The attitude of Philip St H. Harrison, of Merevale's House, towards his fellow-man was outwardly one of genial1 and even sympathetic toleration. Did his form-master intimate that his conduct was not his idea of what Young England's conduct should be, P. St H. Harrison agreed cheerfully with every word he said, warmly approved his intention of laying the matter before the Headmaster, and accepted his punishment with the air of a waiter booking an order for a chump chop and fried potatoes. But the next day there would be a squeaking2 desk in the form-room, just to show the master that he had not been forgotten. Or, again, did the captain of his side at football speak rudely to him on the subject of kicking the ball through in the scrum, Harrison would smile gently, and at the earliest opportunity tread heavily on the captain's toe. In short, he was a youth who made a practice of taking very good care of himself. Yet he had his failures. The affair of Graham's mackintosh was one of them, and it affords an excellent example of the truth of the proverb that a cobbler should stick to his last. Harrison's forte3 was diplomacy4. When he forsook5 the arts of the diplomatist for those of the brigand6, he naturally went wrong. And the manner of these things was thus.
Tony Graham was a prefect in Merevale's, and part of his duties was to look after the dormitory of which Harrison was one of the ornaments7. It was a dormitory that required a good deal of keeping in order. Such choice spirits as Braithwaite of the Upper Fourth, and Mace8, who was rapidly driving the master of the Lower Fifth into a premature9 grave, needed a firm hand. Indeed, they generally needed not only a firm hand, but a firm hand grasping a serviceable walking-stick. Add to these Harrison himself, and others of a similar calibre, and it will be seen that Graham's post was no sinecure11. It was Harrison's custom to throw off his mask at night with his other garments, and appear in his true character of an abandoned villain12, willing to stick at nothing as long as he could do it strictly13 incog. In this capacity he had come into constant contact with Graham. Even in the dark it is occasionally possible for a prefect to tell where a noise comes from. And if the said prefect has been harassed14 six days in the week by a noise, and locates it suddenly on the seventh, it is wont15 to be bad for the producer and patentee of same.
And so it came about that Harrison, enjoying himself one night, after the manner of his kind, was suddenly dropped upon with violence. He had constructed an ingenious machine, consisting of a biscuit tin, some pebbles16, and some string. He put the pebbles in the tin, tied the string to it, and placed it under a chest of drawers. Then he took the other end of the string to bed with him, and settled down to make a night of it. At first all went well. Repeated inquiries17 from Tony failed to produce the author of the disturbance18, and when finally the questions ceased, and the prefect appeared to have given the matter up as a bad job, P. St H. Harrison began to feel that under certain circumstances life was worth living. It was while he was in this happy frame of mind that the string, with which he had just produced a triumphant19 rattle20 from beneath the chest of drawers, was seized, and the next instant its owner was enjoying the warmest minute of a chequered career. Tony, like Brer Rabbit, had laid low until he was certain of the direction from which the sound proceeded. He had then slipped out of bed, crawled across the floor in a snake-like manner which would have done credit to a Red Indian, found the tin, and traced the string to its owner. Harrison emerged from the encounter feeling sore and unfit for any further recreation. This deed of the night left its impression on Harrison. The account had to be squared somehow, and in a few days his chance came. Merevale's were playing a 'friendly' with the School House, and in default of anybody better, Harrison had been pressed into service as umpire. This in itself had annoyed him. Cricket was not in his line—he was not one of your flannelled21 fools—and of all things in connection with the game he loathed22 umpiring most.
When, however, Tony came on to bowl at his end, vice10 Charteris, who had been hit for three fours in an over by Scott, the School slogger, he recognized that even umpiring had its advantages, and resolved to make the most of the situation.
Scott had the bowling23, and he lashed24 out at Tony's first ball in his usual reckless style. There was an audible click, and what the sporting papers call confident appeals came simultaneously25 from Welch, Merevale's captain, who was keeping wicket, and Tony himself. Even Scott seemed to know that his time had come. He moved a step or two away from the wicket, but stopped before going farther to look at the umpire, on the off-chance of a miracle happening to turn his decision in the batsman's favour.
The miracle happened.
'Not out,' said Harrison.
'Awfully26 curious,' he added genially27 to Tony, 'how like a bat those bits of grass sound! You have to be jolly smart to know where a noise comes from, don't you!'
If ever, in the whole history of cricket, a man was out leg-before-wicket, Scott was so out to Tony's second ball. It was hardly worth appealing for such a certainty. Still, the formality had to be gone through.
'How was that?' inquired Tony.
'Not out. It's an awful pity, don't you think, that they don't bring in that new leg-before rule?'
'Seems to me,' said Tony bitterly, 'the old rule holds pretty good when a man's leg's bang in front.'
'Rather. But you see the ball didn't pitch straight, and the rule says—'
'Oh, all right,' said Tony.
The next ball Scott hit for four, and the next after that for a couple. The fifth was a yorker, and just grazed the leg stump29. The sixth was a beauty. You could see it was going to beat the batsman from the moment it left Tony's hand. Harrison saw it perfectly30.
'No ball,' he shouted. And just as he spoke31 Scott's off-stump ricocheted towards the wicket-keeper.
'Heavens, man,' said Tony, fairly roused out of his cricket manners, a very unusual thing for him. 'I'll swear my foot never went over the crease32. Look, there's the mark.'
'Rather not. Only, you see, it seemed to me you chucked that time. Of course, I know you didn't mean to, and all that sort of thing, but still, the rules—'
Tony would probably have liked to have said something very forcible about the rules at this point, but it occurred to him that after all Harrison was only within his rights, and that it was bad form to dispute the umpire's decision. Harrison walked off towards square-leg with a holy joy.
But he was too much of an artist to overdo33 the thing. Tony's next over passed off without interference. Possibly, however, this was because it was a very bad one. After the third over he asked Welch if he could get somebody else to umpire, as he had work to do. Welch heaved a sigh of relief, and agreed readily.
'Conscientious34 sort of chap that umpire of yours,' said Scott to Tony, after the match. Scott had made a hundred and four, and was feeling pleased. 'Considering he's in your House, he's awfully fair.'
'You mean that we generally swindle, I suppose?'
'Of course not, you rotter. You know what I mean. But, I say, that catch Welch and you appealed for must have been a near thing. I could have sworn I hit it.'
'Of course you did. It was clean out. So was the lbw. I say, did you think that ball that bowled you was a chuck? That one in my first over, you know.'
'Chuck! My dear Tony, you don't mean to say that man pulled you up for chucking? I thought your foot must have gone over the crease.'
'I believe the chap's mad,' said Tony.
'Perhaps he's taking it out of you this way for treading on his corns somehow. Have you been milling with this gentle youth lately?'
'By Jove,' said Tony, 'you're right. I gave him beans only the other night for ragging in the dormitory.'
Scott laughed.
'Well, he seems to have been getting a bit of his own back today. Lucky the game was only a friendly. Why will you let your angry passions rise, Tony? You've wrecked35 your analysis by it, though it's improved my average considerably36. I don't know if that's any solid satisfaction to you.'
'It isn't.'
'You don't say so! Well, so long. If I were you, I should keep an eye on that conscientious umpire.'
'I will,' said Tony. 'Good-night.'
The process of keeping an eye on Harrison brought no results. When he wished to behave himself well, he could. On such occasions Sandford and Merton were literally37 not in it with him, and the hero of a Sunday-school story would simply have refused to compete. But Nemesis38, as the poets tell us, though no sprinter39, manages, like the celebrated40 Maisie, to get right there in time. Give her time, and she will arrive. She arrived in the case of Harrison. One morning, about a fortnight after the House-match incident, Harrison awoke with a new sensation. At first he could not tell what exactly this sensation was, and being too sleepy to discuss nice points of internal emotion with himself, was just turning over with the intention of going to sleep again, when the truth flashed upon him. The sensation he felt was loneliness, and the reason he felt lonely was because he was the only occupant of the dormitory. To right and left and all around were empty beds.
As he mused41 drowsily42 on these portents43, the distant sound of a bell came to his ears and completed the cure. It was the bell for chapel44. He dragged his watch from under his pillow, and looked at it with consternation45. Four minutes to seven. And chapel was at seven. Now Harrison had been late for chapel before. It was not the thought of missing the service that worried him. What really was serious was that he had been late so many times before that Merevale had hinted at serious steps to be taken if he were late again, or, at any rate, until a considerable interval46 of punctuality had elapsed.
That threat had been uttered only yesterday, and here he was in all probability late once more.
There was no time to dress. He sprang out of bed, passed a sponge over his face as a concession47 to the decencies, and looked round for something to cover his night-shirt, which, however suitable for dormitory use, was, he felt instinctively48, scarcely the garment to wear in public.
Fate seemed to fight for him. On one of the pegs49 in the wall hung a mackintosh, a large, blessed mackintosh. He was inside it in a moment.
Four minutes later he rushed into his place in chapel.
The short service gave him some time for recovering himself. He left the building feeling a new man. His costume, though quaint50, would not call for comment. Chapel at St Austin's was never a full-dress ceremony. Mackintoshes covering night-shirts were the rule rather than the exception.
But between his costume and that of the rest there was this subtle distinction. They wore their own mackintoshes. He wore somebody else's.
The bulk of the School had split up into sections, each section making for its own House, and Merevale's was already in sight, when Harrison felt himself grasped from behind. He turned, to see Graham.
'I suppose you didn't know it was mine?'
'No, no, rather not. I didn't know.'
'And if you had known it was mine, you wouldn't have taken it, I suppose?'
'Oh no, of course not,' said Harrison. Graham seemed to be taking an unexpectedly sensible view of the situation.
'Well,' said Tony, 'now that you know that it is mine, suppose you give it up.'
'Give it up!'
'But, Graham, I've only got on—'
'Spare us these delicate details. Mack up, please, I want it.'
Finally, Harrison appearing to be difficult in the matter, Tony took the garment off for him, and went on his way.
Harrison watched him go with mixed feelings. Righteous indignation struggled with the gravest apprehension54 regarding his own future. If Merevale should see him! Horrible thought. He ran. He had just reached the House, and was congratulating himself on having escaped, when the worst happened. At the private entrance stood Merevale, and with him the Headmaster himself. They both eyed him with considerable interest as he shot in at the boys' entrance.
'Harrison,' said Merevale after breakfast.
'Yes, sir?'
'The Headmaster wishes to see you—again.'
'Yes, sir,' said Harrison.
There was a curious lack of enthusiasm in his voice.
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收听单词发音
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1
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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2
squeaking
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| v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 )；吱吱叫；告密；充当告密者 | |
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3
forte
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| n.长处，擅长；adj.(音乐)强音的 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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5
forsook
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| forsake的过去式 | |
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brigand
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| n.土匪，强盗 | |
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7
ornaments
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| 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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mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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vice
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| n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的 | |
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11
sinecure
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| n.闲差事，挂名职务 | |
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12
villain
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| n.反派演员，反面人物；恶棍；问题的起因 | |
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13
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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14
harassed
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| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
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15
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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16
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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17
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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18
disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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19
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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21
flannelled
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| 穿法兰绒衣服的 | |
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22
loathed
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| v.憎恨，厌恶( loathe的过去式和过去分词 )；极不喜欢 | |
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23
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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24
lashed
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| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
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25
simultaneously
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| adv.同时发生地，同时进行地 | |
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26
awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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genially
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| adv.亲切地，和蔼地；快活地 | |
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28
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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29
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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30
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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31
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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32
crease
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| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
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33
overdo
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| vt.把...做得过头，演得过火 | |
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34
conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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36
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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38
nemesis
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| n.给以报应者，复仇者，难以对付的敌手 | |
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39
sprinter
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| n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者 | |
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40
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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41
mused
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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42
drowsily
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| adv.睡地，懒洋洋地，昏昏欲睡地 | |
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43
portents
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| n.预兆( portent的名词复数 )；征兆；怪事；奇物 | |
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44
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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45
consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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46
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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47
concession
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| n.让步，妥协；特许(权) | |
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48
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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49
pegs
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| n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 )；挂钉；系帐篷的桩；弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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50
quaint
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| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
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51
enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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52
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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53
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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54
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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