"TOMORROW'S Sunday, ye know," said the Orderly of Company Q one Saturday night at roll-call.
This was in the nature of news to the boys. But for the announcement very few of them would have known it. The Orderly was not distinguished1 for his piety2, and it is not likely that the approach of Sunday would have occurred to him if the Sergeant-Major had not come around with orders from the Colonel for a proper observance of the day. The Colonel himself would not have thought of it either, if the Chaplain had not reminded him of it. Everybody wondered how even the Chaplain could keep track of the days well enough to know when Sunday came—but that was chiefly what he wore shoulder-straps3 and drew his salary for. It was the general impression that he either carried an almanac in his pocket, or else a stick in which he cut a notch4 every day with his jack-knife, and in that way managed to know when a new week began.
"There'll be guard-mountin' at 9 o'clock," continued the Orderly, "regimental inspection6 at 10, preachin' at 11, an' dress-parade at 5 in the evenin'. All of ye wants to tumble out right promptly7 at revellee an' git yer breakfast, an' then clean up yer guns an' put all yer traps in apple-pie order, 'cause the Colonel's goin' to look at 'em. He's got sharp eyes, an' I reck'n he'll be mighty8 pertickler. If there's anything that ain't jest right he'll see it quicker'n litenin'. Ye know we hain't had any inspections9 yet, an' the Cap'n wants us to be the boss company. So ye've got to scratch around lively in the mornin'."
"Say," said Corporal Klegg, after the company had broken ranks, "seems to me there wa'n't no use in the Orderly tellin' us to 'scratch around,' fer we're doin' that purty much all the time, now that the graybacks is gittin' in their work on us."
Shorty smiled faintly at what he seemed to consider a rather feeble joke, even for Si.
The 200th Ind. had now been in the field for many weeks, but it had been continually cantering about the country, and the Generals had kept it particularly active on Sundays. Probably this regiment5 did not manifest any more than the average degree of enthusiasm and fervor11 in religious matters, but there were many in its ranks who, at home, had always sat under Gospel ministrations, and to tramp on Sundays, the same as other days, was, at first, a rude shock to their moral sensibilities. These were yet keen, the edges had not been worn off and blunted and battered12 by the hard knocks of army life. True, they could scarcely tell when Sunday came, but they knew that they kept right along every day.
"Shorty," said Si, after they had curled up under the blanket for the night, "'pears to me it'll seem sort o' nice to keep Sunday agin. At the rate we've bin13 goin' on we'll all be heathens by the time we git home—if we ever do. Our Chaplain haint had no chance to preachify yet. The boys of Comp'ny X, w'at knows him, says he's a staver, 'n' I b'lieve it'll make us all feel better to have him talk to us once. 'Twont do us no harm, nohow, I'd like to be home to-morrer 'n' go to church with mother, 'n' sister Marier, 'n'—er—I mean the rest of the folks. Then I'd jest eat all the afternoon. I ain't goin' ter git homesick, Shorty; but a feller can't help feelin' a little streaked14 once 'n' a while. Mebbe it's a good idee fer 'em to keep us on the jump, fer then we don't git no chance to think 'bout10 it. I don't suppose I'm the only boy 'n the regiment that 'd be glad to git a jest fer to-morrer. I sh'd want ter be back bright 'n' arly to fall in Monday mornin', fer I'm goin' to stick to the 200th through thick 'n' thin, if I don't git knocked out. Say, Shorty, how d'ye feel, any way?"
But Shorty was already fast asleep. Si spooned up to him and was soon, in his dreams, away up in Posey County.
The sound of the bugle15 and drum, at daylight, fell upon unwilling16 ears, for the soldiers felt the same indisposition to get up early Sunday morning that is everywhere One of the characteristics of modern civilization. Their beds were hard, but to their weary limbs no couch of down ever gave more welcome rest than did the rough ground on which they lay. But the wild yell of the Orderly, "Turn out for roll-call!" with the thought of the penalties for non-obedience—which some of them had abundant reason to remember—quickly brought out the laggards17.
Si and Shorty were, as usual, among the first to take their places in line. They were pleasantly greeted by the Captain, who had come out on the run at the last moment, and wriggled18 himself into his coat as he strode along the company street. The Captain did not very often appear at morning rollcall. But one officer of the company was required to be present, and the Captain generally loaded this duty upon the Lieutenants19 "turn about." If he did show up, he would go back to bed and snooze for an hour while the cook was getting breakfast. If one of the men did that he would soon be promenading20 with a rail on his shoulder or standing21 on a barrel with a stick or a bayonet tied in his mouth.
"I think that's a fust rate notion to mount the guards," said Si to Shorty as they sat on a rail by the fire making coffee and frying bacon. "It'll be so much better 'n walkin' back 'n' forrard on the beats. Wonder 'f they'll give us bosses or mules23 to ride."
"I'd like to know what put that idee into yer head," said Shorty.
"Whydn't the Ord'ly say last night there 'd be guard-mountin' at 9 o'clock this mornin'? I s'posed that fer a man to be mounted meant straddlin' a boss or s'mother kind of an animal."
"Ain't ye never goin' to larn nuthin'," said Shorty, with a laugh. "Guard-mountin' don't mean fer the men to git on hosses. It's only the name they gives it in the Army Reggelations. Dunno why they calls it that, 'nless it's 'cause the guards has to 'mount' anybody that tries to pass 'thout the countersign24. But don't ye fool yerself with thinkin' yer goin' to get to ride. We'll keep pluggin' along afoot, on guard or anywhere else, same's we have all the time."
Thus rudely was shattered another of Si Klegg's bright illusions.
The whole regiment turned out to witness the ceremony of guard-mounting. It was the first time the exigencies25 of the campaign had permitted the 200th Ind. to do this in regular style. The Adjutant was the most important personage, and stood so straight that he narrowly escaped falling over backward. In order to guard against making a mess of it, he had spent half the night rehearsing the various commands in his tent. Thus prepared, he managed to get through it in very fair shape.
So Straight he Leaned Backward 211
The next thing on the program for the day was the inspection. The boys had been industriously26 engaged in cleaning up their muskets27 and accouterments, and putting their scanty28 wardrobes in presentable condition. In arranging his knapsack for the Colonel's eye, each man carefully laid a clean shirt, if he had one, on the top. The garments that were not clean he either stowed away in the tent or put at the bottom of the knapsack. In this he was actuated by the same principle that prompts the thrifty29 farmer to put the biggest apples and strawberries at the top of his measure.
The clothing of the regiment was already in an advanced stage of demoralization. It was of the "shoddy" sort that a good hard wind would almost blow to pieces.
Corporal Klegg was anxious that not only his person, but all his belongings30, should make as good an appearance as possible. He put on the best and cleanest garments he had, and then betook himself to fixing his knapsack so it would pass muster31.
"Them duds is a bad lot," he said to Shorty, casting rueful glances at the little heap of soiled and ragged32 clothes. "Purty hard to make a decent show with them things."
"Wait a minute," said Shorty, "an' I'll show ye a little trick."
Taking his poncho33 under His arm. Shorty went to the rear of the camp, where the mules were feeding, and presently returned with a bunch of hay.
"What ye goin' to do with that?" asked Si.
"You jest do 's I tell ye, and don't ask no questions. Cram34 some o' this hay into yer knapsack 'n' fill 'er up 'n' then put a shirt or suthin', the best ye kin22 find, on top, 'n' the Colonel 'll think she's full o' clothes right from the laundry. I'm goin' to fix mine that way."
"Shorty, you're a trump35!" said Si, approvingly. "That 'll be a bully36 scheme."
It required but a few minutes to carry out the plan. The hay was stuffed into the knapsack, and all vagrant37 spears were carefully tucked in.
Then a garment, folded so as to conceal38 its worst features, was nicely spread over the hay, the flaps were closed and buckled39, and the young Hoosiers were ready for inspection.
"S'posen the Colonel sh'd take a notion to go pokin' down into them knapsacks," said Si; "don't ye think it'd be purty cold weather for us?"
"P'r'aps it mout," answered Shorty; "but we've got ter take the chances. He's got seven or eight hundred knapsacks to 'nspect, 'n' I don't b'lieve he'll stick his nose down into very many on 'em!"
At the appointed time the battalion40 was formed and the inspection was gone through with in good style. The Colonel and the field and staff officers, escorted by the Captain of each successive company, moved gradually between the ranks, their swords dangling41 around and getting mixed up with their legs. The soldiers stood facing inward like so many wooden men, with their open knapsacks lying upon the ground at their feet. The Colonel looked sharply right and left, stopped now and then to commend a soldier whose "straps" were in particularly good condition, or to "go for" another whose slouchy appearance betokened42 untidy habits. If a button was missing, or a shoe untied43, his eye was keen to detect it, and a word of reproof44 was administered to the delinquent45.
As the Colonel started down the line of Company Q Si watched him out of the corners of his eyes with no little anxiety. His heart thumped46 as he saw him occasionally stoop and fumble47 over the contents of a knapsack, evidently to test the truth of Longfellow's declaration that "things are not what they seem." What if the Colonel should go down into the bowels48 of Si's knapsack! Si fairly shuddered49 at the thought.
Si, being the shortest of the Corporals, was at the foot of the company, while Shorty, on account of his hight, was well up toward the head. Si almost fainted when he saw the Colonel stop in front of his "pard" and make an examination of his fatlooking knapsack. Military official dignity gave way when the removal of the single garment exposed the stuffing of hay. The officers burst into a laugh at the unexpected revelation, while the boys on either side almost exploded in their enjoyment50 of Shorty's discomfiture51.
Si Almost Fainted when the Colonel Stopped 215
"Captain," said the Colonel, with as much sternness as he could command, "as soon as your company is dismissed detail a guard to take charge of this man. Have him take the hay out of his knapsack and fill it with stones—and see that it is filled full. Have this man put it on and march him up and down the company street till church-call, and then take him to hear the Chaplain. He needs to be preached to. Perhaps, between the knapsack-drill and the Chaplain, we can straight him out."
Corporal Klegg heard all this, and he wished the ground might open and swallow him. "These stripes is gone this time, sure!" he said to himself, as he looked at the chevrons52 on his arm. "But there's no use givin' yourself away, Si. Brace53 up, 'n' mebbe the Colonel 'll skip ye."
Si had been badly shaken up by the Colonel's episode with Shorty, but by a great effort he gathered himself together and was at his best, externally, when the Colonel reached him, though his thoughts were in a raging condition. His face was clean and rosy54, and his general make-up was as good as could be expected under the circumstances.
The Colonel had always remembered Si as the soldier he had promoted to be a Corporal for his gallantry in the little skirmish a few days before. As he came up he greeted the Corporal with a smile and a nod of recognition. He was evidently pleased at his tidy appearance. He cast a glance at the voluptuous55 knapsack, and Si's heart seemed to sink away down into his shoes.
But the fates smiled on Si that day. The Colonel turned to the Captain and told him that Corporal Klegg was the model soldier of Company Q. Si was the happiest man in the universe at that precise moment. It was not on account of the compliment the Colonel had paid him, but because his knapsack had escaped a critical inspection of its contents.
The inspection over, Company Q marched back to its quarters and was dismissed. Poor Shorty was soon tramping to and fro, under guard, humping his back to ease the load that had been put upon it. Si was very sorry for him, and at the same time felt a glow of pleasure at the thought that it was not his own knapsack instead of Shorty's that the Colonel had examined. He could not help feeling, too, that it was a great joke on Shorty to be caught in his own trap.
Shorty Was There--with a Guard 217
Shorty took his medicine like a man, marching up and down the row of tents bravely and patiently, unheeding the gibes56 and jeers57 of his hard-hearted comrades.
The bugle sounded the call for religious services. Shorty was not in a frame of mind that fitted him for devout58 worship. In fact, few in the regiment had greater need of the regenerating59 influence. He had never been inside of a church but two or three times in his life, and he really felt that to be compelled to go and listen to the Chaplain's sermon was the hardest part of the double punishment the Colonel had inflicted60 upon him.
The companies were all marched to a wooded knoll61 just outside the camp. Shorty went by himself, save the companionship of the guard, with fixed62 bayonet. He had been permitted to leave his knapsack behind. He was taken to a point near the Chaplain, that he might get the full benefit of the preacher's words.
Under the spreading trees, whose foliage63 was brilliant with the hues64 of Autumn, in the mellow65 sunshine of that October day the men seated themselves upon the ground to hear the Gospel preached. The Chaplain, in his best uniform, stood and prayed fervently66 for Divine guidance and protection and blessing67, while the soldiers listened, with heads reverently68 bowed. Then he gave out the familiar Methodist hymn69,
"Am I a soldier of the cross,"
and all joined in the old tune70 "Balerma," their voices swelling71 in mighty chorus. As they sang,
"Are there no foes72 for me to face?"
there came to the minds of many a practical application of the words, in view of the long and fruitless chase after the rebels in which they had been engaged for nearly a month.
The Chaplain had formerly73 been an old-fashioned Methodist circuit-rider in Indiana. He was full of fiery74 zeal75, and portrayed76 the terrors of eternal punishment so vividly77 that His hearers could almost feel the heat of the flame and smell the fumes78 of brimstone that are popularly believed to roll out unceasingly from the mouth of the bottomless pit. It ought to have had a salutary effect upon Shorty, but it is greatly to be feared that he steeled his stubborn heart against all that the Chaplain said.
It was always difficult not to feel that there was something contradictory79 and anomalous80 about religious services in the army. Grim-visaged, hideous81 war, and all its attendant circumstances, seemed so utterly82 at variance83 with the principles of the Bible and the teachings of Him who was meek84 and lowly, that few soldiers had philosophy enough to reconcile them.
The soldiers spent the afternoon in reading what few stray books and fugitive85, well-worn newspapers there were in camp, mending their clothes, sleeping, and some of them, we are pained to add, in playing eucher, old sledge86, and other sinful games. Dress parade closed the day that had brought welcome rest to the way-worn soldiers of the 200th Ind..
"Shorty," said Si, after they had gone to bed that night, "I sh'd be mighty sorry if I'd ha' got up that knapsack trick this mornin', 'cause you got left on it so bad."
"There's a good many things," replied Shorty, "that's all right when ye don't git ketched. It worked tip top with you, Si, 'n' I'm glad of it. But I put ye up to it, 'n' I shouldn't never got over it if the Colonel had caught ye, on account of them stripes on yer arm. He'd ha' snatched 'em baldheaded, sure's yer born. You're my pard, 'n' I'm jest as proud of 'em as you be yerself. I'm only a privit,' 'n' they can't rejuce me any lower! Besides, I 'low it sarved me right 'n' I don't keer fer the knapsack drill, so I didn't git you into a scrape."
点击收听单词发音
1 distinguished | |
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的 | |
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2 piety | |
n.虔诚,虔敬 | |
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3 straps | |
n.带子( strap的名词复数 );挎带;肩带;背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 );用皮带抽打;包扎;给…打绷带 | |
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4 notch | |
n.(V字形)槽口,缺口,等级 | |
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5 regiment | |
n.团,多数,管理;v.组织,编成团,统制 | |
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6 inspection | |
n.检查,审查,检阅 | |
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7 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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8 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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9 inspections | |
n.检查( inspection的名词复数 );检验;视察;检阅 | |
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10 bout | |
n.侵袭,发作;一次(阵,回);拳击等比赛 | |
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11 fervor | |
n.热诚;热心;炽热 | |
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12 battered | |
adj.磨损的;v.连续猛击;磨损 | |
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13 bin | |
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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14 streaked | |
adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹 | |
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15 bugle | |
n.军号,号角,喇叭;v.吹号,吹号召集 | |
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16 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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17 laggards | |
n.落后者( laggard的名词复数 ) | |
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18 wriggled | |
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的过去式和过去分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等) | |
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19 lieutenants | |
n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 );副职官员;空军;仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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20 promenading | |
v.兜风( promenade的现在分词 ) | |
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21 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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22 kin | |
n.家族,亲属,血缘关系;adj.亲属关系的,同类的 | |
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23 mules | |
骡( mule的名词复数 ); 拖鞋; 顽固的人; 越境运毒者 | |
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24 countersign | |
v.副署,会签 | |
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25 exigencies | |
n.急切需要 | |
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26 industriously | |
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27 muskets | |
n.火枪,(尤指)滑膛枪( musket的名词复数 ) | |
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28 scanty | |
adj.缺乏的,仅有的,节省的,狭小的,不够的 | |
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29 thrifty | |
adj.节俭的;兴旺的;健壮的 | |
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30 belongings | |
n.私人物品,私人财物 | |
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31 muster | |
v.集合,收集,鼓起,激起;n.集合,检阅,集合人员,点名册 | |
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32 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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33 poncho | |
n.斗篷,雨衣 | |
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34 cram | |
v.填塞,塞满,临时抱佛脚,为考试而学习 | |
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35 trump | |
n.王牌,法宝;v.打出王牌,吹喇叭 | |
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36 bully | |
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮 | |
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37 vagrant | |
n.流浪者,游民;adj.流浪的,漂泊不定的 | |
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38 conceal | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽 | |
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39 buckled | |
a. 有带扣的 | |
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40 battalion | |
n.营;部队;大队(的人) | |
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41 dangling | |
悬吊着( dangle的现在分词 ); 摆动不定; 用某事物诱惑…; 吊胃口 | |
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42 betokened | |
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43 untied | |
松开,解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 ); 解除,使自由; 解决 | |
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44 reproof | |
n.斥责,责备 | |
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45 delinquent | |
adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
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46 thumped | |
v.重击, (指心脏)急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47 fumble | |
vi.笨拙地用手摸、弄、接等,摸索 | |
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48 bowels | |
n.肠,内脏,内部;肠( bowel的名词复数 );内部,最深处 | |
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49 shuddered | |
v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 | |
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50 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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51 discomfiture | |
n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑 | |
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52 chevrons | |
n.(警察或士兵所佩带以示衔级的)∧形或∨形标志( chevron的名词复数 ) | |
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53 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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54 rosy | |
adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 | |
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55 voluptuous | |
adj.肉欲的,骄奢淫逸的 | |
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56 gibes | |
vi.嘲笑,嘲弄(gibe的第三人称单数形式) | |
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57 jeers | |
n.操纵帆桁下部(使其上下的)索具;嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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58 devout | |
adj.虔诚的,虔敬的,衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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59 regenerating | |
v.新生,再生( regenerate的现在分词 );正反馈 | |
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60 inflicted | |
把…强加给,使承受,遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61 knoll | |
n.小山,小丘 | |
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62 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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63 foliage | |
n.叶子,树叶,簇叶 | |
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64 hues | |
色彩( hue的名词复数 ); 色调; 信仰; 观点 | |
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65 mellow | |
adj.柔和的;熟透的;v.变柔和;(使)成熟 | |
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66 fervently | |
adv.热烈地,热情地,强烈地 | |
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67 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
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68 reverently | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
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69 hymn | |
n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 | |
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70 tune | |
n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整 | |
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71 swelling | |
n.肿胀 | |
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72 foes | |
敌人,仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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73 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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74 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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75 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
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76 portrayed | |
v.画像( portray的过去式和过去分词 );描述;描绘;描画 | |
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77 vividly | |
adv.清楚地,鲜明地,生动地 | |
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78 fumes | |
n.(强烈而刺激的)气味,气体 | |
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79 contradictory | |
adj.反驳的,反对的,抗辩的;n.正反对,矛盾对立 | |
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80 anomalous | |
adj.反常的;不规则的 | |
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81 hideous | |
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的 | |
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82 utterly | |
adv.完全地,绝对地 | |
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83 variance | |
n.矛盾,不同 | |
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84 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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85 fugitive | |
adj.逃亡的,易逝的;n.逃犯,逃亡者 | |
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86 sledge | |
n.雪橇,大锤;v.用雪橇搬运,坐雪橇往 | |
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