Numberless elderly dames6, both in Society and out of it, owed their surprising looks of youth and beauty to the mistress of the Turkish Shop. It was situated7 in a mean little lane, leading from the High Street, Kensington, to nowhere in particular; and was, to the faded belles8 of Mayfair, a veritable fountain of youth, hidden in a shady corner. Ladies entered the shop old, and came out young; they left their broughams ugly, and returned beautiful.
The shop was a pink-painted building which faced the blank walls of other houses on the opposite side of the crooked9 lane, so that it could not be overlooked by any Peeping Tom. No spy could remark who went into the beauty factory or who came out of it, which was highly convenient, since Madame Coralie's clients conducted their visits with great secrecy10 for obvious reasons. The remaining dwellings11 in the lane were inhabited by poor people, who found their time sufficiently12 occupied in earning a bare livelihood13, and who, consequently, paid no attention to the concerns of this particular neighbourhood. The lane formed a short cut between the High Street and the back portions of Kensington Palace, but few people passed through it, preferring to go round by the Gardens. A more central or a more retiring spot for the peculiar14 business of the shop could scarcely have been found; and this modest seclusion15 had much to do with Madame Coralie's success. Her customers usually came in broughams, motor or horse, and, as a rule, at nightfall, when few people were about. If the restorative treatment required time--which it frequently did--the comfortable bedrooms on the first floor could be occupied, and generally were, at a high rate of payment. Madame Coralie's clients declared unanimously that she was a true daughter of the horse-leech; but, however loudly they objected to her charges, they rarely refused to pay them. If they did, the miracle of rejuvenation16 did not transpire17.
Those Society ladies who wished to retain or regain18 their good looks--and they formed a large majority--were well acquainted with that fantastic little shop, although their husbands and lovers and brothers and fathers did not dream of its existence. The police knew, but the police said nothing--partly because Madame Coralie skilfully19 kept on the right side of the law, and partly for the excellent reason that many of her clients were the wives and daughters, sisters, cousins, and aunts of the men who governed. Madame Coralie was blatantly20 respectable, and if she did supplement her acknowledged business by telling fortunes, and lending money, and arranging assignations and smothering21 scandals, she always acted so discreetly22 that no one in authority could say a word. Vice23 in this instance aped Virtue24 by assuming a modest demeanour.
Although coloured a bright pink, the shop really presented a demure25 appearance, as if unwilling26 to thrust itself into notice. Clients sometimes suggested that it should be painted as grey as a warship27, since that unobtrusive hue28 was more in keeping with its necessary secrecy; but Madame Coralie held--and not unreasonably--that the flamboyant29 front was an excellent clue to the whereabouts of her business premises30. Any lady told by a friend to go to the pink shop in Walpole Lane had no difficulty in finding her destination. The house, with its glaring tint31, looked like a single peony in a colourless winter field, and just hinted sufficient publicity32 to lure33 customers into its perfumed seclusion. To womankind it was as a candle to many moths34, and they all flocked round it with eagerness. And to do Madame Coralie justice, none of the moths were ever burnt, or even singed--she knew her business too well to risk any catastrophe35 which might attract the attention of Scotland Yard.
The ground floor of the building, decorated in a picturesque36 Saracenic fashion, and draped with oddly-patterned Eastern hangings, looked very much like an ordinary drawing-room, though somewhat more artistic37 and striking. Its polished floor was strewn with Persian praying-mats, while both ceiling and walls were painted in vivid colours with arabesque38 fancies, interspersed39 with poetic40 sentences from the poems of Sadi, Hafiz, and Omar Khayyam, written in flowery Turkish script. Broad divans42 of pink silk filled in various alcoves44, masked by pierced horse-shoe arches of thin white-painted wood. In the centre bubbled a tiny fountain from a basin of snowy marble, and round this were Turkish stools of black wood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl, convenient to small tables adorned45 with ivory. The broad, low windows looking out on to the lane were hidden by fluted46 curtains of pink silk, interwoven with silver thread, and the light filtering through these being somewhat dim, even at noon, artificial illumination was supplied by many Moorish47 lamps fed with perfumed oil.
The whole shop reeked48 with scent49, so that the atmosphere was heavy, sensuous50 and stupefying. Stepping through the street door--plain without, and elaborately carved within--Madame Coralie's customers at once left foggy, prosaic51 England for the allurements52 of the Near East; and in this secret chamber53 they found those rich suggestions of the Orient which awakened54 the latent longing55 for luxury common to all women.
And the costumes of Madame Coralie and her four assistants were in complete keeping with these surroundings--so characteristic of a Pasha's harem. They wore Turkish trousers, Turkish slippers56 and jackets, and voluminous Turkish veils; but the mistress alone assumed the yashmak--that well-known Eastern covering for the face, which reveals only the eyes, and accentuates57 the brilliancy of the same. No one had ever seen Madame Coralie without this concealment58, and not even when alone with her quartette of young girls did she lay it aside. Consequently, it is impossible to say what her looks were like. Only two hard, piercing black eyes were visible, and, staring in an unwinking manner above the yashmak, they looked as sinister59 as those of an octopus60. At least, one of Madame's overcharged customers said as much when the bill was presented, and it is probable that she was correct in her description. The fat little woman with the shapeless figure and deft61 fingers, and the cajoling tongue, belied62 by the hard eyes, was a veritable octopus, so far as money was concerned. She gathered in everything and gave out nothing. Even her assistants were not paid; for she lodged63 and boarded them, and taught them her doubtful trade, in lieu of giving wages.
These same assistants--four pretty, fresh and charming girls--were peculiar, to say the least of it. They bore Eastern names, to match their garb64 and the shop; but only the eldest65 of them--fancifully called Badoura--was in full possession of the five senses appertaining to humanity. Zobeide was adder-deaf, Peri Banou could not speak, and Parizade's beautiful blue eyes were sightless. Why Madame Coralie should have chosen these defective66 beings to attend on her customers was a mystery to all. But there was method in the old woman's apparent madness; for each of the trio, lacking a single sense, had more or less developed the remaining ones to unusual perfection. The blind Parizade possessed67 a marvellously deft touch, and her olfactory68 nerves were so keen as to cause her positive pain. Dumb Peri Banou had eyes like those of a lynx, and could spy out wrinkles and flaws and spots and grey hairs in a way which no other woman could have done; while Zobeide's deafness was more than compensated69 by her instinct for colouring complexions70, and her faultless judgment72 in blending and preparing the various herbs, drugs and spices which combined to form those wares73 Madame Coralie's customers so eagerly purchased.
Badoura overlooked the three girls when Madame was absent, and being in full possession of her senses was extremely clever, diplomatic and managing. She attended mainly to the shop, while Parizade massaged74 wrinkled faces and kneaded figures into shape. Of the other two girls--Zobeide tinted76 wan77 cheeks, burnished78 drab hair, and pencilled delicate eyebrows79, leaving Peri Banou to diagnose fresh cases, to point out defects, make suggestions, and put the final touches to renovated80 beauty. These four girls, under the able superintendence of Madame, could give a bulky matron the shape of Hebe, and could change the yellow of an unpleasant complexion71 to the rosy81 hues82 of dawn. The weary, worn women who passed through their hands said good-bye to them--with many thanks--as sprightly83, blooming girls, with at least ten or twenty years taken from their ages. No wonder Madame Coralie was adored as Medea, and was looked upon by Society dames as their best and dearest friend, with the emphasis on the second adjective.
Madame Coralie boasted that no woman, not even the plainest, need despair while the wonder-shop--as some called it--was in existence; but it must be confessed that she found it sometimes difficult to work the expected miracle. Nature had done her worst with some customers, and no artificial aids could improve them, while others had left the renovative process too late, and there remained only unpromising material out of which to reconstruct the youthful past. Lady Branwin, for instance--really, it was impossible to do anything with Lady Branwin. When she came one June evening at five o'clock to the Turkish Shop, its owner told her so in the rude, bullying84 manner of a despot, who knows that her victim cannot object. Madame Coralie only assumed her cajoling voice and manner when her customers were insolent85 in a well-bred way--to the meek86, she spoke87 like the skipper of a tramp with a Dago crew.
"I can't do anything for you," said Madame Coralie, bluntly; "you never had a good figure, or even the makings of one. All the massage75 and stays and dieting in the world can never improve it into anything decent."
"My complexion isn't so very bad," faltered88 Lady Branwin, not daring to rebel against this priestess of the toilette mysteries.
"Your what? Leather, my dear; thick, yellow leather, through which the blood can never show. No wash will make any impression on it, so why waste my time and your money?"
Lady Branwin, inwardly furious but outwardly submissive, dropped panting on to the soft divan41 of the particular alcove43 wherein this agreeable conversation was taking place. She somewhat resembled the autocrat89 of Mayfair, being stout90 and black-eyed, and short in stature91. Her face had once been pretty and piquant92, but being small and delicate was now sketched93, as it were, on superabundant adipose94. Her hair was really white with age, but from the use of many dyes had become parti-coloured, and her complexion was sinfully muddy. The sole beauty she possessed were two magnificent Spanish eyes, as large as of Madame Coralie, but scarcely so hard in expression. She was richly arrayed in a dove-coloured silk dress and a loose mantle95 of brown velvet96 trimmed with moonlight beads97, together with a "Merry Widow" hat, appallingly98 un-becoming to her tiny features. Also she glittered with many brooches, bracelets99, chains, and jewelled buttons, and even dangled100 a pair of lengthy101 earrings102, after the barbaric fashion of the Albert period. Indeed, Lady Branwin did not look unlike a barbarian103, say, an Esquimau, or an Indian squaw, with her yellow face, her squat104 figure, and her multiplicity of jewellery, although in this last respect she more resembled an Oriental. She breathed hard, and the tears came into her eyes as Madame Coralie continued her very personal remarks. "A sack," said the restorer of youth, "mere105 sack--a ruin of what you were sixty years ago."
This was too much, and the worm turned. "I am only fifty--you know I am."
"You look like a hundred, and nothing I can do for you will make you look less," was the relentless106 answer. "You eat and drink and sleep too much, and never take exercise, and your eyes show that you take morphia."
"I don't--it's not true. How dare you say so--how cruel to--"
"Don't waste your breath on me, my dear," advised Madame, coolly. "I am only a shop-keeper, who is honest enough to tell the truth. It's against my own interest, I admit; but why should I give expensive treatment to a woman who can do me no credit?"
"I can pay for the treatment--there is no reason why I shouldn't have it."
"There is no question of being sure," replied Lady Branwin, with dignity, "for my husband, Sir Joseph, is wealthy, as you know. You have only to name your price to have it."
This made an impression on Madame Coralie, who was nothing if not greedy. "My price has gone up since you called last."
"I don't care what the price is."
"Your husband may," snapped Madame Coralie, venomously. "However, that is his affair. I should like to know what you expect me to do?" and she ran her eyes superciliously108 over her stout customer.
"I want my complexion attended to, and my size reduced, and my--"
"That will do to begin with," interrupted the other, rudely. "That will do to go on with. You will have to stay for a few nights. To-night I am free, and you can have the empty bedroom at the back, on the ground floor. Then I can see what is to be done with you. But I'm afraid," added Madame, with a shrug109, "that you are too far gone."
"I'll stay to-night with pleasure--you will do what I want, won't you?" and she looked very directly at the shop-woman.
In her turn Madame Coralie also fastened a penetrating110 gaze on her customer, and the two pair of black eyes met steadily111. "I may, or may not," said the mistress of the Turkish Shop, frowning; "but this is not the place to talk over matters. Let me show you to your bedroom."
"Wait a minute," said Lady Branwin, rising heavily and waddling112 towards the door. "I must speak to my daughter," and she stepped into the lane.
Here a large and smart motor-car was waiting, which contained a remarkably113 pretty girl, who certainly had no need to seek Madame Coralie's advice in any way. She was reading a letter, but put it away with a blush when her mother appeared. "Well, mamma," she asked inquiringly, "will Madame Coralie give you the treatment?"
"Yes, she will; and she will charge, as she always does, in an extortionate manner," lamented114 Lady Branwin. "Give me that red bag, child; it's under the seat. You can drive home now, as I am staying for an hour or so. I may even stay to-night, after Madame Coralie has examined me. You had better call here, on your way to the theatre to-night, and then I shall know for certain if I am to stay."
"But you arranged to go to the theatre also, mamma."
"I can't go, Audrey. Madame Coralie may change her mind, and you know she is the only person who can make me look decent. Ask your father to go."
Audrey tapped her foot petulantly115. "You know papa hates going to the theatre, and will grumble116 all the time."
"Then get Mrs. Mellop to take you," advised her mother, waddling back into the shop; "and don't forget to call, so that I may tell you if I am to remain for the night here. Madame may arrange for me to stay next week; but now I'm in I shan't go out, lest she should refuse to give me the treatment."
When Lady Branwin vanished Audrey shook her pretty head, greatly annoyed, as she did not care very much for Mrs. Mellop. But there was nothing else for her to do, unless Madame Coralie, after examination, refused to permit Lady Branwin to remain for the night. But that could be settled when calling in on her way to the theatre, and then Mrs. Mellop would be with her. There was evidently no escape from Mrs. Mellop, although Audrey would greatly have preferred her mother's company. With a shrug she told the chauffeur117 to return to the house on Camden Hill, and leant back to adjust the rug over her knees; as she did so, the admiring looks of a young man caught her eye.
He was slim and undersized, puny-limbed and effeminate in a fair-haired, anæmic way, which argued poverty of blood; but being over-dressed, and wearing his straw hat at a rakish tilt118, he seemed virile119 enough to admire a pretty woman when he saw one. In his opinion Audrey deserved his attention, and he bestowed120 a fascinating leer on her, of which she naturally did not take the slightest notice. The car hummed slowly down the lane, and the young man followed quickly to watch it turn into the High Street; but, for all his pains, he did not catch a second glimpse of its charming occupant.
Meanwhile Madame Coralie conducted Lady Branwin to a bedroom on the ground floor, which looked out on to a lonely court, surrounded by a high brick wall. The shop was left entirely121 to Zobeide and Peri Banou, and as the first was deaf and the second dumb it would not seem easy for them to converse122. But they managed to do so without difficulty, as Peri Banou spoke with her fingers, and, not suffering from Zobeide's defect, could hear her replies without difficulty. She asked a question about Lady Branwin. "She's the wife of Sir Joseph Branwin, the millionaire, who made his money by building seaside towns," answered Zobeide, in the flat tones of the deaf. "As you know, she often comes here to have her looks improved, but until to-day Madame has always refused to help her."
Peri Banou asked another question, and Zobeide nodded. "Oh, yes, she can pay well, but it will cost her a lot before she can be made to look respectable. I say, did you see Madame's husband outside just now?"
Peri Banou laughed, and, smiling very prettily123, explained with her fingers that the husband in question had been trying to flirt124 with the young lady in the motor-car, but without result.
"Lady Branwin's daughter," said Zobeide, stealing to the window and peeping through the pink curtains; "she's a pretty girl and no mistake. But Madame is frightfully jealous, and if she catches her Eddy125 flirting126 she'll make it hot for him. He depends entirely on her for his bread-and-butter, you know. Wicked man--he's followed the car. Oh"--she drew back--"here's that tiresome127 Mrs. Warder, who is never satisfied." And in a few minutes both the girls were attending to a faded, lean woman, who insisted upon having ten years taken from her age, and explained her wants in a querulous voice.
As the hours passed the shop filled with women of all ages and all looks and all positions. There was a babel of voices, and the assistants flew hither and thither128 like brightly-coloured butterflies. Madame, leaving Lady Branwin to repose129 in the bedroom, reappeared, and, adopting her cajoling voice, dominated the rattle130 of tongues, as one who speaks with authority. It was hot enough outside, being a warm June evening, but within, the atmosphere was truly stifling131 with the glare of the lamps and perfumes of the wares, to say nothing of the fragrant132 scents133 used by the customers. One by one they were attended to, and one by one took reluctant leave of that fascinating shop. The four girls began to look weary and fagged, and Badoura with Parizade went upstairs to the room wherein the cosmetics134 were prepared. Madame Coralie heaved a sigh of relief when the door closed on the last worrying customer--and they all worried--and directed Zobeide and Peri Banou to tidy up the shop.
"It's long past seven," said Madame, with a yawn. "I must return to Lady Branwin, who is to stay for the night."
When she retired135 the girls made the shop as neat as a new pin, and the time passed very speedily as it always does with the busy. Peri Banou lay down to rest on a divan, but Zobeide, who had to prepare some particular paste required for Lady Branwin's complexion, went up to the still-room. Here she found the effeminate young man who had leered so rakishly at Audrey, and smiled graciously. Eddy Vail--Madame Coralie in private life was Mrs. Vail--knew the finger alphabet and asked her questions.
"Where is my wife?" he demanded anxiously.
Zobeide, noting his eager looks, decided136 that he wanted money, and laughed. "I think she is with Lady Branwin in the lower back bedroom."
"What, at this time! Why, it's five minutes to eight." And he glanced at the clock over the still-room mantelpiece, again speaking with his fingers.
"I thought it was much later myself," said Zobeide. "Wait for her. I daresay she won't be long. Where are Badoura and Parizade?"
"Behind the curtain," said Vail, with his fingers, and pointing to a figured drapery hanging from the ceiling to the floor, and which ran along a brass137 rod. "Can't you hear them chattering138 and laughing?"
She would have said something disagreeable, but that Madame, adjusting her yashmak, entered the room. She looked, so far as could be judged from her eyes, irritated and startled. "I wish Lady Branwin was at the bottom of the sea," she said crossly. "Zobeide, attend to your work. And what do you mean, Eddy, coming up to trouble my girls? You have no right in this room, and I won't have it."
"Then I object now. Go away; I'm busy. Lady Branwin is in the house, and--and others." She hesitated and snapped savagely141: "I wish you would go away."
"I want a fiver."
"Then you shan't get it. Come to-morrow, and I'll see what I can do. By the way, I want you to go to Brighton for me."
"I don't mind, if you pay."
"Do I ever object to pay when you go on my business?" asked his wife, crossly, for the heat seemed to have worn her nerves thin.
"What's the business?" asked Eddy, taking out a cigarette.
"I'll tell you to-morrow. Go away now."
"And you'll give me the fiver to-morrow?"
"I'll give you ten pounds."
"Oh, I say, that deserves a kiss. Do remove that beastly yashmak and let me kiss you!"
Madame Coralie pushed him back violently. "Certainly not. I have no time for frivolity142. Go away."
The young man looked astonished. "You always liked being kissed before," he remarked sulkily. "Are you going back to Lady Branwin?"
"No. She has had some supper, and will now sleep. I must attend to the paste for her complexion. Zobeide? Go away, Eddy. It's getting late."
"Five minutes after eight," said the young man, and sauntered out of the door. "I'll turn up to-morrow before midday. Good-bye."
Madame Coralie nodded wearily, and stared at the clock on the mantelpiece in a vague way. "Five minutes past eight," she murmured; "well, I thought--"
Her speech was interrupted by a ring at the front door of the shop. Badoura appeared from between the curtains. "Shall I go, Madame?"
"No. It is Miss Branwin. I'll go down myself," and with a tired sigh the stout woman rolled out of the room.
Eddy, apparently143, had left the house by the side door at the end of the lower passage, for she saw nothing of him. Shortly she was on the pavement speaking to Audrey, who, clothed in a simple white dress, was waiting with Mrs. Mellop in the car.
"Will mamma stop for the night, Madame?" asked Audrey.
"Yes," replied the woman, adjusting her yashmak carefully. "Lady Branwin will stop for the night."
点击
收听单词发音
收听单词发音 |
1
emulating
|
|
| v.与…竞争( emulate的现在分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
aged
|
|
| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
pristine
|
|
| adj.原来的，古时的，原始的，纯净的，无垢的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
juvenile
|
|
| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
marrow
|
|
| n.骨髓；精华；活力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
dames
|
|
| n.（在英国）夫人（一种封号），夫人（爵士妻子的称号）( dame的名词复数 )；女人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
situated
|
|
| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
belles
|
|
| n.美女( belle的名词复数 )；最美的美女 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
crooked
|
|
| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
secrecy
|
|
| n.秘密，保密，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
dwellings
|
|
| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
livelihood
|
|
| n.生计，谋生之道 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
peculiar
|
|
| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
seclusion
|
|
| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
rejuvenation
|
|
| n. 复原，再生, 更新, 嫩化, 恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
transpire
|
|
| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
regain
|
|
| vt.重新获得，收复，恢复 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
skilfully
|
|
| adv. (美skillfully)熟练地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
blatantly
|
|
| ad.公开地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
smothering
|
|
| （使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的现在分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
discreetly
|
|
| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
vice
|
|
| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
virtue
|
|
| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
demure
|
|
| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
unwilling
|
|
| adj.不情愿的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
warship
|
|
| n.军舰，战舰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
flamboyant
|
|
| adj.火焰般的，华丽的，炫耀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
premises
|
|
| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
tint
|
|
| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
publicity
|
|
| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
lure
|
|
| n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
moths
|
|
| n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
catastrophe
|
|
| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
artistic
|
|
| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
arabesque
|
|
| n.阿拉伯式花饰；adj.阿拉伯式图案的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
interspersed
|
|
| adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
poetic
|
|
| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
divan
|
|
| n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
divans
|
|
| n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
43
alcove
|
|
| n.凹室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
alcoves
|
|
| n.凹室( alcove的名词复数 )；（花园）凉亭；僻静处；壁龛 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
adorned
|
|
| [计]被修饰的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
fluted
|
|
| a.有凹槽的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
moorish
|
|
| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
reeked
|
|
| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
scent
|
|
| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
sensuous
|
|
| adj.激发美感的；感官的，感觉上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
prosaic
|
|
| adj.单调的，无趣的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
allurements
|
|
| n.诱惑( allurement的名词复数 )；吸引；诱惑物；有诱惑力的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
chamber
|
|
| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
awakened
|
|
| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
slippers
|
|
| n. 拖鞋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
accentuates
|
|
| v.重读( accentuate的第三人称单数 )；使突出；使恶化；加重音符号于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
concealment
|
|
| n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
octopus
|
|
| n.章鱼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
deft
|
|
| adj.灵巧的，熟练的（a deft hand 能手） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
belied
|
|
| v.掩饰( belie的过去式和过去分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
lodged
|
|
| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
garb
|
|
| n.服装，装束 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
eldest
|
|
| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
defective
|
|
| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
olfactory
|
|
| adj.嗅觉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
compensated
|
|
| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
complexions
|
|
| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
complexion
|
|
| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
judgment
|
|
| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
wares
|
|
| n. 货物, 商品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
massaged
|
|
| 按摩，推拿( massage的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
massage
|
|
| n.按摩，揉；vt.按摩，揉，美化，奉承，篡改数据 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
tinted
|
|
| adj. 带色彩的 动词tint的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
wan
|
|
| (wide area network)广域网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
burnished
|
|
| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
eyebrows
|
|
| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
renovated
|
|
| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
rosy
|
|
| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
hues
|
|
| 色彩( hue的名词复数 )； 色调； 信仰； 观点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
sprightly
|
|
| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
bullying
|
|
| v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
insolent
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
meek
|
|
| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
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： |
|
|
|
|
88
faltered
|
|
| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
autocrat
|
|
| n.独裁者；专横的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
stature
|
|
| n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
piquant
|
|
| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
sketched
|
|
| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
adipose
|
|
| adj.脂肪质的，脂肪多的；n.（储于脂肪组织中的）动物脂肪；肥胖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
mantle
|
|
| n.斗篷，覆罩之物，罩子；v.罩住，覆盖，脸红 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
velvet
|
|
| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
beads
|
|
| n.（空心）小珠子( bead的名词复数 )；水珠；珠子项链 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
appallingly
|
|
| 毛骨悚然地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
bracelets
|
|
| n.手镯，臂镯( bracelet的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
dangled
|
|
| 悬吊着( dangle的过去式和过去分词 )； 摆动不定； 用某事物诱惑…； 吊胃口 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
lengthy
|
|
| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
earrings
|
|
| n.耳环( earring的名词复数 )；耳坠子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
barbarian
|
|
| n.野蛮人；adj.野蛮(人)的；未开化的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
squat
|
|
| v.蹲坐，蹲下；n.蹲下；adj.矮胖的，粗矮的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
mere
|
|
| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
relentless
|
|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
sneered
|
|
| 讥笑，冷笑( sneer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
superciliously
|
|
| adv.高傲地；傲慢地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
shrug
|
|
| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
penetrating
|
|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
waddling
|
|
| v.（像鸭子一样）摇摇摆摆地走( waddle的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
remarkably
|
|
| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
lamented
|
|
| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
petulantly
|
|
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
grumble
|
|
| vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
chauffeur
|
|
| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
tilt
|
|
| v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
virile
|
|
| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
entirely
|
|
| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
converse
|
|
| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
prettily
|
|
| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
flirt
|
|
| v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
eddy
|
|
| n.漩涡，涡流 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
flirting
|
|
| v.调情，打情骂俏( flirt的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
tiresome
|
|
| adj.令人疲劳的，令人厌倦的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
thither
|
|
| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
repose
|
|
| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
rattle
|
|
| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
stifling
|
|
| a.令人窒息的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
scents
|
|
| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
cosmetics
|
|
| n.化妆品 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
chattering
|
|
| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
allusion
|
|
| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
grumbled
|
|
| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
savagely
|
|
| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
frivolity
|
|
| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
apparently
|
|
| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |