Bob went on to Los Angeles with the sprightly1 Baker2. At first glance the city seemed to him like any other. Then, as he wandered its streets, the marvel3 and vigour4 and humour of the place seized on him.
"Don't you suppose I see the joke?" complained Baker at the end of one of their long trolley5 rides. "Just get onto that house; it looks like a mission-style switch engine. And the one next to it, built to shed snow. Funny! sure it's funny. But you ain't talking to me! It's alive! Those fellows wanted something different from anybody else--so does everybody. After they'd used up the regular styles, they had to make 'em up out of the fresh air. But anyway, they weren't satisfied just to copy Si Golosh's idea of a Noah's Ark chicken coop."
They stopped opposite very elaborate and impressive iron gates opening across a graded street. These gates were supported by a pair of stone towers crowned with tiles. A smaller pair of towers and gates guarded the concrete sidewalk. As a matter of fact, all these barriers enclosed nothing, for even in the remote possibility that the inquiring visitor should find them shut, an insignificant6 detour7 would circumvent8 their fenceless flanks.
"Maudsley Court," Bob read sculptured on one of the towers.
"That makes this particular subdivision mighty9 exclusive," grinned Baker. "Now if you were a homeseeker wouldn't you love to bring your dinner pail back to the cawstle every night?"
Bob peered down the single street. It was graded, guttered10 and sidewalked. A small sentry11 box labelled "office," and inscribed12 with glowing eulogiums, occupied a strategic position near the gates. From this house Bob immediately became aware of close scrutiny13 by a man half concealed14 by the indoor dimness.
"The spider," said Baker. "He's onto us big as a house. He can spot a yap at four hundred yards' range, and you bet they don't get much nearer than that alone."
A huge sign shrieked15 of Maudsley Court. "Get a grin!" was its first advice.
"They all try for a catchword--every one of 'em," explained Baker. "You'll see all kinds in the ads; some pretty good, most of 'em rotten."
"They seem to have made a start, anyway," observed Bob, indicating a new cottage half way down the street. It was a super-artistic16 structure, exhibiting the ends of huge brown beams at all points. Baker laughed.
"That's what it's intended to seem," said he. "That's the come-on house. It's built by the spider. It's stick-um for the flies. 'This is going to be a high-brow proposition,' says the intending purchaser; 'look at the beautiful house already up. I must join this young and thriving colony.' Hence this settled look."
He waved his hand abroad. Dotted over the low, rounded hills of the charming landscapes were new and modern bungalows17. They were spaced widely, and each was flanked by an advertising18 board and guarded by a pair of gates shutting their private thoroughfares from the country highways. Between them showed green the new crops.
"Nine out of ten come-on houses," said Baker, "and all exclusive. If you can't afford iron gates, you can at least put up a pair of shingled19 pillars. It's the game."
"Will these lots ever be sold?" asked Bob.
"Out here, yes," replied Baker. "That's part of the joke. The methods are on the blink, but the goods insist on delivering themselves. Most of these fellows are just bunks20 or optimists21. All hands are surprised when things turn out right. But if _all_ the lots are ever sold, Los Angeles will have a population of five million."
They boarded an inward-bound trolley. Bob read the devices as they flashed past. "Hill-top Acres," he read near a street plastered against an apparently22 perpendicular23 hill. "Buy before the rise!" advised this man's rival at its foot. The true suburbs strung by in a panorama24 of strange little houses--imitation Swiss chalets jostling bastard25 Moorish26, cobblestones elbowing plaster--a bewildering succession of forced effects. Baker caught Bob's expression.
"These are workingmen's and small clerks' houses," he said quietly. "Pretty bad, eh? But they're trying. Remember what they lived in back East."
Bob recalled the square, painted, ugly, featureless boxes built all after the same pattern of dreariness27. He looked on this gay bewilderment of bad taste with more interest.
"At least they're taking notice," said Baker, lighting28 his pipe. "And every fellow raises _some_ kind of posies."
A few moments later they plunged29 into the vortex of the city and the smiling country, the far plains toward the sea, and the circle of the mountains were lost. Only remained overhead the blue of the California sky.
Baker led the way toward a blaring basement restaurant.
"I'm beginning to feel that I'll have to find some monkey-food somewhere, or cash in," said he.
They found a table and sat down.
"This is the place to see all the sights," proffered30 Baker, his broad face radiating satisfaction. "When they strike it rich on the desert, they hike right in here. That fat lady thug yonder is worth between three and four millions. Eight months ago she did washing at two bits a shirt while her husband drove a one-man prospect31 shaft32. The other day she blew into the big jewelry33 store and wanted a thirty-thousand-dollar diamond necklace. The boss rolled over twice and wagged his tail. 'Yes, madam,' said he; 'what kind?' 'I dunno; just a thirty-thousand-dollar one.' That's all he could get out of her. 'But tell me how you want 'em set,' he begged. She looked bewildered. _'Oh, set 'em so they'll jingle,'_ says she."
After the meal they walked down the principal streets, watching the crowd. It was a large crowd, as though at busy midday, and variously apparelled, from fur coat to straw hat. Each extreme of costume seemed justified34, either by the balmy summer-night effect of the California open air, or by the hint of chill that crept from the distant mountains. Either aspect could be welcomed or ignored by a very slight effort of the will. Electric signs blazed everywhere. Bob was struck by the numbers of clairvoyants35, palm readers, Hindu frauds, crazy cults37, fake healers, Chinese doctors, and the like thus lavishly39 advertised. The class that elsewhere is pressed by necessity to the inexpensive dinginess40 of back streets, here blossomed forth41 in truly tropical luxuriance. Street vendors42 with all sorts of things, from mechanical toys to spot eradicators, spread their portable lay-outs at every corner. Vacant lots were crowded with spielers of all sorts--religious or political fanatics43, vendors of cure-alls, of universal tools, of marvelous axle grease, of anything and everything to catch the idle dollar. Brilliantly lighted shops called the passer-by to contemplate44 the latest wavemotor, flying machine, door check, or what-not. Stock in these enterprises was for sale--and was being sold! Other sidewalk booths, like those ordinarily used as dispensaries of hot doughnuts and coffee, offered wild-cat mining shares, oil stock and real estate in some highly speculative45 suburb. Great stores of curios lay open to the tourist trade. Here one could buy sheepskin Indian moccasins made in Massachusetts, or abalone shells, or burnt-leather pillows, or a whole collection of photographic views so minute that they could all be packed in a single walnut46 shell. Next door were shops of Japanese and Chinese goods presided over by suave47, sleepy-eyed Orientals, in wonderful brocade, wearing the close cap with the red coral button atop. Shooting galleries spit spitefully. Gasolene torches flared48.
Baker strolled along, his hands in his pockets, his hat on the back of his head. From time to time he cast an amused glance at his companion.
"Come in here," he said abruptly49.
Bob found himself comfortably seated in a commodious50 open-air theatre, watching an excellent vaudeville51 performance. He enjoyed it thoroughly52, for it was above the average. In fifteen minutes, however, the last soubrette disappeared in the wings to the accompaniment of a swirl53 of music. Her place was taken by a tall, facetious-looking, bald individual, clad in a loose frock coat. He held up his hand for silence.
"Ladies 'n' gentlemen," he drawled, "we hope you have enjoyed yourselves. If you find a better show than this in any theatre in town, barring the Orpheum, come and tell us about it and we will see what we can do to brace54 ours up. I don't believe you can. This show will be repeated every afternoon and evening, with complete change of programme twice a week. Go away and tell your friends about the great free show down on Spring Street. Just tell them about it."
Bob glanced startled at his companion. Baker was grinning.
"This show has cost us up to date," went on the leisurely55 drawl, "just twenty-eight hundred dollars. Go and tell your friends that. _But_"--he suddenly straightened his figure and his voice became more incisive--"that is not enough. We have decided56 to give you something _real_ to talk about. We have decided to give every man, woman and child in this vast audience a first-night present of Two Silver Dollars!"
Bob could feel an electric thrill run through the crowd, and every one sat up a little straighter in his chair.
"Let me see," the orator57 went on, running his eye over the audience. He had resumed his quieter manner. "There are perhaps seven hundred people present. That would make fourteen hundred dollars. By the way, John," he addressed some one briskly. "Close the gates and lock them. We don't want anybody in on this who didn't have interest enough in our show to come in the first place." He winked58 humorously at the crowd, and several laughed.
"Pretty rotten, eh?" whispered Baker admiringly. "Fixed59 'em so they won't bolt when the show's over and before he works off his dope."
"These Two Silver Dollars, which I want you all to get, are in these hampers60. Six little boys will distribute them. Come up, boys, and get each a hatful of dollars." The six solemnly marched up on the stage and busied themselves with the hampers. "While we are waiting," went on the orator, "I will seize the opportunity to present to you the world-famed discoverer of that wonderful anaesthetic, Oxodyne, Painless Porter."
At the words a dapper little man in immaculately correct evening dress, and carrying a crush hat under his arm, stepped briskly from the wings. He was greeted by wild but presumably manufactured applause. He bowed rigidly61 from the hips62, and at once began to speak in a high and nasal but extremely penetrating63 voice.
"As far as advertising is concerned," he began without preamble64, "it is entirely65 unnecessary that I give this show. There is no man, woman or child in this marvellous commonwealth66 of ours who is not familiar with the name of Painless Porter, whether from the daily papers, the advertising boards, the street cars, or the elegant red brougham in which I traverse your streets. My work for you is my best advertisement. It is unnecessary from that point of view that I spend this money for this show, or that this extra money should be distributed among you by my colleague, Wizard Walker, the Medical Marvel of Modern Times."
The tall man paused from his business with the hampers and the six boys to bow in acknowledgment.
"No, ladies 'n' gentlemen, my purpose is higher. In the breast of each human being is implanted an instinctive67 fear of Pain. It sits on us like a nightmare, from the time we first come to consciousness of our surroundings. It is a curse of humanity, like drink, and he who can lighten that curse is as much of a philanthropist as George W. Childs or Andrew Carnegie. I want you to go away and talk about me. It don't matter what you say, just so you say something. You can call me quack68, you may call me fakir, you may call me charlatan--but be sure to call me SOMETHING! Then slowly the news will spread abroad that Pain is banished69, and I can smile in peace, knowing that my vast expenditures70 of time and money have not been in vain, and that I have been a benefit to humanity. Wizard Walker, the Medical Marvel of Modern Times, will now attend to the distribution, after which I will pull a few teeth gratis71 in order to demonstrate to you the wonderful merits of Oxodyne."
"Yup," said Baker. "Not much gasoline-torch-on-the-back-lot in his, is there?"
Bob was hardly surprised, after much preamble and heightening of suspense73, to find that the Two Silver Dollars turned out finally to be a pink ticket and a blue ticket, "good respectively at the luxurious74 offices for one dollar's worth of dental and medical attention FREE."
Nor was he more than slightly astounded75 when the back drop rose to show the stage set glitteringly with nickel-mounted dentist chairs and their appurtenances, with shining glass, white linen76, and with a chorus of fascinating damsels dressed as trained nurses and standing77 rigidly at attention. Then entered Painless himself, in snowy shirt-sleeves and serious professional preoccupation. Volunteers came up two by two. Painless explained obscurely the scientific principles on which the marvelous Oxodyne worked--by severing78 temporarily but entirely all communication between the nerves and the brain. Then much business with a very glittering syringe.
"My lord," chuckled79 Baker, "if he fills that thing up, it'll drown her!"
In an impressive silence Painless flourished the forceps, planted himself square in front of his patient, heaved a moment, and triumphantly80 held up in full view an undoubted tooth. The trained nurses offered rinses81. After a moment the patient, a roughly dressed country woman, arose to her feet. She was smiling broadly, and said something, which the audience could not hear. Painless smiled indulgently.
"Speak up so they can all hear you," he encouraged her.
"Never hurt a bit," the woman stammered82.
Three more operations were conducted as expeditiously83 and as successfully. The audience was evidently impressed.
"How does he do it?" whispered Bob.
"Cappers," explained Baker briefly84. "He only fakes pulling a tooth. Watch him next time and you'll see that he doesn't actually pull an ounce."
"Suppose a real toothache comes up?"
"I think that is one now. Watch him."
A young ranchman was making his way up the steps that led to the stage. His skin was tanned by long exposure to the California sun, and his cheek rounded into an unmistakable swelling85.
"No fake about him," commented Baker.
He seated himself in the chair. Painless examined his jaw86 carefully. He started back, both hands spread in expostulation.
"My _dear_ friend!" he cried, "you can save that tooth! It would be a crime to pull that tooth! Come to my office at ten to-morrow morning and I will see what can be done." He turned to the audience and for ten minutes expounded87 the doctrine88 of modern dentistry as it stands for saving a tooth whenever possible. Incidentally he had much to say as to his skill in filling and bridge work and the marvellous painlessness thereof. The meeting broke up finally to the inspiring strains of a really good band. Bob and his friend, standing near the door, watched the audience file out. Some threw away their pink and blue tickets, but most stowed them carefully away.
"And every one that goes to the 'luxurious offices' for the free dollar's worth will leave ten round iron ones," said Baker.
After a moment the Painless One and the Wizard marched smartly out, serenely89 oblivious90 of the crowd. They stepped into a resplendent red brougham and were whisked rapidly away.
"It pays to advertise," quoted Baker philosophically91.
They moved on up the street.
"There's the inventor of the Unlimited92 Life," said Baker suddenly, indicating a slender figure approaching. "I haven't seen him in three years--not since he got into this graft93, anyway."
"Unlimited Life," echoed Bob, "what's that? A medicine?"
The approaching figure swerved94 and stopped. Bob saw a very slender figure clad in a close-fitting, gray frock suit. To his surprise, from beneath the wide, black felt hat there peered at him the keenly nervous face of the more intelligent mulatto. The man's eyes were very bright and shrewd. His hair surrounded his face as an aureole of darkness, and swept low to his coat collar.
"Mr. Baker," he said, simply, his eyes inscrutable.
"Well, Sunny, this is my old friend Bob Orde. Bob, this is the world-famous Sunny Larue, apostle of the Unlimited Life of whom you've heard so much." He winked at Bob. "How's the Colony flourishing, Sunny?"
"More and more our people are growing to see the light," said the mulatto in low, musical tones. "The mighty but simple principles of Azamud are coming into their own. The poor and lowly, the humble95 and oppressed are learning that in me is their salvation--." He went on in his beautiful voice explaining the Colony of the Unlimited Life, addressing always Bob directly and paying little attention to Baker, who stood aside, his hands in his pockets, a smile on his fat, good-natured face. It seemed that the Colony lived in tents in a canon of the foothills. It paid Larue fifty dollars a head, and in return was supported for six months and instructed in the mysteries of the cult. It had its regimen. "At three we arise and break our fast, quite simply, with three or four dry prunes96," breathed Larue, "and then, going forth to the high places for one hour, we hold steadfast97 the thought of Love."
"Say, Sunny," broke in Baker, "how many you got rounded up now?"
"There are at present twenty-one earnest proselytes."
"At fifty a head--and you've got to feed and keep 'em somehow--even three dried prunes cost you something in the long run"--ruminated Baker. He turned briskly to the mulatto: "Sunny, on the dead, where does the graft come in?"
The mulatto drew himself up in swift offence, scrutinized98 Bob closely for a moment, met Baker's grin. Abruptly his impressive manner dropped from him. He leaned toward them with a captivating flash of white teeth.
"_You just leave that to me_," he murmured, and glided99 away into the crowd.
Baker laughed and drew Bob's arm within his own.
"Out of twenty of the faithful there's sure to be one or two with life savings100 stowed away in a sock, and Sunny's the boy to make them produce the sock."
"What's his cult, anyway?" asked Bob. "I mean, what do they pretend to believe? I couldn't make out."
"A nigger's idea of Buddhism," replied Baker briefly. "But you can get any brand of psychic101 damfoolishness you think you need in your business. They do it all, here, from going barefoot, eating nuts, swilling102 olive oil, rolling down hill, adoring the Limitless Whichness, and all the works. It is now," he concluded, looking at his watch, "about ten o'clock. We will finish the evening by dropping in on the Fuzzies."
Together they boarded a street car, which shortly deposited them at an uptown corner. Large houses and spacious103 grounds indicated a district of some wealth. To one of these houses, brilliantly lighted, Baker directed his steps.
"But I don't know these people, and I'm not properly dressed," objected Bob.
"They know me. And as for dress, if you'd arrange to wear a chaste104 feather duster only, you'd make a hit."
A roomful of people were buzzing like a hive. Most were in conventional evening dress. Here and there, however, Bob caught hints of masculine long hair, of feminine psyche105 knots, bandeaux and other extremely artistic but unusual departures. One man with his dinner jacket wore a soft linen shirt perforated by a Mexican drawn-work pattern beneath which glowed a bright red silk undergarment. Women's gowns on the flowing and Grecian order were not uncommon106. These were usually coupled with the incongruity107 of parted hair brought low and madonna-wise over the ears. As the two entered, a very powerful blond man was just finishing the declamation108 of a French poem. He was addressing it directly at two women seated on a sofa.
"_Un r-r-reve d'amour!_"
He concluded with much passion and clasped hands.
In the rustle109 ensuing after this effort, Baker led his friend down the room to a very fat woman upholstered in pink satin, to whom he introduced Bob. Mrs. Annis, for such proved to be her name, welcomed him effusively110.
"I've heard so much about you!" she cried vivaciously111, to Bob's vast astonishment112. She tapped him on the arm with her fan. "I'm going to make a confession113 to you; I know it may be foolish, but I do like music so much better than I do pictures."
Bob, his brain whirling, muttered something.
"But I'm going to confess to you again, I like artists so much better than I do musicians."
A light dawned on Bob. "But I'm not an artist nor a musician," he blurted114 out.
The pink-upholstered lady, starting back with an agility115 remarkable116 in one of her size, clasped her hands.
"Don't _tell_ me you write!" she cried dramatically.
"All right, I won't," protested poor Bob, "for I don't."
A slow expression of bewilderment overspread Mrs. Annis's face, and she glanced toward Baker with an arched brow of interrogation.
"I merely wanted Mr. Orde to meet you, Mrs. Annis," he said impressively, "and to feel that another time, when he is less exhausted117 by the strain of a long day, he may have the privilege of explaining to you the details of the great Psychic Movement he is inaugurating."
Mrs. Annis smiled on him graciously. "I am home every Sunday to my _intimes_," she murmured. "I should be so pleased."
Bob bowed mechanically.
"You infernal idiot!" he ground out savagely119 to Baker, as they moved away. "What do you mean? I'll punch your fool head when I get you out of here!"
But the plump young man merely smiled.
Halfway120 down the room a group of attractive-looking young men hailed them.
"Join in, Baker," said they. "Bring your friend along. We're just going to raid the commissary."
But Baker shook his head.
"I'm showing him life," he replied. "None but Fuzzies in his to-night!"
He grasped Bob firmly by the arm and led him away.
"That," he said, indicating a very pale young man, surrounded by women, "is Pickering, the celebrated121 submarine painter."
"The what?" demanded Bob.
"Submarine painter. He paints fish and green water and lobsters122, and the bottom of the sea generally. He paints them on the skins of kind-faced little calves123."
"What does he do that for?"
"He says it's the only surface that will express what he wants to. He has also invented a waterproof124 paint that he can use under water. He has a coral throne down on the bottom which he sits in, and paints as long as he can hold his breath."
"Oh, he does!" said Bob.
"Yes," said Baker.
"But a man can't see three feet in front of his face under water!" cried Bob.
"Pickering says he can. He paints submarinescapes, and knows all the fishes. He says fishes have individual expressions. He claims he can tell by a fish's expression whether he is polygamous or monogamous."
"Do you mean to tell me anybody swallows that rot!" demanded Bob indignantly.
"The women do--and a lot more I can't remember. The market for calf-skins with green swirls125 on them is booming. Also the women clubbed together and gave him money enough to build a house."
Bob surveyed the little white-faced man with a strong expression of disgust.
"The natural man never sits in chairs," the artist was expounding126. "When humanity shall have come into its own we shall assume the graceful127 and hygienic postures128 of the oriental peoples. In society one must, to a certain extent, follow convention, but in my own house, the House Beautiful of my dreams, are no chairs. And even now a small group of the freer spirits are following my example. In time----"
"If you don't take me away, I'll run in circles!" whispered Bob fiercely to his friend.
They escaped into the open air.
"Phew!" said Bob, straightening his long form. "Is that what you call the good society here?"
"Good society is there," amended129 Baker. "That's the joke. There are lots of nice people in this little old town, people who lisp our language fluently. They are all mixed in with the Fuzzies."
They decided to walk home. Bob marvelled130 at the impressive and substantial buildings, at the atrocious streets. He spoke131 of the beautiful method of illuminating132 one of the thoroughfares--by globes of light gracefully133 supported in clusters on branched arms either side the roadway.
"They were originally bronze--and they went and painted them a mail-box green," commented Baker drily.
At the hotel the night clerk, a young man, quietly dressed and with an engaging air, greeted them with just the right amount of cordiality as he handed them their keys. Bob paused to look about him.
"This is a good hotel," he remarked.
"It's one of the best-managed, the best-conducted, and the best-appointed hotels in the United States," said Baker with conviction.
The next morning Bob bought all the papers and glanced through them with considerable wonder and amusement. They were decidedly metropolitan134 in size, and carried a tremendous amount of advertising. Early in his perusal135 he caught the personal bias136 of the news. Without distortion to the point of literal inaccuracy, nevertheless by skilful137 use of headlines and by manipulation of the point of view, all items were made to subserve a purpose. In local affairs the most vulgar nicknaming, the most savage118 irony138, vituperation, scorn and contempt were poured out full measure on certain individuals unpopular with the papers. Such epithets139 as "lickspittle," "toad," "carcass blown with the putrefying gas of its own importance," were read in the body of narration140.
"These are the best-edited, most influential141 and powerful journals in the West," commented Baker. "They possess an influence inconceivable to an Easterner."
The advertising columns were filled to bursting with advertisements of patent medicines, sex remedies, quack doctors, miraculous142 healers, clairvoyants, palm readers, "philanthropists" with something "free" to bestow143, cleverly worded offers of abortion144; with full-page prospectuses145 of mines; of mushroom industrial concerns having to do with wave motors, water motors, solar motors, patent couplers, improved telephones and the like, all of whose stock now stood at $1.10, but which on April 10th, at 8.02 P.M., would go up to $1.15; with blaring, shrieking146 offers of real estate in this, that or the other addition, consisting, as Bob knew from yesterday, of farm acreage at front-foot figures. The proportion of this fake advertising was astounding147. One in particular seemed incredible--a full page of the exponent148 of some Oriental method of healing and prophecy.
"Of course, a full-page costs money," replied Baker. "But this is the place to get it." He pushed back his chair. "Well, what do you think of our fair young city?" he grinned.
"It's got me going," admitted Bob.
"Took me some time to find out where to get off at," said Baker. "When I found it out, I didn't dare tell anybody. They mob you here and string you up by your pigtail, if you try to hint that this isn't the one best bet on terrestrial habitations. They like their little place, and they believe in it a whole lot, and they're dead right about it! They'd stand right up on their hind36 legs and paw the atmosphere if anybody were to tell them what they really are, but it's a fact. Same joyous149 slambang, same line of sharps hanging on the outskirts150, same row, racket, and joy in life, same struggle; yes, and by golly! the same big hopes and big enterprises and big optimism and big energies! Wouldn't you like to be helping151 them do it?"
"What's the answer?" asked Bob, amused.
"Well, for all its big buildings and its electric lights, and trolleys152, and police and size, it's nothing more nor less than a frontier town."
"A frontier town!" echoed Bob.
"You think it over," said Baker.
收听单词发音 |
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sprightly
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| adj.愉快的，活泼的 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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vigour
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| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
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trolley
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| n.手推车，台车；无轨电车；有轨电车 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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circumvent
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| vt.环绕，包围；对…用计取胜，智胜 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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guttered
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| vt.形成沟或槽于…（gutter的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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sentry
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| n.哨兵，警卫 | |
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inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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scrutiny
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| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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shrieked
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| v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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artistic
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| adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的 | |
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bungalows
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| n.平房( bungalow的名词复数 )；单层小屋，多于一层的小屋 | |
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advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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shingled
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| adj.盖木瓦的；贴有墙面板的v.用木瓦盖(shingle的过去式和过去分词形式) | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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optimists
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| n.乐观主义者( optimist的名词复数 ) | |
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22
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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panorama
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| n.全景，全景画，全景摄影，全景照片[装置] | |
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bastard
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| n.坏蛋，混蛋；私生子 | |
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26
moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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27
dreariness
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| 沉寂，可怕，凄凉 | |
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28
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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29
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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30
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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32
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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33
jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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34
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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35
clairvoyants
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| n.透视者，千里眼的人( clairvoyant的名词复数 ) | |
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36
hind
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| adj.后面的，后部的 | |
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37
cults
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| n.迷信( cult的名词复数 )；狂热的崇拜；（有极端宗教信仰的）异教团体 | |
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38
cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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39
lavishly
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| adv.慷慨地，大方地 | |
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40
dinginess
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| n.暗淡，肮脏 | |
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41
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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42
vendors
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| n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方 | |
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43
fanatics
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| 狂热者，入迷者( fanatic的名词复数 ) | |
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44
contemplate
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| vt.盘算，计议；周密考虑；注视，凝视 | |
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45
speculative
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| adj.思索性的，暝想性的，推理的 | |
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46
walnut
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| n.胡桃，胡桃木，胡桃色，茶色 | |
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47
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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48
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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49
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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50
commodious
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| adj.宽敞的；使用方便的 | |
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51
vaudeville
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| n.歌舞杂耍表演 | |
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52
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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53
swirl
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| v.(使)打漩，(使)涡卷；n.漩涡，螺旋形 | |
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54
brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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55
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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56
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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57
orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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58
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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59
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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60
hampers
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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61
rigidly
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| adv.刻板地，僵化地 | |
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62
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 | |
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63
penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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64
preamble
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| n.前言；序文 | |
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65
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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66
commonwealth
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| n.共和国，联邦，共同体 | |
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67
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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68
quack
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| n.庸医；江湖医生；冒充内行的人；骗子 | |
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69
banished
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| v.放逐，驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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70
expenditures
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| n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 )；使用；（尤指金钱的）支出额；（精力、时间、材料等的）耗费 | |
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71
gratis
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| adj.免费的 | |
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72
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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73
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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74
luxurious
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| adj.精美而昂贵的；豪华的 | |
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75
astounded
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| v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶 | |
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76
linen
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| n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的 | |
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77
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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78
severing
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的现在分词 )；断，裂 | |
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79
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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81
rinses
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| v.漂洗( rinse的第三人称单数 )；冲洗；用清水漂洗掉（肥皂泡等）；（用清水）冲掉 | |
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82
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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83
expeditiously
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|
| adv.迅速地，敏捷地 | |
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84
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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85
swelling
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| n.肿胀 | |
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86
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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87
expounded
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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88
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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89
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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90
oblivious
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| adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的 | |
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91
philosophically
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| adv.哲学上；富有哲理性地；贤明地；冷静地 | |
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92
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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93
graft
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| n.移植，嫁接，艰苦工作，贪污；v.移植，嫁接 | |
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94
swerved
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| v.（使）改变方向，改变目的( swerve的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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95
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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96
prunes
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| n.西梅脯，西梅干( prune的名词复数 )v.修剪（树木等）( prune的第三人称单数 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
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97
steadfast
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| adj.固定的，不变的，不动摇的；忠实的；坚贞不移的 | |
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98
scrutinized
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| v.仔细检查，详审( scrutinize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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99
glided
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| v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 )；掠过；（鸟或飞机 ） 滑翔 | |
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100
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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101
psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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102
swilling
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| v.冲洗( swill的现在分词 )；猛喝；大口喝；（使）液体流动 | |
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103
spacious
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| adj.广阔的，宽敞的 | |
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104
chaste
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| adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的 | |
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105
psyche
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| n.精神；灵魂 | |
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106
uncommon
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| adj.罕见的，非凡的，不平常的 | |
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107
incongruity
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| n.不协调，不一致 | |
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108
declamation
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| n. 雄辩，高调 | |
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109
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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110
effusively
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| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
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111
vivaciously
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| adv.快活地；活泼地；愉快地 | |
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112
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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113
confession
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| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
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114
blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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115
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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116
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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117
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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118
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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119
savagely
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| adv. 野蛮地，残酷地 | |
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120
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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121
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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122
lobsters
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| 龙虾( lobster的名词复数 )； 龙虾肉 | |
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123
calves
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| n.(calf的复数)笨拙的男子，腓；腿肚子( calf的名词复数 )；牛犊；腓；小腿肚v.生小牛( calve的第三人称单数 )；（冰川）崩解；生（小牛等），产（犊）；使（冰川）崩解 | |
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124
waterproof
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| n.防水材料；adj.防水的；v.使...能防水 | |
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125
swirls
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| n.旋转( swirl的名词复数 )；卷状物；漩涡；尘旋v.旋转，打旋( swirl的第三人称单数 ) | |
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126
expounding
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| 论述，详细讲解( expound的现在分词 ) | |
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127
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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128
postures
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| 姿势( posture的名词复数 )； 看法； 态度； 立场 | |
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129
Amended
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| adj. 修正的 动词amend的过去式和过去分词 | |
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130
marvelled
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| v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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131
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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132
illuminating
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| a.富于启发性的，有助阐明的 | |
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133
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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134
metropolitan
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| adj.大城市的，大都会的 | |
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135
perusal
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| n.细读，熟读；目测 | |
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136
bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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137
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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138
irony
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| n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄 | |
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139
epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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140
narration
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| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
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141
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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142
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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143
bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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144
abortion
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| n.流产，堕胎 | |
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145
prospectuses
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| n.章程，简章，简介( prospectus的名词复数 ) | |
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146
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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147
astounding
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| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
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148
exponent
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| n.倡导者，拥护者；代表人物；指数，幂 | |
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149
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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150
outskirts
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| n.郊外，郊区 | |
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151
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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152
trolleys
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| n.（两轮或四轮的）手推车( trolley的名词复数 )；装有脚轮的小台车；电车 | |
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