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Chapter 39
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Mr. SAMUEL WELLER, BEING INTRUSTEDWITH A MISSION OF LOVE, PROCEEDS TOEXECUTE IT; WITH WHAT SUCCESS WILLHEREINAFTER APPEARuring the whole of next day, Sam kept Mr. Winklesteadily in sight, fully1 determined2 not to take his eyes offhim for one instant, until he should receive expressinstructions from the fountain-head. However disagreeable Sam’svery close watch and great vigilance were to Mr. Winkle, hethought it better to bear with them, than, by any act of violentopposition, to hazard being carried away by force, which Mr.

  Weller more than once strongly hinted was the line of conduct thata strict sense of duty prompted him to pursue. There is littlereason to doubt that Sam would very speedily have quieted hisscruples, by bearing Mr. Winkle back to Bath, bound hand andfoot, had not Mr. Pickwick’s prompt attention to the note, whichDowler had undertaken to deliver, forestalled3 any suchproceeding. In short, at eight o’clock in the evening, Mr. Pickwickhimself walked into the coffee-room of the Bush Tavern4, and toldSam with a smile, to his very great relief, that he had done quiteright, and it was unnecessary for him to mount guard any longer.

  ‘I thought it better to come myself,’ said Mr. Pickwick,addressing Mr. Winkle, as Sam disencumbered him of his great-coat and travelling-shawl, ‘to ascertain5, before I gave my consentto Sam’s employment in this matter, that you are quite in earnestand serious, with respect to this young lady.’

  ‘Serious, from my heart―from my soul!’ returned Mr. Winkle,with great energy.

  ‘Remember,’ said Mr. Pickwick, with beaming eyes, ‘we met herat our excellent and hospitable6 friend’s, Winkle. It would be an illreturn to tamper7 lightly, and without due consideration, with thisyoung lady’s affections. I’ll not allow that, sir. I’ll not allow it.’

  ‘I have no such intention, indeed,’ exclaimed Mr. Winklewarmly. ‘I have considered the matter well, for a long time, and Ifeel that my happiness is bound up in her.’

  ‘That’s wot we call tying it up in a small parcel, sir,’ interposedMr. Weller, with an agreeable smile.

  Mr. Winkle looked somewhat stern at this interruption, and Mr.

  Pickwick angrily requested his attendant not to jest with one ofthe best feelings of our nature; to which Sam replied, ‘That hewouldn’t, if he was aware on it; but there were so many on ’em,that he hardly know’d which was the best ones wen he heerd ’emmentioned.’

  Mr. Winkle then recounted what had passed between himselfand Mr. Ben Allen, relative to Arabella; stated that his object wasto gain an interview with the young lady, and make a formaldisclosure of his passion; and declared his conviction, founded oncertain dark hints and mutterings of the aforesaid Ben, that,wherever she was at present immured8, it was somewhere near theDowns. And this was his whole stock of knowledge or suspicion onthe subject.

  With this very slight clue to guide him, it was determined thatMr. Weller should start next morning on an expedition ofdiscovery; it was also arranged that Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle,who were less confident of their powers, should parade the townmeanwhile, and accidentally drop in upon Mr. Bob Sawyer in thecourse of the day, in the hope of seeing or hearing something ofthe young lady’s whereabouts.

  Accordingly, next morning, Sam Weller issued forth9 upon hisquest, in no way daunted10 by the very discouraging prospect11 beforehim; and away he walked, up one street and down another―wewere going to say, up one hill and down another, only it’s all uphillat Clifton―without meeting with anything or anybody that tendedto throw the faintest light on the matter in hand. Many were thecolloquies into which Sam entered with grooms12 who were airinghorses on roads, and nursemaids who were airing children inlanes; but nothing could Sam elicit14 from either the first-mentionedor the last, which bore the slightest reference to the object of hisartfully-prosecuted inquiries15. There were a great many youngladies in a great many houses, the greater part whereof wereshrewdly suspected by the male and female domestics to be deeplyattached to somebody, or perfectly16 ready to become so, ifopportunity afforded. But as none among these young ladies wasMiss Arabella Allen, the information left Sam at exactly the oldpoint of wisdom at which he had stood before.

  Sam struggled across the Downs against a good high wind,wondering whether it was always necessary to hold your hat onwith both hands in that part of the country, and came to a shadyby-place, about which were sprinkled several little villas17 of quietand secluded18 appearance. Outside a stable door at the bottom of along back lane without a thoroughfare, a groom13 in undress wasidling about, apparently19 persuading himself that he was doingsomething with a spade and a wheel-barrow. We may remark, inthis place, that we have scarcely ever seen a groom near a stable,in his lazy moments, who has not been, to a greater or less extent,the victim of this singular delusion20.

  Sam thought he might as well talk to this groom as to any oneelse, especially as he was very tired with walking, and there was agood large stone just opposite the wheel-barrow; so he strolleddown the lane, and, seating himself on the stone, opened aconversation with the ease and freedom for which he wasremarkable.

  ‘Mornin’, old friend,’ said Sam.

  ‘Arternoon, you mean,’ replied the groom, casting a surly lookat Sam.

  ‘You’re wery right, old friend,’ said Sam; ‘I do mean arternoon.

  How are you?’

  ‘Why, I don’t find myself much the better for seeing of you,’

  replied the ill-tempered groom.

  ‘That’s wery odd―that is,’ said Sam, ‘for you look souncommon cheerful, and seem altogether so lively, that it doesvun’s heart good to see you.’

  The surly groom looked surlier still at this, but not sufficientlyso to produce any effect upon Sam, who immediately inquired,with a countenance23 of great anxiety, whether his master’s namewas not Walker.

  ‘No, it ain’t,’ said the groom.

  ‘Nor Brown, I s’pose?’ said Sam.

  ‘No, it ain’t.’

  ‘Nor Vilson?’

  ‘No; nor that either,’ said the groom.

  ‘Vell,’ replied Sam, ‘then I’m mistaken, and he hasn’t got thehonour o’ my acquaintance, which I thought he had. Don’t waithere out o’ compliment to me,’ said Sam, as the groom wheeled inthe barrow, and prepared to shut the gate. ‘Ease afore ceremony,old boy; I’ll excuse you.’

  ‘I’d knock your head off for half-a-crown,’ said the surly groom,bolting one half of the gate.

  ‘Couldn’t afford to have it done on those terms,’ rejoined Sam.

  ‘It ’ud be worth a life’s board wages at least, to you, and ’ud becheap at that. Make my compliments indoors. Tell ’em not to vaitdinner for me, and say they needn’t mind puttin’ any by, for it’ll becold afore I come in.’

  In reply to this, the groom waxing very wroth, muttered adesire to damage somebody’s person; but disappeared withoutcarrying it into execution, slamming the door angrily after him,and wholly unheeding Sam’s affectionate request, that he wouldleave him a lock of his hair before he went.

  Sam continued to sit on the large stone, meditating24 upon whatwas best to be done, and revolving25 in his mind a plan for knockingat all the doors within five miles of Bristol, taking them at ahundred and fifty or two hundred a day, and endeavouring to findMiss Arabella by that expedient27, when accident all of a suddenthrew in his way what he might have sat there for a twelvemonthand yet not found without it.

  Into the lane where he sat, there opened three or four gardengates, belonging to as many houses, which though detached fromeach other, were only separated by their gardens. As these werelarge and long, and well planted with trees, the houses were notonly at some distance off, but the greater part of them were nearlyconcealed from view. Sam was sitting with his eyes fixed28 upon thedust-heap outside the next gate to that by which the groom haddisappeared, profoundly turning over in his mind the difficulties ofhis present undertaking29, when the gate opened, and a femaleservant came out into the lane to shake some bedside carpets.

  Sam was so very busy with his own thoughts, that it is probablehe would have taken no more notice of the young woman than justraising his head and remarking that she had a very neat and prettyfigure, if his feelings of gallantry had not been most stronglyroused by observing that she had no one to help her, and that thecarpets seemed too heavy for her single strength. Mr. Weller was agentleman of great gallantry in his own way, and he no soonerremarked this circumstance than he hastily rose from the largestone, and advanced towards her.

  ‘My dear,’ said Sam, sliding up with an air of great respect,‘you’ll spile that wery pretty figure out o’ all perportion if youshake them carpets by yourself. Let me help you.’

  The young lady, who had been coyly affecting not to know thata gentleman was so near, turned round as Sam spoke30―no doubt(indeed she said so, afterwards) to decline this offer from a perfectstranger―when instead of speaking, she started back, and uttereda half-suppressed scream. Sam was scarcely less staggered, for inthe countenance of the well-shaped female servant, he beheld31 thevery features of his valentine, the pretty housemaid from Mr.

  Nupkins’s.

  ‘Wy, Mary, my dear!’ said Sam.

  ‘Lauk, Mr. Weller,’ said Mary, ‘how you do frighten one!’

  Sam made no verbal answer to this complaint, nor can weprecisely say what reply he did make. We merely know that after ashort pause Mary said, ‘Lor, do adun, Mr. Weller!’ and that his hathad fallen off a few moments before―from both of which tokenswe should be disposed to infer that one kiss, or more, had passedbetween the parties.

  ‘Why, how did you come here?’ said Mary, when theconversation to which this interruption had been offered, wasresumed.

  ‘O’ course I came to look arter you, my darlin’,’ replied Mr.

  Weller; for once permitting his passion to get the better of hisveracity.

  ‘And how did you know I was here?’ inquired Mary. ‘Who couldhave told you that I took another service at Ipswich, and that theyafterwards moved all the way here? Who could have told you that,Mr. Weller?’

  ‘Ah, to be sure,’ said Sam, with a cunning look, ‘that’s the pint33.

  Who could ha’ told me?’

  ‘It wasn’t Mr. Muzzle34, was it?’ inquired Mary.

  ‘Oh, no.’ replied Sam, with a solemn shake of the head, ‘itwarn’t him.’

  ‘It must have been the cook,’ said Mary.

  ‘O’ course it must,’ said Sam.

  ‘Well, I never heard the like of that!’ exclaimed Mary.

  ‘No more did I,’ said Sam. ‘But Mary, my dear’―here Sam’smanner grew extremely affectionate―‘Mary, my dear, I’ve gotanother affair in hand as is wery pressin’. There’s one o’ mygovernor’s friends―Mr. Winkle, you remember him?’

  ‘Him in the green coat?’ said Mary. ‘Oh, yes, I remember him.’

  ‘Well,’ said Sam, ‘he’s in a horrid35 state o’ love; reg’larlycomfoozled, and done over vith it.’

  ‘Lor!’ interposed Mary. ‘Yes,’ said Sam; ‘but that’s nothin’ if we could find out theyoung ‘ooman;’ and here Sam, with many digressions upon thepersonal beauty of Mary, and the unspeakable tortures he hadexperienced since he last saw her, gave a faithful account of Mr.

  Winkle’s present predicament.

  ‘Well,’ said Mary, ‘I never did!’

  ‘O’ course not,’ said Sam, ‘and nobody never did, nor never villneither; and here am I a-walkin’ about like the wandering Jew―asportin’ character you have perhaps heerd on Mary, my dear, asvos alvays doin’ a match agin’ time, and never vent36 to sleep―looking arter this here Miss Arabella Allen.’

  ‘Miss who?’ said Mary, in great astonishment37.

  ‘Miss Arabella Allen,’ said Sam.

  ‘Goodness gracious!’ said Mary, pointing to the garden doorwhich the sulky groom had locked after him. ‘Why, it’s that veryhouse; she’s been living there these six weeks. Their upper house-maid, which is lady’s-maid too, told me all about it over the wash-house palin’s before the family was out of bed, one mornin’.’

  ‘Wot, the wery next door to you?’ said Sam.

  ‘The very next,’ replied Mary.

  Mr. Weller was so deeply overcome on receiving thisintelligence that he found it absolutely necessary to cling to his fairinformant for support; and divers38 little love passages had passedbetween them, before he was sufficiently22 collected to return to thesubject.

  ‘Vell,’ said Sam at length, ‘if this don’t beat cock-fightin’ nothin’

  never vill, as the lord mayor said, ven the chief secretary o’ stateproposed his missis’s health arter dinner. That wery next house!

  Wy, I’ve got a message to her as I’ve been a-trying all day todeliver.’

  ‘Ah,’ said Mary, ‘but you can’t deliver it now, because she onlywalks in the garden in the evening, and then only for a very littletime; she never goes out, without the old lady.’

  Sam ruminated39 for a few moments, and finally hit upon thefollowing plan of operations; that he should return just at dusk―the time at which Arabella invariably took her walk―and, beingadmitted by Mary into the garden of the house to which shebelonged, would contrive40 to scramble41 up the wall, beneath theoverhanging boughs42 of a large pear-tree, which would effectuallyscreen him from observation; would there deliver his message,and arrange, if possible, an interview on behalf of Mr. Winkle forthe ensuing evening at the same hour. Having made thisarrangement with great despatch43, he assisted Mary in the long-deferred occupation of shaking the carpets.

  It is not half as innocent a thing as it looks, that shaking littlepieces of carpet―at least, there may be no great harm in theshaking, but the folding is a very insidious44 process. So long as theshaking lasts, and the two parties are kept the carpet’s lengthapart, it is as innocent an amusement as can well be devised; butwhen the folding begins, and the distance between them getsgradually lessened45 from one half its former length to a quarter,and then to an eighth, and then to a sixteenth, and then to a thirty-second, if the carpet be long enough, it becomes dangerous. We donot know, to a nicety, how many pieces of carpet were folded inthis instance, but we can venture to state that as many pieces asthere were, so many times did Sam kiss the pretty housemaid.

  Mr. Weller regaled himself with moderation at the nearesttavern until it was nearly dusk, and then returned to the lanewithout the thoroughfare. Having been admitted into the gardenby Mary, and having received from that lady sundry46 admonitionsconcerning the safety of his limbs and neck, Sam mounted into thepear-tree, to wait until Arabella should come into sight.

  He waited so long without this anxiously-expected eventoccurring, that he began to think it was not going to take place atall, when he heard light footsteps upon the gravel47, andimmediately afterwards beheld Arabella walking pensively48 downthe garden. As soon as she came nearly below the tree, Sambegan, by way of gently indicating his presence, to make sundrydiabolical noises similar to those which would probably be naturalto a person of middle age who had been afflicted49 with acombination of inflammatory sore throat, croup, and whooping-cough, from his earliest infancy50.

  Upon this, the young lady cast a hurried glance towards thespot whence the dreadful sounds proceeded; and her previousalarm being not at all diminished when she saw a man among thebranches, she would most certainly have decamped, and alarmedthe house, had not fear fortunately deprived her of the power ofmoving, and caused her to sink down on a garden seat, whichhappened by good luck to be near at hand.

  ‘She’s a-goin’ off,’ soliloquised Sam in great perplexity. ‘Wot athing it is, as these here young creeturs will go a-faintin’ avay justven they oughtn’t to. Here, young ’ooman, Miss Sawbones, Mrs.

  Vinkle, don’t!’

  Whether it was the magic of Mr. Winkle’s name, or the coolnessof the open air, or some recollection of Mr. Weller’s voice, thatrevived Arabella, matters not. She raised her head and languidlyinquired, ‘Who’s that, and what do you want?’

  ‘Hush,’ said Sam, swinging himself on to the wall, andcrouching there in as small a compass as he could reduce himselfto, ‘only me, miss, only me.’

  ‘Mr. Pickwick’s servant!’ said Arabella earnestly.

  ‘The wery same, miss,’ replied Sam. ‘Here’s Mr. Vinkle reg’larlysewed up vith desperation, miss.’

  ‘Ah!’ said Arabella, drawing nearer the wall.

  ‘Ah, indeed,’ said Sam. ‘Ve thought ve should ha’ been obligedto strait-veskit him last night; he’s been a-ravin’ all day; and hesays if he can’t see you afore to-morrow night’s over, he vishes hemay be somethin’ unpleasanted if he don’t drownd hisself.’

  ‘Oh, no, no, Mr. Weller!’ said Arabella, clasping her hands.

  ‘That’s wot he says, miss,’ replied Sam coolly. ‘He’s a man of hisword, and it’s my opinion he’ll do it, miss. He’s heerd all about youfrom the sawbones in barnacles.’

  ‘From my brother!’ said Arabella, having some faint recognitionof Sam’s description.

  ‘I don’t rightly know which is your brother, miss,’ replied Sam.

  ‘Is it the dirtiest vun o’ the two?’

  ‘Yes, yes, Mr. Weller,’ returned Arabella, ‘go on. Make haste,pray.’

  ‘Well, miss,’ said Sam, ‘he’s heerd all about it from him; and it’sthe gov’nor’s o pinion51 that if you don’t see him wery quick, thesawbones as we’ve been a-speakin’ on, ’ull get as much extra leadin his head as’ll rayther damage the dewelopment o’ the orgins ifthey ever put it in spirits artervards.’

  ‘Oh, what can I do to prevent these dreadful quarrels!’

  exclaimed Arabella.

  ‘It’s the suspicion of a priory ’tachment as is the cause of it all,’

  replied Sam. ‘You’d better see him, miss.’

  ‘But how?―where?’ cried Arabella. ‘I dare not leave the housealone. My brother is so unkind, so unreasonable52! I know howstrange my talking thus to you may appear, Mr. Weller, but I amvery, very unhappy―‘ and here poor Arabella wept so bitterly thatSam grew chivalrous53.

  ‘It may seem wery strange talkin’ to me about these here affairs,miss,’ said Sam, with great vehemence54; ‘but all I can say is, thatI’m not only ready but villin’ to do anythin’ as’ll make mattersagreeable; and if chuckin’ either o’ them sawboneses out o’ winder’ull do it, I’m the man.’ As Sam Weller said this, he tucked up hiswristbands, at the imminent55 hazard of falling off the wall in sodoing, to intimate his readiness to set to work immediately.

  Flattering as these professions of good feeling were, Arabellaresolutely declined (most unaccountably, as Sam thought) to availherself of them. For some time she strenuously56 refused to grantMr. Winkle the interview Sam had so pathetically requested; butat length, when the conversation threatened to be interrupted bythe unwelcome arrival of a third party, she hurriedly gave him tounderstand, with many professions of gratitude57, that it was barelypossible she might be in the garden an hour later, next evening.

  Sam understood this perfectly well; and Arabella, bestowing58 uponhim one of her sweetest smiles, tripped gracefully59 away, leavingMr. Weller in a state of very great admiration60 of her charms, bothpersonal and mental.

  Having descended61 in safety from the wall, and not forgotten todevote a few moments to his own particular business in the samedepartment, Mr. Weller then made the best of his way back to theBush, where his prolonged absence had occasioned muchspeculation and some alarm.

  ‘We must be careful,’ said Mr. Pickwick, after listeningattentively to Sam’s tale, ‘not for our sakes, but for that of theyoung lady. We must be very cautious.’

  ‘We!’ said Mr. Winkle, with marked emphasis.

  Mr. Pickwick’s momentary63 look of indignation at the tone ofthis remark, subsided64 into his characteristic expression ofbenevolence, as he replied―‘We, sir! I shall accompany you.’

  ‘You!’ said Mr. Winkle.

  ‘I,’ replied Mr. Pickwick mildly. ‘In affording you this interview,the young lady has taken a natural, perhaps, but still a veryimprudent step. If I am present at the meeting―a mutual65 friend,who is old enough to be the father of both parties―the voice ofcalumny can never be raised against her hereafter.’

  Mr. Pickwick’s eyes lightened with honest exultation66 at his ownforesight, as he spoke thus. Mr. Winkle was touched by this littletrait of his delicate respect for the young protégée of his friend, andtook his hand with a feeling of regard, akin26 to veneration67.

  ‘You shall go,’ said Mr. Winkle.

  ‘I will,’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Sam, have my greatcoat and shawlready, and order a conveyance68 to be at the door to-morrowevening, rather earlier than is absolutely necessary, in order thatwe may be in good time.’

  Mr. Weller touched his hat, as an earnest of his obedience69, andwithdrew to make all needful preparations for the expedition.

  The coach was punctual to the time appointed; and Mr. Weller,after duly installing Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle inside, took hisseat on the box by the driver. They alighted, as had been agreedon, about a quarter of a mile from the place of rendezvous70, anddesiring the coachman to await their return, proceeded theremaining distance on foot.

  It was at this stage of the undertaking that Mr. Pickwick, withmany smiles and various other indications of great self-satisfaction, produced from one of his coat pockets a dark lantern,with which he had specially21 provided himself for the occasion, andthe great mechanical beauty of which he proceeded to explain toMr. Winkle, as they walked along, to the no small surprise of thefew stragglers they met.

  ‘I should have been the better for something of this kind, in mylast garden expedition, at night; eh, Sam?’ said Mr. Pickwick,looking good-humouredly round at his follower71, who was trudgingbehind.

  ‘Wery nice things, if they’re managed properly, sir,’ replied Mr.

  Weller; ‘but wen you don’t want to be seen, I think they’re moreuseful arter the candle’s gone out, than wen it’s alight.’

  Mr. Pickwick appeared struck by Sam’s remarks, for he put thelantern into his pocket again, and they walked on in silence.

  ‘Down here, sir,’ said Sam. ‘Let me lead the way. This is thelane, sir.’

  Down the lane they went, and dark enough it was. Mr. Pickwickbrought out the lantern, once or twice, as they groped their wayalong, and threw a very brilliant little tunnel of light before them,about a foot in diameter. It was very pretty to look at, but seemedto have the effect of rendering72 surrounding objects rather darkerthan before.

  At length they arrived at the large stone. Here Samrecommended his master and Mr. Winkle to seat themselves,while he reconnoitred, and ascertained73 whether Mary was yet inwaiting.

  After an absence of five or ten minutes, Sam returned to saythat the gate was opened, and all quiet. Following him withstealthy tread, Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle soon foundthemselves in the garden. Here everybody said, ‘Hush!’ a goodmany times; and that being done, no one seemed to have any verydistinct apprehension74 of what was to be done next.

  ‘Is Miss Allen in the garden yet, Mary?’ inquired Mr. Winkle,much agitated75.

  ‘I don’t know, sir,’ replied the pretty housemaid. ‘The best thingto be done, sir, will be for Mr. Weller to give you a hoist76 up into thetree, and perhaps Mr. Pickwick will have the goodness to see thatnobody comes up the lane, while I watch at the other end of thegarden. Goodness gracious, what’s that?’

  ‘That ’ere blessed lantern ’ull be the death on us all,’ exclaimedSam peevishly77. ‘Take care wot you’re a-doin’ on, sir; you’re a-sendin’ a blaze o’ light, right into the back parlour winder.’

  ‘Dear me!’ said Mr. Pickwick, turning hastily aside, ‘I didn’tmean to do that.’

  ‘Now, it’s in the next house, sir,’ remonstrated78 Sam.

  ‘Bless my heart!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, turning round again.

  ‘Now, it’s in the stable, and they’ll think the place is afire,’ saidSam. ‘Shut it up, sir, can’t you?’

  ‘It’s the most extraordinary lantern I ever met with, in all mylife!’ exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, greatly bewildered by the effects hehad so unintentionally produced. ‘I never saw such a powerfulreflector.’

  ‘It’ll be vun too powerful for us, if you keep blazin’ avay in thatmanner, sir,’ replied Sam, as Mr. Pickwick, after variousunsuccessful efforts, managed to close the slide. ‘There’s theyoung lady’s footsteps. Now, Mr. Winkle, sir, up vith you.’

  ‘Stop, stop!’ said Mr. Pickwick, ‘I must speak to her first. Helpme up, Sam.’

  ‘Gently, sir,’ said Sam, planting his head against the wall, andmaking a platform of his back. ‘Step atop o’ that ’ere flower-pot,sir. Now then, up vith you.’

  ‘I’m afraid I shall hurt you, Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick.

  ‘Never mind me, sir,’ replied Sam. ‘Lend him a hand, Mr.

  Winkle. sir. Steady, sir, steady! That’s the time o’ day!’

  As Sam spoke, Mr. Pickwick, by exertions79 almost supernaturalin a gentleman of his years and weight, contrived80 to get uponSam’s back; and Sam gently raising himself up, and Mr. Pickwickholding on fast by the top of the wall, while Mr. Winkle claspedhim tight by the legs, they contrived by these means to bring hisspectacles just above the level of the coping.

  ‘My dear,’ said Mr. Pickwick, looking over the wall, andcatching sight of Arabella, on the other side, ‘don’t be frightened,my dear, it’s only me.’

  ‘Oh, pray go away, Mr. Pickwick,’ said Arabella. ‘Tell them all togo away. I am so dreadfully frightened. Dear, dear Mr. Pickwick,don’t stop there. You’ll fall down and kill yourself, I know you will.’

  ‘Now, pray don’t alarm yourself, my dear,’ said Mr. Pickwicksoothingly. ‘There is not the least cause for fear, I assure you.

  Stand firm, Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick, looking down.

  ‘All right, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘Don’t be longer than you canconweniently help, sir. You’re rayther heavy.’

  ‘Only another moment, Sam,’ replied Mr. Pickwick.

  ‘I merely wished you to know, my dear, that I should not haveallowed my young friend to see you in this clandestine81 way, if thesituation in which you are placed had left him any alternative;and, lest the impropriety of this step should cause you anyuneasiness, my love, it may be a satisfaction to you, to know that Iam present. That’s all, my dear.’

  ‘Indeed, Mr. Pickwick, I am very much obliged to you for yourkindness and consideration,’ replied Arabella, drying her tearswith her handkerchief. She would probably have said much more,had not Mr. Pickwick’s head disappeared with great swiftness, inconsequence of a false step on Sam’s shoulder which brought himsuddenly to the ground. He was up again in an instant however;and bidding Mr. Winkle make haste and get the interview over,ran out into the lane to keep watch, with all the courage andardour of youth. Mr. Winkle himself, inspired by the occasion, wason the wall in a moment, merely pausing to request Sam to becareful of his master.

  ‘I’ll take care on him, sir,’ replied Sam. ‘Leave him to me.’

  ‘Where is he? What’s he doing, Sam?’ inquired Mr. Winkle.

  ‘Bless his old gaiters,’ rejoined Sam, looking out at the gardendoor. ‘He’s a-keepin’ guard in the lane vith that ’ere dark lantern,like a amiable82 Guy Fawkes! I never see such a fine creetur in mydays. Blessed if I don’t think his heart must ha’ been born five-and-twenty year arter his body, at least!’

  Mr. Winkle stayed not to hear the encomium83 upon his friend.

  He had dropped from the wall; thrown himself at Arabella’s feet;and by this time was pleading the sincerity84 of his passion with aneloquence worthy85 even of Mr. Pickwick himself.

  While these things were going on in the open air, an elderlygentleman of scientific attainments86 was seated in his library, twoor three houses off, writing a philosophical87 treatise88, and ever andanon moistening his clay and his labours with a glass of claretfrom a venerable-looking bottle which stood by his side. In theagonies of composition, the elderly gentleman looked sometimesat the carpet, sometimes at the ceiling, and sometimes at the wall;and when neither carpet, ceiling, nor wall afforded the requisitedegree of inspiration, he looked out of the window.

  In one of these pauses of invention, the scientific gentlemanwas gazing abstractedly on the thick darkness outside, when hewas very much surprised by observing a most brilliant light glidethrough the air, at a short distance above the ground, and almostinstantaneously vanish. After a short time the phenomenon wasrepeated, not once or twice, but several times; at last the scientificgentleman, laying down his pen, began to consider to what naturalcauses these appearances were to be assigned.

  They were not meteors; they were too low. They were not glow-worms; they were too high. They were not will-o’-the-wisps; theywere not fireflies; they were not fireworks. What could they be?

  Some extraordinary and wonderful phenomenon of nature, whichno philosopher had ever seen before; something which it had beenreserved for him alone to discover, and which he shouldimmortalise his name by chronicling for the benefit of posterity89.

  Full of this idea, the scientific gentleman seized his pen again, andcommitted to paper sundry notes of these unparalleledappearances, with the date, day, hour, minute, and precise secondat which they were visible: all of which were to form the data of avoluminous treatise of great research and deep learning, whichshould astonish all the atmospherical90 wiseacres that ever drewbreath in any part of the civilised globe.

  He threw himself back in his easy-chair, wrapped incontemplations of his future greatness. The mysterious lightappeared more brilliantly than before, dancing, to all appearance,up and down the lane, crossing from side to side, and moving in anorbit as eccentric as comets themselves.

  The scientific gentleman was a bachelor. He had no wife to callin and astonish, so he rang the bell for his servant.

  ‘Pruffle,’ said the scientific gentleman, ‘there is something veryextraordinary in the air to-night? Did you see that?’ said thescientific gentleman, pointing out of the window, as the light againbecame visible.

  ‘Yes, I did, sir.’

  ‘What do you think of it, Pruffle?’

  ‘Think of it, sir?’

  ‘Yes. You have been bred up in this country. What should yousay was the cause for those lights, now?’

  The scientific gentleman smilingly anticipated Pruffle’s replythat he could assign no cause for them at all. Pruffle meditated91.

  ‘I should say it was thieves, sir,’ said Pruffle at length.

  ‘You’re a fool, and may go downstairs,’ said the scientificgentleman.

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ said Pruffle. And down he went.

  But the scientific gentleman could not rest under the idea of theingenious treatise he had projected being lost to the world, whichmust inevitably92 be the case if the speculation62 of the ingenious Mr.

  Pruffle were not stifled93 in its birth. He put on his hat and walkedquickly down the garden, determined to investigate the matter toNow, shortly before the scientific gentleman walked out intothe garden, Mr. Pickwick had run down the lane as fast as hecould, to convey a false alarm that somebody was coming that way;occasionally drawing back the slide of the dark lantern to keephimself from the ditch. The alarm was no sooner given, than Mr.

  Winkle scrambled94 back over the wall, and Arabella ran into thehouse; the garden gate was shut, and the three adventurers weremaking the best of their way down the lane, when they werestartled by the scientific gentleman unlocking his garden gate.

  ‘Hold hard,’ whispered Sam, who was, of course, the first of theparty. ‘Show a light for just vun second, sir.’

  Mr. Pickwick did as he was desired, and Sam, seeing a man’shead peeping out very cautiously within half a yard of his own,gave it a gentle tap with his clenched95 fist, which knocked it, with ahollow sound, against the gate. Having performed this feat32 withgreat suddenness and dexterity96, Mr. Weller caught Mr. Pickwickup on his back, and followed Mr. Winkle down the lane at a pacewhich, considering the burden he carried, was perfectlyastonishing.

  ‘Have you got your vind back agin, sir,’ inquired Sam, whenthey had reached the end.

  ‘Quite. Quite, now,’ replied Mr. Pickwick.

  ‘Then come along, sir,’ said Sam, setting his master on his feetagain. ‘Come betveen us, sir. Not half a mile to run. Think you’revinnin’ a cup, sir. Now for it.’

  Thus encouraged, Mr. Pickwick made the very best use of hislegs. It may be confidently stated that a pair of black gaiters nevergot over the ground in better style than did those of Mr. Pickwickon this memorable97 occasion.

  The coach was waiting, the horses were fresh, the roads weregood, and the driver was willing. The whole party arrived in safetyat the Bush before Mr. Pickwick had recovered his breath.

  ‘In with you at once, sir,’ said Sam, as he helped his master out.

  ‘Don’t stop a second in the street, arter that ’ere exercise. Beg yourpardon, sir,’ continued Sam, touching98 his hat as Mr. Winkledescended, ‘hope there warn’t a priory ’tachment, sir?’

  Mr. Winkle grasped his humble99 friend by the hand, andwhispered in his ear, ‘It’s all right, Sam; quite right.’ Upon whichMr. Weller struck three distinct blows upon his nose in token ofintelligence, smiled, winked100, and proceeded to put the steps up,with a countenance expressive101 of lively satisfaction.

  As to the scientific gentleman, he demonstrated, in a masterlytreatise, that these wonderful lights were the effect of electricity;and clearly proved the same by detailing how a flash of fire dancedbefore his eyes when he put his head out of the gate, and how hereceived a shock which stunned102 him for a quarter of an hourafterwards; which demonstration103 delighted all the scientificassociations beyond measure, and caused him to be considered alight of science ever afterwards.


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
2 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
3 forestalled e417c8d9b721dc9db811a1f7f84d8291     
v.先发制人,预先阻止( forestall的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She forestalled their attempt. 她先发制人,阻止了他们的企图。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I had my objection all prepared, but Stephens forestalled me. 我已做好准备要提出反对意见,不料斯蒂芬斯却抢先了一步。 来自辞典例句
4 tavern wGpyl     
n.小旅馆,客栈;小酒店
参考例句:
  • There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
  • Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。
5 ascertain WNVyN     
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清
参考例句:
  • It's difficult to ascertain the coal deposits.煤储量很难探明。
  • We must ascertain the responsibility in light of different situtations.我们必须根据不同情况判定责任。
6 hospitable CcHxA     
adj.好客的;宽容的;有利的,适宜的
参考例句:
  • The man is very hospitable.He keeps open house for his friends and fellow-workers.那人十分好客,无论是他的朋友还是同事,他都盛情接待。
  • The locals are hospitable and welcoming.当地人热情好客。
7 tamper 7g3zom     
v.干预,玩弄,贿赂,窜改,削弱,损害
参考例句:
  • Do not tamper with other's business.不要干预别人的事。
  • They had strict orders not to tamper with the customs of the minorities.他们得到命令严禁干涉少数民族的风俗习惯。
8 immured 8727048a152406d66991e43b6eeaa1c8     
v.禁闭,监禁( immure的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She was like a prisoner so long immured that freedom dazes him. 她象一个长年累月被关闭的囚犯,自由使她迷乱茫然。 来自辞典例句
  • He immured himself in a small room to work undisturbed. 他自己关在小屋里埋头工作,以免受到骚扰。 来自辞典例句
9 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。
10 daunted 7ffb5e5ffb0aa17a7b2333d90b452257     
使(某人)气馁,威吓( daunt的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She was a brave woman but she felt daunted by the task ahead. 她是一个勇敢的女人,但对面前的任务却感到信心不足。
  • He was daunted by the high quality of work they expected. 他被他们对工作的高品质的要求吓倒了。
11 prospect P01zn     
n.前景,前途;景色,视野
参考例句:
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
12 grooms b9d1c7c7945e283fe11c0f1d27513083     
n.新郎( groom的名词复数 );马夫v.照料或梳洗(马等)( groom的第三人称单数 );使做好准备;训练;(给动物)擦洗
参考例句:
  • Plender end Wilcox became joint grooms of the chambers. 普伦德和威尔科克斯成为共同的贴身侍从。 来自辞典例句
  • Egypt: Families, rather than grooms, propose to the bride. 埃及:在埃及,由新郎的家人,而不是新郎本人,向新娘求婚。 来自互联网
13 groom 0fHxW     
vt.给(马、狗等)梳毛,照料,使...整洁
参考例句:
  • His father was a groom.他父亲曾是个马夫。
  • George was already being groomed for the top job.为承担这份高级工作,乔治已在接受专门的培训。
14 elicit R8ByG     
v.引出,抽出,引起
参考例句:
  • It was designed to elicit the best thinking within the government. 机构的设置是为了在政府内部集思广益。
  • Don't try to elicit business secrets from me. I won't tell you anything. 你休想从我这里套问出我们的商业机密, 我什么都不会告诉你的。
15 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》
16 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。
17 villas 00c79f9e4b7b15e308dee09215cc0427     
别墅,公馆( villa的名词复数 ); (城郊)住宅
参考例句:
  • Magnificent villas are found throughout Italy. 在意大利到处可看到豪华的别墅。
  • Rich men came down from wealthy Rome to build sea-side villas. 有钱人从富有的罗马来到这儿建造海滨别墅。
18 secluded wj8zWX     
adj.与世隔绝的;隐退的;偏僻的v.使隔开,使隐退( seclude的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • Some people like to strip themselves naked while they have a swim in a secluded place. 一些人当他们在隐蔽的地方游泳时,喜欢把衣服脱光。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • This charming cottage dates back to the 15th century and is as pretty as a picture, with its thatched roof and secluded garden. 这所美丽的村舍是15世纪时的建筑,有茅草房顶和宁静的花园,漂亮极了,简直和画上一样。 来自《简明英汉词典》
19 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。
20 delusion x9uyf     
n.谬见,欺骗,幻觉,迷惑
参考例句:
  • He is under the delusion that he is Napoleon.他患了妄想症,认为自己是拿破仑。
  • I was under the delusion that he intended to marry me.我误认为他要娶我。
21 specially Hviwq     
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地
参考例句:
  • They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
  • The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。
22 sufficiently 0htzMB     
adv.足够地,充分地
参考例句:
  • It turned out he had not insured the house sufficiently.原来他没有给房屋投足保险。
  • The new policy was sufficiently elastic to accommodate both views.新政策充分灵活地适用两种观点。
23 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。
24 meditating hoKzDp     
a.沉思的,冥想的
参考例句:
  • They were meditating revenge. 他们在谋划进行报复。
  • The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics. 这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
25 revolving 3jbzvd     
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想
参考例句:
  • The theatre has a revolving stage. 剧院有一个旋转舞台。
  • The company became a revolving-door workplace. 这家公司成了工作的中转站。
26 akin uxbz2     
adj.同族的,类似的
参考例句:
  • She painted flowers and birds pictures akin to those of earlier feminine painters.她画一些同早期女画家类似的花鸟画。
  • Listening to his life story is akin to reading a good adventure novel.听他的人生故事犹如阅读一本精彩的冒险小说。
27 expedient 1hYzh     
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计
参考例句:
  • The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little.政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
  • Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends.我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。
28 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
29 undertaking Mfkz7S     
n.保证,许诺,事业
参考例句:
  • He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
  • He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小,不敢从事任何事业。
30 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
31 beheld beheld     
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
32 feat 5kzxp     
n.功绩;武艺,技艺;adj.灵巧的,漂亮的,合适的
参考例句:
  • Man's first landing on the moon was a feat of great daring.人类首次登月是一个勇敢的壮举。
  • He received a medal for his heroic feat.他因其英雄业绩而获得一枚勋章。
33 pint 1NNxL     
n.品脱
参考例句:
  • I'll have a pint of beer and a packet of crisps, please.我要一品脱啤酒和一袋炸马铃薯片。
  • In the old days you could get a pint of beer for a shilling.从前,花一先令就可以买到一品脱啤酒。
34 muzzle i11yN     
n.鼻口部;口套;枪(炮)口;vt.使缄默
参考例句:
  • He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
  • The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。
35 horrid arozZj     
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的
参考例句:
  • I'm not going to the horrid dinner party.我不打算去参加这次讨厌的宴会。
  • The medicine is horrid and she couldn't get it down.这种药很难吃,她咽不下去。
36 vent yiPwE     
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄
参考例句:
  • He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
  • When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时,发动机就会停转。
37 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
38 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。
39 ruminated d258d9ebf77d222f0216ae185d5a965a     
v.沉思( ruminate的过去式和过去分词 );反复考虑;反刍;倒嚼
参考例句:
  • In the article she ruminated about what recreations she would have. 她在文章里认真考虑了她应做些什么消遣活动。 来自辞典例句
  • He ruminated on his defenses before he should accost her father. 他在与她父亲搭话前,仔细地考虑着他的防范措施。 来自辞典例句
40 contrive GpqzY     
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出
参考例句:
  • Can you contrive to be here a little earlier?你能不能早一点来?
  • How could you contrive to make such a mess of things?你怎么把事情弄得一团糟呢?
41 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。
42 boughs 95e9deca9a2fb4bbbe66832caa8e63e0     
大树枝( bough的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The green boughs glittered with all their pearls of dew. 绿枝上闪烁着露珠的光彩。
  • A breeze sighed in the higher boughs. 微风在高高的树枝上叹息着。
43 despatch duyzn1     
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道
参考例句:
  • The despatch of the task force is purely a contingency measure.派出特遣部队纯粹是应急之举。
  • He rushed the despatch through to headquarters.他把急件赶送到总部。
44 insidious fx6yh     
adj.阴险的,隐匿的,暗中为害的,(疾病)不知不觉之间加剧
参考例句:
  • That insidious man bad-mouthed me to almost everyone else.那个阴险的家伙几乎见人便说我的坏话。
  • Organized crime has an insidious influence on all who come into contact with it.所有和集团犯罪有关的人都会不知不觉地受坏影响。
45 lessened 6351a909991322c8a53dc9baa69dda6f     
减少的,减弱的
参考例句:
  • Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来,多少削弱了演讲的力量。
  • The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行,住在城内的中产家庭减少了。
46 sundry CswwL     
adj.各式各样的,种种的
参考例句:
  • This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。
  • We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。
47 gravel s6hyT     
n.砂跞;砂砾层;结石
参考例句:
  • We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
  • More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。
48 pensively 0f673d10521fb04c1a2f12fdf08f9f8c     
adv.沉思地,焦虑地
参考例句:
  • Garton pensively stirred the hotchpotch of his hair. 加顿沉思着搅动自己的乱发。 来自辞典例句
  • "Oh, me,'said Carrie, pensively. "I wish I could live in such a place." “唉,真的,"嘉莉幽幽地说,"我真想住在那种房子里。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
49 afflicted aaf4adfe86f9ab55b4275dae2a2e305a     
使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
  • A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。
50 infancy F4Ey0     
n.婴儿期;幼年期;初期
参考例句:
  • He came to England in his infancy.他幼年时期来到英国。
  • Their research is only in its infancy.他们的研究处于初级阶段。
51 pinion 6Syze     
v.束缚;n.小齿轮
参考例句:
  • At nine the next morning Bentley was pinioned,hooded and hanged.次日上午9点,本特里被捆住双臂,戴上头罩,然后绞死了。
  • Why don't you try tightening the pinion nut first?你为什么不先扭紧小齿轮的螺帽?
52 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的,不合情理的,过度的
参考例句:
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
53 chivalrous 0Xsz7     
adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的
参考例句:
  • Men are so little chivalrous now.现在的男人几乎没有什么骑士风度了。
  • Toward women he was nobly restrained and chivalrous.对于妇女,他表现得高尚拘谨,尊敬三分。
54 vehemence 2ihw1     
n.热切;激烈;愤怒
参考例句:
  • The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。
  • She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。
55 imminent zc9z2     
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的
参考例句:
  • The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
  • The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。
56 strenuously Jhwz0k     
adv.奋发地,费力地
参考例句:
  • The company has strenuously defended its decision to reduce the workforce. 公司竭力为其裁员的决定辩护。
  • She denied the accusation with some warmth, ie strenuously, forcefully. 她有些激动,竭力否认这一指责。
57 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。
58 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。
59 gracefully KfYxd     
ad.大大方方地;优美地
参考例句:
  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
60 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。
61 descended guQzoy     
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的
参考例句:
  • A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
  • The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。
62 speculation 9vGwe     
n.思索,沉思;猜测;投机
参考例句:
  • Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
  • There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。
63 momentary hj3ya     
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
参考例句:
  • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
  • I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。
64 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》
65 mutual eFOxC     
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的
参考例句:
  • We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
  • Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
66 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜,得意
参考例句:
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字,他屏住呼吸,乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
67 veneration 6Lezu     
n.尊敬,崇拜
参考例句:
  • I acquired lasting respect for tradition and veneration for the past.我开始对传统和历史产生了持久的敬慕。
  • My father venerated General Eisenhower.我父亲十分敬仰艾森豪威尔将军。
68 conveyance OoDzv     
n.(不动产等的)转让,让与;转让证书;传送;运送;表达;(正)运输工具
参考例句:
  • Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。
  • Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。
69 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。
70 rendezvous XBfzj     
n.约会,约会地点,汇合点;vi.汇合,集合;vt.使汇合,使在汇合地点相遇
参考例句:
  • She made the rendezvous with only minutes to spare.她还差几分钟时才来赴约。
  • I have a rendezvous with Peter at a restaurant on the harbour.我和彼得在海港的一个餐馆有个约会。
71 follower gjXxP     
n.跟随者;随员;门徒;信徒
参考例句:
  • He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
  • Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。
72 rendering oV5xD     
n.表现,描写
参考例句:
  • She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
  • His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。
73 ascertained e6de5c3a87917771a9555db9cf4de019     
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
74 apprehension bNayw     
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑
参考例句:
  • There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑,于是她越来越担心。
  • She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。
75 agitated dzgzc2     
adj.被鼓动的,不安的
参考例句:
  • His answers were all mixed up,so agitated was he.他是那样心神不定,回答全乱了。
  • She was agitated because her train was an hour late.她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时,她十分焦虑。
76 hoist rdizD     
n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起
参考例句:
  • By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor.搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。
  • Hoist the Chinese flag on the flagpole,please!请在旗杆上升起中国国旗!
77 peevishly 6b75524be1c8328a98de7236bc5f100b     
adv.暴躁地
参考例句:
  • Paul looked through his green glasses peevishly when the other speaker brought down the house with applause. 当另一个演说者赢得了满座喝彩声时,保罗心里又嫉妒又气恼。
  • "I've been sick, I told you," he said, peevishly, almost resenting her excessive pity. “我生了一场病,我告诉过你了,"他没好气地说,对她的过分怜悯几乎产生了怨恨。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
78 remonstrated a6eda3fe26f748a6164faa22a84ba112     
v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫
参考例句:
  • They remonstrated with the official about the decision. 他们就这一决定向这位官员提出了抗议。
  • We remonstrated against the ill-treatment of prisoners of war. 我们对虐待战俘之事提出抗议。 来自辞典例句
79 exertions 2d5ee45020125fc19527a78af5191726     
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使
参考例句:
  • As long as they lived, exertions would not be necessary to her. 只要他们活着,是不需要她吃苦的。 来自辞典例句
  • She failed to unlock the safe in spite of all her exertions. 她虽然费尽力气,仍未能将那保险箱的锁打开。 来自辞典例句
80 contrived ivBzmO     
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的
参考例句:
  • There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
  • The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。
81 clandestine yqmzh     
adj.秘密的,暗中从事的
参考例句:
  • She is the director of clandestine operations of the CIA.她是中央情报局秘密行动的负责人。
  • The early Christians held clandestine meetings in caves.早期的基督徒在洞穴中秘密聚会。
82 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。
83 encomium pp7xA     
n.赞颂;颂词
参考例句:
  • He pronounced a splendid encomium upon her in the forum.他在广场上为她作了华丽的赞颂。
  • We hear only encomiums to it.我们只听到对它的溢美之词。
84 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚,诚意;真实
参考例句:
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
85 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。
86 attainments 3f47ba9938f08311bdf016e1de15e082     
成就,造诣; 获得( attainment的名词复数 ); 达到; 造诣; 成就
参考例句:
  • a young woman of impressive educational attainments 一位学业成就斐然的年轻女子
  • He is a scholar of the highest attainments in this field. 他在这一领域是一位颇有造就的学者。
87 philosophical rN5xh     
adj.哲学家的,哲学上的,达观的
参考例句:
  • The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
  • She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。
88 treatise rpWyx     
n.专著;(专题)论文
参考例句:
  • The doctor wrote a treatise on alcoholism.那位医生写了一篇关于酗酒问题的论文。
  • This is not a treatise on statistical theory.这不是一篇有关统计理论的论文。
89 posterity D1Lzn     
n.后裔,子孙,后代
参考例句:
  • Few of his works will go down to posterity.他的作品没有几件会流传到后世。
  • The names of those who died are recorded for posterity on a tablet at the back of the church.死者姓名都刻在教堂后面的一块石匾上以便后人铭记。
90 atmospherical 9d08570c388cd3e135ad749c5aeaf4ca     
adj.空气的,气压的
参考例句:
91 meditated b9ec4fbda181d662ff4d16ad25198422     
深思,沉思,冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 ); 内心策划,考虑
参考例句:
  • He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。
  • She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。
92 inevitably x7axc     
adv.不可避免地;必然发生地
参考例句:
  • In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去,毫无疑问是会散伙的。
  • Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。
93 stifled 20d6c5b702a525920b7425fe94ea26a5     
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵
参考例句:
  • The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。
  • The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。
94 scrambled 2e4a1c533c25a82f8e80e696225a73f2     
v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 );攀登;争夺;(军事飞机)紧急起飞
参考例句:
  • Each scrambled for the football at the football ground. 足球场上你争我夺。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • He scrambled awkwardly to his feet. 他笨拙地爬起身来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
95 clenched clenched     
v.紧握,抓紧,咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He clenched his fists in anger. 他愤怒地攥紧了拳头。
  • She clenched her hands in her lap to hide their trembling. 她攥紧双手放在腿上,以掩饰其颤抖。 来自《简明英汉词典》
96 dexterity hlXzs     
n.(手的)灵巧,灵活
参考例句:
  • You need manual dexterity to be good at video games.玩好电子游戏手要灵巧。
  • I'm your inferior in manual dexterity.论手巧,我不如你。
97 memorable K2XyQ     
adj.值得回忆的,难忘的,特别的,显著的
参考例句:
  • This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
  • The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。
98 touching sg6zQ9     
adj.动人的,使人感伤的
参考例句:
  • It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
  • His letter was touching.他的信很感人。
99 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低
参考例句:
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见,他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
100 winked af6ada503978fa80fce7e5d109333278     
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼,她便知道他的想法和她一样。
  • He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
101 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。
102 stunned 735ec6d53723be15b1737edd89183ec2     
adj. 震惊的,惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
  • The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。
103 demonstration 9waxo     
n.表明,示范,论证,示威
参考例句:
  • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
  • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。


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