Not that this was really needed, since Marie loved him as much as he loved her, but the position would be more satisfactory to both if matters were arranged on this basis, and in a practical way. After all, Marie was young and impressionable, and if Mr. Sorley found a rich man anxious to become the husband of his lovely niece he might, and probably would, worry her into accepting the suitor. Marie would fight--Alan was quite positive on this point--but she might be worn out by her uncle's persistence4, and Fuller knew well enough that the old man was as obstinate5 as a mule6, when once he set his mind on achieving a certain end. On the whole then, Alan was pleased that chance had thrown in his way an opportunity of doing Mr. Sorley a service, as a benefit conferred would undoubtedly7 soften8 him. Certainly the peacock belonged to Marie, but--looking upon it, as she would, as a mere9 ornament10--she probably would not mind its remaining in her uncle's possession when it was found. And Sorley was a fanatic11 about jewels: their glitter and rainbow hues12 seemed to send him crazy with delight. To recover the radiant splendor13 of the peacock, he would assuredly concede much and Alan felt quite sure that consent to his marriage with the girl would not be withheld14. But everything depended upon the tracing of the miserable15 Grison's assassin and that was not an easy task.
Before leaving London, Fuller had visited Inspector16 Moon at his Rotherhithe office, along with Latimer, and the policeman had been greatly interested in the fact that the solicitor17 knew the original possessors of the article for which Grison had apparently18 been murdered. He had also been astonished, and with good reason, at the coincidence that Latimer, to whom he had spoken about Jotty's evidence, should have a friend who was--so to speak--mixed up in the matter of the peacock. Since Fate appeared to point out Fuller as an active agent in bringing this unknown murderer to justice, through the instrumentality of the stolen ornament, Moon had readily given the young man permission to speak of the matter to Mr. Sorley and to Marie. Meanwhile the inspector still continued to hunt for the trail, but without success. The assassin had come and gone in the crowd which inhabited Mother Slaig's boarding-house entirely20 unnoticed, and now that Grison was buried in the Belstone churchyard as arranged by his sister, it appeared as if the Rotherhithe murder would have to be relegated21 to the list of undiscovered crimes. Further revelations depended either on the chance that the criminal would pawn22 or sell what he had risked his neck to obtain, or on some evidence procured23 from Marie and Sorley, relative to the peacock. Where had it originally come from? who had manufactured it? why did the Inderwick family regard it as a fetish? and finally, why had Grison stolen it? These were the questions which Fuller came down to Belstone to ask.
Meanwhile the inspector still continued to hunt for the trail, but without success. The assassin had come and gone in the crowd which inhabited Mother Slaig's boarding-house entirely unnoticed, and now that Grison was buried in the Belstone churchyard as arranged by his sister, it appeared as if the Rotherhithe murder would have to be relegated to the list of undiscovered crimes. Further revelations depended either on the chance that the criminal would pawn or sell what he had risked his neck to obtain, or on some evidence procured from Marie and Sorley, relative to the peacock. Where had it originally come from? who had manufactured it? why did the Inderwick family regard it as a fetish? and finally, why had Grison stolen it? These were the questions which Fuller came down to Belstone to ask.
It was therefore no wonder that, since Alan's future happiness depended upon his success in solving so deep a mystery, he should be thoughtful on the journey, to Belstone. Dick and he had talked a great deal about the matter but, for want of further evidence could arrive at no conclusion. Until Mr. Sorley explained about the peacock, and stated what he knew concerning Grison, there was nothing more to be done. Alan thought that the uncle would probably know more than the niece, since she had been an infant in arms when the fetish had been stolen. All the same he resolved to question Marie first, on the chance that she might know something, and upon what she stated would depend his future plans. The young man did not like Mr. Sorley, not only because that gentleman thwarted24 his marriage with Marie, but also for the very simple reason that he mistrusted Sorley's character. His eyes were too shifty; his manners were too suave25; and although he always wished to know the private affairs of everyone else, he never by any chance confessed anything that had to do with himself. It was necessary on these grounds, as Fuller considered, to deal with Marie's uncle in a wary26 manner.
In due course the train stopped at Lewes, and Alan got out with the intention of walking the five miles to Belstone. He had only a gladstone bag containing a few necessary articles for a Saturday-to-Monday's stay in the country, since he invariably kept a supply of clothes at his home. With a nod to the station-master, to whom he was well-known, Fuller left the station, and ignoring the application of several cabmen, struck at an angle to reach the high road. He was soon on the hard metal and walked along swiftly and easily swinging his bag, glad of the exercise to grow warm again, as the day was cold and he was chilled from sitting in the train. As it was now the end of November there was a slight grey fog spreading its veil over the surrounding country, and the sun was conspicuous27 by its absence. But that Alan thought of Marie's bright face, which he would be certain to see smiling before him on this day or the next, he would have been depressed28 by the want of sunshine. But what lover who hopes to look into the eyes of the girl he adores within a specified29 number of hours can feel down-hearted, however gloomy the skies or moist the earth? Not Alan Fuller, who moved on to his much-desired goal with love songs humming in his active brain. And the burden of these was "Marie Marie Marie!" with the delicious name joined to the most eulogistic30 adjectives in the English tongue.
It was when he was almost within sight of Belstone village that the motor bicycle came along. Alan heard the buzz of the machine round the corner and stood aside to let it pass, indifferent to its coming and going. But when he saw a slim old man with an ascetic31, clean-shaven face, smartly dressed in a grey suit with brown gaiters, seated thereon, he both started and called out in his surprise.
"Mr. Sorley. This is unexpected. You on a bicycle?"
The rider shut off the motive32 power and brought his machine to a standstill a few yards past the young man. "You are astonished," he said, coming back wheeling the bicycle. "Well, Alan, I don't wonder at it. At the age of sixty, it is not many people who would risk their brittle33 bones in this way."
"No, indeed," replied Fuller, staring at Mr. Sorley's fresh complexion34 and closely-cropped white hair surmounted35 by a very juvenile36 tweed cap. "And I thought you were such an indoor man."
"Pooh! pooh! pooh!" said Sorley good-humoredly. "You know how particular I am about exercise, Alan. I walk every day a certain distance in order to keep myself in health. For years I have slipped out to range the park; but with increasing age should come increasing activity, so, I have bought this," he shook the machine, "and already--in three weeks that is--I have learned to ride it without fear. I can explore the country now, and intend to do so, my dear lad. The park is too small for me, and I must take all the exercise possible if I wish to keep my looks and vitality37. Increasing age: increasing activity," said Mr. Sorley again, "there you are."
"Increasing age generally means sitting by the fire and going to bed early, sir," replied Alan dryly, "don't overdo38 it."
"My boy, there is nothing so objectionable as advice."
"I beg your pardon. I only thought----"
"Then don't think on my behalf at all events," snapped Mr. Sorley, who appeared rather ruffled39 by Fuller's reflection on his age. "When you come to my years, Alan, I doubt if you will look so healthy as I do."
The young man mentally admitted that it was possible he might not wear so well. Sorley was a marvel40 of preservation41, and although he had turned sixty certainly did not look more than forty-five at the most, save for his white hair. His face was almost without wrinkles; his form, spare and lean, was unbowed, and the up-to-date clothes he always affected42 gave him quite a youthful air at a distance. In fact he was a very handsome man in an elderly way, and but for his shifty eyes and slack mouth--these marred43 his appearance considerably--he would have impressed people even more than he already did. But with all his juvenile aspect and ingratiating ways, there was something untrustworthy about the man. At least Alan thought so, and had always thought so, but perhaps he might have been more observant than the usual run of humanity, for Marie's uncle was extremely popular, although his usual life was somewhat after the style of a hermit45. But this Mr. Sorley ascribed less to inclination46 than to the want of money, since he humorously said that he and Marie, unable to make both ends meet, ha ci to make one end vegetables.
"You are wonderful, Mr. Sorley," said Alan, hastening to soothe47 the old man's easily hurt vanity. "I never saw you look better. How do you manage to knock all these years off your age?"
"Abstention from over-drinking and overeating," said Mr. Sorley briskly, giving his recipe for everlasting48 youth. "An hour's sleep in the afternoon and plenty of it at night. Cold tubs, dumbbell exercises in the altogether as Trilby says with the window open, judicious49 walks and an optimistic way of looking at things. There you are," he ended with his favourite catch-phrase as usual.
"Now you must add trips on a motor bicycle," laughed Alan, smiling. "By the way, how is Marie?"
"Blooming as a rose, fresh as a daisy, cheerful as a lark," prattled50 Mr. Sorley, with a swift and not altogether approving glance at the speaker's face. "She'll be getting married soon. I can't expect to keep such beauty and grace hidden from the world. And she must make a good match, my lad"--this was for Alan's particular benefit as the young man knew very well----"a title and money, good looks and a landed estate, with brains added. That is the suitor I have chosen for Marie."
"You are looking for a bird of paradise," said Fuller, coloring at the hint conveyed, "does such perfection exist in a mere human being?"
"I hope so; I hope so," said Sorley, still cheery and still shifty in his glance, "we must look for the rarity, my lad. But I'm in no hurry to lose Marie. She is a great comfort to her old uncle. I was annoyed the other day, greatly annoyed, and she talked me into quite a good humor."
"What annoyed you, sir?" asked Fuller, not because he cared, but merely from a desire to chat about Miss Inderwick.
"A funeral which took place in the village."
"Oh, Baldwin Grison's funeral?"
Sorley brought his shifty green eyes to the young man's face. "What do you know about Baldwin Grison?" he asked sharply, and, as it seemed to Alan's suspicious nature, rather uneasily.
"All that the newspapers could tell me, Mr. Sorley. He was murdered at Rotherhithe by some unknown person, and his sister brought the body down here for burial in the village churchyard."
"That last wasn't in the newspapers," retorted the other quickly and looking everywhere but at Alan's face.
"No, it wasn't. But my friend Latimer--you may remember meeting him at the vicarage, Mr. Sorley--was at the inquest and afterwards spoke19 to Miss Grison, who told him of her intention."
"Did she tell him also that her brother was my secretary twenty years ago, Alan?" demanded Sorley, his face growing red and his eyes glittering. "Did she say how he was turned out of the house as a drunken swine?"
"Miss Grison hinted something of those things at the inquest, but did not go into details, and, as they were unnecessary, she was not pressed. But she told Latimer that her brother had been discharged by you for some reason."
"He was a hard drinker, and also smoked opium," said Sorley angrily. "I did what I could for him, but had to discharge him in the long run. That woman had no right to bring the body here and bury it under my nose, as it might be. Decency51 should have prevented her bringing back the man to a place whence he was kicked out twenty years ago."
"It would have been better had she thrown those into a London ditch," replied Sorley tartly53. "Grison was a bad servant to me and a bad brother to her and a profligate54 animal. I don't wonder he was murdered."
"Can you suggest any motive for the commission of the crime?" asked Fuller, looking straightly at the elder man.
"Grison was a drunkard, an opium-smoker, a liar55 and a loafer. A man like that must have made many enemies, and in the low slum he lived in he certainly risked what has, in the end, happened. The wonder is that he was not murdered before, Alan."
"Well, he had one good point," said Fuller meaningly and to force confidence if possible on the part of Sorley. "He wasn't a thief."
"Can you prove that he was not?"
"Can you prove that he was?" demanded Alan in his turn. "At all events you omitted that particular crime from your category."
"The poor devil's dead and I don't wish to say more about him than I have already stated," said Sorley moodily56, and beginning to start his machine, "but I trust that his silly sister will not come and worry me."
"Why should she?" asked Fuller, noticing that the man before him evaded57 the question of Grison being a thief.
"There's no reason in the world why she should, except that she was infatuated with her brother and believed that I had discharged him unjustly. I shouldn't be surprised if she came to tell me that again, by word of mouth as she has told me dozens of times by letter. She ascribed Grison's downfall to me, and was always asking me to assist him when he was at Rotherhithe during the last twenty years. Of course I didn't, both because I am poor as you know, Alan, and for the simple reason that Grison was not worth helping58. I was his best friend, and far from bringing about his downfall I did my best to keep him straight. But all in vain: all in vain. He became quite a scandal in the place and Mrs. Inderwick, my sister, insisted that I should get rid of him. I did so, and he went to the dogs entirely. So there you are, Alan, my boy, and I can't stay here all day talking about a matter which annoys me intensely."
By this time the machine was alive with energy and Mr. Sorley swung himself into the saddle as he ended his voluble speech. With a nod he set the starting gear in motion, and almost instantaneously was a dot on the horizon travelling towards Lewes at the speed of a swallow. Alan looked after him thoughtfully, and tried to arrive at some conclusion regarding his apparently frank speech. By the time he reached the vicarage he came to one resolution at least, and that was to say nothing for the present to Mr. Sorley about the peacock. The young man could scarcely decide himself what made him refrain from speaking, save that the old gentleman's manner and vague speech communicated to him a sort of uneasy feeling, which hinted that reticence59 was wise for the time being. It might have been some sixth sense which induced the decision, for Fuller certainly could not argue out the matter logically. However, he determined60 to obey the intuition, and to avoid making a confidant of the uncle, while speaking freely of his errand to the niece. There was no feeling in his mind against discussing with Marie the theft of the peacock as the possible motive for the murder of the man her relative seemed to detest61 so thoroughly62.
As usual the young man received the warmest of welcomes from his parents, who adored their only son and thought him the most wonderful person in the world. The vicar assuredly did not worship the marvellous boy so devotedly63 as did Mrs. Fuller; nevertheless he took a great pride in Alan's handsome looks and clever brains and general good conduct. He was a bright-eyed, rosy-faced little man, who scarcely came up to his tall son's shoulder, with a kindly64 nature, which was always being imposed upon. His wife, a sweet-faced old lady, tall, grey-haired, and singularly graceful65, was more practical in many ways than her husband. She checked the vicar's too generous way of dealing66 with those who took advantage of his lavish67 kindness, and was the true ruling power in the house. Her weak point was Alan, and she often sighed to think that he would never find a woman worthy44 to be his wife. A dozen of the best women in the world rolled into one perfect creature would never have come up to the standard she had set up in her own mind which the future Mrs. Alan Fuller was to reach.
Alan always enjoyed his home visits, not only because he loved his parents with a tenderness and respect rare in these modern days of revolt against domestic authority, but also on account of the quiet and well-ordered life which made the vicarage so uncommonly68 pleasant. Mrs. Fuller was a famous housewife, and managed her establishment with such rare tact69 that she kept her servants for years. Her husband's income was not a large one, but no one would have guessed this, seeing the perfectly70 appointed dinner-table and the dainty meal prepared. The vicar's wife had brought to her husband by way of dowry a quantity of valuable old furniture, so that every room looked graciously beautiful. And as the house was quaint71 and old, and kept in perfect repair and order, those not in the secret of the income believed that the Fullers had ample means. But everything grateful to the eye and the touch and the palate was due to the "vicaress," as her husband jocularly called her. The worst-tempered person in the world would have succumbed72 to the soothing73 influences which permeated74 the place.
"Home, home, sweet, sweet home," hummed Alan, when the trio sat in the fragrant75 old drawing-room after an admirable dinner. "Mother darling, you have no idea how restful this is, after the noise and bustle76 of London."
Mrs. Fuller smiled from her favorite chair, and went on with her tatting, busy as a bee, for she was rarely idle. In her silver-grey dress with a lace cap of dainty gossamer77 resting on her white hair, worn cast back after the style of Marie Antoinette, and her old-fashioned set of amethyst78 ornaments79, she looked singularly charming. In the subdued80 light which came through the pink lampshades she looked like some gentle ghost of early Victorian days, soothingly81 womanly and motherly. She had grown old gracefully82, and as the diamonds flashed from her rings while she tatted diligently83 Alan thought what a delightful84 gentlewoman she looked, placid85, dignified86 and gracious.
It was the vicar who answered his son's question, although Alan had scarcely put his remark as such. "Ah, my boy, you'd soon grow weary of this drowsy87 place, and would long for the crowded hour of glorious life. It is the contrast that makes you appreciate our Eden."
Mrs. Fuller nodded her approval. "White always shows up best against black."
"Well, you have had some London black down here lately, mother." And when she looked at him inquiringly, Alan continued, "I mean the funeral."
The vicar's face grew sad. "Yes! yes! That was indeed an unpleasant reminder88 of what lies beyond our quiet hills. Poor Grison and poor Louisa tool I do not know which I am most sorry for."
"For Louisa?" said Mrs. Fuller, raising her quiet eyes. "You need not be sorry for her, John. She did her duty and more than her duty by that poor creature who has gone to his account, so she has nothing to reproach herself with. I am glad she is staying for a few days, as I wish to have a talk with her."
"Is Miss Grison staying here then?" asked Alan, wondering if it would be worth while to look her up.
"At Mrs. Millington's, the dressmaker, my dear. She and Louisa were close friends twenty years and more ago."
"That was when Grison was secretary to Mr. Sorley."
"Yes," chimed in the vicar. "But who told you about that, my boy?"
"Miss Grison spoke about it at the inquest and also to Dick and Inspector Moon, father. Then I met Mr. Sorley on my way here and he told me that he had employed the man, but had to get rid of him for drink, and----"
"I don't think that is true," interrupted Mrs. Fuller with some indignation in her usually gentle voice. "Poor Baldwin--we called him so when he was a young man--did not drink to excess, although he certainly took more than was good for him at times."
"Then why was he discharged?"
"I cannot say, Alan, nor can anyone else. Louisa knows, but she would never tell me. But Mr. Sorley was much to blame in throwing Baldwin on the world without a character, since he was too weak to stand by himself. Louisa did what she could, but he fell from bad to worse until--alas89! alas! Tell me, Alan, has anything been discovered as to who killed him?"
"Not yet, mother. You have read the papers."
"Oh yes. Louisa sent all the reports down to your father and to me, knowing that we took a deep interest in Baldwin. Don't you remember him, Alan? You were a little boy of six or seven then."
Alan shook his head. "I have a faint recollection only, mother. A little man, wasn't he, with fair hair and blue eyes? But there, I may have got that impression from Dick's description. He saw the corpse90."
"Don't talk about such things, Alan," said the vicar hastily. "It worries your mother: she is very impressionable. Let us be thankful that the poor creature has been brought back to lie in our quiet churchyard. As to the person who murdered him, he will suffer for his sin in God's good time."
"I doubt if the truth will ever be discovered," said Alan with a shrug91. "By the way, father, do you remember that peacock of jewels which was the fetish or luck of the Inderwicks?"
Not knowing what connection there was between the murder of Grison and the ornament in question, the vicar thought that the apparently irrelevant92 inquiry93 was made by his son in obedience94 to his request that the crime should not be discussed in the presence of Mrs. Fuller. "Everyone in the village, if not in the county, knows about the peacock," he said with an approving smile, "but as to its bringing luck, I do not believe in such superstitions96, my boy."
"Perhaps not," said his wife quietly, "but you must confess, John, that since what the Inderwicks call their luck has been missing nothing has gone well with them--that is with Marie, who alone represents the family."
"Nonsense, my dear. Marie is young, healthy, pretty, and happy enough in her own way, as Sorley is kindness itself to her. There's no bad luck haunting the girl so far as I can see."
"No, of course not. But I allude97 rather to her poverty. The Inderwicks used to be rich, and Mrs. Inderwick was left comparatively well off. Then she lost her money when Marie was born, and afterwards died."
"Inderwick--Marie's father, that is--should not have made Sorley trustee, for he is, and always was a bad business man. He acted honestly enough, I daresay, but even with his sister's consent he should never have speculated as he did. No wonder the money was lost."
"What were the speculations98?" asked Alan.
"Land in Australia--in Melbourne chiefly, I believe. There was a big land boom there, over twenty years ago. Then everything failed and bank after bank went smash. Before Sorley could get a letter or even a telegram out, everything was gone. However, Marie has The Monastery99 and the park and sufficient to keep her in food and dress, so she can't grumble100."
"Marie never does grumble," said Mrs. Fuller decidedly, "she is the brightest person I know. But it's a dull life for a young girl at The Monastery. She ought to have a season in London and be presented at Court and have an opportunity," here she stole a shy glance at Alan's expressive101 face, "of making a good match. With Marie's blood and looks she should secure a title."
"Well, perhaps she will, when the peacock returns to bring back the luck," said Alan, refusing to be drawn102 into an argument with his mother over Marie.
"It will never be found," said the vicar positively103. "How was it lost, father?"
"I can't tell you. But it has been missing twenty years and is not likely to reappear. Marie can do very well without it. Such superstition95 is ridiculous. And now we must have prayers," ended Mr. Fuller inconsequently. His wife looked up amused, since she knew that he acted thus because he had no patience with her belief in the peacock as a fetish.
And while prayers were being said Alan wondered if the peacock would ever reappear, in spite of his father's doubts, to influence Marie's destiny.
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1 compartment | |
n.卧车包房,隔间;分隔的空间 | |
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2 justify | |
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护 | |
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3 lien | |
n.扣押权,留置权 | |
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4 persistence | |
n.坚持,持续,存留 | |
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5 obstinate | |
adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 | |
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6 mule | |
n.骡子,杂种,执拗的人 | |
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7 undoubtedly | |
adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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8 soften | |
v.(使)变柔软;(使)变柔和 | |
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9 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
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10 ornament | |
v.装饰,美化;n.装饰,装饰物 | |
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11 fanatic | |
n.狂热者,入迷者;adj.狂热入迷的 | |
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12 hues | |
色彩( hue的名词复数 ); 色调; 信仰; 观点 | |
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13 splendor | |
n.光彩;壮丽,华丽;显赫,辉煌 | |
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14 withheld | |
withhold过去式及过去分词 | |
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15 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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16 inspector | |
n.检查员,监察员,视察员 | |
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17 solicitor | |
n.初级律师,事务律师 | |
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18 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
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19 spoke | |
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说 | |
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20 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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21 relegated | |
v.使降级( relegate的过去式和过去分词 );使降职;转移;把…归类 | |
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22 pawn | |
n.典当,抵押,小人物,走卒;v.典当,抵押 | |
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23 procured | |
v.(努力)取得, (设法)获得( procure的过去式和过去分词 );拉皮条 | |
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24 thwarted | |
阻挠( thwart的过去式和过去分词 ); 使受挫折; 挫败; 横过 | |
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25 suave | |
adj.温和的;柔和的;文雅的 | |
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26 wary | |
adj.谨慎的,机警的,小心的 | |
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27 conspicuous | |
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的 | |
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28 depressed | |
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的 | |
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29 specified | |
adj.特定的 | |
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30 eulogistic | |
adj.颂扬的,颂词的 | |
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31 ascetic | |
adj.禁欲的;严肃的 | |
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32 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
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33 brittle | |
adj.易碎的;脆弱的;冷淡的;(声音)尖利的 | |
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34 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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35 surmounted | |
战胜( surmount的过去式和过去分词 ); 克服(困难); 居于…之上; 在…顶上 | |
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36 juvenile | |
n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的 | |
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37 vitality | |
n.活力,生命力,效力 | |
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38 overdo | |
vt.把...做得过头,演得过火 | |
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39 ruffled | |
adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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40 marvel | |
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 | |
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41 preservation | |
n.保护,维护,保存,保留,保持 | |
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42 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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43 marred | |
adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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44 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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45 hermit | |
n.隐士,修道者;隐居 | |
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46 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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47 soothe | |
v.安慰;使平静;使减轻;缓和;奉承 | |
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48 everlasting | |
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的 | |
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49 judicious | |
adj.明智的,明断的,能作出明智决定的 | |
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50 prattled | |
v.(小孩般)天真无邪地说话( prattle的过去式和过去分词 );发出连续而无意义的声音;闲扯;东拉西扯 | |
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51 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
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52 remains | |
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹 | |
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53 tartly | |
adv.辛辣地,刻薄地 | |
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54 profligate | |
adj.行为不检的;n.放荡的人,浪子,肆意挥霍者 | |
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55 liar | |
n.说谎的人 | |
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56 moodily | |
adv.喜怒无常地;情绪多变地;心情不稳地;易生气地 | |
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57 evaded | |
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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58 helping | |
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 | |
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59 reticence | |
n.沉默,含蓄 | |
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60 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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61 detest | |
vt.痛恨,憎恶 | |
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62 thoroughly | |
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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63 devotedly | |
专心地; 恩爱地; 忠实地; 一心一意地 | |
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64 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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65 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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66 dealing | |
n.经商方法,待人态度 | |
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67 lavish | |
adj.无节制的;浪费的;vt.慷慨地给予,挥霍 | |
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68 uncommonly | |
adv. 稀罕(极,非常) | |
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69 tact | |
n.机敏,圆滑,得体 | |
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70 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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71 quaint | |
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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72 succumbed | |
不再抵抗(诱惑、疾病、攻击等)( succumb的过去式和过去分词 ); 屈从; 被压垮; 死 | |
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73 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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74 permeated | |
弥漫( permeate的过去式和过去分词 ); 遍布; 渗入; 渗透 | |
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75 fragrant | |
adj.芬香的,馥郁的,愉快的 | |
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76 bustle | |
v.喧扰地忙乱,匆忙,奔忙;n.忙碌;喧闹 | |
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77 gossamer | |
n.薄纱,游丝 | |
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78 amethyst | |
n.紫水晶 | |
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79 ornaments | |
n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 );点缀;装饰品;首饰v.装饰,点缀,美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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80 subdued | |
adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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81 soothingly | |
adv.抚慰地,安慰地;镇痛地 | |
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82 gracefully | |
ad.大大方方地;优美地 | |
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83 diligently | |
ad.industriously;carefully | |
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84 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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85 placid | |
adj.安静的,平和的 | |
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86 dignified | |
a.可敬的,高贵的 | |
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87 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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88 reminder | |
n.提醒物,纪念品;暗示,提示 | |
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89 alas | |
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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90 corpse | |
n.尸体,死尸 | |
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91 shrug | |
v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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92 irrelevant | |
adj.不恰当的,无关系的,不相干的 | |
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93 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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94 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
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95 superstition | |
n.迷信,迷信行为 | |
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96 superstitions | |
迷信,迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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97 allude | |
v.提及,暗指 | |
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98 speculations | |
n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 );思考;投机活动;推断 | |
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99 monastery | |
n.修道院,僧院,寺院 | |
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100 grumble | |
vi.抱怨;咕哝;n.抱怨,牢骚;咕哝,隆隆声 | |
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101 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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102 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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103 positively | |
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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