We had gone over the events of the day very thoroughly4. If anything, he was more alarmed over our predicament than I. He seemed to sense the danger that attended my decision to shelter and protect this cool-headed, rather self-centred young woman at the top of my castle. To me, it was something of a lark5; to him, a tragedy. He takes everything seriously, so much so in fact that he gets on my nerves. I wish he were not always looking at things through the little end of the telescope. I like a change, and it is a novelty to sometimes see things through the big end, especially peril6.
"They will yank us all up for aiding and abetting," he proclaimed, trying to focus his eyes on the shorthand book he was fumbling7.
"You wouldn't have me turn her over to the law, would you?" I demanded crossly. "Please don't forget that we are Americans."
"I don't," said he. "That's what worries me most of all."
"Well," said I loftily, "we'll see."
We were silent for a long time.
"It must be horribly lonely and spooky away up there where she is," I said at last, inadvertently betraying my thoughts. He sniffed8.
"Have you a cold?" I demanded, glaring at him.
"No," he said gloomily; "a presentiment9."
"Umph!"
Another period of silence. Then: "I wonder if Max—" I stopped short.
"Yes, sir," he said, with wonderful divination10. "He did."
"Any message?"
"She sent down word that the new cook is a jewel, but I think she must have been jesting. I've never cared for a man cook myself. I don't like to appear hypercritical, but what did you think of the dinner tonight, sir?"
"Ham! That's it, Mr. Smart. But what I'd like to know is this: What became of the grouse12 you ordered for dinner, sir? I happen to know that it was put over the fire at seven—"
"I sent it up to the countess, with our compliments," said I, peevishly13. I think that remark silenced him. At any rate, he got up and left the room.
I laid awake half the night morbidly14 berating15 the American father who is so afraid of his wife that he lets her bully16 him into sacrificing their joint17 flesh and blood upon the altar of social ambition. She had said that her father was opposed to the match from the beginning. Then why, in the name of heaven, wasn't he man enough to put a stop to it? Why—But what use is there in applying whys to a man who doesn't know what God meant when He fashioned two sexes? I put him down as neutral and tried my best to forget him.
But I couldn't forget the daughter of this browbeaten18 American father. There was something singularly familiar about her exquisite19 face, a conviction on my part that is easily accounted for. Her portrait, of course, had been published far and wide at the time of the wedding; she must have been pictured from every conceivable angle, with illimitable gowns, hats, veils and parasols, and I certainly could not have missed seeing her, even with half an eye. But for the life of me, I couldn't connect her with any of the much-talked-of international marriages that came to mind as I lay there going over the meagre assortment20 I was able to recall. I went to sleep wondering whether Poopendyke's memory was any better than mine. He is tremendously interested in the financial doings of our country, being the possessor of a flourishing savings22' account, and as he also possesses a lively sense of the ridiculous, it was not unreasonable23 to suspect that he might remember all the details of this particular transaction in stocks and bonds.
The next morning I set my labourers to work putting guest-rooms into shape for the coming of the Hazzards and the four friends who were to be with them for the week as my guests. They were to arrive on the next day but one, which gave me ample time to consult a furniture dealer24. I would have to buy at least six new beds and everything else with which to comfortably equip as many bed-chambers, it being a foregone conclusion that not even the husbands and wives would condescend25 to "double up" to oblige me. The expensiveness of this ill-timed visit had not occurred to me at the outset. Still there was some prospect26 of getting the wholesale27 price. On one point I was determined28; the workmen should not be laid off for a single hour, not even if my guests went off in a huff.
At twelve I climbed the tortuous29 stairs leading to the Countess's apartments. She opened the door herself in response to my rapping.
"I neglected to mention yesterday that I am expecting a houseful of guests in a day or two," I said, after she had given me a very cordial greeting.
"Guests?" she cried in dismay. "Oh, dear! Can't you put them off?"
"I have hopes that they won't be able to stand the workmen banging around all day," I confessed, somewhat guiltily.
"Women in the party?"
"They will be sure to nose me out," she said ruefully. "Women are dreadful nosers."
"Don't worry," I said. "We'll get a lot of new padlocks for the doors downstairs and you'll be as safe as can be, if you'll only keep quiet."
"But I don't see why I should be made to mope here all day and all night like a sick cat, holding my hand over Rosemary's mouth when she wants to cry, and muzzling31 poor Jinko so that he—"
"My dear Countess," I interrupted sternly, "you should not forget that these other guests of mine are invited here."
"But I was here first," she argued. "It is most annoying."
"I believe you said yesterday that you are in the habit of having your own way." She nodded her head. "Well, I am afraid you'll have to come down from your high horse—at least temporarily."
"Oh, I see. You—you mean to be very firm and domineering with me."
"You must try to see things from my point of—"
"Please don't say that!" she flared32. "I'm so tired of hearing those words. For the last three years I've been commanded to see things from some one else's point of view, and I'm sick of the expression."
"For heaven's sake, don't put me in the same boat with your husband!"
She regarded me somewhat frigidly33 for a moment longer, and then a slow, witching smile crept into her eyes.
"Do forgive me, Mr. Smart. I am such a piggy thing. I'll try to be nice and sensible, and I will be as still as a mouse all the time they're here. But you must promise to come up every day and give me the gossip. You can steal up, can't you? Surreptitiously?"
"Clandestinely," I said, gravely.
"Oh, I'm quite a safe old party," I assured her. "They couldn't make capital of me."
"The grouse was delicious," she said, deliberately36 changing the subject. Nice divorcees are always doing that.
We fell into a discussion of present and future needs; of ways and means for keeping my friends utterly37 in the dark concerning her presence in the abandoned east wing; and of what we were pleased to allude38 to as "separate maintenance," employing a phrase that might have been considered distasteful and even banal39 under ordinary conditions.
"I've been trying to recall all of the notable marriages we had in New York three years ago," said I, after she had most engagingly reduced me to a state of subjection in the matter of three or four moot40 questions that came up for settlement. "You don't seem to fit in with any of the international affairs I can bring to mind."
"Of course you were married in New York?"
"In a very nice church just off Fifth Avenue, if that will help you any," she said. "The usual crowd inside the church, and the usual mob outside, all fighting for a glimpse of me in my wedding shroud42, and for a chance to see a real Hungarian nobleman. It really was a very magnificent wedding, Mr. Smart." She seemed to be unduly43 proud of the spectacular sacrifice.
A knitted brow revealed the obfuscated44 condition of my brain. I was thinking very intently, not to say remotely.
"The whole world talked about it," she went on dreamily. "We had a real prince for the best man, and two of the ushers45 couldn't speak a word of English. Don't you remember that the police closed the streets in the neighbourhood of the church and wouldn't let people spoil everything by going about their business as they were in the habit of doing? Some of the shops sold window space to sight-seers, just as they do at a coronation."
"I daresay all this should let in light, but it doesn't."
"Don't you read the newspapers?" she cried impatiently. She actually resented my ignorance.
"Religiously," I said, stung to revolt. "But I make it a point never to read the criminal news."
"It is merely my way of saying that I put marriages of that character in the category of crime."
"Oh!" she cried, staring at me with unbelieving eyes.
"Every time a sweet, lovely American girl is delivered into the hands of a foreign bounder who happens to possess a title that needs fixing, I call the transaction a crime that puts white slavery in a class with the most trifling48 misdemeanours. You did not love this pusillanimous49 Count, nor did he care a hang for you. You were too young in the ways of the world to have any feeling for him, and he was too old to have any for you. The whole hateful business therefore resolved itself into a case of give and take—and he took everything. He took you and your father's millions and now you are both back where you began. Some one deliberately committed a crime, and as it wasn't you or the Count, who levied50 his legitimate51 toll,—it must have been the person who planned the conspiracy52. I take it, of course, that the whole affair was arranged behind your back, so to speak. To make it a perfectly53 fashionable and up-to-date delivery it would have been entirely54 out of place to consult the unsophisticated girl who was thrown in to make the title good. You were not sold to this bounder. It was the other way round. By the gods, madam, he was actually paid to take you!"
Her face was quite pale. Her eyes did not leave mine during the long and crazy diatribe,—of which I was already beginning to feel heartily55 ashamed,—and there was a dark, ominous56 fire in them that should have warned me.
She arose from her chair. It seemed to me she was taller than before.
"If nothing else came to me out of this transaction," she said levelly, "at least a certain amount of dignity was acquired. Pray remember that I am no longer the unsophisticated girl you so graciously describe. I am a woman, Mr. Smart."
"True," said I, senselessly dogged; "a woman with the power to think for yourself. That is my point. If the same situation arose at your present age, I fancy you'd be able to select a husband without assistance, and I venture to say you wouldn't pick up the first dissolute nobleman that came your way. No, my dear countess, you were not to blame. You thought, as your parents did, that marriage with a count would make a real countess of you. What rot! You are a simple, lovable American girl and that's all there ever can be to it. To the end of your days you will be an American. It is not within the powers of a scape-grace count to put you or any other American girl on a plane with the women who are born countesses, or duchesses, or anything of the sort. I don't say that you suffer by comparison with these noble ladies. As a matter of fact you are surpassingly finer in every way than ninety-nine per cent. of them,—poor things! Marrying an English duke doesn't make a genuine duchess out of an American girl, not by a long shot. She merely becomes a figure of speech. Your own experience should tell you that. Well, it's the same with all of them. They acquire a title, but not the homage57 that should go with it."
We were both standing58 now. She was still measuring me with somewhat incredulous eyes, rather more tolerant than resentful.
"Do you expect me to agree with you, Mr. Smart?" she asked.
"I do," said I, promptly59. "You, of all people, should be able to testify that my views are absolutely right."
"They are right," she said, simply. "Still you are pretty much of a brute60 to insult me with them."
"I most sincerely crave61 your pardon, if it isn't too late," I cried, abject62 once more. (I don't know what gets into me once in a while.)
"The safest way, I should say, is for neither of us to express an opinion so long as we are thrown into contact with each other. If you choose to tell the world what you think of me, all well and good. But please don't tell me."
"I can't convince the world what I think of you for the simple reason that I'd be speaking at random64. I don't know who you are."
"I've—I've done a most cowardly, despicable thing in hunting you—"
"Please! Please don't say anything more about it. I dare say you've done me a lot of good. Perhaps I shall see things a little more clearly. To be perfectly honest with you, I went into this marriage with my you his queen? You'll find it better than being a countess, believe me."
"I shall never marry, Mr. Smart," she said with decision. "Never, never again will I get into a mess that is so hard to get out of. I can say this to you because I've heard you are a bachelor. You can't take offence."
"God bless you!" she cried, bursting into a merry laugh, and I knew that a truce67 had been declared for the time being at least. "And now let us talk sense. Have you carefully considered the consequences if you are found out, Mr. Smart?"
"Found out?"
"If you are caught shielding a fugitive68 from justice. I couldn't go to sleep for hours last night thinking of what might happen to you if—"
"Nonsense!" I cried, but for the life of me I couldn't help feeling elated. She had a soul above self, after all!
"You see, I am a thief and a robber and a very terrible malefactor69, according to the reports Max brings over from the city. The fight for poor little Rosemary is destined70 to fill columns and columns in the newspapers of the two continents for months to come. You, Mr. Smart, may find yourself in the thick of it. If I were in your place, I should keep out of it."
"While I am not overjoyed by the prospect of being dragged into it, Countess, I certainly refuse to back out at this stage of the game. Moreover, you may rest assured that I shall not turn you out."
"It occurred to me last night that the safest thing for you to do, Mr. Smart, is to—to get out yourself."
I stared. She went on hurriedly: "Can't you go away for a month's visit or—"
"Well, upon my soul!" I gasped. "Would you turn me out of my own house? This beats anything I've—"
"I was only thinking of your peace of mind and your—your safety," she cried unhappily. "Truly, truly I was."
"Well, I prefer to stay here and do what little I can to shield you and Rosemary," said I sullenly71.
"I'll not say anything horrid72 again, Mr. Smart," she said quite meekly73. (I take this occasion to repeat that I've never seen any one in all my life so pretty as she!) Her moist red lip trembled slightly, like a censured74 child's.
At that instant there came a rapping on the door. I started apprehensively75.
"It is only Max with the coal," she explained, with obvious relief. "We keep a fire going in the grate all day long. You've no idea how cold it is up here even on the hottest days. Come in!"
The poor clumsy fellow spilled quantities of coal over the hearth79 when he attempted to replenish80 the fire at her command, and moved with greater celerity in making his escape from the room than I had ever known him to exercise before. Somehow I began to regain81 a lost feeling of confidence in myself. The confounded Schmicks, big and little, were afraid of me, after all.
"By the way," she said, after we had lighted our cigarettes, "I am nearly out of these." I liked the way she held the match for me, and then flicked82 it snappily into the centre of a pile of cushions six feet from the fireplace.
I made a mental note of the shortage and then admiringly said that I didn't see how any man, even a count could help adoring a woman who held a cigarette to her lips as she did.
"Oh," said she coolly, "his friends were willing worshippers, all of them. There wasn't a man among them who failed to make violent love to me, and with the Count's permission at that. You must not look so shocked. I managed to keep them at a safe distance. My unreasonable attitude toward them used to annoy my husband intensely."
"Good Lord!"
"Pooh! He didn't care what became of me. There was one particular man whom he favoured the most. A dreadful man! We quarrelled bitterly when I declared that either he or I would have to leave the house—forever. I don't mind confessing to you that the man I speak of is your friend, the gentle Count Hohendahl, some time ogre of this castle."
I shuddered83. A feeling of utter loathing84 for all these unprincipled scoundrels came over me, and I mildly took the name of the Lord in vain.
With an abrupt85 change of manner, she arose from her chair and began to pace the floor, distractedly beating her clinched86 hands against her bosom87. Twice I heard her murmur88: "Oh, God!"
This startling exposition of feeling gave me a most uncanny shock. It came out of a clear sky, so to say, at a moment when I was beginning to regard her as cold-blooded, callous89, and utterly without the emotions supposed to exist in the breast of every high-minded woman. And now I was witness to the pain she suffered, now I heard her cry out against the thing that had hurt her so pitilessly. I turned my head away, vastly moved. Presently she moved over to the window. A covert90 glance revealed her standing there, looking not down at the Danube that seemed so far away but up at the blue sky that seemed so near.
I sat very still and repressed, trying to remember the harsh, unkind things I had said to her, and berating myself fiercely for all of them. What a stupid, vainglorious91 ass21 I was, not to have divined something of the inward fight she was making to conquer the emotions that filled her heart unto the bursting point.
The sound of dry, suppressed sobs92 came to my ears. It was too much for me. I stealthily quit my position by the mantel-piece and tip-toed toward the door, bent93 on leaving her alone. Half-way there I hesitated, stopped and then deliberately returned to the fireplace, where I noisily shuffled94 a fresh supply of coals into the grate. It would be heartless, even unmannerly, to leave her without letting her know that I was heartily ashamed of myself and completely in sympathy with her. Wisely, however, I resolved to let her have her cry out. Some one a great deal more far-seeing than I let the world into a most important secret when he advised man to take that course when in doubt.
For a long while I waited for her to regain control of herself, rather dreading95 the apology she would feel called upon to make for her abrupt reversion to the first principles of her sex. The sobs ceased entirely. I experienced the sharp joy of relaxation96. Her dainty lace handkerchief found employment. First she would dab97 it cautiously in one eye, then the other, after which she would scrutinise its crumpled98 surface with most extraordinary interest. At least a dozen times she repeated this puzzling operation. What in the world was she looking for? To this day, that strange, sly peeking99 on her part remains100 a mystery to me.
She turned swiftly upon me and beckoned101 with her little forefinger102. Greatly concerned, I sprang toward her. Was she preparing to swoon? What in heaven's name was I to do if she took it into her pretty head to do such a thing as that? Involuntarily I shot a quick look at her blouse. To my horror it was buttoned down the back. It would be a bachelor's luck to—But she was smiling radiantly. Saved!
"Look!" she cried, pointing upward through the window. "Isn't she lovely?"
I stopped short in my tracks and stared at her in blank amazement103. What a stupefying creature she was!
She beckoned again, impatiently. I obeyed with alacrity104. Obtaining a rather clear view of her eyes, I was considerably105 surprised to find no trace of departed tears. Her cheek was as smooth and creamy white as it had been before the deluge106. Her eyelids107 were dry and orderly and her nose had not been blown once to my recollection. Truly, it was a marvellous recovery. I still wonder.
The cause of her excitement was visible at a glance. A trim nurse-maid stood in the small gallery which circled the top of the turret108, just above and to the right of us. She held in her arms the pink-hooded, pink-coated Rosemary, made snug109 against the chill winds of her lofty parade ground. Her yellow curls peeped out from beneath the lace of the hood46, and her round little cheeks were the colour of the peach's bloom.
"Now, isn't she lovely?" cried my eager companion.
"Even a crusty bachelor can see that she is adorable."
"I am not a crusty bachelor," I protested indignantly, "and what's more, I am positive I should like to kiss those red little cheeks, which is saying a great deal for me. I've never voluntarily kissed a baby in my life."
"I do not approve of the baby-kissing custom," she said severely. "It is extremely unhealthy and—middle-class. Still," seeing my expression change, "I sha'n't mind your kissing her once."
It was plain to be seen that she did not intend to refer to the recent outburst. Superb exposition of tact63!
Catching111 the nurse's eye, she signalled for her to bring the child down to us. Rosemary took to me at once. A most embarrassing thing happened. On seeing me she held out her chubby112 arms and shouted "da-da!" at the top of her infantile lungs. That had never happened to me before.
I flushed and the Countess shrieked113 with laughter. It wouldn't have been so bad if the nurse had known her place. If there is one thing in this world that I hate with fervour, it is an ill-mannered, poorly-trained servant. A grinning nurse-maid is the worst of all. I may be super-sensitive and crotchety about such things, but I can see no excuse for keeping a servant—especially a nurse-maid—who laughs at everything that's said by her superiors, even though the quip may be no more side-splitting than a two syllabled114 "da-da."
"Ha, ha!" I laughed bravely. "She—she evidently thinks I look like the Count. He is very handsome, you say."
"Oh, that isn't it," cried the Countess, taking Rosemary in her arms and directing me to a spot on her rosy115 cheek. "Kiss right there, Mr. Smart. There! Wasn't it a nice kiss, honey-bunch? If you are a very, very nice little girl the kind gentleman will kiss you on the other cheek some day. She calls every man she meets da-da," explained the radiant young mother. "She's awfully116 European in her habits, you see. You need not feel flattered. She calls Conrad and Rudolph and Max da-da, and this morning in the back window she applied117 the same handsome compliment to your Mr. Poopendyke."
"Oh," said I, rather more crestfallen118 than relieved.
"Would you like to hold her, Mr. Smart? She's such a darling to hold."
"No—no, thank you," I cried, backing off.
"Oh, you will come to it, never fear," she said gaily119, as she restored Rosemary to the nurse's arms. "Won't he, Blake?"
"He will, my lady," said Blake with conviction. I noticed this time that Blake's smile wasn't half bad.
At that instant Jinko, the chow, pushed the door open with his black nose and strolled imposingly120 into the room. He proceeded to treat me in the most cavalier fashion by bristling121 and growling122.
The Countess opened her eyes very wide.
"Dear me," she sighed, "you must be very like the Count, after all. Jinko never growls123 at any one but him."
At dinner that evening I asked Poopendyke point blank if he could call to mind a marriage in New York society that might fit the principals in this puzzling case.
"Really, sir, I—I—really, I—"
"You make it a point to read all of the society news," I explained; "and you are a great hand for remembering names and faces. Think hard."
"As a matter of fact, Mr. Smart, I do remember this particular marriage very clearly," said he, looking down at his plate.
"You do?" I shouted eagerly. The new footman stared. "Splendid! Tell me, who is she—or was she?"
"I'm sorry, sir, but—but I can't do it. I promised her this morning I wouldn't let it be dragged out of me with red hot tongs126."
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lapses
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| n.失误，过失( lapse的名词复数 )；小毛病；行为失检；偏离正道v.退步( lapse的第三人称单数 )；陷入；倒退；丧失 | |
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consecutiveness
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| Consecutiveness | |
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hitching
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| 搭乘； （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的现在分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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lark
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| n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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fumbling
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| n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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presentiment
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| n.预感，预觉 | |
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divination
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| n.占卜，预测 | |
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broiled
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| a.烤过的 | |
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grouse
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| n.松鸡；v.牢骚，诉苦 | |
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peevishly
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| adv．暴躁地 | |
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morbidly
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| adv.病态地 | |
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berating
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| v.严厉责备，痛斥( berate的现在分词 ) | |
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bully
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| n.恃强欺弱者，小流氓；vt.威胁，欺侮 | |
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joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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browbeaten
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| v.（以言辞或表情）威逼，恫吓( browbeat的过去分词 ) | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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ass
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| n.驴；傻瓜，蠢笨的人 | |
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savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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unreasonable
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| adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的 | |
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dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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wholesale
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| n.批发；adv.以批发方式；vt.批发，成批出售 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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muzzling
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| 给（狗等）戴口套( muzzle的现在分词 )； 使缄默，钳制…言论 | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33
frigidly
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| adv.寒冷地；冷漠地；冷淡地；呆板地 | |
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34
outright
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| adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的 | |
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35
pointedly
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| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
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36
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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37
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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38
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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39
banal
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| adj.陈腐的，平庸的 | |
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40
moot
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| v.提出；adj.未决议的；n.大会；辩论会 | |
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41
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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42
shroud
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| n.裹尸布，寿衣；罩，幕；vt.覆盖，隐藏 | |
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43
unduly
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| adv.过度地，不适当地 | |
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44
obfuscated
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| v.使模糊，使混乱( obfuscate的过去式和过去分词 )；使糊涂 | |
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45
ushers
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| n.引座员( usher的名词复数 )；招待员；门房；助理教员v.引，领，陪同( usher的第三人称单数 ) | |
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46
hood
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| n.头巾，兜帽，覆盖；v.罩上，以头巾覆盖 | |
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47
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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48
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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49
pusillanimous
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| adj.懦弱的，胆怯的 | |
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50
levied
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| 征（兵）( levy的过去式和过去分词 )； 索取； 发动（战争）； 征税 | |
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51
legitimate
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| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
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52
conspiracy
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| n.阴谋，密谋，共谋 | |
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53
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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54
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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55
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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56
ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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57
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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58
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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59
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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60
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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61
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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62
abject
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| adj.极可怜的，卑屈的 | |
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63
tact
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| n.机敏，圆滑，得体 | |
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64
random
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| adj.随机的；任意的；n.偶然的(或随便的)行动 | |
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65
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66
humility
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| n.谦逊，谦恭 | |
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67
truce
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| n.休战，(争执，烦恼等的)缓和；v.以停战结束 | |
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68
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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69
malefactor
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| n.罪犯 | |
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70
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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71
sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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72
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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73
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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74
censured
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| v.指责，非难，谴责( censure的过去式 ) | |
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75
apprehensively
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| adv.担心地 | |
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76
scuttle
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| v.急赶，疾走，逃避；n.天窗；舷窗 | |
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77
petrified
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| adj.惊呆的；目瞪口呆的v.使吓呆，使惊呆；变僵硬；使石化(petrify的过去式和过去分词) | |
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78
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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79
hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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80
replenish
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| vt.补充；(把…)装满；(再)填满 | |
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81
regain
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| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
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82
flicked
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| （尤指用手指或手快速地）轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 )； （用…）轻挥； （快速地）按开关； 向…笑了一下（或瞥了一眼等） | |
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83
shuddered
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| v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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84
loathing
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| n.厌恶，憎恨v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的现在分词)；极不喜欢 | |
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85
abrupt
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| adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的 | |
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86
clinched
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| v.（尤指两人）互相紧紧抱[扭]住( clinch的过去式和过去分词 )；解决（争端、交易），达成（协议） | |
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87
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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88
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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89
callous
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| adj.无情的，冷淡的，硬结的，起老茧的 | |
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90
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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91
vainglorious
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| adj.自负的；夸大的 | |
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92
sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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93
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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94
shuffled
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| v.洗（纸牌）( shuffle的过去式和过去分词 )；拖着脚步走；粗心地做；摆脱尘世的烦恼 | |
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95
dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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96
relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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97
dab
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| v.轻触，轻拍，轻涂；n.(颜料等的)轻涂 | |
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98
crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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99
peeking
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| v.很快地看( peek的现在分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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100
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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101
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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102
forefinger
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| n.食指 | |
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103
amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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104
alacrity
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| n.敏捷，轻快，乐意 | |
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105
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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106
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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107
eyelids
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| n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 )；眼睛也不眨一下；不露声色；面不改色 | |
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108
turret
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| n.塔楼，角塔 | |
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109
snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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110
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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111
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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112
chubby
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| adj.丰满的，圆胖的 | |
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113
shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
syllabled
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| 有…音节的 | |
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115
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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116
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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117
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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118
crestfallen
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| adj. 挫败的，失望的，沮丧的 | |
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119
gaily
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| adv.欢乐地，高兴地 | |
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120
imposingly
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121
bristling
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| a.竖立的 | |
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122
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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123
growls
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的第三人称单数 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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124
hemmed
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| 缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 )； 包围 | |
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125
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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126
tongs
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| n.钳；夹子 | |
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