And then there was something truly chilling in the mysterious entrance of this threat on a dagger's point into a room he had locked overnight. It implied supernatural craft and power. After this, where could a man be safe from these all-penetrating and remorseless agents of a secret and irresponsible tribunal.
Henry sat down awhile, and pored over the sanguinary scrawl1, and glanced from it with a shudder4 at the glittering knife. And, while he was in this state of temporary collapse5, the works filled, the Power moved, the sonorous6 grindstones revolved7, and every man worked at his ease, except one, the best of them all beyond comparison.
He went to his friend Bayne, and said in a broken voice, “They have put me in heart for work; given me a morning dram. Look here.” Bayne was shocked, but not surprised. “It is the regular routine,” said he. “They begin civil; but if you don't obey, they turn it over to the scum.”
“Do you think my life is really in danger?”
“No, not yet; I never knew a man molested9 on one warning. This is just to frighten you. If you were to take no notice, you'd likely get another warning, or two, at most; and then they'd do you, as sure as a gun.”
“Do me?”
“Oh, that is the Hillsborough word. It means to disable a man from work. Sometimes they lie in wait in these dark streets, and fracture his skull10 with life-preservers; or break his arm, or cut the sinew of his wrist; and that they call DOING him. Or, if it is a grinder, they'll put powder in his trough, and then the sparks of his own making fire it, and scorch11 him, and perhaps blind him for life; that's DOING him. They have gone as far as shooting men with shot, and even with a bullet, but never so as to kill the man dead on the spot. They DO him. They are skilled workmen, you know; well, they are skilled workmen at violence and all, and it is astonishing how they contrive12 to stop within an inch of murder. They'll chance it though sometimes with their favorite gunpowder13. If you're very wrong with the trade, and they can't DO you any other way, they'll blow your house up from the cellar, or let a can of powder down the chimney, with a lighted fuse, or fling a petard in at the window, and they take the chance of killing14 a houseful of innocent people, to get at the one that's on the black books of the trade, and has to be DONE.”
“The beasts! I'll buy a six-shooter. I'll meet craft with craft, and force with force.”
“What can you do against ten thousand? No; go you at once to the Secretary of the Edge-Tool Grinders, and get your trade into his union. You will have to pay; but don't mind that. Cheetham will go halves.”
“I'll go at dinner-time.”
“And why not now?”
“Because,” said Henry, with a candor16 all his own, “I'm getting over my fright a bit, and my blood is beginning to boil at being threatened by a sneak17, who wouldn't stand before me one moment in that yard, knife or no knife.”
Bayne smiled a friendly but faint smile, and shook his head with grave disapprobation, and said, with wonder, “Fancy postponing19 Peace!”
Henry went to his forge and worked till dinner-time. Nay20, more, was a beautiful whistler, and always whistled a little at his work: so to-day he whistled a great deal: in fact, he over-whistled.
At dinner-time he washed his face and hands and put on his coat to go out.
But he had soon some reason to regret that he had not acted on Bayne's advice to the letter. There had been a large trade's meeting overnight, and the hostility21 to the London craftsman22 had spread more widely, in consequence of remarks that had been there made. This emboldened23 the lower class of workmen, who already disliked him out of pure envy, and had often scowled24 at him in silence; and, now, as he passed them, they spoke25 at him, in their peculiar26 language, which the great friend and supporter of mechanics in general, The Hillsborough Liberal, subsequently christened “THE DASH DIALECT.”
“We want no —— cockneys here, to steal our work.”
“Did ever a —— anvil-man handle his own blades in Hillsborough?”
“Not till this —— knobstick came,” said another.
Henry turned sharp round upon them haughtily27, and such was the power of his prompt defiant28 attitude, and his eye, which flashed black lightning, that there was a slight movement of recoil29 among the actual speakers. They recovered it immediately, strong in numbers; but in that same moment Little also recovered his discretion30, and he had the address to step briskly toward the gate and call out the porter; he said to him in rather a loud voice, for all to hear, “if anybody asks for Henry Little, say he has gone to the Secretary of the Edge-Tool Forgers' union.” He then went out of the works; but, as he went, he heard some respectable workman say to the scum, “Come, shut up now. It is in better hands than yours.”
Mr. Jobson, the Secretary of the Edge-Tool Forgers, was not at home, but his servant-girl advised Little to try the “Rising Sun;” and in the parlor31 of that orb32 he found Mr. Jobson, in company with other magnates of the same class, discussing a powerful leader of The Hillsborough Liberal, in which was advocated the extension of the franchise33, a measure calculated to throw prodigious34 power into the hands of Hillsborough operatives, because of their great number, and their habit of living each workman in a tenement35 of his own, however small.
Little waited till The Liberal had received its meed of approbation18, and then asked respectfully if he might speak to Mr. Jobson on a trade matter. “Certainly,” said Mr. Jobson. “Who are you?”
“My name is Little. I make the carving-tools at Cheetham's.”
“I'll go home with you; my house is hard by.”
When they got to the house, Jobson told him to sit down, and asked him, in a smooth and well-modulated voice, what was the nature of the business. This query36, coming from him, who had set the stone rolling that bade fair to crush him, rather surprised Henry. He put his hand into his pocket, and produced the threatening note, but said nothing as to the time or manner of its arrival.
Mr. Jobson perused37 it carefully, and then returned it to Henry. “What have we to do with this?” and he looked quite puzzled.
“Why, sir, it is the act of your union.”
“You are sadly misinformed, Mr. Little. WE NEVER THREATEN. All we do is to remind the master that, if he does not do certain things, certain other things will probably be done by us; and this we wrap up in the kindest way.”
“But, sir, you wrote to Cheetham against me.”
“Did we? Then it will be in my letter-book.” He took down a book, examined it, and said, “You are quite right. Here's a copy of the letter. Now surely, sir, comparing the language, the manners, and the spelling, with that of the ruffian whose scrawl you received this morning—”
“Then you disown the ruffian's threat?”
“Most emphatically. And if you can trace it home, he shall smart for interfering38 in our business.”
“Oh, if the trade disowns the blackguard, I can despise him. But you can't wonder at my thinking all these letters were steps of the same—yes, and Mr. Bayne thought so too; for he said this was the regular routine, and ends in DOING a poor fellow for gaining his bread.”
Mr. Jobson begged to explain.
“Many complaints are brought to us, who advise the trades. When they are frivolous39, we are unwilling40 to disturb the harmony of employers and workmen; we reason with the complainant, and the thing dies away. When the grievance41 is substantial, we take it out of the individual's hands and lay it before the working committee. A civil note is sent to the master; or a respectable member of the committee calls on him, and urges him to redress42 the grievance, but always in kind and civil terms. The master generally assents43: experience has taught him it is his wisest course. But if he refuses, we are bound to report the refusal to a larger committee, and sometimes a letter emanates44 from them, reminding the master that he has been a loser before by acts of injustice45, and hinting that he may be a loser again. I do not quite approve this form of communication. But certainly it has often prevented the mischief46 from spreading further. Well, but perhaps he continues rebellious47. What follows? We can't lock up facts that affect the trade; we are bound to report the case at the next general meeting. It excites comments, some of them perhaps a little intemperate48; the lower kind of workmen get inflamed49 with passion, and often, I am sorry to say, write ruffianly letters, and now and then do ruffianly acts, which disgrace the town, and are strongly reprobated by us. Why, Mr. Little, it has been my lot to send a civil remonstrance50, written with my own hand, in pretty fair English—for a man who plied3 bellows51 and hammer twenty years of my life—and be treated with silent contempt; and two months after to be offering a reward of twenty or thirty pounds, for the discovery of some misguided man, that had taken on himself to right this very matter with a can of gunpowder, or some such coarse expedient52.”
“Yes, but, sir, what hurts me is, you don't consider me to be worth a civil note. You only remonstrated53 with Cheetham.”
“You can't wonder at that. Our trade hasn't been together many years: and what drove us together? The tyranny of our employers. What has kept us together? The bitter experience of hard work and little pay, whenever we were out of union. Those who now direct the trades are old enough to remember when we were all ground down to the dust by the greedy masters; and therefore it is natural, when a grievance arises, we should be inclined to look to those old offenders54 for redress in the first instance. Sometimes the masters convince us the fault lies with workmen; and then we trouble the master no more than we are forced to do in order to act upon the offenders. But, to come to the point: what is your proposal?”
“I beg to be admitted into the union.”
“What union?”
“Why, of course, the one I have offended, through ignorance. The edge-tool forgers.”
Jobson shook his head, and said he feared there were one or two objections.
Henry saw it was no use bidding low. “I'll pay L15 down,” said he, “and I'll engage not to draw relief from your fund, unless disabled by accident or violence.”
“I will submit your offer to the trade,” said Jobson. He added, “Then there, I conclude, the matter rests for the present.”
Henry interpreted this to mean that he had nothing to apprehend55, unless his proposal should be rejected. He put the L15 down on the table, though Mr. Jobson told him that was premature56, and went off as light as a feather. Being nice and clean, and his afternoon's work spoiled, he could not resist the temptation; he went to “Woodbine Villa57.” He found Miss Carden at home, and she looked quietly pleased at his unexpected arrival: but Jael's color came and went, and her tranquil58 bosom59 rose and fell slowly, but grandly, for a minute, as she lowered her head over her work.
This was a heavenly change to Henry Little. Away from the deafening60 workshop, and the mean jealousies61 and brutality62 of his inferiors, who despised him, to the presence of a beautiful and refined girl, who was his superior, yet did not despise him. From sin to purity, from din15 to cleanliness, from war to peace, from vilest63 passions to Paradise.
Her smile had never appeared so fascinating, her manner never so polite yet placid64. How softly and comfortably she and her ample dress nestled into the corner of the sofa and fitted it! How white her nimble hand! how bright her delicious face! How he longed to kiss her exquisite65 hand, or her little foot, or her hem8, or the ground she walked on, or something she had touched, or her eye had dwelt on.
But he must not even think too much of such delights, lest he should show his heart too soon. So, after a short lesson, he proposed to go into the lumber-room and find something to work upon. “Yes, do,” said Grace. “I would go too; but no; it was my palace of delight for years, and its treasures inexhaustible. I will not go to be robbed of one more illusion, it is just possible I might find it really is what the profane66 in this house call it—a lumber-room—and not what memory paints it, a temple of divine curiosities.” And so she sent them off, and she set herself to feel old—“oh, so old!”
And presently Henry came back, laden67 with a great wooden bust68 of Erin, that had been the figure-head of a wrecked69 schooner70; and set it down, and told her he should carve that into a likeness71 of herself, and she must do her share of the work.
Straightway she forgot she was worn out; and clapped her hands, and her eyes sparkled. And the floor was prepared, and Henry went to work like one inspired, and the chips flew in every direction, and the paint was chiseled72 away in no time, and the wood proved soft and kindly73, and just the color of a delicate skin, and Henry said, “The Greek Statues, begging their pardons, have all got hair like mops; but this shall have real hair, like your own: and the silk dress, with the gloss74 on; and the lace; but the face, the expression, how can I ever—?”
“Oh, never mind THEM,” cried Grace. “Jael, this is too exciting. Please go and tell them 'not at home' to anybody.”
Then came a pretty picture: the workman, with his superb hand, brown and sinewy75, yet elegant and shapely as a duchess's, and the fingers almost as taper76, and his black eye that glowed like a coal over the model, which grew under his masterly strokes, now hard, now light: the enchanting77 girl who sat to him, and seemed on fire with curiosity and innocent admiration78: and the simple rural beauty, that plied the needle, and beamed mildly with demure79 happiness, and shot a shy glance upward now and then.
Yes, Love was at his old mischievous80 game.
Henry now lived in secret for Grace Carden, and Jael was garnering81 Henry into her devoted82 heart, unobserved by the object of her simple devotion. Yet, of the three, these two, that loved with so little encouragement, were the happiest. To them the world was Heaven this glorious afternoon. Time, strewing83 roses as he went, glided84 so sweetly and so swiftly, that they started with surprise when the horizontal beams glorified85 the windows, and told them the brightest day of their lives was drawing to its end.
Ah, stay a little while longer for them, Western Sun. Stand still, not as in the cruel days of old, to glare upon poor, beaten, wounded, panting warriors86, and rob them of their last chance, the shelter of the night: but to prolong these holy rapturous hours of youth, and hope, and first love in bosoms87 unsullied by the world—the golden hours of life, that glow so warm, and shine so bright, and flee so soon; and return in this world—Never more!
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1
scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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scrawls
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| 潦草的笔迹( scrawl的名词复数 ) | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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collapse
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| vi.累倒；昏倒；倒塌；塌陷 | |
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sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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scorch
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| v.烧焦，烤焦；高速疾驶；n.烧焦处，焦痕 | |
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contrive
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| vt.谋划，策划；设法做到；设计，想出 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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candor
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| n.坦白，率真 | |
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sneak
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| vt.潜行(隐藏,填石缝)；偷偷摸摸做；n.潜行；adj.暗中进行 | |
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approbation
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| n.称赞；认可 | |
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postponing
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| v.延期，推迟( postpone的现在分词 ) | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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craftsman
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| n.技工，精于一门工艺的匠人 | |
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emboldened
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| v.鼓励，使有胆量( embolden的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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scowled
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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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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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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haughtily
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| adv. 傲慢地, 高傲地 | |
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defiant
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| adj.无礼的，挑战的 | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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discretion
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| n.谨慎；随意处理 | |
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parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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tenement
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| n.公寓；房屋 | |
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query
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| n.疑问，问号，质问；vt.询问，表示怀疑 | |
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perused
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| v.读（某篇文字）( peruse的过去式和过去分词 )；（尤指）细阅；审阅；匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览（某篇文字） | |
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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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frivolous
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| adj.轻薄的；轻率的 | |
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unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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grievance
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| n.怨愤，气恼，委屈 | |
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redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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assents
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| 同意，赞同( assent的名词复数 ) | |
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emanates
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的第三人称单数 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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45
injustice
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| n.非正义，不公正，不公平，侵犯（别人的）权利 | |
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46
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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47
rebellious
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| adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的 | |
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48
intemperate
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| adj.无节制的，放纵的 | |
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49
inflamed
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| adj.发炎的，红肿的v.（使）变红，发怒，过热( inflame的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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50
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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51
bellows
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| n.风箱；发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的名词复数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的第三人称单数 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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52
expedient
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| adj.有用的，有利的；n.紧急的办法，权宜之计 | |
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53
remonstrated
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 )；告诫 | |
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54
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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apprehend
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| vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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deafening
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| adj. 振耳欲聋的, 极喧闹的 动词deafen的现在分词形式 | |
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61
jealousies
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| n.妒忌( jealousy的名词复数 )；妒羡 | |
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62
brutality
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| n.野蛮的行为，残忍，野蛮 | |
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vilest
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| adj.卑鄙的( vile的最高级 )；可耻的；极坏的；非常讨厌的 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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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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66
profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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67
laden
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| adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的 | |
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68
bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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69
wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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70
schooner
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| n.纵帆船 | |
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71
likeness
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| n.相像，相似（之处） | |
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72
chiseled
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| adj.凿刻的，轮廓分明的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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73
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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74
gloss
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| n.光泽，光滑；虚饰；注释；vt.加光泽于；掩饰 | |
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75
sinewy
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| adj.多腱的，强壮有力的 | |
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76
taper
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| n.小蜡烛，尖细，渐弱；adj.尖细的；v.逐渐变小 | |
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77
enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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78
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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79
demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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80
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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81
garnering
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| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的现在分词 ) | |
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82
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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83
strewing
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| v.撒在…上( strew的现在分词 )；散落于；点缀；撒满 | |
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84
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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85
glorified
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| 美其名的，变荣耀的 | |
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86
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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87
bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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