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CHAPTER XIX ANCILLON’S REVELATIONS
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Doubt is the effect of fear or jealousy1,
Two passions which to reason give the lie;
For fear torments2 and never doth assist;
And jealousy is love lost in a mist.
Both hoodwink truth and play at blind man’s buff,
Cry “Here” and “There,” seem quite direct enough;
But all the while shift place, making the mind,
As it gets out of breath, despair to find;
Or if at last something it stumbles on,
Perhaps it calls it false, and then ’tis gone.
If true, what’s gained? Only just time to see
A breathless play—a game of fantasy
That has no other end than this: that men
Run to be tired, just to sit down again.
Anon.
Aunt Sophie, left to herself, got up with a childish curiosity to look around on the elegant chamber4 to which she had been introduced—the furniture all made of some wood that looked like ivory, and upholstered in rose satin and white lace.
 
“Too fine to live in,” she said to herself, as she stood before the beautifully draped dressing-table, with its broad and tall mirror filling up all the space between the two front windows, and curtained, like them, with rose silk and white lace, and with its toilet service of Bohemian glass and gold.
 
She turned from this to the richly festooned alcove6, in which stood the luxurious7 bedstead, and from that view to the inviting8 chairs and lounges, her wonder and admiration9 growing with all that she saw.
 
She was still moving around, when the door opened, and Lilith appeared, ushering10 in the baroness11—Lilith 218in her simple black silk dress, and Madame Von Bruyin in an elegant negligée of pale mauve velvet12, edged with swan’s-down.
 
She advanced to Aunt Sophie with smiling eyes and outstretched hands, exclaiming brightly:
 
“My dear Mrs. Downie! I am so rejoiced to see you! You have come to us so opportunely13! How opportunely you shall soon know. Why, only to-day we were to write to you and ask you to come. You have only anticipated our very great desire to see you.”
 
“Indeed you are very good to say so, ma’am, I’m sure. It was the sinner who made me come, whether or no; and I was so awful ’fraid I was intruding,” said the child-like old lady, in simple truth, as she placed both her plump little hands in the warm, welcoming clasp of her hostess.
 
“You are looking so well; and Lilith tells me you had a fine voyage.”
 
“Yes, thank you, ma’am; I had an awful fine voyage, considering the season of the year; and it done me a heap of good.”
 
“I can see that it has. Sit down now and let us be comfortable,” said the baroness, drawing one of the luxurious chairs nearer to Aunt Sophie, who smiled and bowed in a deprecating little way before she took it.
 
When they were all seated near what seemed to be a beautiful vase, but what was in reality the porcelain14 stove that heated the room, Aunt Sophie broke out in child-like admiration:
 
“I never seen a stove like this in all my life before. I didn’t think as they could make stoves out’n anything but iron.”
 
“We don’t have them in our own country,” said Lilith. “At least I never saw one.”
 
The baroness smiled, and then changed the subject by asking Aunt Sophie about the health and welfare 219of her inmates15, and the prosperity of her house. And the old lady answered with simple truth, relating all about the poor young theological student whose only pair of Sunday trousers she had inadvertently brought away; and all about the coming marriage of her favorite boarder, Mrs. Farquier, and Elder Perkins, of their church.
 
The baroness listened with sympathetic attention, and after a few more cordial words of congratulation or of inquiry16, the lady said:
 
“Now, Mrs. Downie, you will please tell me the name of the hotel you stopped at, so that I may send and have your effects brought hither.”
 
“The hotel where I stopped, ma’am?” said Aunt Sophie, with a slightly puzzled air.
 
“Yes, Mrs. Downie; I wish to know so that I may send for your trunk.”
 
“Why, it was the same place where the sinner is stopping!”
 
“But where is that, my dear friend? What is its name?” smilingly inquired Madame Von Bruyin.
 
“The hotel—le’ me see, now—what was the name of that hotel ag’in? The sinner did tell me; but there! my poor head has been in that whirl ever since I was snatched away so suddenly and fetched over here that I declare to man I haven’t got no memory left! I ought to remember that name, too, ’cause it sounded for all the world like a name in a ballad17 or a fairy story, and as if it might ’a’ been the palace of the fairy queen or the enchanted18 princess. What was it, ag’in? Oh! I know. It was the Hotel of Love, on the Rue3 River. That’s what it was. Now ain’t that just like a place in a ballad or a fairy story?” inquired Aunt Sophie, with a smile. “Just fancy it! The Hotel of Love on the Rue River!”
 
The baroness looked helplessly and hopelessly perplexed19.
 
220“The Hotel du Louvre, Rue de Rivoli,” suggested Lilith, in a low tone.
 
“Oh, certainly! I see! Touch the bell, if you please, my dear,” said Madame Von Bruyin.
 
Lilith complied, and the baroness gave her instructions to the servant that answered the summons.
 
“And now, my dear,” said the lady, rising to leave the room, “I have some papers to sign, and Monsieur Le Grange is waiting for me. Make our dear guest as comfortable as you can, and here, my dear, give her the choice of the vacant chambers20 on the other side.”
 
And with a smile and a bow the beautiful hostess left the room.
 
“Come, Aunt Sophie, and select your bower21!” said Lilith, playfully, as she arose.
 
The simple-hearted widow gathered her belongings22 and prepared to follow her guide.
 
Lilith led the old lady across the hall and opened the door of a chamber opposite the one they had just left, and introduced her into the most elegant apartment she had ever seen.
 
It was upholstered in satin-wood, pale blue velvet embroidered23 with silver and white lace.
 
Aunt Sophie hesitated to sit down in her black alpaca gown on any of the elegantly covered chairs, and feared to lay down her black shawl and mashed24 bonnet25 anywhere, lest they should soil the delicate draperies.
 
At length Lilith relieved her funny embarrassment26 by taking those articles from her hands and hanging them in a handsome armoire, the door of which was one sheet of crystal mirror.
 
And then the simple old lady looked at the dressing-table with its draperies of pale blue velvet and fine white lace, and its accessories of pearl combs and pearl-handled brushes, and gold vases, and 221flaçons, and thence to the bed with its costly27 hangings of the same velvet and lace, in such distressing28 embarrassment that Lilith said to her at length:
 
“Madame Von Bruyin wished me to give you your choice of all the vacant chambers. If you do not like this one, I can show you a plainer.”
 
“Oh, yes, please do, honey! This is so awful grand! I wouldn’t dare to sit down on one of these chairs, and as to lying down in that grand bed—I couldn’t dream of such a thing! And that sounds so ungrateful of me, too, when the baroness is giving me the best of everything! But, honey, I ain’t used to it, and I couldn’t get used to it, and that is the solemn truth, so I hope you’ll excuse me,” said the old lady, in her soft, slow, deprecating tones.
 
“There is nothing in this world too good for you, dear Aunt Sophie! There is indeed scarcely anything good enough for you, we think,” said Lilith, as she took the little black bonnet and shawl from the armoire in which she had hung them, and led the way down the corridor to the rear of the building and opened a door at its extremity29, and ushering the guest into a pretty, bright, fresh chamber, furnished in curled maple30 and gay chintz.
 
“How do you like this room?” inquired Lilith.
 
“Oh! ever so much better than t’other one! I ain’t afraid of hurting anything here!”
 
“And you can make yourself quite comfortable?”
 
“Oh, yes, awful comfortable, honey.”
 
“Your trunks will be here very soon,” said Lilith, as, still acting31 in her rôle of lady’s maid to the visitor, she hung up Aunt Sophie’s bonnet, shawl and hand-bag in the maple-wood wardrobe.
 
Then she sat down to “keep company” with the old lady until her boxes should arrive to give her some employment.
 
“I hope you will tell the baroness that I ralely 222didn’t expect this! I ralely didn’t mean to intrude32. I only come this morning with the sinner to call and pay my respects to the baroness and see you, honey, and then go back to the Hotel of Love. I never would have presumed to come and set down on you all without an invitation,” said Aunt Sophie, in a soft, slow, deprecating tone.
 
Lilith went and kissed her gently before replying:
 
“You did not come without an invitation, and a very pressing one. You cannot doubt how pleased Madame Von Bruyin is to see you, or how happy I am to have you here.”
 
“I know you are all awful good to me. I know that,” said Aunt Sophie.
 
A little later on her trunk arrived and was brought up into her room, and Aunt Sophie made the best of her limited wardrobe to dress for dinner.
 
Simple as any child, she accepted all the aid that Lilith could give her, even obediently submitting to have her unruly hair “fixed,” and to wear the pretty little lace cap, fichu and cuffs33 that Lilith’s deft34 fingers constructed from her own materials.
 
Aunt Sophie liked herself in this new dress, and did not hesitate to say so.
 
The dinner that followed soon was served in what was known in the maison as the petit salon35. There was no one present but Madame Von Bruyin, Lilith, Mrs. Downie and Monsieur Le Grange, whom Aunt Sophie mistook for a preacher of the gospel, and ever after referred to as the old minister.
 
Lilith saw no more of Mr. Alfred Ancillon, or Señor Zuniga, during that day.
 
The next morning, after breakfast, the baroness went out shopping as usual, but excused Lilith from attending her, and took Aunt Sophie instead, “to show her the shops,” as she said.
 
They had not left the house more than half an hour, 223when a card was brought to Lilith bearing the name, Señor Zuniga.
 
And Lilith went down into the small drawing-room to receive him alone.
 
“Madame Von Bruyin has gone out and has taken Mrs. Downie with her,” said Lilith, when their mutual36 greetings had passed.
 
“Ah! I am glad! Well as I like the beautiful baroness and the good Aunt Sophie, I can dispense37 with their society this morning, for I wish to talk with you alone,” he said, seating himself by her side on the sofa. “I told you yesterday that I had much to say to you.”
 
“Yes,” she replied.
 
“Hereward, you say, is still at the Court of ——?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“And yet you have never heard from him?”
 
“No.”
 
“He does not know that you are living?”
 
“No.”
 
“Well, neither did I until an accident revealed your continued existence to me. I will tell you all about that by and by. Now I tell you, Lilith, that he must learn the truth.”
 
“Oh, no! no! Do not bring me in any way to his notice,” she pleaded, clasping her hands and fixing her eyes upon him in the earnestness of her entreaty38.
 
“But why not, now that you are able to clear up the mystery that separated you?” demanded Zuniga, in astonishment39.
 
“Oh, because he does not love me. He never loved me! He told me so with his own lips,” moaned Lilith, wringing40 her hands.
 
“No heroics, if you please, child. I get quite enough of them on the stage. I hate them off it. But tell me, in a matter of fact way, did you really believe him when he said that?”
 
224“Oh, yes! Oh, yes! For he spoke41 in the most bitter, scornful, insulting manner. He said that he should leave the house, never to return while I desecrated42 it with my presence. Desecrated it, mind. That was what drove me away, and what will keep me away from him,” she wailed44, twisting her hands together.
 
“Pray don’t be melodramatic, Lilith, my dear. I am so tired of that sort of thing that I have left the stage forever, I hope. But tell me quietly and sensibly when and under what circumstances Hereward talked such very objectionable nonsense.”
 
“It was on that fatal twenty-first of March when——”
 
“There you go again. There was nothing fatal about it. However, proceed.”
 
“It was on the twenty-first of March, then, that he came down suddenly to Cloud Cliffs. That letter which you had written to me had fallen into his hands, and he rushed down to Cloud Cliffs, just as I feared he would, in a——”
 
“Deuce of a rage. Quite natural under the circumstances. Well?”
 
“He came in just after I had read your last letter, which was even more compromising than your first, and as I was about to drop it into the fire he seized it from me——”
 
“Very rude of him.”
 
“And he read it.”
 
“Quite so. It was what we should have expected of him. Proceed.”
 
“And then—— But, oh, indeed, I cannot describe the scene that followed.”
 
“You needn’t. I can see it all. The fat was in the fire. There was a fiz, a blaze, a conflagration45!”
 
“I cannot blame him for his anger then. The circumstances were so criminating. He demanded an explanation, but I could give him none without betraying 225your secret, which I was sworn to keep. It ended, as I told you, in his declaring that he did not love me, congratulating himself that he had never fallen into the deep degradation46 of loving me, and saying that he would leave the house, never to return while I should desecrate43 it with my presence.”
 
“Very melodramatic, and consequently very nonsensical, as all heroics are off the stage. And you believed him?”
 
“Yes; for I left the house that night.”
 
“And you still believe him, eh?”
 
“Yes; for I will never make known my existence to him.”
 
“What a baby you must be, Lilith, to believe all the ravings of a man maddened by jealousy. Why, child! you were no sooner gone than he ‘sought you sorrowing’ all over the country. A month later the body of a poor, unfortunate young woman who once belonged to our troupe47, and was the wife of a man who sometimes acted under my name, was found in the woods in such a state of decomposition48 that it could not be recognized; but it was dressed in a suit of your clothes, which were readily enough identified by all your servants, so that the sapient49 coroner’s jury who sat upon the remains50 brought in a verdict that—‘Lilith Hereward came to her death by a blow on the back of her head from some blunt instrument held in the hand of some person unknown to the jury.’ When Hereward learned this verdict he fell like a slaughtered51 ox; and he knew no more of life for weeks——”
 
“Oh!” cried Lilith, involuntarily.
 
“In the meantime, I, out in California, knew nothing of what was going on in West Virginia until a month after that coroner’s inquest—until one day I met with an old copy of the Pursuivant, in which I read a full account of your supposed fate. Then, 226my child, I understood, or thought I understood, what had happened—that your death had been caused, directly or indirectly52, by the jealous rage of your husband; and I threw up my engagement and traveled as fast as steam could take me to West Virginia and to the presence of Tudor Hereward. I found him the mere53 shadow of his former self.”
 
Lilith moaned.
 
“But I did not pity him in the least! I bitterly upbraided54 him for having been the cause of your death, as I fully5 believed him to have been. I am afraid I even became melodramatic over it all, which was very unprofessional off the stage, you know. He never sought to excuse or defend himself. Still I had no mercy on him. I rubbed it into him. To deepen his remorse55 for his wrong to you, I gave him the secret! What cared I then for any consequences to myself? I gave him the secret!”
 
“What! You told—you told him—who you were!” exclaimed Lilith.
 
“No, I did better than that. He might not have believed my word. I told him nothing. But I directed him to the papers in the old trunk for all information and all proof. And then I left him and went to the village hotel and waited for events. But nothing happened, and at last I heard that he had gone to Washington to accept some foreign mission that had been offered him. Then I also left the neighborhood and went to the Southwest. I took no further pains to conceal56 my identity; yet no evil happened to me. No requisition under the extradition57 treaty was made for me. But, Lilith, my child, you are cleared from suspicion in the eyes of your husband. He has the secret!”
 
“Oh, no, he has not!” exclaimed Lilith. “He has not! For those papers to which you referred him 227for information were not in the house! I brought them away with me when I left Cloud Cliffs.”
 
“You brought them away with you!”
 
“Yes, for I would not leave them there to endanger you. So, you see, he does not yet know that I am innocent.”
 
“I am sorry that he did not find the papers. But, Lilith, my darling, he does know that you are innocent. He came to his senses from the very day in which he lost you. All that I heard about him in his own neighborhood proved his profound sorrow at your loss and his faith in your integrity.”
 
“And yet he told me——”
 
“Never mind what he told you. He was mad with jealousy then, and his words must not be remembered. He loves you, I am sure. He always loved you. I tell you this—I who know something of human nature.”
 
“Oh, if I thought so! Oh, if I thought so!”
 
“Now, now, now, now, don’t be stagey! Hereward loves you devotedly58. I was sure of it when I talked with him of you. It was not only remorse for his cruel suspicions, but sorrow for your loss, that was almost driving him mad!”
 
“He had but little cause for remorse about his suspicions. The circumstances were so criminating.”
 
“And your life and character so vindicating59.”
 
“Was it accident that led you to Aunt Sophie’s house?” inquired Lilith at last.
 
“Yes and no. I will explain. After I had made a short theatrical60 tour in the Territories I came East and to New York. I was so reckless that I did not care what might become of me. I was on Broadway one day, when I saw your picture in a photographer’s show-case. I did not then connect it with any idea that you were still in the land of the living, but fancied that it was a photograph that might have 228been taken for your foster-father, the summer before your marriage when you were on your last trip with him.”
 
“No, it was taken just before I sailed from New York, for Aunt Sophie. She wanted a picture of me, and she took me to a photographer who was a member of her church and for whom one of her lady boarders colored the photographs,” Lilith explained.
 
“So I learned later. Having no picture of you, my darling, and wishing to possess one, I went in to the artist and asked to buy a copy. He told me that he could not sell one without permission from the customer who had had the photograph taken. I told him that the customer and the original of the picture were both dead. At this he stared and said that he guessed not, unless they had died very recently. And then the artist told me that the pictures had been taken by the order of an old lady friend of his own, and of a young girl boarding in her house then, but now away to Europe. Still I had no suspicion that they represented my living Lilith, but believed the likeness61 to be an accidental one, though so good that I wished to possess a copy. So I requested the artist to give me the address of the customer for whom they had been taken. He very readily obliged me. I went to Mrs. Downie’s house the same day. Seeing her sign out, I requested the girl who answered my ring to take my card to her mistress. While I was waiting in the parlor62 I saw your photograph on the mantelpiece. I took it down and examined it minutely, a faint suspicion coming like hope into my heart that it might be yours after all. I turned to the back and read the inscription63, ‘To Aunt Sophie, with the love of Lilith,’ or something to that effect. My child, I am not given to wild emotion—off the stage—and yet I was so overcome with joy and fear that I dropped upon a chair, 229and had some trouble to compose myself before the landlady64 came in. But in that short space of time I had resolved to take board in the house, if possible, in order to find out all about you. So when Aunt Sophie came in I broached65 the subject of board and lodging66, and the good creature consented to receive me.”
 
“Yes, she wrote to me about that,” said Lilith.
 
“But I governed my strong anxiety and refrained from asking her questions about the original of that photograph for a few hours, and then began cautiously to examine her. It is needless to say that I learned all she knew of you.”
 
“Did you return the confidence, and supplement her small knowledge of my antecedents by telling her all you knew of me?” inquired Lilith.
 
“Only by saying that you were a very near and dear relative of mine.”
 
“So much she herself wrote to me; but she wrote of you as Mr. Ancillon, and yet she speaks of you as Señor Zuniga——”
 
“Yes. I took board with her as Alfred Ancillon. I did not wish, in the case of my arrest under the extradition treaty, to bring an old and proud name into that connection. And so it was not until after I had seen your advertisement, and searched the files of the Pursuivant and discovered my full vindication67 from that imputed68 crime, that I determined69 to resume my own name. When we were once on board the steamer, I told Mrs. Downie that Ancillon was only my professional name, by which I think she understood that I was a literary man writing under that nomme de plume70, but that my true name was Zuniga. You look very much astonished, Lilith.”
 
“I am astonished. I have been wondering in a state of the deepest perplexity over that whole matter!” exclaimed Lilith.
 
230“Wondering why I called myself Zuniga?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Why, my dear, because of all my names, professional or otherwise, that is the one to which I have the best right.”
 
“Were you—were you, then—were you——”
 
“The Señor Zuniga of Washington society?”
 
“Yes.”
 
“Of course I was. You recognized me at first sight, and so also did Hereward, as I saw by your amazed looks, although afterwards you were both persuaded that you were only deceived by a very striking likeness.”
 
“Yes, we were. For we knew you as Mr. Ancillon, and believed the professional announcement that you had gone to California——”
 
“When my stage name loaned to another member of the troupe alone had gone.”
 
“But believing as we did, how could we imagine you to be identical with Señor Zuniga, the nephew of the P—— minister? Even now I cannot understand it.”
 
“But you will when I tell you the whole of my story, Lilith.”
 
“And you acted your part so well! When you were introduced to us you looked so sublimely71 indifferent and unconscious of ever having seen us before. And, besides, though you looked so nearly identical with Alfred Ancillon, there were really striking points of dissimilarity.”
 
Señor Zuniga broke into one of his wild laughs, and then said:
 
“Exactly! Precisely72! There were striking points of dissimilarity. When I dropped my stage name and character, and took up my real ones, I made no coarse disguise of other colored hair or complexion73. Not at all. I just gave the ends of my very peculiar74 and 231characteristic eyebrows75 a quarter of an inch’s twist upward instead of downward, with the aid of a camel’s hair brush and a little Indian ink, and the ends of my mustache a corresponding droop76 downward instead of upward, and the character of my countenance77 and expression was changed. This, with my ‘sublime unconsciousness’ of which you spoke, your prepossessed idea that I had gone to California, en route for Australia, together with the utter improbability that Alfred Ancillon, the strolling player, should have anything in common with Señor Zuniga, the nephew of the P—— minister, completed the illusion.”
 
“It did, indeed.”
 
“And so, my child, as Señor Zuniga, I enjoyed opportunities of conversing78 with you such as I should never have been permitted to do as Alfred Ancillon.”
 
“But now you are forever Zuniga?”
 
“Yes, forever Zuniga.”
 
“And as the baroness may return before you leave, I must present you to her—by what name?”
 
“By my true name, of course. By the only name—now that my character is cleared from the faintest shadow of reproach—by which I shall henceforth be known—Zuniga.”
 
They talked on for an hour longer, asking and answering questions, but Zuniga was reticent80 about one matter—his right to the name he claimed.
 
“I will tell you later, Lilith,” was all the explanation that he would give of his reserve.
 
While they were still talking, the door of the drawing-room swung open and the baroness, accompanied by Aunt Sophie, entered the room.
 
Lilith and her visitor arose to receive them.
 
“Madame Von Bruyin,” said Lilith, addressing her patroness with a slight gesture of her hand towards 232her visitor, “please permit me to present to you the Señor Zuniga, my father.”
 
The gentleman bowed profoundly; the lady graciously, saying:
 
“I am glad to see you, señor. Your daughter is a dear young friend of mine. Pray resume your seat. I hope that you will favor us with your company at luncheon81.”
 
“I thank you, madame, I shall be very happy,” replied the señor, with another bow.
 
But there was one figure in the group that stood transfixed, staring with eyes and mouth wide open, then muttering:
 
“Why—why—why—I didn’t know—why—why—why——”
 
But she could get no further.
 
Lilith went and put her arms around the old lady’s neck, and murmured, softly:
 
“Yes, Aunt Sophie, he is my dear father. I will tell you all about it by and by.”
 
“But—how come he, the sinner, to be your father?” inquired the dazed old lady.
 
Lilith laughed, and answered:
 
“I suppose because he married my mother.”
 
The luncheon bell rang, and the baroness requested Señor Zuniga to give his arm to Mrs. Downie.
 
At this moment Monsieur Le Grange joined the group and was informally introduced to the Señor Zuniga.
 
The whole party then moved to the small salon, where the luncheon table was spread, and where Madame Von Bruyin’s liveried servants were in attendance.
 
The light meal passed off very pleasantly—the señor being more than usually brilliant in sparkling wit and anecdote82.
 
Soon after their return to the drawing-room Zuniga 233took leave, pleading that he had to run down to Calais that night to catch the earliest boat to Dover, but that he hoped to be in Paris again within a few days.
 
As soon as he was gone the baroness was eloquent83 in his praise. She commended his dark beauty, grace, elegance84 of person, his brilliancy in conversation and so forth79.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 jealousy WaRz6     
n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌
参考例句:
  • Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
  • I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
2 torments 583b07d85b73539874dc32ae2ffa5f78     
(肉体或精神上的)折磨,痛苦( torment的名词复数 ); 造成痛苦的事物[人]
参考例句:
  • He released me from my torments. 他解除了我的痛苦。
  • He suffered torments from his aching teeth. 他牙痛得难受。
3 rue 8DGy6     
n.懊悔,芸香,后悔;v.后悔,悲伤,懊悔
参考例句:
  • You'll rue having failed in the examination.你会悔恨考试失败。
  • You're going to rue this the longest day that you live.你要终身悔恨不尽呢。
4 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
5 fully Gfuzd     
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地
参考例句:
  • The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
  • They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
6 alcove EKMyU     
n.凹室
参考例句:
  • The bookcase fits neatly into the alcove.书架正好放得进壁凹。
  • In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves.火炉两边的凹室里是书架。
7 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
8 inviting CqIzNp     
adj.诱人的,引人注目的
参考例句:
  • An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。
  • The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人,使人感到亲切温馨。
9 admiration afpyA     
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕
参考例句:
  • He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。
  • We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。
10 ushering 3e092841cb6e76f98231ed1268254a5c     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • They were right where the coach-caller was swinging open a coach-door and ushering in two ladies. "他们走到外面时,叫马车的服务员正打开车门,请两位小姐上车。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • Immediately the two of them approached others, thanking them, ushering them out one by one. 他们俩马上走到其他人面前,向他们道谢,一个个送走了他们。 来自辞典例句
11 baroness 2yjzAa     
n.男爵夫人,女男爵
参考例句:
  • I'm sure the Baroness will be able to make things fine for you.我相信男爵夫人能够把家里的事替你安排妥当的。
  • The baroness,who had signed,returned the pen to the notary.男爵夫人这时已签过字,把笔交回给律师。
12 velvet 5gqyO     
n.丝绒,天鹅绒;adj.丝绒制的,柔软的
参考例句:
  • This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
  • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
13 opportunely d16f5710c8dd35714bf8a77db1d99109     
adv.恰好地,适时地
参考例句:
  • He arrived rather opportunely just when we needed a new butler. 就在我们需要一个新管家的时候他凑巧来了。 来自互联网
  • Struck with sudden inspiration, Miss Martha seized the occasion so opportunely offered. 玛莎小姐此时灵机一动,及时地抓住了这个天赐良机。 来自互联网
14 porcelain USvz9     
n.瓷;adj.瓷的,瓷制的
参考例句:
  • These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
  • The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。
15 inmates 9f4380ba14152f3e12fbdf1595415606     
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 inquiry nbgzF     
n.打听,询问,调查,查问
参考例句:
  • Many parents have been pressing for an inquiry into the problem.许多家长迫切要求调查这个问题。
  • The field of inquiry has narrowed down to five persons.调查的范围已经缩小到只剩5个人了。
17 ballad zWozz     
n.歌谣,民谣,流行爱情歌曲
参考例句:
  • This poem has the distinctive flavour of a ballad.这首诗有民歌风味。
  • This is a romantic ballad that is pure corn.这是一首极为伤感的浪漫小曲。
18 enchanted 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
参考例句:
  • She was enchanted by the flowers you sent her. 她非常喜欢你送给她的花。
  • He was enchanted by the idea. 他为这个主意而欣喜若狂。
19 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
20 chambers c053984cd45eab1984d2c4776373c4fe     
n.房间( chamber的名词复数 );(议会的)议院;卧室;会议厅
参考例句:
  • The body will be removed into one of the cold storage chambers. 尸体将被移到一个冷冻间里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Mr Chambers's readable book concentrates on the middle passage: the time Ransome spent in Russia. Chambers先生的这本值得一看的书重点在中间:Ransome在俄国的那几年。 来自互联网
21 bower xRZyU     
n.凉亭,树荫下凉快之处;闺房;v.荫蔽
参考例句:
  • They sat under the leafy bower at the end of the garden and watched the sun set.他们坐在花园尽头由叶子搭成的凉棚下观看落日。
  • Mrs. Quilp was pining in her bower.奎尔普太太正在她的闺房里度着愁苦的岁月。
22 belongings oy6zMv     
n.私人物品,私人财物
参考例句:
  • I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
  • Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
23 embroidered StqztZ     
adj.绣花的
参考例句:
  • She embroidered flowers on the cushion covers. 她在这些靠垫套上绣了花。
  • She embroidered flowers on the front of the dress. 她在连衣裙的正面绣花。
24 mashed Jotz5Y     
a.捣烂的
参考例句:
  • two scoops of mashed potato 两勺土豆泥
  • Just one scoop of mashed potato for me, please. 请给我盛一勺土豆泥。
25 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
26 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬;使人为难的人(事物);障碍;窘迫
参考例句:
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
27 costly 7zXxh     
adj.昂贵的,价值高的,豪华的
参考例句:
  • It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
  • This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用,左不过贵了些。
28 distressing cuTz30     
a.使人痛苦的
参考例句:
  • All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
  • It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。
29 extremity tlgxq     
n.末端,尽头;尽力;终极;极度
参考例句:
  • I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。
  • What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢?
30 maple BBpxj     
n.槭树,枫树,槭木
参考例句:
  • Maple sugar is made from the sap of maple trees.枫糖是由枫树的树液制成的。
  • The maple leaves are tinge with autumn red.枫叶染上了秋天的红色。
31 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
32 intrude Lakzv     
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰
参考例句:
  • I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。
  • I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。
33 cuffs 4f67c64175ca73d89c78d4bd6a85e3ed     
n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打,拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
  • The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。
34 deft g98yn     
adj.灵巧的,熟练的(a deft hand 能手)
参考例句:
  • The pianist has deft fingers.钢琴家有灵巧的双手。
  • This bird,sharp of eye and deft of beak,can accurately peck the flying insects in the air.这只鸟眼疾嘴快,能准确地把空中的飞虫啄住。
35 salon VjTz2Z     
n.[法]沙龙;客厅;营业性的高级服务室
参考例句:
  • Do you go to the hairdresser or beauty salon more than twice a week?你每周去美容院或美容沙龙多过两次吗?
  • You can hear a lot of dirt at a salon.你在沙龙上会听到很多流言蜚语。
36 mutual eFOxC     
adj.相互的,彼此的;共同的,共有的
参考例句:
  • We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
  • Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。
37 dispense lZgzh     
vt.分配,分发;配(药),发(药);实施
参考例句:
  • Let us dispense the food.咱们来分发这食物。
  • The charity has been given a large sum of money to dispense as it sees fit.这个慈善机构获得一大笔钱,可自行适当分配。
38 entreaty voAxi     
n.恳求,哀求
参考例句:
  • Mrs. Quilp durst only make a gesture of entreaty.奎尔普太太仅做出一种哀求的姿势。
  • Her gaze clung to him in entreaty.她的眼光带着恳求的神色停留在他身上。
39 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
40 wringing 70c74d76c2d55027ff25f12f2ab350a9     
淋湿的,湿透的
参考例句:
  • He was wringing wet after working in the field in the hot sun. 烈日下在田里干活使他汗流满面。
  • He is wringing out the water from his swimming trunks. 他正在把游泳裤中的水绞出来。
41 spoke XryyC     
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
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
42 desecrated 6d5f154117c696bbcc280c723c642778     
毁坏或亵渎( desecrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The invading army desecrated this holy place when they camped here. 侵略军在这块圣地上扎营就是对这块圣地的亵渎。
  • She shouldn't have desecrated the picture of a religious leader. 她不该亵渎宗教领袖的画像。
43 desecrate X9Sy3     
v.供俗用,亵渎,污辱
参考例句:
  • The enemy desecrate the church by using it as a stable.敌人亵渎这所教堂,把它当做马厩。
  • It's a crime to desecrate the country's flag.玷污国旗是犯罪。
44 wailed e27902fd534535a9f82ffa06a5b6937a     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
45 conflagration CnZyK     
n.建筑物或森林大火
参考例句:
  • A conflagration in 1947 reduced 90 percent of the houses to ashes.1947年的一场大火,使90%的房屋化为灰烬。
  • The light of that conflagration will fade away.这熊熊烈火会渐渐熄灭。
46 degradation QxKxL     
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变
参考例句:
  • There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。
  • Gambling is always coupled with degradation.赌博总是与堕落相联系。
47 troupe cmJwG     
n.剧团,戏班;杂技团;马戏团
参考例句:
  • The art troupe is always on the move in frontier guards.文工团常年在边防部队流动。
  • The troupe produced a new play last night.剧团昨晚上演了一部新剧。
48 decomposition AnFzT     
n. 分解, 腐烂, 崩溃
参考例句:
  • It is said that the magnetite was formed by a chemical process called thermal decomposition. 据说这枚陨星是在热分解的化学过程中形成的。
  • The dehydration process leads to fairly extensive decomposition of the product. 脱水过程会导致产物相当程度的分解。
49 sapient VYExH     
adj.有见识的,有智慧的
参考例句:
  • If you follow her sapient advice,you will be sure to succeed.如你遵照她明智的建议,你一定能够成功。
  • It was no just and sapient counsellor,in its last analysis.归根结底,这也不是一个聪明正直的顾问。
50 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
51 slaughtered 59ed88f0d23c16f58790fb11c4a5055d     
v.屠杀,杀戮,屠宰( slaughter的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The invading army slaughtered a lot of people. 侵略军杀了许多人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Hundreds of innocent civilians were cruelly slaughtered. 数百名无辜平民遭残杀。 来自《简明英汉词典》
52 indirectly a8UxR     
adv.间接地,不直接了当地
参考例句:
  • I heard the news indirectly.这消息我是间接听来的。
  • They were approached indirectly through an intermediary.通过一位中间人,他们进行了间接接触。
53 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过
参考例句:
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
54 upbraided 20b92c31e3c04d3e03c94c2920baf66a     
v.责备,申斥,谴责( upbraid的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The captain upbraided his men for falling asleep. 上尉因他的部下睡着了而斥责他们。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • My wife upbraided me for not earning more money. 我的太太为了我没有赚更多的钱而责备我。 来自辞典例句
55 remorse lBrzo     
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
参考例句:
  • She had no remorse about what she had said.她对所说的话不后悔。
  • He has shown no remorse for his actions.他对自己的行为没有任何悔恨之意。
56 conceal DpYzt     
v.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
参考例句:
  • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
  • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
57 extradition R7Eyc     
n.引渡(逃犯)
参考例句:
  • The smuggler is in prison tonight,awaiting extradition to Britain.这名走私犯今晚在监狱,等待引渡到英国。
  • He began to trouble concerning the extradition laws.他开始费尽心思地去想关于引渡法的问题。
58 devotedly 62e53aa5b947a277a45237c526c87437     
专心地; 恩爱地; 忠实地; 一心一意地
参考例句:
  • He loved his wife devotedly. 他真诚地爱他的妻子。
  • Millions of fans follow the TV soap operas devotedly. 千百万观众非常着迷地收看这部电视连续剧。
59 vindicating 73be151a3075073783fd1c78f405353c     
v.澄清(某人/某事物)受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的现在分词 );表明或证明(所争辩的事物)属实、正当、有效等;维护
参考例句:
  • Protesters vowed to hold commemorative activities until Beijing's verdict vindicating the crackdown was overturned. 示威者誓言除非中国政府平反六四,否则一直都会举行悼念活动。 来自互联网
60 theatrical pIRzF     
adj.剧场的,演戏的;做戏似的,做作的
参考例句:
  • The final scene was dismayingly lacking in theatrical effect.最后一场缺乏戏剧效果,叫人失望。
  • She always makes some theatrical gesture.她老在做些夸张的手势。
61 likeness P1txX     
n.相像,相似(之处)
参考例句:
  • I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
  • She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。
62 parlor v4MzU     
n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅
参考例句:
  • She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
  • Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店?
63 inscription l4ZyO     
n.(尤指石块上的)刻印文字,铭文,碑文
参考例句:
  • The inscription has worn away and can no longer be read.铭文已磨损,无法辨认了。
  • He chiselled an inscription on the marble.他在大理石上刻碑文。
64 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
65 broached 6e5998583239ddcf6fbeee2824e41081     
v.谈起( broach的过去式和过去分词 );打开并开始用;用凿子扩大(或修光);(在桶上)钻孔取液体
参考例句:
  • She broached the subject of a picnic to her mother. 她向母亲提起野餐的问题。 来自辞典例句
  • He broached the subject to the stranger. 他对陌生人提起那话题。 来自辞典例句
66 lodging wRgz9     
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
  • Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
67 vindication 1LpzF     
n.洗冤,证实
参考例句:
  • There is much to be said in vindication of his claim.有很多理由可以提出来为他的要求作辩护。
  • The result was a vindication of all our efforts.这一结果表明我们的一切努力是必要的。
68 imputed b517c0c1d49a8e6817c4d0667060241e     
v.把(错误等)归咎于( impute的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • They imputed the accident to the driver's carelessness. 他们把这次车祸归咎于司机的疏忽。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • He imputed the failure of his marriage to his wife's shortcomings. 他把婚姻的失败归咎于妻子的缺点。 来自辞典例句
69 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
70 plume H2SzM     
n.羽毛;v.整理羽毛,骚首弄姿,用羽毛装饰
参考例句:
  • Her hat was adorned with a plume.她帽子上饰着羽毛。
  • He does not plume himself on these achievements.他并不因这些成就而自夸。
71 sublimely e63362bb835c4a9cf1c1d9b745af77a1     
高尚地,卓越地
参考例句:
  • In devotion woman is sublimely superior to man. 怜悯是女子胜过男子的德性之一。
  • She was sublimely unaware of how foolish she looked. 她根本不知道她的样子多愚蠢。
72 precisely zlWzUb     
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
参考例句:
  • It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
  • The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。
73 complexion IOsz4     
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格
参考例句:
  • Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
  • Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
74 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
75 eyebrows a0e6fb1330e9cfecfd1c7a4d00030ed5     
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
  • His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
76 droop p8Zyd     
v.低垂,下垂;凋萎,萎靡
参考例句:
  • The heavy snow made the branches droop.大雪使树枝垂下来。
  • Don't let your spirits droop.不要萎靡不振。
77 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
78 conversing 20d0ea6fb9188abfa59f3db682925246     
v.交谈,谈话( converse的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • I find that conversing with her is quite difficult. 和她交谈实在很困难。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • They were conversing in the parlor. 他们正在客厅谈话。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
79 forth Hzdz2     
adv.向前;向外,往外
参考例句:
  • The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
  • He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
80 reticent dW9xG     
adj.沉默寡言的;言不如意的
参考例句:
  • He was reticent about his opinion.他有保留意见。
  • He was extremely reticent about his personal life.他对自己的个人生活讳莫如深。
81 luncheon V8az4     
n.午宴,午餐,便宴
参考例句:
  • We have luncheon at twelve o'clock.我们十二点钟用午餐。
  • I have a luncheon engagement.我午饭有约。
82 anecdote 7wRzd     
n.轶事,趣闻,短故事
参考例句:
  • He departed from the text to tell an anecdote.他偏离课文讲起了一则轶事。
  • It had never been more than a family anecdote.那不过是个家庭趣谈罢了。
83 eloquent ymLyN     
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的
参考例句:
  • He was so eloquent that he cut down the finest orator.他能言善辩,胜过最好的演说家。
  • These ruins are an eloquent reminder of the horrors of war.这些废墟形象地提醒人们不要忘记战争的恐怖。
84 elegance QjPzj     
n.优雅;优美,雅致;精致,巧妙
参考例句:
  • The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
  • John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。


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