From Kirkmichael on the train stopped at every station, but no passenger seemed to leave or arrive at the little platforms white in the moon. At Dalquharter the case of provisions was safely transferred to the porter with instructions to take charge of it till it was sent for. During the next ten minutes Dickson's mind began to work upon his problem with a certain briskness1. It was all nonsense that the law of Scotland could not be summoned to the defence. The jewels had been safely got rid of, and who was to dispute their possession? Not Dobson and his crew, who had no sort of title, and were out for naked robbery. The girl had spoken of greater dangers from new enemies—kidnapping perhaps. Well, that was felony, and the police must be brought in. Probably if all were known the three watchers had criminal records, pages long, filed at Scotland Yard. The man to deal with that side of the business was Loudon the factor, and to him he was bound in the first place. He had made a clear picture in his head of this Loudon—a derelict old country writer, formal, pedantic4, lazy, anxious only to get an unprofitable business off his hands with the least possible trouble, never going near the place himself, and ably supported in his[Pg 136] lethargy by conceited5 Edinburgh Writers to the Signet. "Sich notions of business!" he murmured. "I wonder that there's a single county family in Scotland no' in the bankruptcy6 court!" It was his mission to wake up Mr. James Loudon.
Arrived at Auchenlochan he went first to the Salutation Hotel, a pretentious7 place sacred to golfers. There he engaged a bedroom for the night and, having certain scruples9, paid for it in advance. He also had some sandwiches prepared which he stowed in his pack, and filled his flask10 with whisky. "I'm going home to Glasgow by the first train to-morrow," he told the landlady11, "and now I've got to see a friend. I'll not be back till late." He was assured that there would be no difficulty about his admittance at any hour, and directed how to find Mr. Loudon's dwelling12.
It was an old house fronting direct on the street, with a fanlight above the door and a neat brass13 plate bearing the legend "Mr. James Loudon, Writer." A lane ran up one side leading apparently14 to a garden, for the moonlight showed the dusk of trees. In front was the main street of Auchenlochan, now deserted16 save for a single roysterer, and opposite stood the ancient town house, with arches where the country folk came at the spring and autumn hiring fairs. Dickson rang the antiquated17 bell, and was presently admitted to a dark hall floored with oil-cloth, where a single gas-jet showed that on one side was the business office and on the other the living-rooms. Mr. Loudon was at supper, he was told, and he sent in[Pg 137] his card. Almost at once the door at the end on the left side was flung open and a large figure appeared flourishing a napkin. "Come in, sir, come in," it cried. "I've just finished a bite of meat. Very glad to see you. Here, Maggie, what d'you mean by keeping the gentleman standing18 in that outer darkness?"
The room into which Dickson was ushered19 was small and bright, with a red paper on the walls, a fire burning and a big oil lamp in the centre of a table. Clearly Mr. Loudon had no wife, for it was a bachelor's den15 in every line of it. A cloth was laid on a corner of the table, on which stood the remnants of a meal. Mr. Loudon seemed to have been about to make a brew20 of punch, for a kettle simmered by the fire, and lemons and sugar flanked a pot-bellied whisky decanter of the type that used to be known as a "mason's mell."
The sight of the lawyer was a surprise to Dickson and dissipated his notions of an aged8 and lethargic21 incompetent22. Mr. Loudon was a strongly built man who could not be a year over fifty. He had a ruddy face, clean-shaven except for a grizzled moustache; his grizzled hair was thinning round the temples; but his skin was unwrinkled and his eyes had all the vigour23 of youth. His tweed suit was well cut, and the buff waistcoat with flaps and pockets and the plain leather watchguard hinted at the sportsman, as did the half-dozen racing24 prints on the wall. A pleasant high-coloured figure he made; his voice had the frank ring due to much use out of doors; and his expression had the singular[Pg 138] candour which comes from grey eyes with large pupils and a narrow iris25.
"Sit down, Mr. McCunn. Take the arm-chair by the fire. I've had a wire from Glendonan and Speirs about you. I was just going to have a glass of toddy—a grand thing for these uncertain April nights. You'll join me? No? Well, you'll smoke anyway. There's cigars at your elbow. Certainly, a pipe if you like. This is Liberty Hall."
Dickson found some difficulty in the part for which he had cast himself. He had expected to condescend26 upon an elderly inept27 and give him sharp instructions; instead he found himself faced with a jovial28, virile29 figure which certainly did not suggest incompetence30. It has been mentioned already that he had always great difficulty in looking any one in the face, and this difficulty was intensified31 when he found himself confronted with bold and candid32 eyes. He felt abashed33 and a little nervous.
"I've come to see you about Huntingtower House," he began.
"I know. So Glendonan's informed me. Well, I'm very glad to hear it. The place has been standing empty far too long, and that is worse for a new house than an old house. There's not much money to spend on it either, unless we can make sure of a good tenant34. How did you hear about it?"
"I was taking a bit holiday and I spent a night at Dalquharter with an old auntie of mine. You must understand I've just retired35 from business, and I'm thinking of finding a country place. I used to have the big provision shop in Mearns[Pg 139] Street—now the United Supply Stores, Limited. You've maybe heard of it?"
The other bowed and smiled. "Who hasn't? The name of Dickson McCunn is known far beyond the city of Glasgow."
Dickson was not insensible of the flattery, and he continued with more freedom. "I took a walk and got a glisk of the House and I liked the look of it. You see, I want a quiet bit a good long way from a town, and at the same time a house with all modern conveniences. I suppose Huntingtower has that?"
"When it was built fifteen years ago it was considered a model—six bathrooms, its own electric light plant, steam heating, an independent boiler36 for hot water, the whole bag of tricks. I won't say but what some of these contrivances will want looking to, for the place has been some time empty, but there can be nothing very far wrong, and I can guarantee that the bones of the house are good."
"Well, that's all right," said Dickson. "I don't mind spending a little money myself if the place suits me. But of that, of course, I'm not yet certain, for I've only had a glimpse of the outside. I wanted to get into the policies, but a man at the lodge37 wouldn't let me. They're a mighty38 uncivil lot down there."
"I'm very sorry to hear that," said Mr. Loudon in a tone of concern.
"There won't be the slightest difficulty about[Pg 140] that, for they are only weekly tenants40. But I'm vexed41 to hear they were uncivil. I was glad to get any tenant that offered, and they were well recommended to me."
"They're foreigners."
"One of them is—a Belgian refugee that Lady Morewood took an interest in. But the other—Spittal, they call him—I thought he was Scotch42."
"He's not that. And I don't like the innkeeper either. I would want him shifted."
Mr. Loudon laughed. "I dare say Dobson is a rough diamond. There's worse folk in the world all the same, but I don't think he will want to stay. He only went there to pass the time till he heard from his brother in Vancouver. He's a roving spirit, and will be off overseas again."
"That's all right!" said Dickson, who was beginning to have horrid43 suspicions that he might be on a wild-goose chase after all. "Well, the next thing is for me to see over the House."
"Certainly. I'd like to go with you myself. What day would suit you? Let me see. This is Friday. What about this day week?"
"I was thinking of to-morrow. Since I'm down in these parts I may as well get the job done."
Mr. Loudon looked puzzled. "I quite see that. But I don't think it's possible. You see, I have to consult the owners and get their consent to a lease. Of course they have the general purpose of letting, but—well, they're queer folk the Kennedys," and his face wore the half-embarrassed smile of an honest man preparing to make confidences. "When[Pg 141] poor Mr. Quentin died, the place went to his two sisters in joint45 ownership. A very bad arrangement, as you can imagine. It isn't entailed46, and I've always been pressing them to sell, but so far they won't hear of it. They both married Englishmen, so it will take a day or two to get in touch with them. One, Mrs. Stukely, lives in Devonshire. The other—Miss Katie that was—married Sir Francis Morewood, the general, and I hear that she's expected back in London next Monday from the Riviera. I'll wire and write first thing to-morrow morning. But you must give me a day or two."
Dickson felt himself waking up. His doubts about his own sanity47 were dissolving, for, as his mind reasoned, the factor was prepared to do anything he asked—but only after a week had gone. What he was concerned with was the next few days.
"All the same I would like to have a look at the place to-morrow, even if nothing comes of it."
Mr. Loudon looked seriously perplexed48. "You will think me absurdly fussy49, Mr. McCunn, but I must really beg of you to give up the idea. The Kennedys, as I have said, are—well, not exactly like other people, and I have the strictest orders not to let any one visit the house without their express leave. It sounds a ridiculous rule, but I assure you it's as much as my job is worth to disregard it."
"D'you mean to say not a soul is allowed inside the House?"
"Not a soul."[Pg 142]
"Well, Mr. Loudon, I'm going to tell you a queer thing, which I think you ought to know. When I was taking a walk the other night—your Belgian wouldn't let me into the policies, but I went down the glen—what's that they call it? the Garple Dean—I got round the back where the old ruin stands and I had a good look at the House. I tell you there was somebody in it."
"It would be Spittal, who acts as caretaker."
"It was not. It was a woman. I saw her on the verandah."
The candid grey eyes were looking straight at Dickson, who managed to bring his own shy orbs50 to meet them. He thought that he detected a shade of hesitation51. Then Mr. Loudon got up from his chair and stood on the hearthrug looking down at his visitor. He laughed, with some embarrassment52, but ever so pleasantly.
"I really don't know what you will think of me, Mr. McCunn. Here are you, coming to do us all a kindness, and lease that infernal white elephant, and here have I been steadily53 hoaxing54 you for the last five minutes. I humbly55 ask your pardon. Set it down to the loyalty56 of an old family lawyer. Now, I am going to tell you the truth and take you into our confidence, for I know we are safe with you. The Kennedys are—always have been—just a wee bit queer. Old inbred stock, you know. They will produce somebody like poor Mr. Quentin, who was as sane57 as you or me, but as a rule in every generation there is one member of the family—or more—who is just a little bit——" and he tapped[Pg 143] his forehead. "Nothing violent, you understand, but just not quite 'wise and world-like,' as the old folk say. Well, there's a certain old lady, an aunt of Mr. Quentin and his sisters, who has always been about tenpence in the shilling. Usually she lives at Bournemouth, but one of her crazes is a passion for Huntingtower, and the Kennedys have always humoured her and had her to stay every spring. When the House was shut up that became impossible, but this year she took such a craving58 to come back, that Lady Morewood asked me to arrange it. It had to be kept very quiet, but the poor old thing is perfectly59 harmless, and just sits and knits with her maid and looks out of the seaward windows. Now you see why I can't take you there to-morrow. I have to get rid of the old lady, who in any case was travelling south early next week. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly," said Dickson with some fervour. He had learned exactly what he wanted. The factor was telling him lies. Now he knew where to place Mr. Loudon.
He always looked back upon what followed as a very creditable piece of play-acting for a man who had small experience in that line.
"Is the old lady a wee wizened60 body, with a black cap and something like a white cashmere shawl round her shoulders?"
"You describe her exactly," Mr. Loudon replied eagerly.
"That would explain the foreigners."
"Of course. We couldn't have natives who[Pg 144] would make the thing the clash of the countryside."
"Of course not. But it must be a difficult job to keep a business like that quiet. Any wandering policeman might start inquiries61. And supposing the lady became violent?"
"Oh, there's no fear of that. Besides, I've a position in this county—Deputy Fiscal62 and so forth—and a friend of the Chief Constable63. I think I may be trusted to do a little private explaining if the need arose."
"I see," said Dickson. He saw, indeed, a great deal which would give him food for furious thought. "Well, I must just possess my soul in patience. Here's my Glasgow address, and I look to you to send me a telegram whenever you're ready for me. I'm at the Salutation to-night, and go home to-morrow with the first train. Wait a minute"—and he pulled out his watch—"there's a train stops at Auchenlochan at 10.17. I think I'll catch that.... Well, Mr. Loudon, I'm very much obliged to you, and I'm glad to think that it'll no be long till we renew our acquaintance."
The factor accompanied him to the door, diffusing64 geniality65. "Very pleased indeed to have met you. A pleasant journey and a quick return."
The street was still empty. Into a corner of the arches opposite the moon was shining, and Dickson retired thither66 to consult his map of the neighbourhood. He found what he wanted and, as he lifted his eyes, caught sight of a man coming down the causeway. Promptly67 he retired into the shadow[Pg 145] and watched the new-comer. There could be no mistake about the figure; the bulk, the walk, the carriage of the head marked it for Dobson. The inn-keeper went slowly past the factor's house; then halted and retraced68 his steps; then, making sure that the street was empty, turned into the side lane which led to the garden.
This was what sailors call a cross-bearing, and strengthened Dickson's conviction. He delayed no longer, but hurried down the side street by which the north road leaves the town.
He had crossed the bridge of Lochan and was climbing the steep ascent70 which led to the heathy plateau separating that stream from the Garple before he had got his mind quite clear on the case. First, Loudon was in the plot, whatever it was; responsible for the details of the girl's imprisonment71, but not the main author. That must be the Unknown who was still to come, from whom Spidel took his orders. Dobson was probably Loudon's special henchman, working directly under him. Secondly72, the immediate73 object had been the jewels, and they were happily safe in the vaults74 of the incorruptible Mackintosh. But, third—and this only on Saskia's evidence—the worst danger to her began with the arrival of the Unknown. What could that be? Probably, kidnapping. He was prepared to believe anything of people like Bolsheviks. And, fourth, this danger was due within the next day or two. Loudon had been quite willing to let him into the house and to sack all the watchers within a week from that date. The natural and right thing was[Pg 146] to summon the aid of the law, but, fifth, that would be a slow business with Loudon able to put spokes75 in the wheels and befog the authorities, and the mischief76 would be done before a single policeman showed his face in Dalquharter. Therefore, sixth, he and Heritage must hold the fort in the meantime, and he would send a wire to his lawyer, Mr. Caw, to get to work with the constabulary. Seventh, he himself was probably free from suspicion in both Loudon's and Dobson's minds as a harmless fool. But that freedom would not survive his reappearance in Dalquharter. He could say, to be sure, that he had come back to see his auntie, but that would not satisfy the watchers, since, so far as they knew, he was the only man outside the gang who was aware that people were dwelling in the House. They would not tolerate his presence in the neighbourhood.
He formulated77 his conclusions as if it were an ordinary business deal, and rather to his surprise was not conscious of any fear. As he pulled together the belt of his waterproof78 he felt the reassuring79 bulges80 in its pockets which were his pistol and cartridges81. He reflected that it must be very difficult to miss with a pistol if you fired it at, say, three yards, and if there was to be shooting that would be his range. Mr. McCunn had stumbled on the precious truth that the best way to be rid of quaking knees is to keep a busy mind.
He crossed the ridge69 of the plateau and looked down on the Garple glen. There were the lights of Dalquharter—or rather a single light, for the in[Pg 147]habitants went early to bed. His intention was to seek quarters with Mrs. Morran, when his eye caught a gleam in a hollow of the moor82 a little to the east. He knew it for the camp-fire around which Dougal's warriors84 bivouacked. The notion came to him to go there instead, and hear the news of the day before entering the cottage. So he crossed the bridge, skirted a plantation85 of firs, and scrambled86 through the broom and heather in what he took to be the right direction.
The moon had gone down, and the quest was not easy. Dickson had come to the conclusion that he was on the wrong road, when he was summoned by a voice which seemed to arise out of the ground.
"Who goes there?"
"What's that you say?"
"Who goes there?" The point of a pole was held firmly against his chest.
"I'm Mr. McCunn, a friend of Dougal's."
"Stand, friend." The shadow before him whistled and another shadow appeared. "Report to the Chief that there's a man here, name o' McCunn, seekin' for him."
Presently the messenger returned with Dougal and a cheap lantern which he flashed in Dickson's face.
"Oh, it's you," said that leader, who had his jaw87 bound up as if he had the toothache. "What are ye doing back here?"
"To tell the truth, Dougal," was the answer, "I couldn't stay away. I was fair miserable88 when I[Pg 148] thought of Mr. Heritage and you laddies left to yourselves. My conscience simply wouldn't let me stop at home, so here I am."
Dougal grunted89, but clearly he approved, for from that moment he treated Dickson with a new respect. Formerly90 when he had referred to him at all it had been as "auld91 McCunn." Now it was "Mister McCunn." He was given rank as a worthy92 civilian93 ally.
The bivouac was a cheerful place in the wet night. A great fire of pine roots and old paling posts hissed94 in the fine rain, and around it crouched95 several urchins96 busy making oatmeal cakes in the embers. On one side a respectable lean-to had been constructed by nailing a plank97 to two fir-trees, running sloping poles thence to the ground, and thatching the whole with spruce branches and heather. On the other side two small dilapidated home-made tents were pitched. Dougal motioned his companion into the lean-to, where they had some privacy from the rest of the band.
"Well, what's your news?" Dickson asked. He noticed that the Chieftain seemed to have been comprehensively in the wars, for apart from the bandage on his jaw, he had numerous small cuts on his brow, and a great rent in one of his shirt sleeves. Also he appeared to be going lame98, and when he spoke2 a new gap was revealed in his large teeth.
"Things," said Dougal solemnly, "has come to a bonny cripus. This very night we've been in a battle."[Pg 149]
"It was the tinklers from the Garple Dean. They yokit on us about seven o'clock, just at the darkenin'. First they tried to bounce us. We weren't wanted here, they said, so we'd better clear. I telled them that it was them that wasn't wanted. 'Awa' to Finnick,' says I. 'D'ye think we take our orders from dirty ne'er-do-weels like you?' 'By God,' says they, 'we'll cut your lights out,' and then the battle started."
"What happened?" Dickson asked excitedly.
"They were four muckle men against six laddies, and they thought they had an easy job! Little they kenned44 the Gorbals Die-Hards! I had been expectin' something of the kind, and had made my plans. They first tried to pu' down our tents and burn them. I let them get within five yards, reservin' my fire. The first volley—stones from our hands and our catties—halted them, and before they could recover three of us had got hold o' burnin' sticks frae the fire and were lammin' into them. We kinnled their claes, and they fell back swearin' and stampin' to get the fire out. Then I gave the word and we were on them wi' our poles, usin' the points accordin' to instructions. My orders was to keep a good distance, for if they had grippit one o' us he'd ha' been done for. They were roarin' mad by now, and twae had out their knives, but they couldn't do muckle, for it was gettin' dark, and they didn't ken3 the ground like us, and were aye trippin' and tumblin'. But they[Pg 150] pressed us hard, and one o' them landed me an awful clype on the jaw. They were still aiming at our tents, and I saw that if they got near the fire again it would be the end o' us. So I blew my whistle for Thomas Yownie, who was in command o' the other half of us, with instructions to fall upon their rear. That brought Thomas up, and the tinklers had to face round about and fight a battle on two fronts. We charged them and they broke, and the last seen o' them they were coolin' their burns in the Garple."
"Well done, man. Had you many casualties?"
"We're a' a wee thing battered101, but nothing to hurt. I'm the worst, for one o' them had a grip o' me for about three seconds, and Gosh! he was fierce."
"They're beaten off for the night, anyway?"
"Ay, for the night. But they'll come back, never fear. That's why I said that things had come to a cripus."
"What's the news from the House?"
"A quiet day, and no word o' Lean or Dobson."
Dickson nodded. "They were hunting me."
"Mr. Heritage has gone to bide102 in the Hoose. They were watchin' the Garple Dean, so I took him round by the Laver foot and up the rocks. He's a grand climber, yon. We fund a road up the rocks and got in by the verandy. Did ye ken that the lassie had a pistol? Well, she has, and it seems that Mr. Heritage is a good shot wi' a pistol, so there's some hope thereaways.... Are the jools safe?"[Pg 151]
"Safe in the bank. But the jools were not the main thing."
Dougal nodded. "So I was thinkin'. The lassie wasn't muckle the easier for gettin' rid o' them. I didn't just quite understand what she said to Mr. Heritage, for they were aye wanderin' into foreign langwidges, but it seems she's terrible feared o' somebody that may turn up any moment. What's the reason I can't say. She's maybe got a secret, or maybe it's just that she's ower bonny."
"That's the trouble," said Dickson and proceeded to recount his interview with the factor, to which Dougal gave close attention. "Now the way I read the thing is this. There's a plot to kidnap that lady, for some infernal purpose, and it depends on the arrival of some person or persons, and it's due to happen in the next day or two. If we try to work it through the police alone, they'll beat us, for Loudon will manage to hang the business up till it's too late. So we must take up the job ourselves. We must stand a siege, Mr. Heritage and me and you laddies, and for that purpose we'd better all keep together. It won't be extra easy to carry her off from all of us, and if they do manage it we'll stick to their heels.... Man, Dougal, isn't it a queer thing that whiles law-abiding folk have to make their own laws?... So my plan is that the lot of us get into the House and form a garrison103. If you don't, the tinklers will come back and you'll no' beat them in the daylight."
"I doubt no'," said Dougal. "But what about our meat?"[Pg 152]
"We must lay in provisions. We'll get what we can from Mrs. Morran, and I've left a big box of fancy things at Dalquharter station. Can you laddies manage to get it down here?"
"Well, that's your job to-morrow. See, I'll write you a line to the station-master. And will you undertake to get it some way into the House?"
"There's just the one road open—by the rocks. It'll have to be done. It can be done."
"And I've another job. I'm writing this telegram to a friend in Glasgow who will put a spoke in Mr. Loudon's wheel. I want one of you to go to Kirkmichael to send it from the telegraph office there."
Dougal placed the wire to Mr. Caw in his bosom104. "What about yourself? We want somebody outside to keep his eyes open. It's bad strawtegy to cut off your communications."
Dickson thought for a moment. "I believe you're right. I believe the best plan for me is to go back to Mrs. Morran's as soon as the old body's like to be awake. You can always get at me there, for it's easy to slip into her back kitchen without anybody in the village seeing you.... Yes, I'll do that, and you'll come and report developments to me. And now I'm for a bite and a pipe. It's hungry work travelling the country in the small hours."
"I'm going to introjuice ye to the rest o' us," said Dougal. "Here, men!" he called, and four figures rose from the side of the fire. As Dickson munched[Pg 153] a sandwich he passed in review the whole company of the Gorbals Die-Hards, for the pickets106 were also brought in, two others taking their places. There was Thomas Yownie, the Chief of Staff, with a wrist wound up in the handkerchief which he had borrowed from his neck. There was a burly lad who wore trousers much too large for him, and who was known as Peer Pairson, a contraction107 presumably for Peter Paterson. After him came a lean tall boy who answered to the name of Napoleon. There was a midget of a child, desperately108 sooty in the face either from battle or from fire-tending, who was presented as Wee Jaikie. Last came the picket105 who had held his pole at Dickson's chest, a sandy-haired warrior83 with a snub nose and the mouth and jaw of a pug-dog. He was Old Bill, or in Dougal's parlance109 "Auld Bull."
The Chieftain viewed his scarred following with a grim content. "That's a tough lot for ye, Mr. McCunn. Used a' their days wi' sleepin' in coalrees and dunnies and dodgin' the polis. Ye'll no beat the Gorbals Die-Hards."
"You're right, Dougal," said Dickson. "There's just the six of you. If there were a dozen, I think this country would be needing some new kind of a government."
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briskness
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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ken
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pedantic
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conceited
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bankruptcy
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pretentious
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aged
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scruples
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flask
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landlady
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dwelling
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brass
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apparently
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den
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deserted
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antiquated
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standing
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
brew
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| v.酿造，调制 | |
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21
lethargic
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| adj.昏睡的，懒洋洋的 | |
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22
incompetent
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| adj.无能力的，不能胜任的 | |
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23
vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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24
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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25
iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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26
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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27
inept
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| adj.不恰当的，荒谬的，拙劣的 | |
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28
jovial
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| adj.快乐的，好交际的 | |
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29
virile
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| adj.男性的；有男性生殖力的；有男子气概的；强有力的 | |
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30
incompetence
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| n.不胜任，不称职 | |
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31
intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
candid
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| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
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33
abashed
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| adj.窘迫的，尴尬的v.使羞愧，使局促，使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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34
tenant
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| n.承租人；房客；佃户；v.租借，租用 | |
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35
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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36
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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37
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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38
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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39
stipulate
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| vt.规定，（作为条件）讲定，保证 | |
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40
tenants
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| n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者 | |
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41
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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42
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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43
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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kenned
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| v.知道( ken的过去式和过去分词 )；懂得；看到；认出 | |
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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
entailed
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| 使…成为必要( entail的过去式和过去分词 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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47
sanity
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| n.心智健全，神智正常，判断正确 | |
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48
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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49
fussy
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| adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的 | |
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50
orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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51
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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52
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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53
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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54
hoaxing
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| v.开玩笑骗某人，戏弄某人( hoax的现在分词 ) | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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56
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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57
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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58
craving
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| n.渴望,热望 | |
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59
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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fiscal
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| adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的 | |
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63
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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64
diffusing
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| （使光）模糊，漫射，漫散( diffuse的现在分词 )； （使）扩散； （使）弥漫； （使）传播 | |
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65
geniality
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| n.和蔼，诚恳；愉快 | |
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66
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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67
promptly
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| adv.及时地，敏捷地 | |
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68
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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69
ridge
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| n.山脊；鼻梁；分水岭 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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71
imprisonment
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| n.关押，监禁，坐牢 | |
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72
secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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73
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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74
vaults
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| n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 )；地下室；撑物跳高；墓穴 | |
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75
spokes
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| n.（车轮的）辐条( spoke的名词复数 )；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 | |
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76
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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77
formulated
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| v.构想出( formulate的过去式和过去分词 )；规划；确切地阐述；用公式表示 | |
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78
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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79
reassuring
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| a.使人消除恐惧和疑虑的，使人放心的 | |
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80
bulges
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| 膨胀( bulge的名词复数 )； 鼓起； （身体的）肥胖部位； 暂时的激增 | |
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81
cartridges
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| 子弹( cartridge的名词复数 )； （打印机的）墨盒； 录音带盒； （唱机的）唱头 | |
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82
moor
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| n.荒野，沼泽；vt.(使)停泊；vi.停泊 | |
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83
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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84
warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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85
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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86
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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87
jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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88
miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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89
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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90
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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91
auld
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| adj.老的，旧的 | |
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92
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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93
civilian
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| adj.平民的，民用的，民众的 | |
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94
hissed
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| 发嘶嘶声( hiss的过去式和过去分词 )； 发嘘声表示反对 | |
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95
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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96
urchins
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| n.顽童( urchin的名词复数 )；淘气鬼；猬；海胆 | |
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97
plank
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| n.板条，木板，政策要点，政纲条目 | |
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98
lame
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| adj.跛的，(辩解、论据等)无说服力的 | |
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99
spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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100
kit
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| n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物 | |
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101
battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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102
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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103
garrison
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| n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防 | |
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104
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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105
picket
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| n.纠察队；警戒哨；v.设置纠察线；布置警卫 | |
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106
pickets
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| 罢工纠察员( picket的名词复数 ) | |
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107
contraction
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| n.缩略词，缩写式，害病 | |
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108
desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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109
parlance
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| n.说法；语调 | |
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