Mr. Jericho was fully1 conscious of the malice2 of rumour3. He well knew that he appeared before the world in a supernatural, perhaps, in a demoniacal light. The timidity, the tremors4 of Mrs. Jericho and her daughters, convinced him that they saw in husband and father, a man of most mysterious attributes. Monica, with all her strength of mind, turned pale at the smallest courtesy of her parent; and Agatha, suddenly meeting him on the staircase, squealed5 and ran away as from a[Pg 161] fiend. “Mamma, dear mamma,” she exclaimed in a moment of anxious tenderness, “I’m sure Mr. Jericho’s sold; every body says so—sold. If you love me, tell me now—does your night-light burn blue?” And though Mrs. Jericho very majestically6 rebuked7 the giddiness of her daughter, the wife in the deep, silent night—the shrunken Jericho fast asleep, screwed up in himself as you would twist a bank-note—the wife would feel the solemnity of her whereabout. “Should the buyer come!” she thought while abed—and if folks could be arraigned8 for their thoughts, what goodly company would throng9 the bar!—“should the buyer come, I trust he’ll know his own side.”
Yet Jericho, from the first hour of his change, never felt so strong in himself; so insolently10 vigorous in mind and body. It was clear he should live for ever: he had been made immortal11 by money (not so uncommon12 a creed13 this). Death was to be awed14 like the human vulgar, and to pay respect to wealth. The principle of property was to flourish everlastingly15 in him, Solomon Jericho! True it was, he continued to shrink—to waste. Nevertheless, he could not wholly disappear: he must have body, no matter for its tenuity. But that he was elevated beyond the anatomical accidents of common humanity, was plain from the ball that had passed through his heart, and he alive, without the loss of one drop of blood. To be sure the hole—for he had stood between two mirrors and seen through himself—the hole had an ugly look, but who was to know it? A secret to be easily kept, with proper caution, even from the wife of his bosom16.
Therefore, Jericho despised the innuendoes17, the hints that buzzed up and down the world—no more valued them than a cloud of summer gnats18. And wherefore? He knew the way to confound and kill them. In the might and immortality19 of his money, he would bring back homage20, flattery, devotion. He looked upon the world and its millions, as his palace—his subjects. He felt himself the elect of wealth—the chosen one designed to develope to the human race the enduring rule of cash.[Pg 162] From such moment, there was to him nothing high, nothing great, nothing beautiful in humanity,—and for this reason, Jericho believed he could purchase it. In his moneyed eye, man in his noblest striving, woman in her holiest devotion, was ticketted and bore a price. Truth and virtue21 at the highest and best, were things for market: and Jericho scorned them,—because, when he would, he could destroy either commodity, by huckstering for it.
Jericho strong, stern in his power, had cast about him the most magnificent presents. He had sought occasion to bestow22 gifts of worth and beauty upon the merest acquaintance; in all cases, contriving24 that the donation should harmonise with the taste—melodiously accord with the wish of the gifted. Jewels, pictures, horses had Jericho—with more than imperial bounty—bestowed upon all sides. A week only after the duel25, and Jericho had more than trebled the number of his friends and champions. The Hole in the Heart, in the eye of Jericho’s world had gradually closed; and the heart was nobler, better, truer, kindlier than ever.
Mrs. Jericho was soon sweetly comforted by the enthusiasm of crowds of dear friends for her magnificent husband. She ought, indeed, to be a happy woman, possessing such a man. Whereupon, Mrs. Jericho, with the slightest touch of remorse26 for past ingenuous27 thoughts, owned he was the best of creatures. And then she wondered how it was, that any man with so large a soul, should have so little substance. It really seemed as if all Jericho’s flesh went to make heart!
And Monica entirely28 vanquished29 her fears. And Agatha never screamed again: no; she would smile when she met her dear father; more, would raise herself upon her toes, and take a kiss from him, gulping30 it with great content. How, indeed, could wicked rumours31 any longer pass into the ears of the young ladies, when their father had hung there the costliest32 ear-rings? Those diamonds—like the diamond shield of St. George—shamed and confounded everything false that approached them. A happy thought, this, of Jericho’s, to protect an ear with a diamond!
[Pg 163]
Nevertheless, Mr. Jericho was doomed33 to meet with a rebuff. In the full flush of victory he was to be chilled. Among his laurels34 there was an ugly, domestic slug, that would stick there. And this, too, with Jericho’s power of money! However, the annoyance35 was only passing; a bank-note or two would wipe the eye-sore off; would make the soiled leaf immortally36 green. Now, this contemptible37, yet irritating slug, was our young friend Basil, changed almost as much as Jericho himself. Love had seemed to give sudden maturity38 to his brain: had seemed to have advanced to meet time on his way, learning by anticipation39 his goodly lessons. It was only at intervals40 that Basil’s odd, quaint23 spirit, that had shone in him from boyhood, would now reveal itself. At times, he would be as fantastic as ever, but the fitful jest would die in sudden gravity. However, altered as Basil was, his arrival at the mansion41 of Jericho was a matter of delight to his mother and sisters. Mrs. Jericho’s only trouble was, that her foolish boy would not be friendly with his excellent father. And both the girls would earnestly assure their brother—though they must own Mr. Jericho got awfully42 thin, and they could not account for it—that after all he was a dear, kind man, and never refused anything.
“Why, what is the matter, my dear Basil?” said Mrs. Jericho. “Why, you look ten years older. I’m sure you study too much. And, you foolish boy, why should you study at all, now?”
“Why, indeed, mamma?” asked Monica. “Why not leave law to people—poor creatures!—who have nothing but their wits? By what I hear, there’s not room even for them: and, as Mr. Candituft says, it is not kind—it is not philanthropic—for wealth to study to take the bread out of the mouths of the indigent43. Do give up those horrid44 chambers45, and be a gentleman.”
“Yes, dear,” said Agatha; “and if you must employ your time, why not go into the army? You would look charming, Basil, you would, indeed; and I’m sure Mr. Jericho would buy you as many regiments46 as you’d like to be officer to. Do be a soldier—there’s a darling.”
[Pg 164]
“Or, my dear Basil,”—observed Mrs. Jericho with serious emphasis,—“as you seem strangely inclined to a sober view of the world, if you would prefer the church—not, for my own part, that I think any profession necessary for you—nevertheless, if you have a regard for the church—I do not see, looking into the probability of events, and contemplating—as I have contemplated—the growing interest of Mr. Jericho—I do not see, my dear child, why you should not be a bishop47.” And Mrs. Jericho resignedly folded her hands at the prospect48 of Canaan.
“Thank you, my dear madam—in the meantime can I see Mr. Jericho?” asked Basil.
“Of course, my love. He’ll be enchanted49 at your visit; delighted to see you. Here, my dear.” Basil followed his mother; who, pausing in an ante-room, turned to her son. “Now, my dear boy, do be courteous50 to your father. He loves you—I know he loves you. And yet you will look so coldly. Ha! Basil, you don’t know Mr. Jericho’s heart.”
“Humph!” said Basil.
“My dear,” said Mrs. Jericho, entering the library, where Jericho sat, “I have brought you a truant51.”
“Happy to welcome him,” said Mr. Jericho; and he rose, and approaching Basil, held out his hand. Basil, with a look of horror, started back.
“Basil! My love!” cried Mrs. Jericho, astonished at her son’s emotion. “What is the matter?”
“Why, the truth is, dear madam”—said Basil—“I haven’t seen Mr. Jericho for some time; and if he continue to dwindle52 at the same rate, I take it in another month he’ll hardly be visible to the naked eye.”
“Mr. Pennibacker,”—said Jericho, with all his power of money—“have you any business with me?”
“If you please—in private,” and Basil looked at his mother.
“Basil!” cried Mrs. Jericho, in a tone of protest; but Jericho waved his hand, and without another word, Mrs. Jericho obeyed the implied gesture. Some shrews are tamed by the more tyrannous constitution. Mrs. Jericho had been altogether overcome,[Pg 165] softened53 into the most docile54 of creatures by her husband’s money. He seemed to have bought the good-will of her bad temper.
“I am to understand, Mr. Pennibacker,” said Jericho majestically, “that you refuse my hand?”
“If you please,” answered Basil.
“It is my affection for your mother, my love for her daughters, and—I ought to be ashamed perhaps to confess the weakness—and a lingering esteem55 for you, that induce me to condescend56 to ask, why you presume to refuse the hand—the hand, young man—that has fostered you?”
“What?” asked Jericho, with a grim and ghastly smile.
“Why, it says that—common report, by the way, isn’t very choice in its language—it says that you have sold yourself to the devil.”
Jericho rose, and with his sternest dignity and best composure, asked—“Will you take the stairs, young man, or shall I have you thrown out of the window?”
“Just one moment, sir, and when I’ve finished my business, I’ll make my choice. You sent me some bank-notes, Mr. Jericho,” said Basil, taking a letter from his pocket.
“I am almost ashamed to own it,” answered Jericho. “But I knew that to a young man—-a youth of generous feelings—money was always acceptable; and—yes I am ashamed to confess it—I was weak, foolish, fond enough to supply you with a large sum of money.” Here Mr. Jericho took out his pocket-handkerchief.
“I did not believe the story of the diabolic transfer,” said Basil; and Jericho believed he had softened his son-in-law;—“not for want of witnesses; because, we know, when the devil buys, two parties are sufficient to the deed. That I know, allow me to say, as a moralist and a lawyer.”
Jericho ventured to bow.
“I had heard the story of the duel; and inquired into it.[Pg 166] As for the bullet going through your heart, Mr. Jericho, and you still paying the world the politeness to remain among us, I did not—though it posed me at first—I did not believe that, either. The bullet was a figure—the hole a metaphor—I was satisfied, and thought my mother safe.”
“I respect your filial anxiety, Mr. Pennibacker, though it is so ridiculously needless. Ha! ha! Then you were satisfied of the insanity58 of Doctor Dodo? By the way, poor man! I’m sorry for him—sorry for his family. Of course, his practice is gone; no man’s life safe in his hands. Poor fellow! Well, well, we’re frail59, feeble creatures. Very arrogant60 in our wisdom, and yet—let a pin’s point touch the brain, as Doctor Stubbs well observes—and where are we? However, the poor Doctor’s family shall not starve. No: I shall most assuredly provide for his widow and children.” But with all this, Jericho failed to call forth61 any cordial love from Basil’s face. He sat stern and self-sustained.
“You sent me this letter, Mr. Jericho,”—said Basil—“with bank-notes?”
“A thousand pounds in—I believe—in hundreds,” answered Jericho carelessly.
“May I ask, sir, where you took these notes?” asked Basil.
“Where! What is that to you, sir?” and Jericho began to chafe62. At last, with a forced smile, as though disdaining63 himself for the condescension64, he said—“they’re new notes, ar’n’t they?”
Basil looked at Jericho, and then at the notes. Then he crumpled65 the paper in his fingers, and the sympathetic heart—the heart of money—felt a pang66, and Jericho was, for a moment, drawn67 up in his chair, knees to chin. Basil eyed him with a fierce look—eyed the notes. “Humph!” he said, “Odd, tough paper! And the marks don’t look like ink, but black blood.”
“What do you mean, villain68?” cried Jericho; and—it was a momentary69 flash of thought, of will—and Jericho saw Basil, dallying70 as he was with the secret, silenced, killed, put out of the way.
[Pg 167]
“And the hole, sir! Do you mark?” and Basil smoothed out a note. “Odd, isn’t it? Just the round of a pistol bullet,” and Basil advanced the perforated paper under the very nose of Jericho, who, fallen in his chair, shrank up bodily from the note as from a spear’s point. “Come, sir,” cried Basil, “confess at once.”
“Why, what is the matter? Confess!” cried Mrs. Jericho, who had lingered near the door, and, alarmed and confused by the half-sentences that reached her, re-entered the library. “Confess what?”
“I will confess,” said Jericho: “and I could only wish that all the world could hear me; that all the world might know your baseness,” and the Man of Money glared at Basil.
“Baseness! Impossible! Dearest Solomon!” cried Mrs. Jericho.
“My love,” said Jericho: “I have acted weakly—I own it. Condescending71 to the prejudices of society, in a rash moment, I consented to fight a duel.”
“The rumour, Solomon, had reached me; but I would not reproach you: no; I have struggled with my feelings, and been silent. You cared not to make me a widow,” said Mrs. Jericho, “but heaven knows I forgive you.”
“I received my adversary’s ball here,”—said Jericho, spreading his hand over his heart. “A poor man must have been killed, but there is a fate that watches over property. I was providentially preserved by my money. I hope I am thankful,” and Jericho carefully wiped his dry eyes.
“I carried my pocket-book here: ’twas full of notes, the ball went through every one of them; and”—
“And stopt short at my shirt,” and Jericho paused.
“I breathe again,” exclaimed the thankful wife.
“Well, my dear, I now come to my confession77. I had intended to present your son with a handsome amount on his[Pg 168] approaching birth-day. I sent him a thousand pounds. It now appears—for the circumstance had escaped me—that the notes were among those perforated by the pistol-ball. I might have thought”—and Jericho tried to feel much hurt—“that such perforation would have enhanced the value—yes, of a thousand pounds; but, I regret to say it, the young man is hardened—bronzed against the finest emotions of the soul—even when recommended by money. Madam, he is incorrigible78.”
Mrs. Jericho was wholly won by the story of her husband. Kind, good, generous creature! So liberal to Basil. She sent to Jericho a look of thankful fondness, and then shook her head at her abashed79 offspring.
Yes—abashed. Basil was puzzled by the ingenuous confession of his father-in-law. For a moment he felt a touch of remorse, and was about to spring forward and seize Jericho’s hand. And then he paused, and doubt came up again. “If I am wrong, Mr. Jericho—if I have been rash and rude, I shall be glad, delighted, sir, to ask your pardon. But you must allow me to take a little time—to sift80 my evidence a little finer. Meanwhile, sir, you may impound the money,” and Basil laid the notes before Mr. Jericho. “Good bye, my dear mother; you’ll hear, I hope, good news of me soon. Am on the high road of happiness, and hope soon to put up at All Earthly Bliss81.”
“A strange, wild creature,” said Mrs. Jericho, following her son with loving looks as he darted82 from the room. “But good—yes, dear, believe it, good. His heart, I know it, is in its right place. And these”—and Mrs. Jericho took up the ten hundred pound notes with a hole in each—“and these protected your heart! Henceforth, to me they are enhanced beyond all price.—Yes, Jericho—Solomon—husband,” and the fond wife carefully folded up the bank notes, and as carefully placed them in her bosom, laying her guardian83 hand above them—“yes, I shall treasure them. No power—none, Jericho—shall tear them from me. They saved your life, and to me they are hereafter beyond all price.”
[Pg 169]
Jericho endeavoured to look resigned—pleased. Such devotion flattered him, though he could not but feel that it cost him a thousand pounds.
(With respect to the hole in the heart, let us clear up as we proceed. In a very little while every bank-note was perfect as before. This was to be expected. When a heart is wholly made of money, how can it long feel the worst of wounds?)
点击收听单词发音
1 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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2 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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3 rumour | |
n.谣言,谣传,传闻 | |
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4 tremors | |
震颤( tremor的名词复数 ); 战栗; 震颤声; 大地的轻微震动 | |
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5 squealed | |
v.长声尖叫,用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6 majestically | |
雄伟地; 庄重地; 威严地; 崇高地 | |
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7 rebuked | |
责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8 arraigned | |
v.告发( arraign的过去式和过去分词 );控告;传讯;指责 | |
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9 throng | |
n.人群,群众;v.拥挤,群集 | |
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10 insolently | |
adv.自豪地,自傲地 | |
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11 immortal | |
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的 | |
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12 uncommon | |
adj.罕见的,非凡的,不平常的 | |
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13 creed | |
n.信条;信念,纲领 | |
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14 awed | |
adj.充满敬畏的,表示敬畏的v.使敬畏,使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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15 everlastingly | |
永久地,持久地 | |
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16 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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17 innuendoes | |
n.影射的话( innuendo的名词复数 );讽刺的话;含沙射影;暗讽 | |
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18 gnats | |
n.叮人小虫( gnat的名词复数 ) | |
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19 immortality | |
n.不死,不朽 | |
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20 homage | |
n.尊敬,敬意,崇敬 | |
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21 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
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22 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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23 quaint | |
adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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24 contriving | |
(不顾困难地)促成某事( contrive的现在分词 ); 巧妙地策划,精巧地制造(如机器); 设法做到 | |
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25 duel | |
n./v.决斗;(双方的)斗争 | |
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26 remorse | |
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责 | |
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27 ingenuous | |
adj.纯朴的,单纯的;天真的;坦率的 | |
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28 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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29 vanquished | |
v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 );战胜;克服;抑制 | |
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30 gulping | |
v.狼吞虎咽地吃,吞咽( gulp的现在分词 );大口地吸(气);哽住 | |
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31 rumours | |
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 );风闻;谣言;谣传 | |
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32 costliest | |
adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 );代价高的;引起困难的;造成损失的 | |
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33 doomed | |
命定的 | |
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34 laurels | |
n.桂冠,荣誉 | |
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35 annoyance | |
n.恼怒,生气,烦恼 | |
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36 immortally | |
不朽地,永世地,无限地 | |
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37 contemptible | |
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的 | |
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38 maturity | |
n.成熟;完成;(支票、债券等)到期 | |
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39 anticipation | |
n.预期,预料,期望 | |
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40 intervals | |
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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41 mansion | |
n.大厦,大楼;宅第 | |
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42 awfully | |
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地 | |
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43 indigent | |
adj.贫穷的,贫困的 | |
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44 horrid | |
adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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45 chambers | |
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅 | |
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46 regiments | |
(军队的)团( regiment的名词复数 ); 大量的人或物 | |
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47 bishop | |
n.主教,(国际象棋)象 | |
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48 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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49 enchanted | |
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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50 courteous | |
adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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51 truant | |
n.懒惰鬼,旷课者;adj.偷懒的,旷课的,游荡的;v.偷懒,旷课 | |
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52 dwindle | |
v.逐渐变小(或减少) | |
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53 softened | |
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰 | |
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54 docile | |
adj.驯服的,易控制的,容易教的 | |
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55 esteem | |
n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 | |
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56 condescend | |
v.俯就,屈尊;堕落,丢丑 | |
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57 plunging | |
adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 | |
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58 insanity | |
n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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59 frail | |
adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 | |
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60 arrogant | |
adj.傲慢的,自大的 | |
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61 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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62 chafe | |
v.擦伤;冲洗;惹怒 | |
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63 disdaining | |
鄙视( disdain的现在分词 ); 不屑于做,不愿意做 | |
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64 condescension | |
n.自以为高人一等,贬低(别人) | |
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65 crumpled | |
adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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66 pang | |
n.剧痛,悲痛,苦闷 | |
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67 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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68 villain | |
n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因 | |
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69 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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70 dallying | |
v.随随便便地对待( dally的现在分词 );不很认真地考虑;浪费时间;调情 | |
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71 condescending | |
adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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72 conjure | |
v.恳求,祈求;变魔术,变戏法 | |
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73 gush | |
v.喷,涌;滔滔不绝(说话);n.喷,涌流;迸发 | |
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74 shrieked | |
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75 peril | |
n.(严重的)危险;危险的事物 | |
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76 imminent | |
adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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77 confession | |
n.自白,供认,承认 | |
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78 incorrigible | |
adj.难以纠正的,屡教不改的 | |
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79 abashed | |
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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80 sift | |
v.筛撒,纷落,详察 | |
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81 bliss | |
n.狂喜,福佑,天赐的福 | |
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82 darted | |
v.投掷,投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 );向前冲,飞奔 | |
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83 guardian | |
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者 | |
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