“What do you think, doctor?” he asked anxiously of the medical man brought in from Bement.
“Frankly, I don’t think,” said that worthy2, “these lapses3, superinduced by concussion4, are treacherous5 things. He may recover suddenly, or he may die without regaining6 consciousness. It’s a gamble.”
But anxious as he was to know the secret locked in the unconscious brain of Price Selwood, Fair had not been idle.
He and Bossick had been very busy.
Many things had been done, a plan arranged, secret conclaves8 held at which grim and determined9 men sat their horses and pledged themselves to do a certain thing.
Then Fair went to the cabin on Nameless, for the longing10 in his heart to see Nance11 Allison grew with every passing hour.
He held her in his arms and kissed her forehead and her smooth cheeks, touched the shining coronet of her hair with reverent12 hands.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, after the age-old fashion of lovers, “there was never a woman like you! You are my light in dark places, my rain in the desert. Oh, Nance, what if I had never found you!”
And the girl leaned on his heart in an ecstasy13 of love that was shot with sadness, holding fast to her trust with desperate hands.
“It’s bound to come soon now,” he told her, “we are organized and ready—only waiting for Selwood, poor fellow, to regain7 his reason that he may tell us where to strike.”
“There’ll be gun-play and—blood,” said Nance miserably14, “and I pray God that you will not be taken. I—I couldn’t lose you, Brand, and live. I wouldn’t dare to live—for if they kill you—Oh, that black hatred15 which has stirred in me so long, is getting beyond my strength to hold it! I’ll go mad and turn killer16, Brand if they kill you! I know it—I feel it here——” she laid eloquent17 hands on her heart—“and then my soul will go into the pit of damnation.”
“Hush18!” said Fair holding her to him fiercely, “for the love of Heaven, don’t talk so, child! And get that thought out of your head. Whatever happens, keep your hands clean from that crowd of ruffians—and always remember that Brand Fair loved you. If we fail and the Sky Line people stay in the country, I beg you, Nance, to leave Nameless River. Take your mother and Bud—and—and Sonny—and go away to a more civilized19 spot. You can make another start. There’s a little money in a New York bank for the boy—the papers in the package will explain—and I know you love him——”
But Nance laid her face on his breast and fell to weeping, so that Fair anathematized himself for his grave words.
“It seems,” she said, sobbing20, “that we have reached the bottom—of all things—hope—and—and strength—and happiness. And my grasp on God is failing—He has turned His face from me—I am lost to the light of His countenance—because of the hatred in me. I have stood firm through tribulation21 but now—when I think of you—I feel my strength desert me.”
“Buck up,” scoffed22 the man playfully, “we’ll all come through with colors flying and see this nest of vipers23 caged. Then think of life on Nameless, Nance—safe and happy, with our fields and our herds24 and peace in all the land. I shouldn’t have suggested anything else. Come—be my brave girl again, my good fighter.”
Obedient to his words, Nance straightened and tried to smile in the starlight.
“That’s it,” he said, “you’re resilient as willow25 wood—ready with a come-back. You’ll never leave the line, Sweetheart, never in this world!”
It was late in the night when Fair rode away.
He went south, going back to look again on the quiet face of Sheriff Selwood, then on to the Deep Heart fringes to meet Bossick and Jermyn.
As for Nance Allison, she was seized with a great restlessness that made inaction unbearable26.
“I think I’ll ride the lower slopes of Mystery, Mammy,” she said next morning, “and look for that black shoat that’s missing. I can’t afford to lose it.”
The mother looked at her with worried eyes.
“You take your Pappy’s gun,” she said at last. “I feel to tell you so. Th’ time has come.”
But the girl shook her head.
“I don’t care,” she said, “I can’t trust myself of late.” She kissed Sonny, ran a hand over Bud’s bronze hair, and went out to the stable where she saddled Buckskin and rode away.
Dirk, sitting gravely on the door-stone, begged to go with her, but she forbade him.
So she passed the bleak27 ruin of her cornfield, crossed the river, low in its summer ebb28, and struck up among the buck-brush and manzanita that clothes the lower slopes.
It was a sweet blue day with the summer haze29 on slant30 and level, cool with the little winds that were ever drawing up between the hills, silent with the eternal hush of the far places.
All the wilderness31 smiled, the heavens, blue and flecked with sailing clouds, were soft as infants’ eyes.
Nature opened appealing arms to this child of her bosom32 and Nance, sad and apprehensive33 as she had never been in her life before, went into them and was comforted.
She raised her eyes to the distant rimrock, shining above Rainbow Cliff which was dark and sombre at this early hour, and felt its austere34 beauty. She watched the cloud-shadows drifting on the tapestried35 shoulders of the mountains and knew the sight for what it was of privilege and blessing36.
So, as the little horse beneath her scrambled37 eagerly up the slants38, the peace of the waiting hills fell upon her with healing and the sadness eased away.
In every likely place she looked and listened for the black shoat, but it seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth, like the six fat steers39. She followed a small ravine for longer than she had intended, sat for a while in a sunny opening high along the breast of Mystery, and sidled back toward the west again.
And here it was that two men far above looked down and saw her with ejaculations of delight.
“Well, if this ain’t luck!” said Provine grinning, “then I’m a liar40! I thought this morning when Arnold handed us that last bunch of instructions that he was due for once to come out th’ little end of th’ horn. I didn’t see how any human was goin’ to be able to carry them out. I didn’t think we’d ever get near enough to get her and do it on th’ q. t. But she’s brought herself to us!”
“If she’s armed,” said Caldwell shortly, “it’s not time yet to crow. I think she’d fight.”
“Fight, hell!” said the other, “she don’t believe in fightin’. She’s religious. We’ll pick her up too easy an’ present her to th’ Boss with our compliments.”
An hour later Nance, riding along a dim trail made by the traveling hoofs41 of deer, came out above a spring in a pretty glade42.
She was warm and thirsty, so she dismounted and pushing back her hat from her sweated forehead, knelt on the spring’s lip and putting her face to the limpid43 water, drank long and eagerly a foot from Buckskin’s muzzle44.
As she straightened up, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she caught a sound where had been deep silence before—the sound of something moving, the rattle45 of accoutrements, and turning quickly, still upon her knees, she looked up into the grinning face of Sud Provine, the frowning one of the Sky Line foremen.
“By Jing!” said Provine wonderingly, “never havin’ seen you outside that there ol’ bonnet46 of yours I didn’t know how purty you was! Them eyes now—they’re right blue, ain’t they? An’ that wide mouth—all wet where you stopped wipin’ it——”
“You damn fool!” said Caldwell disgustedly, “shut up and mind the business entrusted47 to you. Miss Allison,” he said to Nance, “you’re just the person we wanted to see. We were sent this morning to fetch you to Sky Line, so you may as well go along sensibly, for we’ll take you any way.”
Nance rose to her feet.
A pink flush came slowly up along her throat to dye her cheeks and chin. The slow heave inside her which she knew for the dangerous “stirrings” seemed to slow the beating of her heart to a ponderous48 stroke.
“Then you’ll have to take me,” she said curtly49, “for I’ll not ride a step with any one from Sky Line.”
She swung into her saddle and struck her heels to Buckskin’s sides in a forlorn hope of escape—little Buckskin, stocky, slow and faithful.
Provine laughed again and dashed forward with a leap of his grey Silvertip that put him alongside in a second.
He turned the little horse up the slope, Caldwell fell in close behind and in a matter of two minutes Nance Allison was a prisoner headed for Sky Line Ranch.
The pink flush was gone entirely51 from her face, leaving it pale as wax. Her lips were faintly ashen52.
“You needn’t be so scared,” said the irrepressible Provine, “we won’t hurt you.”
The girl turned her eyes upon him and they were black with the dilation53 of the pupils which always accompanied extreme emotion in her.
“Scared?” she said thickly, “I was never less scared in my life.”
With the words she was conscious of a passionate54 longing for the feel of her Pappy’s old gun in her hands.
“Help me, Lord!” she whispered inaudibly, “Oh, my God, be not far from me!”
They followed no trail, but cut through thicket55 and glade in a lifting angle well calculated to bring them out at the cluster of buildings at the foot of Rainbow Cliff.
This was new country to Nance.
She noticed how the buck-brush and manzanita had given place to yew57 and pine and fir tree, how the slants steepened sharply as they neared the summit.
She had told the truth when she said she was not frightened.
There was no fear in her, only a deep and surging anger that seemed to make her lungs labor58 for sufficient air. Her usually smiling lips were set together in a thin line.
To a student of physiognomy she would have presented an appearance of volcanic59 repression60, her very calmness would have been a danger signal.
But the two men who formed her guard were not of sufficient mental keenness to read the silent signs.
So, in silence, save for Provine’s occasional jesting observations, they climbed the breast of the great ridge and presently struck into the well-worn trail which led direct to Sky Line.
The sun was well over toward the west and the towering rock-face was resplendent in its magic tints61 when they rode out of the clump62 of pines and saw the ranch house sitting low and spreading above its high veranda63, in the open.
At the broad steps to the right Nance was ordered to dismount.
Provine took Buckskin and Caldwell motioned her to ascend64 the steps. With her head up and her mouth tight shut Nance Allison strode forward into the stronghold of her enemies.
The door was open, and she saw first only a pale darkness within as she stopped on the threshold.
Then, pushed forward by the foreman with a none too gentle hand, her eyes slowly became accustomed to the shadowy interior and in spite of herself they widened with amazement65 at the splendor66 she beheld67.
Sky Line was famed for its luxury, but most of this fame was hearsay68. Nance knew instantly that it was pitifully inadequate69.
On the walls hung great paintings, deep and glowing with priceless art. Huge chairs, their rounded arms and rolling backs covered with velvet71 in pale shades of violet and orchid72, sank their feet into the pile of moss73 green carpet, while here and there gleamed the cool whiteness of marble. This was the Inner Room. Beyond it opened that plainer one wherein Kate Cathrew did her every-day routine of work at the dark wood desk.
A man was sitting on a broad couch, a cigarette in his fingers. He was a stranger to Nance, a stranger to the country, but she catalogued him swiftly as the man from New York of whom all Nameless had heard. He was slim and fair skinned, and the grey eyes, set rather close together across the arch of the high-bridged nose, were the sharpest she had ever seen in a human. A fox she had once seen caught in a trap had had just such eyes.
They were cold and appraising74, without a spark of kindness.
In one of the gorgeous chairs Kate Cathrew, dressed like a princess, sat bolt upright.
At sight of Nance in her faded garments, straight and defiant75 in her controlled anger, her handsome face flushed beneath its artistry.
“Ah!” she said, like a vixen, “get—out—of—that—door. Step over to the right a bit, you obscure the light.”
The big girl did not move.
“If you’ve got anything to say to me,” she said coldly, “say it.”
Kate Cathrew leaped to her feet, but the man put out a hand and touched her.
“Miss—ah—Allison,” said Arnold, “there is no need for dramatics. Neither will they avail you. We wanted to see you—to talk business with you. So we sent for you.”
“So I see,” said Nance, “or rather you kidnapped me.”
“Not half so crude as you will find the methods of Nameless when this gets out, I guess,” said Nance. “Heaven knows I don’t amount to much, but I am likely to be a torch for a fire that’s smouldering.”
“We have extinguishers,” smiled Arnold. “Sky Line is a pretty fire department, if I do say it. The thing for you to do just now is—think, I’ll give you ten minutes.”
“I don’t need them,” said Nance. “I’ve thought for several years—about my father’s death—my brother’s crippled body—my missing cattle—my burned stacks—and many other things. I’m thinking now about Sheriff Selwood—and Bossick’s latest loss.”
The man’s face hardened, yet a reluctant admiration79 drew a slight smile across it.
“You take liberties, Miss Allison. Are you not—speaking in jest—a little—ah—afraid to speak so broadly?”
Nance laughed bitterly, shifting on her feet in their worn boots.
“Afraid? No—not of you—nor of your hired rustlers—nor of Cattle Kate, there, with her paint and her tempers. I’m not afraid of anything but the wrath81 of God.”
“You have something yet to learn, I see. Very well, since you do not care to think I will outline briefly83 your situation. You know, of course, that you are at present in the power of Sky Line Ranch. Reasoning backward you will come to the conclusion that there is a primal84 cause for this. Reasoning forward you will know that there is something which you can do for Sky Line, which it wants of you.”
“Of course,” said Nance, “the whole country knows that—my flats on the river.”
Arnold frowned.
He did not like that answer.
“And how, may I ask, does the country know this?”
“It knows what has happened to me for several years now—and it judges the faces of your riders and their boss.”
“If you please, we’ll leave Miss Cathrew out of this,” said Arnold crisply.
“Yes?” asked Nance. “She’s been the backbone85 of my troubles—under you, no doubt—and it isn’t likely I’ll leave her out. If you have anything to say to me I’d advise you to say it and get it over before Nameless comes hunting me.”
“All Nameless may come hunting you, Miss Allison,” returned the man, “but it will not find you. Now put your wits in order. Sky Line wants those flats on the river—and means to have them. We don’t do things by halves. What we undertake we finish. The time has come for decisive action. You have had many—ah—hints to vacate and have foolishly disregarded them. That is like a woman. A man would have gone long ago.”
“Not any man,” interrupted Nance, “my Pappy didn’t.”
“No?” said Arnold cruelly. “Is he here?”
“Yes,” she said promptly87, “and always will be—at the foot of our mountain—and in Bud and me. He has not yet been conquered.”
Arnold dropped his dead cigarette into a tall brass88 receptacle, rose and stepped into the other room. He picked something from the desk there and came back.
“We come to cases,” he said sharply. “I have here a properly made out deed, conveying to Miss Cathrew for the consideration of one dollar, the quarter-section of land herein described, lying along Nameless River, owned by the widow of John Allison, deceased, who took up said land under the homestead act. This paper needs only the name of John Allison’s widow and two witnesses to make it a legal transfer of property. I am a notary89. We can supply the witnesses—the highly important and necessary signature of John Allison’s widow you will obligingly furnish—at a price.”
Nance’s eyes were studying his face all the while he was speaking. They were black and narrow, without a visible trace of their serene90 blue. Now the lower lid came up across the excited iris91 like the blade of a guillotine.
“Let me understand you clearly,” she said, “you are asking me to forge my Mammy’s name to a deed to give away her home land—the land her husband patented and left her as her all? Is this what you are asking me?”
“Exactly,” said Arnold, “but don’t forget the condition—at a price, I said, you know—at—a price.”
Nance swept off her hat and struck it down against her knee. A laugh broke stiffly on her tallow-white face.
“If I could swear,” she said, “I’d tell you where to go, and what I thought you were. You may consider yourself told as it is.”
Arnold became coldly grave.
“You refuse?”
“What do you think I do? Put your wits in order!”
The man turned and struck a bell which stood on a rosewood pedestal. Minnie Pine responded with suspicious promptness.
“Send me Provine and Big Basford,” said Arnold briefly, and the girl departed.
The man did not speak again, nor did Nance.
Kate Cathrew sat still in her luxurious92 chair, her baleful black eyes traveling over the girl from head to foot with bitter interest.
There came a shuffle93 and rattle of spur and the two Sky Line riders stood in the doorway94 of the room beyond, having come through the kitchen.
“Miss Allison,” said Arnold, “I own the men of Sky Line, how or why is unimportant. What I tell them to do, they do. Am I not right, men?”
Provine nodded easily.
“Yes, sir,” he said.
“All right. Now, my girl, consider. There is on Sky Line a secret place——”
“I’ve always thought so,” said Nance decidedly.
“Be quiet. A place which the whole of Nameless is not likely to find, so mysteriously is its entrance hidden. One could live there for a lifetime undiscovered—or be taken out as if on wings——”
“Like Bossick’s disappearing steers!”
Arnold was exasperated98, but held his temper.
“Exactly,” he said, “if you will. Now consider again. You are a pretty fine specimen99 of a woman—quite likely to appeal to men—especially to men long denied feminine companionship—like Basford there.”
Nance flung a glance at Basford. His sullen97, lowering face set in its thicket of beard with the red-rimmed eyes above was enough to chill the heart of any woman. The great ape-like body added its own threat. Her own intrepid100 spirit felt a shock of horror, but that deep anger in her left little room for fear.
She seemed to hear again Brand Fair’s exultant101 words: “You’ll never leave the line, Nance, never in this world!”
With a dogged courage heaving through the anger she looked back at Arnold.
“Well?” she said.
“Big Basford hasn’t had a woman of his own for many moons, I know. Now—will you sign this deed—or will you go with Basford to Rainbow’s Pot—his blushing bride?”
Nance’s breast was heaving. Great breaths dilated102 her lungs and whistled out again. Her hands were shut tight, the fingers on her hat brim crimping the weathered felt.
She thought of her Mammy—of Bud—of their long labor and the hardships they had borne. She thought of the cabin on Nameless—of its white scrubbed floors—its homely103 comforts—and all it meant to them and to her. It was her Pappy’s dream of empire—it had been hers. She thought of Brand Fair and of Sonny. Of Brand and Bud who would sure start the fire to burning in all the lonely reaches at news of her disappearance—and—
“I’m as good as most men,” she said, “to take care of myself. I wouldn’t sign that paper to save you and all your rustler80 nest from eternal damnation! And that’s my last word.”
Arnold snapped his fingers.
“Enough,” he said, “we’ll see what a night in Rainbow’s Pot will do for you. Basford—my compliments. I give you the beautiful lady. Properly disciplined she’ll make you a fine wife.”
But Big Basford shook his unkempt head.
“She’s a yellow woman,” he said contemptuously, “I don’t want her,” and his hungry eyes went helplessly toward the dark splendor of Kate Cathrew in her velvet chair.
“I do,” he cried, “try me!”
Arnold laughed.
“Good! I like an eager lover. You may guard Miss Allison inside, and Basford shall take the place I had intended for you outside the Flange105. We’ll talk business some more tomorrow. We bid you adieu, Miss Allison. I hope by morning you will be more amenable106 to reason.”
Without a backward glance Nance turned and strode away between her guards. Resistance was useless, she well knew.
“‘In my distress107 I cried unto the Lord and He heard me,’” she thought courageously108. “‘I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help.’”
“One moment,” called Arnold, still laughing, “remember that the Secret Way tells no tales—and that Provine has long wanted to go back to Texas.”
The girl turned and glanced back.
“The hand of God,” she said calmly, “is ever before my face. Neither you nor yours can do me harm for the Lord shall preserve me from all evil, He shall preserve my soul. And He did not make me strong for nothing,” she added “I shall leave it all to Him.”
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1
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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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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lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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conclaves
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| n.秘密会议，教皇选举会议，红衣主教团( conclave的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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nance
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| n.娘娘腔的男人，男同性恋者 | |
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reverent
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| adj.恭敬的，虔诚的 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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killer
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| n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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hush
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| int.嘘，别出声；n.沉默，静寂；v.使安静 | |
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civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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tribulation
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| n.苦难，灾难 | |
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scoffed
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| 嘲笑，嘲弄( scoff的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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vipers
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| n.蝰蛇( viper的名词复数 )；毒蛇；阴险恶毒的人；奸诈者 | |
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herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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unbearable
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| adj.不能容忍的；忍受不住的 | |
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bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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ebb
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| vi.衰退，减退；n.处于低潮，处于衰退状态 | |
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haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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slant
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| v.倾斜，倾向性地编写或报道；n.斜面，倾向 | |
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wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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apprehensive
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| adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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tapestried
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| adj.饰挂绣帷的，织在绣帷上的v.用挂毯（或绣帷）装饰( tapestry的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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scrambled
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| 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 | |
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slants
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| （使）倾斜，歪斜( slant的第三人称单数 )； 有倾向性地编写或报道 | |
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steers
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| n.阉公牛，肉用公牛( steer的名词复数 )v.驾驶( steer的第三人称单数 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
glade
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| n.林间空地，一片表面有草的沼泽低地 | |
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limpid
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| adj.清澈的，透明的 | |
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44
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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46
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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47
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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49
curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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50
rein
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| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
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51
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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52
ashen
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| adj.灰的 | |
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53
dilation
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| n.膨胀，扩张，扩大 | |
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54
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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55
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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56
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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57
yew
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| n.紫杉属树木 | |
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58
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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59
volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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60
repression
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| n.镇压，抑制，抑压 | |
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61
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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62
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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veranda
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| n.走廊；阳台 | |
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ascend
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| vi.渐渐上升，升高；vt.攀登，登上 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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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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68
hearsay
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| n.谣传，风闻 | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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tasseled
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| v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须( tassel的过去式和过去分词 )；使抽穗， （为了使作物茁壮生长）摘去穗状雄花；用流苏装饰 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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orchid
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| n.兰花，淡紫色 | |
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73
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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appraising
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| v.估价( appraise的现在分词 )；估计；估量；评价 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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76
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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automaton
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| n.自动机器，机器人 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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rustler
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| n.[美口]偷牛贼 | |
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81
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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84
primal
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| adj.原始的；最重要的 | |
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85
backbone
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| n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气 | |
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86
throbbing
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| a. 跳动的,悸动的 | |
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87
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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88
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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89
notary
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| n.公证人，公证员 | |
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90
serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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91
iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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92
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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93
shuffle
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| n.拖著脚走，洗纸牌；v.拖曳，慢吞吞地走 | |
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94
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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95
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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96
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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97
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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98
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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99
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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100
intrepid
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| adj.无畏的，刚毅的 | |
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101
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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102
dilated
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| adj.加宽的，扩大的v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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103
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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104
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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105
flange
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| n.边缘，轮缘，凸缘，法兰 | |
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106
amenable
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| adj.经得起检验的；顺从的；对负有义务的 | |
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107
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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108
courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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