CHAPTER X — THE FALL OF MANCHESTER HOUSE

 Alvina rose chastened and wistful. As she was doing her hair, she heard the plaintive¹ nasal sound of Ciccio's mandoline. She looked down the mixed vista² of back-yards and little gardens, and was able to catch sight of a portion of Ciccio, who was sitting on a box in the blue-brick yard of his house, bare-headed and in his shirt-sleeves, twitching³ away at the wailing⁴ mandoline. It was not a warm morning, but there was a streak⁵ of sunshine. Alvina had noticed that Ciccio did not seem to feel the cold, unless it were a wind or a driving rain. He was playing the wildly-yearning Neapolitan songs, of which Alvina knew nothing. But, although she only saw a section of him, the glimpse of his head was enough to rouse in her that overwhelming fascination⁶, which came and went in spells. His remoteness, his southernness, something velvety⁷ and dark. So easily she might miss him altogether! Within a hair's-breadth she had let him disappear.

 

She hurried down. Geoffrey opened the door to her. She smiled at him in a quick, luminous⁸ smile, a magic change in her.

 

"I could hear Ciccio playing," she said.

 

Geoffrey spread his rather thick lips in a smile, and jerked his head in the direction of the back door, with a deep, intimate look into Alvina's eyes, as if to say his friend was lovesick.

 

"Shall I go through?" said Alvina.

 

Geoffrey laid his large hand on her shoulder for a moment, looked into her eyes, and nodded. He was a broad-shouldered fellow, with a rather flat, handsome face, well-coloured, and with the look of the Alpine⁹ ox about him, slow, eternal, even a little mysterious. Alvina was startled by the deep, mysterious look in his dark-fringed ox-eyes. The odd arch of his eyebrows¹¹ made him suddenly seem not quite human to her. She smiled to him again, startled. But he only inclined his head, and with his heavy hand on her shoulder gently impelled¹² her towards Ciccio.

 

When she came out at the back she smiled straight into Ciccio's face, with her sudden, luminous smile. His hand on the mandoline trembled into silence. He sat looking at her with an instant re-establishment of knowledge. And yet she shrank from the long, inscrutable gaze of his black-set, tawny¹³ eyes. She resented him a little. And yet she went forward to him and stood so that her dress touched him. And still he gazed up at her, with the heavy, unspeaking look, that seemed to bear her down: he seemed like some creature that was watching her for his purposes. She looked aside at the black garden, which had a wiry goose-berry bush.

 

"You will come with me to Woodhouse?" she said.

 

He did not answer till she turned to him again. Then, as she met his eyes,

 

"To Woodhouse?" he said, watching her, to fix her.

 

"Yes," she said, a little pale at the lips.

 

And she saw his eternal smile of triumph slowly growing round his mouth. She wanted to cover his mouth with her hand. She preferred his tawny eyes with their black brows and lashes¹⁴. His eyes watched her as a cat watches a bird, but without the white gleam of ferocity. In his eyes was a deep, deep sun-warmth, something fathomless¹⁵, deepening black and abysmal¹⁶, but somehow sweet to her.

 

"Will you?" she repeated.

 

But his eyes had already begun to glimmer¹⁷ their consent. He turned aside his face, as if unwilling¹⁸ to give a straight answer.

 

"Yes," he said.

 

"Play something to me," she cried.

 

He lifted his face to her, and shook his head slightly.

 

"Yes do," she said, looking down on him.

 

And he bent¹⁹ his head to the mandoline, and suddenly began to sing a Neapolitan song, in a faint, compressed head-voice, looking up at her again as his lips moved, looking straight into her face with a curious mocking caress²⁰ as the muted voix blanche came through his lips at her, amid the louder quavering of the mandoline. The sound penetrated²¹ her like a thread of fire, hurting, but delicious, the high thread of his voice. She could see the Adam's apple move in his throat, his brows tilted²² as he looked along his lashes at her all the time. Here was the strange sphinx singing again, and herself between its paws! She seemed almost to melt into his power.

 

Madame intervened to save her.

 

"What, serenade before breakfast! You have strong stomachs, I say. Eggs and ham are more the question, hein? Come, you smell them, don't you?"

 

A flicker²³ of contempt and derision went over Ciccio's face as he broke off and looked aside.

 

"I prefer the serenade," said Alvina. "I've had ham and eggs before."

 

"You do, hein? Well—always, you won't. And now you must eat the ham and eggs, however. Yes? Isn't it so?"

 

Ciccio rose to his feet, and looked at Alvina: as he would have looked at Gigi, had Gigi been there. His eyes said unspeakable things about Madame. Alvina flashed a laugh, suddenly. And a good-humoured, half-mocking smile came over his face too.

 

They turned to follow Madame into the house. And as Alvina went before him, she felt his fingers stroke the nape of her neck, and pass in a soft touch right down her back. She started as if some unseen creature had stroked her with its paw, and she glanced swiftly round, to see the face of Ciccio mischievous²⁴ behind her shoulder.

 

"Now I think," said Madame, "that today we all take the same train. We go by the Great Central as far as the junction²⁵, together. Then you, Allaye, go on to Knarborough, and we leave you until tomorrow. And now there is not much time."

 

"I am going to Woodhouse," said Ciccio in French.

 

"You also! By the train, or the bicycle?"

 

"Train," said Ciccio.

 

"Waste so much money?"

 

Ciccio raised his shoulders slightly.

 

When breakfast was over, and Alvina had gone to her room, Geoffrey went out into the back yard, where the bicycles stood.

 

"Cic'," he said. "I should like to go with thee to Woodhouse. Come on bicycle with me."

 

Ciccio shook his head.

 

"I'm going in train with her," he said.

 

Geoffrey darkened with his heavy anger.

 

"I would like to see how it is, there, chez elle," he said.

 

"Ask her," said Ciccio.

 

Geoffrey watched him suddenly.

 

"Thou forsakest me," he said. "I would like to see it, there."

 

"Ask her," repeated Ciccio. "Then come on bicycle."

 

"You're content to leave me," muttered Geoffrey.

 

Ciccio touched his friend on his broad cheek, and smiled at him with affection.

 

"I don't leave thee, Gigi. I asked thy advice. You said, Go. But come. Go and ask her, and then come. Come on bicycle, eh? Ask her! Go on! Go and ask her."

 

Alvina was surprised to hear a tap at her door, and Gigi's voice, in his strong foreign accent:

 

"Mees Houghton, I carry your bag."

 

She opened her door in surprise. She was all ready.

 

"There it is," she said, smiling at him.

 

But he confronted her like a powerful ox, full of dangerous force. Her smile had reassured²⁷ him.

 

"Na, Allaye," he said, "tell me something."

 

"What?" laughed Alvina.

 

"Can I come to Woodhouse?"

 

"When?"

 

"Today. Can I come on bicycle, to tea, eh? At your house with you and Ciccio? Eh?"

 

He was smiling with a thick, doubtful, half sullen²⁸ smile.

 

"Do!" said Alvina.

 

He looked at her with his large, dark-blue eyes.

 

"Really, eh?" he said, holding out his large hand.

 

She shook hands with him warmly.

 

"Yes, really!" she said. "I wish you would."

 

"Good," he said, a broad smile on his thick mouth. And all the time he watched her curiously²⁹, from his large eyes.

 

"Ciccio—a good chap, eh?" he said.

 

"Is he?" laughed Alvina.

 

"Ha-a—!" Gigi shook his head solemnly. "The best!" He made such solemn eyes, Alvina laughed. He laughed too, and picked up her bag as if it were a bubble.

 

"Na Cic'—" he said, as he saw Ciccio in the street. "Sommes d'accord."

 

"Ben!" said Ciccio, holding out his hand for the bag. "Donne."

 

"Ne-ne," said Gigi, shrugging.

 

Alvina found herself on the new and busy station that Sunday morning, one of the little theatrical³⁰ company. It was an odd experience. They were so obviously a theatrical company—people apart from the world. Madame was darting³¹ her black eyes here and there, behind her spotted³² veil, and standing³³ with the ostensible³⁴ self-possession of her profession. Max was circling round with large strides, round a big black box on which the red words Natcha-Kee-Tawara showed mystic, and round the small bunch of stage fittings at the end of the platform. Louis was waiting to get the tickets, Gigi and Ciccio were bringing up the bicycles. They were a whole train of departure in themselves, busy, bustling³⁵, cheerful—and curiously apart, vagrants³⁶.

 

Alvina strolled away towards the half-open bookstall. Geoffrey was standing monumental between her and the company. She returned to him.

 

"What time shall we expect you?" she said.

 

He smiled at her in his broad, friendly fashion.

 

"Expect me to be there? Why—" he rolled his eyes and proceeded to calculate. "At four o'clock."

 

"Just about the time when we get there," she said.

 

He looked at her sagely³⁷, and nodded.

 

They were a good-humoured company in the railway carriage. The men smoked cigarettes and tapped off the ash on the heels of their boots, Madame watched every traveller with professional curiosity. Max scrutinized³⁸ the newspaper, Lloyds, and pointed³⁹ out items to Louis, who read them over Max's shoulder, Ciccio suddenly smacked⁴⁰ Geoffrey on the thigh⁴¹, and looked laughing into his face. So till they arrived at the junction. And then there was a kissing and a taking of farewells, as if the company were separating for ever. Louis darted⁴² into the refreshment⁴³ bar and returned with little pies and oranges, which he deposited in the carriage, Madame presented Alvina with a packet of chocolate. And it was "Good-bye, good-bye, Allaye! Good-bye, Ciccio! Bon voyage. Have a good time, both."

 

So Alvina sped on in the fast train to Knarborough with Ciccio.

 

"I do like them all," she said.

 

He opened his mouth slightly and lifted his head up and down. She saw in the movement how affectionate he was, and in his own way, how emotional. He loved them all. She put her hand to his. He gave her hand one sudden squeeze, of physical understanding, then left it as if nothing had happened. There were other people in the carriage with them. She could not help feeling how sudden and lovely that moment's grasp of his hand was: so warm, so whole.

 

And thus they watched the Sunday morning landscape slip by, as they ran into Knarborough. They went out to a little restaurant to eat. It was one o'clock.

 

"Isn't it strange, that we are travelling together like this?" she said, as she sat opposite him.

 

He smiled, looking into her eyes.

 

"You think it's strange?" he said, showing his teeth slightly.

 

"Don't you?" she cried.

 

He gave a slight, laconic⁴⁴ laugh.

 

"And I can hardly bear it that I love you so much," she said, quavering, across the potatoes.

 

He glanced furtively⁴⁶ round, to see if any one was listening, if any one might hear. He would have hated it. But no one was near. Beneath the tiny table, he took her two knees between his knees, and pressed them with a slow, immensely powerful pressure. Helplessly she put her hand across the table to him. He covered it for one moment with his hand, then ignored it. But her knees were still between the powerful, living vice²⁶ of his knees.

 

"Eat!" he said to her, smiling, motioning to her plate. And he relaxed her.

 

They decided⁴⁷ to go out to Woodhouse on the tram-car, a long hour's ride. Sitting on the top of the covered car, in the atmosphere of strong tobacco smoke, he seemed self-conscious, withdrawn⁴⁸ into his own cover, so obviously a dark-skinned foreigner. And Alvina, as she sat beside him, was reminded of the woman with the negro husband, down in Lumley. She understood the woman's reserve. She herself felt, in the same way, something of an outcast, because of the man at her side. An outcast! And glad to be an outcast. She clung to Ciccio's dark, despised foreign nature. She loved it, she worshipped it, she defied all the other world. Dark, he sat beside her, drawn⁴⁹ in to himself, overcast⁵⁰ by his presumed inferiority among these northern industrial people. And she was with him, on his side, outside the pale of her own people.

 

There were already acquaintances on the tram. She nodded in answer to their salutation, but so obviously from a distance, that they kept turning round to eye her and Ciccio. But they left her alone. The breach⁵¹ between her and them was established for ever—and it was her will which established it.

 

So up and down the weary hills of the hilly, industrial countryside, till at last they drew near to Woodhouse. They passed the ruins of Throttle-Ha'penny, and Alvina glanced at it indifferent. They ran along the Knarborough Road. A fair number of Woodhouse young people were strolling along the pavements in their Sunday clothes. She knew them all. She knew Lizzie Bates's fox furs, and Fanny Clough's lilac costume, and Mrs. Smitham's winged hat. She knew them all. And almost inevitably⁵² the old Woodhouse feeling began to steal over her, she was glad they could not see her, she was a little ashamed of Ciccio. She wished, for the moment, Ciccio were not there. And as the time came to get down, she looked anxiously back and forth⁵³ to see at which halt she had better descend—where fewer people would notice her. But then she threw her scruples⁵⁴ to the wind, and descended⁵⁵ into the staring, Sunday afternoon street, attended by Ciccio, who carried her bag. She knew she was a marked figure.

 

They slipped round to Manchester House. Miss Pinnegar expected Alvina, but by the train, which came later. So she had to be knocked up, for she was lying down. She opened the door looking a little patched in her cheeks, because of her curious colouring, and a little forlorn, and a little dumpy, and a little irritable⁵⁶.

 

"I didn't know there'd be two of you," was her greeting.

 

"Didn't you," said Alvina, kissing her. "Ciccio came to carry my bag."

 

"Oh," said Miss Pinnegar. "How do you do?" and she thrust out her hand to him. He shook it loosely.

 

"I had your wire," said Miss Pinnegar. "You said the train. Mrs. Rollings is coming in at four again—"

 

"Oh all right—" said Alvina.

 

The house was silent and afternoon-like. Ciccio took off his coat and sat down in Mr. Houghton's chair. Alvina told him to smoke. He kept silent and reserved. Miss Pinnegar, a poor, patch-cheeked, rather round-backed figure with grey-brown fringe, stood as if she did not quite know what to say or do.

 

She followed Alvina upstairs to her room.

 

"I can't think why you bring him here," snapped Miss Pinnegar. "I don't know what you're thinking about. The whole place is talking already."

 

"I don't care," said Alvina. "I like him."

 

"Oh—for shame!" cried Miss Pinnegar, lifting her hand with Miss Frost's helpless, involuntary movement. "What do you think of yourself? And your father a month dead."

 

"It doesn't matter. Father is dead. And I'm sure the dead don't mind."

 

"I never knew such things as you say."

 

"Why? I mean them."

 

Miss Pinnegar stood blank and helpless.

 

"You're not asking him to stay the night," she blurted⁵⁷.

 

"Yes. And I'm going back with him to Madame tomorrow. You know I'm part of the company now, as pianist."

 

"And are you going to marry him?"

 

"I don't know."

 

"How can you say you don't know! Why, it's awful. You make me feel I shall go out of my mind."

 

"But I don't know," said Alvina.

 

"It's incredible! Simply incredible! I believe you're out of your senses. I used to think sometimes there was something wrong with your mother. And that's what it is with you. You're not quite right in your mind. You need to be looked after."

 

"Do I, Miss Pinnegar! Ah, well, don't you trouble to look after me, will you?"

 

"No one will if I don't."

 

"I hope no one will."

 

There was a pause.

 

"I'm ashamed to live another day in Woodhouse," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"I'm leaving it for ever," said Alvina.

 

"I should think so," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

Suddenly she sank into a chair, and burst into tears, wailing:

 

"Your poor father! Your poor father!"

 

"I'm sure the dead are all right. Why must you pity him?"

 

"You're a lost girl!" cried Miss Pinnegar.

 

"Am I really?" laughed Alvina. It sounded funny.

 

"Yes, you're a lost girl," sobbed⁵⁸ Miss Pinnegar, on a final note of despair.

 

"I like being lost," said Alvina.

 

Miss Pinnegar wept herself into silence. She looked huddled⁵⁹ and forlorn. Alvina went to her and laid her hand on her shoulder.

 

"Don't fret⁶⁰, Miss Pinnegar," she said. "Don't be silly. I love to be with Ciccio and Madame. Perhaps in the end I shall marry him. But if I don't—" her hand suddenly gripped Miss Pinnegar's heavy arm till it hurt—"I wouldn't lose a minute of him, no, not for anything would I."

 

Poor Miss Pinnegar dwindled⁶¹, convinced.

 

"You make it hard for me, in Woodhouse," she said, hopeless.

 

"Never mind," said Alvina, kissing her. "Woodhouse isn't heaven and earth."

 

"It's been my home for forty years."

 

"It's been mine for thirty. That's why I'm glad to leave it." There was a pause.

 

"I've been thinking," said Miss Pinnegar, "about opening a little business in Tamworth. You know the Watsons are there."

 

"I believe you'd be happy," said Alvina.

 

Miss Pinnegar pulled herself together. She had energy and courage still.

 

"I don't want to stay here, anyhow," she said. "Woodhouse has nothing for me any more."

 

"Of course it hasn't," said Alvina. "I think you'd be happier away from it."

 

"Yes—probably I should—now!"

 

None the less, poor Miss Pinnegar was grey-haired, she was almost a dumpy, odd old woman.

 

They went downstairs. Miss Pinnegar put on the kettle.

 

"Would you like to see the house?" said Alvina to Ciccio.

 

He nodded. And she took him from room to room. His eyes looked quickly and curiously over everything, noticing things, but without criticism.

 

"This was my mother's little sitting-room," she said. "She sat here for years, in this chair."

 

"Always here?" he said, looking into Alvina's face.

 

"Yes. She was ill with her heart. This is another photograph of her. I'm not like her."

 

"Who is that?" he asked, pointing to a photograph of the handsome, white-haired Miss Frost.

 

"That was Miss Frost, my governess. She lived here till she died. I loved her—she meant everything to me."

 

"She also dead—?"

 

"Yes, five years ago."

 

They went to the drawing-room. He laid his hand on the keys of the piano, sounding a chord.

 

"Play," she said.

 

He shook his head, smiling slightly. But he wished her to play. She sat and played one of Kishwégin's pieces. He listened, faintly smiling.

 

"Fine piano—eh?" he said, looking into her face.

 

"I like the tone," she said.

 

"Is it yours?"

 

"The piano? Yes. I suppose everything is mine—in name at least. I don't know how father's affairs are really."

 

He looked at her, and again his eye wandered over the room. He saw a little coloured portrait of a child with a fleece of brownish-gold hair and surprised eyes, in a pale-blue stiff frock with a broad dark-blue sash.

 

"You?" he said.

 

"Do you recognize me?" she said. "Aren't I comical?"

 

She took him upstairs—first to the monumental bedroom.

 

"This was mother's room," she said. "Now it is mine."

 

He looked at her, then at the things in the room, then out of the window, then at her again. She flushed, and hurried to show him his room, and the bath-room. Then she went downstairs.

 

He kept glancing up at the height of the ceilings, the size of the rooms, taking in the size and proportion of the house, and the quality of the fittings.

 

"It is a big house," he said. "Yours?"

 

"Mine in name," said Alvina. "Father left all to me—and his debts as well, you see."

 

"Much debts?"

 

"Oh yes! I don't quite know how much. But perhaps more debts than there is property. I shall go and see the lawyer in the morning. Perhaps there will be nothing at all left for me, when everything is paid."

 

She had stopped on the stairs, telling him this, turning round to him, who was on the steps above. He looked down on her, calculating. Then he smiled sourly.

 

"Bad job, eh, if it is all gone—!" he said.

 

"I don't mind, really, if I can live," she said.

 

He spread his hands, deprecating, not understanding. Then he glanced up the stairs and along the corridor again, and downstairs into the hall.

 

"A fine big house. Grand if it was yours," he said.

 

"I wish it were," she said rather pathetically, "if you like it so much."

 

He shrugged⁶² his shoulders.

 

"Hé!" he said. "How not like it!"

 

"I don't like it," she said. "I think it's a gloomy miserable⁶³ hole. I hate it. I've lived here all my life and seen everything bad happen here. I hate it."

 

"Why?" he said, with a curious, sarcastic⁶⁴ intonation⁶⁵.

 

"It's a bad job it isn't yours, for certain," he said, as they entered the living-room, where Miss Pinnegar sat cutting bread and butter.

 

"What?" said Miss Pinnegar sharply.

 

"The house," said Alvina.

 

"Oh well, we don't know. We'll hope for the best," replied Miss Pinnegar, arranging the bread and butter on the plate. Then, rather tart¹⁰, she added: "It is a bad job. And a good many things are a bad job, besides that. If Miss Houghton had what she ought to have, things would be very different, I assure you."

 

"Oh yes," said Ciccio, to whom this address was directed.

 

"Very different indeed. If all the money hadn't been—lost—in the way it has, Miss Houghton wouldn't be playing the piano, for one thing, in a cinematograph show."

 

"No, perhaps not," said Ciccio.

 

"Certainly not. It's not the right thing for her to be doing, at all!"

 

"You think not?" said Ciccio.

 

"Do you imagine it is?" said Miss Pinnegar, turning point blank on him as he sat by the fire.

 

He looked curiously at Miss Pinnegar, grinning slightly.

 

"Hé!" he said. "How do I know!"

 

"I should have thought it was obvious," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"Hé!" he ejaculated, not fully⁶⁶ understanding.

 

"But of course those that are used to nothing better can't see anything but what they're used to," she said, rising and shaking the crumbs⁶⁷ from her black silk apron⁶⁸, into the fire. He watched her.

 

Miss Pinnegar went away into the scullery. Alvina was laying a fire in the drawing-room. She came with a dustpan to take some coal from the fire of the living-room.

 

"What do you want?" said Ciccio, rising. And he took the shovel⁶⁹ from her hand.

 

"Big, hot fires, aren't they?" he said, as he lifted the burning coals from the glowing mass of the grate.

 

"Enough," said Alvina. "Enough! We'll put it in the drawing-room." He carried the shovel of flaming, smoking coals to the other room, and threw them in the grate on the sticks, watching Alvina put on more pieces of coal.

 

"Fine, a fire! Quick work, eh? A beautiful thing, a fire! You know what they say in my place: You can live without food, but you can't live without fire."

 

"But I thought it was always hot in Naples," said Alvina.

 

"No, it isn't. And my village, you know, when I was small boy, that was in the mountains, an hour quick train from Naples. Cold in the winter, hot in the summer—"

 

"As cold as England?" said Alvina.

 

"Hé—and colder. The wolves come down. You could hear them crying in the night, in the frost—"

 

"How terrifying—!" said Alvina.

 

"And they will kill the dogs! Always they kill the dogs. You know, they hate dogs, wolves do." He made a queer noise, to show how wolves hate dogs. Alvina understood, and laughed.

 

"So should I, if I was a wolf," she said.

 

"Yes—eh?" His eyes gleamed on her for a moment.

 

"Ah but, the poor dogs! You find them bitten—carried away among the trees or the stones, hard to find them, poor things, the next day."

 

"How frightened they must be—!" said Alvina.

 

"Frightened—hu!" he made sudden gesticulations and ejaculations, which added volumes to his few words.

 

"And did you like it, your village?" she said.

 

He put his head on one side in deprecation.

 

"No," he said, "because, you see—hé, there is nothing to do—no money—work—work—work—no life—you see nothing. When I was a small boy my father, he died, and my mother comes with me to Naples. Then I go with the little boats on the sea—fishing, carrying people—" He flourished his hand as if to make her understand all the things that must be wordless. He smiled at her—but there was a faint, poignant⁷⁰ sadness and remoteness in him, a beauty of old fatality⁷¹, and ultimate indifference⁷² to fate.

 

"And were you very poor?"

 

"Poor?—why yes! Nothing. Rags—no shoes—bread, little fish from the sea—shell-fish—"

 

His hands flickered⁷³, his eyes rested on her with a profound look of knowledge. And it seemed, in spite of all, one state was very much the same to him as another, poverty was as much life as affluence⁷⁴. Only he had a sort of jealous idea that it was humiliating to be poor, and so, for vanity's sake, he would have possessions. The countless⁷⁵ generations of civilization behind him had left him an instinct of the world's meaninglessness. Only his little modern education made money and independence an idée fixe. Old instinct told him the world was nothing. But modern education, so shallow, was much more efficacious than instinct. It drove him to make a show of himself to the world. Alvina watching him, as if hypnotized, saw his old beauty, formed through civilization after civilization; and at the same time she saw his modern vulgarianism, and decadence⁷⁶.

 

"And when you go back, you will go back to your old village?" she said.

 

He made a gesture with his head and shoulders, evasive, non-committal.

 

"I don't know, you see," he said.

 

"What is the name of it?"

 

"Pescocalascio." He said the word subduedly, unwillingly⁷⁷.

 

"Tell me again," said Alvina.

 

"Pescocalascio."

 

She repeated it.

 

"And tell me how you spell it," she said.

 

He fumbled⁷⁸ in his pocket for a pencil and a piece of paper. She rose and brought him an old sketch-book. He wrote, slowly, but with the beautiful Italian hand, the name of his village.

 

"And write your name," she said.

 

"Marasca Francesco," he wrote.

 

"And write the name of your father and mother," she said. He looked at her enquiringly.

 

"I want to see them," she said.

 

"Marasca Giovanni," he wrote, and under that "Califano Maria."

 

She looked at the four names, in the graceful⁷⁹ Italian script. And one after the other she read them out. He corrected her, smiling gravely. When she said them properly, he nodded.

 

"Yes," he said. "That's it. You say it well."

 

At that moment Miss Pinnegar came in to say Mrs. Rollings had seen another of the young men riding down the street.

 

"That's Gigi! He doesn't know how to come here," said Ciccio, quickly taking his hat and going out to find his friend.

 

Geoffrey arrived, his broad face hot and perspiring⁸⁰.

 

"Couldn't you find it?" said Alvina.

 

"I find the house, but I couldn't find no door," said Geoffrey.

 

They all laughed, and sat down to tea. Geoffrey and Ciccio talked to each other in French, and kept each other in countenance⁸¹. Fortunately for them, Madame had seen to their table-manners. But still they were far too free and easy to suit Miss Pinnegar.

 

"Do you know," said Ciccio in French to Geoffrey, "what a fine house this is?"

 

"No," said Geoffrey, rolling his large eyes round the room, and speaking with his cheek stuffed out with food. "Is it?"

 

"Ah—if it was hers, you know—"

 

And so, after tea, Ciccio said to Alvina:

 

"Shall you let Geoffrey see the house?"

 

The tour commenced again. Geoffrey, with his thick legs planted apart, gazed round the rooms, and made his comments in French to Ciccio. When they climbed the stairs, he fingered the big, smooth mahogany bannister-rail. In the bedroom he stared almost dismayed at the colossal⁸² bed and cupboard. In the bath-room he turned on the old-fashioned, silver taps.

 

"Here is my room—" said Ciccio in French.

 

"Assez éloigné!" replied Gigi. Ciccio also glanced along the corridor.

 

"Yes," he said. "But an open course—"

 

"Look, my boy—if you could marry this—" meaning the house.

 

"Ha, she doesn't know if it hers any more! Perhaps the debts cover every bit of it."

 

"Don't say so! Na, that's a pity, that's a pity! La pauvre fille—pauvre demoiselle!" lamented⁸³ Geoffrey.

 

"Isn't it a pity! What dost say?"

 

"A thousand pities! A thousand pities! Look, my boy, love needs no havings, but marriage does. Love is for all, even the grasshoppers⁸⁴. But marriage means a kitchen. That's how it is. La pauvre demoiselle; c'est malheur pour elle."

 

"That's true," said Ciccio. "Et aussi pour moi. For me as well."

 

"For thee as well, cher! Perhaps—" said Geoffrey, laying his arm on Ciccio's shoulder, and giving him a sudden hug. They smiled to each other.

 

"Who knows!" said Ciccio.

 

"Who knows, truly, my Cic'."

 

As they went downstairs to rejoin Alvina, whom they heard playing on the piano in the drawing-room, Geoffrey peeped once more into the big bedroom.

 

"Tu n'es jamais monté si haut, mon beau. Pour moi, ça serait difficile de m'élever. J'aurais bien peur, moi. Tu te trouves aussi un peu ébahi, hein? n'est-ce pas?"

 

"Y'a place pour trois," said Ciccio.

 

"Non, je crêverais, là haut. Pas pour moi!"

 

And they went laughing downstairs.

 

Miss Pinnegar was sitting with Alvina, determined⁸⁵ not to go to Chapel⁸⁶ this evening. She sat, rather hulked, reading a novel. Alvina flirted⁸⁷ with the two men, played the piano to them, and suggested a game of cards.

 

"Oh, Alvina, you will never bring out the cards tonight!" expostulated poor Miss Pinnegar.

 

"But, Miss Pinnegar, it can't possibly hurt anybody."

 

"You know what I think—and what your father thought—and your mother and Miss Frost—"

 

"You see I think it's only prejudice," said Alvina.

 

"Oh very well!" said Miss Pinnegar angrily.

 

And closing her book, she rose and went to the other room.

 

Alvina brought out the cards, and a little box of pence which remained from Endeavour harvests. At that moment there was a knock. It was Mr. May. Miss Pinnegar brought him in, in triumph.

 

"Oh!" he said. "Company! I heard you'd come, Miss Houghton, so I hastened to pay my compliments. I didn't know you had company. How do you do, Francesco! How do you do, Geoffrey. Comment allez-vous, alors?"

 

"Bien!" said Geoffrey. "You are going to take a hand?"

 

"Cards on Sunday evening! Dear me, what a revolution! Of course, I'm not bigoted⁸⁸. If Miss Houghton asks me—"

 

Miss Pinnegar looked solemnly at Alvina.

 

"Yes, do take a hand, Mr. May," said Alvina.

 

"Thank you, I will then, if I may. Especially as I see those tempting⁸⁹ piles of pennies and ha'pennies. Who is bank, may I ask? Is Miss Pinnegar going to play too?"

 

But Miss Pinnegar had turned her poor, bowed back, and departed.

 

"I'm afraid she's offended," said Alvina.

 

"But why? We don't put her soul in danger, do we now? I'm a good Catholic, you know, I can't do with these provincial⁹⁰ little creeds⁹¹. Who deals? Do you, Miss Houghton? But I'm afraid we shall have a rather dry game? What? Isn't that your opinion?"

 

The other men laughed.

 

"If Miss Houghton would just allow me to run round and bring something in. Yes? May I? That would be so much more cheerful. What is your choice, gentlemen?"

 

"Beer," said Ciccio, and Geoffrey nodded.

 

"Beer! Oh really! Extraor'nary! I always take a little whiskey myself. What kind of beer? Ale?—or bitter? I'm afraid I'd better bring bottles. Now how can I secrete⁹² them? You haven't a small travelling case, Miss Houghton? Then I shall look as if I'd just been taking a journey. Which I have—to the Sun and back: and if that isn't far enough, even for Miss Pinnegar and John Wesley, why, I'm sorry."

 

Alvina produced the travelling case.

 

"Excellent!" he said. "Excellent! It will hold half-a-dozen beautifully. Now—" he fell into a whisper—"hadn't I better sneak⁹³ out at the front door, and so escape the clutches of the watch-dog?"

 

Out he went, on tip-toe, the other two men grinning at him. Fortunately there were glasses, the best old glasses, in the side cupboard in the drawing room. But unfortunately, when Mr. May returned, a corkscrew was in request. So Alvina stole to the kitchen. Miss Pinnegar sat dumped by the fire, with her spectacles and her book. She watched like a lynx as Alvina returned. And she saw the tell-tale corkscrew. So she dumped a little deeper in her chair.

 

"There was a sound of revelry by night!" For Mr. May, after a long depression, was in high feather. They shouted, positively⁹⁴ shouted over their cards, they roared with excitement, expostulation, and laughter. Miss Pinnegar sat through it all. But at one point she could bear it no longer.

 

The drawing-room door opened, and the dumpy, hulked, faded woman in a black serge dress stood like a rather squat⁹⁵ avenging⁹⁶ angel in the doorway⁹⁷.

 

"What would your father say to this?" she said sternly.

 

The company suspended their laughter and their cards, and looked around. Miss Pinnegar wilted⁹⁸ and felt strange under so many eyes.

 

"Father!" said Alvina. "But why father?"

 

"You lost girl!" said Miss Pinnegar, backing out and closing the door.

 

Mr. May laughed so much that he knocked his whiskey over.

 

"There," he cried, helpless, "look what she's cost me!" And he went off into another paroxysm, swelling⁹⁹ like a turkey.

 

Ciccio opened his mouth, laughing silently.

 

"Lost girl! Lost girl! How lost, when you are at home?" said Geoffrey, making large eyes and looking hither and thither¹⁰⁰ as if he had lost something.

 

They all went off again in a muffled¹⁰¹ burst.

 

"No but, really," said Mr. May, "drinking and card-playing with strange men in the drawing-room on Sunday evening, of cauce it's scandalous. It's terrible! I don't know how ever you'll be saved, after such a sin. And in Manchester House, too—!" He went off into another silent, turkey-scarlet burst of mirth, wriggling¹⁰² in his chair and squealing¹⁰³ faintly: "Oh, I love it, I love it! You lost girl! Why of cauce she's lost! And Miss Pinnegar has only just found it out. Who wouldn't be lost? Why even Miss Pinnegar would be lost if she could. Of cauce she would! Quite natch'ral!"

 

Mr. May wiped his eyes, with his handkerchief which had unfortunately mopped up his whiskey.

 

So they played on, till Mr. May and Geoffrey had won all the pennies, except twopence of Ciccio's. Alvina was in debt.

 

"Well I think it's been a most agreeable game," said Mr. May. "Most agreeable! Don't you all?"

 

The two other men smiled and nodded.

 

"I'm only sorry to think Miss Houghton has lost so steadily¹⁰⁴ all evening. Really quite remarkable¹⁰⁵. But then—you see—I comfort myself with the reflection 'Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.' I'm certainly hounded with misfortune in love. And I'm sure Miss Houghton would rather be unlucky in cards than in love. What, isn't it so?"

 

"Of course," said Alvina.

 

"There, you see, of cauce! Well, all we can do after that is to wish her success in love. Isn't that so, gentlemen? I'm sure we are all quite willing to do our best to contribute to it. Isn't it so, gentlemen? Aren't we all ready to do our best to contribute to Miss Houghton's happiness in love? Well then, let us drink to it." He lifted his glass, and bowed to Alvina. "With every wish for your success in love, Miss Houghton, and your devoted¹⁰⁶ servant—" He bowed and drank.

 

Geoffrey made large eyes at her as he held up his glass.

 

"I know you'll come out all right in love, I know," he said heavily.

 

"And you, Ciccio? Aren't you drinking?" said Mr. May.

 

Ciccio held up his glass, looked at Alvina, made a little mouth at her, comical, and drank his beer.

 

"Well," said Mr. May, "beer must confirm it, since words won't."

 

"What time is it?" said Alvina. "We must have supper."

 

It was past nine o'clock. Alvina rose and went to the kitchen, the men trailing after her. Miss Pinnegar was not there. She was not anywhere.

 

"Has she gone to bed?" said Mr. May. And he crept stealthily upstairs on tip-toe, a comical, flush-faced, tubby little man. He was familiar with the house. He returned prancing¹⁰⁷.

 

"I heard her cough," he said. "There's a light under her door. She's gone to bed. Now haven't I always said she was a good soul? I shall drink her health. Miss Pinnegar—" and he bowed stiffly in the direction of the stairs—"your health, and a good night's rest."

 

After which, giggling¹⁰⁸ gaily¹⁰⁹, he seated himself at the head of the table and began to carve the cold mutton.

 

"And where are the Natcha-Kee-Tawaras this week?" he asked. They told him.

 

"Oh? And you two are cycling back to the camp of Kishwégin tonight? We mustn't prolong our cheerfulness too far."

 

"Ciccio is staying to help me with my bag tomorrow," said Alvina. "You know I've joined the Tawaras permanently¹¹⁰—as pianist."

 

"No, I didn't know that! Oh really! Really! Oh! Well! I see! Permanently! Yes, I am surprised! Yes! As pianist? And if I might ask, what is your share of the tribal¹¹¹ income?"

 

"That isn't settled yet," said Alvina.

 

"No! Exactly! Exactly! It wouldn't be settled yet. And you say it is a permanent engagement? Of cauce, at such a figure."

 

"Yes, it is a permanent engagement," said Alvina.

 

"Really! What a blow you give me! You won't come back to the Endeavour? What? Not at all?"

 

"No," said Alvina. "I shall sell out of the Endeavour."

 

"Really! You've decided, have you? Oh! This is news to me. And is this quite final, too?"

 

"Quite," said Alvina.

 

"I see! Putting two and two together, if I may say so—" and he glanced from her to the young men—"I see. Most decidedly, most one-sidedly, if I may use the vulgarism, I see—e—e! Oh! but what a blow you give me! What a blow you give me!"

 

"Why?" said Alvina.

 

"What's to become of the Endeavour? and consequently, of poor me?"

 

"Can't you keep it going?—form a company?"

 

"I'm afraid I can't. I've done my best. But I'm afraid, you know, you've landed me."

 

"I'm so sorry," said Alvina. "I hope not."

 

"Thank you for the hope" said Mr. May sarcastically¹¹². "They say hope is sweet. I begin to find it a little bitter!"

 

Poor man, he had already gone quite yellow in the face. Ciccio and Geoffrey watched him with dark-seeing eyes.

 

"And when are you going to let this fatal decision take effect?" asked Mr. May.

 

"I'm going to see the lawyer tomorrow, and I'm going to tell him to sell everything and clear up as soon as possible," said Alvina.

 

"Sell everything! This house, and all it contains?"

 

"Yes," said Alvina. "Everything."

 

"Really!" Mr. May seemed smitten¹¹³ quite dumb. "I feel as if the world had suddenly come to an end," he said.

 

"But hasn't your world often come to an end before?" said Alvina.

 

"Well—I suppose, once or twice. But never quite on top of me, you see, before—"

 

There was a silence.

 

"And have you told Miss Pinnegar?" said Mr. May.

 

"Not finally. But she has decided to open a little business in Tamworth, where she has relations."

 

"Has she! And are you really going to tour with these young people—?" he indicated Ciccio and Gigi. "And at no salary!" His voice rose. "Why! It's almost White Slave Traffic, on Madame's part. Upon my word!"

 

"I don't think so," said Alvina. "Don't you see that's insulting."

 

"Insulting! Well, I don't know. I think it's the truth—"

 

"Not to be said to me, for all that," said Alvina, quivering with anger.

 

"Oh!" perked¹¹⁴ Mr. May, yellow with strange rage. "Oh! I mustn't say what I think! Oh!"

 

"Not if you think those things—" said Alvina.

 

"Oh really! The difficulty is, you see, I'm afraid I do think them—" Alvina watched him with big, heavy eyes.

 

"Go away," she said. "Go away! I won't be insulted by you."

 

"No indeed!" cried Mr. May, starting to his feet, his eyes almost bolting from his head. "No indeed! I wouldn't think of insulting you in the presence of these two young gentlemen."

 

Ciccio rose slowly, and with a slow, repeated motion of the head, indicated the door.

 

"Allez!" he said.

 

"Certainement!" cried Mr. May, flying at Ciccio, verbally, like an enraged¹¹⁵ hen yellow at the gills. "Certainement! Je m'en vais. Cette compagnie n'est pas de ma choix."

 

"Allez!" said Ciccio, more loudly.

 

And Mr. May strutted¹¹⁶ out of the room like a bird bursting with its own rage. Ciccio stood with his hands on the table, listening. They heard Mr. May slam the front door.

 

"Gone!" said Geoffrey.

 

Ciccio smiled sneeringly¹¹⁷.

 

"Voyez, un cochon de lait," said Gigi amply and calmly.

 

Ciccio sat down in his chair. Geoffrey poured out some beer for him, saying:

 

"Drink, my Cic', the bubble has burst, prfff!" And Gigi knocked in his own puffed¹¹⁹ cheek with his fist. "Allaye, my dear, your health! We are the Tawaras. We are Allaye! We are Pacohuila! We are Walgatchka! Allons! The milk-pig is stewed¹²⁰ and eaten. Voilà!" He drank, smiling broadly.

 

"One by one," said Geoffrey, who was a little drunk: "One by one we put them out of the field, they are hors de combat. Who remains¹²¹? Pacohuila, Walgatchka, Allaye—"

 

He smiled very broadly. Alvina was sitting sunk in thought and torpor¹²² after her sudden anger.

 

"Allaye, what do you think about? You are the bride of Tawara," said Geoffrey.

 

Alvina looked at him, smiling rather wanly¹²³.

 

"And who is Tawara?" she asked.

 

He raised his shoulders and spread his hands and swayed his head from side to side, for all the world like a comic mandarin¹²⁴.

 

"There!" he cried. "The question! Who is Tawara? Who? Tell me! Ciccio is he—and I am he—and Max and Louis—" he spread his hand to the distant members of the tribe.

 

"I can't be the bride of all four of you," said Alvina, laughing.

 

"No—no! No—no! Such a thing does not come into my mind. But you are the Bride of Tawara. You dwell in the tent of Pacohuila. And comes the day, should it ever be so, there is no room for you in the tent of Pacohuila, then the lodge¹²⁵ of Walgatchka the bear is open for you. Open, yes, wide open—" He spread his arms from his ample chest, at the end of the table. "Open, and when Allaye enters, it is the lodge of Allaye, Walgatchka is the bear that serves Allaye. By the law of the Pale Face, by the law of the Yenghees, by the law of the Fransayes, Walgatchka shall be husband-bear to Allaye, that day she lifts the door-curtain of his tent—"

 

He rolled his eyes and looked around. Alvina watched him.

 

"But I might be afraid of a husband-bear," she said.

 

Geoffrey got on to his feet.

 

"By the Manitou," he said, "the head of the bear Walgatchka is humble—" here Geoffrey bowed his head—"his teeth are as soft as lilies—" here he opened his mouth and put his finger on his small close teeth—"his hands are as soft as bees that stroke a flower—" here he spread his hands and went and suddenly flopped¹²⁶ on his knees beside Alvina, showing his hands and his teeth still, and rolling his eyes. "Allaye can have no fear at all of the bear Walgatchka," he said, looking up at her comically.

 

Ciccio, who had been watching and slightly grinning, here rose to his feet and took Geoffrey by the shoulder, pulling him up.

 

"Basta!" he said. "Tu es saoul. You are drunk, my Gigi. Get up. How are you going to ride to Mansfield, hein?—great beast."

 

"Ciccio," said Geoffrey solemnly. "I love thee, I love thee as a brother, and also more. I love thee as a brother, my Ciccio, as thou knowest. But—" and he puffed fiercely—"I am the slave of Allaye, I am the tame bear of Allaye."

 

"Get up," said Ciccio, "get up! Per bacco! She doesn't want a tame bear." He smiled down on his friend.

 

Geoffrey rose to his feet and flung his arms round Ciccio.

 

"Cic'," he besought¹²⁷ him. "Cic'—I love thee as a brother. But let me be the tame bear of Allaye, let me be the gentle bear of Allaye."

 

"All right," said Ciccio. "Thou art the tame bear of Allaye."

 

Geoffrey strained Ciccio to his breast.

 

"Thank you! Thank you! Salute¹²⁸ me, my own friend."

 

And Ciccio kissed him on either cheek. Whereupon Geoffrey immediately flopped on his knees again before Alvina, and presented her his broad, rich-coloured cheek.

 

"Salute your bear, Allaye," he cried. "Salute your slave, the tame bear Walgatchka, who is a wild bear for all except Allaye and his brother Pacohuila the Puma¹²⁹." Geoffrey growled¹³⁰ realistically as a wild bear as he kneeled before Alvina, presenting his cheek.

 

Alvina looked at Ciccio, who stood above, watching. Then she lightly kissed him on the cheek, and said:

 

"Won't you go to bed and sleep?"

 

Geoffrey staggered to his feet, shaking his head.

 

"No—no—" he said. "No—no! Walgatchka must travel to the tent of Kishwégin, to the Camp of the Tawaras."

 

"Not tonight, mon brave," said Ciccio. "Tonight we stay here, hein. Why separate, hein?—frère?"

 

Geoffrey again clasped Ciccio in his arms.

 

"Pacohuila and Walgatchka are blood-brothers, two bodies, one blood. One blood, in two bodies; one stream, in two valleys: one lake, between two mountains."

 

Here Geoffrey gazed with large, heavy eyes on Ciccio. Alvina brought a candle and lighted it.

 

"You will manage in the one room?" she said. "I will give you another pillow."

 

She led the way upstairs. Geoffrey followed, heavily. Then Ciccio. On the landing Alvina gave them the pillow and the candle, smiled, bade them good-night in a whisper, and went downstairs again. She cleared away the supper and carried away all glasses and bottles from the drawing-room. Then she washed up, removing all traces of the feast. The cards she restored to their old mahogany box. Manchester House looked itself again.

 

She turned off the gas at the meter, and went upstairs to bed. From the far room she could hear the gentle, but profound vibrations¹³² of Geoffrey's snoring. She was tired after her day: too tired to trouble about anything any more.

 

But in the morning she was first downstairs. She heard Miss Pinnegar, and hurried. Hastily she opened the windows and doors to drive away the smell of beer and smoke. She heard the men rumbling¹³³ in the bath-room. And quickly she prepared breakfast and made a fire. Mrs. Rollings would not appear till later in the day. At a quarter to seven Miss Pinnegar came down, and went into the scullery to make her tea.

 

"Did both the men stay?" she asked.

 

"Yes, they both slept in the end room," said Alvina.

 

Miss Pinnegar said no more, but padded with her tea and her boiled egg into the living room. In the morning she was wordless.

 

Ciccio came down, in his shirt-sleeves as usual, but wearing a collar. He greeted Miss Pinnegar politely.

 

"Good-morning!" she said, and went on with her tea.

 

Geoffrey appeared. Miss Pinnegar glanced once at him, sullenly¹³⁴, and briefly¹³⁵ answered his good-morning. Then she went on with her egg, slow and persistent¹³⁶ in her movements, mum.

 

The men went out to attend to Geoffrey's bicycle. The morning was slow and grey, obscure. As they pumped up the tires, they heard some one padding behind. Miss Pinnegar came and unbolted the yard door, but ignored their presence. Then they saw her return and slowly mount the outer stair-ladder, which went up to the top floor. Two minutes afterwards they were startled by the irruption of the work-girls. As for the work-girls, they gave quite loud, startled squeals¹³⁷, suddenly seeing the two men on their right hand, in the obscure morning. And they lingered on the stair-way to gaze in rapt curiosity, poking¹³⁸ and whispering, until Miss Pinnegar appeared overhead, and sharply rang a bell which hung beside the entrance door of the work-rooms.

 

After which excitements Geoffrey and Ciccio went in to breakfast, which Alvina had prepared.

 

"You have done it all, eh?" said Ciccio, glancing round.

 

"Yes. I've made breakfast for years, now," said Alvina.

 

"Not many more times here, eh?" he said, smiling significantly.

 

"I hope not," said Alvina.

 

Ciccio sat down almost like a husband—as if it were his right.

 

Geoffrey was very quiet this morning. He ate his breakfast, and rose to go.

 

"I shall see you soon," he said, smiling sheepishly and bowing to Alvina. Ciccio accompanied him to the street.

 

When Ciccio returned, Alvina was once more washing dishes.

 

"What time shall we go?" he said.

 

"We'll catch the one train. I must see the lawyer this morning."

 

"And what shall you say to him?"

 

"I shall tell him to sell everything—"

 

"And marry me?"

 

She started, and looked at him.

 

"You don't want to marry, do you?" she said.

 

"Yes, I do."

 

"Wouldn't you rather wait, and see—"

 

"What?" he said.

 

"See if there is any money."

 

He watched her steadily, and his brow darkened.

 

"Why?" he said.

 

She began to tremble.

 

"You'd like it better if there was money."

 

A slow, sinister¹³⁹ smile came on his mouth. His eyes never smiled, except to Geoffrey, when a flood of warm, laughing light sometimes suffused¹⁴⁰ them.

 

"You think I should!"

 

"Yes. It's true, isn't it? You would!"

 

He turned his eyes aside, and looked at her hands as she washed the forks. They trembled slightly. Then he looked back at her eyes again, that were watching him large and wistful and a little accusing.

 

His impudent¹⁴¹ laugh came on his face.

 

"Yes," he said, "it is always better if there is money." He put his hand on her, and she winced¹⁴². "But I marry you for love, you know. You know what love is—" And he put his arms round her, and laughed down into her face.

 

She strained away.

 

"But you can have love without marriage," she said. "You know that."

 

"All right! All right! Give me love, eh? I want that."

 

She struggled against him.

 

"But not now," she said.

 

She saw the light in his eyes fix determinedly¹⁴³, and he nodded.

 

"Now!" he said. "Now!"

 

His yellow-tawny eyes looked down into hers, alien and overbearing.

 

"I can't," she struggled. "I can't now."

 

He laughed in a sinister way: yet with a certain warmheartedness.

 

"Come to that big room—" he said.

 

Her face flew fixed¹⁴⁴ into opposition¹⁴⁵.

 

"I can't now, really," she said grimly.

 

His eyes looked down at hers. Her eyes looked back at him, hard and cold and determined. They remained motionless for some seconds. Then, a stray wisp of her hair catching¹⁴⁶ his attention, desire filled his heart, warm and full, obliterating¹⁴⁷ his anger in the combat. For a moment he softened¹⁴⁸. He saw her hardness becoming more assertive¹⁴⁹, and he wavered in sudden dislike, and almost dropped her. Then again the desire flushed his heart, his smile became reckless of her, and he picked her right up.

 

"Yes," he said. "Now."

 

For a second, she struggled frenziedly. But almost instantly she recognized how much stronger he was, and she was still, mute and motionless with anger. White, and mute, and motionless, she was taken to her room. And at the back of her mind all the time she wondered at his deliberate recklessness of her. Recklessly, he had his will of her—but deliberately¹⁵⁰, and thoroughly¹⁵¹, not rushing to the issue, but taking everything he wanted of her, progressively, and fully, leaving her stark¹⁵², with nothing, nothing of herself—nothing.

 

When she could lie still she turned away from him, still mute. And he lay with his arms over her, motionless. Noises went on, in the street, overhead in the work-room. But theirs was complete silence.

 

At last he rose and looked at her.

 

"Love is a fine thing, Allaye," he said.

 

She lay mute and unmoving. He approached, laid his hand on her breast, and kissed her.

 

"Love," he said, asserting, and laughing.

 

But still she was completely mute and motionless. He threw bedclothes over her and went downstairs, whistling softly.

 

She knew she would have to break her own trance of obstinacy¹⁵³. So she snuggled down into the bedclothes, shivering deliciously, for her skin had become chilled. She didn't care a bit, really, about her own downfall. She snuggled deliciously in the sheets, and admitted to herself that she loved him. In truth, she loved him—and she was laughing to herself.

 

Luxuriously¹⁵⁴, she resented having to get up and tackle her heap of broken garments. But she did it. She took other clothes, adjusted her hair, tied on her apron, and went downstairs once more. She could not find Ciccio: he had gone out. A stray cat darted from the scullery, and broke a plate in her leap. Alvina found her washing-up water cold. She put on more, and began to dry her dishes.

 

Ciccio returned shortly, and stood in the doorway looking at her. She turned to him, unexpectedly laughing.

 

"What do you think of yourself?" she laughed.

 

"Well," he said, with a little nod, and a furtive⁴⁵ look of triumph about him, evasive. He went past her and into the room. Her inside burned with love for him: so elusive¹⁵⁵, so beautiful, in his silent passing out of her sight. She wiped her dishes happily. Why was she so absurdly happy, she asked herself? And why did she still fight so hard against the sense of his dark, unseizable beauty? Unseizable, for ever unseizable! That made her almost his slave. She fought against her own desire to fall at his feet. Ridiculous to be so happy.

 

She sang to herself as she went about her work downstairs. Then she went upstairs, to do the bedrooms and pack her bag. At ten o'clock she was to go to the family lawyer.

 

She lingered over her possessions: what to take, and what not to take. And so doing she wasted her time. It was already ten o'clock when she hurried downstairs. He was sitting quite still, waiting. He looked up at her.

 

"Now I must hurry," she said. "I don't think I shall be more than an hour."

 

He put on his hat and went out with her.

 

"I shall tell the lawyer I am engaged to you. Shall I?" she asked.

 

"Yes," he said. "Tell him what you like." He was indifferent.

 

"Because," said Alvina gaily, "we can please ourselves what we do, whatever we say. I shall say we think of getting married in the summer, when we know each other better, and going to Italy."

 

"Why shall you say all that?" said Ciccio.

 

"Because I shall have to give some account of myself, or they'll make me do something I don't want to do. You might come to the lawyer's with me, will you? He's an awfully¹⁵⁶ nice old man. Then he'd believe in you."

 

But Ciccio shook his head.

 

"No," he said. "I shan't go. He doesn't want to see me."

 

"Well, if you don't want to. But I remember your name, Francesco Marasca, and I remember Pescocalascio."

 

Ciccio heard in silence, as they walked the half-empty, Monday-morning street of Woodhouse. People kept nodding to Alvina. Some hurried inquisitively¹⁵⁷ across to speak to her and look at Ciccio. Ciccio however stood aside and turned his back.

 

"Oh yes," Alvina said. "I am staying with friends, here and there, for a few weeks. No, I don't know when I shall be back. Good-bye!"

 

"You're looking well, Alvina," people said to her. "I think you're looking wonderful. A change does you good."

 

"It does, doesn't it," said Alvina brightly. And she was pleased she was looking well.

 

"Well, good-bye for a minute," she said, glancing smiling into his eyes and nodding to him, as she left him at the gate of the lawyer's house, by the ivy¹⁵⁸-covered wall.

 

The lawyer was a little man, all grey. Alvina had known him since she was a child: but rather as an official than an individual. She arrived all smiling in his room. He sat down and scrutinized her sharply, officially, before beginning.

 

"Well, Miss Houghton, and what news have you?"

 

"I don't think I've any, Mr. Beeby. I came to you for news."

 

"Ah!" said the lawyer, and he fingered a paper-weight that covered a pile of papers. "I'm afraid there is nothing very pleasant, unfortunately. And nothing very unpleasant either, for that matter."

 

He gave her a shrewd little smile.

 

"Is the will proved?"

 

"Not yet. But I expect it will be through in a few days' time."

 

"And are all the claims in?"

 

"Yes. I think so. I think so!" And again he laid his hand on the pile of papers under the paper-weight, and ran through the edges with the tips of his fingers.

 

"All those?" said Alvina.

 

"Yes," he said quietly. It sounded ominous¹⁵⁹.

 

"Many!" said Alvina.

 

"A fair amount! A fair amount! Let me show you a statement."

 

He rose and brought her a paper. She made out, with the lawyer's help, that the claims against her father's property exceeded the gross estimate of his property by some seven hundred pounds.

 

"Does it mean we owe seven hundred pounds?" she asked.

 

"That is only on the estimate of the property. It might, of course, realize much more, when sold—or it might realize less."

 

"How awful!" said Alvina, her courage sinking.

 

"Unfortunate! Unfortunate! However, I don't think the realization¹⁶⁰ of the property would amount to less than the estimate. I don't think so."

 

"But even then," said Alvina. "There is sure to be something owing—"

 

She saw herself saddled with her father's debts.

 

"I'm afraid so," said the lawyer.

 

"And then what?" said Alvina.

 

"Oh—the creditors¹⁶¹ will have to be satisfied with a little less than they claim, I suppose. Not a very great deal, you see. I don't expect they will complain a great deal. In fact, some of them will be less badly off than they feared. No, on that score we need not trouble further. Useless if we do, anyhow. But now, about yourself. Would you like me to try to compound with the creditors, so that you could have some sort of provision? They are mostly people who know you, know your condition: and I might try—"

 

"Try what?" said Alvina.

 

"To make some sort of compound. Perhaps you might retain a lease of Miss Pinnegar's work-rooms. Perhaps even something might be done about the cinematograph. What would you like—?"

 

Alvina sat still in her chair, looking through the window at the ivy sprays, and the leaf buds on the lilac. She felt she could not, she could not cut off every resource. In her own heart she had confidently expected a few hundred pounds: even a thousand or more. And that would make her something of a catch, to people who had nothing. But now!—nothing!—nothing at the back of her but her hundred pounds. When that was gone—!

 

In her dilemma¹⁶² she looked at the lawyer.

 

"You didn't expect it would be quite so bad?" he said.

 

"I think I didn't," she said.

 

"No. Well—it might have been worse."

 

Again he waited. And again she looked at him vacantly.

 

"What do you think?" he said.

 

For answer, she only looked at him with wide eyes.

 

"Perhaps you would rather decide later."

 

"No," she said. "No. It's no use deciding later."

 

The lawyer watched her with curious eyes, his hand beat a little impatiently.

 

"I will do my best," he said, "to get what I can for you."

 

"Oh well!" she said. "Better let everything go. I don't want to hang on. Don't bother about me at all. I shall go away, anyhow."

 

"You will go away?" said the lawyer, and he studied his finger-nails.

 

"Yes. I shan't stay here."

 

"Oh! And may I ask if you have any definite idea, where you will go?"

 

"I've got an engagement as pianist, with a travelling theatrical company."

 

"Oh indeed!" said the lawyer, scrutinizing¹⁶³ her sharply. She stared away vacantly out of the window. He took to the attentive¹⁶⁴ study of his finger-nails once more. "And at a sufficient salary?"

 

"Quite sufficient, thank you," said Alvina.

 

"Oh! Well! Well now!—" He fidgetted a little. "You see, we are all old neighbours and connected with your father for many years. We—that is the persons interested, and myself—would not like to think that you were driven out of Woodhouse—er—er—destitute. If—er—we could come to some composition—make some arrangement that would be agreeable to you, and would, in some measure, secure you a means of livelihood—"

 

He watched Alvina with sharp blue eyes. Alvina looked back at him, still vacantly.

 

"No—thanks awfully!" she said. "But don't bother. I'm going away."

 

"With the travelling theatrical company?"

 

"Yes."

 

The lawyer studied his finger-nails intensely.

 

"Well," he said, feeling with a finger-tip an imaginary roughness of one nail-edge. "Well, in that case—In that case—Supposing you have made an irrevocable decision—"

 

He looked up at her sharply. She nodded slowly, like a porcelain¹⁶⁵ mandarin.

 

"In that case," he said, "we must proceed with the valuation and the preparation for the sale."

 

"Yes," she said faintly.

 

"You realize," he said, "that everything in Manchester House, except your private personal property, and that of Miss Pinnegar, belongs to the claimants, your father's creditors, and may not be removed from the house."

 

"Yes," she said.

 

"And it will be necessary to make an account of everything in the house. So if you and Miss Pinnegar will put your possessions strictly¹⁶⁶ apart—But I shall see Miss Pinnegar during the course of the day. Would you ask her to call about seven—I think she is free then—"

 

Alvina sat trembling.

 

"I shall pack my things today," she said.

 

"Of course," said the lawyer, "any little things to which you may be attached the claimants would no doubt wish you to regard as your own. For anything of greater value—your piano, for example—I should have to make a personal request—"

 

"Oh, I don't want anything—" said Alvina.

 

"No? Well! You will see. You will be here a few days?"

 

"No," said Alvina. "I'm going away today."

 

"Today! Is that also irrevocable?"

 

"Yes. I must go this afternoon."

 

"On account of your engagement? May I ask where your company is performing this week? Far away?"

 

"Mansfield!"

 

"Oh! Well then, in case I particularly wished to see you, you could come over?"

 

"If necessary," said Alvina. "But I don't want to come to Woodhouse unless it is necessary. Can't we write?"

 

"Yes—certainly! Certainly!—most things! Certainly! And now—"

 

He went into certain technical matters, and Alvina signed some documents. At last she was free to go. She had been almost an hour in the room.

 

"Well, good-morning, Miss Houghton. You will hear from me, and I from you. I wish you a pleasant experience in your new occupation. You are not leaving Woodhouse for ever."

 

"Good-bye!" she said. And she hurried to the road.

 

Try as she might, she felt as if she had had a blow which knocked her down. She felt she had had a blow.

 

At the lawyer's gate she stood a minute. There, across a little hollow, rose the cemetery¹⁶⁷ hill. There were her graves: her mother's, Miss Frost's, her father's. Looking, she made out the white cross at Miss Frost's grave, the grey stone at her parents'. Then she turned slowly, under the church wall, back to Manchester House.

 

She felt humiliated¹⁶⁸. She felt she did not want to see anybody at all. She did not want to see Miss Pinnegar, nor the Natcha-Kee-Tawaras: and least of all, Ciccio. She felt strange in Woodhouse, almost as if the ground had risen from under her feet and hit her over the mouth. The fact that Manchester House and its very furniture was under seal to be sold on behalf of her father's creditors made her feel as if all her Woodhouse life had suddenly gone smash. She loathed¹⁶⁹ the thought of Manchester House. She loathed staying another minute in it.

 

And yet she did not want to go to the Natcha-Kee-Tawaras either. The church clock above her clanged eleven. She ought to take the twelve-forty train to Mansfield. Yet instead of going home she turned off down the alley¹³¹ towards the fields and the brook¹⁷⁰.

 

How many times had she gone that road! How many times had she seen Miss Frost bravely striding home that way, from her music-pupils. How many years had she noticed a particular wild cherry-tree come into blossom, a particular bit of black-thorn scatter¹⁷¹ its whiteness in among the pleached twigs¹⁷² of a hawthorn¹⁷³ hedge. How often, how many springs had Miss Frost come home with a bit of this black-thorn in her hand!

 

Alvina did not want to go to Mansfield that afternoon. She felt insulted. She knew she would be much cheaper in Madame's eyes. She knew her own position with the troupe¹⁷⁴ would be humiliating. It would be openly a little humiliating. But it would be much more maddeningly humiliating to stay in Woodhouse and experience the full flavour of Woodhouse's calculated benevolence¹⁷⁵. She hardly knew which was worse: the cool look of insolent¹⁷⁶ half-contempt, half-satisfaction with which Madame would receive the news of her financial downfall, or the officious patronage¹⁷⁷ which she would meet from the Woodhouse magnates. She knew exactly how Madame's black eyes would shine, how her mouth would curl with a sneering¹¹⁸, slightly triumphant¹⁷⁸ smile, as she heard the news. And she could hear the bullying¹⁷⁹ tone in which Henry Wagstaff would dictate¹⁸⁰ the Woodhouse benevolence to her. She wanted to go away from them all—from them all—for ever.

 

Even from Ciccio. For she felt he insulted her too. Subtly, they all did it. They had regard for her possibilities as an heiress. Five hundred, even two hundred pounds would have made all the difference. Useless to deny it. Even to Ciccio. Ciccio would have had a lifelong respect for her, if she had come with even so paltry¹⁸¹ a sum as two hundred pounds. Now she had nothing, he would coolly withhold¹⁸² this respect. She felt he might jeer¹⁸³ at her. And she could not get away from this feeling.

 

Mercifully she had the bit of ready money. And she had a few trinkets which might be sold. Nothing else. Mercifully, for the mere¹⁸⁴ moment, she was independent.

 

Whatever else she did, she must go back and pack. She must pack her two boxes, and leave them ready. For she felt that once she had left, she could never come back to Woodhouse again. If England had cliffs all round—why, when there was nowhere else to go and no getting beyond, she could walk over one of the cliffs. Meanwhile, she had her short run before her. She banked hard on her independence.

 

So she turned back to the town. She would not be able to take the twelve-forty train, for it was already mid-day. But she was glad. She wanted some time to herself. She would send Ciccio on. Slowly she climbed the familiar hill—slowly—and rather bitterly. She felt her native place insulted her: and she felt the Natchas insulted her. In the midst of the insult she remained isolated¹⁸⁵ upon herself, and she wished to be alone.

 

She found Ciccio waiting at the end of the yard: eternally waiting, it seemed. He was impatient.

 

"You've been a long time," he said.

 

"Yes," she answered.

 

"We shall have to make haste to catch the train."

 

"I can't go by this train. I shall have to come on later. You can just eat a mouthful of lunch, and go now."

 

They went indoors. Miss Pinnegar had not yet come down. Mrs. Rollings was busily peeling potatoes.

 

"Mr. Marasca is going by the train, he'll have to have a little cold meat," said Alvina. "Would you mind putting it ready while I go upstairs?"

 

"Sharpses and Fullbankses sent them bills," said Mrs. Rollings. Alvina opened them, and turned pale. It was thirty pounds, the total funeral expenses. She had completely forgotten them.

 

"And Mr. Atterwell wants to know what you'd like put on th' headstone for your father—if you'd write it down."

 

"All right."

 

Mrs. Rollings popped on the potatoes for Miss Pinnegar's dinner, and spread the cloth for Ciccio. When he was eating, Miss Pinnegar came in. She inquired for Alvina—and went upstairs.

 

"Have you had your dinner?" she said. For there was Alvina sitting writing a letter.

 

"I'm going by a later train," said Alvina.

 

"Both of you?"

 

"No. He's going now."

 

Miss Pinnegar came downstairs again, and went through to the scullery. When Alvina came down, she returned to the living room.

 

"Give this letter to Madame," Alvina said to Ciccio. "I shall be at the hall by seven tonight. I shall go straight there."

 

"Why can't you come now?" said Ciccio.

 

"I can't possibly," said Alvina. "The lawyer has just told me father's debts come to much more than everything is worth. Nothing is ours—not even the plate you're eating from. Everything is under seal to be sold to pay off what is owing. So I've got to get my own clothes and boots together, or they'll be sold with the rest. Mr. Beeby wants you to go round at seven this evening, Miss Pinnegar—before I forget."

 

"Really!" gasped¹⁸⁶ Miss Pinnegar. "Really! The house and the furniture and everything got to be sold up? Then we're on the streets! I can't believe it."

 

"So he told me," said Alvina.

 

"But how positively awful," said Miss Pinnegar, sinking motionless into a chair.

 

"It's not more than I expected," said Alvina. "I'm putting my things into my two trunks, and I shall just ask Mrs. Slaney to store them for me. Then I've the bag I shall travel with."

 

"Really!" gasped Miss Pinnegar. "I can't believe it! And when have we got to get out?"

 

"Oh, I don't think there's a desperate hurry. They'll take an inventory¹⁸⁷ of all the things, and we can live on here till they're actually ready for the sale."

 

"And when will that be?"

 

"I don't know. A week or two."

 

"And is the cinematograph to be sold the same?"

 

"Yes—everything! The piano—even mother's portrait—"

 

"It's impossible to believe it," said Miss Pinnegar. "It's impossible. He can never have left things so bad."

 

"Ciccio," said Alvina. "You'll really have to go if you are to catch the train. You'll give Madame my letter, won't you? I should hate you to miss the train. I know she can't bear me already, for all the fuss and upset I cause."

 

Ciccio rose slowly, wiping his mouth.

 

"You'll be there at seven o'clock?" he said.

 

"At the theatre," she replied.

 

And without more ado, he left.

 

Mrs. Rollings came in.

 

"You've heard?" said Miss Pinnegar dramatically.

 

"I heard somethink," said Mrs. Rollings.

 

"Sold up! Everything to be sold up. Every stick and rag! I never thought I should live to see the day," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"You might almost have expected it," said Mrs. Rollings. "But you're all right, yourself, Miss Pinnegar. Your money isn't with his, is it?"

 

"No," said Miss Pinnegar. "What little I have put by is safe. But it's not enough to live on. It's not enough to keep me, even supposing I only live another ten years. If I only spend a pound a week, it costs fifty-two pounds a year. And for ten years, look at it, it's five hundred and twenty pounds. And you couldn't say less. And I haven't half that amount. I never had more than a wage, you know. Why, Miss Frost earned a good deal more than I do. And she didn't leave much more than fifty. Where's the money to come from—?"

 

"But if you've enough to start a little business—" said Alvina.

 

"Yes, it's what I shall have to do. It's what I shall have to do. And then what about you? What about you?"

 

"Oh, don't bother about me," said Alvina.

 

"Yes, it's all very well, don't bother. But when you come to my age, you know you've got to bother, and bother a great deal, if you're not going to find yourself in a position you'd be sorry for. You have to bother. And you'll have to bother before you've done."

 

"Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof," said Alvina.

 

"Ha, sufficient for a good many days, it seems to me."

 

Miss Pinnegar was in a real temper. To Alvina this seemed an odd way of taking it. The three women sat down to an uncomfortable dinner of cold meat and hot potatoes and warmed-up pudding.

 

"But whatever you do," pronounced Miss Pinnegar; "whatever you do, and however you strive, in this life, you're knocked down in the end. You're always knocked down."

 

"It doesn't matter," said Alvina, "if it's only in the end. It doesn't matter if you've had your life."

 

"You've never had your life, till you're dead," said Miss Pinnegar. "And if you work and strive, you've a right to the fruits of your work."

 

"It doesn't matter," said Alvina laconically¹⁸⁸, "so long as you've enjoyed working and striving."

 

But Miss Pinnegar was too angry to be philosophic¹⁸⁹. Alvina knew it was useless to be either angry or otherwise emotional. None the less, she also felt as if she had been knocked down. And she almost envied poor Miss Pinnegar the prospect¹⁹⁰ of a little, day-by-day haberdashery shop in Tamworth. Her own problem seemed so much more menacing. "Answer or die," said the Sphinx of fate. Miss Pinnegar could answer her own fate according to its question. She could say "haberdashery shop," and her sphinx would recognize this answer as true to nature, and would be satisfied. But every individual has his own, or her own fate, and her own sphinx. Alvina's sphinx was an old, deep thoroughbred, she would take no mongrel answers. And her thoroughbred teeth were long and sharp. To Alvina, the last of the fantastic but pure-bred race of Houghton, the problem of her fate was terribly abstruse¹⁹¹.

 

The only thing to do was not to solve it: to stray on, and answer fate with whatever came into one's head. No good striving with fate. Trust to a lucky shot, or take the consequences.

 

"Miss Pinnegar," said Alvina. "Have we any money in hand?"

 

"There is about twenty pounds in the bank. It's all shown in my books," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"We couldn't take it, could we?"

 

"Every penny shows in the books."

 

Alvina pondered again.

 

"Are there more bills to come in?" she asked. "I mean my bills. Do I owe anything?"

 

"I don't think you do," said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"I'm going to keep the insurance money, any way. They can say what they like. I've got it, and I'm going to keep it."

 

"Well," said Miss Pinnegar, "it's not my business. But there's Sharps and Fullbanks to pay."

 

"I'll pay those," said Alvina. "You tell Atterwell what to put on father's stone. How much does it cost?"

 

"Five shillings a letter, you remember."

 

"Well, we'll just put the name and the date. How much will that be? James Houghton. Born 17th January—"

 

"You'll have to put 'Also of,'" said Miss Pinnegar.

 

"Also of—" said Alvina. "One—two—three—four—five—six—. Six letters—thirty shillings. Seems an awful lot for Also of—"

 

"But you can't leave it out," said Miss Pinnegar. "You can't economize¹⁹² over that."

 

"I begrudge¹⁹³ it," said Alvina.

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1 plaintive   

adj.可怜的，伤心的

参考例句：

• Her voice was small and plaintive.她的声音微弱而哀伤。
• Somewhere in the audience an old woman's voice began plaintive wail.观众席里，一位老太太伤心地哭起来。

2 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

3 twitching   

n.颤搐

参考例句：

• The child in a spasm kept twitching his arms and legs. 那个害痉挛的孩子四肢不断地抽搐。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• My eyelids keep twitching all the time. 我眼皮老是跳。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 wailing   

v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱

参考例句：

• A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。
• The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

5 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

6 fascination   

n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋

参考例句：

• He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
• His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。

7 velvety   

adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的

参考例句：

• a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒
• Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软，令人赞叹。

8 luminous   

adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的

参考例句：

• There are luminous knobs on all the doors in my house.我家所有门上都安有夜光把手。
• Most clocks and watches in this shop are in luminous paint.这家商店出售的大多数钟表都涂了发光漆。

9 alpine   

adj.高山的；n.高山植物

参考例句：

• Alpine flowers are abundant there.那里有很多高山地带的花。
• Its main attractions are alpine lakes and waterfalls .它以高山湖泊和瀑布群为主要特色。

10 tart   

adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇

参考例句：

• She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
• She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了，用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。

11 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

12 impelled   

v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He felt impelled to investigate further. 他觉得有必要作进一步调查。
• I feel impelled to express grave doubts about the project. 我觉得不得不对这项计划深表怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

13 tawny   

adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色

参考例句：

• Her black hair springs in fine strands across her tawny,ruddy cheek.她的一头乌发分披在健康红润的脸颊旁。
• None of them noticed a large,tawny owl flutter past the window.他们谁也没注意到一只大的、褐色的猫头鹰飞过了窗户。

14 lashes   

n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥

参考例句：

• Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 fathomless   

a.深不可测的

参考例句：

• "The sand-sea deepens with fathomless ice, And darkness masses its endless clouds;" 瀚海阑干百丈冰，愁云黪淡万里凝。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学
• Day are coloured bubbles that float upon the surface of fathomless night. 日是五彩缤纷的气泡，漂浮在无尽的夜的表面。

16 abysmal   

adj.无底的，深不可测的，极深的；糟透的，极坏的；完全的

参考例句：

• The film was so abysmal that I fell asleep.电影太糟糕，看得我睡着了。
• There is a historic explanation for the abysmal state of Chinese cuisine in the United States.中餐在美国的糟糕状态可以从历史上找原因。

17 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。

18 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

19 bent   

n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的

参考例句：

• He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
• We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

20 caress   

vt./n.爱抚，抚摸

参考例句：

• She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
• She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。

21 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

22 tilted   

v. 倾斜的

参考例句：

• Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。

23 flicker   

vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现

参考例句：

• There was a flicker of lights coming from the abandoned house.这所废弃的房屋中有灯光闪烁。
• At first,the flame may be a small flicker,barely shining.开始时，光辉可能是微弱地忽隐忽现，几乎并不灿烂。

24 mischievous   

adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的

参考例句：

• He is a mischievous but lovable boy.他是一个淘气但可爱的小孩。
• A mischievous cur must be tied short.恶狗必须拴得短。

25 junction   

n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站

参考例句：

• There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
• You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。

26 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

27 reassured   

adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The captain's confidence during the storm reassured the passengers. 在风暴中船长的信念使旅客们恢复了信心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The doctor reassured the old lady. 医生叫那位老妇人放心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

28 sullen   

adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的

参考例句：

• He looked up at the sullen sky.他抬头看了一眼阴沉的天空。
• Susan was sullen in the morning because she hadn't slept well.苏珊今天早上郁闷不乐，因为昨晚没睡好。

29 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

30 theatrical   

adj.剧场的，演戏的；做戏似的，做作的

参考例句：

• The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果，叫人失望。
• She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。

31 darting   

v.投掷，投射( dart的现在分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• Swallows were darting through the clouds. 燕子穿云急飞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Swallows were darting through the air. 燕子在空中掠过。 来自辞典例句

32 spotted   

adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的

参考例句：

• The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
• Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

33 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

34 ostensible   

adj.(指理由)表面的，假装的

参考例句：

• The ostensible reason wasn't the real reason.表面上的理由并不是真正的理由。
• He resigned secretaryship on the ostensible ground of health.他借口身体不好，辞去书记的职务。

35 bustling   

adj.喧闹的

参考例句：

• The market was bustling with life. 市场上生机勃勃。
• This district is getting more and more prosperous and bustling. 这一带越来越繁华了。

36 vagrants   

流浪者( vagrant的名词复数 )； 无业游民； 乞丐； 无赖

参考例句：

• Police kept a close watch on the vagrants. 警察严密监视那些流浪者。
• O Troupe of little vagrants of the world, leave your footprints in my words. 世界上的一队小小的漂泊者呀，请留下你们的足印在我的文字里。

37 sagely   

adv. 贤能地，贤明地

参考例句：

• Even the ones who understand may nod sagely. 即使对方知道这一点，也会一本正经地点头同意。
• Well, that's about all of the sagely advice this old grey head can come up with. 好了，以上就是我这个满头银发的老头儿给你们的充满睿智的忠告。

38 scrutinized   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The jeweler scrutinized the diamond for flaws. 宝石商人仔细察看钻石有无瑕庇 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Together we scrutinized the twelve lemon cakes from the delicatessen shop. 我们一起把甜食店里买来的十二块柠檬蛋糕细细打量了一番。 来自英汉文学 - 盖茨比

39 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

40 smacked   

拍，打，掴( smack的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He smacked his lips but did not utter a word. 他吧嗒两下嘴，一声也不言语。
• She smacked a child's bottom. 她打孩子的屁股。

41 thigh   

n.大腿；股骨

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a strained thigh muscle.他的大腿肌肉拉伤了，疼得很。
• The thigh bone is connected to the hip bone.股骨连着髋骨。

42 darted   

v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔

参考例句：

• The lizard darted out its tongue at the insect. 蜥蜴伸出舌头去吃小昆虫。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

43 refreshment   

n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点

参考例句：

• He needs to stop fairly often for refreshment.他须时不时地停下来喘口气。
• A hot bath is a great refreshment after a day's work.在一天工作之后洗个热水澡真是舒畅。

44 laconic   

adj.简洁的；精练的

参考例句：

• He sent me a laconic private message.他给我一封简要的私人函件。
• This response was typical of the writer's laconic wit.这个回答反映了这位作家精练简明的特点。

45 furtive   

adj.鬼鬼崇崇的，偷偷摸摸的

参考例句：

• The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为。
• His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。

46 furtively   

adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地

参考例句：

• At this some of the others furtively exchanged significant glances. 听他这样说，有几个人心照不宣地彼此对望了一眼。
• Remembering my presence, he furtively dropped it under his chair. 后来想起我在，他便偷偷地把书丢在椅子下。

47 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

48 withdrawn   

vt.收回；使退出；vi.撤退，退出

参考例句：

• Our force has been withdrawn from the danger area.我们的军队已从危险地区撤出。
• All foreign troops should be withdrawn to their own countries.一切外国军队都应撤回本国去。

49 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

50 overcast   

adj.阴天的，阴暗的，愁闷的；v.遮盖，（使）变暗，包边缝；n.覆盖，阴天

参考例句：

• The overcast and rainy weather found out his arthritis.阴雨天使他的关节炎发作了。
• The sky is overcast with dark clouds.乌云满天。

51 breach   

n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破

参考例句：

• We won't have any breach of discipline.我们不允许任何破坏纪律的现象。
• He was sued for breach of contract.他因不履行合同而被起诉。

52 inevitably   

adv.不可避免地；必然发生地

参考例句：

• In the way you go on,you are inevitably coming apart.照你们这样下去，毫无疑问是会散伙的。
• Technological changes will inevitably lead to unemployment.技术变革必然会导致失业。

53 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

54 scruples   

n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• I overcame my moral scruples. 我抛开了道德方面的顾虑。
• I'm not ashamed of my scruples about your family. They were natural. 我并未因为对你家人的顾虑而感到羞耻。这种感觉是自然而然的。 来自疯狂英语突破英语语调

55 descended   

a.为...后裔的，出身于...的

参考例句：

• A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。
• The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

56 irritable   

adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的

参考例句：

• He gets irritable when he's got toothache.他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
• Our teacher is an irritable old lady.She gets angry easily.我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。

57 blurted   

v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She blurted it out before I could stop her. 我还没来得及制止，她已脱口而出。
• He blurted out the truth, that he committed the crime. 他不慎说出了真相，说是他犯了那个罪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

58 sobbed   

哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说

参考例句：

• She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
• She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。

59 huddled   

挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
• We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

60 fret   

v.(使)烦恼；(使)焦急；(使)腐蚀，(使)磨损

参考例句：

• Don't fret.We'll get there on time.别着急，我们能准时到那里。
• She'll fret herself to death one of these days.她总有一天会愁死的.

61 dwindled   

v.逐渐变少或变小( dwindle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Support for the party has dwindled away to nothing. 支持这个党派的人渐渐化为乌有。
• His wealth dwindled to nothingness. 他的钱财化为乌有。 来自《简明英汉词典》

62 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

63 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

64 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

65 intonation   

n.语调，声调；发声

参考例句：

• The teacher checks for pronunciation and intonation.老师在检查发音和语调。
• Questions are spoken with a rising intonation.疑问句是以升调说出来的。

66 fully   

adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地

参考例句：

• The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气，然后全部呼出。
• They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。

67 crumbs   

int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式

参考例句：

• She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
• Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？

68 apron   

n.围裙；工作裙

参考例句：

• We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
• She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。

69 shovel   

n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出

参考例句：

• He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。
• He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

70 poignant   

adj.令人痛苦的，辛酸的，惨痛的

参考例句：

• His lyrics are as acerbic and poignant as they ever have been.他的歌词一如既往的犀利辛辣。
• It is especially poignant that he died on the day before his wedding.他在婚礼前一天去世了，这尤其令人悲恸。

71 fatality   

n.不幸，灾祸，天命

参考例句：

• She struggle against fatality in vain.她徒然奋斗反抗宿命。
• He began to have a growing sense of fatality.他开始有一种越来越强烈的宿命感。

72 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

73 flickered   

（通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The lights flickered and went out. 灯光闪了闪就熄了。
• These lights flickered continuously like traffic lights which have gone mad. 这些灯象发狂的交通灯一样不停地闪动着。

74 affluence   

n.充裕，富足

参考例句：

• Their affluence is more apparent than real.他们的富有是虚有其表。
• There is a lot of affluence in this part of the state because it has many businesses.这个州的这一部分相当富有，因为它有很多商行。

75 countless   

adj.无数的，多得不计其数的

参考例句：

• In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。
• I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

76 decadence   

n.衰落，颓废

参考例句：

• The decadence of morals is bad for a nation.道德的堕落对国家是不利的。
• His article has the power to turn decadence into legend.他的文章具有化破朽为神奇的力量。

77 unwillingly   

adv.不情愿地

参考例句：

• He submitted unwillingly to his mother. 他不情愿地屈服于他母亲。
• Even when I call, he receives unwillingly. 即使我登门拜访，他也是很不情愿地接待我。

78 fumbled   

（笨拙地）摸索或处理（某事物）( fumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 乱摸，笨拙地弄； 使落下

参考例句：

• She fumbled in her pocket for a handkerchief. 她在她口袋里胡乱摸找手帕。
• He fumbled about in his pockets for the ticket. 他（瞎）摸着衣兜找票。

79 graceful   

adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的

参考例句：

• His movements on the parallel bars were very graceful.他的双杠动作可帅了!
• The ballet dancer is so graceful.芭蕾舞演员的姿态是如此的优美。

80 perspiring   

v.出汗，流汗( perspire的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He had been working hard and was perspiring profusely. 他一直在努力干活，身上大汗淋漓的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So they "went it lively," panting and perspiring with the work. 于是他们就“痛痛快快地比一比”了，结果比得两个人气喘吁吁、汗流浃背。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险

81 countenance   

n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同

参考例句：

• At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
• I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地，仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。

82 colossal   

adj.异常的，庞大的

参考例句：

• There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。
• Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

83 lamented   

adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• her late lamented husband 她那令人怀念的已故的丈夫
• We lamented over our bad luck. 我们为自己的不幸而悲伤。 来自《简明英汉词典》

84 grasshoppers   

n.蚱蜢( grasshopper的名词复数 )；蝗虫；蚂蚱；（孩子）矮小的

参考例句：

• Grasshoppers die in fall. 蚱蜢在秋天死去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• There are usually a lot of grasshoppers in the rice fields. 稻田里通常有许多蚱蜢。 来自辞典例句

85 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

86 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

87 flirted   

v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She flirted her fan. 她急速挥动着扇子。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• During his four months in Egypt he flirted with religious emotions. 在埃及逗留的这四个月期间，他又玩弄起宗教情绪来了。 来自辞典例句

88 bigoted   

adj.固执己见的，心胸狭窄的

参考例句：

• He is so bigoted that it is impossible to argue with him.他固执得不可理喻。
• I'll concede you are not as bigoted as some.我承认你不象有些人那么顽固。

89 tempting   

a.诱人的, 吸引人的

参考例句：

• It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。
• It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

90 provincial   

adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes.城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。
• Two leading cadres came down from the provincial capital yesterday.昨天从省里下来了两位领导干部。

91 creeds   

（尤指宗教）信条，教条( creed的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• people of all races, colours and creeds 各种种族、肤色和宗教信仰的人
• Catholics are agnostic to the Protestant creeds. 天主教徒对于新教教义来说，是不可知论者。

92 secrete   

vt.分泌；隐匿，使隐秘

参考例句：

• The pores of your body secrete sweat.身上的毛孔分泌汗液。
• Squirrels secrete a supply of nuts for winter.松鼠为准备过冬而藏坚果。

93 sneak   

vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行

参考例句：

• He raised his spear and sneak forward.他提起长矛悄悄地前进。
• I saw him sneak away from us.我看见他悄悄地从我们身边走开。

94 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

95 squat   

v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的

参考例句：

• For this exercise you need to get into a squat.在这次练习中你需要蹲下来。
• He is a squat man.他是一个矮胖的男人。

96 avenging   

adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复

参考例句：

• He has devoted the past five years to avenging his daughter's death. 他过去5年一心报丧女之仇。 来自辞典例句
• His disfigured face was like some avenging nemesis of gargoyle design. 他那张破了相的脸，活象面目狰狞的复仇之神。 来自辞典例句

97 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

98 wilted   

（使）凋谢，枯萎( wilt的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The flowers wilted in the hot sun. 花在烈日下枯萎了。
• The romance blossomed for six or seven months, and then wilted. 那罗曼史持续六七个月之后就告吹了。

99 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

100 thither   

adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的

参考例句：

• He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
• He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

101 muffled   

adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己）

参考例句：

• muffled voices from the next room 从隔壁房间里传来的沉闷声音
• There was a muffled explosion somewhere on their right. 在他们的右面什么地方有一声沉闷的爆炸声。 来自《简明英汉词典》

102 wriggling   

v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕

参考例句：

• The baby was wriggling around on my lap. 婴儿在我大腿上扭来扭去。
• Something that looks like a gray snake is wriggling out. 有一种看来象是灰蛇的东西蠕动着出来了。 来自辞典例句

103 squealing   

v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Pigs were grunting and squealing in the yard. 猪在院子里哼哼地叫个不停。
• The pigs were squealing. 猪尖叫着。

104 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

105 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

106 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

107 prancing   

v.（马）腾跃( prance的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The lead singer was prancing around with the microphone. 首席歌手手执麦克风，神气地走来走去。
• The King lifted Gretel on to his prancing horse and they rode to his palace. 国王把格雷特尔扶上腾跃着的马，他们骑马向天宫走去。 来自辞典例句

108 giggling   

v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• We just sat there giggling like naughty schoolchildren. 我们只是坐在那儿像调皮的小学生一样的咯咯地傻笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I can't stand her giggling, she's so silly. 她吃吃地笑，叫我真受不了，那样子傻透了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

109 gaily   

adv.欢乐地，高兴地

参考例句：

• The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
• She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。

110 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

111 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。

112 sarcastically   

adv.挖苦地，讽刺地

参考例句：

• 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
• Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她，讽刺地鞠了一躬。

113 smitten   

猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去分词 )

参考例句：

• From the moment they met, he was completely smitten by her. 从一见面的那一刻起，他就完全被她迷住了。
• It was easy to see why she was smitten with him. 她很容易看出为何她为他倾倒。

114 perked   

（使）活跃( perk的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）增值； 使更有趣

参考例句：

• The recent demand for houses has perked up the prices. 最近对住房的需求使房价上涨了。
• You've perked up since this morning. 你今天上午精神就好多了。

115 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

116 strutted   

趾高气扬地走，高视阔步( strut的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The players strutted and posed for the cameras. 运动员昂首阔步，摆好姿势让记者拍照。
• Peacocks strutted on the lawn. 孔雀在草坪上神气活现地走来走去。

117 sneeringly   

嘲笑地，轻蔑地

参考例句：

• Guan and Zhang had nothing more to say, But they walked away sneeringly. 关羽、张飞无话，冷笑着走了。

118 sneering   

嘲笑的，轻蔑的

参考例句：

• "What are you sneering at?" “你冷笑什么？” 来自子夜部分
• The old sorceress slunk in with a sneering smile. 老女巫鬼鬼崇崇地走进来，冷冷一笑。

119 puffed   

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

参考例句：

• He lit a cigarette and puffed at it furiously. 他点燃了一支香烟，狂吸了几口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. 他觉得长大了，便自以为了不起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

120 stewed   

adj.焦虑不安的，烂醉的v.炖( stew的过去式和过去分词 )；煨；思考；担忧

参考例句：

• When all birds are shot, the bow will be set aside;when all hares are killed, the hounds will be stewed and eaten -- kick out sb. after his services are no longer needed. 鸟尽弓藏，兔死狗烹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• \"How can we cook in a pan that's stewed your stinking stockings? “染臭袜子的锅，还能煮鸡子吃！还要它？” 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

121 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

122 torpor   

n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠

参考例句：

• The sick person gradually falls into a torpor.病人逐渐变得迟钝。
• He fell into a deep torpor.他一下子进入了深度麻痹状态。

123 wanly   

adv.虚弱地；苍白地，无血色地

参考例句：

• She was smiling wanly. 她苍白无力地笑着。 来自互联网

124 Mandarin   

n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的

参考例句：

• Just over one billion people speak Mandarin as their native tongue.大约有十亿以上的人口以华语为母语。
• Mandarin will be the new official language of the European Union.普通话会变成欧盟新的官方语言。

125 lodge   

v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆

参考例句：

• Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
• I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

126 flopped   

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

参考例句：

• Exhausted, he flopped down into a chair. 他筋疲力尽，一屁股坐到椅子上。
• It was a surprise to us when his play flopped. 他那出戏一败涂地，出乎我们的预料。 来自《简明英汉词典》

127 besought   

v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词)

参考例句：

• The prisoner besought the judge for mercy/to be merciful. 囚犯恳求法官宽恕[乞求宽大]。 来自辞典例句
• They besought him to speak the truth. 他们恳求他说实话. 来自辞典例句

128 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

129 puma   

美洲豹

参考例句：

• The police and the volunteers combed the forest for the lost puma from the zoo.警察和志愿者们在森林里到处寻找动物园迷失的美洲狮。
• A businessman on a fishing trip saw the puma up a tree.一位商人去钓鱼，看见那只美洲狮在树上。

130 growled   

v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说

参考例句：

• \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道：“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》

131 alley   

n.小巷，胡同；小径，小路

参考例句：

• We live in the same alley.我们住在同一条小巷里。
• The blind alley ended in a brick wall.这条死胡同的尽头是砖墙。

132 vibrations   

n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动

参考例句：

• We could feel the vibrations from the trucks passing outside. 我们可以感到外面卡车经过时的颤动。
• I am drawn to that girl; I get good vibrations from her. 我被那女孩吸引住了，她使我产生良好的感觉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

133 rumbling   

n. 隆隆声, 辘辘声 adj. 隆隆响的 动词rumble的现在分词

参考例句：

• The earthquake began with a deep [low] rumbling sound. 地震开始时发出低沉的隆隆声。
• The crane made rumbling sound. 吊车发出隆隆的响声。

134 sullenly   

不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地

参考例句：

• 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢？”汤姆绷着脸说。
• Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完，想不出能找点什么事做，只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。

135 briefly   

adv.简单地，简短地

参考例句：

• I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
• He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。

136 persistent   

adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的

参考例句：

• Albert had a persistent headache that lasted for three days.艾伯特连续头痛了三天。
• She felt embarrassed by his persistent attentions.他不时地向她大献殷勤，使她很难为情。

137 squeals   

n.长而尖锐的叫声( squeal的名词复数 )v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• There was an outburst of squeals from the cage. 铁笼子里传来一阵吱吱的叫声。 来自英汉文学
• There were squeals of excitement from the children. 孩子们兴奋得大声尖叫。 来自辞典例句

138 poking   

n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
• He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

139 sinister   

adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的

参考例句：

• There is something sinister at the back of that series of crimes.在这一系列罪行背后有险恶的阴谋。
• Their proposals are all worthless and designed out of sinister motives.他们的建议不仅一钱不值，而且包藏祸心。

140 suffused   

v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Her face was suffused with colour. 她满脸通红。
• Her eyes were suffused with warm, excited tears. 她激动地热泪盈眶。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

141 impudent   

adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的

参考例句：

• She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
• The teacher threatened to kick the impudent pupil out of the room.老师威胁着要把这无礼的小学生撵出教室。

142 winced   

赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
• He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。

143 determinedly   

adv.决意地；坚决地，坚定地

参考例句：

• "Don't shove me,'said one of the strikers, determinedly. "I'm not doing anything." “别推我，"其中的一个罢工工人坚决地说，"我可没干什么。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Dorothy's chin set determinedly as she looked calmly at him. 多萝西平静地看着他，下巴绷得紧紧的，看来是打定主意了。 来自名作英译部分

144 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

145 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

146 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

147 obliterating   

v.除去( obliterate的现在分词 )；涂去；擦掉；彻底破坏或毁灭

参考例句：

• Michael smoked the competition, obliterating field in most of his events. 迈克尔让比赛放光，几乎淹没了他所参加的大多数项目。 来自互联网
• He heard Pam screaming.The noise became obliterating.Then solid darkness descended. 在一片混乱中，他听到了帕姆的尖叫。接下来，噪音消失了，黑暗降临了。 来自互联网

148 softened   

（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰

参考例句：

• His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
• The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

149 assertive   

adj.果断的，自信的，有冲劲的

参考例句：

• She always speaks an assertive tone.她总是以果断的语气说话。
• China appears to have become more assertive in the waters off its coastline over recent years.在近些年，中国显示出对远方海洋的自信。

150 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

151 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

152 stark   

adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地

参考例句：

• The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。
• He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

153 obstinacy   

n.顽固；（病痛等）难治

参考例句：

• It is a very accountable obstinacy.这是一种完全可以理解的固执态度。
• Cindy's anger usually made him stand firm to the point of obstinacy.辛迪一发怒，常常使他坚持自见，并达到执拗的地步。

154 luxuriously   

adv.奢侈地，豪华地

参考例句：

• She put her nose luxuriously buried in heliotrope and tea roses. 她把自己的鼻子惬意地埋在天芥菜和庚申蔷薇花簇中。 来自辞典例句
• To be well dressed doesn't mean to be luxuriously dressed. 穿得好不一定衣着豪华。 来自辞典例句

155 elusive   

adj.难以表达(捉摸)的；令人困惑的；逃避的

参考例句：

• Try to catch the elusive charm of the original in translation.翻译时设法把握住原文中难以捉摸的风韵。
• Interpol have searched all the corners of the earth for the elusive hijackers.国际刑警组织已在世界各地搜查在逃的飞机劫持者。

156 awfully   

adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地

参考例句：

• Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
• I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

157 inquisitively   

过分好奇地； 好问地

参考例句：

• The Mouse looked at her rather inquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little eyes, but It'said nothing. 这老鼠狐疑地看着她，好像还把一只小眼睛向她眨了眨，但没说话。
• The mouse looked at her rather inquisitively. 那只耗子用疑问的眼光看看她。

158 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

159 ominous   

adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的

参考例句：

• Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
• There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。

160 realization   

n.实现；认识到，深刻了解

参考例句：

• We shall gladly lend every effort in our power toward its realization.我们将乐意为它的实现而竭尽全力。
• He came to the realization that he would never make a good teacher.他逐渐认识到自己永远不会成为好老师。

161 creditors   

n.债权人，债主( creditor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》

162 dilemma   

n.困境，进退两难的局面

参考例句：

• I am on the horns of a dilemma about the matter.这件事使我进退两难。
• He was thrown into a dilemma.他陷入困境。

163 scrutinizing   

v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• His grandfather's stern eyes were scrutinizing him, and Chueh-hui felt his face reddening. 祖父的严厉的眼光射在他的脸上。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）
• The machine hushed, extraction and injection nozzles poised, scrutinizing its targets. 机器“嘘”地一声静了下来，输入输出管道各就各位，检查着它的目标。 来自互联网

164 attentive   

adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的

参考例句：

• She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
• The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。

165 porcelain   

n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的

参考例句：

• These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
• The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。

166 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

167 cemetery   

n.坟墓，墓地，坟场

参考例句：

• He was buried in the cemetery.他被葬在公墓。
• His remains were interred in the cemetery.他的遗体葬在墓地。

168 humiliated   

感到羞愧的

参考例句：

• Parents are humiliated if their children behave badly when guests are present. 子女在客人面前举止失当，父母也失体面。
• He was ashamed and bitterly humiliated. 他感到羞耻，丢尽了面子。

169 loathed   

v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢

参考例句：

• Baker loathed going to this red-haired young pup for supplies. 面包师傅不喜欢去这个红头发的自负的傻小子那里拿原料。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Therefore, above all things else, he loathed his miserable self! 因此，他厌恶不幸的自我尤胜其它！ 来自英汉文学 - 红字

170 brook   

n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让

参考例句：

• In our room we could hear the murmur of a distant brook.在我们房间能听到远处小溪汩汩的流水声。
• The brook trickled through the valley.小溪涓涓流过峡谷。

171 scatter   

vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散

参考例句：

• You pile everything up and scatter things around.你把东西乱堆乱放。
• Small villages scatter at the foot of the mountain.村庄零零落落地散布在山脚下。

172 twigs   

细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
• Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

173 hawthorn   

山楂

参考例句：

• A cuckoo began calling from a hawthorn tree.一只布谷鸟开始在一株山楂树里咕咕地呼叫。
• Much of the track had become overgrown with hawthorn.小路上很多地方都长满了山楂树。

174 troupe   

n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团

参考例句：

• The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
• The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。

175 benevolence   

n.慈悲，捐助

参考例句：

• We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
• He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。

176 insolent   

adj.傲慢的，无理的

参考例句：

• His insolent manner really got my blood up.他那傲慢的态度把我的肺都气炸了。
• It was insolent of them to demand special treatment.他们要求给予特殊待遇，脸皮真厚。

177 patronage   

n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场

参考例句：

• Though it was not yet noon,there was considerable patronage.虽然时间未到中午，店中已有许多顾客惠顾。
• I am sorry to say that my patronage ends with this.很抱歉，我的赞助只能到此为止。

178 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

179 bullying   

v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈

参考例句：

• Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
• All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

180 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

181 paltry   

adj.无价值的，微不足道的

参考例句：

• The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.那些家长对家里鸡毛蒜皮的小事没什么兴趣。
• I'm getting angry;and if you don't command that paltry spirit of yours.我要生气了，如果你不能振作你那点元气。

182 withhold   

v.拒绝，不给；使停止，阻挡

参考例句：

• It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence.他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
• I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation.我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。

183 jeer   

vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评

参考例句：

• Do not jeer at the mistakes or misfortunes of others.不要嘲笑别人的错误或不幸。
• The children liked to jeer at the awkward students.孩子们喜欢嘲笑笨拙的学生。

184 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

185 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

186 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

187 inventory   

n.详细目录，存货清单

参考例句：

• Some stores inventory their stock once a week.有些商店每周清点存货一次。
• We will need to call on our supplier to get more inventory.我们必须请供应商送来更多存货。

188 laconically   

adv.简短地，简洁地

参考例句：

• "I have a key,'said Rhett laconically, and his eyes met Melanie's evenly. "我有钥匙，"瑞德直截了当说。他和媚兰的眼光正好相遇。 来自飘（部分）
• 'says he's sick,'said Johnnie laconically. "他说他有玻"约翰尼要理不理的说。 来自飘（部分）

189 philosophic   

adj.哲学的，贤明的

参考例句：

• It was a most philosophic and jesuitical motorman.这是个十分善辩且狡猾的司机。
• The Irish are a philosophic as well as a practical race.爱尔兰人是既重实际又善于思想的民族。

190 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

191 abstruse   

adj.深奥的，难解的

参考例句：

• Einstein's theory of relativity is very abstruse.爱因斯坦的相对论非常难懂。
• The professor's lectures were so abstruse that students tended to avoid them.该教授的课程太深奥了，学生们纷纷躲避他的课。

192 economize   

v.节约，节省

参考例句：

• We're going to have to economize from now on. 从现在开始，我们不得不节约开支。
• We have to economize on water during the dry season. 我们在旱季不得不节约用水。

193 begrudge   

vt.吝啬，羡慕

参考例句：

• I begrudge spending so much money on train fares.我舍不得把这么多钱花在火车票上。
• We should not begrudge our neighbour's richness.我们不应该嫉妒邻人的富有。