Edgar, after he had turned his eyes on Mimi, resumed his apathetic2 position and sullen3 silence. Mimi quietly took a seat a little way apart, whence she could look on the progress of the coming storm and study its appearance throughout the whole visible circle of the neighbourhood. She was in brighter and better spirits than she had been for many days past. Lady Arabella tried to efface4 herself behind the now open door.
Without, the clouds grew thicker and blacker as the storm-centre came closer. As yet the forces, from whose linking the lightning springs, were held apart, and the silence of nature proclaimed the calm before the storm. Caswall felt the effect of the gathering5 electric force. A sort of wild exultation6 grew upon him, such as he had sometimes felt just before the breaking of a tropical storm. As he became conscious of this, he raised his head and caught sight of Mimi. He was in the grip of an emotion greater than himself; in the mood in which he was he felt the need upon him of doing some desperate deed. He was now absolutely reckless, and as Mimi was associated with him in the memory which drove him on, he wished that she too should be engaged in this enterprise. He had no knowledge of the proximity7 of Lady Arabella, and thought that he was far removed from all he knew and whose interests he shared—alone with the wild elements, which were being lashed8 to fury, and with the woman who had struggled with him and vanquished9 him, and on whom he would shower the full measure of his hate.
The fact was that Edgar Caswall was, if not mad, close to the border-line. Madness in its first stage—monomania—is a lack of proportion. So long as this is general, it is not always noticeable, for the uninspired onlooker10 is without the necessary means of comparison. But in monomania the errant faculty11 protrudes12 itself in a way that may not be denied. It puts aside, obscures, or takes the place of something else—just as the head of a pin placed before the centre of the iris13 will block out the whole scope of vision. The most usual form of monomania has commonly the same beginning as that from which Edgar Caswall suffered—an over-large idea of self-importance. Alienists, who study the matter exactly, probably know more of human vanity and its effects than do ordinary men. Caswall’s mental disturbance was not hard to identify. Every asylum14 is full of such cases—men and women, who, naturally selfish and egotistical, so appraise15 to themselves their own importance that every other circumstance in life becomes subservient16 to it. The disease supplies in itself the material for self-magnification. When the decadence17 attacks a nature naturally proud and selfish and vain, and lacking both the aptitude18 and habit of self-restraint, the development of the disease is more swift, and ranges to farther limits. It is such persons who become imbued19 with the idea that they have the attributes of the Almighty20—even that they themselves are the Almighty.
Mimi had a suspicion—or rather, perhaps, an intuition—of the true state of things when she heard him speak, and at the same time noticed the abnormal flush on his face, and his rolling eyes. There was a certain want of fixedness21 of purpose which she had certainly not noticed before—a quick, spasmodic utterance22 which belongs rather to the insane than to those of intellectual equilibrium23. She was a little frightened, not only by his thoughts, but by his staccato way of expressing them.
Caswall moved to the door leading to the turret24 stair by which the roof was reached, and spoke25 in a peremptory26 way, whose tone alone made her feel defiant27.
“Come! I want you.”
She instinctively28 drew back—she was not accustomed to such words, more especially to such a tone. Her answer was indicative of a new contest.
“Why should I go? What for?”
He did not at once reply—another indication of his overwhelming egotism. She repeated her questions; habit reasserted itself, and he spoke without thinking the words which were in his heart.
“I want you, if you will be so good, to come with me to the turret roof. I am much interested in certain experiments with the kite, which would be, if not a pleasure, at least a novel experience to you. You would see something not easily seen otherwise.”
“I will come,” she answered simply; Edgar moved in the direction of the stair, she following close behind him.
She did not like to be left alone at such a height, in such a place, in the darkness, with a storm about to break. Of himself she had no fear; all that had been seemed to have passed away with her two victories over him in the struggle of wills. Moreover, the more recent apprehension—that of his madness—had also ceased. In the conversation of the last few minutes he seemed so rational, so clear, so unaggressive, that she no longer saw reason for doubt. So satisfied was she that even when he put out a hand to guide her to the steep, narrow stairway, she took it without thought in the most conventional way.
Lady Arabella, crouching29 in the lobby behind the door, heard every word that had been said, and formed her own opinion of it. It seemed evident to her that there had been some rapprochement between the two who had so lately been hostile to each other, and that made her furiously angry. Mimi was interfering30 with her plans! She had made certain of her capture of Edgar Caswall, and she could not tolerate even the lightest and most contemptuous fancy on his part which might divert him from the main issue. When she became aware that he wished Mimi to come with him to the roof and that she had acquiesced31, her rage got beyond bounds. She became oblivious32 to any danger there might be in a visit to such an exposed place at such a time, and to all lesser33 considerations, and made up her mind to forestall34 them. She stealthily and noiselessly crept through the wicket, and, ascending35 the stair, stepped out on the roof. It was bitterly cold, for the fierce gusts36 of the storm which swept round the turret drove in through every unimpeded way, whistling at the sharp corners and singing round the trembling flagstaff. The kite-string and the wire which controlled the runners made a concourse of weird37 sounds which somehow, perhaps from the violence which surrounded them, acting38 on their length, resolved themselves into some kind of harmony—a fitting accompaniment to the tragedy which seemed about to begin.
Mimi’s heart beat heavily. Just before leaving the turret-chamber she had a shock which she could not shake off. The lights of the room had momentarily revealed to her, as they passed out, Edgar’s face, concentrated as it was whenever he intended to use his mesmeric power. Now the black eyebrows39 made a thick line across his face, under which his eyes shone and glittered ominously40. Mimi recognised the danger, and assumed the defiant attitude that had twice already served her so well. She had a fear that the circumstances and the place were against her, and she wanted to be forearmed.
The sky was now somewhat lighter41 than it had been. Either there was lightning afar off, whose reflections were carried by the rolling clouds, or else the gathered force, though not yet breaking into lightning, had an incipient42 power of light. It seemed to affect both the man and the woman. Edgar seemed altogether under its influence. His spirits were boisterous43, his mind exalted44. He was now at his worst; madder than he had been earlier in the night.
Mimi, trying to keep as far from him as possible, moved across the stone floor of the turret roof, and found a niche46 which concealed47 her. It was not far from Lady Arabella’s place of hiding.
Edgar, left thus alone on the centre of the turret roof, found himself altogether his own master in a way which tended to increase his madness. He knew that Mimi was close at hand, though he had lost sight of her. He spoke loudly, and the sound of his own voice, though it was carried from him on the sweeping48 wind as fast as the words were spoken, seemed to exalt45 him still more. Even the raging of the elements round him appeared to add to his exaltation. To him it seemed that these manifestations49 were obedient to his own will. He had reached the sublime50 of his madness; he was now in his own mind actually the Almighty, and whatever might happen would be the direct carrying out of his own commands. As he could not see Mimi, nor fix whereabout she was, he shouted loudly:
“Come to me! You shall see now what you are despising, what you are warring against. All that you see is mine—the darkness as well as the light. I tell you that I am greater than any other who is, or was, or shall be. When the Master of Evil took Christ up on a high place and showed Him all the kingdoms of the earth, he was doing what he thought no other could do. He was wrong—he forgot Me. I shall send you light, up to the very ramparts of heaven. A light so great that it shall dissipate those black clouds that are rushing up and piling around us. Look! Look! At the very touch of my hand that light springs into being and mounts up—and up—and up!”
He made his way whilst he was speaking to the corner of the turret whence flew the giant kite, and from which the runners ascended51. Mimi looked on, appalled52 and afraid to speak lest she should precipitate53 some calamity54. Within the niche Lady Arabella cowered55 in a paroxysm of fear.
Edgar took up a small wooden box, through a hole in which the wire of the runner ran. This evidently set some machinery56 in motion, for a sound as of whirring came. From one side of the box floated what looked like a piece of stiff ribbon, which snapped and crackled as the wind took it. For a few seconds Mimi saw it as it rushed along the sagging57 line to the kite. When close to it, there was a loud crack, and a sudden light appeared to issue from every chink in the box. Then a quick flame flashed along the snapping ribbon, which glowed with an intense light—a light so great that the whole of the countryside around stood out against the background of black driving clouds. For a few seconds the light remained, then suddenly disappeared in the blackness around. It was simply a magnesium58 light, which had been fired by the mechanism59 within the box and carried up to the kite. Edgar was in a state of tumultuous excitement, shouting and yelling at the top of his voice and dancing about like a lunatic.
This was more than Lady Arabella’s curious dual60 nature could stand—the ghoulish element in her rose triumphant61, and she abandoned all idea of marriage with Edgar Caswall, gloating fiendishly over the thought of revenge.
She must lure62 him to the White Worm’s hole—but how? She glanced around and quickly made up her mind. The man’s whole thoughts were absorbed by his wonderful kite, which he was showing off, in order to fascinate her imaginary rival, Mimi.
On the instant she glided63 through the darkness to the wheel whereon the string of the kite was wound. With deft64 fingers she unshipped this, took it with her, reeling out the wire as she went, thus keeping, in a way, in touch with the kite. Then she glided swiftly to the wicket, through which she passed, locking the gate behind her as she went.
Down the turret stair she ran quickly, letting the wire run from the wheel which she carried carefully, and, passing out of the hall door, hurried down the avenue with all her speed. She soon reached her own gate, ran down the avenue, and with her key opened the iron door leading to the well-hole.
She felt well satisfied with herself. All her plans were maturing, or had already matured. The Master of Castra Regis was within her grasp. The woman whose interference she had feared, Lilla Watford, was dead. Truly, all was well, and she felt that she might pause a while and rest. She tore off her clothes, with feverish65 fingers, and in full enjoyment66 of her natural freedom, stretched her slim figure in animal delight. Then she lay down on the sofa—to await her victim! Edgar Caswall’s life blood would more than satisfy her for some time to come.
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1
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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apathetic
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| adj.冷漠的，无动于衷的 | |
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3
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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efface
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| v.擦掉，抹去 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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onlooker
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| n.旁观者，观众 | |
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faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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protrudes
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| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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asylum
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| n.避难所，庇护所，避难 | |
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appraise
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| v.估价，评价，鉴定 | |
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subservient
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| adj.卑屈的，阿谀的 | |
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decadence
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| n.衰落，颓废 | |
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aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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imbued
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| v.使（某人/某事）充满或激起（感情等）( imbue的过去式和过去分词 )；使充满；灌输；激发（强烈感情或品质等） | |
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20
almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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21
fixedness
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| n.固定；稳定；稳固 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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25
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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peremptory
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| adj.紧急的，专横的，断然的 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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31
acquiesced
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| v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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forestall
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| vt.抢在…之前采取行动；预先阻止 | |
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ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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36
gusts
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| 一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作 | |
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weird
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| adj.古怪的，离奇的；怪诞的，神秘而可怕的 | |
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38
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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39
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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40
ominously
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| adv.恶兆地，不吉利地；预示地 | |
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41
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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42
incipient
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| adj.起初的，发端的，初期的 | |
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43
boisterous
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| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
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44
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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45
exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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46
niche
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| n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等) | |
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47
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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48
sweeping
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| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
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49
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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50
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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51
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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52
appalled
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| v.使惊骇，使充满恐惧( appall的过去式和过去分词)adj.惊骇的；丧胆的 | |
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53
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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54
calamity
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| n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件 | |
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55
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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56
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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57
sagging
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| 下垂[沉，陷]，松垂，垂度 | |
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58
magnesium
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| n.镁 | |
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59
mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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60
dual
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| adj.双的；二重的，二元的 | |
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61
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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62
lure
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| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
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63
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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64
deft
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| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
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feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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66
enjoyment
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| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
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