Mrs. Thomas was affected1, as silly women sometimes are, with an intense desire to be at the head of the ton. For this object she gave grand dinners and large evening parties, to which were invited all who, being two or three removes from the class whose members occupy the cobbler's bench or the huckster's stall, felt themselves at liberty to look down upon the rest of the world from the pinnacle2 on which they imagined themselves placed. At these social gatherings3 the conversation never turned upon pedigree, and if any of the guests chanced by accident to allude5 to their ancestors, they spoke6 of them as members of the family, who, at an early period of their lives, were engaged in mercantile pursuits.
At such dinners Mrs. Thomas would sit for hours, mumbling8 dishes that disagreed with her; smiling at conversations carried on in villanous French, of which language she did not understand a word; and admiring the manners of addle-headed young men (who got tipsy at her evening parties), because they had been to Europe, and were therefore considered quite men of the world. These parties and dinners she could not be induced to forego, although the late hours and fatigue9 consequent thereon would place her on the sick-list for several days afterwards. As soon, however, as she recovered sufficiently10 to resume her place at the table, she would console herself with a dinner of boiled mutton and roasted turnips11, as a slight compensation for the unwholesome French dishes she had compelled herself to swallow on the occasions before mentioned. Amongst the other modern fashions she had adopted, was that of setting apart one morning of the week for the reception of visitors; and she had mortally offended several of her oldest friends by obstinately12 refusing to admit them at any other time. Two or three difficulties had occurred with Robberts, in consequence of this new arrangement, as he could not be brought to see the propriety13 of saying to visitors that Mrs. Thomas was "not at home," when he knew she was at that very moment upstairs peeping over the banisters. His obstinacy14 on this point had induced her to try whether she could not train Charlie so as to fit him for the important office of uttering the fashionable and truthless "not at home" with unhesitating gravity and decorum; and, after a series of mishaps15, she at last believed her object was effected, until an unlucky occurrence convinced her to the contrary.
Mrs. Thomas, during the days on which she did not receive company, would have presented, to any one who might have had the honour to see that venerable lady, an entirely16 different appearance to that which she assumed on gala days. A white handkerchief supplied the place of the curling wig17, and the tasty French cap was replaced by a muslin one, decorated with an immense border of ruffling18, that flapped up and down over her silver spectacles in the most comical manner possible. A short flannel19 gown and a dimity petticoat of very antique pattern and scanty20 dimensions, completed her costume. Thus attired21, and provided with a duster, she would make unexpected sallies into the various domestic departments, to see that everything was being properly conducted, and that no mal-practices were perpetrated at times when it was supposed she was elsewhere. She showed an intuitive knowledge of all traps set to give intimation of her approach, and would come upon aunt Rachel so stealthily as to induce her to declare, "Dat old Mrs. Thomas put her more in mind of a ghost dan of any other libin animal."
One morning, whilst attired in the manner described, Mrs. Thomas had been particularly active in her excursions through the house, and had driven the servants to their wits' ends by her frequent descents upon them at the most unexpected times, thereby23 effectually depriving them of the short breathing intervals24 they were anxious to enjoy. Charlie in particular had been greatly harassed25 by her, and was sent flying from place to place until his legs were nearly run off, as he expressed it. And so, when Lord Cutanrun, who was travelling in America to give his estates in England an opportunity to recuperate26, presented his card, Charlie, in revenge, showed him into the drawing-room, where he knew that Mrs. Thomas was busily engaged trimming an oil-lamp. Belying27 on the explicit28 order she had given to say that she was not at home, she did not even look up when his lordship entered, and as he advanced towards her, she extended to him a basin of dirty water, saying, "Here, take this." Receiving no response she looked up, and to her astonishment29 and horror beheld30, not Charlie, but Lord Cutanrun. In the agitation31 consequent upon his unexpected appearance, she dropped the basin, the contents of which, splashing in all directions, sadly discoloured his lordship's light pants, and greatly damaged the elegant carpet.
"Oh! my lord," she exclaimed, "I didn't—couldn't—wouldn't—" and, unable to ejaculate further, she fairly ran out of the apartment into the entry, where she nearly fell over Charlie, who was enjoying the confusion his conduct had created. "Oh! you limb!—you little wretch32!" said she. "You knew I was not at home!"
"Why, where are you now?" he asked, with the most provoking air of innocence33. "If you ain't in the house now, you never was."
"Never mind, sir," said she, "never mind. I'll settle with you for this. Don't stand there grinning at me; go upstairs and tell Mrs. Morton to come down immediately, and then get something to wipe up that water. O dear! my beautiful carpet! And for a lord to see me in such a plight35! Oh! it's abominable36! I'll give it to you, you scamp! You did it on purpose," continued the indignant Mrs. Thomas. "Don't deny it—I know you did. What are you standing37 there for? Why don't you call Mrs. Morton?" she concluded, as Charlie, chuckling38 over the result of his trick, walked leisurely39 upstairs. "That boy will be the death of me," she afterwards said, on relating the occurrence to her daughter. "Just to think, after all the trouble I've had teaching him when to admit people and when not, that he should serve me such a trick. I'm confident he did it purposely." Alas40! for poor Mrs. Thomas; this was only the first of a series of annoyances41 that Charlie had in store, with which to test her patience and effect his own deliverance.
A few days after, one of their grand dinners was to take place, and Charlie had been revolving42 in his mind the possibility of his finding some opportunity, on that occasion, to remove the old lady's wig; feeling confident that, could he accomplish that feat43, he would be permitted to turn his back for ever on the mansion44 of Mrs. Thomas.
Never had Mrs. Thomas appeared more radiant than at this dinner. All the guests whose attendance she had most desired were present, a new set of china had lately arrived from Paris, and she was in full anticipation45 of a grand triumph. Now, to Charlie had been assigned the important duty of removing the cover from the soup-tureen which was placed before his mistress, and the little rogue46 had settled upon that moment as the most favourable47 for the execution of his purpose. He therefore secretly affixed48 a nicely crooked49 pin to the elbow of his sleeve, and, as he lifted the cover, adroitly50 hooked it into her cap, to which he knew the wig was fastened, and in a twinkling had it off her head, and before she could recover from her astonishment and lay down the soup-ladle he had left the room. The guests stared and tittered at the grotesque51 figure she presented,—her head being covered with short white hair, and her face as red as a peony at the mortifying52 situation in which she was placed. As she rose from her chair Charlie presented himself, and handed her the wig, with an apology for the accident. In her haste to put it on, she turned it wrong side foremost; the laughter of the guests could now no longer be restrained, and in the midst of it Mrs. Thomas left the room. Encountering Charlie as she went, she almost demolished53 him in her wrath54; not ceasing to belabour him till his outcries became so loud as to render her fearful that he would alarm the guests; and she then retired55 to her room, where she remained until the party broke up.
It was her custom, after these grand entertainments, to make nocturnal surveys of the kitchen, to assure herself that none of the delicacies56 had been secreted57 by the servants for their personal use and refreshment58. Charlie, aware of this, took his measures for an ample revenge for the beating he had received at her hands. At night, when all the rest of the family had retired, he hastily descended59 to the kitchen, and, by some process known only to himself, imprisoned60 the cat in a stone jar that always stood upon the dresser, and into which he was confident Mrs. Thomas would peep. He then stationed himself upon the stairs, to watch the result. He had not long to wait, for as soon as she thought the servants were asleep, she came softly into the kitchen, and, after peering about in various places, she at last lifted up the lid of the jar. Tom, tired of his long confinement61, sprang out, and, in so doing, knocked the lamp out of her hand, the fluid from which ignited and ran over the floor.
"Murder!—Fire!—Watch!" screamed the thoroughly62 frightened old woman. "Oh, help! help! fire!" At this terrible noise nearly every one in the household was aroused, and hurried to the spot whence it proceeded. They found Mrs. Thomas standing in the dark, with the lid of the jar in her hand, herself the personification of terror. The carpet was badly burned in several places, and the fragments of the lamp were scattered63 about the floor.
"What has happened?" exclaimed Mr. Morton, who was the first to enter the kitchen. "What is all this frightful64 noise occasioned by?"
"Oh, there is a man in the house!" answered Mrs. Thomas, her teeth chattering65 with fright. "There was a man in here—he has just sprung out," she continued, pointing to the bread-jar.
"Pooh, pooh—that's nonsense, madam," replied the son-in-law. "Why an infant could not get in there, much less a man!"
"I tell you it was a man then," angrily responded Mrs. Thomas; "and he is in the house somewhere now."
"Such absurdity66!" muttered Mr. Morton; adding, in a louder tone: "Why, my dear mamma, you've seen a mouse or something of the kind."
"Mouse, indeed!" interrupted the old lady. "Do you think I'm in my dotage67, and I don't know a man from a mouse?"
Just then the cat, whose back had got severely68 singed69 in the melee70, set up a most lamentable71 caterwauling; and, on being brought to light from the depths of a closet into which he had flown, his appearance immediately discovered the share he had had in the transaction.
"It must have been the cat," said Robberts. "Only look at his back—why here the fur is singed off him! I'll bet anything," continued he, "that air boy has had something to do with this—for it's a clear case that the cat couldn't git into the jar, and then put the lid on hissef."
Tom's inability to accomplish this feat being most readily admitted on all sides, inquiry72 was immediately made as to the whereabouts of Charlie; his absence from the scene being rather considered as evidence of participation73, for, it was argued, if he had been unaware74 of what was to transpire75, the noise would have drawn76 him to the spot at once, as he was always the first at hand in the event of any excitement. Robberts was despatched to see if he was in his bed, and returned with the intelligence that the bed had not even been opened. Search was immediately instituted, and he was discovered in the closet at the foot of the stairs. He was dragged forth77, shaken, pummelled, and sent to bed, with the assurance that his mother should be sent for in the morning, to take him home, and keep him there. This being exactly the point to which he was desirous of bringing matters, he went to bed, and passed a most agreeable night.
Aunt Rachel, being one of those sleepers78 that nothing short of an earthquake can rouse until their customary time for awaking, had slept soundly through the stirring events of the past night. She came down in the morning in quite a placid79 state of mind, expecting to enjoy a day of rest, as she had the night before sat up much beyond her usual time, to set matters to rights after the confusion consequent on the dinner party. What was her astonishment, therefore, on finding the kitchen she had left in a state of perfect order and cleanliness, in a condition that resembled the preparation for an annual house-cleaning.
"Lord, bless us!" she exclaimed, looking round; "What on yarth has happened? I raly b'lieve dere's bin22 a fire in dis 'ere house, and I never knowed a word of it. Why I might have bin burnt up in my own bed! Dere's de lamp broke—carpet burnt—pots and skillets hauled out of the closet—ebery ting turned upside down; why dere's bin a reg'lar 'sturbance down here," she continued, as she surveyed the apartment.
At this juncture80, she espied81 Tom, who sat licking his paws before the fire, and presenting so altered an appearance, from the events of the night, as to have rendered him unrecognizable even by his best friend.
"Strange cat in de house! Making himself quite at home at dat," said aunt Rachel, indignantly. Her wrath, already much excited, rose to the boiling point at what she deemed a most daring invasion of her domain82. She, therefore, without ceremony, raised a broom, with which she belaboured the astonished Tom, who ran frantically83 from under one chair to another till he ensconced himself in a small closet, from which he pertinaciously84 refused to be dislodged. "Won't come out of dere, won't you?" said she. "I'll see if I can't make you den4;" and poor Tom dodged85 behind pots and kettles to avoid the blows which were aimed at him; at last, thoroughly enraged86 by a hard knock on the back, he sprang fiercely into the face of his tormentor87, who, completely upset by the suddenness of his attack, fell sprawling88 on the floor, screaming loudly for help. She was raised up by Robberts, who came running to her assistance, and, on being questioned as to the cause of her outcries, replied:—
"Dere's a strange cat in de house—wild cat too, I raly b'lieve;" and spying Tom at that moment beneath the table, she made another dash at him for a renewal89 of hostilities90.
"Why that's Tom," exclaimed Robberts; "don't you know your own cat?"
"Oh," she replied, "dat ar isn't Tom now, is it? Why, what's the matter wid him?"
Robberts then gave her a detailed91 account of the transactions of the previous night, in which account the share Charlie had taken was greatly enlarged and embellished92; and the wrathful old woman was listening to the conclusion when Charlie entered. Hardly had he got into the room, when, without any preliminary discussion, aunt Rachel—to use her own words—pitched into him to give him particular fits. Now Charlie, not being disposed to receive "particular fits," made some efforts to return the hard compliments that were being showered upon him, and the advice of Kinch providentially occurring to him—respecting an attack upon the understanding of his venerable antagonist—he brought his hard shoes down with great force upon her pet corn, and by this coup93 de pied completely demolished her. With a loud scream she let him go; and sitting down upon the floor, declared herself lamed94 for life, beyond the possibility of recovery. At this stage of the proceedings95, Robberts came to the rescue of his aged7 coadjutor, and seized hold of Charlie, who forthwith commenced so brisk an attack upon his rheumatic shins, as to cause him to beat a hurried retreat, leaving Charlie sole master of the field. The noise that these scuffles occasioned brought Mrs. Thomas into the kitchen, and Charlie was marched off by her into an upstairs room, where he was kept in "durance vile96" until the arrival of his mother.
Mrs. Thomas had a strong liking97 for Charlie—not as a boy, but as a footman. He was active and intelligent, and until quite recently, extremely tractable98 and obedient; more than all, he was a very good-looking boy, and when dressed in the Thomas livery, presented a highly-respectable appearance. She therefore determined99 to be magnanimous—to look over past events, and to show a Christian100 and forgiving spirit towards his delinquencies. She sent for Mrs. Ellis, with the intention of desiring her to use her maternal101 influence to induce him to apologize to aunt Rachel for his assault upon her corns, which apology Mrs. Thomas was willing to guarantee should be accepted; as for the indignities102 that had been inflicted104 on herself, she thought it most politic105 to regard them in the light of accidents, and to say as little about that part of the affair as possible.
When Mrs. Ellis made her appearance on the day subsequent to the events just narrated106, Mrs. Thomas enlarged to her upon the serious damage that aunt Rachel had received, and the urgent necessity that something should be done to mollify that important individual. When Charlie was brought into the presence of his mother and Mrs. Thomas, the latter informed him, that, wicked as had been his conduct towards herself, she was willing, for his mother's sake, to look over it; but that he must humble107 himself in dust and ashes before the reigning108 sovereign of the culinary kingdom, who, making the most of the injury inflicted on her toe, had declared herself unfit for service, and was at that moment ensconced in a large easy-chair, listening to the music of her favourite smoke-jack, whilst a temporary cook was getting up the dinner, under her immediate34 supervision109 and direction. "Charlie, I'm quite ashamed of you," said his mother, after listening to Mrs. Thomas's lengthy110 statement. "What has come over you, child?"—Charlie stood biting his nails, and looking very sullen112, but vouchsafed113 them no answer.—"Mrs. Thomas is so kind as to forgive you, and says she will look over the whole affair, if you will beg aunt Rachel's pardon. Come, now," continued Mrs. Ellis, coaxingly114, "do, that's a good boy."
"Yes, do," added Mrs. Thomas, "and I will buy you a handsome new suit of livery."
This was too much for Charlie; the promise of another suit of the detested115 livery quite overcame him, and he burst into tears.
"Why, what ails111 the boy? He's the most incomprehensible child I ever saw! The idea of crying at the promise of a new suit of clothes!—any other child would have been delighted," concluded Mrs. Thomas.
"I don't want your old button-covered uniform," said Charlie, "and I won't wear it, neither! And as for aunt Rachel, I don't care how much she is hurt—I'm only sorry I didn't smash her other toe; and I'll see her skinned, and be skinned myself, before I'll ask her pardon!"
Both Mrs. Thomas and Charlie's mother stood aghast at this unexpected declaration; and the result of a long conference, held by the two, was that Charlie should be taken home, Mrs. Ellis being unable to withstand his tears and entreaties116.
As he passed through the kitchen on his way out, he made a face at aunt Rachel, who, in return, threw at him one of the turnips she was peeling. It missed the object for which it was intended, and came plump into the eye of Robberts, giving to that respectable individual for some time thereafter the appearance of a prize-fighter in livery.
Charlie started for home in the highest spirits, which, however, became considerably117 lower on his discovering his mother's view of his late exploits was very different from his own. Mrs. Ellis's fondness and admiration118 of her son, although almost amounting to weakness, were yet insufficient119 to prevent her from feeling that his conduct, even after making due allowance for the provocation120 he had received, could not be wholly excused as mere121 boyish impetuosity and love of mischievous122 fun. She knew that his father would feel it his duty, not only to reprimand him, but to inflict103 some chastisement123; and this thought was the more painful to her from the consciousness, that but for her own weak compliance124 with Mrs. Thomas's request, her boy would not have been placed in circumstances which his judgment125 and self-command had proved insufficient to carry him through. The day, therefore, passed less agreeably than Charlie had anticipated; for now that he was removed from the scene of his trials, he could not disguise from himself that his behaviour under them had been very different from what it ought to have been, and this had the salutary effect of bringing him into a somewhat humbler frame of mind. When his father returned in the evening, therefore, Charlie appeared so crest-fallen that even Caddy could scarcely help commiserating126 him, especially as his subdued127 state during the day had kept him from committing any of those offences against tidiness which so frequently exasperated128 her. Mr. Ellis, though very strict on what he thought points of duty, had much command of temper, and was an affectionate father. He listened, therefore, with attention to the details of Charlie's grievances129, as well as of his misdemeanours, and some credit is due to him for the unshaken gravity he preserved throughout. Although he secretly acquitted130 his son of any really bad intention, he thought it incumbent131 on him to make Charlie feel in some degree the evil consequences of his unruly behaviour. After giving him a serious lecture, and pointing out the impropriety of taking such measures to deliver himself from the bondage132 in which his parents themselves had thought fit to place him, without even appealing to them, he insisted on his making the apologies due both to Mrs. Thomas and aunt Rachel (although he was fully133 aware that both had only got their deserts); and, further, intimated that he would not be reinstated in his parents' good graces until he had proved, by his good conduct and docility134, that he was really sorry for his misbehaviour. It was a severe trial to Charlie to make these apologies; but he well knew that what his father had decided135 upon must be done—so he made a virtue136 of necessity, and, accompanied by his mother, on the following day performed his penance137 with as good a grace as he was able; and, in consideration of this submission138, his father, when he came home in the evening, greeted him with all his usual kindness, and the recollection of this unlucky affair was at once banished139 from the family circle.
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1
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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pinnacle
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| n.尖塔，尖顶，山峰；(喻)顶峰 | |
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gatherings
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| 聚集( gathering的名词复数 )； 收集； 采集； 搜集 | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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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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aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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mumbling
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的现在分词 ) | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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turnips
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| 芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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15
mishaps
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| n.轻微的事故，小的意外( mishap的名词复数 ) | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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ruffling
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| 弄皱( ruffle的现在分词 )； 弄乱； 激怒； 扰乱 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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scanty
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| adj.缺乏的，仅有的，节省的，狭小的，不够的 | |
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attired
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| adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服，使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bin
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| n.箱柜；vt.放入箱内；[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件 | |
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thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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intervals
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| n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息 | |
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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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recuperate
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| v.恢复 | |
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belying
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| v.掩饰，与…不符，使…失望；掩饰( belie的现在分词 )；证明（或显示）…为虚假；辜负；就…扯谎 | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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agitation
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| n.搅动；搅拌；鼓动，煽动 | |
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wretch
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| n.可怜的人，不幸的人；卑鄙的人 | |
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innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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38
chuckling
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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40
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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41
annoyances
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| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
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42
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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43
feat
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| n.功绩；武艺，技艺；adj.灵巧的，漂亮的，合适的 | |
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44
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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45
anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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46
rogue
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| n.流氓；v.游手好闲 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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48
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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49
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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50
adroitly
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| adv.熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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51
grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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52
mortifying
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| adj.抑制的，苦修的v.使受辱( mortify的现在分词 )；伤害（人的感情）；克制；抑制（肉体、情感等） | |
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53
demolished
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| v.摧毁( demolish的过去式和过去分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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54
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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55
retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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56
delicacies
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| n.棘手( delicacy的名词复数 )；精致；精美的食物；周到 | |
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57
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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58
refreshment
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| n.恢复，精神爽快，提神之事物；（复数）refreshments:点心，茶点 | |
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59
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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60
imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61
confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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62
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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63
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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frightful
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| adj.可怕的；讨厌的 | |
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65
chattering
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| n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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66
absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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67
dotage
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| n.年老体衰；年老昏聩 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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69
singed
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| v.浅表烧焦( singe的过去式和过去分词 )；（毛发）燎，烧焦尖端[边儿] | |
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70
melee
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| n.混战；混战的人群 | |
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71
lamentable
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| adj.令人惋惜的，悔恨的 | |
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72
inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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73
participation
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| n.参与，参加，分享 | |
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74
unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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75
transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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76
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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sleepers
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| n.卧铺（通常以复数形式出现）；卧车( sleeper的名词复数 )；轨枕；睡觉（呈某种状态）的人；小耳环 | |
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placid
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| adj.安静的，平和的 | |
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80
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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81
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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domain
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| n.(活动等)领域，范围；领地，势力范围 | |
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frantically
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| ad.发狂地, 发疯地 | |
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pertinaciously
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| adv.坚持地；固执地；坚决地；执拗地 | |
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85
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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enraged
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| 使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤 | |
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87
tormentor
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| n. 使苦痛之人, 使苦恼之物, 侧幕 =tormenter | |
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88
sprawling
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| adj.蔓生的，不规则地伸展的v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的现在分词 )；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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89
renewal
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| adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来 | |
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hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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detailed
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| adj.详细的，详尽的，极注意细节的，完全的 | |
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embellished
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| v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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93
coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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94
lamed
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| 希伯莱语第十二个字母 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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97
liking
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| n.爱好；嗜好；喜欢 | |
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98
tractable
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| adj.易驾驭的；温顺的 | |
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99
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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100
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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101
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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102
indignities
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| n.侮辱，轻蔑( indignity的名词复数 ) | |
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103
inflict
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| vt.(on)把…强加给，使遭受，使承担 | |
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104
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 | |
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106
narrated
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| v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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108
reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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109
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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110
lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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111
ails
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| v.生病( ail的第三人称单数 )；感到不舒服；处境困难；境况不佳 | |
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112
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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113
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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114
coaxingly
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| adv. 以巧言诱哄，以甘言哄骗 | |
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115
detested
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| v.憎恶，嫌恶，痛恨( detest的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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116
entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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117
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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118
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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119
insufficient
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| adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的 | |
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120
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 | |
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121
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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122
mischievous
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| adj.调皮的，恶作剧的，有害的，伤人的 | |
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123
chastisement
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| n.惩罚 | |
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124
compliance
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| n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从 | |
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125
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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126
commiserating
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| v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的现在分词 ) | |
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127
subdued
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| 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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128
exasperated
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| adj.恼怒的 | |
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129
grievances
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| n.委屈( grievance的名词复数 )；苦衷；不满；牢骚 | |
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130
acquitted
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| 宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 )； 使（自己）作出某种表现 | |
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131
incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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132
bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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133
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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134
docility
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| n.容易教，易驾驶，驯服 | |
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135
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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136
virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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137
penance
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| n.（赎罪的）惩罪 | |
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138
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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139
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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