'I didn't know it was forbidden to shoot here,' I replied.
'You are here, sir,' he continued, 'on my land.'
'With your permission, I will go off it.'
'But pe-ermit me to ask,' he rejoined, 'is it a nobleman I have the honour of addressing?'
I mentioned my name.
'In that case, oblige me by hunting here. I am a nobleman myself, and am very pleased to do any service to a nobleman.... And my name is Panteley Tchertop-hanov.' He bowed, hallooed, gave his horse a lash22 on the neck; the horse shook its head, reared, shied, and trampled23 on a dog's paws. The dog gave a piercing squeal24. Tchertop-hanov boiled over with rage; foaming25 at the mouth, he struck the horse with his fist on the head between the ears, leaped to the ground quicker than lightning, looked at the dog's paw, spat26 on the wound, gave it a kick in the ribs27 to stop its whining28, caught on to the horse's forelock, and put his foot in the stirrup. The horse flung up its head, and with its tail in the air edged away into the bushes; he followed it, hopping29 on one leg; he got into the saddle at last, however, flourished his whip in a sort of frenzy30, blew his horn, and galloped31 off. I had not time to recover from the unexpected appearance of Tchertop-hanov, when suddenly, almost without any noise, there came out of the bushes a stoutish32 man of forty on a little black nag33. He stopped, took off his green leather cap, and in a thin, subdued34 voice he asked me whether I hadn't seen a horseman riding a chestnut? I answered that I had.
'Which way did the gentleman go?' he went on in the same tone, without putting on his cap.
'Over there.'
He made a kissing sound with his lips, swung his legs against his horse's sides, and fell into a jog-trot36 in the direction indicated. I looked after him till his peaked cap was hidden behind the branches. This second stranger was not in the least like his predecessor37 in exterior38. His face, plump and round as a ball, expressed bashfulness, good-nature, and humble39 meekness40; his nose, also plump and round and streaked41 with blue veins42, betokened43 a sensualist. On the front of his head there was not a single hair left, some thin brown tufts stuck out behind; there was an ingratiating twinkle in his little eyes, set in long slits44, and a sweet smile on his red, juicy lips. He had on a coat with a stand-up collar and brass45 buttons, very worn but clean; his cloth trousers were hitched46 up high, his fat calves47 were visible above the yellow tops of his boots.
'Who's that?' I inquired of Yermolaï.
'That? Nedopyuskin, Tihon Ivanitch. He lives at Tchertop-hanov's.'
'What is he, a poor man?'
'He's not rich; but, to be sure, Tchertop-hanov's not got a brass farthing either.'
'Then why does he live with him?'
'Oh, they made friends. One's never seen without the other.... It's a fact, indeed--where the horse puts its hoof48, there the crab49 sticks its claw.'
We got out of the bushes; suddenly two hounds 'gave tongue' close to us, and a big hare bounded through the oats, which were fairly high by now. The dogs, hounds and harriers, leaped out of the thicket after him, and after the dogs flew out Tchertop-hanov himself. He did not shout, nor urge the dogs on, nor halloo; he was breathless and gasping50; broken, senseless sounds were jerked out of his gaping51 mouth now and then; he dashed on, his eyes starting out of his head, and furiously lashed52 at his luckless horse with the whip. The harriers were gaining on the hare... it squatted53 for a moment, doubled sharply back, and darted54 past Yermolaï into the bushes.... The harriers rushed in pursuit. 'Lo-ok out! lo-ok out!' the exhausted55 horseman articulated with effort, in a sort of stutter: 'lo-ok out, friend!' Yermolaï shot... the wounded hare rolled head over heels on the smooth dry grass, leaped into the air, and squealed56 piteously in the teeth of a worrying dog. The hounds crowded about her. Like an arrow, Tchertop-hanov flew off his horse, clutched his dagger, ran straddling among the dogs with furious imprecations, snatched the mangled57 hare from them, and, creasing58 up his whole face, he buried the dagger in its throat up to the very hilt... buried it, and began hallooing. Tihon Ivanitch made his appearance on the edge of the thicket 'Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho!' vociferated Tchertop-hanov a second time. 'Ho-ho-ho-ho,' his companion repeated placidly59.
'But really, you know, one ought not to hunt in summer, 'I observed to Tchertop-hanov, pointing to the trampled-down oats.
'It's my field,' answered Tchertop-hanov, gasping.
He pulled the hare into shape, hung it on to his saddle, and flung the paws among the dogs.
'I owe you a charge, my friend, by the rules of hunting,' he said, addressing Yermolaï. 'And you, dear sir,' he added in the same jerky, abrupt60 voice, 'my thanks.'
He mounted his horse.
'Pe-ermit me to ask... I've forgotten your name and your father's.'
Again I told him my name.
'Delighted to make your acquaintance. When you have an opportunity, hope you'll come and see me.... But where is that Fomka, Tihon Ivanitch?' he went on with heat; 'the hare was run down without him.'
'His horse fell down under him,' replied Tihon Ivanitch with a smile.
'Fell down! Orbassan fell down? Pugh! tut!... Where is he?'
'Over there, behind the copse.'
Tchertop-hanov struck his horse on the muzzle61 with his whip, and galloped off at a breakneck pace. Tihon Ivanitch bowed to me twice, once for himself and once for his companion, and again set off at a trot into the bushes.
These two gentlemen aroused my curiosity keenly. What could unite two creatures so different in the bonds of an inseparable friendship? I began to make inquiries62. This was what I learned.
Panteley Eremyitch Tchertop-hanov had the reputation in the whole surrounding vicinity of a dangerous, crack-brained fellow, haughty and quarrelsome in the extreme. He had served a very short time in the army, and had retired63 from the service through 'difficulties' with his superiors, with that rank which is generally regarded as equivalent to no rank at all. He came of an old family, once rich; his forefathers64 lived sumptuously65, after the manner of the steppes--that is, they welcomed all, invited or uninvited, fed them to exhaustion66, gave out oats by the quarter to their guests' coachmen for their teams, kept musicians, singers, jesters, and dogs; on festive67 days regaled their people with spirits and beer, drove to Moscow in the winter with their own horses, in heavy old coaches, and sometimes were for whole months without a farthing, living on home-grown produce. The estate came into Panteley Eremyitch's father's hands in a crippled condition; he, in his turn, 'played ducks and drakes' with it, and when he died, left his sole heir, Panteley, the small mortgaged village of Bezsonovo, with thirty-five souls of the male, and seventy-six of the female sex, and twenty-eight acres and a half of useless land on the waste of Kolobrodova, no record of serfs for which could be found among the deceased's deeds. The deceased had, it must be confessed, ruined himself in a very strange way: 'provident68 management' had been his destruction. According to his notions, a nobleman ought not to depend on merchants, townsmen, and 'brigands69' of that sort, as he called them; he set up all possible trades and crafts on his estate; 'it's both seemlier and cheaper,' he used to say: 'it's provident management'! He never relinquished70 this fatal idea to the end of his days; indeed, it was his ruin. But, then, what entertainment it gave him! He never denied himself the satisfaction of a single whim71. Among other freaks, he once began building, after his own fancy, so immense a family coach that, in spite of the united efforts of the peasants' horses, drawn72 together from the whole village, as well as their owners, it came to grief and fell to pieces on the first hillside. Eremey Lukitch (the name of Panteley's father was Eremey Lukitch), ordered a memorial to be put up on the hillside, but was not, however, at all abashed73 over the affair. He conceived the happy thought, too, of building a church--by himself, of course--without the assistance of an architect. He burnt a whole forest in making the bricks, laid an immense foundation, as though for a provincial75 hall, raised the walls, and began putting on the cupola; the cupola fell down. He tried again--the cupola again broke down; he tried the third time---the cupola fell to pieces a third time. Good Eremey Lukitch grew thoughtful; there was something uncanny about it, he reflected... some accursed witchcraft76 must have a hand in it... and at once he gave orders to flog all the old women in the village. They flogged the old women; but they didn't get the cupola on, for all that. He began reconstructing the peasants' huts on a new plan, and all on a system of 'provident management'; he set them three homesteads together in a triangle, and in the middle stuck up a post with a painted bird-cage and flag. Every day he invented some new freak; at one time he was making soup of burdocks, at another cutting his horses' tails off to make caps for his servants; at another, proposing to substitute nettles77 for flax, to feed pigs on mushrooms.... He had once read in the Moscow Gazette an article by a Harkov landowner, Hryak-Hrupyorsky, on the importance of morality to the well-being78 of the peasant, and the next day he gave forth79 a decree to all his peasants to learn off the Harkov landowner's article by heart at once. The peasants learnt the article; the master asked them whether they understood what was said in it? The bailiff replied--that to be sure they understood it! About the same time he ordered all his subjects, with a view to the maintenance of order and provident management, to be numbered, and each to have his number sewn on his collar. On meeting the master, each was to shout, 'Number so-and-so is here!' and the master would answer affably: 'Go on, in God's name!'
In spite, however, of order and provident management, Eremey Lukitch got by degrees into a very difficult position; he began at first by mortgaging his villages, and then was brought to the sale of them; the last ancestral home, the village with the unfinished church, was sold at last for arrears80 to the Crown, luckily not in the lifetime of Eremey Lukitch--he could never have supported such a blow--but a fortnight after his death. He succeeded in dying at home in his own bed, surrounded by his own people, and under the care of his own doctor; but nothing was left to poor Panteley but Bezsonovo.
Panteley heard of his father's illness while he was still in the service, in the very heat of the 'difficulties' mentioned above. He was only just nineteen. From his earliest childhood he had not left his father's house, and under the guidance of his mother, a very good-natured but perfectly81 stupid woman, Vassilissa Vassilyevna, he grew up spoilt and conceited82. She undertook his education alone; Eremey Lukitch, buried in his economical fancies, had no thoughts to spare for it. It is true, he once punished his son with his own hand for mispronouncing a letter of the alphabet; but Eremey Lukitch had received a cruel and secret blow that day: his best dog had been crushed by a tree. Vassilissa Vassilyevna's efforts in regard Panteley's education did not, however, get beyond one terrific exertion83; in the sweat of her brow she engaged him a tutor, one Birkopf, a retired Alsatian soldier, and to the day of her death she trembled like a leaf before him. 'Oh,' she thought, 'if he throws us up--I'm lost! Where could I turn? Where could I find another teacher? Why, with what pains, what pains I enticed84 this one away from our neighbours!' And Birkopf, like a shrewd man, promptly85 took advantage of his unique position; he drank like a fish, and slept from morning till night. On the completion of his 'course of science,' Panteley entered the army. Vassilissa Vassilyevna was no more; she had died six months before that important event, of fright. She had had a dream of a white figure riding on a bear. Eremey Lukitch soon followed his better half.
At the first news of his illness, Panteley galloped home at breakneck speed, but he did not find his father alive. What was the amazement86 of the dutiful son when he found himself, utterly87 unexpectedly, transformed from a rich heir to a poor man! Few men are capable of bearing so sharp a reverse well. Panteley was embittered88, made misanthropical89 by it. From an honest, generous, good-natured fellow, though spoilt and hot-tempered, he became haughty and quarrelsome; he gave up associating with the neighbours--he was too proud to visit the rich, and he disdained90 the poor--and behaved with unheard of arrogance91 to everyone, even to the established authorities. 'I am of the ancient hereditary92 nobility,' he would say. Once he had been on the point of shooting the police-commissioner for coming into the room with his cap on his head. Of course the authorities, on their side, had their revenge, and took every opportunity to make him feel their power; but still, they were rather afraid of him, because he had a desperate temper, and would propose a duel93 with knives at the second word. At the slightest retort Tchertop-hanov's eyes blazed, his voice broke.... Ah, er--er--er,' he stammered94, 'damn my soul!'... and nothing could stop him. And, moreover, he was a man of stainless96 character, who had never had a hand in anything the least shady. No one, of course, visited him... and with all this he was a good-hearted, even a great-hearted man in his own way; acts of injustice97, of oppression, he would not brook98 even against strangers; he stood up for his own peasants like a rock. 'What?' he would say, with a violent blow on his own head: 'touch my people, mine? My name's not Tchertop-hanov, if I...'
Tihon Ivanitch Nedopyuskin could not, like Panteley Eremyitch, pride himself on his origin. His father came of the peasant proprietor99 class, and only after forty years of service attained100 the rank of a noble. Mr. Nedopyuskin, the father, belonged to the number of those people who are pursued by misfortune with an obduracy102 akin74 to personal hatred103. For sixty whole years, from his very birth to his very death, the poor man was struggling with all the hardships, calamities104, and privations, incidental to people of small means; he struggled like a fish under the ice, never having enough food and sleep--cringing, worrying, wearing himself to exhaustion, fretting105 over every farthing, with genuine 'innocence106' suffering in the service, and dying at last in either a garret or a cellar, in the unsuccessful struggle to gain for himself or his children a crust of dry bread. Fate had hunted him down like a hare.
He was a good-natured and honest man, though he did take bribes--from a threepenny bit up to a crown piece inclusive. Nedopyuskin had a wife, thin and consumptive; he had children too; luckily they all died young except Tihon and a daughter, Mitrodora, nicknamed 'the merchants' belle,' who, after many painful and ludicrous adventures, was married to a retired attorney. Mr. Nedopyuskin had succeeded before his death in getting Tihon a place as supernumerary clerk in some office; but directly after his father's death Tihon resigned his situation. Their perpetual anxieties, their heartrending struggle with cold and hunger, his mother's careworn107 depression, his father's toiling108 despair, the coarse aggressiveness of landladies109 and shopkeepers--all the unending daily suffering of their life had developed an exaggerated timidity in Tihon: at the mere95 sight of his chief he was faint and trembling like a captured bird. He threw up his office. Nature, in her indifference110, or perhaps her irony111, implants112 in people all sorts of faculties113 and tendencies utterly inconsistent with their means and their position in society; with her characteristic care and love she had moulded of Tihon, the son of a poor clerk, a sensuous114, indolent, soft, impressionable creature--a creature fitted exclusively for enjoyment115, gifted with an excessively delicate sense of smell and of taste...she had moulded him, finished him off most carefully, and set her creation to struggle up on sour cabbage and putrid116 fish! And, behold117! the creation did struggle up somehow, and began what is called 'life.' Then the fun began. Fate, which had so ruthlessly tormented119 Nedopyuskin the father, took to the son too; she had a taste for them, one must suppose. But she treated Tihon on a different plan: she did not torture him; she played with him. She did not once drive him to desperation, she did not set him to suffer the degrading agonies of hunger, but she led him a dance through the whole of Russia from one end to the other, from one degrading and ludicrous position to another; at one time Fate made him 'majordomo' to a snappish, choleric120 Lady Bountiful, at another a humble parasite121 on a wealthy skinflint merchant, then a private secretary to a goggle-eyed gentleman, with his hair cut in the English style, then she promoted him to the post of something between butler and buffoon122 to a dog-fancier.... In short, Fate drove poor Tihon to drink drop by drop to the dregs the bitter poisoned cup of a dependent existence. He had been, in his time, the sport of the dull malignity123 and the boorish124 pranks125 of slothful masters. How often, alone in his room, released at last 'to go in peace,' after a mob of visitors had glutted126 their taste for horseplay at his expense, he had vowed127, blushing with shame, chill tears of despair in his eyes, that he would run away in secret, would try his luck in the town, would find himself some little place as clerk, or die once for all of hunger in the street! But, in the first place, God had not given him strength of character; secondly128, his timidity unhinged him; and thirdly, how could he get himself a place? whom could he ask? 'They'll never give it me,' the luckless wretch129 would murmur130, tossing wearily in his bed, 'they'll never give it me!' And the next day he would take up the same degrading life again. His position was the more painful that, with all her care, nature had not troubled to give him the smallest share of the gifts and qualifications without which the trade of a buffoon is almost impossible. He was not equal, for instance, to dancing till he dropped, in a bearskin coat turned inside out, nor making jokes and cutting capers131 in the immediate132 vicinity of cracking whips; if he was turned out in a state of nature into a temperature of twenty degrees below freezing, as often as not, he caught cold; his stomach could not digest brandy mixed with ink and other filth133, nor minced134 funguses and toadstools in vinegar. There is no knowing what would have become of Tihon if the last of his patrons, a contractor135 who had made his fortune, had not taken it into his head in a merry hour to inscribe136 in his will: 'And to Zyozo (Tihon, to wit) Nedopyuskin, I leave in perpetual possession, to him and his heirs, the village of Bezselendyevka, lawfully137 acquired by me, with all its appurtenances.' A few days later this patron was taken with a fit of apoplexy after gorging138 on sturgeon soup. A great commotion139 followed; the officials came and put seals on the property.
The relations arrived; the will was opened and read; and they called for Nedopyuskin: Nedopyuskin made his appearance. The greater number of the party knew the nature of Tihon Ivanitch's duties in his patron's household; he was greeted with deafening140 shouts and ironical141 congratulations. 'The landowner; here is the new owner!' shouted the other heirs. 'Well, really this,' put in one, a noted142 wit and humourist; 'well, really this, one may say... this positively143 is... really what one may call... an heir-apparent!' and they all went off into shrieks145. For a long while Nedopyuskin could not believe in his good fortune. They showed him the will: he flushed, shut his eyes, and with a despairing gesture he burst into tears. The chuckles146 of the party passed into a deep unanimous roar. The village of Bezselendyevka consisted of only twenty-two serfs, no one regretted its loss keenly; so why not get some fun out of it? One of the heirs from Petersburg, an important man, with a Greek nose and a majestic147 expression of face, Rostislav Adamitch Shtoppel, went so far as to go up to Nedopyuskin and look haughtily148 at him over his shoulder. 'So far as I can gather, honoured sir,' he observed with contemptuous carelessness, 'you enjoyed your position in the household of our respected Fedor Fedoritch, owing to your obliging readiness to wait on his diversions?' The gentleman from Petersburg expressed himself in a style insufferably refined, smart, and correct. Nedopyuskin, in his agitation149 and confusion, had not taken in the unknown gentleman's words, but the others were all quiet at once; the wit smiled condescendingly. Mr. Shtoppel rubbed his hands and repeated his question. Nedopyuskin raised his eyes in bewilderment and opened his mouth. Rostislav Adamitch puckered150 his face up sarcastically151.
'I congratulate you, my dear sir, I congratulate you,' he went on: 'it's true, one may say, not everyone would have consented to gain his daily bread in such a fashion; but de guslibus non est disputandum, that is, everyone to his taste.... Eh?'
'Tell us,' pursued Mr. Shtoppel, much encouraged by the smiles of the whole party, 'to what special talent are you indebted for your good-fortune? No, don't be bashful, tell us; we're all here, so to speak, en famille. Aren't we, gentlemen, all here en famille?'
The relation to whom Rostislav Adamitch chanced to turn with this question did not, unfortunately, know French, and so he confined himself to a faint grunt153 of approbation154. But another relation, a young man, with patches of a yellow colour on his forehead, hastened to chime in, 'Wee, wee, to be sure.'
'Perhaps,' Mr. Shtoppel began again, 'you can walk on your hands, your legs raised, so to say, in the air?'
Nedopyuskin looked round in agony: every face wore a taunting155 smile, every eye was moist with delight.
'Or perhaps you can crow like a cock?'
'Or perhaps on your nose you can....'
'Stop that!' a loud harsh voice suddenly interrupted Rostislav Adamitch; 'I wonder you're not ashamed to torment118 the poor man!'
Everyone looked round. In the doorway158 stood Tchertop-hanov. As a cousin four times removed of the deceased contractor, he too had received a note of invitation to the meeting of the relations. During the whole time of reading the will he had kept, as he always did, haughtily apart from the others.
'Stop that!' he repeated, throwing his head back proudly.
Mr. Shtoppel turned round quickly, and seeing a poorly dressed, unattractive-looking man, he inquired of his neighbour in an undertone (caution's always a good thing):
'Who's that?'
'Tchertop-hanov--he's no great shakes,' the latter whispered in his ear.
Rostislav Adamitch assumed a haughty air.
'And who are you to give orders?' he said through his nose, drooping159 his eyelids160 scornfully; 'who may you be, allow me to inquire?--a queer fish, upon my word!'
'Ss--ss--ss!' he hissed162 like one possessed163, and all at once he thundered: 'Who am I? Who am I? I'm Panteley Tchertop-hanov, of the ancient hereditary nobility; my forefathers served the Tsar: and who may you be?'
Rostislav Adamitch turned pale and stepped back. He had not expected such resistance.
'I--I--a fish indeed!'
Tchertop-hanov darted forward; Shtoppel bounded away in great perturbation, the others rushed to meet the exasperated164 nobleman.
'A duel, a duel, a duel, at once, across a handkerchief!' shouted the enraged165 Panteley, 'or beg my pardon--yes, and his too....'
'Pray beg his pardon!' the agitated166 relations muttered all round Shtoppel; 'he's such a madman, he'd cut your throat in a minute!'
'I beg your pardon, I beg your pardon, I didn't know,' stammered Shtoppel; 'I didn't know....'
'And beg his too!' vociferated the implacable Panteley.
'I beg your pardon too,' added Rostislav Adamitch, addressing Nedopyuskin, who was shaking as if he were in an ague.
Tchertop-hanov calmed down; he went up to Tihon Ivanitch, took him by the hand, looked fiercely round, and, as not one pair of eyes ventured to meet his, he walked triumphantly167 amid profound silence out of the room, with the new owner of the lawfully acquired village of Bezselendyevka.
From that day they never parted again. (The village of Bezselendyevka was only seven miles from Bezsonovo.) The boundless168 gratitude169 of Nedopyuskin soon passed into the most adoring veneration170. The weak, soft, and not perfectly stainless Tihon bowed down in the dust before the fearless and irreproachable171 Panteley. 'It's no slight thing,' he thought to himself sometimes, 'to talk to the governor, look him straight in the face.... Christ have mercy on us, doesn't he look at him!'
He marvelled172 at him, he exhausted all the force of his soul in his admiration of him, he regarded him as an extraordinary man, as clever, as learned. And there's no denying that, bad as Tchertop-hanov's education might be, still, in comparison with Tihon's education, it might pass for brilliant. Tchertop-hanov, it is true, had read little Russian, and knew French very badly--so badly that once, in reply to the question of a Swiss tutor: 'Vous parlez français, monsieur?' he answered: 'Je ne comprehend' and after a moment's thought, he added pa; but any way he was aware that Voltaire had once existed, and was a very witty173 writer, and that Frederick the Great, king of Prussia, had been distinguished174 as a great military commander. Of Russian writers he respected Derzhavin, but liked Marlinsky, and called Ammalat-Bek the best of the pack....
A few days after my first meeting with the two friends, I set off for the village of Bezsonovo to see Panteley Eremyitch. His little house could be seen a long way off; it stood out on a bare place, half a mile from the village, on the 'bluff,' as it is called, like a hawk175 on a ploughed field. Tchertop-hanov's homestead consisted of nothing more than four old tumble-down buildings of different sizes--that is, a lodge176, a stable, a barn, and a bath-house. Each building stood apart by itself; there was neither a fence round nor a gate to be seen. My coachman stopped in perplexity at a well which was choked up and had almost disappeared. Near the barn some thin and unkempt puppies were mangling177 a dead horse, probably Orbassan; one of them lifted up the bleeding nose, barked hurriedly, and again fell to devouring178 the bare ribs. Near the horse stood a boy of seventeen, with a puffy, yellow face, dressed like a Cossack, and barelegged; he looked with a responsible air at the dogs committed to his charge, and now and then gave the greediest a lash with his whip.
'Is your master at home?' I inquired.
'The Lord knows!' answered the lad; 'you'd better knock.'
I jumped out of the droshky, and went up to the steps of the lodge.
Mr. Tchertop-hanov's dwelling179 presented a very cheerless aspect; the beams were blackened and bulging180 forward, the chimney had fallen off, the corners of the house were stained with damp, and sunk out of the perpendicular181, the small, dusty, bluish windows peeped out from under the shaggy overhanging roof with an indescribably morose182 expression: some old vagrants183 have eyes that look like that. I knocked; no one responded. I could hear, however, through the door some sharply uttered words:
'A, B, C; there now, idiot!' a hoarse184 voice was saying: 'A, B, C, D... no! D, E, E, E!... Now then, idiot!'
I knocked a second time.
The same voice shouted: 'Come in; who's there?'...
I went into the small empty hall, and through the open door I saw Tchertop-hanov himself. In a greasy185 oriental dressing-gown, loose trousers, and a red skull-cap, he was sitting on a chair; in one hand he gripped the face of a young poodle, while in the other he was holding a piece of bread just above his nose.
'Ah!' he pronounced with dignity, not stirring from his seat: 'delighted to see you. Please sit down. I am busy here with Venzor.... Tihon Ivanitch,' he added, raising his voice, 'come here, will you? Here's a visitor.'
'I'm coming, I'm coming,' Tihon Ivanitch responded from the other room. 'Masha, give me my cravat186.'
Tchertop-hanov turned to Venzor again and laid the piece of bread on his nose. I looked round. Except an extending table much warped187 with thirteen legs of unequal length, and four rush chairs worn into hollows, there was no furniture of any kind in the room; the walls, which had been washed white, ages ago, with blue, star-shaped spots, were peeling off in many places; between the windows hung a broken tarnished188 looking-glass in a huge frame of red wood. In the corners stood pipestands and guns; from the ceiling hung fat black cobwebs.
'A, B, C, D,' Tchertop-hanov repeated slowly, and suddenly he cried furiously: 'E! E! E! E!... What a stupid brute189!...'
But the luckless poodle only shivered, and could not make up his mind to open his mouth; he still sat wagging his tail uneasily and wrinkling up his face, blinked dejectedly, and frowned as though saying to himself: 'Of course, it's just as you please!'
'There, eat! come! take it!' repeated the indefatigable190 master.
'You've frightened him,' I remarked.
'Well, he can get along, then!'
He gave him a kick. The poor dog got up softly, dropped the bread off his nose, and walked, as it were, on tiptoe to the hall, deeply wounded. And with good reason: a stranger calling for the first time, and to treat him like that!
The door from the next room gave a subdued creak, and Mr. Nedopyuskin came in, affably bowing and smiling.
I got up and bowed.
'Don't disturb yourself, don't disturb yourself,' he lisped.
We sat down. Tchertop-hanov went into the next room.
'You have been for some time in our neighbourhood,' began Nedopyuskin in a subdued voice, coughing discreetly191 into his hand, and holding his fingers before his lips from a feeling of propriety192.
'I came last month.'
'Indeed.'
We were silent for a little.
'Lovely weather we are having just now,' resumed Nedopyuskin, and he looked gratefully at me as though I were in some way responsible for the weather: 'the corn, one may say, is doing wonderfully.'
'Panteley Eremyitch was pleased to hunt two hares yesterday,' Nedopyuskin began again with an effort, obviously wishing to enliven the conversation; 'yes, indeed, very big hares they were, sir.'
'Has Mr. Tchertop-hanov good hounds?'
'The most wonderful hounds, sir!' Nedopyuskin replied, delighted; 'one may say, the best in the province, indeed.' (He drew nearer to me.) 'But, then, Panteley Eremyitch is such a wonderful man! He has only to wish for anything--he has only to take an idea into his head--and before you can look round, it's done; everything, you may say, goes like clockwork. Panteley Eremyitch, I assure you....'
Tchertop-hanov came into the room. Nedopyuskin smiled, ceased speaking, and indicated him to me with a glance which seemed to say, 'There, you will see for yourself.' We fell to talking about hunting.
'Would you like me to show you my leash194?' Tchertop-hanov asked me; and, not waiting for a reply, he called Karp.
A sturdy lad came in, in a green nankin long coat, with a blue collar and livery buttons.
'Tell Fomka,' said Tchertop-hanov abruptly195, 'to bring in Ammalat and Saiga, and in good order, do you understand?'
Karp gave a broad grin, uttered an indefinite sound, and went away. Fomka made his appearance, well combed and tightly buttoned up, in boots, and with the hounds. From politeness, I admired the stupid beasts (harriers are all exceedingly stupid). Tchertop-hanov spat right into Ammalat's nostrils196, which did not, however, apparently197 afford that dog the slightest satisfaction. Nedopyuskin, too, stroked Ammalat from behind. We began chatting again. By degrees Tchertop-hanov unbent completely, and no longer stood on his dignity nor snorted defiantly198; the expression of his face changed. He glanced at me and at Nedopyuskin....
'Hey!' he cried suddenly; 'why should she sit in there alone? Masha! hi, Masha! come in here!'
Some one stirred in the next room, but there was no answer.
'Ma-a-sha!' Tchertop-hanov repeated caressingly199; 'come in here. It's all right, don't be afraid.'
The door was softly opened, and I caught sight of a tall and slender girl of twenty, with a dark gypsy face, golden-brown eyes, and hair black as pitch; her large white teeth gleamed between full red lips. She had on a white dress; a blue shawl, pinned close round her throat with a gold brooch, half hid her slender, beautiful arms, in which one could see the fineness of her race. She took two steps with the bashful awkwardness of some wild creature, stood still, and looked down.
'Come, let me introduce,' said Panteley Eremyitch; 'wife she is not, but she's to be respected as a wife.'
Masha flushed slightly, and smiled in confusion. I made her a low bow. I thought her very charming. The delicate falcon200 nose, with distended201, half-transparent nostrils; the bold sweep of her high eyebrows, the pale, almost sunken cheeks--every feature of her face denoted wilful202 passion and reckless devilry. From under the coil of her hair two rows of little shining hairs ran down her broad neck--a sign of race and vigour203.
She went to the window and sat down. I did not want to increase her embarrassment204, and began talking with Tchertop-hanov. Masha turned her head slyly, and began peeping from under her eyelids at me stealthily, shyly, and swiftly. Her glance seemed to flash out like a snake's sting. Nedopyuskin sat beside her, and whispered something in her ear. She smiled again. When she smiled, her nose slightly puckered up, and her upper lip was raised, which gave her face something of the expression of a cat or a lion....
'Oh, but you're one of the "hands off!" sort,' I thought, in my turn stealing a look at her supple205 frame, her hollow breast, and her quick, angular movements.
'Masha,' Tchertop-hanov asked, 'don't you think we ought to give our visitor some entertainment, eh?'
'We've got some jam,' she replied.
'Well, bring the jam here, and some vodka, too, while you're about it. And, I say, Masha,' he shouted after her, 'bring the guitar in too.'
'What's the guitar for? I'm not going to sing.'
'Why?'
'I don't want to.'
'Oh, nonsense; you'll want to when....'
'What?' asked Masha, rapidly knitting her brows.
'When you're asked,' Tchertop-hanov went on, with some embarrassment.
'Oh!'
She went out, soon came back with jam and vodka, and again sat by the window. There was still a line to be seen on her forehead; the two eyebrows rose and drooped206 like a wasp207's antennae208.... Have you ever noticed, reader, what a wicked face the wasp has? 'Well,' I thought, 'I'm in for a storm.' The conversation flagged. Nedopyuskin shut up completely, and wore a forced smile; Tchertop-hanov panted, turned red, and opened his eyes wide; I was on the point of taking leave.... Suddenly Masha got up, flung open the window, thrust out her head, and shouted lustily to a passing peasant woman, 'Aksinya!' The woman started, and tried to turn round, but slipped down and flopped209 heavily on to a dung-heap. Masha threw herself back and laughed merrily; Tchertop-hanov laughed too; Nedopyuskin shrieked210 with delight. We all revived. The storm had passed off in one flash of lightning... the air was clear again.
Half-an-hour later, no one would have recognised us; we were chatting and frolicking like children. Masha was the merriest of all; Tchertop-hanov simply could not take his eyes off her. Her face grew paler, her nostrils dilated211, her eyes glowed and darkened at the same time. It was a wild creature at play. Nedopyuskin limped after her on his short, fat little legs, like a drake after a duck. Even Venzor crawled out of his hiding-place in the hall, stood a moment in the doorway, glanced at us, and suddenly fell to jumping up into the air and barking. Masha flitted into the other room, fetched the guitar, flung off the shawl from her shoulders, seated herself quickly, and, raising her head, began singing a gypsy song. Her voice rang out, vibrating like a glass bell when it is struck; it flamed up and died away.... It filled the heart with sweetness and pain.... Tchertop-hanov fell to dancing. Nedopyuskin stamped and swung his legs in tune101. Masha was all a-quiver, like birch-bark in the fire; her delicate fingers flew playfully over the guitar, her dark-skinned throat slowly heaved under the two rows of amber212. All at once she would cease singing, sink into exhaustion, and twang the guitar, as it were involuntarily, and Tchertop-hanov stood still, merely working his shoulders and turning round in one place, while Nedopyuskin nodded his head like a Chinese figure; then she would break out into song like a mad thing, drawing herself up and holding up her head, and Tchertop-hanov again curtsied down to the ground, leaped up to the ceiling, spun213 round like a top, crying 'Quicker!...'
'Quicker, quicker, quicker!' Nedopyuskin chimed in, speaking very fast.
It was late in the evening when I left Bezsonovo....
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1
dozing
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| v.打瞌睡,假寐 n.瞌睡 | |
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jolted
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| （使）摇动， （使）震惊( jolt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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flicking
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的现在分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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7
thicket
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| n.灌木丛，树林 | |
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8
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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9
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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extraordinarily
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| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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13
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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14
cartridge
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| n.弹壳，弹药筒；(装磁带等的)盒子 | |
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15
tarnish
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| n.晦暗，污点；vt.使失去光泽；玷污 | |
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16
slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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17
dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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18
chestnut
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| n.栗树，栗子 | |
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19
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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20
squint
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| v. 使变斜视眼, 斜视, 眯眼看, 偏移, 窥视; n. 斜视, 斜孔小窗; adj. 斜视的, 斜的 | |
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21
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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22
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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23
trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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24
squeal
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| v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音 | |
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25
foaming
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| adj.布满泡沫的；发泡 | |
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26
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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27
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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28
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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29
hopping
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| n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式 | |
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30
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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31
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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32
stoutish
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| 略胖的 | |
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33
nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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34
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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35
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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36
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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37
predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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38
exterior
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| adj.外部的，外在的；表面的 | |
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39
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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40
meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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41
streaked
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| adj.有条斑纹的，不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 )；使布满条纹 | |
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42
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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43
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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44
slits
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| n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子 | |
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45
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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46
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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47
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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48
hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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49
crab
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| n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气 | |
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50
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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51
gaping
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| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
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52
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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53
squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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54
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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55
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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56
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
creasing
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| （使…）起折痕，弄皱( crease的现在分词 )； （皮肤）皱起，使起皱纹； 挑檐 | |
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59
placidly
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| adv.平稳地，平静地 | |
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60
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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61
muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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62
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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63
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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64
forefathers
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| n.祖先，先人；祖先，祖宗( forefather的名词复数 )；列祖列宗；前人 | |
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65
sumptuously
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| 奢侈地，豪华地 | |
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66
exhaustion
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| n.耗尽枯竭，疲惫，筋疲力尽，竭尽，详尽无遗的论述 | |
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67
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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68
provident
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| adj.为将来做准备的，有先见之明的 | |
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69
brigands
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| n.土匪，强盗( brigand的名词复数 ) | |
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70
relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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71
whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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72
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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73
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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74
akin
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| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
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75
provincial
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| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
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76
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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77
nettles
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| n.荨麻( nettle的名词复数 ) | |
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78
well-being
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| n.安康，安乐，幸福 | |
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79
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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80
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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81
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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82
conceited
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| adj.自负的，骄傲自满的 | |
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83
exertion
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| n.尽力，努力 | |
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84
enticed
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| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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85
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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86
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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87
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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88
embittered
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| v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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89
misanthropical
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90
disdained
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| 鄙视( disdain的过去式和过去分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做 | |
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91
arrogance
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| n.傲慢，自大 | |
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92
hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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93
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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94
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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95
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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96
stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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97
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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98
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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99
proprietor
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| n.所有人；业主；经营者 | |
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100
attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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101
tune
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| n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整 | |
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102
obduracy
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| n.冷酷无情，顽固，执拗 | |
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103
hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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104
calamities
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| n.灾祸，灾难( calamity的名词复数 )；不幸之事 | |
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105
fretting
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| n. 微振磨损 adj. 烦躁的, 焦虑的 | |
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106
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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107
careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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108
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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109
landladies
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| n.女房东，女店主，女地主( landlady的名词复数 ) | |
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110
indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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111
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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112
implants
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| n.（植入身体中的）移植物( implant的名词复数 ) | |
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113
faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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114
sensuous
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| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
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115
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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116
putrid
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| adj.腐臭的；有毒的；已腐烂的；卑劣的 | |
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117
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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118
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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119
tormented
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| 饱受折磨的 | |
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120
choleric
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| adj.易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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121
parasite
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| n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客 | |
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122
buffoon
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| n.演出时的丑角 | |
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123
malignity
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| n.极度的恶意，恶毒；（病的）恶性 | |
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124
boorish
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| adj.粗野的，乡巴佬的 | |
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125
pranks
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| n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 ) | |
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126
glutted
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| v.吃得过多( glut的过去式和过去分词 )；（对胃口、欲望等）纵情满足；使厌腻；塞满 | |
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127
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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128
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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129
wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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130
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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131
capers
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| n.开玩笑( caper的名词复数 )；刺山柑v.跳跃，雀跃( caper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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132
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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133
filth
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| n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥 | |
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134
minced
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| v.切碎( mince的过去式和过去分词 )；剁碎；绞碎；用绞肉机绞（食物，尤指肉） | |
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135
contractor
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| n.订约人，承包人，收缩肌 | |
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136
inscribe
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| v.刻；雕；题写；牢记 | |
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137
lawfully
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| adv.守法地，合法地；合理地 | |
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138
gorging
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| v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的现在分词 )；作呕 | |
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139
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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140
deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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141
ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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142
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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143
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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144
shriek
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| v./n.尖叫，叫喊 | |
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145
shrieks
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| n.尖叫声( shriek的名词复数 )v.尖叫( shriek的第三人称单数 ) | |
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146
chuckles
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的名词复数 ) | |
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147
majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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148
haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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149
agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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150
puckered
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| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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151
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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152
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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153
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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154
approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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155
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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156
guffaw
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| n.哄笑；突然的大笑 | |
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157
stifled
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| （使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵 | |
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158
doorway
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| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
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159
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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160
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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161
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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162
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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163
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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164
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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165
enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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166
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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167
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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168
boundless
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| adj.无限的；无边无际的；巨大的 | |
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169
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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170
veneration
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| n.尊敬，崇拜 | |
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171
irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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172
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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173
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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174
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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175
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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176
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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177
mangling
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| 重整 | |
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178
devouring
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| 吞没( devour的现在分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光 | |
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179
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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180
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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181
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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182
morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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183
vagrants
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| 流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖 | |
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184
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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185
greasy
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| adj. 多脂的，油脂的 | |
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186
cravat
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| n.领巾，领结；v.使穿有领结的服装，使结领结 | |
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187
warped
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| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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188
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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189
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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190
indefatigable
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| adj.不知疲倦的，不屈不挠的 | |
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191
discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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192
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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193
assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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194
leash
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| n.牵狗的皮带，束缚；v.用皮带系住 | |
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195
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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196
nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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197
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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198
defiantly
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| adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地 | |
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199
caressingly
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| 爱抚地，亲切地 | |
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200
falcon
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| n.隼，猎鹰 | |
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201
distended
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| v.（使）膨胀，肿胀( distend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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202
wilful
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| adj.任性的，故意的 | |
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203
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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204
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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205
supple
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| adj.柔软的，易弯的，逢迎的，顺从的，灵活的；vt.使柔软，使柔顺，使顺从；vi.变柔软，变柔顺 | |
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206
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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207
wasp
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| n.黄蜂，蚂蜂 | |
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208
antennae
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| n.天线；触角 | |
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209
flopped
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| v.（指书、戏剧等）彻底失败( flop的过去式和过去分词 )；（因疲惫而）猛然坐下；（笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地）移动或落下；砸锅 | |
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210
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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211
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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212
amber
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| n.琥珀；琥珀色；adj.琥珀制的 | |
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213
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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