It was I who gave the tale of that ballroom13 fight at Gadsby's to the General. He took it coolly; granted it, in sooth, a more quiet reception than I had hoped. The fair truth is, I was prepared for an explosion. I was pleasantly fooled; the General could not have displayed less temper had I related the breaking of a horse. And yet he made claim for slimmest detail; question after question on his part prolonged narration14 for an hour.
“It was the best that could be,” said the General, revolving15 the tangle16 in his mind. “The great thing is to stop folk's mouths; and a duel17 well fought, and with the right individual, is, as Noah says, the way to construct such condition. I've known the killing18 in proper form of one man to remove a slander19 from the conversation of a whole county. Folk let it fall of themselves and never took it up again.”
“Which is precisely,” responded the General, “what makes the work worth while. Here was a berserk, celebrated21 as one most frothingly prompt for blood. Now he is disposed of, it will tame your minor22 war-hawks. They'll not be half so ready; they may even surprise themselves with what they will hereafter forbear in favor of keeping the peace.”
Eaton, strange to tell, was moved of anger against Peg's champion.
“Sir,” said Eaton, bearing himself stiffly to Noah, “it is far to the wrong side of the regular that you should defend my wife. That is my privilege, sir; it does not rest with others.”
“And that is true,” returned Noah, politely; “but the situation was unusual. It was of crying importance to get the thing off before the President knew. Folk would criticise23 him sharply if he did not interfere24 for peace. Besides, had you been brought into the business, your foes25 would have torn your prospects26 to pieces with it. You must see, sir, that however just your quarrel, you could not ride into the cabinet on the back of a duel.”
“Sir, I can better be out of a cabinet,” said Eaton grimly, “than leave my honor to the swords of other men.”
“You and I,” returned Noah, turning distant, “disagree extremely. I can not charge myself with wrong. I should act my part again were occasion to rise. You, however, are the judge of your own injuries. And I shall be in town some time.”
“Sir, I am glad to be told so,” responded Eaton. “When I have more considered, I may send a word to you.”
This wrong discourse27 I was ear-witness of, but in it bore no part. I was so stung with anger against Eaton, for that he would act the boor28, and talk of calling folk out when he should be thanking them, I dared not trust myself with a syllable29. I would have spoken nothing pleasant for Eaton, and that would be a wide flight from wise, and draw his horns my way. We were both too near the General to talk of a difference that would have broken everybody's dish. Moreover, Noah owned the wit and the wrist to very well care for his own fortunes.
“Why, the man is clean beside himself!” exclaimed the General, when he learned of Eaton's high heels. “What franchise31 could he pretend to for a quarrel with Noah? Noah's right to fight with whom he will, and for any reason good to his own eyes and those of his adversary32, is not to be impeached33. Eaton has surprised me out of bounds! For myself, I'd as soon think of stepping between a man and his wife, as a man and his enemy. Sir, there are relations which are sacred! Eaton's great love for Peg has blurred34 him; a husband is ever a bad judge of either his rights or his wrongs. I'll set Eaton to the properest view in this when we meet.”
The General was scandalized in the face of Eaton's pose. But I did not go with his theory of its being love for Peg. It was offspring rather of a March-hare vanity that resented a good office for which it lacked the generosity35 to be grateful.
It would seem, however, that the General read Eaton a right lesson, for he made amends36. He came blandly37 to Noah.
“I am told,” he said, “by one whose friendship and whose judgment38 I never doubt, that I have behaved badly towards you. Permit me to offer my apologies. Also, I am to thank you for your service against that scoundrel.”
Noah took Eaton's explanation in courtly spirit, and so the wrinkles were made smooth. I was relieved, though not pleased; I would have found no fault with Noah had he gone a ruder course.
“Where is this Catron?” asked Noah.
“As to that,” replied Eaton, “I think myself qualified39 to answer. I sent to learn his condition, and with some purpose, so soon as he was able, of taking him up where you let go of him. The word came back that he had quit the town.”
It was Peg, however, who minded her debt to Noah. She went to him with wet eyes, and, without word, took his sword hand in both of hers and kissed it. Noah started back.
“That is too much,” he cried. “It is I who will be now in arrears40 to you for the balance of my days.”
It stood the day but one following the affair of Gadsby's, and I was comfortably in my own room engaged about my letters. If I were to bide42 with the General, and not immediately to see Nashville, then I must name a manager and put my plantations43 in some kind of command. There were to be missives from the General, also, and we had arranged to send them west on the next day by hand of a special express. It would take him six weeks, that horseman and his saddle-bags, with roads as they were, to win to Tennessee; we were then at some fever, you will understand, to have our mails concluded and riding on their way.
As I drove my quill44 rapidly across the pages, Jim was busy in the adjoining bedroom, giving a polish to my boots. Jim cheered himself over his labors45 with snatches of song.
As I wrote hard at my desk, I could hear him, in a most lugubrious46 refrain:=
``Thar's a word to be uttered to d'rich man an' his pride;
``(Which a man is frequent richest when it's jest befo' he died.)
``Thar's a word to be uttered to d'hawg a-eatin' truck;
``(Which a hawg is frequent fattest when it's jest befo' he's stuck.)=
“Cease that outlandish howling,” I commanded furiously.
“Shore, Marse Major!” said Jim, coming into the room where I sat, and bringing one of my high horseman boots on his arm, polishing it the while with unabated ardor47; “shore, Marse Major! An' yet, that's a mighty48 well liked song up an' down d'Cumberland. Hit's been made, that song is, by Miss Polly Hines; little Miss Polly who lives over on d'Possom Trot49. She makes it all about a villyun who comes fo'closin' 'round her paw's betterments for what he owes that Dudleyville bank, an' sellin' 'em off at public vandoo. Marse Major, you-all oughter listen to d'res' of that roundelay; if you'd only hear it plumb50 through, Jim sort o' reckons you'd like it.”
I made no response, but kept on with my work. I was not to be moved of ballads51 as Jim rendered them, even though vouched52 to be the offput of that Sappho of the 'Possom Trot.
“Say, Marse Major, do you-all recollects54 that gentleman who comes pesterin' about for them subscriptions56, an' who d'Marse Gen'ral done skeers off d' time you an' me is goin' down to d'parlor to meet dish yere Missis Eaton?”
“Well, what about him?”
“He's been 'round ag'in to-day. It's this mornin' whiles you is sleepin', an' I runs up on him outside in d'hall, kind o' ha'ntin' about our door. I say: 'What you-all want?' He say: 'I want to see d'Marse Major.' With that I ups an' admonishes57 him that you-all is soun' asleep. 'An',' I says, 'it don't do to go keerlessly wakin' d'Marse Major up. He's got a monstrous58 high temper, that a-way, d' Marse Major has, an' all you has to do is rap on that door jes' once, an' he'll nacherally come boilin' outen bed, an' be down on you like a failin' star; that's what he will.' Then I tells him he can't get no subscriptions from you no how; that you is a heap sight worse than d' Marse Gen'ral 'bout41 'em. 'You hyar me!' I expostulates; 'you-all is simply barkin' at a knot; thar aint no sign of a raccoon up that tree at all. You-all might jes' as well try to get sugar-sap outen a swamp-beech as subscriptions outen d'Marse Major!' Shore, that's what Jim tell 'um.”
“And for that, you miscreant59, I'll give him a hundred dollars when he does come, to show him how little truth you tell.”
“Don't go blazin' off into a fandad, Marse Major,” said Jim, reprovingly, “throwin' your money away. Dish yere gentleman 'sponds to Jim, an' allows he aint aimin' at no subscriptions. But he do say he want to see you; an' so I tell him to be back ag'in in five hours. He's liable to come buttin' in yere any minute now, as d' time Jim sots is done arriv'.”
As if for endorsement60, a knock was heard at the door.
There were two to enter, a man and a woman. The man was huge of frame, shambling, uncouth61, with knobby joints62 and large uncertain feet; his face flabby, sickly, with little greedy, shifty eyes, like the eyes of swine; gross mouth, full lipped and coarse, and working and munching63 in a full-fed way, engaging itself upon imaginary mouthfuls. The hands of this individual were puffy, warty64 members, with palms as hot and wet and soft as an August swamp, and, save for their temperature, much like the belly65 of a toad66 to the feel. These hands were commonly in motion, making plausible67 and deprecatory gestures. It was as though the world were a cat and they would stroke its back by way of conciliation68. Over all was obsequiousness69 like a veil—my visitor seemed to sweat subserviency70, exhale71 abasement72 as an atmosphere. The woman, thin, and bird-faced, and with beaky nose that looked as though the frost had pinched the neb, was of the chattering73, empty, magpie74 flock; she appeared as vulgar as the man; albeit75, not with his obsequiousness, since she affected76 the girlish, and stood ready with giggle77 and gurgle and arch look, all of which but poorly fitted with her sober fifty years. From an odor of pulpits observable, I thought him a preacher; also, I took the woman to be his wife.
The man—I will thus far defend him—was not, however, that subscription55 person whom Jim remembered with the General.
“Dish yere's d'gentleman who is done been teeterin' 'round our door this mornin',” said Jim, as he ushered78 the visitors.
“It is not the gentleman who called on the General,” I remarked.
“Well, what's d'diffrunce, anyhow?” asked Jim with mighty unconcern. “He's a preacher, so it's all d'same.”
“No difference, perhaps,” I returned, “except to make plain how little you are to be relied on.”
“I s'ppose Jim's as cap'ble of mistakes as anybody.” Here Jim lapsed79 into the abused tone of one virtuous80, and driven to the desperate by ill-usage. “But I tells you-all, Marse Major; since you done locks up that demijohn, Jim aint been d'same niggah. His mem'ry has sort o' begun to bog81 down. No wonder Jim gets folks swapped82 'round foolish in his mind.”
While these reproofs83 were going, my callers stood by the door, inviting84 consideration with much bending of the body and bowing of the head.
“I am the Reverend Campbell,” began the man; “I am pastor85 of a precious flock in this town. And this is Deborah, my beloved consort86. I trust I find all well and holy here, and the blessing87 of the Spirit upon this place?”
Then the Reverend Campbell re-began his abject88 bowing, while his magpie wife smirked89 and giggled90 sociably91.
It had been long since I met folk who more repelled92 me. For the sake of his cloth, however, and the real respect I bore it, I required myself to assume a manner of cordiality. I asked the purpose of the visit.
“It was my privilege,” responded the Reverend Campbell, with a meeting-house snuffle that certain divines adopt as a professional manner of articulation94, “I may say it was my inestimable privilege some years back, to behold95 in the body of the church, during many of my preachments, that mighty man of war, our coming president, and his sweet lady; although she—for flesh is as grass—has since perished and passed over to dwell among the blest.”
“Mrs. Jackson was my nearest, dearest friend,” simpered the awful magpie wife, interrupting. “It was when General Jackson had a seat in the senate. We were like loving sisters, Mrs. Jackson and I.”
This last I distrusted, but I did not say so.
“You are the General's old preacher?” I said; the Reverend Campbell meanwhile seesawing96 and bowing, and locking and unlocking his warty fingers. “Have you been in to meet the General?”
“Not yet, good sir, not yet,” replied the Reverend Campbell. “That shall be in good time. Since you abide97 on terms of intimacy98 with our coming president, I deemed it prudent99 to first make myself known to you. Knowing David, I would know Jonathan. There is a business—a piece of sinful, worldly business—I would inquire of, a boon100 I would ask, and ere I went to the transaction thereof, I held it sapient101 to call upon you who will be so strong to bind102 or loose—so potent103, as one might say, in the coming dispensation of preferments.”
The Reverend Campbell—who should have been a mandarin104 for his repulsiveness105 and talents to bow—kept up his bending, while the magpie wife in vacuous106 vanity, beamed on like a tarnished107 sun. To put a stop to the bowing, which began to grow on me nervously108, I bade the pair be seated. They would remain the longer, but I would save myself with less of irritation109.
“I do not come for myself,” observed the Reverend Campbell, snuffling, and balancing uneasily on his chair's edge. His wife had taken her seat with more of confidence; spreading her skirts to advantage, and leaning back as one certain of results. “No, it is by request of a beloved brother in Christ, the Reverend Doctor Ely of Philadelphia. Our great Chief Magistrate110 knows him and loves him well.”
Then the Reverend Campbell went on in pulpit tones to elaborate his mission. It soon declared itself to be the old Duff Green errand of office angling. Also, it was a coincidence something strange, I thought, when the Reverend Campbell, following in the very footprints of the wine colored Duff, spoke30 of the Florida Governorship, and named the same wealthy zany for its occupation.
“He is a Pennsylvania Westfall,” concluded the Reverend Campbell, his breath bated and his air impressed, “he is a Pennsylvania Westfall, and extremely rich of this world's goods. Doctor Ely desires this post for him with all his heart; he believes, moreover, that his old friend, our excellent president, who—and heaven be thanked!—is less than a scant111 two weeks away from his inauguration112, will be glad to pleasure him in this regard. You might, sir, hint to that eminent113 statesman and soldier how his friend, Doctor Ely, would profit by this selection, going, as in that event he will, to St. Augustine, to be chaplain for the then Governor Westfall.”
“And my husband, too, would be called to Dr. Ely's place in Philadelphia,” gurgled the magpie wife; “it's a much richer church than the one here.”
There, then, was the cat out of the bag; I had been guessing for some moments in the dark, as to why the Reverend Campbell should so zealously114 be fishing for office when he ought to be fishing for souls. The magpie wife granted me a glint of his secret. It did not swell115 my fund of respect for the Reverend Campbell, a fund nothing rotund as things stood.
“You should see the General,” I said at last. “These are not my affairs; I would not presume, wanting his invitation, to advise with him concerning them. You should see him; or, if you will, you might wait until Van Buren arrives.”
“Ah, yes; the coming Secretary of State,” remarked the Reverend Campbell, while his thick lips munched116 unpleasantly. “Will Mr. Van Buren make the Florida selection?”
I was driven to say I thought not; the General himself had been once Governor of Florida; therefore, he might believe he was the one better qualified to make such appointment.
Beholding117 the Reverend Campbell in the throes of doubt, tipping on his chair, and looking with his black clothes not a little like a crow hesitating on a fence-rail as to whether or no he will plump down among the sprouting118 corn, I suggested,—to relieve myself, I fear—that now he was come, he might better go in to the General and offer his request. I entertained no thought of success for him; I had not forgotten the fate in that connection of the pursy Duff—Duff of the ripe, ripe nose. But I aimed at a riddance of the Reverend Campbell and his leering, bubbling helpmeet; and I was not so loyal to the General as to prevent me from earning my own release by betraying him into their talons119.
“Do you deem it the part of sagacity,” said the Reverend Campbell, following a thoughtful pause, “to crave120 this boon at once?”
“Sagacious? surely!” I would have given my word for anything to work free of the Reverend Campbell and that magpie wife, the latter gentlewoman being rusty121 of plume122, strident, and of but a sorry favor of face; to say nothing about her gigglings and chuck-lings; for that vacant dame123 was like a parrot, with a running rattle124 of vocalisms, going from gurgle to chirp125, as an accompaniment to whatever was said by her lord and master.
“Then let us repair to him,” said the Reverend Campbell, raising his hands as if asking a benediction126 on me and my belongings127; “let us hie to him and unbosom ourselves, and may we find him in grace of spirit and well of this mortal body.”
We discovered the General in his rooms. We found him in a rather merry spirit for him. He was sitting by his fire, with Peg on a footstool at a corner of the fireplace.
Hearing of the General's diet of rice, Peg's mother—she lived over to the south, across that wooded strip, the Mall—holding herself to excel in certain elixirs128 and cordials and draughts129 marvelous for maladies stomachic, had sent to the General's relief a bottle of medicine warranted of transcendent merit, and in which dandelion flourished a dominant130 element. The good lady would trust her drugs to none save Peg; there she was, then, the fairest foot and hand ever to be sent on porter's work or to run an errand with a message.
The unexpected sight of Peg sent over me a wave of pleasure. I love the beautiful, have an inborn131 joy of it, and who or what could be more lovely than our Peg—Peg with her wildrose face?
The General glanced up through the tobacco smoke wherewith the rooms were cloudy. Peg had said she loved smoke, and could stand to it like a side of bacon. His look was of half-recognition as it settled upon my company.
“The Reverend Campbell, is it not?” said he.
“The same, Mr. President,” returned the other, commencing again those bowing motions which had so tortured my soul, his flabby cheeks the while exuding132 a beady dew; “the same. And here is Deborah, my well-beloved wife, Mr. President.”
The magpie one of rumpled133 feather gained indication by the Reverend Campbell pointing to her with a bulbous forefinger134 that was somewhat suffering about the nail for lack of care. The magpie one gave the usual proof of her satisfaction with chirp and giggle.
“The last time I beheld135 you, Mr. President,” said the Reverend Campbell, “you and your dear wife sat beneath my words.” The General flinched136 as though a rude hand touched a wound. He gathered himself, however. “That dear one, Mr. President, has gone from our midst. It is a chastening, Mr. President. Whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth. It is a loss, Mr. President, but we must summon meekness137 of spirit. Blessed are the meek138 in spirit, saith the singer, and they shall inherit the earth. Mr. President, let us pray.”
The Reverend Campbell rolled forth the foregoing, and never halt or pause; with the last word he was down upon his knees, expanding into a gale139 of prayer.
It is not for me to pass upon such sacred petitions, but the Reverend Campbell's effort grated on my conscience as crude, and, if the term be not improper140, vulgar. The General, who was still in his chair, bowed head in hand and sat silent throughout. He made neither sign nor sound; and yet it must have galled141 him like musketry, that prayer.
It was when the Reverend Campbell stood again on his feet, and the magpie one had rearranged her feathers, that their glances took in Peg where she now stood near the fire. She was silent, collected, and her calm look rested upon the Reverend Campbell and the magpie one. It was a steady glance of unseeing indifference142 and unacquaintance, and as though the pair were strangers to her.
Their actions, however, would smack143 of something nearer. No sooner did they behold Peg, than with one impulse they started towards her, faces a garden of smiles.
“Why, my dear Mrs. Eaton!” cried the magpie one.
“My dear, recovered lamb!” exclaimed the Reverend Campbell.
“You make a mistake,” said Peg. Her words took flight evenly and with nothing of disturbance145. “I do not know you.” Then, as the Reverend Campbell and his magpie love seemed but half checked: “And I will not know you.”
These closing words were vibrant146 of a nipping vigor147, and Peg's leopard148 teeth came together with a click, and, as it were, for emphasis. Peg turned to me:
“Will you take me to my carriage?”
With that, the General arose and cavaliered Peg to the door.
“Give my thanks to your good mother, child,” said the General, his fond eye pleasant with the reflection of Peg's pretty face; “tell her I shall profit by her kindness. I feel half restored with merely having the Dandelion Water on my shelf.”
Closing the door after us, the General returned to the Reverend Campbell and his magpie love.
“There is no story with it.” Peg replied, when I put those queries149 the situation suggested. “They are folk of treachery; that is it. They have been my persecutors as much as any. And with more shame for them, since they have pretended friendship for my family, and had support from my father for year piled upon year.”
“And is that the whole of it?” I asked.
“Truly, it is, my best dear friend.” Peg held up her pansy face, and offered me a cheerful look by way of proof. “Nor am I even a trifle provoked. For all that, I would not permit them because they found me with the good General, and with you”—she gave my arm a little pressure—“and doubtless would offer some request, to put on a false face, and so use me for their interest. I owe them no such tenderness. Besides, since I've found real friends,”—Peg crowded to my side more closely, and bent150 upon me her kind, unfathomed eyes, as though admitting my protection,—“since I've found real friends, I've no room in my heart for mocking imitations.” Peg laughed her witch-laugh now, and stepped on more quickly. “Don't let us talk of them,” she said, “don't let us talk of such hollow folk!”
Peg's carriage stood at the curb151. Indeed, she had but just arrived when, as I piloted the Reverend Campbell and the magpie, I found her by the General's fire.
“Some day you must go with me to meet my mother,” said Peg; “I've promised her.” Then, as I lifted her into the carriage, “Mercy! you should practice for a lighter152 hand. I feel as one in the paws of a bear.”
With a wave of her hand, she was off for the President's Square where her home stood; I, on my part, turned back to the General, walking slowly, and seeing Peg's gentle eyes before me all the way to his door. Sweet Peg! had it been I, no tawdry ambition of politics would have divided my heart with you; you would have reigned153 over it alone; we would have left Washington to the vermin who devoured154 it, and made our kingdom in lands of peace and truth!
It was not without relief I discovered that the Reverend Campbell, with his magpie mate, was gone.
“Assuredly, no!” exclaimed the General, when I inquired whether the name of Doctor Ely, and the petition preferred of the Reverend Campbell, had re-colored his thoughts touching155 St. Augustine and the Florida Governorship; “assuredly, no! He who has that place from me must be emphatically two things—a man and a friend. The creature, Westfall, is emphatically neither. I can not guess, however, in what this sudden office-hunting excitement of our ghostly fathers finds its source. I asked the Reverend Campbell, was this Westfall known to him. He said, only by repute; that he urged the case at the request of Doctor Ely.”
Clearing him on that question of purpose, I told the General of Doctor Ely's arrangement to be a Governor's chaplain in St. Augustine; and how, in a moment of gurgling exaltation concerning what might be, that unguarded magpie exposed the scheme of “calling” our Reverend Campbell to Doctor Ely's fat present pulpit, should it become vacant in favor of palms and orange groves156.
“And in that way runs the road!” exclaimed the General, full of leniency157 and amusement. “The preachers are becoming better politicians every day. Major, you and I must look to our lines, or some dominie may yet turn our flanks.”
Then I gave the General what Peg had told of her attitude, like a diminutive158 iceberg159, towards the Reverend Campbell and his magpie partner.
“They have done Peg no actual harm,” I said. “They passed her by one day, like the Levites they were and are; and now she revenges herself.”
“One can always hear the savage160 stirring about in Peg,” commented the General; “and I like her the better for it. I love your re-vegeful soul—he who has a long knife, a long memory, and will go a long trail to his feud161.”
“And that is an excellent observe,” I said, teasing him a bit, “and you a Christian162 and a president!”
“The observe, as you phrase it,” retorted the General, “is not only excellent but earnest. Revenge is the fair counterpart of gratitude163. They are off the same bolt of cloth. Find me a soul for revenge, and I'll find you a soul to be grateful. What are revenge and gratitude, when one goes to the final word, but just a man paying his debts?”
“Who is this Doctor Ely?” I asked. “The Reverend Campbell described him as your friend.”
“Doctor Ely is no more than an acquaintance, and hardly that. I met him years ago in Philadelphia; and I've heard him preach. He is a showy, fashionable figure of man; not deep, yet musical and fluent. The women, I remember, liked his discourses164 right well. There were a beat and a march to his periods; and albeit, while he talked, the wise ones went to sleep, others with music-boxes for minds, and who mistook sensation for sense, sat bolt upright, feeling the liveliest delight.”
“Somehow,” observed the General, following an interval167 of silence, “I ever fear I'll be unfair to your preachers. My inclination168 is to judge them too harshly—estimate them below their worth. It has been ever the fault of military men to do this, and, for myself, I would guard against it.”
“And now will you explain what you are talking about?” I was in cold earnest, for the General's remorse169 over an injustice170 to preachers was clean beyond me and apropos171 of nothing.
My own thought galloped172 to it—for his wife taught him that softness, being as devout173 as an abbess, herself—that for the dominies, as an order or trade among men, he carried more of charity than any whom I knew. More by far than I could boast, or cared to. “Why do you reproach yourself about the preachers?”
“It was this Doctor Ely,” returned the General, “of whom I was thinking. I was remembering certain severities of judgment towards him long ago. I heard him preach, yet could give him no credit for sincerity174. He impressed me as one who looked often in the glass and seldom from the window. He was friendly, affable, and, I think, honest; and yet I liked him no more than I like that reverend cringer who was just now here. I well recall saying to this Doctor Ely—probably I had him in my mind's eye at the time, and it hurt him, too—that he who was professionally good would never be very good, nor he who was excellent for a salary offer an example of the best excellence175. It may be that my natural distrust of preachers is, after all, nothing save my natural fear of them. You have not forgotten how I told you I feared men of peace. That is true; I fear folk who profess93 peace as a principle—your Quaker and your preacher—as I fear and fall back before the inhuman176, or as children fear a ghost. It is all to be accounted for perhaps, in the differing natures of folk. One man has a genius for peaceful while another's bent is for war, and each will misunderstand the other's motives177. There can be little in common and less of trust between them, since they will live as far apart as black and white. It is, I say, quite natural—war and peace—wolf and sheep. I've no doubt, now,” concluded the General, a smile beginning to show, “that to your wolf on the hill, your grazing sheep down in the valley is a mighty suspicious character.”
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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palatable
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| adj.可口的，美味的；惬意的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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peg
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| n.木栓，木钉；vt.用木钉钉，用短桩固定 | |
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gulping
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| v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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anticipations
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| 预期( anticipation的名词复数 )； 预测； （信托财产收益的）预支； 预期的事物 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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imprint
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| n.印痕，痕迹；深刻的印象；vt.压印，牢记 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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ballroom
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| n.舞厅 | |
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14
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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15
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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16
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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17
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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18
killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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19
slander
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| n./v.诽谤，污蔑 | |
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20
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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21
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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22
minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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23
criticise
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| v.批评，评论；非难 | |
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24
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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25
foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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26
prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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27
discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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28
boor
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| n.举止粗野的人；乡下佬 | |
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29
syllable
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| n.音节；vt.分音节 | |
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30
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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31
franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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32
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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33
impeached
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| v.控告（某人）犯罪( impeach的过去式和过去分词 )；弹劾；对（某事物）怀疑；提出异议 | |
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34
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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35
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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36
amends
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| n. 赔偿 | |
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37
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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38
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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39
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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40
arrears
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| n.到期未付之债，拖欠的款项；待做的工作 | |
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41
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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42
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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43
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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44
quill
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| n.羽毛管；v.给（织物或衣服）作皱褶 | |
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45
labors
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| v.努力争取(for)( labor的第三人称单数 )；苦干；详细分析；（指引擎）缓慢而困难地运转 | |
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46
lugubrious
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| adj.悲哀的，忧郁的 | |
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47
ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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48
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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49
trot
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| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
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50
plumb
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| adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深 | |
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51
ballads
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| 民歌，民谣，特别指叙述故事的歌( ballad的名词复数 )； 讴 | |
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52
vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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53
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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54
recollects
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| v.记起，想起( recollect的第三人称单数 ) | |
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55
subscription
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| n.预订，预订费，亲笔签名，调配法，下标（处方） | |
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56
subscriptions
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| n.（报刊等的）订阅费( subscription的名词复数 )；捐款；（俱乐部的）会员费；捐助 | |
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57
admonishes
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| n.劝告( admonish的名词复数 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责v.劝告( admonish的第三人称单数 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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58
monstrous
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|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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59
miscreant
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| n.恶棍 | |
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60
endorsement
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| n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注 | |
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61
uncouth
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| adj.无教养的，粗鲁的 | |
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62
joints
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| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
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63
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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64
warty
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| adj.有疣的，似疣的；瘤状 | |
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65
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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66
toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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67
plausible
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|
| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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68
conciliation
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| n.调解，调停 | |
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69
obsequiousness
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| 媚骨 | |
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70
subserviency
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| n.有用，裨益 | |
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71
exhale
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| v.呼气，散出，吐出，蒸发 | |
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72
abasement
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| n.滥用 | |
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73
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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74
magpie
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| n.喜欢收藏物品的人，喜鹊，饶舌者 | |
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75
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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76
affected
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|
| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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77
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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78
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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79
lapsed
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|
| adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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80
virtuous
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|
| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
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81
bog
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| n.沼泽；室...陷入泥淖 | |
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82
swapped
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| 交换（工作）( swap的过去式和过去分词 )； 用…替换，把…换成，掉换（过来） | |
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83
reproofs
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| n.责备，责难，指责( reproof的名词复数 ) | |
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84
inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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85
pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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86
consort
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| v.相伴；结交 | |
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87
blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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88
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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89
smirked
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| v.傻笑( smirk的过去分词 ) | |
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90
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
sociably
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| adv.成群地 | |
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92
repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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93
profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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94
articulation
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| n.（清楚的）发音；清晰度，咬合 | |
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95
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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96
seesawing
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| v.使上下（来回）摇动( seesaw的现在分词 )；玩跷跷板，上下（来回）摇动 | |
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97
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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98
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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99
prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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100
boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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101
sapient
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| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
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102
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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103
potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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104
Mandarin
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| n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的 | |
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105
repulsiveness
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106
vacuous
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| adj.空的，漫散的，无聊的，愚蠢的 | |
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107
tarnished
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| （通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏 | |
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108
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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109
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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110
magistrate
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| n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官 | |
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111
scant
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| adj.不充分的，不足的；v.减缩，限制，忽略 | |
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112
inauguration
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| n.开幕、就职典礼 | |
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113
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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114
zealously
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| adv.热心地；热情地；积极地；狂热地 | |
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115
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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116
munched
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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117
beholding
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| v.看，注视( behold的现在分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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118
sprouting
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| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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119
talons
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| n.（尤指猛禽的）爪( talon的名词复数 )；（如爪般的）手指；爪状物；锁簧尖状突出部 | |
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120
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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121
rusty
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| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
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122
plume
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| n.羽毛；v.整理羽毛，骚首弄姿，用羽毛装饰 | |
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123
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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124
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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125
chirp
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| v.(尤指鸟)唧唧喳喳的叫 | |
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126
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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127
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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128
elixirs
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| n.炼金药，长生不老药( elixir的名词复数 )；酏剂 | |
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129
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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130
dominant
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| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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131
inborn
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| adj.天生的，生来的，先天的 | |
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132
exuding
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| v.缓慢流出，渗出，分泌出( exude的现在分词 )；流露出对（某物）的神态或感情 | |
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133
rumpled
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| v.弄皱，使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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134
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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135
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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136
flinched
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| v.（因危险和痛苦）退缩，畏惧( flinch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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137
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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138
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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139
gale
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| n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等） | |
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140
improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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141
galled
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| v.使…擦痛( gall的过去式和过去分词 )；擦伤；烦扰；侮辱 | |
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142
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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143
smack
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| vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍 | |
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144
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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145
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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146
vibrant
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| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
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147
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 | |
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148
leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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149
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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150
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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151
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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152
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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153
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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154
devoured
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| 吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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155
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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156
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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157
leniency
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| n.宽大（不严厉） | |
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158
diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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159
iceberg
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| n.冰山，流冰，冷冰冰的人 | |
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160
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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161
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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162
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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163
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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164
discourses
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| 论文( discourse的名词复数 )； 演说； 讲道； 话语 | |
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165
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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166
gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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167
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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168
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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169
remorse
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| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
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170
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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171
apropos
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| adv.恰好地；adj.恰当的；关于 | |
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172
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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173
devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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174
sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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175
excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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176
inhuman
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| adj.残忍的，不人道的，无人性的 | |
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177
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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