“There was a time, I suppose, when it was all furnished,” she said.
“All these rooms were shut up when I came here,” Rosy9 answered. “I suppose things worth selling have been sold. When pieces of furniture were broken in one part of the house, they were replaced by things brought from another. No one cared. Nigel hates it all. He calls it a rathole. He detests10 the country everywhere, but particularly this part of it. After the first year I had learned better than to speak to him of spending money on repairs.”
“A good deal of money should be spent on repairs,” reflected Betty, looking about her.
She was standing11 in the middle of a room whose walls were hung with the remains12 of what had been chintz, covered with a pattern of loose clusters of moss13 rosebuds15. The dampness had rotted it until, in some places, it had fallen away in strips from its fastenings. A quaint16, embroidered17 couch stood in one corner, and as Betty looked at it, a mouse crept from under the tattered18 valance, stared at her in alarm and suddenly darted19 back again, in terror of intrusion so unusual. A casement20 window swung open, on a broken hinge, and a strong branch of ivy21, having forced its way inside, had thrown a covering of leaves over the deep ledge22, and was beginning to climb the inner woodwork. Through the casement was to be seen a heavenly spread of country, whose rolling lands were clad softly in green pastures and thick-branched trees.
“This is the Rosebud14 Boudoir,” said Lady Anstruthers, smiling faintly. “All the rooms have names. I thought them so delightful23, when I first heard them. The Damask Room—the Tapestry24 Room—the White Wainscot Room—My Lady's Chamber25. It almost broke my heart when I saw what they looked like.”
“It would be very interesting,” Betty commented slowly, “to make them look as they ought to look.”
A remote fear rose to the surface of the expression in Lady Anstruthers' eyes. She could not detach herself from certain recollections of Nigel—of his opinions of her family—of his determination not to allow it to enter as a factor in either his life or hers. And Betty had come to Stornham—Betty whom he had detested26 as a child—and in the course of two days, she had seemed to become a new part of the atmosphere, and to make the dead despair of the place begin to stir with life. What other thing than this was happening as she spoke27 of making such rooms as the Rosebud Boudoir “look as they ought to look,” and said the words not as if they were part of a fantastic vision, but as if they expressed a perfectly28 possible thing?
Betty saw the doubt in her eyes, and in a measure, guessed at its meaning. The time to pause for argument had, however not arrived. There was too much to be investigated, too much to be seen. She swept her on her way. They wandered on through some forty rooms, more or less; they opened doors and closed them; they unbarred shutters29 and let the sun stream in on dust and dampness and cobwebs. The comprehension of the situation which Betty gained was as valuable as it was enlightening.
The descent into the lower part of the house was a new experience. Betty had not before seen huge, flagged kitchens, vaulted30 servants' halls, stone passages, butteries and dairies. The substantial masonry31 of the walls and arched ceilings, the stone stairway, and the seemingly endless offices, were interestingly remote in idea from such domestic modernities as chance views of up-to-date American household workings had provided her.
In the huge kitchen itself, an elderly woman, rolling pastry32, paused to curtsy to them, with stolid33 curiosity in her heavy-featured face. In her character as “single-handed” cook, Mrs. Noakes had sent up uninviting meals to Lady Anstruthers for several years, but she had not seen her ladyship below stairs before. And this was the unexpected arrival—the young lady there had been “talk of” from the moment of her appearance. Mrs. Noakes admitted with the grudgingness34 of a person of uncheerful temperament35, that looks like that always would make talk. A certain degree of vague mental illumination led her to agree with Robert, the footman, that the stranger's effectiveness was, perhaps, also, not altogether a matter of good looks, and certainly it was not an affair of clothes. Her brightish blue dress, of rough cloth, was nothing particular, notwithstanding the fit of it. There was “something else about her.” She looked round the place, not with the casual indifference36 of a fine young lady, carelessly curious to see what she had not seen before, but with an alert, questioning interest.
“What a big place,” she said to her ladyship. “What substantial walls! What huge joints37 must have been roasted before such a fireplace.”
She drew near to the enormous, antiquated38 cooking place.
“People were not very practical when this was built,” she said. “It looks as if it must waste a great deal of coal. Is it——?” she looked at Mrs. Noakes. “Do you like it?”
There was a practical directness in the question for which Mrs. Noakes was not prepared. Until this moment, it had apparently39 mattered little whether she liked things or not. The condition of her implements40 of trade was one of her grievances—the ancient fireplace and ovens the bitterest.
“It's out of order, miss,” she answered. “And they don't use 'em like this in these days.”
“I thought not,” said Miss Vanderpoel.
She made other inquiries41 as direct and significant of the observing eye, and her passage through the lower part of the establishment left Mrs. Noakes and her companions in a strange but not unpleasurable state of ferment42.
“Think of a young lady that's never had nothing to do with kitchens, going straight to that shameful43 old fireplace, and seeing what it meant to the woman that's got to use it. 'Do you like it?' she says. If she'd been a cook herself, she couldn't have put it straighter. She's got eyes.”
“She's been using them all over the place,” said Robert. “Her and her ladyship's been into rooms that's not been opened for years.”
“More shame to them that should have opened 'em,” remarked Mrs. Noakes. “Her ladyship's a poor, listless thing—but her spirit was broken long ago.
“This one will mend it for her, perhaps,” said the man servant. “I wonder what's going to happen.”
“Well, she's got a look with her—the new one—as if where she was things would be likely to happen. You look out. The place won't seem so dead and alive if we've got something to think of and expect.”
“Who are the solicitors45 Sir Nigel employs?” Betty had asked her sister, when their pilgrimage through the house had been completed.
Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard, a firm which for several generations had transacted46 the legal business of much more important estates than Stornham, held its affairs in hand. Lady Anstruthers knew nothing of them, but that they evidently did not approve of the conduct of their client. Nigel was frequently angry when he spoke of them. It could be gathered that they had refused to allow him to do things he wished to do—sell things, or borrow money on them.
“I think we must go to London and see them,” Betty suggested.
Rosy was agitated47. Why should one see them? What was there to be spoken of? Their going, Betty explained would be a sort of visit of ceremony—in a measure a precaution. Since Sir Nigel was apparently not to be reached, having given no clue as to where he intended to go, it might be discreet48 to consult Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard with regard to the things it might be well to do—the repairs it appeared necessary to make at once. If Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard approved of the doing of such work, Sir Nigel could not resent their action, and say that in his absence liberties had been taken. Such a course seemed businesslike and dignified49.
It was what Betty felt that her father would do. Nothing could be complained of, which was done with the knowledge and under the sanction of the family solicitors.
“Then there are other things we must do. We must go to shops and theatres. It will be good for you to go to shops and theatres, Rosy.”
“I have nothing but rags to wear,” answered Lady Anstruthers, reddening.
“Then before we go we will have things sent down. People can be sent from the shops to arrange what we want.”
The magic of the name, standing for great wealth, could, it was true, bring to them, not only the contents of shops, but the people who showed them, and were ready to carry out any orders. The name of Vanderpoel already stood, in London, for inexhaustible resource. Yes, it was simple enough to send for politely subservient50 saleswomen to bring what one wanted.
The being reminded in every-day matters of the still real existence of the power of this magic was the first step in the rebuilding of Lady Anstruthers. To realise that the wonderful and yet simple necromancy51 was gradually encircling her again, had its parallel in the taking of a tonic52, whose effect was cumulative53. She herself did not realise the working of it. But Betty regarded it with interest. She saw it was good for her, merely to look on at the unpacking54 of the New York boxes, which the maid, sent for from London, brought down with her.
As the woman removed, from tray after tray, the tissue-paper-enfolded layers of garments, Lady Anstruthers sat and watched her with normal, simply feminine interest growing in her eyes. The things were made with the absence of any limit in expenditure55, the freedom with delicate stuffs and priceless laces which belonged only to her faint memories of a lost past.
Nothing had limited the time spent in the embroidering56 of this apparently simple linen57 frock and coat; nothing had restrained the hand holding the scissors which had cut into the lace which adorned58 in appliques and filmy frills this exquisitely59 charming ball dress.
“It is looking back so far,” she said, waving her hand towards them with an odd gesture. “To think that it was once all like—like that.”
She got up and went to the things, turning them over, and touching60 them with a softness, almost expressing a caress61. The names of the makers62 stamped on bands and collars, the names of the streets in which their shops stood, moved her. She heard again the once familiar rattle63 of wheels, and the rush and roar of New York traffic.
Betty carried on the whole matter with lightness. She talked easily and casually64, giving local colour to what she said. She described the abnormally rapid growth of the places her sister had known in her teens, the new buildings, new theatres, new shops, new people, the later mode of living, much of it learned from England, through the unceasing weaving of the Shuttle.
“Changing—changing—changing. That is what it is always doing—America. We have not reached repose65 yet. One wonders how long it will be before we shall. Now we are always hurrying breathlessly after the next thing—the new one—which we always think will be the better one. Other countries built themselves slowly. In the days of their building, the pace of life was a march. When America was born, the march had already begun to hasten, and as a nation we began, in our first hour, at the quickening speed. Now the pace is a race. New York is a kaleidoscope. I myself can remember it a wholly different thing. One passes down a street one day, and the next there is a great gap where some building is being torn down—a few days later, a tall structure of some sort is touching the sky. It is wonderful, but it does not tend to calm the mind. That is why we cross the Atlantic so much. The sober, quiet-loving blood our forbears brought from older countries goes in search of rest. Mixed with other things, I feel in my own being a resentment66 against newness and disorder67, and an insistence68 on the atmosphere of long-established things.”
But for years Lady Anstruthers had been living in the atmosphere of long-established things, and felt no insistence upon it. She yearned69 to hear of the great, changing Western world—of the great, changing city. Betty must tell her what the changes were. What were the differences in the streets—where had the new buildings been placed? How had Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue and Broadway altered? Were not Gramercy Park and Madison Square still green with grass and trees? Was it all different? Would she not know the old places herself? Though it seemed a lifetime since she had seen them, the years which had passed were really not so many.
It was good for her to talk and be talked to in this manner Betty saw. Still handling her subject lightly, she presented picture after picture. Some of them were of the wonderful, feverish70 city itself—the place quite passionately71 loved by some, as passionately disliked by others. She herself had fallen into the habit, as she left childhood behind her, of looking at it with interested wonder—at its riot of life and power, of huge schemes, and almost superhuman labours, of fortunes so colossal72 that they seemed monstrosities in their relation to the world. People who in Rosalie's girlhood had lived in big ugly brownstone fronts, had built for themselves or for their children, houses such as, in other countries, would have belonged to nobles and princes, spending fortunes upon their building, filling them with treasures brought from foreign lands, from palaces, from art galleries, from collectors. Sometimes strange people built such houses and lived strange lavish73, ostentatious lives in them, forming an overstrained, abnormal, pleasure-chasing world of their own. The passing of even ten years in New York counted itself almost as a generation; the fashions, customs, belongings of twenty years ago wore an air of almost picturesque74 antiquity75.
“It does not take long to make an 'old New Yorker,'” she said. “Each day brings so many new ones.”
There were, indeed, many new ones, Lady Anstruthers found. People who had been poor had become hugely rich, a few who had been rich had become poor, possessions which had been large had swelled76 to unnatural77 proportions. Out of the West had risen fortunes more monstrous78 than all others. As she told one story after another, Bettina realised, as she had done often before, that it was impossible to enter into description of the life and movements of the place, without its curiously79 involving some connection with the huge wealth of it—with its influence, its rise, its swelling80, or waning81.
“Somehow one cannot free one's self from it. This is the age of wealth and invention—but of wealth before all else. Sometimes one is tired—tired of it.”
“You would not be tired of it if—well, if you were I, said Lady Anstruthers rather pathetically.
“Perhaps not,” Betty answered. “Perhaps not.”
She herself had seen people who were not tired of it in the sense in which she was—the men and women, with worn or intently anxious faces, hastening with the crowds upon the pavements, all hastening somewhere, in chase of that small portion of the wealth which they earned by their labour as their daily share; the same men and women surging towards elevated railroad stations, to seize on places in the homeward-bound trains; or standing in tired-looking groups, waiting for the approach of an already overfull street car, in which they must be packed together, and swing to the hanging straps82, to keep upon their feet. Their way of being weary of it would be different from hers, they would be weary only of hearing of the mountains of it which rolled themselves up, as it seemed, in obedience83 to some irresistible84, occult force.
On the day after Stornham village had learned that her ladyship and Miss Vanderpoel had actually gone to London, the dignified firm of Townlinson & Sheppard received a visit which created some slight sensation in their establishment, though it had not been entirely85 unexpected. It had, indeed, been heralded86 by a note from Miss Vanderpoel herself, who had asked that the appointment be made. Men of Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard's indubitable rank in their profession could not fail to know the significance of the Vanderpoel name. They knew and understood its weight perfectly well. When their client had married one of Reuben Vanderpoel's daughters, they had felt that extraordinary good fortune had befallen him and his estate. Their private opinion had been that Mr. Vanderpoel's knowledge of his son-in-law must have been limited, or that he had curiously lax American views of paternal87 duty. The firm was highly reputable, long established strictly88 conservative, and somewhat insular89 in its point of view. It did not understand, or seek to understand, America. It had excellent reasons for thoroughly90 understanding Sir Nigel Anstruthers. Its opinions of him it reserved to itself. If Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard had been asked to give a daughter into their client's keeping, they would have flatly refused to accept the honour proposed. Mr. Townlinson had, indeed, at the time of the marriage, admitted in strict confidence to his partner that for his part he would have somewhat preferred to follow a daughter of his own to her tomb. After the marriage the firm had found the situation confusing and un-English. There had been trouble with Sir Nigel, who had plainly been disappointed. At first it had appeared that the American magnate had shown astuteness91 in refraining from leaving his son-in-law a free hand. Lady Anstruthers' fortune was her own and not her husband's. Mr. Townlinson, paying a visit to Stornham and finding the bride a gentle, childish-looking girl, whose most marked expression was one of growing timorousness92, had returned with a grave face. He foresaw the result, if her family did not stand by her with firmness, which he also foresaw her husband would prevent if possible. It became apparent that the family did not stand by her—or were cleverly kept at a distance. There was a long illness, which seemed to end in the seclusion93 from the world, brought about by broken health. Then it was certain that what Mr. Townlinson had foreseen had occurred. The inexperienced girl had been bullied94 into submission95. Sir Nigel had gained the free hand, whatever the means he had chosen to employ. Most improper96—most improper, the whole affair. He had a great deal of money, but none of it was used for the benefit of the estate—his deformed97 boy's estate. Advice, dignified remonstrance98, resulted only in most disagreeable scenes. Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard could not exceed certain limits. The manner in which the money was spent was discreditable. There were avenues a respectable firm knew only by rumour99, there were insane gambling101 speculations102, which could only end in disaster, there were things one could not decently concern one's self with. Lady Anstruthers' family had doubtless become indignant and disgusted, and had dropped the whole affair. Sad for the poor woman, but not unnatural.
And now appears a Miss Vanderpoel, who wishes to appoint an interview with Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard. What does she wish to say? The family is apparently taking the matter up. Is this lady an elder or a younger sister of Lady Anstruthers? Is she an older woman of that strong and rather trying American type one hears of, or is she younger than her ladyship, a pretty, indignant, totally unpractical girl, outraged103 by the state of affairs she has discovered, foolishly coming to demand of Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard an explanation of things they are not responsible for? Will she, perhaps, lose her temper, and accuse and reproach, or even—most unpleasant to contemplate—shed hysterical104 tears?
It fell to Mr. Townlinson to receive her in the absence of Mr. Sheppard, who had been called to Northamptonshire to attend to great affairs. He was a stout105, grave man with a heavy, well-cut face, and, when Bettina entered his room, his courteous106 reception of her reserved his view of the situation entirely.
She was not of the mature and rather alarming American type he had imagined possible, he felt some relief in marking at once. She was also not the pretty, fashionable young lady who might have come to scold him, and ask silly, irrational107 questions.
His ordinarily rather unillumined countenance108 changed somewhat in expression when she sat down and began to speak. Mr. Townlinson was impressed by the fact that it was at once unmistakably evident that whatsoever109 her reason for coming, she had not presented herself to ask irrelevant110 or unreasonable111 questions. Lady Anstruthers, she explained without superfluous112 phrase, had no definite knowledge of her husband's whereabouts, and it had seemed possible that Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard might have received some information more recent that her own. The impersonal113 framing of this inquiry114 struck Mr. Townlinson as being in remarkably115 good taste, since it conveyed no condemnation116 of Sir Nigel, and no desire to involve Mr. Townlinson in expressing any. It refrained even from implying that the situation was an unusual one, which might be open to criticism. Excellent reserve and great cleverness, Mr. Townlinson commented inwardly. There were certainly few young ladies who would have clearly realised that a solicitor44 cannot be called upon to commit himself, until he has had time to weigh matters and decide upon them. His long and varied117 experience had included interviews in which charming, emotional women had expected him at once to “take sides.” Miss Vanderpoel exhibited no signs of expecting anything of this kind, even when she went on with what she had come to say. Stornham Court and its surroundings were depreciating118 seriously in value through need of radical119 repairs etc. Her sister's comfort was naturally involved, and, as Mr. Townlinson would fully120 understand, her nephew's future. The sooner the process of dilapidation121 was arrested, the better and with the less difficulty. The present time was without doubt better than an indefinite future. Miss Vanderpoel, having fortunately been able to come to Stornham, was greatly interested, and naturally desirous of seeing the work begun. Her father also would be interested. Since it was not possible to consult Sir Nigel, it had seemed proper to consult his solicitors in whose hands the estate had been for so long a time. She was aware, it seemed, that not only Mr. Townlinson, but Mr. Townlinson's father, and also his grandfather, had legally represented the Anstruthers, as well as many other families. As there seemed no necessity for any structural122 changes, and the work done was such as could only rescue and increase the value of the estate, could there be any objection to its being begun without delay?
Certainly an unusual young lady. It would be interesting to discover how well she knew Sir Nigel, since it seemed that only a knowledge of him—his temper, his bitter, irritable123 vanity, could have revealed to her the necessity of the precaution she was taking without even intimating that it was a precaution. Extraordinarily124 clever girl.
Mr. Townlinson wore an air of quiet, business-like reflection.
“You are aware, Miss Vanderpoel, that the present income from the estate is not such as would justify125 anything approaching the required expenditure?”
“Yes, I am aware of that. The expense would be provided for by my father.”
“Most generous on Mr. Vanderpoel's part,” Mr. Townlinson commented. “The estate would, of course, increase greatly in value.”
Circumstances had prevented her father from visiting Stornham, Miss Vanderpoel explained, and this had led to his being ignorant of a condition of things which he might have remedied. She did not explain what the particular circumstances which had separated the families had been, but Mr. Townlinson thought he understood. The condition existing could be remedied now, if Messrs. Townlinson & Sheppard saw no obstacles other than scarcity126 of money.
Mr. Townlinson's summing up of the matter expressed in effect that he saw none. The estate had been a fine one in its day. During the last sixty years it had become much impoverished127. With conservative decorum of manner, he admitted that there had not been, since Sir Nigel's marriage, sufficient reason for the neglect of dilapidations. The firm had strongly represented to Sir Nigel that certain resources should not be diverted from the proper object of restoring the property, which was entailed128 upon his son. The son's future should beyond all have been considered in the dispensing129 of his mother's fortune.
He, by this time, comprehended fully that he need restrain no dignified expression of opinion in his speech with this young lady. She had come to consult with him with as clear a view of the proprieties130 and discretions demanded by his position as he had himself. And yet each, before the close of the interview, understood the point of view of the other. What he recognised was that, though she had not seen Sir Nigel since her childhood, she had in some astonishing way obtained an extraordinary insight into his character, and it was this which had led her to take her present step. She might not realise all she might have to contend with, but her conservative and formal action had surrounded her and her sister with a certain barrier of conventional protection, at once self-controlled, dignified, and astutely131 intelligent.
“Since, as you say, no structural changes are proposed, such as an owner might resent, and as Lady Anstruthers is the mother of the heir, and as Lady Anstruthers' father undertakes to defray all expenditure, no sane100 man could object to the restoration of the property. To do so would be to cause public opinion to express itself strongly against him. Such action would place him grossly in the wrong.” Then he added with deliberation, realising that he was committing himself, and feeling firmly willing to do so for reasons of his own, “Sir Nigel is a man who objects strongly to putting himself—publicly—in the wrong.”
“Thank you,” said Miss Vanderpoel.
He had said this of intention for her enlightenment, and she was aware that he had done so.
“This will not be the first time that American fortunes have restored English estates,” Mr. Townlinson continued amiably132. “There have been many notable cases of late years. We shall be happy to place ourselves at your disposal at all times, Miss Vanderpoel. We are obliged to you for your consideration in the matter.”
“Thank you,” said Miss Vanderpoel again. “I wished to be sure that I should not be infringing133 any English rule I had no knowledge of.”
“You will be infringing none. You have been most correct and courteous.”
Before she went away Mr. Townlinson felt that he had been greatly enlightened as to what a young lady might know and be. She gave him singularly clear details as to what was proposed. There was so much to be done that he found himself opening his eyes slightly once or twice. But, of course, if Mr. Vanderpoel was prepared to spend money in a lavish manner, it was all to the good so far as the estate was concerned. They were stupendous, these people, and after all the heir was his grandson. And how striking it was that with all this power and readiness to use it, was evidently combined, even in this beautiful young person, the clearest business sense of the situation. What was done would be for the comfort of Lady Anstruthers and the future of her son. Sir Nigel, being unable to sell either house or lands, could not undo134 it.
When Mr. Townlinson accompanied his visitor to her carriage with dignified politeness he felt somewhat like an elderly solicitor who had found himself drawn135 into the atmosphere of a sort of intensely modern fairy tale. He saw two of his under clerks, with the impropriety of middle-class youth, looking out of an office window at the dark blue brougham and the tall young lady, whose beauty bloomed in the sunshine. He did not, on the whole, wonder at, though he deplored136, the conduct of the young men. But they, of course, saw only what they colloquially137 described to each other as a “rippin' handsome girl.” They knew nothing of the interesting interview.
He himself returned to his private room in a musing138 mood and thought it all over, his mind dwelling139 on various features of the international situation, and more than once he said aloud:
“Most remarkable140. Very remarkable, indeed.”
该作者的其它作品
《秘密花园 The Secret Garden》
《A Little Princess》
该作者的其它作品
《秘密花园 The Secret Garden》
《A Little Princess》
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
deserted
|
|
| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
panes
|
|
| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
spotted
|
|
| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
utterly
|
|
| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
scantily
|
|
| adv.缺乏地；不充足地；吝啬地；狭窄地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
belongings
|
|
| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
dwindle
|
|
| v.逐渐变小（或减少） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
detests
|
|
| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
remains
|
|
| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
moss
|
|
| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
rosebud
|
|
| n.蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rosebuds
|
|
| 蔷薇花蕾，妙龄少女，初入社交界的少女( rosebud的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
embroidered
|
|
| adj．绣花的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
tattered
|
|
| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
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： |
|
|
|
|
20
casement
|
|
| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
ivy
|
|
| n.常青藤，常春藤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
ledge
|
|
| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
delightful
|
|
| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tapestry
|
|
| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
detested
|
|
| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
perfectly
|
|
| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
shutters
|
|
| 百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 )； （照相机的）快门 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
vaulted
|
|
| adj.拱状的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
masonry
|
|
| n.砖土建筑；砖石 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
pastry
|
|
| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
stolid
|
|
| adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
grudgingness
|
|
| 粒状的，木纹状的，多粒的； 成粒； 多粒状 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
indifference
|
|
| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
joints
|
|
| 接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
antiquated
|
|
| adj.陈旧的，过时的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
implements
|
|
| n.工具( implement的名词复数 )；家具；手段；[法律]履行（契约等）v.实现( implement的第三人称单数 )；执行；贯彻；使生效 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
inquiries
|
|
| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
ferment
|
|
| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
shameful
|
|
| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
solicitor
|
|
| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
solicitors
|
|
| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
transacted
|
|
| v.办理（业务等）( transact的过去式和过去分词 )；交易，谈判 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
discreet
|
|
| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
dignified
|
|
| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
subservient
|
|
| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
necromancy
|
|
| n.巫术；通灵术 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
tonic
|
|
| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
cumulative
|
|
| adj.累积的，渐增的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
unpacking
|
|
| n.取出货物，拆包[箱]v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
expenditure
|
|
| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
embroidering
|
|
| v.（在织物上）绣花( embroider的现在分词 )；刺绣；对…加以渲染（或修饰）；给…添枝加叶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
linen
|
|
| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
exquisitely
|
|
| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
caress
|
|
| vt./n.爱抚，抚摸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
makers
|
|
| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
casually
|
|
| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
resentment
|
|
| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
disorder
|
|
| n.紊乱，混乱；骚动，骚乱；疾病，失调 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
insistence
|
|
| n.坚持；强调；坚决主张 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
yearned
|
|
| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
feverish
|
|
| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
passionately
|
|
| ad.热烈地，激烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
colossal
|
|
| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
lavish
|
|
| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
antiquity
|
|
| n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
swelled
|
|
| 增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
monstrous
|
|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
swelling
|
|
| n.肿胀 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
waning
|
|
| adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
straps
|
|
| n.带子( strap的名词复数 )；挎带；肩带；背带v.用皮带捆扎( strap的第三人称单数 )；用皮带抽打；包扎；给…打绷带 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
obedience
|
|
| n.服从，顺从 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
irresistible
|
|
| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
heralded
|
|
| v.预示( herald的过去式和过去分词 )；宣布（好或重要） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
paternal
|
|
| adj.父亲的，像父亲的，父系的，父方的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
insular
|
|
| adj.岛屿的，心胸狭窄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
astuteness
|
|
| n.敏锐；精明；机敏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
timorousness
|
|
| n.羞怯，胆怯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
93
seclusion
|
|
| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
bullied
|
|
| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
submission
|
|
| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
deformed
|
|
| adj.畸形的；变形的；丑的，破相了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
remonstrance
|
|
| n抗议，抱怨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
rumour
|
|
| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
sane
|
|
| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
gambling
|
|
| n.赌博；投机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
speculations
|
|
| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
outraged
|
|
| a.震惊的，义愤填膺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
hysterical
|
|
| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
courteous
|
|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
irrational
|
|
| adj.无理性的，失去理性的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
whatsoever
|
|
| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
irrelevant
|
|
| adj.不恰当的，无关系的，不相干的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
unreasonable
|
|
| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
superfluous
|
|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
impersonal
|
|
| adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
inquiry
|
|
| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
condemnation
|
|
| n.谴责; 定罪 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
varied
|
|
| adj.多样的，多变化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
depreciating
|
|
| v.贬值，跌价，减价( depreciate的现在分词 )；贬低，蔑视，轻视 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
radical
|
|
| n.激进份子，原子团，根号；adj.根本的，激进的，彻底的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
dilapidation
|
|
| n.倒塌；毁坏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
structural
|
|
| adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
irritable
|
|
| adj.急躁的；过敏的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
extraordinarily
|
|
| adv.格外地；极端地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
justify
|
|
| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
scarcity
|
|
| n.缺乏，不足，萧条 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
impoverished
|
|
| adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
entailed
|
|
| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
dispensing
|
|
| v.分配( dispense的现在分词 )；施与；配（药） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
proprieties
|
|
| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
astutely
|
|
| adv.敏锐地；精明地；敏捷地；伶俐地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
amiably
|
|
| adv.和蔼可亲地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
infringing
|
|
| v.违反（规章等）( infringe的现在分词 )；侵犯（某人的权利）；侵害（某人的自由、权益等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
undo
|
|
| vt.解开，松开；取消，撤销 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
drawn
|
|
| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
deplored
|
|
| v.悲叹，痛惜，强烈反对( deplore的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
colloquially
|
|
| adv.用白话，用通俗语 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
dwelling
|
|
| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
remarkable
|
|
| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |