Mr. Harding and the archdeacon together made their way to Oxford1, and there, by dint2 of cunning argument, they induced the Master of Lazarus also to ask himself this momentous3 question: “Why should not Mr. Arabin be Dean of Barchester?” He, of course, for awhile tried his band at persuading Mr. Harding that he was foolish, overscrupulous, self-willed, and weak-minded, but he tried in vain. If Mr. Harding would not give way to Dr. Grantly, it was not likely that he would give way to Dr. Gwynne, more especially now that so admirable a scheme as that of inducting Mr. Arabin into the deanery had been set on foot. When the master found that his eloquence4 was vain, and heard also that Mr. Arabin was about to become Mr. Harding’s son-inlaw, he confessed that he also would, under such circumstances, be glad to see his old friend and protégé, the fellow of his college, placed in the comfortable position that was going a-begging.
“It might be the means you know, Master, of keeping Mr. Slope out,” said the archdeacon with grave caution.
“He has no more chance of it,” said the master, “than our college chaplain. I know more about it than that.”
Mrs. Grantly had been right in her surmise5. It was the Master of Lazarus who had been instrumental in representing in high places the claims which Mr. Harding had upon the Government, and he now consented to use his best endeavours towards getting the offer transferred to Mr. Arabin. The three of them went on to London together, and there they remained a week, to the great disgust of Mrs. Grantly, and most probably also of Mrs. Gwynne. The minister was out of town in one direction, and his private secretary in another. The clerks who remained could do nothing in such a matter as this, and all was difficulty and confusion. The two doctors seemed to have plenty to do; they bustled6 here and they bustled there and complained at their club in the evenings that they had been driven off their legs; but Mr. Harding had no occupation. Once or twice he suggested that he might perhaps return to Barchester. His request, however, was peremptorily7 refused, and he had nothing for it but to while away his time in Westminster Abbey.
At length an answer from the great man came. The Master of Lazarus had made his proposition through the Bishop8 of Belgravia. Now this bishop, though but newly gifted with his diocesan honours, was a man of much weight in the clerico-political world. He was, if not as pious9, at any rate as wise as St. Paul, and had been with so much effect all things to all men that, though he was great among the dons of Oxford, he had been selected for the most favourite seat on the bench by a Whig prime minister. To him Dr. Gwynne had made known his wishes and his arguments, and the bishop had made them known to the Marquis of Kensington-Gore. The marquis, who was Lord High Steward10 of the Pantry Board, and who by most men was supposed to hold the highest office out of the cabinet, trafficked much in affairs of this kind. He not only suggested the arrangement to the minister over a cup of coffee, standing11 on a drawing-room rug in Windsor Castle, but he also favourably12 mentioned Mr. Arabin’s name in the ear of a distinguished13 person.
And so the matter was arranged. The answer of the great man came, and Mr. Arabin was made Dean of Barchester. The three clergymen who had come up to town on this important mission dined together with great glee on the day on which the news reached them. In a silent, decent, clerical manner they toasted Mr. Arabin with full bumpers14 of claret. The satisfaction of all of them was supreme15. The Master of Lazarus had been successful in his attempt, and success is dear to us all. The archdeacon had trampled16 upon Mr. Slope and had lifted to high honours the young clergyman whom he had induced to quit the retirement17 and comfort of the university. So at least the archdeacon thought; though, to speak sooth, not he, but circumstances, had trampled on Mr. Slope. But the satisfaction of Mr. Harding was, of all, perhaps, the most complete. He laid aside his usual melancholy18 manner and brought forth19 little quiet jokes from the inmost mirth of his heart; he poked20 his fun at the archdeacon about Mr. Slope’s marriage and quizzed him for his improper21 love for Mrs. Proudie. On the following day they all returned to Barchester.
It was arranged that Mr. Arabin should know nothing of what had been done till he received the minister’s letter from the hands of his embryo22 father-inlaw. In order that no time might be lost a message had been sent to him by the preceding night’s post, begging him to be at the deanery at the hour that the train from London arrived. There was nothing in this which surprised Mr. Arabin. It had somehow got about through all Barchester that Mr. Harding was the new dean, and all Barchester was prepared to welcome him with pealing23 bells and full hearts. Mr. Slope had certainly had a party; there had certainly been those in Barchester who were prepared to congratulate him on his promotion24 with assumed sincerity25, but even his own party was not broken-hearted by his failure. The inhabitants of the city, even the high-souled, ecstatic young ladies of thirty-five, had begun to comprehend that their welfare, and the welfare of the place, was connected in some mysterious manner with daily chants and bi-weekly anthems26. The expenditure27 of the palace had not added much to the popularity of the bishop’s side of the question; and, on the whole, there was a strong reaction. When it became known to all the world that Mr. Harding was to be the new dean, all the world rejoiced heartily28.
Mr. Arabin, we have said, was not surprised at the summons which called him to the deanery. He had not as yet seen Mr. Harding since Eleanor had accepted him, nor had he seen him since he had learnt his future father-inlaw’s preferment. There was nothing more natural, more necessary, than that they should meet each other at the earliest possible moment. Mr. Arabin was waiting in the deanery parlour when Mr. Harding and Dr. Grantly were driven up from the station.
There was some excitement in the bosoms29 of them all, as they met and shook hands; by far too much to enable either of them to begin his story and tell it in a proper equable style of narrative30. Mr. Harding was some minutes quite dumbfounded, and Mr. Arabin could only talk in short, spasmodic sentences about his love and good fortune. He slipped in, as best he could, some sort of congratulation about the deanship, and then went on with his hopes and fears — hopes that he might be received as a son and fears that he hardly deserved such good fortune. Then he went back to the dean; it was the most thoroughly31 satisfactory appointment, he said, of which he had ever heard.
“But! But! But —” said Mr. Harding, and then, failing to get any further, he looked imploringly32 at the archdeacon.
“The truth is, Arabin,” said the doctor, “that, after all you are not destined33 to be son-inlaw to a dean. Nor am I either: more’s the pity.”
Mr. Arabin looked at him for explanation. “Is not Mr. Harding to be the new dean?”
“It appears not,” said the archdeacon. Mr. Arabin’s face fell a little, and he looked from one to the other. It was plainly to be seen from them both that there was no cause of unhappiness in the matter, at least not of unhappiness to them; but there was as yet no elucidation34 of the mystery.
“Think how old I am,” said Mr. Harding imploringly.
“Fiddlestick!” said the archdeacon.
“That’s all very well, but it won’t make a young man of me,” said Mr. Harding.
“And who is to be dean?” asked Mr. Arabin.
“Yes, that’s the question,” said the archdeacon. “Come, Mr. Precentor, since you obstinately35 refuse to be anything else, let us know who is to be the man. He has got the nomination36 in his pocket.”
With eyes brim full of tears, Mr. Harding pulled out the letter and handed it to his future son-inlaw. He tried to make a little speech but failed altogether. Having given up the document, he turned round to the wall, feigning37 to blow his nose, and then sat himself down on the old dean’s dingy38 horsehair sofa. And here we find it necessary to bring our account of the interview to an end.
Nor can we pretend to describe the rapture39 with which Mr. Harding was received by his daughter. She wept with grief and wept with joy — with grief that her father should, in his old age, still be without that rank and worldly position which, according to her ideas, he had so well earned; and with joy in that he, her darling father, should have bestowed40 on that other dear one the good things of which he himself would not open his hand to take possession. And here Mr. Harding again showed his weakness. In the mêlée of this exposal of their loves and reciprocal affection he found himself unable to resist the entreaties41 of all parties that the lodgings42 in the High Street should be given up. Eleanor would not live in the deanery, she said, unless her father lived there also. Mr. Arabin would not be dean, unless Mr. Harding would be co-dean with him. The archdeacon declared that his father-inlaw should not have his own way in everything, and Mrs. Grantly carried him off to Plumstead, that he might remain there till Mr. and Mrs. Arabin were in a state to receive him in their own mansion43.
Pressed by such arguments as these, what could a weak old man do but yield?
But there was yet another task which it behoved Mr. Harding to do before he could allow himself to be at rest. Little has been said in these pages of the state of those remaining old men who had lived under his sway at the hospital. But not on this account must it be presumed that he had forgotten them, or that in their state of anarchy44 and in their want of due government he had omitted to visit them. He visited them constantly, and had latterly given them to understand that they would soon be required to subscribe45 their adherence46 to a new master. There were now but five of them, one of them having been but quite lately carried to his rest — but five of the full number, which had hitherto been twelve, and which was now to be raised to twenty-four, including women. Of these, old Bunce, who for many years had been the favourite of the late warden47, was one; and Abel Handy, who had been the humble48 means of driving that warden from his home, was another.
Mr. Harding now resolved that he himself would introduce the new warden to the hospital. He felt that many circumstances might conspire49 to make the men receive Mr. Quiverful with aversion and disrespect; he felt also that Mr. Quiverful might himself feel some qualms50 of conscience if he entered the hospital with an idea that he did so in hostility51 to his predecessor52. Mr. Harding therefore determined53 to walk in, arm in arm with Mr. Quiverful, and to ask from these men their respectful obedience54 to their new master.
On returning to Barchester, he found that Mr. Quiverful had not yet slept in the hospital house, or entered on his new duties. He accordingly made known to that gentleman his wishes, and his proposition was not rejected.
It was a bright, clear morning, though in November, that Mr. Harding and Mr. Quiverful, arm in arm, walked through the hospital gate. It was one trait in our old friend’s character that he did nothing with parade. He omitted, even in the more important doings of his life, that sort of parade by which most of us deem it necessary to grace our important doings. We have house-warmings, christenings, and gala days; we keep, if not our own birthdays, those of our children; we are apt to fuss ourselves if called upon to change our residences and have, almost all of us, our little state occasions. Mr. Harding had no state occasions. When he left his old house, he went forth from it with the same quiet composure as though he were merely taking his daily walk; now that he re-entered it with another warden under his wing, he did so with the same quiet step and calm demeanour. He was a little less upright than he had been five years, nay55, it was now nearly six years ago; he walked perhaps a little slower; his footfall was perhaps a thought less firm; otherwise one might have said that he was merely returning with a friend under his arm.
This friendliness56 was everything to Mr. Quiverful. To him, even in his poverty, the thought that he was supplanting57 a brother clergyman so kind and courteous58 as Mr. Harding had been very bitter. Under his circumstances it had been impossible for him to refuse the proffered59 boon60; he could not reject the bread that was offered to his children, or refuse to ease the heavy burden that had so long oppressed that poor wife of his; nevertheless, it had been very grievous to him to think that in going to the hospital he might encounter the ill-will of his brethren in the diocese. All this Mr. Harding had fully61 comprehended. It was for such feelings as these, for the nice comprehension of such motives62, that his heart and intellect were peculiarly fitted. In most matters of worldly import the archdeacon set down his father-inlaw as little better than a fool. And perhaps he was right. But in some other matters, equally important if they be rightly judged, Mr. Harding, had he been so minded, might with as much propriety63 have set down his son-inlaw for a fool. Few men, however, are constituted as was Mr. Harding. He had that nice appreciation64 of the feelings of others which belongs of right exclusively to women.
Arm in arm they walked into the inner quadrangle of the building, and there the five old men met them. Mr. Harding shook hands with them all, and then Mr. Quiverful did the same. With Bunce Mr. Harding shook hands twice, and Mr. Quiverful was about to repeat the same ceremony, but the old man gave him no encouragement.
“I am very glad to know that at last you have a new warden,” said Mr. Harding in a very cheery voice.
“We be very old for any change,” said one of them, “but we do suppose it be all for the best.”
“Certainly — certainly it is for the best,” said Mr. Harding. “You will again have a clergyman of your own church under the same roof with you, and a very excellent clergyman you will have. It is a great satisfaction to me to know that so good a man is coming to take care of you, and that it is no stranger, but a friend of my own who will allow me from time to time to come in and see you.”
“We be very thankful to your Reverence,” said another of them.
“I need not tell you, my good friends,” said Mr. Quiverful, “how extremely grateful I am to Mr. Harding for his kindness to me — I must say his uncalled-for, unexpected kindness.”
“He be always very kind,” said a third.
“What I can do to fill the void which he left here I will do. For your sake and my own I will do so, and especially for his sake. But to you who have known him, I can never be the same well-loved friend and father that he has been.”
“No, sir, no,” said old Bunce, who hitherto had held his peace; “no one can be that. Not if the new bishop sent a hangel to us out of heaven. We doesn’t doubt you’ll do your best, sir, but you’ll not be like the old master — not to us old ones.”
“Fie, Bunce, fie; how dare you talk in that way?” said Mr. Harding; but as he scolded the old man he still held him by his arm and pressed it with warm affection.
There was no getting up any enthusiasm in the matter. How could five old men tottering65 away to their final resting place be enthusiastic on the reception of a stranger? What could Mr. Quiverful be to them, or they to Mr. Quiverful? Had Mr. Harding indeed come back to them, some last flicker66 of joyous67 light might have shone forth on their aged68 cheeks; but it was in vain to bid them rejoice because Mr. Quiverful was about to move his fourteen children from Puddingdale into the hospital house. In reality they did no doubt receive advantage, spiritual as well as corporal, but this they could neither anticipate nor acknowledge.
It was a dull affair enough, this introduction of Mr. Quiverful, but still it had its effect. The good which Mr. Harding intended did not fall to the ground. All the Barchester world, including the five old bedesmen, treated Mr. Quiverful with the more respect because Mr. Harding had thus walked in, arm in arm with him, on his first entrance to his duties.
And here in their new abode69 we will leave Mr. and Mrs. Quiverful and their fourteen children. May they enjoy the good things which Providence70 has at length given to them!
收听单词发音 |
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Oxford
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| n.牛津（英国城市） | |
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dint
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| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
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momentous
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| adj.重要的，重大的 | |
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eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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surmise
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| v./n.猜想，推测 | |
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bustled
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| 闹哄哄地忙乱，奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 )； 催促 | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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favourably
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| adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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bumpers
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| （汽车上的）保险杠，缓冲器( bumper的名词复数 ) | |
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supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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trampled
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| 踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯 | |
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retirement
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| n.退休，退职 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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improper
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| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
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embryo
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| n.胚胎，萌芽的事物 | |
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pealing
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的现在分词 ) | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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sincerity
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| n.真诚，诚意；真实 | |
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anthems
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| n.赞美诗( anthem的名词复数 )；圣歌；赞歌；颂歌 | |
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expenditure
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| n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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bosoms
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| 胸部( bosom的名词复数 )； 胸怀； 女衣胸部（或胸襟）； 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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imploringly
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| adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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elucidation
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| n.说明，阐明 | |
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obstinately
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| ad.固执地，顽固地 | |
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nomination
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| n.提名，任命，提名权 | |
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feigning
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| 假装，伪装( feign的现在分词 )； 捏造（借口、理由等） | |
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dingy
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| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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entreaties
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| n.恳求，乞求( entreaty的名词复数 ) | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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anarchy
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| n.无政府状态；社会秩序混乱，无秩序 | |
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subscribe
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| vi.(to)订阅，订购；同意；vt.捐助，赞助 | |
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adherence
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| n.信奉，依附，坚持，固着 | |
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warden
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| n.监察员，监狱长，看守人，监护人 | |
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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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conspire
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| v.密谋，（事件等）巧合，共同导致 | |
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qualms
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hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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predecessor
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| n.前辈，前任 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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nay
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| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
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friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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supplanting
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| 把…排挤掉，取代( supplant的现在分词 ) | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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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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boon
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| n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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appreciation
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| n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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68
aged
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| adj.年老的，陈年的 | |
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69
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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70
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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