‘A strange story!’ said the man who had been the cause of the narration1.—‘Stranger still if it comes about as you predict. Is that all?’
A question so unexpected, nettled2 Solomon Daisy not a little. By dint3 of relating the story very often, and ornamenting4 it (according to village report) with a few flourishes suggested by the various hearers from time to time, he had come by degrees to tell it with great effect; and ‘Is that all?’ after the climax5, was not what he was accustomed to.
‘Is that all?’ he repeated, ‘yes, that’s all, sir. And enough too, I think.’
‘I think so too. My horse, young man! He is but a hack6 hired from a roadside posting house, but he must carry me to London to-night.’
‘To-night!’ said Joe.
‘To-night,’ returned the other. ‘What do you stare at? This tavern7 would seem to be a house of call for all the gaping8 idlers of the neighbourhood!’
At this remark, which evidently had reference to the scrutiny9 he had undergone, as mentioned in the foregoing chapter, the eyes of John Willet and his friends were diverted with marvellous rapidity to the copper10 boiler11 again. Not so with Joe, who, being a mettlesome12 fellow, returned the stranger’s angry glance with a steady look, and rejoined:
‘It is not a very bold thing to wonder at your going on to-night. Surely you have been asked such a harmless question in an inn before, and in better weather than this. I thought you mightn’t know the way, as you seem strange to this part.’
‘The way —’ repeated the other, irritably13.
‘Yes. DO you know it?’
‘I’ll — humph!— I’ll find it,’ replied the nian, waving his hand and turning on his heel. ‘Landlord, take the reckoning here.’
John Willet did as he was desired; for on that point he was seldom slow, except in the particulars of giving change, and testing the goodness of any piece of coin that was proffered14 to him, by the application of his teeth or his tongue, or some other test, or in doubtful cases, by a long series of tests terminating in its rejection15. The guest then wrapped his garments about him so as to shelter himself as effectually as he could from the rough weather, and without any word or sign of farewell betook himself to the stableyard. Here Joe (who had left the room on the conclusion of their short dialogue) was protecting himself and the horse from the rain under the shelter of an old penthouse roof.
‘He’s pretty much of my opinion,’ said Joe, patting the horse upon the neck. ‘I’ll wager16 that your stopping here to-night would please him better than it would please me.’
‘He and I are of different opinions, as we have been more than once on our way here,’ was the short reply.
‘So I was thinking before you came out, for he has felt your spurs, poor beast.’
The stranger adjusted his coat-collar about his face, and made no answer.
‘You’ll know me again, I see,’ he said, marking the young fellow’s earnest gaze, when he had sprung into the saddle.
‘The man’s worth knowing, master, who travels a road he don’t know, mounted on a jaded17 horse, and leaves good quarters to do it on such a night as this.’
‘You have sharp eyes and a sharp tongue, I find.’
‘Both I hope by nature, but the last grows rusty18 sometimes for want of using.’
‘Use the first less too, and keep their sharpness for your sweethearts, boy,’ said the man.
So saying he shook his hand from the bridle19, struck him roughly on the head with the butt20 end of his whip, and galloped21 away; dashing through the mud and darkness with a headlong speed, which few badly mounted horsemen would have cared to venture, even had they been thoroughly23 acquainted with the country; and which, to one who knew nothing of the way he rode, was attended at every step with great hazard and danger.
The roads, even within twelve miles of London, were at that time ill paved, seldom repaired, and very badly made. The way this rider traversed had been ploughed up by the wheels of heavy waggons24, and rendered rotten by the frosts and thaws25 of the preceding winter, or possibly of many winters. Great holes and gaps had been worn into the soil, which, being now filled with water from the late rains, were not easily distinguishable even by day; and a plunge26 into any one of them might have brought down a surer-footed horse than the poor beast now urged forward to the utmost extent of his powers. Sharp flints and stones rolled from under his hoofs27 continually; the rider could scarcely see beyond the animal’s head, or farther on either side than his own arm would have extended. At that time, too, all the roads in the neighbourhood of the metropolis28 were infested29 by footpads or highwaymen, and it was a night, of all others, in which any evil-disposed person of this class might have pursued his unlawful calling with little fear of detection.
Still, the traveller dashed forward at the same reckless pace, regardless alike of the dirt and wet which flew about his head, the profound darkness of the night, and the probability of encountering some desperate characters abroad. At every turn and angle, even where a deviation30 from the direct course might have been least expected, and could not possibly be seen until he was close upon it, he guided the bridle with an unerring hand, and kept the middle of the road. Thus he sped onward31, raising himself in the stirrups, leaning his body forward until it almost touched the horse’s neck, and flourishing his heavy whip above his head with the fervour of a madman.
There are times when, the elements being in unusual commotion32, those who are bent33 on daring enterprises, or agitated34 by great thoughts, whether of good or evil, feel a mysterious sympathy with the tumult35 of nature, and are roused into corresponding violence. In the midst of thunder, lightning, and storm, many tremendous deeds have been committed; men, self-possessed36 before, have given a sudden loose to passions they could no longer control. The demons37 of wrath38 and despair have striven to emulate39 those who ride the whirlwind and direct the storm; and man, lashed40 into madness with the roaring winds and boiling waters, has become for the time as wild and merciless as the elements themselves.
Whether the traveller was possessed by thoughts which the fury of the night had heated and stimulated41 into a quicker current, or was merely impelled42 by some strong motive43 to reach his journey’s end, on he swept more like a hunted phantom44 than a man, nor checked his pace until, arriving at some cross roads, one of which led by a longer route to the place whence he had lately started, he bore down so suddenly upon a vehicle which was coming towards him, that in the effort to avoid it he well-nigh pulled his horse upon his haunches, and narrowly escaped being thrown.
‘Yoho!’ cried the voice of a man. ‘What’s that? Who goes there?’
‘A friend!’ replied the traveller.
‘A friend!’ repeated the voice. ‘Who calls himself a friend and rides like that, abusing Heaven’s gifts in the shape of horseflesh, and endangering, not only his own neck (which might be no great matter) but the necks of other people?’
‘You have a lantern there, I see,’ said the traveller dismounting, ‘lend it me for a moment. You have wounded my horse, I think, with your shaft45 or wheel.’
‘Wounded him!’ cried the other, ‘if I haven’t killed him, it’s no fault of yours. What do you mean by galloping46 along the king’s highway like that, eh?’
‘Give me the light,’ returned the traveller, snatching it from his hand, ‘and don’t ask idle questions of a man who is in no mood for talking.’
‘If you had said you were in no mood for talking before, I should perhaps have been in no mood for lighting,’ said the voice. ‘Hows’ever as it’s the poor horse that’s damaged and not you, one of you is welcome to the light at all events — but it’s not the crusty one.’
The traveller returned no answer to this speech, but holding the light near to his panting and reeking47 beast, examined him in limb and carcass. Meanwhile, the other man sat very composedly in his vehicle, which was a kind of chaise with a depository for a large bag of tools, and watched his proceedings48 with a careful eye.
The looker-on was a round, red-faced, sturdy yeoman, with a double chin, and a voice husky with good living, good sleeping, good humour, and good health. He was past the prime of life, but Father Time is not always a hard parent, and, though he tarries for none of his children, often lays his hand lightly upon those who have used him well; making them old men and women inexorably enough, but leaving their hearts and spirits young and in full vigour49. With such people the grey head is but the impression of the old fellow’s hand in giving them his blessing50, and every wrinkle but a notch51 in the quiet calendar of a well-spent life.
The person whom the traveller had so abruptly52 encountered was of this kind: bluff53, hale, hearty54, and in a green old age: at peace with himself, and evidently disposed to be so with all the world. Although muffled55 up in divers56 coats and handkerchiefs — one of which, passed over his crown, and tied in a convenient crease57 of his double chin, secured his three-cornered hat and bob-wig from blowing off his head — there was no disguising his plump and comfortable figure; neither did certain dirty finger-marks upon his face give it any other than an odd and comical expression, through which its natural good humour shone with undiminished lustre58.
‘He is not hurt,’ said the traveller at length, raising his head and the lantern together.
‘You have found that out at last, have you?’ rejoined the old man. ‘My eyes have seen more light than yours, but I wouldn’t change with you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Mean! I could have told you he wasn’t hurt, five minutes ago. Give me the light, friend; ride forward at a gentler pace; and good night.’
In handing up the lantern, the man necessarily cast its rays full on the speaker’s face. Their eyes met at the instant. He suddenly dropped it and crushed it with his foot.
‘Did you never see a locksmith before, that you start as if you had come upon a ghost?’ cried the old man in the chaise, ‘or is this,’ he added hastily, thrusting his hand into the tool basket and drawing out a hammer, ‘a scheme for robbing me? I know these roads, friend. When I travel them, I carry nothing but a few shillings, and not a crown’s worth of them. I tell you plainly, to save us both trouble, that there’s nothing to be got from me but a pretty stout59 arm considering my years, and this tool, which, mayhap from long acquaintance with, I can use pretty briskly. You shall not have it all your own way, I promise you, if you play at that game. With these words he stood upon the defensive60.
‘I am not what you take me for, Gabriel Varden,’ replied the other.
‘Then what and who are you?’ returned the locksmith. ‘You know my name, it seems. Let me know yours.’
‘I have not gained the information from any confidence of yours, but from the inscription61 on your cart which tells it to all the town,’ replied the traveller.
‘You have better eyes for that than you had for your horse, then,’ said Varden, descending62 nimbly from his chaise; ‘who are you? Let me see your face.’
While the locksmith alighted, the traveller had regained63 his saddle, from which he now confronted the old man, who, moving as the horse moved in chafing64 under the tightened65 rein66, kept close beside him.
‘Let me see your face, I say.’
‘Stand off!’
‘No masquerading tricks,’ said the locksmith, ‘and tales at the club to-morrow, how Gabriel Varden was frightened by a surly voice and a dark night. Stand — let me see your face.’
Finding that further resistance would only involve him in a personal struggle with an antagonist67 by no means to be despised, the traveller threw back his coat, and stooping down looked steadily68 at the locksmith.
Perhaps two men more powerfully contrasted, never opposed each other face to face. The ruddy features of the locksmith so set off and heightened the excessive paleness of the man on horseback, that he looked like a bloodless ghost, while the moisture, which hard riding had brought out upon his skin, hung there in dark and heavy drops, like dews of agony and death. The countenance69 of the old locksmith lighted up with the smile of one expecting to detect in this unpromising stranger some latent roguery of eye or lip, which should reveal a familiar person in that arch disguise, and spoil his jest. The face of the other, sullen70 and fierce, but shrinking too, was that of a man who stood at bay; while his firmly closed jaws71, his puckered72 mouth, and more than all a certain stealthy motion of the hand within his breast, seemed to announce a desperate purpose very foreign to acting73, or child’s play.
Thus they regarded each other for some time, in silence.
‘Humph!’ he said when he had scanned his features; ‘I don’t know you.’
‘Don’t desire to?’— returned the other, muffling74 himself as before.
‘I don’t,’ said Gabriel; ‘to be plain with you, friend, you don’t carry in your countenance a letter of recommendation.’
‘It’s not my wish,’ said the traveller. ‘My humour is to be avoided.’
‘Well,’ said the locksmith bluntly, ‘I think you’ll have your humour.’
‘I will, at any cost,’ rejoined the traveller. ‘In proof of it, lay this to heart — that you were never in such peril75 of your life as you have been within these few moments; when you are within five minutes of breathing your last, you will not be nearer death than you have been to-night!’
‘Aye!’ said the sturdy locksmith.
‘Aye! and a violent death.’
‘From whose hand?’
‘From mine,’ replied the traveller.
With that he put spurs to his horse, and rode away; at first plashing heavily through the mire76 at a smart trot77, but gradually increasing in speed until the last sound of his horse’s hoofs died away upon the wind; when he was again hurrying on at the same furious gallop22, which had been his pace when the locksmith first encountered him.
Gabriel Varden remained standing78 in the road with the broken lantern in his hand, listening in stupefied silence until no sound reached his ear but the moaning of the wind, and the fast-falling rain; when he struck himself one or two smart blows in the breast by way of rousing himself, and broke into an exclamation79 of surprise.
‘What in the name of wonder can this fellow be! a madman? a highwayman? a cut-throat? If he had not scoured80 off so fast, we’d have seen who was in most danger, he or I. I never nearer death than I have been to-night! I hope I may be no nearer to it for a score of years to come — if so, I’ll be content to be no farther from it. My stars!— a pretty brag81 this to a stout man — pooh, pooh!’
Gabriel resumed his seat, and looked wistfully up the road by which the traveller had come; murmuring in a half whisper:
‘The Maypole — two miles to the Maypole. I came the other road from the Warren after a long day’s work at locks and bells, on purpose that I should not come by the Maypole and break my promise to Martha by looking in — there’s resolution! It would be dangerous to go on to London without a light; and it’s four miles, and a good half mile besides, to the Halfway-House; and between this and that is the very place where one needs a light most. Two miles to the Maypole! I told Martha I wouldn’t; I said I wouldn’t, and I didn’t — there’s resolution!’
Repeating these two last words very often, as if to compensate82 for the little resolution he was going to show by piquing83 himself on the great resolution he had shown, Gabriel Varden quietly turned back, determining to get a light at the Maypole, and to take nothing but a light.
When he got to the Maypole, however, and Joe, responding to his well-known hail, came running out to the horse’s head, leaving the door open behind him, and disclosing a delicious perspective of warmth and brightness — when the ruddy gleam of the fire, streaming through the old red curtains of the common room, seemed to bring with it, as part of itself, a pleasant hum of voices, and a fragrant84 odour of steaming grog and rare tobacco, all steeped as it were in the cheerful glow — when the shadows, flitting across the curtain, showed that those inside had risen from their snug85 seats, and were making room in the snuggest86 corner (how well he knew that corner!) for the honest locksmith, and a broad glare, suddenly streaming up, bespoke87 the goodness of the crackling log from which a brilliant train of sparks was doubtless at that moment whirling up the chimney in honour of his coming — when, superadded to these enticements, there stole upon him from the distant kitchen a gentle sound of frying, with a musical clatter88 of plates and dishes, and a savoury smell that made even the boisterous89 wind a perfume — Gabriel felt his firmness oozing90 rapidly away. He tried to look stoically at the tavern, but his features would relax into a look of fondness. He turned his head the other way, and the cold black country seemed to frown him off, and drive him for a refuge into its hospitable91 arms.
‘The merciful man, Joe,’ said the locksmith, ‘is merciful to his beast. I’ll get out for a little while.’
And how natural it was to get out! And how unnatural92 it seemed for a sober man to be plodding93 wearily along through miry roads, encountering the rude buffets94 of the wind and pelting95 of the rain, when there was a clean floor covered with crisp white sand, a well swept hearth96, a blazing fire, a table decorated with white cloth, bright pewter flagons, and other tempting97 preparations for a well-cooked meal — when there were these things, and company disposed to make the most of them, all ready to his hand, and entreating98 him to enjoyment99!
收听单词发音 |
1
narration
|
|
| n.讲述，叙述；故事；记叙体 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
nettled
|
|
| v.拿荨麻打，拿荨麻刺（nettle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
dint
|
|
| n.由于，靠；凹坑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
ornamenting
|
|
| v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
climax
|
|
| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
hack
|
|
| n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
tavern
|
|
| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
copper
|
|
| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
boiler
|
|
| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
mettlesome
|
|
| adj.（通常指马等）精力充沛的，勇猛的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
irritably
|
|
| ad.易生气地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rejection
|
|
| n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
jaded
|
|
| adj.精疲力竭的；厌倦的；（因过饱或过多而）腻烦的；迟钝的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
rusty
|
|
| adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
bridle
|
|
| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
butt
|
|
| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
galloped
|
|
| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
gallop
|
|
| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
waggons
|
|
| 四轮的运货马车( waggon的名词复数 )； 铁路货车； 小手推车 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
thaws
|
|
| n.（足以解冻的）暖和天气( thaw的名词复数 )；（敌对国家之间）关系缓和v.（气候）解冻( thaw的第三人称单数 )；（态度、感情等）缓和；（冰、雪及冷冻食物）溶化；软化 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
plunge
|
|
| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
hoofs
|
|
| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
metropolis
|
|
| n.首府；大城市 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
infested
|
|
| adj.为患的，大批滋生的（常与with搭配）v.害虫、野兽大批出没于( infest的过去式和过去分词 )；遍布于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
deviation
|
|
| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
onward
|
|
| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
bent
|
|
| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
agitated
|
|
| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
tumult
|
|
| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
demons
|
|
| n.恶人( demon的名词复数 )；恶魔；精力过人的人；邪念 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
wrath
|
|
| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
emulate
|
|
| v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
lashed
|
|
| adj.具睫毛的v.鞭打( lash的过去式和过去分词 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
stimulated
|
|
| a.刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
impelled
|
|
| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
motive
|
|
| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
phantom
|
|
| n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
shaft
|
|
| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
galloping
|
|
| adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
reeking
|
|
| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的现在分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
proceedings
|
|
| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
vigour
|
|
| （=vigor）n.智力，体力，精力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
blessing
|
|
| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
notch
|
|
| n.(V字形)槽口，缺口，等级 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
abruptly
|
|
| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
bluff
|
|
| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
hearty
|
|
| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
muffled
|
|
| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
divers
|
|
| adj.不同的；种种的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
crease
|
|
| n.折缝，褶痕，皱褶；v.(使)起皱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lustre
|
|
| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
defensive
|
|
| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
inscription
|
|
| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
descending
|
|
| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
regained
|
|
| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
chafing
|
|
| n.皮肤发炎v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的现在分词 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
tightened
|
|
| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
rein
|
|
| n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
antagonist
|
|
| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
steadily
|
|
| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
sullen
|
|
| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
jaws
|
|
| n.口部；嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
puckered
|
|
| v.（使某物）起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
muffling
|
|
| v.压抑，捂住( muffle的现在分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
peril
|
|
| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
mire
|
|
| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
trot
|
|
| n.疾走，慢跑；n.老太婆；现成译本；(复数）trots:腹泻（与the 连用）；v.小跑，快步走，赶紧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
scoured
|
|
| 走遍（某地）搜寻（人或物）( scour的过去式和过去分词 )； （用力）刷； 擦净； 擦亮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
brag
|
|
| v./n.吹牛，自夸；adj.第一流的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
compensate
|
|
| vt.补偿，赔偿；酬报 vi.弥补；补偿；抵消 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
piquing
|
|
| v.伤害…的自尊心( pique的现在分词 )；激起（好奇心） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
84
fragrant
|
|
| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
snug
|
|
| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
snuggest
|
|
| adj.整洁的( snug的最高级 )；温暖而舒适的；非常舒适的；紧身的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
87
bespoke
|
|
| adj.（产品）订做的；专做订货的v.预定( bespeak的过去式 )；订（货）；证明；预先请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
clatter
|
|
| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
boisterous
|
|
| adj.喧闹的，欢闹的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
oozing
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的现在分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
hospitable
|
|
| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
unnatural
|
|
| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
plodding
|
|
| a.proceeding in a slow or dull way | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
buffets
|
|
| （火车站的）饮食柜台( buffet的名词复数 )； （火车的）餐车； 自助餐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
pelting
|
|
| 微不足道的，无价值的，盛怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
hearth
|
|
| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
tempting
|
|
| a.诱人的, 吸引人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
entreating
|
|
| 恳求，乞求( entreat的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
enjoyment
|
|
| n.乐趣；享有；享用 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |