Grace Carden received a visit every week from Henry, and met him now and then at other houses: she recovered her health and spirits, and, being of a patient sex, was quite contented2, and even happy. Frederick Coventry visited her often, and she received his visits quite graciously, now that the man she loved was no longer driven from her. She even pitied him, and was kind to him and had misgivings4 that she had used him ill. This feeling he fostered, by a tender, dejected, and inoffensive manner. Boiling with rage inside, this consummate5 actor had the art to feign6 resignation; whereas, in reality, he was secretly watching for an opportunity to injure his rival. But no such opportunity came.
Little, in humble7 imitation of his sovereign, had employed a go-between to employ a go-between, to deal with the State go-betweens, and deputy-go-betweens, that hampered8 the purchase—the word “grant” is out of place, bleeding is no boon—of a patent from the crown, and by this means he had done, in sixty days, what a true inventor will do in twenty-four hours, whenever the various metallic9 ages shall be succeeded by the age of reason; he had secured his two saw-grinding inventions, by patent, in Great Britain, the Canadas, and the United States of America. He had another invention perfected; it was for forging axes and hatchets10 by machinery11: but this he did not patent: he hoped to find his remuneration in the prior use of it for a few months. Mere12 priority is sometimes a great advantage in this class of invention, and there are no fees to pay for it nor deputy-lieutenant-vice-go-betweens' antechambers for genius to cool its heels and heart in.
But one thing soon became evident. He could not work his inventions without a much larger capital.
Dr. Amboyne and he put their heads together over this difficulty, and the doctor advised him in a more erudite style than usual.
“True invention,” said he, “whether literary or mechanical, is the highest and hardest effort of the mind. It is an operation so absorbing that it often weakens those pettier talents which make what we call the clever man. Therefore the inventor should ally himself with some person of talent and energy, but no invention. Thus supported, he can have his fits of abstraction, his headaches, his heartaches, his exultations, his depressions, and no harm done; his dogged associate will plow13 steadily14 on all the time. So, after all, your requiring capital is no great misfortune; you must look out for a working capitalist. No sleeping partner will serve your turn; what you want is a good rich, vulgar, energetic man, the pachydermatouser the better.”
Henry acted on this advice, and went to London in search of a moneyed partner. Oh, then it was he learned—
He found capitalists particularly averse16 to speculate in a patent. It took him many days to find out what moneyed men were open to that sort of thing at all; and, when he got to them, they were cold.
They had all been recently bitten by harebrained inventors.
Then he represented that it was a matter of judgment17, and offered to prove by figures that his saw-grinding machines must return three hundred per cent. These he applied18 to would not take the trouble to study his figures. In another words, he came at the wrong time. And the wrong time is as bad as the wrong thing, or worse.
Take a note of that, please: and then forget it.
At last he gave up London in despair, and started for Birmingham.
The train stepped at Tring, and, as it was going on again, a man ran toward the third-class carriage Little was seated in. One of the servants of the company tried to stop him, very properly. He struggled with that official, and eventually shook him off. Meantime the train was accelerating its pace. In spite of that, this personage made a run and a bound, and, half leaping, half scrambling19, got his head and shoulders over the door, and there oscillated, till Little grabbed him with both hands, and drew him powerfully in, and admonished20 him. “That is a foolhardy trick, sir, begging your pardon.”
“No. The Emperor of China?”
“No such trash; it's Ben Bolt, a man that's bad to beat.”
“Well, you'll get beat some day, if you go jumping in and out of trains in motion.”
“A many have been killed that way,” suggested a huge woman in the corner with the meekest23 and most timid voice imaginable.
Mr. Bolt eyed the speaker with a humorous voice. “Well, if I'm ever killed that way, I'll send you a letter by the post. Got a sweetheart, ma'am?”
“I've got a good husband, sir,” said she, with mild dignity, and pointed24 to a thin, sour personage opposite, with his nose in a newspaper. Deep in some public question, he ignored this little private inquiry25.
“That's unlucky,” said Bolt, “for here am I, just landed from Victoria, and money in both pockets. And where do you think I am going now? to Chester, to see my father and mother, and show them I was right after all. They wanted me to go to school; I wouldn't. Leathered me; I howled, but wouldn't spell; I was always bad to beat. Next thing was, they wanted to make a tanner of me. I wouldn't. 'Give me fifty pounds and let me try the world,' says I. THEY wouldn't. We quarreled. My uncle interfered26 one day, and gave me fifty pounds. 'Go to the devil,' said he, 'if you like; so as you don't come back.' I went to Sydney, and doubled my fifty; got a sheep-run, and turned my hundred into a thousand. Then they found gold, and that brought up a dozen ways of making money, all of 'em better than digging. Why, ma'am, I made ten thousand pounds by selling the beastliest lemonade you ever tasted for gold-dust at the mines. That was a good swop, wasn't it? So now I'm come home to see if I can stand the Old Country and its ways; and I'm going to see the old folk. I haven't heard a word about them this twenty years.”
“Oh, dear, sir,” said the meek22 woman, “twenty years is a long time. I hope you won't find them dead an' buried.”
“Don't say that; don't say that!” And the tough, rough man showed a grain of feeling. He soon recovered himself, though, and said more obstreperously27 than ever, “If they are, I disown 'em. None of your faint-hearted people for me. I despise a chap that gives in before eighty. I'm Ben Bolt, that is bad to beat. Death himself isn't going to bowl me out till I've had my innings.”
“La, sir; pray don't talk so, or you'll anger them above, and, ten to one, upset the train.”
“That's one for me, and two for yourself, ma'am.”
“Yes, sir,” said the mild soul. “I have got my husband with me, and you are only a bachelor, sir.”
“How d'ye know that?”
“Oh, it is because I speak loud. That is with bawling31 to my shepherds half a mile off. Why, if I'm loud, I'm civil. Now, young man, what is YOUR trouble?”
Henry started from his reverie, and looked astonished.
“Out with it,” shouted Mr. Bolt; “don't sit grizzling there. What with this lady's husband, dead and buried in that there newspaper, and you, that sets brooding like a hen over one egg, it's a Quaker's meeting, or nearly. If you've been and murdered anybody, tell us all about it. Once off your mind, you'll be more sociable32.”
“A man's thoughts are his own, Mr. Bolt. I'm not so fond of talking about myself as you seem to be.”
“Oh, I can talk, or I can listen. But you won't do neither. Pretty company YOU are, a-hatching of your egg.”
“Well, sir,” said the meek woman to Henry, “the rough gentleman he is right. If you are in trouble, the best way is to let your tongue put it off your heart.”
“I'm sure you are very kind,” said Henry, “but really my trouble is one of those out-of-the-way things that do not interest people. However, the long and the short is, I'm an inventor. I have invented several things, and kept them dark, and they have paid me. I live at Hillsborough. But now I have found a way of grinding long saws and circular saws by machinery, at a saving of five hundred per cent labor33. That saving of labor represents an enormous profit—a large fortune; so I have patented the invention at my own expense. But I can't work it without a capitalist. Well, I have ransacked34 London, and all the moneyed men shy me. The fools will go into railways, and bubbles, and a lot of things that are blind chance, but they won't even study my drawings and figures, and I made it clear enough too.”
“I'm not of their mind then,” said Bolt. “My rule is never to let another man work my money. No railway shares nor gold mines for Ben Bolt. My money goes with me, and I goes with my money.”
“Then you are a man of sense; and I only wish you had money enough to go into this with me.”
“How do you know how much money I've got? You show me how to turn twenty thousand into forty thousand, or forty thousand into eighty thousand, and I'll soon find the money.”
“Oh, I could show you how to turn fifteen thousand into fifty thousand.” He then unlocked his black bag, and showed Bolt some drawings that represented the grinders by hand at work on long saws and circular saws. “This,” said he, “is the present system.” He then pointed out its defects. “And this,” said he, “is what I propose to substitute.” Then he showed him drawings of his machines at work. “And these figures represent the saving in labor. Now, in this branch of cutlery, the labor is the manufacturer's main expense. Make ten men grind what fifty used, you put forty workmen's wages in your pocket.”
“That's tall talk.”
“Not an inch taller than the truth.”
Mr. Bolt studied the drawings, and, from obstreperous28, became quite quiet and absorbed. Presently he asked Henry to change places with him; and, on this being complied with, he asked the meek woman to read him Henry's figures, slowly. She stared, but complied. Mr. Bolt pondered the figures, and examined the drawings again. He then put a number of questions to Henry, some of them very shrewd; and, at last, got so interested in the affair that he would talk of nothing else.
As the train slackened for Birmingham, he said to Henry, “I'm no great scholar; I like to see things in the body. On we go to Hillsborough.”
“But I want to talk to a capitalist or two at Birmingham.”
“That is not fair; I've got the refusal.”
“The deuce you have!”
“Yes, I've gone into it with you; and the others wouldn't listen. Said so yourself.”
“Well, but, Mr. Bolt, are you really in earnest? Surely this is quite out of your line?”
“How can it be out of my line if it pays? I've bought and sold sheep, and wool, and land, and water, and houses, and tents, and old clothes, and coffee, and tobacco, and cabs. And swopped—my eye, how I have swopped! I've swopped a housemaid under articles for a pew in the church, and a milch cow for a whale that wasn't even killed yet; I paid for the chance. I'm at all in the ring, and devilish bad to beat. Here goes—high, low, Jack35, and the game.”
“Did you ever deal in small beer?” asked Henry, satirically.
“No,” said Bolt, innocently. “But I would in a minute if I saw clear to the nimble shilling. Well, will you come on to Hillsborough and settle this? I've got the refusal for twenty-four hours, I consider.”
“Oh, if you think so, I will go on to Hillsborough. But you said you were going to see your parents, after twenty years' absence and silence.”
“So I am; but they can keep; what signifies a day or two more after twenty years?” He added, rather severely36, as one whose superior age entitled him to play the monitor, “Young man, I never make a toil37 of a pleasure.”
“No more do I. But how does that apply to visiting your parents?”
“If I was to neglect business to gratify my feelings, I should be grizzling all the time; and wouldn't that be making a toil of a pleasure?”
Henry could only grin in reply to this beautiful piece of reasoning; and that same afternoon the pair were in Hillsborough, and Mr. Bolt, under Henry's guidance, inspected the grinding of heavy saws, both long and circular. He noted38, at Henry's request, the heavy, dirty labor. He then mounted to the studio, and there Henry lectured on his models, and showed them working. Bolt took it all in, his eye flashed, and then he put on, for the first time, the coldness of the practiced dealer39. “It would take a good deal of money to work this properly,” said he, shaking his head.
“It has taken a good deal of brains to invent it.”
“No doubt, no doubt. Well, if you want me to join you, it must be on suitable terms. Money is tight.”
“Well, propose your own terms.”
“That's not my way. I'll think it over before I put my hand to paper. Give me till to-morrow.”
“Certainly.”
On this Mr. Bolt went off as if he had been shot.
He returned next day, and laid before Henry an agreement drawn40 by the sharpest attorney in Hillsborough, and written in a clerk's hand. “There,” said he, briskly, “you sign that, and I'll make my mark, and at it we go.”
“Stop a bit,” said Henry. “You've been to a lawyer, have you? Then I must go to one, too; fair play's a jewel.”
Bolt looked disappointed; but the next moment he affected41 cheerfulness, and said, “That is fair. Take it to your lawyer directly.”
“I will,” said Henry; but, instead of a lawyer, he took it to his friend Dr. Amboyne, told him all about Ben Bolt, and begged his advice on the agreement. “Ought he to have the lion's share like this?”
“The moneyed man generally takes that. No commodity is sold so far beyond its value as money. Let me read it.”
The purport42 of the agreement was as follows:—New premises43 to be built by Bolt, a portion of the building to be constructed so that it could be easily watched night and day, and in that part the patent saw-grinding machines to be worked. The expenses of this building to be paid off by degrees out of the gross receipts, and meanwhile Mr. Bolt was to receive five per cent. interest for his outlay44 and two-thirds of the profits, if any. Mr. Little to dispose of his present factory, and confine his patents to the joint45 operation.
Dr. Amboyne, on mature consideration, advised Little to submit to all the conditions, except the clause confining his operations and his patents. They just drew their pen through that clause, and sent the amended46 agreement to Bolt's hotel. He demurred47 to the amendment48; but Henry stood firm, and proposed a conference of four. This took place at Dr. Amboyne's house, and at last the agreement was thus modified: the use of the patents in Hillsborough to be confined to the firm of Bolt and Little: but Little to be free to sell them, or work them in any other town, and also free, in Hillsborough, to grind saws by hand, or do any other established operation of cutlery.
The parties signed; and Bolt went to work in earnest. With all his resolution, he did not lack prudence49. He went into the suburbs for his site and bought a large piece of ground. He advertised for contracts and plans, and brought them all to Henry, and profited by his practical remarks.
He warned the builders it must be a fortress50, as well as a factory: but, at Henry's particular request, he withheld51 the precise reason. “I'm not to be rattened,” said he. “I mean to stop that little game. I'm Ben Bolt, that's bad to beat.”
At last the tender of Mr. White was accepted, and as Mr. Bolt, experienced in the delays of builders, tied him tight as to time, he, on his part, made a prompt and stringent52 contract with Messrs. Whitbread, the brickmakers, and began to dig the foundations.
All this Henry communicated to Grace, and was in high spirits over it, and then so was she. He had a beautiful frame made for the little picture she had given him, and hung it up in his studio. It became the presiding genius, and indeed the animating53 spirit, of his life.
Both to him and Grace the bright and hopeful period of their love had come at last. Even Bolt contributed something to Little's happiness. The man, hard as he was in business, was not without a certain rough geniality54; and then he was so brisk and bustling55. His exuberant56 energy pleased the inventor, and formed an agreeable relief to his reveries and deep fits of study.
The prospect57 was bright, and the air sunny. In the midst of all which there rose in the horizon a cloud, like that seen by Elijah's servant, a cloud no bigger than a man's hand.
Bolt burst into the studio one day, like a shell, and, like a shell, exploded.
“Here's a pretty go! We're all at a standstill. The brickmakers have struck.”
“Why, what is the matter?”
“Fourpence. Young Whitbread, our brickmaker's son, is like you—a bit of an inventor; he altered the shape of the bricks, to fit a small hand-machine, and Whitbreads reckoned to save tenpence a thousand. The brickmakers objected directly. Whitbreads didn't want a row, so they offered to share the profit. The men sent two of their orators58 to parley59; I was standing60 by Whithread when they came up; you should have heard 'em; anybody would have sworn the servants were masters, and the masters negro slaves. When the servants had hectored a bit, the masters, meek and mild, said they would give them sixpence out of the tenpence sooner than they should feel dissatisfied. No; that wouldn't do. 'Well, then,' says young Whitbread, 'are you agreed what will do?' 'Well,' said one of the servants, 'we WILL ALLOW YOU TO MAKE THE BRICKS, if you give us the tenpence.'”
“That was cool,” said Henry. “To be sure, all brainless beggars try to starve invention.”
“Yes, my man: and you grumbled61 at my taking two-thirds. Labor is harder on you inventors than capital is, you see. Well, I told 'em I wondered at their cheek; but the old man stopped me, and spoke62 quite mild: says he, 'You are too hard on us; we ought to gain a trifle by our own improvement; if it had come from you, we should pay you for it;' and he should stand by his offer of sixpence. So then the men told them it would be the worse for them, and the old gentleman gave a bit of sigh, and said he couldn't help that, he must live in the trade, or leave it, he didn't much care which. Next morning they all struck work; and there we are—stopped.”
“It is, and I'll show you I'm bad to beat.” With this doughty64 resolve he went off and drove the contractors65; they drove the brickmakers, and the brickmakers got fresh hands from a distance, and the promise of some more.
Bolt rubbed his hands, and kept popping into the yard to see how they got on. By this means he witnessed an incident familiar to brickmakers in that district, but new to him. Suddenly loud cries of pain were heard, and two of the brickmakers held up hands covered with blood, and transfixed by needles. Some ruffian had filled the clay with needles. The sufferers were both disabled, and one went to the hospital. Tempered clay enough to make two hundred thousand bricks had been needled, and had to be cleared away at a loss of time and material.
Bolt went and told Henry, and it only worried him; he could do nothing. Bolt went and hired a watchman and a dog, at his own expense. The dog was shot dead one dark night, and the watchman's box turned over and sat upon, watchman included, while the confederates trampled66 fifty thousand raw bricks into a shapeless mass.
The brickmasters, however, stood firm, and at last four of the old hands returned to him, and accepted the sixpence profit due to the master's invention. These four were contribution-men, that is to say, they paid the union a shilling per week for permission to make bricks; but this weekly payment was merely a sort of blackmail67, it entitled them to no relief from the union when out of work: so a three-weeks' strike brought them to starvation, and they could cooperate no longer with the genuine union men, who were relieved from the box all this time. Nevertheless, though their poverty, and not their will, brought them back to work, they were all threatened, and found themselves in a position that merits the sympathy of all men, especially of the very poor. Starvation on one side, sanguinary threats on the other, from an union which abandoned them in their need, yet expected them to stick by it and starve. In short, the said union was no pupil of Amboyne; could not put itself in the place of these hungry men, and realize their dilemma68; it could only see the situation from its own point of view. From that intellectual defect sprang a crime. On a certain dark night, Thomas Wilde, one of these contribution-men, was burning bricks all by himself, when a body of seven men came crawling up to within a little distance. These men were what they call “victims,” i.e., men on strike, and receiving pay from the box.
Now, when a man stands against the fire of a kiln69, he cannot see many yards from him: so five of the “victims” stood waiting, and sent two forward. These two came up to Wilde, and asked him a favor. “Eh, mister, can you let me and my mate lie down for an hour by your fire?”
“You are welcome,” said honest Wilde. He then turned to break a piece of coal, and instantly one of those who had accepted his hospitality struck him on the back of the head, and the other five rushed in, and they all set on him, and hit him with cartlegs, and kicked him with their heavy shoes. Overpowered as he was, he struggled away from them, groaning71 and bleeding, and got to a shed about thirty yards off. But these relentless72 men, after a moment's hesitation73, followed him, and rained blows and kicks on him again, till he gave himself up for dead. He cried out in his despair, “Lord, have mercy on me; they have finished me!” and fainted away in a pool of his own blood. But, just before he became insensible, he heard a voice say, “Thou'll burn no more bricks.” Then the “victims” retired74, leaving this great criminal for dead.
After a long while he came to himself, and found his arm was broken, and his body covered with cuts and bruises75. His house was scarcely a furlong distant, yet he was an hour crawling to it. His room was up a short stair of ten steps. The steps beat him; he leaned on the rail at the bottom, and called out piteously, “My wife! my wife! my wife!” three times.
Mrs. Wilde ran down to him, and caught hold of his hand, and said, “Whatever is to do?”
When she took his hand the pain made him groan70, and she felt something drip on to her hand. It was blood from his wounded arm. Then she was terrified, and, strong with excitement, she managed to get him into the house and lay him on the floor. She asked him, had he fallen off the kiln? He tried to reply, but could not, and fainted again. This time he was insensible for several hours. In the morning he came to, and told his cruel story to Whitbread, Bolt, and others. Bolt and Whitbread took it most to heart. Bolt went to Mr. Ransome, and put the case in his hands.
Ransome made this remark:—“Ah, you are a stranger, sir. The folk hereabouts never come to us in these union cases. I'll attend to it, trust me.”
Bolt went with this tragedy to Henry, and it worried him; but he could do nothing. “Mr. Bolt,” said he, “I think you are making your own difficulties. Why quarrel with the Brickmakers' union? Surely that is superfluous76.”
“Why, it is them that quarreled with me; and I'm Ben Bolt, that is bad to beat.” He armed himself with gun and revolver, and watched the Whitbreads' yard himself at night.
Two days after this, young Whitbread's wife received an anonymous77 letter, advising her, as a friend, to avert78 the impending79 fate of her husband, by persuading him to dismiss the police and take back his Hands. The letter concluded with this sentence, “He is generally respected; but we have come to a determination to shoot him.”
Young Whitbread took no apparent notice of this, and soon afterward80 the secretary of the union proposed a conference. Bolt got wind of this, and was there when the orators came. The deputation arrived, and, after a very short preamble81, offered to take the six-pence.
“Why,” said Bolt, “you must be joking. Those are the terms poor Wilde came back on, and you have hashed him for it.”
Old Whitbread looked the men in the face, and said, gravely, “You are too late. You have shed that poor man's blood; and you have sent an anonymous letter to my son's wife. That lady has gone on her knees to us to leave the trade, and we have consented. Fifteen years ago, your union wrote letters of this kind to my wife (she was pregnant at the time), and drove her into her grave, with fright and anxiety for her husband. You shall not kill Tom's wife as well. The trade is a poor one at best, thanks to the way you have ground your employers down, and, when you add to that needling our clay, and burning our gear, and beating our servants to death's door, and driving our wives into the grave, we bid you good-by. Mr. Bolt, I'm the sixth brickmaster this union has driven out of the trade by outrages82 during the last ten years.”
“Thou's a wrong-headed old chap,” said the brickmakers' spokesman; “but thou canst not run away with place. Them as takes to it will have to take us on.”
“Not so. We have sold our plant to the Barton Machine Brickmaking Company; and you maltreated them so at starting that now they won't let a single union man set his foot on their premises.”
The company in question made bricks better and cheaper than any other brickmaster; but, making them by machinery, were ALWAYS at war with the Brickmakers' union, and, whenever a good chance occurred for destroying their property, it was done. They, on their part, diminished those chances greatly by setting up their works five miles from the town, and by keeping armed watchmen and police. Only these ran away with their profits.
Now, when this company came so near the town, and proceeded to work up Whitbread's clay, in execution of the contract with which their purchase saddled them, the Brickmakers' union held a great meeting, in which full a hundred brickmakers took part, and passed extraordinary resolutions, and voted extraordinary sums of money, and recorded both in their books. These books were subsequently destroyed, for a reason the reader can easily divine who has read this narrative83 with his understanding.
Soon after that meeting, one Kay, a brickmaker, who was never seen to make a brick—for the best of all reasons, he lived by blood alone—was observed reconnoitering the premises, and that very night a quantity of barrows, utensils84, and tools were heaped together, naphtha poured over them, and the whole set on fire.
Another dark night, twenty thousand bricks were trampled so noiselessly that the perpetrators were neither seen nor heard.
But Bolt hired more men, put up a notice he would shoot any intruder dead, and so frightened them by his blustering86 that they kept away, being cowards at bottom, and the bricks were rapidly made, and burnt, and some were even delivered; these bricks were carted from the yard to the building site by one Harris, who had nothing to do with the quarrel; he was a carter by profession, and wheeled bricks for all the world.
One night this poor man's haystack and stable were all in flames in a moment, and unearthly screams issued from the latter.
The man ran out, half-naked, and his first thought was to save his good gray mare87 from the fire. But this act of humanity had been foreseen and provided against. The miscreants88 had crept into the stable, and tied the poor docile89 beast fast by the head to the rack; then fired the straw. Her screams were such as no man knew a horse could utter. They pierced all hearts, however hard, till her burnt body burst the burnt cords, and all fell together. Man could not aid her. But God can avenge90 her.
As if the poor thing could tell whether she was drawing machine-made bricks, or hand-made bricks!
The incident is painful to relate; but it would be unjust to omit it. It was characteristic of that particular union; and, indeed, without it my reader could not possibly appreciate the brickmaking mind.
Bolt went off with this to Little; but Amboyne was there, and cut his tales short. “I hope,” said he, “that the common Creator of the four-legged animal and the two-legged beasts will see justice done between them; but you must not come here tormenting91 my inventor with these horrors. Your business is to relieve him of all such worries, and let him invent in peace.”
“Yes,” said Little, “and I have told Mr. Bolt we can't avoid a difficulty with the cutlers. But the brickmakers—what madness to go and quarrel with them! I will have nothing to do with it, Mr. Bolt.”
“The cutlers! Oh, I don't mind them,” said Bolt. “They are angels compared with the brickmakers. The cutlers don't poison cows, and hamstring horses, and tie them to fire; the cutlers don't fling little boys into water-pits, and knock down little girls with their fists, just because their fathers are non-union men; the cutlers don't strew92 poisoned apples and oranges about, to destroy whole families like rats. Why, sir, I have talked with a man the brickmakers tried to throw into boiling lime; and another they tried to poison with beer, and, when he wouldn't drink it, threw vitriol in his eyes, and he's blind of an eye to this day. There's full half a dozen have had bottles of gunpowder93 and old nails flung into their rooms, with lighted fuses, where they were sleeping with their families; they call that 'bottling a man;' it's a familiar phrase. I've seen three cripples crawling about that have been set on by numbers and spoiled for life, and as many fired at in the dark; one has got a slug in his head to this day. And, with all that, the greatest cowards in the world—daren't face a man in daylight, any two of them; but I've seen the woman they knocked down with their fists, and her daughter too, a mere child at the time. No, the cutlers are men, but the brickmakers are beasts.”
“All the more reason for avoiding silly quarrels with the brickmakers,” said Little.
Thus snubbed, Mr. Bolt retired, muttering something about “bad to beat.” He found Harris crying over the ashes of his mare, and the man refused to wheel any more machine-made bricks. Other carters, being applied to, refused also. They had received written warning, and dared not wheel one of those bricks for their lives.
The invincible94 Bolt bought a cart and a horse, hired two strangers, armed them and himself with revolvers, and carted the bricks himself. Five brickmakers waylaid95 him in a narrow lane; he took out his revolver, and told them he'd send them all to hell if one laid a finger on him; at this rude observation they fled like sheep.
The invincible carted his bricks by day, and at night rode the horse away to an obscure inn, and slept beside him, armed to the teeth.
The result of all which was that one day he burst into Little's studio shouting “Victory!” and told him two hundred thousand bricks were on the premises, and twenty bricklayers would be at work on the foundations that afternoon.
Henry Little was much pleased at that, and when Bolt told him how he had carted the bricks in person, said, “You are the man for me; you really are bad to beat.”
While they were congratulating each other on this hard-earned victory, Mr. Bayne entered softly, and said, “Mr. White—to speak to Mr. Bolt.”
“That is the builder,” said Bolt. “Show him up.”
Mr. White came in with a long face.
“Bad news, gentlemen; the Machine Brickmaking Company retires from business, driven out of trade by their repeated losses from violence.”
“All the worse for the nation,” said Bolt; “houses are a fancy article—got to be. But it doesn't matter to us. We have got bricks enough to go on with.”
“Plenty, sir; but that is not where the shoe pinches now. The Brickmakers' union has made it right with the Bricklayers' union, and the Bricklayers' union orders us to cart back every one of those machine-made bricks to the yard.”
“See them —— first,” said Bolt.
“Well, sir, have you considered the alternative?”
“Not I. What is it?”
“Not a bricklayer in Hillsboro', or for fifty miles round, will set a brick for us; and if we get men from a distance they will be talked away, or driven away, directly. The place is picketed96 on every side at this moment.”
Even Bolt was staggered now. “What is to be done, I wonder?”
“There's nothing to be done but submit. When two such powerful unions amalgamate97, resistance is useless, and the law of the land a dead letter. Mr. Bolt, I'm not a rich man; I've got a large family; let me beg of you to release me from the contract.”
“White, you are a cur. Release you? never!”
“Then, sir, I'll go through the court and release myself.”
Henry Little was much dejected by this monstrous98 and unforeseen obstacle arising at the very threshold of his hopes. He felt so sad, that he determined99 to revive himself with a sight of Grace Carden. He pined for her face and voice. So he went up to Woodbine Villa100, though it was not his day. As he drew near that Paradise, the door opened, and Mr. Frederick Coventry came out. The two men nearly met at the gate. The rejected lover came out looking bright and happy, and saw the accepted lover arrive, looking depressed101 and careworn102; he saw in a moment something was going wrong, and turned on his heel with a glance of triumph.
Henry Little caught that glance, and stood at the gate black with rage. he stood there about a minute, and then walked slowly home again: he felt he should quarrel with Grace if he went in, and, by a violent effort of self-restraint, he retraced103 his steps; but he went home sick at heart.
The mother's eye read his worn face in a moment, and soon she had it all out of him. It cost her a struggle not to vent3 her maternal104 spleen on Grace; but she knew that would only make her son more unhappy. She advised him minutely what to say to the young lady about Mr. Coventry: and, as to the other matters she said, “You have found Mr. Bolt not so bad to beat as he tells you: for he is beaten, and there's an end of him. Now let ME try.”
“Why, what on earth can you do in a case of this kind?”
“Have I ever failed when you have accepted my assistance?”
“No: that's true. Well, I shall be glad of your assistance now, heaven knows; only I can't imagine—”
“Never mind: will you take Grace Carden if I throw her into your arms?”
“Oh, mother, can you ask me?”
Mrs. Little rang the bell, and ordered a fly. Henry offered to accompany her. She declined. “Go to bed early,” said she, “and trust to your mother. We are harder to beat sometimes than a good many Mr. Bolts.”
She drove to Dr. Amboyne's house, and sent in her name. She was ushered105 into the doctor's study, and found him shivering over an enormous fire. “Influenza106.”
“Oh dear,” said she, “I'm afraid you are very ill.”
“Never mind that. Sit down. You will not make me any worse, you may be sure of that.” And he smiled affectionately on her.
“All the better. That will help me forget mine.”
Mrs. Little seated herself, and, after a slight hesitation, opened her battery thus:—“Well, my good friend, I am come to ask you a favor. It is to try and reconcile my brother and me. If any one can do it, you can.”
“Praise the method, not the man. If one could only persuade you to put yourself in his place, and him to put himself in yours, you would be both reconciled in five minutes.”
“No I don't. The only question is, whether you can and will deviate108 from the practice of the world into an obese109 lunatic's system, both of you.”
“Try ME, to begin.”
The doctor's eyes sparkled with satisfaction. “Well, then,” said he, “first you must recollect110 all the differences you have seen between the male and female mind, and imagine yourself a man.”
“Oh, dear! that is so hard. But I have studied Henry. Well, there—I have unsexed myself—in imagination.”
“You are not only a man but a single-minded man, with a high and clear sense of obligation. You are a trustee, bound by honor to protect the interests of a certain woman and a certain child. The lady, under influence, wishes to borrow her son's money, and risk it on rotten security. You decline, and the lady's husband affronts112 you. In spite of that affront111, being a high-minded man not to be warped113 by petty irritation114, you hurry to your lawyers to get two thousand pounds of your own, for the man who had affronted115 you.”
“Is that so?” said Mrs. Little. “I was not aware of that.”
“I have just learned it, accidentally, from the son of the solicitor116 Raby went to that fatal night.”
A tear stole down Mrs. Little's cheek.
“Now, remember, you are not a woman, but a brave, high-minded man. In that character you pity poor Mr. Little, but you blame him a little because he fled from trouble, and left his wife and child in it. To you, who are Guy Raby—mind that, please—it seems egotistical and weak to desert your wife and child even for the grave.” (The widow buried her face and wept. Twenty-five years do something to withdraw the veil the heart has cast over the judgment.) “But, whatever you feel, you utter only regret, and open your arms to your sister. She writes back in an agony, for which, being a man, you can not make all the allowance you would if you were a woman, and denounces you as her husband's murderer, and bids you speak to her and write to her no more, and with that she goes to the Littles. Can you blame yourself that, after all this, you wait for her to review your conduct more soberly, and to invite a reconciliation117.”
Mrs. Little gave Dr. Amboyne her hand, “Bitter, but wholesome118 medicine!” she murmured, and then was too overcome to speak for a little while.
“Ah, my good, wise friend!” said she at last, “thick clouds seem clearing from my mind; I begin to see I was the one to blame.”
“Yes; and if Raby will be as docile as you, and put himself in your place, he will tell me he was the one to blame. There's no such thing as 'the one to blame;' there very seldom is. You judged him as if he was a woman, he judged you as if you were a man. Enter an obese maniac119, and applies the art of arts; the misunderstanding dissolves under it, and you are in each other's arms. But, stop”—and his countenance120 fell again a little: “I am afraid there is a new difficulty. Henry's refusal to take the name of Raby and be his heir. Raby was bitterly mortified121, and I fear he blames me and my crotchets; for he has never been near me since. To be sure you are not responsible for Henry's act.”
“No, indeed; for, between you and me, it mortified me cruelly. And now things have taken a turn—in short, what with his love, and his jealousy122, and this hopeless failure to make a fortune by inventing, I feel I can bring him to his senses. I am not pleased with Grace Carden about something; but no matter, I shall call on her and show her she must side with me in earnest. You will let my brother know I was always on his side in THAT matter, whatever other offense123 I may have given him years ago.”
“And I am on your side, too. Your son has achieved a small independence. Bayne can carry on the little factory, and Henry can sell or lease his patents; he can never sink to a mere dependent. There, I throw my crotchets to the wind, and we will Raby your son, and marry him to Grace Carden.”
“God bless you, my good and true friend! How can I ever thank you?” Her cheek flushed, and her great maternal eye sparkled, and half the beauty of her youth came back. Her gratitude124 gave a turn to the conversation which she neither expected nor desired.
“Mrs. Little,” said Dr. Amboyne, “this is the first time you have entered my den1, and the place seems transformed by your presence. My youth comes back to me with the feelings I thought time had blunted; but no, I feel that, when you leave my den again, it will be darker than ever, if you do not leave me a hope that you will one day enter it for good.”
“For shame! At our age!—” said the widow.
But she spoilt the remonstrance125 by blushing like a girl of eighteen.
“You are not old in my eyes; and, as for me, let my years plead for me, since all those years I have lived single for your sake.”
This last appeal shook Mrs. Little. She said she could not entertain any such thoughts whilst her son was unhappy. “But marry him to his Grace, and then—I don't know what folly126 I might not be persuaded into.”
The doctor was quite content with that. He said he would go to Raby, as soon as he could make the journey with safety, and her troubles and her son's should end.
Mrs. Little drove home, a happy mother. As for the promise she had made her old friend, it vexed127 her a little, she was so used to look at him in another light; but she shrugged128 her maternal shoulders, as much as to say, “When once my Henry leaves me—why not?”
She knew she must play the politician a little with Henry, so she opened the battery cautiously. “My dear,” said she, at breakfast, “good news! Dr. Amboyne undertakes to reconcile us both to your uncle.”
“All the better. Mr. Raby is a wrong-headed man, but he is a noble-minded one, that is certain.”
She said no more. One step at a time.
Henry went up to Woodbine Villa and Grace received him a little coldly. He asked what was the matter. She said, “They tell me you were at the very door the other day, and did not come in.”
“It is true,” said he. “Another had just come out—Mr. Coventry.”
“And you punished ME because that poor man had called on me. Have you not faith in me? or what is it? I shall be angry one of these days.”
“No, you will not, if I can make you understand my feelings. Put yourself in my place, dearest. Here am I, fighting the good fight for you, against long odds131; and, at last, the brickmakers and bricklayers have beat us. Now you know that is a bitter cup for me to drink. Well, I come up here for my one drop of comfort; and out walks my declared rival, looks into my face, sees my trouble there, and turns off with a glance of insolent132 triumph.” (Grace flushed.) “And then consider: I am your choice, yet I am only allowed to visit you once a week.”
“That is papa's doing.”
“No matter; so it is. Yet my rival can come when he pleases: and no doubt he does come every other day.”
“You fancy that.”
“It is not all fancy; for—by heaven! there he is at the gate. Two visits to my one; there. Well, all the better, I'll talk to HIM.”
Grace turned pale, and rang the bell in a moment.
The servant entered the room, just as Mr. Coventry knocked at the door.
“Not at home to anybody,” said she.
Mr. Coventry's voice was heard to say incredulously, “Not at home?” Then he retired slowly, and did not leave the neighborhood. He had called at an hour when Grace was always at home.
Henry sat down, and said, “Thank you, Grace.” But he looked very gloomy and disturbed.
She sat down too, and then they looked at each other.
Henry was the first to speak. “We are both pupils of the good doctor. Put yourself in my place. That man troubles our love, and makes my heavy heart a sore heart.”
The tears were in Grace's eyes. “Dearest,” said she, “I will not put myself in your place; you would lose by that, for I love you better than myself. Yes, it is unjust that you should be allowed to visit me but once a week, and he should visit me when he chooses. I assure you I have permitted his visits out of pure good-nature; and now I will put an end to them.”
She drew her desk toward her, and wrote to Mr. Coventry. It took her some little time. She handed Henry the letter to read. He took it in his hand; but hesitated. He inquired what would be the effect of it?
“That he will never visit me again till you and I are married, or engaged, and that is the same thing. Why don't you read it?”
“I don't know: it goes against me, somehow. Seems unmanly. I'll take your word for it.”
This charmed Grace. “Ah,” said she, “I have chosen right.”
Then he kissed her hands, and blessed her: and then she told him it was nothing; he was a goose, and had no idea what she would do for him; “more than you would do for me, I know,” said she.
That he denied, and then she said she might perhaps put him to the proof some day.
They were so happy together, time slipped away unheeded. It was full three hours before Henry could tear himself away, though he knew he was wanted at the works; and he went out at the gate, glowing with happiness: and Coventry, who was ready to drop with the fatigue134 of walking and watching just above, saw him come out triumphant135.
Then it was his turn to feel a deadly qualm. However, he waited a little longer, and then made his call.
“Not at home.”
Henry, on his way to the works, looked in on his mother, and told her how nobly Grace had behaved.
Mrs. Little was pleased, and it smoothed down her maternal bristles136, and made it much easier for her to carry out her design. For the first time since Mr. Carden had offended her by his cold-blooded treatment of her son, she called at Woodbine Villa.
Grace was at home to see her, and met her with a blushing timidity, and piteous, wistful looks, not easy to misunderstand nor to resist.
They soon came to an understanding, and Mrs. Little told Grace what Dr. Amboyne had promised to do, and represented to her how much better it would be for Henry to fall into his uncle Raby's views, than to engage in hopeless struggles like that in which Mr. Bolt and he had just been so signally defeated. “And then, you know, my dear, you could marry next month—you two; that is to say, if YOU felt disposed: I will answer for Henry.”
Grace's red face and swimming eyes told how this shaft137 went home. In short, she made a coy promise that she would co-operate with Mrs. Little “and,” said she, “how lucky! he has almost promised to grant me the first favor I ask him. Well, I shall entreat138 him to be a good nephew, and do whatever dear Mr. Raby asks him. But of course I shall not say, and then if you do, you and I”—here the young lady cut her sentence very short.
“Of course not,” said Mrs. Little. “THAT will follow as a matter of course. Now, my dear, you and I are conspirators—for his good: and we must write often and let each other know all we do.”
With this understanding, and a good many pretty speeches and kisses, they parted.
Dr. Amboyne did not recover so quickly as they could have wished; but they employed the interval139. Feelers were adroitly140 applied to Henry by both ladies, and they were pleased to find that he rather admired his wrong-headed uncle, and had been deeply touched by the old gentleman's address to his mother's picture.
Bolt never came near him, and the grass was beginning to grow on the condemned141 bricks. In short, every thing seemed to incline in one direction.
There was, however, something very serious going on out of their sight.
“Not at home!” That white lie made Mr. Coventry feel sick at heart. He went home disconsolate142. The same evening he received Miss Carden's letter.
The writer treated him like a gentleman, said a few words about her own peculiar143 position, and begged him to consider that position, and to be very generous; to cease his visits entirely144 for the present, and so give himself one more title to her esteem145, which was all she had to give him. This was the purport, and the manner was simply perfect, so gentle yet firm; and then she flattered his amour propre by asking that from his generosity146 which she could have taken as a right: she did all she could to soften29 the blow. But she failed. The letter was posted too soon after Henry's visit. Behind the velvet147 paw that struck him, Coventry saw the claws of the jealous lover. He boiled with rage and agony, and cursed them both in his fury.
After an hour or two of frenzy148, he sat down and wrote back a letter full of bitter reproaches and sneers149. He reflected. He lighted a cigar and smoked it, biting it almost through, now and then. He burned his letter. He lay awake all night, raging and reflecting alternately, as passion or judgment got the upper hand.
In the morning he saw clearer. “Don't quarrel with HER. Destroy HIM.” He saw this as plainly as if it was written.
He wrote Grace a few sad lines, to say that of course he submitted to her will. The letter ended thus: “Since I can do nothing to please you, let me suffer to please you: even that is something.”
He put on a plain suit, and drove into Hillsborough, burning with wild ideas of vengeance151. He had no idea what he should do; but he was resolved to do something. He felt capable of assassinating152 Little with his own hand.
I should be sorry to gain any sympathy for him; but it is only fair the reader should understand that he felt deeply aggrieved153, and that we should all feel aggrieved under similar circumstances. Priority is a title, all the world over; and he had been the lady's lover first, had been encouraged, and supplanted154.
Longing155 to wound, but not knowing how to strike, he wandered about the town, and went into several factories, and talked to some of the men, and contrived156 to bring the conversation round to Little, and learn what he was doing. But he gathered no information of any use to him. Then he went to Grotait's place, and tried to pump him. That sagacious man thought this odd, and immediately coupled this with his previous denunciation of Little, and drew him on.
Coventry was too much under the influence of passion to be quite master of himself that day; and he betrayed to this other Machiavel that he wished ill to Henry Little. As soon as he had thoroughly158 ascertained159 this, Grotrait turned coolly on him, and said, “I am sorry Mr. Little has got enemies; for he and his partner talk of building a new factory, and that will be a good thing for us: take a score of saw-grinders off the box.” Then Coventry saw he had made a mistake, and left “The Cutlers' Arms” abruptly160.
Next day he took a lodging161 in the town, and went about groping for information, and hunting for a man whose face he knew, but not his name. He learned all about Bolt and Little's vain endeavor to build, and went and saw the place, and the condemned bricks. The sight gratified him. He visited every saw-grinder's place he could hear of; and, at last, he fell in with Sam Cole, and recognized him at once. That worthy162 affected not to know him, and went on grinding a big saw. Coventry stepped up to him, and said in his ear, “I want to speak with you. Make an appointment.”
Cole looked rather sulky and reluctant at being drawn from his obscurity. However, he named a low public-house in a back slum, and there these two met that night, and for greater privacy were soon seated in a place bigger than a box and smaller than a room with discolored walls, and a rough wooden table before them splashed with beer. It looked the very den to hatch villainy in, and drink poison to its success.
Coventry, pale and red alternately, as fear and shame predominated, began to beat about the bush.
“You and I have reason to hate the same man. You know who I mean.”
“I can guess. Begins with a Hel.”
“He has wronged me deeply; and he hurt you.”
“That is true, sir. I think he broke my windpipe, for I'm as hoarse163 as a raven164 ever since: and I've got one or two of the shot in my cheek still.”
“Well, then, now is your time to be revenged.”
“Well, I don't know about that. What he done was in self-defense; and if I play bowls I must look for rubs.”
Coventry bit his lip with impatience165. After a pause, he said, “What were you paid for that job?”
“Not half enough.”
“Twenty pounds?”
“Nor nothing like it.”
“I'll give you a hundred to do it again, only more effectually.” He turned very pale when he had made this offer.
“Ah,” said Cole, “anybody could tell you was a gentleman.”
“You accept my offer, then?”
“Nay, I mean it is easy to see you don't know trades. I musn't meddle with Mr. Little now; he is right with the Trade.”
“What, not if I pay you five times as much? say ten times then; two hundred pounds.”
“Nay, we union chaps are not malefactors. You can't buy us to injure an unoffending man. We have got our laws, and they are just ones, and, if a man will break them, after due warning, the order is given to 'do' him, and the men are named for the job, and get paid a trifle for their risk; and the risk is not much, the Trade stand by one another too true, and in so many ways. But if a man is right with the Trade, it is treason to harm him. No, I mustn't move a finger against Little.”
“You have set up a conscience!” said Coventry bitterly.
At this moment the door was opened and shut very swiftly, and a whisper came in through the momentary167 aperture168, “Mind your eye, Sam Cole.”
Coventry rushed to the door and looked out; there was nobody to be seen.
“You needn't trouble yourself,” said Cole. “You might as well run after the wind. That was a friendly warning. I know the voice, and Grotait must be on to us. Now, sir, if you offered me a thousand pounds, I wouldn't touch a hair of Mr. Little: he is right with the Trade, and we should have Grotait and all the Trade as bitter as death against us. I'll tell you a secret, sir, that I've kept from my wife”—(he lowered his voice to a whisper)—“Grotait could hang me any day he chose. You must chink your brass169 in some other ear, as the saying is: only mind, you did me a good turn once, and I'll do you one now; you have been talking to somebody else besides me, and blown yourself: so now drop your little game, and let Little alone, or the Trade will make it their job to LAY YOU.”
Coventry's face betrayed so much alarm, that the man added, “And penal170 servitude wouldn't suit the likes of you. Keep out of it.”
With this rough advice the conference ended, and Mr. Coventry went home thoroughly shaken in his purpose, and indeed not a little anxious on his own account. Suppose he had been overheard! his offer to Cole was an offense within reach of the criminal law. What a mysterious labyrinth171 was this Trade confederacy, into which he had put his foot so rashly, and shown his game, like a novice172, to the subtle and crafty173 Grotait. He now collected all his powers, not to injure Little, but to slip out of his own blunder.
He seized this opportunity to carry out a coup157 he had long meditated174: he went round to a dozen timber-merchants, and contracted with them for the sale of every tree, old or young, on his estate; and, while the trees were falling like grain, and the agents on both sides measuring the fallen, he vanished entirely from Hillsborough and Bollinghope.
Dr. Amboyne's influenza was obstinate175, and it was nearly a fortnight before he was strong enough to go to Cairnhope; but at last Mrs. Little received a line from him, to say he was just starting, and would come straight to her on his return: perhaps she would give him a cup of tea.
This letter came very opportunely176. Bolt had never shown his face again; and Henry had given up all hopes of working his patents, and had said more than once he should have to cross the water and sell them.
As for Mrs. Little, she had for some time maintained a politic129 silence. But now she prepared for the doctor's visit as follows: “So, then, you have no more hopes from the invincible Mr. Bolt?”
“None whatever. He must have left the town in disgust.”
“He is a wise man. I want you to imitate his example. Henry, my dear, what is the great object of your life at present? Is it not to marry Grace Carden?”
“You know it is.”
“Then take her from my hands. Why do you look so astonished? Have you forgotten my little boast?” Then, in a very different tone, “You will love your poor mother still, when you are married? You will say, 'I owe her my wife,' will you not?”
Henry was so puzzled he could not reply even to this touching177 appeal, made with eyes full of tears at the thought of parting with him.
Mrs. Little proceeded to explain: “Let me begin at the beginning. Dr. Amboyne has shown me I was more to blame than your uncle, was. Would you believe it? although he refused your poor father the trust-money, he went that moment to get L2000 of his own, and lend it to us. Oh, Henry, when Dr Amboyne told me that, and opened my eyes, I could have thrown myself at poor Guy's feet. I have been the most to blame in our unhappy quarrel; and I have sent Dr. Amboyne to say so. Now, Henry, my brother will forgive me, the doctor says; and, oh, my heart yearns178 to be reconciled. You will not stand in my way, dearest?”
“Not likely. Why, I am under obligations to him, for my part.”
“Yes, but Dr. Amboyne says dear Guy is deeply mortified by your refusal to be his heir. For my sake, for your own sake, and for Grace Carden's sake; change your mind now.”
“What, go into his house, and wait for dead men's shoes! Find myself some day wishing in my heart that noble old fellow would die! Such a life turns a man's stomach even to think of it.”
“No, no. Dr. Amboyne says that Mr. Bayne can conduct your business here, and hand you a little income, without your meddling179.”
“That is true.”
“And, as for your patents, gentlemen can sell them to traders, or lease them out. My brother would make a settlement on Grace and you—she is his goddaughter—now that is all Mr. Carden demands. Then you could marry, and, on your small present income, make a little tour together; and dispose of your patents in other places.”
“I could do great things with them in the United States.”
“That is a long way.”
“Why, it is only twelve days.”
“Well, marry first,” said the politic mother.
Henry flushed all over. “Ah!” said he, “you tempt180 me. Heaven seems to open its gates as you speak. But you can not be in earnest; he made it an express condition I should drop my father's name, and take his. Disown my poor dead father? No, no, no!”
Now in reality this condition was wormwood to Mrs. Little; but she knew that if she let her son see her feeling, all was over. She was all the mother now, and fighting for her son's happiness: so she sacrificed truth to love with an effort, but without a scruple181. “It is not as if it was a strange name. Henry, you compel me to say things that tear my heart to say, but—which has been your best friend, your mother, or your poor dear father?”
Henry was grieved at the question: but he was a man who turned his back on nothing. “My father loved me,” said he: “I can remember that; but he deserted182 me, and you, in trouble; but you—you have been friend, parent, lover, and guardian183 angel to me. And, oh, how little I have done to deserve it all!”
“Well, dear, the mother you value so highly, her name was Raby. Yes, love; and, forgive me, I honor and love my mother's name even more than I do the name of Little”—(the tears ran out of her eyes at this falsehood)—“pray take it, to oblige me, and reconcile me to my dear brother, and end our troubles forever.” Then she wept on his neck, and he cried with her.
After a while, he said, “I feel my manhood all melting away together. I am quite confused. It is hard to give up a noble game. It is hard to refuse such a mother as you. Don't cry any more, for mercy's sake! I'm like to choke. Mind, crying is work I'm not used to. What does SHE say? I am afraid I shall win her, but lose her respect.”
“She says she admires your pride; but you have shown enough. If you refuse any longer, she will begin to fear you don't love her as well as she loves you.”
This master-stroke virtually ended the battle. Henry said nothing, but the signs of giving way were manifest in him, so manifest that Mrs. Little became quite impatient for the doctor's arrival to crown all.
He drove up to the door at last, and Henry ran out and brought him in. He looked pale, and sat down exhausted184.
Mrs. Little restrained her impatience, and said, “We are selfish creatures to send you on our business before you are half well.”
“I am well enough in health,” said he, “but I am quite upset.”
“What is the matter? Surely you have not failed? Guy does not refuse his forgiveness?”
“No, it is not that. Perhaps, if I had been in time—but the fact is, Guy Raby has left England.”
“What, for good? Impossible!”
“Who can tell? All I know is that he has sold his horses, discharged his servants all but one, and gone abroad without a word. I was the friend of his youth—his college chum; he must be bitterly wounded to go away like that, and not even let me know.”
Mrs. Little lifted up her hands. “What have we done? what have we done? Wounded! no wonder. Oh, my poor, wronged, insulted brother!”
She wept bitterly, and took it to heart so, it preyed185 on her health and spirits. She was never the same woman from that hour.
While her son and her friend were saying all they could to console her, there appeared at the gate the last man any of them ever expected to see—Mr. Bolt.
Henry saw him first, and said so.
“Keep him out,” cried the doctor, directly. “Don't let that bragging186 fool in to disturb our sorrow.” He opened the door and told the servant-girl to say “Not at home.”
“Not at home,” said the girl.
“That's a lie!” shouted Bolt, and shoved her aside and burst into the room. “None of your tricks on travelers,” said he, in his obstreperous way. “I saw your heads through the window. Good news, my boy! I've done the trick. I wouldn't say a word till it was all settled, for Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast's a better. I've sold my building-site to some gents that want to speculate in a church, and I've made five hundred pounds profit by the sale. I'm always right, soon or late. And I've bought a factory ready made—the Star Works; bought 'em, sir, with all the gear and plant, and working hands.”
“The Star Works? The largest but one in Hillsborough!”
“Ay, lad. Money and pluck together, they'll beat the world. We have got a noble place, with every convenience. All we have got to do now is to go in and win.”
Young Little's eyes sparkled. “All right,” said he, “I like this way the best.”
Mrs. Little sighed.
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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vent
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| n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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consummate
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| adj.完美的；v.成婚；使完美 [反]baffle | |
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feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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hampered
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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10
hatchets
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| n.短柄小斧( hatchet的名词复数 )；恶毒攻击；诽谤；休战 | |
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11
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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12
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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13
plow
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| n.犁，耕地，犁过的地；v.犁，费力地前进[英]plough | |
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14
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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15
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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16
averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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17
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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18
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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19
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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20
admonished
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| v.劝告( admonish的过去式和过去分词 )；训诫；（温和地）责备；轻责 | |
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21
invader
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| n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者 | |
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22
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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23
meekest
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| adj.温顺的，驯服的( meek的最高级 ) | |
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24
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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25
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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26
interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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27
obstreperously
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28
obstreperous
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| adj.喧闹的，不守秩序的 | |
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29
soften
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| v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和 | |
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30
softened
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| （使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰 | |
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31
bawling
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| v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物） | |
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32
sociable
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| adj.好交际的，友好的，合群的 | |
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33
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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34
ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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35
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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36
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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37
toil
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| vi.辛劳工作，艰难地行动；n.苦工，难事 | |
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38
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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39
dealer
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| n.商人，贩子 | |
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40
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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41
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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42
purport
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| n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是... | |
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43
premises
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| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
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44
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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45
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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46
Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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47
demurred
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| v.表示异议，反对( demur的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
amendment
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| n.改正，修正，改善，修正案 | |
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49
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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50
fortress
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| n.堡垒，防御工事 | |
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51
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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52
stringent
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| adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的 | |
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53
animating
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| v.使有生气( animate的现在分词 )；驱动；使栩栩如生地动作；赋予…以生命 | |
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54
geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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55
bustling
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| adj.喧闹的 | |
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56
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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57
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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58
orators
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| n.演说者，演讲家( orator的名词复数 ) | |
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59
parley
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| n.谈判 | |
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60
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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61
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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62
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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63
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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64
doughty
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| adj.勇猛的，坚强的 | |
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65
contractors
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| n.（建筑、监造中的）承包人( contractor的名词复数 ) | |
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66
trampled
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|
| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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67
blackmail
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|
| n.讹诈，敲诈，勒索，胁迫，恫吓 | |
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68
dilemma
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| n.困境，进退两难的局面 | |
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69
kiln
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| n.（砖、石灰等）窑，炉；v.烧窑 | |
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70
groan
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|
| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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71
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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72
relentless
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|
| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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73
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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74
retired
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|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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75
bruises
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| n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 ) | |
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76
superfluous
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|
| adj.过多的，过剩的，多余的 | |
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77
anonymous
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|
| adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的 | |
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78
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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79
impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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80
afterward
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|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
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81
preamble
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|
| n.前言；序文 | |
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82
outrages
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| 引起…的义愤，激怒( outrage的第三人称单数 ) | |
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83
narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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84
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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85
intrude
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| vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰 | |
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86
blustering
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|
| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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87
mare
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| n.母马，母驴 | |
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88
miscreants
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|
| n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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89
docile
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|
| adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的 | |
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90
avenge
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| v.为...复仇，为...报仇 | |
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91
tormenting
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| 使痛苦的，使苦恼的 | |
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92
strew
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| vt.撒；使散落；撒在…上，散布于 | |
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93
gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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94
invincible
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|
| adj.不可征服的，难以制服的 | |
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95
waylaid
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
picketed
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| 用尖桩围住（picket的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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97
amalgamate
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| v.(指业务等)合并，混合 | |
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98
monstrous
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|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
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99
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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100
villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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101
depressed
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|
| adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的 | |
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102
careworn
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| adj.疲倦的，饱经忧患的 | |
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103
retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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104
maternal
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|
| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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105
ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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106
influenza
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| n.流行性感冒，流感 | |
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107
estranged
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| adj.疏远的，分离的 | |
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108
deviate
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| v.(from)背离，偏离 | |
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109
obese
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| adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的 | |
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110
recollect
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| v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得 | |
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111
affront
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| n./v.侮辱，触怒 | |
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112
affronts
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| n.（当众）侮辱，（故意）冒犯( affront的名词复数 )v.勇敢地面对( affront的第三人称单数 )；相遇 | |
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113
warped
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|
| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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114
irritation
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| n.激怒，恼怒，生气 | |
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115
affronted
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| adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇 | |
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116
solicitor
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| n.初级律师，事务律师 | |
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117
reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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118
wholesome
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| adj.适合；卫生的；有益健康的；显示身心健康的 | |
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119
maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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120
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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121
mortified
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| v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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122
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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123
offense
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| n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪 | |
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124
gratitude
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| adj.感激，感谢 | |
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125
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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126
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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127
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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128
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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129
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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130
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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131
odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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132
insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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133
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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134
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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135
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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136
bristles
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| 短而硬的毛发，刷子毛( bristle的名词复数 ) | |
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137
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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138
entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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139
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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141
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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142
disconsolate
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| adj.忧郁的，不快的 | |
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143
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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144
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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sneers
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| 讥笑的表情（言语）( sneer的名词复数 ) | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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151
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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152
assassinating
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| v.暗杀( assassinate的现在分词 )；中伤；诋毁；破坏 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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supplanted
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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158
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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161
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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raven
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| n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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nettled
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| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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aperture
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| n.孔，隙，窄的缺口 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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labyrinth
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| n.迷宫；难解的事物；迷路 | |
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novice
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| adj.新手的，生手的 | |
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crafty
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| adj.狡猾的，诡诈的 | |
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meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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opportunely
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| adv.恰好地，适时地 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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yearns
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的第三人称单数 ) | |
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meddling
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的现在分词 ) | |
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tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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181
scruple
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| n./v.顾忌，迟疑 | |
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182
deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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183
guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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184
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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185
preyed
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| v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 )；掠食；折磨；（人）靠欺诈为生 | |
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bragging
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| v.自夸，吹嘘( brag的现在分词 )；大话 | |
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