dare you do it?’ she whispered in stage tones.
 
“‘Do what?’ we asked.
 
“‘Save me from becoming the mother of an orphan35 asylum36.’ She grew tragic again.
 
“‘You must, or I’ll die! I’ll die! Will you do it?’
 
“‘Of course, we’ll do it!’ we promised, half alarmed at her antics. ‘What is it?’
 
“‘My Lord de Vere is going to pop the question, this very night.’
 
“Mary and I sank on the sofa screaming with laughter. Lord de Vere was Watkins’ stage name.{188}
 
“‘Jerusha, you don’t mean it?’
 
“‘Yes, I do; he nearly did it last night, but I headed it off. He’s coming to rehearse to-night, and I know he’ll do it. What can I do? What shall I do?’
 
“‘Do!’ Aunt ‘Liza sniffed37, ‘why tell him no and be done with it.’”
 
“Oh, how could you be so cruel, Aunt ‘Liza?” asked Sally.
 
“Please go on, Mrs. Willis,” said Alta.
 
“Well, Jerusha finally jumped up and cried, ‘Girls, I have it! Do you want to hear a real proposal?’
 
“We danced with delight at the suggestion.
 
“‘Well, I’ll tell you. When my lord comes to-night, you be on hand and I’ll manage the rest. Slip down by the old apple tree.’”
 
“Mother, you surely didn’t!” said Mary.
 
“I’m afraid I must confess, child, that I did.”
 
“And did he propose?”
 
“Now, don’t crowd my story. We waited a long time before they got through rehearsing, and then, just as we had decided38 that Jerusha was fooling us, here they came sauntering down to the bench by the apple tree. We didn’t know where else to hide, so we climbed the tree, and sat there giggling39. But we managed to hold{189} quiet enough until he began to make love in dead earnest.”
 
“Huh! the old softy!” inserted Aunt ‘Liza; “jest like him!”
 
“Did he get down on his knees?” asked Sally; “what did he say?”
 
“I don’t remember a word; we burst out laughing, and jumped up and down on the limbs till the apples peppered down on them. Jerusha broke away and ran screaming to the house, and Mr. Watkins made a mad scramble40 for the gate.”
 
“Oh, mother, mother!” exclaimed Mary; “how could you?”
 
“Served the old skeezicks just right,” was Aunt ‘Liza’s unfeeling rejoinder.
 
“Shame on you for spoiling such a romance,” said Alta, laughingly; “how dared you?”
 
“Well, we got so hungry for fun those days we did do things that were rowdy, perhaps; but if our fun seemed a little rough at times, there wasn’t anything really wicked in it. I guess the spirit of the wild West was just bubbling over in us, that’s all.”
 
“Is the spirit of the West so different, Mrs. Willis?” asked Alta.
 
“Perhaps not; yet it seems to me that those who live here long catch something of the wild{190} freedom of these old mountains. Haven’t you felt it? You are a Western girl through and through, even though you haven’t been here so long.”
 
“Do you think so? Am I wild?”
 
“You’re a mixture of ginger41 and sugar,” said Sally.
 
“Now, don’t,” pleaded Alta; “tell me, Mrs. Willis, what is the spirit of the true Western girl?”
 
“She is full of sunshine as a meadow lark42, and as spontaneous as a mountain stream, as lively as a squirrel—”
 
“And just as hard to catch,” inserted Mary.
 
“Unless the right feller comes along,” said Sally; “then she’s tame enough.”
 
“Not the true Western girl,” objected Mrs. Willis; “she won’t chase after any man. Her heart is hidden as deep as the mountain’s gold.”
 
“Oh, you’d make her an angel with wings,” said Sally.
 
“No, I wouldn’t, I’d just make her all she is—wholesome, natural, free—a wild rose that blooms among a tangle14 of thorns, scattering43 sweetness free and far, but stinging the hand that tries rudely to pluck it.”
 
“Why, you’re a regular preacher,” said Sally.
 
“You’re a poet!” said Alta.{191}
 
“No, I’m neither poet nor preacher, but if I were either I’d give you girls one lesson.”
 
“And what’s that?” asked Alta.
 
“Have all the rollicking fun you want, but make it pure, and remember, if you want any man always to love you, make him respect you first.”
 
“That sounds just like Aunt Betty,” said Alta, snuggling closer to Mrs. Willis, who responded by smoothing back the silken hair and kissing the beautiful forehead. A tear stole down Alta’s cheek.
 
“Let’s sing a hymn44 now and be dismissed,” said Sally. “This is getting too blamed serious. All together now!”
 
She grabbed up the rolling pin and began to beat time, singing with solemnity in nasal tones:
“Do what is right, let the consequence follow,
Battle for freedom with spirit and might.”
 
“Oh, give us something cheerful!” Mary broke in, “like ‘music in the air.’”
 
“You don’t call this music, then?” said Sally, in mock injury. “Well, let’s try another: ‘Mary Lee, we’ll roll the dough, roll the dough, roll the dough,’” and suiting the action to the word, she began to make the old rolling pin chuckle on the table.{192}
 
“That’s a heap better,” said Aunt ‘Liza; “we’d better be gettin’ this work movin’ faster. That sun’s slidin’ to’rds night perty fast.”
 
They all began briskly to do the various tasks Aunt ‘Liza had assigned them.
 
“Who do you think’ll be here anyway?” asked Sally.
 
“Jim for one,” said Alta.
 
“And that one’s Sally,” added Mary.
 
“Good for poor lonely me! Who else?”
 
“The rest of the Bar B bunch, with Pat the cook.”
 
“I wonder if Alta’s new beau will come?” said Mary.
 
“Who, Dick? Yes, he’ll be here, don’t worry.”
 
“But I meant that other one.”
 
“Who, the cow-kid? That young fellow she danced with half a dozen times the last dance?”
 
“Oh, what a fib!” said Alta.
 
“Yes, that’s the one,” said Mary.
 
“No, he won’t be here; he’s skipped.”
 
“What do you mean?” asked Alta.
 
“Well, Noisy says he’s been discharged and has quit the valley.”
 
“Discharged? left the valley?” said Alta. “What for?”
 
“For doing some crooked45 work with the cattle he was herding46.{193}”
 
“It’s a cruel lie,” said Alta, trembling between anxiety and anger.
 
All stared at the anxious, excited girl.
 
“That boy is not capable of crooked work.”
 
“How do you know it?” asked Sally.
 
“Well, I know him, that’s all.”
 
“Seems to be a partickler friend of yours,” suggested Sally.
 
“Yes, he is; and I’ll stand by him. If that boy has been driven out of this valley, he’s been wronged, and I know it”; with these worried words she turned silently to her work, resolved in her heart to find out the truth.
 
It was this determination that made her ready to meet Dick more than half way that night, when he, stimulated47 by Sally’s suggestion that Alta was “dying to make up,” invited her to dance. His delight in feeling that he had brought the independent girl to terms was doubled when she invited him to sit down with her. But his hopes were dashed when she asked abruptly48, “Where is Fred to-night?”
 
“Who, the cow-kid?” Dick stammered49; “why, he’s hit the trail.”
 
“What do you mean by that?” Alta half demanded.
 
“Skipped the country, that’s all,” Dick was evasive and snappish.{194}
 
“Why did he do it?”
 
“He lost and killed several critters out of his blooded bunch, and the boss fired him.”
 
“Killed his cattle? How?” Alta was provokingly persistent50. Dick began to get nervous.
 
“Well, the boys found one with his rope on choked to death, and another was shot.”
 
“Shot? Where was it?”
 
“Up Sage51 Creek52.”
 
“When?”
 
“Week or so ago.”
 
“Oh!” Alta’s eyes flashed as a new thought struck her. “How did they know Fred shot it?”
 
“They don’t know exactly; but it looked suspicious, and when Hanks faced him, he wouldn’t tell nuthin’ one way or the other.”
 
“And the foreman discharged him?”
 
“Yes, he said he’d have to tell or git.”
 
“Where did he go?”
 
“Nobody knows; he skipped out when everybody was away from the shack53.”
 
“Did he have any money?”
 
“I guess not. Hanks wouldn’t pay him.”
 
“It’s an outrage,” exclaimed Alta, “to treat him that way. That boy has been cruelly wronged.{195}”
 
“You seem to be takin’ his goin’ pretty rough,” Dick insinuated54.
 
“Why shouldn’t I? Fred is a friend of mine. The Bar B ranch19 ought to be ashamed of this business.”
 
“What you people gittin’ so serious about?” Sally interrupted them as the next dance closed. “Come on and dance.”
 
“All right!” said Dick, jumping up. “Miss Morgan’ll be glad to excuse me. She’s frettin’ over the cow-kid.”
 
Alta paid no heed55 to his jealous tone and words. She was lost in thought. With a woman’s intuition, she had hit upon the truth. Bud Nixon was at the bottom of some of Fred’s trouble; and she innocently had been the cause. She tried to shake off her anxiety and join in the rollicking fun; but though she seemed happy, a cruel worry was in her heart.
 
When the celebration finally broke up and the merry noises had faded with the echoes into silence, she stood again by the window looking into the depths of the starry56 sky above her while she thought of Fred somewhere battling alone with his trouble and hers. It was in that hour that Alta began to learn how much she cared. At last she turned to her couch, and knelt and prayed God to protect and comfort him.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 primrose ctxyr     
n.樱草,最佳部分,
参考例句:
  • She is in the primrose of her life.她正处在她一生的最盛期。
  • The primrose is set off by its nest of green.一窝绿叶衬托着一朵樱草花。
2 conceit raVyy     
n.自负,自高自大
参考例句:
  • As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后,谦虚使人进步。
  • She seems to be eaten up with her own conceit.她仿佛已经被骄傲冲昏了头脑。
3 conceited Cv0zxi     
adj.自负的,骄傲自满的
参考例句:
  • He could not bear that they should be so conceited.他们这样自高自大他受不了。
  • I'm not as conceited as so many people seem to think.我不像很多人认为的那么自负。
4 bustling LxgzEl     
adj.喧闹的
参考例句:
  • The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
  • This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。
5 housekeeper 6q2zxl     
n.管理家务的主妇,女管家
参考例句:
  • A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
  • She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家,一家人吃得很省。
6 gathering ChmxZ     
n.集会,聚会,聚集
参考例句:
  • He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
  • He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。
7 gals 21c57865731669089b5a91f4b7ca82ad     
abbr.gallons (复数)加仑(液量单位)n.女孩,少女( gal的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Jim came skipping out at the gate with a tin pail, and singing Buffalo Gals. 这时,吉姆手里提着一个锡皮桶,嘴中唱着“布法罗的女娃们”蹦蹦跳跳地从大门口跑出来。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
  • An' dey thinks dey wants mousy lil gals wid bird's tastes an' no sense at all. 他们想要的是耗子般的小姑娘,胃口小得像雀子,一点儿见识也没有。 来自飘(部分)
8 kin 22Zxv     
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的
参考例句:
  • He comes of good kin.他出身好。
  • She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。
9 flusters 1d796beffb2fee83ae3fbc2f3044e5fb     
v.使慌乱,使不安( fluster的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • The honk of horn flusters the driver. 汽车喇叭的响声使司机感到慌乱。 来自互联网
10 bridling a7b16199fc3c7bb470d10403db2646e0     
给…套龙头( bridle的现在分词 ); 控制; 昂首表示轻蔑(或怨忿等); 动怒,生气
参考例句:
  • Suellen, bridling, always asked news of Mr. Kennedy. 苏伦也克制着经常探询肯尼迪先生的情况。
  • We noticed sever al men loitering about the bridling last night. 昨天夜里我们看到有几个人在楼附近荡来荡去。
11 galloped 4411170e828312c33945e27bb9dce358     
(使马)飞奔,奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 ); 快速做[说]某事
参考例句:
  • Jo galloped across the field towards him. 乔骑马穿过田野向他奔去。
  • The children galloped home as soon as the class was over. 孩子们一下课便飞奔回家了。
12 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
13 prying a63afacc70963cb0fda72f623793f578     
adj.爱打听的v.打听,刺探(他人的私事)( pry的现在分词 );撬开
参考例句:
  • I'm sick of you prying into my personal life! 我讨厌你刺探我的私生活!
  • She is always prying into other people's affairs. 她总是打听别人的私事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
14 tangle yIQzn     
n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱
参考例句:
  • I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。
  • If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你,我就不跟他们争吵。
15 yarn LMpzM     
n.纱,纱线,纺线;奇闻漫谈,旅行轶事
参考例句:
  • I stopped to have a yarn with him.我停下来跟他聊天。
  • The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
16 rattle 5Alzb     
v.飞奔,碰响;激怒;n.碰撞声;拨浪鼓
参考例句:
  • The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓,笑着叫着。
  • She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。
17 vigor yLHz0     
n.活力,精力,元气
参考例句:
  • The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
  • She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在,她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。
18 refinement kinyX     
n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼
参考例句:
  • Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
  • Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。
19 ranch dAUzk     
n.大牧场,大农场
参考例句:
  • He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
  • The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。
20 ranching 7f1bd23143dfa7632bbf9189e8e2d9f4     
adj.放牧的
参考例句:
  • They cleared large tracts of forest for farming, logging and ranching. 他们清除了大片的森林以经营农耕、采伐与畜牧。
  • This is a trade center in a ranching and oil-producing region. 这是一个牧场与产油区的贸易中心。
21 steer 5u5w3     
vt.驾驶,为…操舵;引导;vi.驾驶
参考例句:
  • If you push the car, I'll steer it.如果你来推车,我就来驾车。
  • It's no use trying to steer the boy into a course of action that suits you.想说服这孩子按你的方式行事是徒劳的。
22 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。
23 thump sq2yM     
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声
参考例句:
  • The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
  • The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。
24 squealed 08be5c82571f6dba9615fa69033e21b0     
v.长声尖叫,用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He squealed the words out. 他吼叫着说出那些话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The brakes of the car squealed. 汽车的刹车发出吱吱声。 来自《简明英汉词典》
25 dough hkbzg     
n.生面团;钱,现款
参考例句:
  • She formed the dough into squares.她把生面团捏成四方块。
  • The baker is kneading dough.那位面包师在揉面。
26 chuckle Tr1zZ     
vi./n.轻声笑,咯咯笑
参考例句:
  • He shook his head with a soft chuckle.他轻轻地笑着摇了摇头。
  • I couldn't suppress a soft chuckle at the thought of it.想到这个,我忍不住轻轻地笑起来。
27 tart 0qIwH     
adj.酸的;尖酸的,刻薄的;n.果馅饼;淫妇
参考例句:
  • She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
  • She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了,用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。
28 pranks cba7670310bdd53033e32d6c01506817     
n.玩笑,恶作剧( prank的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Frank's errancy consisted mostly of pranks. 法兰克错在老喜欢恶作剧。 来自辞典例句
  • He always leads in pranks and capers. 他老是带头胡闹和开玩笑。 来自辞典例句
29 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。
30 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
31 flustered b7071533c424b7fbe8eb745856b8c537     
adj.慌张的;激动不安的v.使慌乱,使不安( fluster的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The honking of horns flustered the boy. 汽车喇叭的叫声使男孩感到慌乱。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • She was so flustered that she forgot her reply. 她太紧张了,都忘记了该如何作答。 来自辞典例句
32 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
33 tragic inaw2     
adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的
参考例句:
  • The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
  • Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。
34 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。
35 orphan QJExg     
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的
参考例句:
  • He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大,并且把自己的医术传给了他。
  • The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。
36 asylum DobyD     
n.避难所,庇护所,避难
参考例句:
  • The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
  • Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。
37 sniffed ccb6bd83c4e9592715e6230a90f76b72     
v.以鼻吸气,嗅,闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 );抽鼻子(尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气);抱怨,不以为然地说
参考例句:
  • When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣,吸了吸鼻子,擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
38 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
39 giggling 2712674ae81ec7e853724ef7e8c53df1     
v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren. 我们只是坐在那儿像调皮的小学生一样的咯咯地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I can't stand her giggling, she's so silly. 她吃吃地笑,叫我真受不了,那样子傻透了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
40 scramble JDwzg     
v.爬行,攀爬,杂乱蔓延,碎片,片段,废料
参考例句:
  • He broke his leg in his scramble down the wall.他爬墙摔断了腿。
  • It was a long scramble to the top of the hill.到山顶须要爬登一段长路。
41 ginger bzryX     
n.姜,精力,淡赤黄色;adj.淡赤黄色的;vt.使活泼,使有生气
参考例句:
  • There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。
  • Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。
42 lark r9Fza     
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏
参考例句:
  • He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
  • She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。
43 scattering 91b52389e84f945a976e96cd577a4e0c     
n.[物]散射;散乱,分散;在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的;分散在不同范围的;广泛扩散的;(选票)数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式);散布;驱散
参考例句:
  • The child felle into a rage and began scattering its toys about. 这孩子突发狂怒,把玩具扔得满地都是。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The farmers are scattering seed. 农夫们在播种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 hymn m4Wyw     
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌
参考例句:
  • They sang a hymn of praise to God.他们唱着圣歌,赞美上帝。
  • The choir has sung only two verses of the last hymn.合唱团只唱了最后一首赞美诗的两个段落。
45 crooked xvazAv     
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的
参考例句:
  • He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指,示意我们到他那儿去。
  • You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
46 herding herding     
中畜群
参考例句:
  • The little boy is herding the cattle. 这个小男孩在放牛。
  • They have been herding cattle on the tableland for generations. 他们世世代代在这高原上放牧。
47 stimulated Rhrz78     
a.刺激的
参考例句:
  • The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
  • The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。
48 abruptly iINyJ     
adv.突然地,出其不意地
参考例句:
  • He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
  • I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。
49 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
50 persistent BSUzg     
adj.坚持不懈的,执意的;持续的
参考例句:
  • Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
  • She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤,使她很难为情。
51 sage sCUz2     
n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的
参考例句:
  • I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
  • The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。
52 creek 3orzL     
n.小溪,小河,小湾
参考例句:
  • He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。
  • People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。
53 shack aE3zq     
adj.简陋的小屋,窝棚
参考例句:
  • He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前,他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。
  • The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。
54 insinuated fb2be88f6607d5f4855260a7ebafb1e3     
v.暗示( insinuate的过去式和过去分词 );巧妙或迂回地潜入;(使)缓慢进入;慢慢伸入
参考例句:
  • The article insinuated that he was having an affair with his friend's wife. 文章含沙射影地点出他和朋友的妻子有染。
  • She cleverly insinuated herself into his family. 她巧妙地混进了他的家庭。 来自《简明英汉词典》
55 heed ldQzi     
v.注意,留意;n.注意,留心
参考例句:
  • You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。
  • For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。
56 starry VhWzfP     
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的
参考例句:
  • He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。
  • I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。


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