The office of Durham & Son—the firm still retained the old title although the son alone owned the business—was near Chancery Lane, a large, antique house which had been the residence of a noble during the reign9 of the Georges. The rooms were nobly proportioned, their ceilings painted and decorated, and attached to the railings which guarded the front of the house could still be seen the extinguishers into which servants had thrust torches in the times they lighted belles10 and beaux to splendid sedan chairs. A plate on the front intimated that a famous author had lived and died within the walls; so Durham & Son were housed in a way not unbecoming to the dignity of the firm. Mr. Durham's own room overlooked a large square filled with ancient trees, and was both well-furnished and well-lighted. Into this Sir Simon and his nephew were ushered11, and here they were greeted by the young lawyer.
"I hope I see you well, Sir Simon?" said Durham, shaking hands. He was a smart, well-dressed, handsome young fellow with an up-to-date air, and formed a striking contrast to the baronet in his antique garb12. As the solicitor spoke13 he cast a side glance at Beryl, whom he knew slightly, and he mentally wondered why the old man had brought him along. Sir Simon had never spoken very well of Julius, but then he rarely said a good word of anyone.
"I am as well as can be expected," said Sir Simon, grumpily, taking his seat near the table, which was covered with books, and papers, and briefs, and red tape, and all the paraphernalia15 of legal affairs. "About that will of mine—"
"Yes?" inquired Durham, sitting, with another glance at Beryl, and still more perplexed16 as to the baronet's motive17 for bringing the young man. "I have had it drawn18 out in accordance with your instructions. It is ready for signing."
"Read it."
"In the presence of—" Durham indicated Beryl in a puzzled way.
"I can go, uncle, if you wish," said Julius, hastily, and rose.
"Sit down!" commanded the old man. "You are interested in the will."
"All the more reason I should not hear it read," said Julius, still on his feet.
Sir Simon shrugged19 his shoulders and turned his back on his too particular nephew. "Get the will, Durham, and read it."
It was not the lawyer's business to argue in this especial instance, so he speedily summoned a clerk. The will was brought, carefully engrossed20 on parchment, and Durham rustled21 the great sheets as he resumed his seat. "You wish me to read it all?" he asked hesitatingly.
Sir Simon nodded, and, leaning his chin on the knob of his cane22, disposed himself to listen. Beryl could not suppress an uneasy movement, which did not escape his uncle's notice, and he smiled in a grim way. Durham, without further preamble23, read the contents of the will, clearly and deliberately24, without as much as a glance in the direction of the person interested. This was Julius, and he grew pale with pleasure as the lawyer proceeded.
The will provided legacies25 for old servants, but no mention was made of Mrs. Gilroy, a fact which Beryl noted26 and secretly wondered at. Various bequests27 were made to former friends, and arrangements set forth28 as to the administration of the estate. The bulk of the property was left to Julius Beryl on condition that he married Lucy Randolph, for whom otherwise no provision was made. The name of Bernard Gore29 was left out altogether. When Durham ended he laid down the will with a rather regretful air, and discreetly30 stared at the fire. He liked young Gore and did not care for the architect. Therefore he was annoyed that the latter should benefit to the exclusion31 of the former.
"Good!" said Sir Simon, who had followed the reading with close attention. "Well?" he asked his nephew.
"There—there—there!" said the old man tartly35. "We understand all that. Can you suggest any alteration36?"
"No, uncle. The will is perfect."
"I think," said the lawyer, his eyes still on the fire, "that some provision should be made for your grandson. He has been taught to consider himself your heir, and has been brought up in that expectation. It is hard that, at his age, he should be thrown on the world for—"
Sir Simon chuckled40 again. "Yes, for disobedience. You are not aware, Durham, that Bernard wants to marry a girl who has no name and no parents, and no money—the companion of a crabbed41 old cat called Miss Plantagenet."
"I know," said the young lawyer, nodding. "She is the aunt of Lord Conniston, who told me about the matter."
"I thought Lord Conniston was in America," said Julius, sharply.
"I saw him before he went to America," retorted the solicitor, who did not intend to tell Beryl that Conniston had been in his office on the previous day. "Why do you say that? Do you know him?"
"I know that he has a castle near my uncle's place."
"Cove14 Castle," snapped Sir Simon. "All the county knows that. But he never comes near the place. Did you meet Lord Conniston at Miss Plantagenet's, Julius?"
"I have never met him at all," rejoined the meek38 young man stiffly, "and I have been to Miss Plantagenet's only in the company of Bernard."
"Aha!" chuckled Sir Simon. "You did not fall in love with that girl?"
"No, uncle. Of course I am engaged to Miss Randolph."
"You can call her 'Lucy' to a near relative like myself," said the baronet, dryly. "Do you know Miss Malleson, Durham?"
"No. I have not that pleasure."
"But no doubt Bernard has told you about her."
Durham shook his head. "I have not seen Gore for months."
"Are you sure? He inherits a little money from his father; and you—"
"Yes! I quite understand. I have charge of that money. Gore came a few months ago, and I gave him fifty pounds or so. That was after he quarrelled with you, Sir Simon. Since then I have not seen him."
"Then he does not know that I am in Crimea Square."
"Not that I know of. Certainly not from me. Is he in town?"
"Then I think the more of him," said Durham quickly. "Every man who can, should go to the Front."
"Why don't you go yourself, Durham?"
"If I had not my business to look after I certainly should," replied the lawyer. "But regarding Mr. Gore. Will you make any provision for him, Sir Simon?"
"I can't say. He deserves nothing. I leave it to Julius."
"Should the money come into my possession soon," said Julius, virtuously43, "a thing I do not wish, since it means your death, dear uncle, I should certainly allow Bernard two hundred a year."
"Out of ten thousand," put in Durham. "How good of you!"
"He deserves no more for his disobedience to his benefactor44."
Sir Simon chuckled yet again. "I am quite of Julius's opinion," he declared. "Bernard has behaved shamefully46. I wanted him to marry a Miss Perry, who is rich."
"Why can't you let him marry the woman he loves?" said Durham, with some heat. "They can live on ten thousand a year and be happy. What is the use of getting more money than is needed? Besides, from what I hear, this Miss Malleson is a charming girl."
"With no name and no position," said Sir Simon, "a mere33 paid companion. I don't want my grandson to make such a bad match. If he does, he must take the consequences. And he will—"
"Certainly he will," said Beryl, anxious about the signing of the will. "He has been hard-hearted for months, and shows no signs of giving in. Since I am to inherit the money I will allow Bernard two hundred a year, or such sum as Sir Simon thinks fit."
"Two hundred is quite enough," said the baronet. "Mr. Durham, we will see now about signing this will."
"Can I not persuade you to—"
"No! You can't persuade me to do anything but what I have done. I am sure Julius here will make a better use of the money than Bernard will. Won't you, Julius?"
"I hope so," replied Beryl, rising; "but I trust it will be many a long day before I inherit the money, dear uncle."
"Make your mind easy," said Sir Simon, dryly. "I intend to live for many a year yet."
"I think I had better go now," observed Julius, rising.
"Won't you stop and see the will signed?"
"No, uncle. I think it is better, as I inherit, that I should be out of the room. Who knows but what Bernard might say, did I remain, that I exercised undue47 influence?"
"All the same I had better go," insisted the young man. "Uncle?"
"Please yourself," replied Gore. "You can go if you like. I shall see you on Friday when you come for Lucy."
"To take her to the Curtain Theatre. Yes! But I trust I will see you before then, uncle." And here, as a clerk entered the room and was apparently49, with Durham, about to witness the will, Julius departed. He chuckled to himself when he was outside, thinking of his good luck. But at the door his face altered. "He might change his mind," thought Beryl. "There's no reliance to be placed on him. I wish—" he opened and shut his fist; "but he won't die for a long time."
While Julius was indulging in these thoughts, Sir Simon had taken up the will to glance over it. He also requested Durham to send the clerk away for a few moments. Rather surprised, the lawyer did so, thinking the old man changeable. When alone with his legal adviser50 the baronet walked to the fire and thrust the will into it. Durham could not forbear an ejaculation of surprise, "What's that for?"
"To punish Julius," said Sir Simon, placidly51 returning to his seat, as though he had done nothing out of the way. "He is a mean sneak52. He told me about Bernard being in love with that girl so as to create trouble."
"But you don't approve of the match?"
"No, I certainly do not, and I daresay that when I insisted on Bernard marrying Miss Perry that the truth would have come out. All the same it was none of Beryl's business to make mischief53. Besides, he is a sly creature, and if I made the will in his favor, who knows but what he might not contrive54 to get me out of the way?"
"No," said Durham, thoughtfully, but well pleased for Bernard's sake that the will had been destroyed. "I don't think he has courage to do that. Besides, people don't murder nowadays."
"Don't they?" said Sir Simon; "look in the newspapers."
"I mean that what you think Julius might do is worthy of a novel. I don't fancy novels are true to life."
"Anything Julius did would be just like a novel. I tell you, Durham, he is a villain55 of the worst; I don't trust him. I have led him on to think that the will has been made in his favor; and when he learns the truth he will be punished for his greed."
"But, Sir Simon," argued the lawyer, "by letting him think the will is made in his favor, you have placed him in the very position which, according to you, might lead to his attempt to murder."
"I'll take care of myself," said the old man, somewhat inconsistently, for certainly he was acting56 differently to what he said. "By the way, you have the other will?"
"Yes! It leaves everything to Bernard save the legacies, which remain much the same. Of course, in the first will is mentioned an annuity57 to Mrs. Gilroy."
"Hum, yes. I left her out of the new will. The fact is, I don't trust Mrs. Gilroy. She's too friendly with Julius for my taste."
"I understood her to be on the side of Bernard."
"Oh, she's on whatever side suits her," said Sir Simon, testily58. "However, let the first will stand. She's a poor thing and has had a hard life. I have every right to leave her something to live on."
"Why?" asked Durham, bluntly. He found Mrs. Gilroy something of a mystery, and did not know what was the bond between her and Sir Simon.
"Never you mind. I have my reasons, so let things remain as they are. Bernard can marry Miss Malleson when I am dead if he chooses."
"He thinks he has been disinherited?"
"Yes! I told him so. The truth will come as a pleasant surprise."
"Won't you take him back into favor and tell him?" urged Durham.
"No! not at present. If we met, there would only be more trouble. He has a temper inherited from his Italian mother, and I have a temper also. He behaved very rudely to me, and it's just as well he should suffer a little. But I don't want him to go to the war. He must be bought out."
"I fear Bernard is not the man to be bought out."
"Oh, I know he is brave enough, and I suppose being bought out at the eleventh hour when war is on is not heroic. All the same, I don't want him to be shot."
"You must leave things to chance," said Durham decidedly. "There is only one way in which you can make him give up his soldiering."
"What's that?"
"Make friends with him, and ask him to wait till you die."
"No, no, no!" said Sir Simon, irritably59. "He must keep away from me for a time. After all, he is the son of his father, and, bad as Walter was, I loved him for his mother's sake. As for the Italian woman—"
"Mrs. Gore! She is dead."
"I know she is. But her brother Guiseppe is alive, and a scoundrel he is. The other day he came to the Hall and tried to force his way into the house. A gambler, a rogue60, Durham—that's what Guiseppe is."
"What is his other name?"
"Tolomeo! He comes from Siena."
"I understood Mrs. Gore—your son's wife—came from Florence."
"So she said. She declared she was the member of a decayed Florentine family. But afterwards I learned from Guiseppe that the Tolomeo nobles are Sienese—and a bad lot they are. He is a musician, I believe—a plausible61 scamp. I hope he has not got hold of Bernard."
"Bernard is his nephew."
"I know that," snapped the old man. "All the same, the uncle is sadly in want of money, and would exercise an undue influence over Bernard."
"You don't know. He is young after all. But you know, by the will, I have put it out of Bernard's power to assist Tolomeo. If he gives him as much as a shilling the money is lost to him and goes to Lucy."
"That is rather a hard provision," said Durham, after a pause.
"I do it for the boy's good," replied Gore, rising; "but I must get home now. By the way, about that lease," and the two began to talk of matters connected with the estate.
Sir Simon after this refused to discuss his erring63 grandson, but Durham, who was friendly to Bernard, insisted on recurring64 to the forbidden subject. However it was just when the old man was going that he reverted65 to the bone of contention66, "I wish you would let me tell Bernard that you are well disposed toward him."
"Well, I was at Eton with him, you know, and we are great friends. If he is an Imperial Yeoman there will be no difficulty in seeing him."
"Leave matters as they are. I have ascertained67 that he won't go to the war for six weeks. Julius found that out for me, so wait till he is on the eve of sailing. Then we'll see. If nothing else will keep him at home, I'll make it up. But I think a little hardship will do him good. He behaved very badly."
"Bernard is naturally hot tempered."
"So am I. Therefore, let us keep apart for a time. Who knows what would happen did we meet. No, Durham, let Bernard think that I am still angry. If Lucy sets a lamp in the Red Window that's a different thing. I shan't interfere68 with her romance."
"The Red Window. What's that?"
"A silly legend of the Gore family of which you know nothing. I have no time to repeat rubbish. I'll come and see you again about that lease, Durham. Meanwhile, should Bernard be hard up, help him out of your own pocket. I'll make it up to you."
"He wouldn't accept alms. Besides, he has enough to go on with. I have two hundred of his money in hand."
"Then I have nothing more to say. I'm sorry the fellow isn't starving. His conduct to me was shameful45." And Sir Simon went grumbling69 home.
"All the same, I'll see Bernard," thought Durham, returning to his office.
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lucrative
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| adj.赚钱的，可获利的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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prophesied
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| v.预告，预言( prophesy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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judiciously
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| adv.明断地，明智而审慎地 | |
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reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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belles
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| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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garb
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| n.服装，装束 | |
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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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cove
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| n.小海湾，小峡谷 | |
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paraphernalia
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| n.装备；随身用品 | |
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perplexed
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motive
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drawn
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shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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engrossed
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rustled
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cane
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| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
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preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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legacies
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| n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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bequests
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| n.遗赠( bequest的名词复数 )；遗产，遗赠物 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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gore
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| n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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exclusion
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| n.拒绝，排除，排斥，远足，远途旅行 | |
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stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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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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tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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alteration
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| n.变更，改变；蚀变 | |
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chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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crabbed
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| adj.脾气坏的；易怒的；（指字迹）难辨认的；（字迹等）难辨认的v.捕蟹( crab的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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virtuously
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| 合乎道德地，善良地 | |
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benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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shamefully
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| 可耻地； 丢脸地； 不体面地； 羞耻地 | |
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undue
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| adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 | |
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placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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testily
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| adv. 易怒地, 暴躁地 | |
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irritably
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| ad.易生气地 | |
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rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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plausible
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| adj.似真实的，似乎有理的，似乎可信的 | |
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sagely
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| adv. 贤能地，贤明地 | |
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erring
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| 做错事的，错误的 | |
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recurring
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| adj.往复的，再次发生的 | |
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reverted
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| 恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还 | |
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contention
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| n.争论，争辩，论战；论点，主张 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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69
grumbling
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| adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 | |
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