Mrs. Errington was in high delight. She appreciated this attention from her old friends very highly. Castalia, it was true, looked discontented and disdainful about the whole affair; and demanded to know why she must be dragged out to these people's stupid parties before she had had time to turn round in her own house. But then, as Mrs. Errington reflected, Castalia did not understand Whitford society. "The fact is, my dear," said her mother-in-law with suavity2, "it may be all a very trumpery3 business in your eyes, and after the circles you have moved in, but I assure you it is considered a very desirable thing here to have the entrée to Dr. Bodkin's. And then they scarcely ever entertain on a showy scale; nothing but a few friends, tea and cake, your rubber, and a tray afterwards. But, for this occasion, I hear there are great preparations going on. They won't dance, because Minnie can't stand the vibration4. But there will be quite a large gathering. Of course, my dear, it is not what I was accustomed to at Ancram Park. But they are most kind, well-meaning people. And Minnie is highly accomplished5; even learned, I believe."
"I hate blue-stockings," returned Mrs. Algernon with a shrug6.
"Oh! but Minnie is not the least blue in her manners! Indeed, her knowing Greek has ever been a mystery to me; for I assure you she is extremely handsome, and has, I think, the finest pair of eyes I ever saw in my life. But I suppose it is accounted for by her affliction, poor thing!"
Castalia had darted7 a quick, suspicious glance at her husband on hearing of Minnie's beauty, but relapsed into languid indifference8 when she was told that Miss Bodkin was a confirmed invalid9, suffering from disease of the spine10.
In other circles Mrs. Errington was by no means so cool and condescending11 in speaking of the doctor's projected party. The check administered to her exultation12 by Castalia's chilly13 indifference only caused a fuller ebullition of it in other directions. She overwhelmed her new landlady14 by the magnitude and magnificence of her "Ancramisms"—I have already asked permission to use the phrase in these pages—and was looked up to by that simple soul as a very exalted15 personage; for the new landlady was no other than the widow Thimbleby.
Mrs. Errington occupied the two rooms on the first-floor above Mr. Diamond's parlours. The place was smaller and poorer altogether than Maxfield's house, although it did not yield to it in cleanliness. Here was Mrs. Errington's old blue china set forth16 on a side-table in the little oblong drawing-room; and her work-box with its amber17 satin and silver implements18; and the faded miniatures hung over the mantelpiece. Also there was a square of substantial, if somewhat faded, carpet in the middle of Mrs. Thimbleby's threadbare drugget, a mahogany table, and a roomy, comfortable easy-chair, all of which we have seen before.
In a word, Mrs. Errington had taken advantage of old Max's somewhat rash offer, and had carried away with her such articles of furniture out of her old quarters as she fancied might be useful.
Mrs. Errington took some credit to herself for her magnanimity in so doing. "I could not refuse the poor man," she said to Mrs. Thimbleby. "I have lived many years in his house, and although he was led away by mistaken ambition to want his drawing-room for his own use, and certainly did cause me great inconvenience at a moment when I was up to my eyes in important business, yet I could not refuse to accept his little peace-offering. A lady does not quarrel with that sort of person, you know. And, poor old man, I believe he was dreadfully cut up at my going away when it came to the point, and would have given anything to keep me. But I said, 'No, Mr. Maxfield, that is impossible. I have made other arrangements; and, in short, I cannot be troubled any more about this matter. But to show that I bear no malice19, and that I shall not withdraw my countenance20 from your daughter, I am willing to accept the trifles you press upon me.' He was a good deal touched by my taking the things; poor, foolish, misguided old man!"
"Well, it was real Christian21 of you, ma'am," said simple Mrs. Thimbleby.
The day of the party at Dr. Bodkin's arrived; and there was as intense an excitement connected with its advent22 as if it were to bring a county ball, or even a royal drawing-room. Whether a satin train, lappets and feathers, be intrinsically more important and worthy23 objects of anxiety than a white muslin frock and artificial roses, I do not presume to decide. Only I can unhesitatingly assert that the Misses Rose and Violet McDougall could not have given their female attendant more trouble about the preparation and putting on of the latter adornments—which formed their simple and elegant attire24 on this occasion—if they had been duchesses, and their gowns cloth of gold.
Miss Chubb, too, contemplated25 her new dress of a light blue colour, laid out upon her bed, with great interest and satisfaction. And when her toilet for the evening was completed, she had more little gummed rings of hair on her cheeks and forehead than had ever before been beheld26 there at one time.
The company began to assemble in Dr. Bodkin's drawing-rooms about half-past eight o'clock. There were all our old acquaintances—Mr. Smith, the surgeon, and his wife; Mr. and Mrs. Dockett, with Miss Alethea, now promoted to long dresses and "grown-up" young-ladyhood. There was Orlando Pawkins; Mr. Warlock, the curate; and Colonel Whistler, with his charming nieces. Miss Chubb had dined with the Bodkins in the middle of the day, and, after being of great assistance to the mistress of the house in the preparation of her supper-table, had returned to her own home to dress, and consequently arrived upon the festive27 scene rather later than would otherwise have been the case. But she was not the last guest to arrive. Mr. Diamond came in after her; and so did one or two families from the neighbourhood of Whitford. ("County people," Miss Chubb said in a loud whisper to Rose McDougall, who replied snappishly, "Of course! We know them very well. Have visited them for years.")
"This is a brilliant scene," said good-natured Miss Chubb, turning to Mr. Warlock, whom Fate had thrown into her neighbourhood. Mr. Warlock agreed with her that it was very brilliant; and, indeed, Dr. Bodkin's drawing-rooms, well lighted with wax candles, and with abundance of hot-house flowers tastefully arranged, and relieved against the rich crimson28 and oak furniture, were exceedingly cheerful, pleasant, and picturesque29. There was an air of comfort and good taste about the rooms—a habitable, home-like air—not always to be found in more splendid dwellings30.
On her crimson lounging-chair reclined Minnie Bodkin. Her dress was of heavy cream-white silk, with gold ornaments31. She wore nothing in her abundant dark hair, and her pale face seemed to many who looked upon it that evening to be more lovely than ever. Her lips had a tinge32 of red in them, and her eyes were full of lustre33. There was a suppressed excitement about her looks and manner, which lighted up her perfectly-moulded features with a strange beauty that struck all observers. Even the McDougalls could not but admit that Minnie looked very striking, but added that she was a little too theatrically34 got up, didn't you think so? That was poor Minnie's failing. All for effect! "And," added Rose, "she has a good foil in that little pink and white creature who sits in the corner beside her chair, and never moves. I suppose she is told to do it. But the idea of dressing35 that chit up in a violet silk gown fit for a married woman! And she has no figure to carry it off. I really think it rather a strong measure on the Bodkins' part to ask us all to meet a girl of such very low origin on equal terms. But there it is, you see! Poor dear Minnie delights in doing startling things, unlike other people. And, of course, her parents refuse her nothing."
Miss Rose's opinion of Rhoda Maxfield's insignificant36 appearance was not, however, shared by many persons present. Several young gentlemen, and more than one old gentleman, vied with each other in offering her cups of tea, and paying her various little attentions according to their opportunities. Even old Colonel Whistler, when he thought himself unobserved by his nieces, sidled up to pretty Rhoda Maxfield, and was heard to say to one of the "county" gentlemen, "She's the prettiest girl I've seen this many a day, by George! And I know a pretty girl when I see one, sir; or used to, once upon a time!"
To Rhoda, all the strangers who spoke37 and looked so kindly38 were merely troublesome. Her colour went and came, her heart beat with anxiety. She started nervously39 every time the door opened. She could think only of Algernon and Algernon's wife. She made a silent and very earnest prayer that she might be strengthened to sit still and quiet when they should appear, for she had had serious apprehensions41 lest she should be irresistibly42 impelled43 to start up and run away, as soon as she saw them.
It was in vain that young Mr. Pawkins hovered44 near her, inviting45 her to accept his arm into the tea-room; it was in vain that old Colonel Whistler softened46 his martinet47 voice to ask her, with paternal48 tenderness, how she had enjoyed her stay at the seaside, and to say that, if one might judge by her looks, she had derived49 great benefit from the change of air. In the words of the song, "All men else seemed to her like shadows." She was in a dream, with the consciousness of an impending50 awakening51, which she half longed for, half dreaded52.
Two persons watched over her, and covered the mistakes she made in her nervous trepidation53. Matthew Diamond and Minnie Bodkin exerted themselves to shield her from importunate54 observation, and to give her time to recover her self-possession, if that might be possible. Diamond was in good spirits. He could wait, he could be patient, he could be silent now, with a good heart. Algernon's marriage had opened a bright vista55 of hope before him; and perhaps he had never felt so disposed to condone56 and excuse his old pupil's faults and failings as at the present moment. "Minnie is a good creature," he thought, with a momentary57, grateful diversion of his attention from Rhoda, "to keep my timid birdie so carefully under her wing! She might do it with a little more softness of manner. But we cannot change people's natures."
Meanwhile Minnie reclined in her chair, watching his tender lingering looks at Rhoda, and his complete indifference to everyone else, with a heartache which might have excused even less "softness of manner" than Diamond thought she displayed towards the girl beside her.
At length a little commotion58, and movement among the persons standing59 near the door, announced a new arrival. Rhoda felt sick, and grasped the back of Minnie's chair so hard that her little glove was split by the force of the pressure. But that horrible sensation passed away in a few seconds. And then, looking up with renewed powers of seeing and hearing, she perceived that Mrs. Errington had made her entrance alone, and was holding forth in her mellow60 voice to Dr. and Mrs. Bodkin, and a knot of other persons in the centre of the room.
Mrs. Errington was radiant. She nodded and smiled to one and another with an almost royal suavity and condescension61. She was attired62 in a rich dove-coloured silk gown (Lord Seely's gift to her at her son's wedding), and wore rose-coloured ribbons in her lace cap, and looked altogether as handsome and happy a matron of her years as you would easily find in a long summer's day.
"I have sent back the carriage for them, dear Mrs. Bodkin," she was saying, when Rhoda gained self-possession enough to take account of her words. "Naughty Castalia was not ready. So I said, 'My dear children, I shall go on without you, and put in an appearance for one member of the family at least!' So here I am. And my boy and girl will be here directly. And how is dear Minnie?—How d'ye do, Colonel?—Good evening, Miss Chubb.—Ah, Alethea! Papa and mamma quite well?—Oh, there she is! How are you, my dear Minnie? But I need not ask, for I never saw you looking so well?"
By this time Mrs. Errington had arrived at Minnie's chair, and stooped to kiss her. Almost at the same moment she caught sight of Rhoda, who shrank back a little, flushed and trembling. Mrs. Errington thought she very well understood the cause of this, and thought to herself, "Poor child, she is ashamed of her father's behaviour!"
"What, my pretty Rhoda!" she said aloud. And, drawing the girl to her, kissed her warmly. "I'm very glad to see you again, child," continued Mrs. Errington; "I began to fancy we were not to meet any more. You must come and see me, and spend a long day. I suppose that won't be against the laws of the Medes and Persians, eh?"
The familiar voice, the familiar looks, the kind manner of her old friend, helped to put Rhoda at her ease. The fact, too, that Mrs. Errington had no suspicion of her feelings was calming. Mrs. Errington was not apt to suspect people of any feeling but gratification, when she was talking to them.
In the full glow of her satisfaction Mrs. Errington even condescended63 to be gracious to Matthew Diamond, who came forward to offer his congratulations. "Why, yes, Mr. Diamond," said the good lady, "it is indeed a marriage after my own heart. And I do not think I am blinded by the partiality of a mother, when I say the bride's family are quite as gratified at the alliance as I am. Do you know that one of Mrs. Algernon's relatives is the Duke of Mackelpie and Brose? A distant relative, it is true. But these Scotch64 clans65, you know, call cousins to the twentieth degree! His Grace sent Castalia a beautiful wedding present: a cairn-gorm, set in solid silver. So characteristic, you know! and so distinguished66! No vulgar finery. Oh, the Broses and the Kauldkails have been connected from time immemorial."
Then Colonel Whistler came up, and joined the circle round Mrs. Errington's chair; and Miss Chubb, whose curiosity generally got the better of her dignity when it came to a struggle between the two. To them sauntered up Alethea Dockett on the arm of Mr. Pawkins. The latter, finding it impossible to draw Rhoda into conversation, had philosophically67 transferred his attentions to the smiling, black-eyed Miss Alethea, much to the disgust and scorn of the McDougalls.
Mrs. Errington soon had a numerous audience around her chair, and she improved the occasion by indulging in such flourishes as fairly staggered her hearers. Her account of the bride's trousseau was almost oriental in the splendour and boldness of its imagery. And Matthew Diamond began to believe that, with very small encouragement, she might be led on to endow her daughter-in-law with the roc's egg, which even Aladdin could not compass the possession of, when a diversion took place.
Algernon Errington appeared close behind Miss Chubb, and said, almost in her ear, and in his old jaunty68 way, "Well, is this the way you cut an old friend? Oh, Miss Chubb, I couldn't have believed it of you!"
The little spinster turned round quite fluttered, with both her fat little hands extended. "Algy!" she cried. "But I beg pardon; I ought not to call you by that familiar name now, I suppose!"
"By what name, then? I hope you don't mean to cut me in earnest!"
Then there was a general hand-shaking and exchange of greetings among the group. Rhoda was still in her old place behind Minnie's chair, and was invisible at first to one coming to the circle from the other end of the room, as Algernon had done. But in a minute he saw her, and for once his self-possession temporarily forsook69 him.
If he had walked into the sitting-room70 at old Max's, and seen Rhoda there, in her accustomed place by his mother's knee, with the accustomed needlework in her hand, and dressed in the accustomed grey stuff frock, he might have accosted71 her with tolerable coolness and aplomb72. The old associations, which might have unnerved some soft-hearted persons, would have strengthened Algernon by vividly73 recalling his own habitual74 ascendancy75 and superiority over his former love. But instead of the Rhoda he had been used to see, here was a lovely young lady, elegantly, even richly, dressed, received among the chief personages of her little world evidently on equal terms, and looking as gracefully76 in her right place there as the best of them.
Algernon stood for a second, staring point-blank at her, unable to move or to speak. His embarrassment77 gave her courage. Not less to her own surprise than to that of the two who were watching her so keenly, she rose from her chair, and held out her hand with the little torn glove on it, saying in a soft voice, that was scarcely at all unsteady, "How do you do, Mr. Errington?"
Algernon shook her proffered78 hand, and murmured something about having scarcely recognised her. Then someone else began to speak to him, and he turned away, as Rhoda resumed her seat, trembling from head to foot.
So the dreaded meeting was over! Let her see him again as often as she might, no second interview could be looked forward to with the same anxious apprehension40 as the first. She had seen Algernon once more! She had spoken to him, and touched his hand!
It seemed very strange that no outward thing should have changed, when such a moving drama had been going on within her heart! But not one of the faces around her showed any consciousness that they had witnessed a scene from the old, old story; that the clasp of those two young hands had meant at once, "Hail!" and "Farewell!"—farewell to the sweet, foolish dream, to the innocent tenderness of youth and maiden79, to the soft thrilling sense of love's presence, that was wont80 to fill so many hours of life with a diffused81 sweetness, like the perfume of hidden flowers!
No; the world seemed to go on much as usual. The McDougalls came flouncing up close beside her, to tell Minnie that they had just been introduced to "the Honourable82 Mrs. Errington;" and a very young gentleman (one of Dr. Bodkin's senior scholars) asked Rhoda if she had had any tea yet, and begged to recommend the pound-cake, from his own personal experience.
"Go with Mr. Ingleby," said Minnie, authoritatively83. "I put Miss Maxfield under your charge, Ingleby, and shall hold you responsible for her being properly attended to in the tea-room."
The lad, colouring with pleasure, led off the unresisting Rhoda. All her force of will, all her courage, seemed to have been expended84 in the effort of greeting Algernon. She simply obeyed Miss Bodkin with listless docility85. But, on reaching the tea-room, she was conscious that her friend had done wisely and kindly in sending her away, for there were but two persons there. One was Mr. Dockett, who was as inveterate86 a tea-drinker as Doctor Johnson; and the other was the Reverend Peter Warlock, hovering87 hungrily near the cake-basket. Neither of these gentlemen took any special notice of her, and she was able to sit quiet and unobserved. Her cavalier conscientiously88 endeavoured to fulfil Miss Minnie's injunctions, but was greatly disappointed by the indifference which Rhoda manifested to the pound-cake. However, he endeavoured to make up for her shortcomings by devouring89 such a quantity of that confection himself as startled even Dr. Bodkin's old footman, accustomed to the appetites of many a generation of school-boys.
But all this time where was the bride? The party was given especially in her honour, and to omit her from any description of it would be an unpardonable solecism.
The Honourable Mrs. Algernon Ancram Errington sat on a sofa in the principal drawing-room, with a discontented expression of countenance, superciliously91 surveying the company through her eye-glass, and asking where Algernon was, if he were absent from her side for five minutes. Castalia was looking in better health than when we first had the honour of making her acquaintance. She had grown a trifle stouter—or less lean. Her sojourn92 in Westmoreland had been more favourable93 to her looks than the fatigues94 of a London season, which, under other circumstances, she would have been undergoing. Happiness is said to be a great beautifier. And it was to be supposed that Castalia, having married the man of her heart, was happy. But yet the fretful creases95 had not vanished from her face; and there was even a more suspicious watchfulness96 in her bright, deeply-set eyes than formerly97.
Perhaps it may be well to record a few of the various verdicts passed on the bride's manners and appearance by our Whitford friends after that first evening. Possibly an impartial98 judgment99 may be formed from them; but it will be seen that opinions were strongly conflicting.
Said Dr. Bodkin to his wife, "What can the boy have been thinking of to marry that woman? A sickly, faded, fretful-looking person, nearly ten years his senior! I can forgive a generous mistake, but not a mean one. If he had run away with Ally Dockett from her boarding-school, it would, no doubt, have been a misfortune, but—I don't know that one would have loved him much the less!"
"Oh, doctor!"
"I am not counselling young gentlemen to run away with young ladies from boarding-schools, my dear. But—I'm afraid this has been a marriage wholly of interest and ambition on his side. Ah! I hoped better things of Errington." And the doctor went on shaking his head for full a minute.
Said Mrs. Smith to Mrs. Dockett, "What do you think of the bride?" Said Mrs. Dockett to Mrs. Smith, "A stuck-up, unpleasant little thing! And I do wish somebody would tell her to keep her gown on her shoulders. I assure you, if I were to see my Ally half undressed in that fashion, I should box her ears. And Ally has a very pretty pair of shoulders, though I say it. She is not a bag of bones, like Mrs. Algernon, at all events."
Said Miss Chubb to her old woman servant, "Well, the Honourable Mrs. Algernon Errington is very distangy looking, Martha. That's a French word that means—means out of the common, aristocratic, you know. Very distangy, certainly! But she lacks sentiment, in my opinion. And her outline is very sharp, Martha. I prefer a rounder contour, both of face and figure. Some of the ladies found fault with her because of her low dress. But that—as I happen to know—is quite the custom with our upper classes in town. Mrs. Figgins's—wife of the Bishop100 of Plumbunn, you know, Martha—Mrs. Figgins's sister, who married Sir William Wick, of the Honourable Company of Tallow Chandlers, I believe—that's a kind of City society for dining sumptuously101, Martha; you mustn't suppose it has anything to do with selling tallow candles! Well, Lady Wick sat down to dinner in low, every day of her life!"
Mr. Diamond and young Pawkins walked a little way together from the doctor's house to the "Blue Bell" inn. The master of Pudcombe Hall, on attempting to resume his acquaintance with the bride, had been received with scant102 courtesy. But this was not so much because Castalia intended to be specially90 uncivil to him, as because at that moment it happened, unfortunately, that she saw her husband in a distant part of the room talking to Minnie Bodkin with an air of animation103.
"By Jove!" cried the ingenuous104 Pawkins, "I don't envy Errington. His wife looks so uncommon105 ill-tempered, and turns up her honourable nose at everybody."
"She does not turn up her nose at him," returned Diamond. "And Errington will not be over sensitive on behalf of his friends."
"Oh, well! But she's so crabbed106, somehow. One expects a bride to have some kind of softness in her manners, and—hang it all, there's not a particle of romance about her."
"My dear fellow, if there is in the United Kingdom a young man of three-and-twenty who can comfortably dispense107 with romance in his wife, our friend Errington is that young man."
"Oh, well! I know Errington's a very clever fellow, and all that, and perhaps I'm a fool. But I—I shouldn't like my wife to be quite so cool and cutting in her manners, that's all!"
"Neither should I. And perhaps I'm a fool!"
"Shouldn't you, now?" Orlando was encouraged by this admission on Diamond's part, further, to express his opinion that it was all very fine to stick "Honourable" before your name; but that, for his part, he considered little Miss Maxfield to look fifty times more like a lady than Mrs. Algernon. And as for good looks, there was, of course, no comparison. And though Miss Maxfield was too shy and quiet, yet if you offered her any little civility, she thanked you in such a sweet way that a fellow felt as if he could do anything for her; whereas, some women stare at a fellow enough to turn a fellow into stone.
But the Misses McDougall were enthusiastic in their praises of Algernon's wife. They performed a sort of Carmen Am?b?um after this fashion:
Rose. "That sweet creature, the Honourable Mrs. Algernon! I can't get her out of my head."
Violet. "Dear thing! What high-bred manners! And did she tell you that we are positively108 related? The Mackelpies, you know, call cousins with us. There was the branch that went off from the elder line of Brose"—&c. &c. &c.
Rose. "Oh yes; one feels at home directly with people of one's own class. How lucky Algernon has been to get such a wife, instead of some chit of a girl who would have had no weight in society!"
Violet. "Yes; but she's quite young enough, Rose?"
Rose. "Oh, dear me, of course! But I meant that Algernon has shown his sense in not selecting a bread-and-butter Miss. I own I detest109 school-girls."
Violet. "She asked us to go and see her. Do you know I think we were the only girls in the room she seemed to take to at all! Even Minnie Bodkin, now—she was very cool, I thought, to Minnie."
Rose. "My dear child, how often have I told you that the people here have quite a mistaken estimate of Minnie Bodkin? They have just spoiled her. Her airs are really ludicrous. But directly a person of superior birth comes to the place you see how it is! Perhaps you'll believe me another time. I do think you were half inclined to fall down and worship Minnie yourself!"
Violet. "Oh no; not that! But she is very clever, you know. And, in spite of her affliction, I thought she looked wonderfully handsome to-night."
Rose. (Sharply.) "Pshaw! She was dressed up like an actress. I saw the look Mrs. Algernon gave her. How beautifully Mrs. Algernon had her hair done!"
Violet. "And did you notice that little flounce at the bottom of her dress?"——&c. &c.
Both. (Almost together.) "Isn't she charming, uncle?"
"Very," answered Colonel Whistler, twirling his moustaches. Then the gallant110 gentleman, as he took his bed-candle, was heard to mutter something which sounded like "d——d skinny!"
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1
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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suavity
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| n.温和；殷勤 | |
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trumpery
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| n.无价值的杂物；adj.（物品）中看不中用的 | |
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vibration
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| n.颤动，振动；摆动 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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invalid
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| n.病人，伤残人；adj.有病的，伤残的；无效的 | |
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spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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condescending
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exultation
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chilly
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| adj.凉快的，寒冷的 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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amber
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implements
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| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
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malice
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| n.恶意，怨恨，蓄意；[律]预谋 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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Christian
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advent
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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attire
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| v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装 | |
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contemplated
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beheld
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| 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 | |
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festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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32
tinge
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| vt.(较淡)着色于，染色；使带有…气息；n.淡淡色彩，些微的气息 | |
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33
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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34
theatrically
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| adv.戏剧化地 | |
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35
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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36
insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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37
spoke
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| 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 | |
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38
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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39
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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40
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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41
apprehensions
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| 疑惧 | |
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42
irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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43
impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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45
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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46
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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47
martinet
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| n.要求严格服从纪律的人 | |
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48
paternal
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| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
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49
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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51
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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52
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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53
trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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54
importunate
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| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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condone
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| v.宽恕；原谅 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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58
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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59
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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condescension
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| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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63
condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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64
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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clans
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| 宗族( clan的名词复数 )； 氏族； 庞大的家族； 宗派 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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jaunty
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| adj．愉快的，满足的；adv.心满意足地，洋洋得意地；n.心满意足；洋洋得意 | |
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69
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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70
sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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71
accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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72
aplomb
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| n.沉着，镇静 | |
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vividly
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| adv.清楚地，鲜明地，生动地 | |
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74
habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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75
ascendancy
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| n.统治权，支配力量 | |
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76
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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80
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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81
diffused
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| 散布的，普及的，扩散的 | |
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82
honourable
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| adj.可敬的；荣誉的，光荣的 | |
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83
authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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84
expended
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| v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 )；使用（钱等）做某事；用光；耗尽 | |
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85
docility
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| n.容易教，易驾驶，驯服 | |
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86
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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87
hovering
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| 鸟( hover的现在分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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89
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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90
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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91
superciliously
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| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
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92
sojourn
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| v./n.旅居，寄居；逗留 | |
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93
favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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94
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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95
creases
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的第三人称单数 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹 | |
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96
watchfulness
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| 警惕，留心； 警觉（性） | |
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97
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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98
impartial
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| adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的 | |
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99
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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100
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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101
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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102
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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103
animation
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| n.活泼，兴奋，卡通片／动画片的制作 | |
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104
ingenuous
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| adj.纯朴的，单纯的；天真的；坦率的 | |
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105
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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106
crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
dispense
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| vt.分配，分发；配(药)，发(药)；实施 | |
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108
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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109
detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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110
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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