A slight note I have about me for you, for the delivery of which
you must excuse me. It is an offer that friendship calls upon me
to do, and no way offensive to you, since I desire nothing but
right upon both sides.
King and no King.
WHEN Ravenswood and his guest met in the morning, the gloom of the Master’s spirit had in part returned. He, also, had passed a night rather of reflection that of slumber1; and the feelings which he could not but entertain towards Lucy Ashton had to support a severe conflict against those which he had so long nourished against her father. To clasp in friendship the hand of the enemy of his house, to entertain him under his roof, to exchange with him the courtesies and the kindness of domestic familiarity, was a degradation2 which his proud spirit could not be bent3 to without a struggle.
But the ice being once broken, the Lord Keeper was resolved it should not have time against to freeze. It had been part of his plan to stun5 and confuse Ravenswood’s ideas, by a complicated and technical statement of the matters which had been in debate betwixt their families, justly thinking that it would be difficult for a youth of his age to follow the expositions of a practical lawyer, concerning actions of compt and reckoning, and of multiplepoindings, and adjudications and wadsets, proper and improper6, and poindings of the ground, and declarations of the expiry of the legal. “Thus,” thought Sir William, “I shall have all the grace of appearing perfectly7 communicative, while my party will derive8 very little advantage from anything I may tell him.” He therefore took Ravenswood aside into the deep recess9 of a window in the hall, and resuming the discourse10 of the proceeding11 evening, expressed a hope that his young friend would assume some patience, in order to hear him enter in a minute and explanatory detail of those unfortunate circumstances in which his late honourable12 father had stood at variance13 with the Lord Keeper. The Master of Ravenswood coloured highly, but was silent; and the Lord Keeper, though not greatly approving the sudden heightening of his auditor’s complexion14, commenced the history of a bond for twenty thousand merks, advanced by his father to the father of Allan Lord Ravenswood, and was proceeding to detail the executorial proceedings15 by which this large sum had been rendered a debitum fundi, when he was interrupted by the Master.
“It is not in this place,” he said, “that I can hear Sir William Ashton’s explanation of the matters in question between us. It is not here, where my father died of a broken heart, that I can with decency16 or temper investigate the cause of his distress17. I might remember that I was a son, and forget the duties of a host. A time, however, there must come, when these things shall be discussed, in a place and in a presence where both of us will have equal freedom to speak and to hear.”
“Any time,” the Lord Keeper said, “any place, was alike to those who sought nothing but justice. Yet it would seem he was, in fairness, entitled to some premonition respecting the grounds upon which the Master proposed to impugn18 the whole train of legal proceedings, which had been so well and ripely advised in the only courts competent.”
“Sir William Ashton,” answered the Master, with warmth, “the lands which you now occupy were granted to my remote ancestor for services done with his sword against the English invaders19. How they have glided20 from us by a train of proceedings that seem to be neither sale, nor mortgage, nor adjudication for debt, but a nondescript and entangled21 mixture of all these rights; how annual rent has been accumulated upon principal, and no nook or coign of legal advantage left unoccupied, until our interest in our hereditary22 property seems to have melted away like an icicle in thaw23 — all this you understand better than I do. I am willing, however, to suppose, from the frankness of your conduct towards me, that I may in a great measure have mistaken your personal character, and that things may have appeared right and fitting to you, a skilful24 and practised lawyer, which to my ignorant understanding seem very little short of injustice26 and gross oppression.”
“And you, my dear Master,” answered Sir William —“you, permit me to say, have been equally misrepresented to me. I was taught to believe you a fierce, imperious, hot-headed youth, ready, at the slightest provocation27, to throw your sword into the scales of justice, and to appeal to those rude and forcible measures from which civil polity has long protected the people of Scotland. Then, since we were mutually mistaken in each other, why should not the young nobleman be willing to listen to the old lawyer, while, at least, he explains the points of difference betwixt them?”
“No, my lord,” answered Ravenswood; “it is in the House of British Peers, whose honour must be equal to their rank — it is in the court of last resort that we must parley28 together. The belted lords of Britain, her ancient peers, must decide, if it is their will that a house, not the least noble of their members, shall be stripped of their possessions, the reward of the patriotism29 of generations, as the pawn30 of a wretched mechanic becomes forfeit31 to the usurer the instant the hour of redemption has passed away. If they yield to the grasping severity of the creditor32, and to the gnawing33 usury34 that eats into our lands as moths35 into a raiment, it will be of more evil consequence to them and their posterity36 than to Edgar Ravenswood. I shall still have my sword and my cloak, and can follow the profession of arms wherever a trumpet37 shall sound.”
As he pronounced these words, in a firm yet melancholy38 tone, he raised his eyes, and suddenly encountered those of Lucy Ashton, who had stolen unawares on their interview, and observed her looks fastened on them with an expression of enthusiastic interest and admiration39, which had wrapt her for the moment beyond the fear of discovery. The noble form and fine features of Ravenswood, fired with the pride of birth and sense of internal dignity, the mellow40 and expressive41 tones of his voice, the desolate42 state of his fortunes, and the indifference43 with which he seemed to endure and to dare the worst that might befall, rendered him a dangerous object of contemplation for a maiden44 already too much disposed to dwell upon recollections connected with him. When their eyes encountered each other, both blushed deeply, conscious of some strong internal emotion, an shunned46 again to meet each other’s looks. Sir William Ashton had, of course, closely watched the expression of their countenances47. “I need fear,” said he internally, “neither Parliament nor protestation; I have an effectual mode of reconciling myself with this hot-tempered young fellow, in case he shall become formidable. The present object is, at all events, to avoid committing ourselves. The hook is fixed48; we will nto strain the line too soon: it is as well to reserve the privilege of slipping it loose, if we do not find the fish worth landing.”
In this selfish and cruel calculation upon the supposed attachment49 of Ravenswood to Lucy, he was so far from considering the pain he might give to the former, by thus dallying50 with his affections, that he even did not think upon the risk of involving his own daughter in the perils51 of an unfortunate passion; as if her predilection52, which could not escape his attention, were like the flame of a taper53 which might be lighted or extinguished at pleasure. But Providence54 had prepared a dreadful requital55 for this keen observer of human passions, who had spent his life in securing advantages to himself by artfully working upon the passions of others.
Caleb Balderstone now came to announce that breakfast was prepared; for in those days of substantial feeding, the relics56 of the supper simply furnished forth57 the morning meal. Neither did he forget to present to the Lord Keeper, with great reverence58, a morning draught59 in a large pewter cup, garnished60 with leaves of parsley and scurvy-grass. He craved61 pardon, of course, for having omitted to serve it in the great silver standing25 cup as behoved, being that it was at present in a silversmith’s in Edinburgh, for the purpose of being overlaid with gilt62.
“In Edinburgh like enough,” said Ravenswood; “but in what place, or for what purpose, I am afraid neither you nor I know.”
“Aweel!” said Caleb, peevishly63, “there’s a man standing at the gate already this morning — that’s ae thing that I ken4. Does your honour ken whether ye will speak wi’ him or no?”
“Does he wish to speak with me, Caleb?”
“Less will no serve him,” said Caleb; “but ye had best take a visie of him through the wicket before opening the gate; it’s no every ane we suld let into this castle.”
“What! do you suppose him to be a messenger come to arrest me for debt?” said Ravenswood.
“A messenger arrest your honour for debt, and in your Castle of Wolf’s Crag! Your honour is jesting wi’ auld64 Caleb this morning.” However, he whispered in his ear, as he followed him out, “I would be loth to do ony decent man a prejudice in your honour’s gude opinion; but I would tak twa looks o’ that chield before I let him within these walls.”
He was not an officer of the law, however; being no less a person than Captain Craigengelt, with his nose as red as a comfortable cup of brandy could make it, his laced cocked hat set a little aside upon the top of his black riding periwig, a sword by his side and pistols at his holsters, and his person arrayed in a riding suit, laid over with tarnished65 lace — the very moral of one who would say, “Stand to a true man.”
When the Master had recognised him, he ordered the gates to be opened. “I suppose,” he said, “Captain Craigengelt, there are no such weighty matters betwixt you and me, but may be discussed in this place. I have company in the castle at present, and the terms upon which we last parted must excuse my asking you to make part of them.”
Craigengelt, although possessing the very perfection of impudence66, was somewhat abashed67 by this unfavourable reception. “He had no intention,” he said, “to force himself upon the Master of Ravenswood’s hospitality; he was in the honourable service of bearing a message to him from a friend, otherwise the Master of Ravenswood should not have had reason to complain of this intrusion.”
“Let it be short, sir,” said the Master, “for that will be the best apology. Who is the gentleman who is so fortunate as to have your services as a messenger?”
“My friend, Mr. Hayston of Bucklaw,” answered Craigengelt, with conscious importance, and that confidence which the acknowledged courage of his principal inspired, “who conceives himself to have been treated by you with something much short of the respect which he had reason to demand, and, therefore is resolved to exact satisfaction. I bring with me,” said he, taking a piece of paper out of his pocket, “the precise length of his sword; and he requests you will meet him, accompanied by a friend, and equally armed, at any place within a mile of the castle, when I shall give attendance as umpire, or second, on his behoof.”
“Satisfaction! and equal arms!” repeated Ravenswood, who, the reader will recollect45, had no reason to suppose he had given the slightest offence to his late intimate; “upon my word, Captain Craigengelt, either you have invented the most improbable falsehood that ever came into the mind of such a person, or your morning draught has been somewhat of the strongest. What could persuade Bucklaw to send me such a message?”
“For that, sir,” replied Craigengelt, “I am desired to refer you to what, in duty to my friend, I am to term your inhospitality in excluding him from your house, without reasons assigned.”
“It is impossible,” replied the Master; “he cannot be such a fool as to interpret actual necessity as an insult. Nor do I believe that, knowing my opinion of you, Captain, he would have employed the services of so slight and inconsiderable a person as yourself upon such an errand, as I certainly could expect no man of honour to act with you in the office of umpire.”
“I slight and inconsiderable?” said Craigengelt, raising his voice, and laying his hand on his cutlass; “if it were not that the quarrel of my friend craves68 the precedence, and is in dependence69 before my own, I would give you to understand ——”
“I can understand nothing upon your explanation, Captain Craigengelt. Be satisfied of that, and oblige me with your departure.”
“D—— n!” muttered the bully70; “and is this the answer which I am to carry back to an honourable message?”
“Tell the Laird of Bucklaw,” answered Ravenswood, “if you are really sent by him, that, when he sends me his cause of grievance71 by a person fitting to carry such an errand betwixt him and me, I will either explain it or maintain it.”
“Then, Master, you will at least cause to be returned to Hayston, by my hands, his property which is remaining in your possession.”
“Whatever property Bucklaw may have left behind him, sir,” replied the Master, “shall be returned to him by my servant, as you do not show me any credentials72 from him which entitle you to receive it.”
“Well, Master,” said Captain Craigengelt, with malice73 which even his fear of the consequences could not suppress, “you have this morning done me an egregious74 wrong adn dishonour75, but far more to yourself. A castle indeed!” he continued, looking around him; “why, this is worse than a coupe-gorge house, where they receive travellers to plunder76 them of their property.”
“You insolent77 rascal,” said the Master, raising his cane78, and making a grasp at the Captain’s bridle79, “if you do not depart without uttering another syllable80, I will batoon you to death!”
At the motion of the Master towards him, the bully turned so rapidly round, that with some difficulty he escaped throwing down his horse, whose hoofs81 struck fire from the rocky pavement in every direction. Recovering him, however, with the bridle, he pushed for the gate, and rode sharply back again in the direction of the village.
As Ravenswood turned round to leave the courtyard after this dialogue, he found that the Lord Keeper had descended82 from the hall, and witnessed, though at the distance prescribed by politeness, his interview with Craigengelt.
“I have seen,” said the Lord Keeper, “that gentleman’s face, and at no great distance of time; his name is Craig — Craig — something, is it not?”
“Craigengelt is the fellow’s name,” said the Master, “at least that by which he passes at present.”
“Craig-inguilt,” said Caleb, punning upon the word “craig,” which in Scotch83 signifies throat; “if he is Craig-inguilt just now, he is as likely to be Craig-inperil as ony chield I ever saw; the loon84 has woodie written on his very visnomy, and I wad wager85 twa and a plack that hemp86 plaits his cravat87 yet.”
“You understand physiognomy, good Mr. Caleb,” said the Keeper, smiling; “I assure you the gentleman has been near such a consummation before now; for I most distinctly recollect that, upon occasion of a journey which I made about a fortnight ago to Edinburgh, I saw Mr. Craigengelt, or whatever is his name, undergo a severe examination before the privy88 council.”
“Upon what account?” said the Master of Ravenswood, with some interest.
The question led immediately to a tale which the Lord Keeper had been very anxious to introduce, when he could find a graceful89 and fitting opportunity. He took hold of the Master’s arm, and led him back towards the hall. “The answer to your question,” he said, “though it is a ridiculous business, is only fit for your own ear.”
As they entered the hall, he again took the Master apart into one of the recesses90 of the window, where it will be easily believed that Miss Ashton did not venture again to intrude91 upon their conference.
1 slumber | |
n.睡眠,沉睡状态 | |
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2 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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3 bent | |
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 | |
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4 ken | |
n.视野,知识领域 | |
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5 stun | |
vt.打昏,使昏迷,使震惊,使惊叹 | |
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6 improper | |
adj.不适当的,不合适的,不正确的,不合礼仪的 | |
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7 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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8 derive | |
v.取得;导出;引申;来自;源自;出自 | |
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9 recess | |
n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处) | |
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10 discourse | |
n.论文,演说;谈话;话语;vi.讲述,著述 | |
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11 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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12 honourable | |
adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 | |
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13 variance | |
n.矛盾,不同 | |
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14 complexion | |
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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15 proceedings | |
n.进程,过程,议程;诉讼(程序);公报 | |
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16 decency | |
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重 | |
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17 distress | |
n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛 | |
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18 impugn | |
v.指责,对…表示怀疑 | |
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19 invaders | |
入侵者,侵略者,侵入物( invader的名词复数 ) | |
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20 glided | |
v.滑动( glide的过去式和过去分词 );掠过;(鸟或飞机 ) 滑翔 | |
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21 entangled | |
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 hereditary | |
adj.遗传的,遗传性的,可继承的,世袭的 | |
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23 thaw | |
v.(使)融化,(使)变得友善;n.融化,缓和 | |
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24 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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25 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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26 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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27 provocation | |
n.激怒,刺激,挑拨,挑衅的事物,激怒的原因 | |
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28 parley | |
n.谈判 | |
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29 patriotism | |
n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义 | |
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30 pawn | |
n.典当,抵押,小人物,走卒;v.典当,抵押 | |
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31 forfeit | |
vt.丧失;n.罚金,罚款,没收物 | |
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32 creditor | |
n.债仅人,债主,贷方 | |
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33 gnawing | |
a.痛苦的,折磨人的 | |
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34 usury | |
n.高利贷 | |
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35 moths | |
n.蛾( moth的名词复数 ) | |
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36 posterity | |
n.后裔,子孙,后代 | |
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37 trumpet | |
n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 | |
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38 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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39 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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40 mellow | |
adj.柔和的;熟透的;v.变柔和;(使)成熟 | |
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41 expressive | |
adj.表现的,表达…的,富于表情的 | |
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42 desolate | |
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂 | |
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43 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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44 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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45 recollect | |
v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 | |
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46 shunned | |
v.避开,回避,避免( shun的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47 countenances | |
n.面容( countenance的名词复数 );表情;镇静;道义支持 | |
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48 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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49 attachment | |
n.附属物,附件;依恋;依附 | |
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50 dallying | |
v.随随便便地对待( dally的现在分词 );不很认真地考虑;浪费时间;调情 | |
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51 perils | |
极大危险( peril的名词复数 ); 危险的事(或环境) | |
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52 predilection | |
n.偏好 | |
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53 taper | |
n.小蜡烛,尖细,渐弱;adj.尖细的;v.逐渐变小 | |
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54 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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55 requital | |
n.酬劳;报复 | |
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56 relics | |
[pl.]n.遗物,遗迹,遗产;遗体,尸骸 | |
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57 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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58 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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59 draught | |
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计 | |
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60 garnished | |
v.给(上餐桌的食物)加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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61 craved | |
渴望,热望( crave的过去式 ); 恳求,请求 | |
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62 gilt | |
adj.镀金的;n.金边证券 | |
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63 peevishly | |
adv.暴躁地 | |
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64 auld | |
adj.老的,旧的 | |
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65 tarnished | |
(通常指金属)(使)失去光泽,(使)变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 ); 玷污,败坏 | |
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66 impudence | |
n.厚颜无耻;冒失;无礼 | |
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67 abashed | |
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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68 craves | |
渴望,热望( crave的第三人称单数 ); 恳求,请求 | |
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69 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
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70 bully | |
n.恃强欺弱者,小流氓;vt.威胁,欺侮 | |
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71 grievance | |
n.怨愤,气恼,委屈 | |
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72 credentials | |
n.证明,资格,证明书,证件 | |
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73 malice | |
n.恶意,怨恨,蓄意;[律]预谋 | |
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74 egregious | |
adj.非常的,过分的 | |
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75 dishonour | |
n./vt.拒付(支票、汇票、票据等);vt.凌辱,使丢脸;n.不名誉,耻辱,不光彩 | |
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76 plunder | |
vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠 | |
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77 insolent | |
adj.傲慢的,无理的 | |
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78 cane | |
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的 | |
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79 bridle | |
n.笼头,束缚;vt.抑制,约束;动怒 | |
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80 syllable | |
n.音节;vt.分音节 | |
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81 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 ) | |
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82 descended | |
a.为...后裔的,出身于...的 | |
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83 scotch | |
n.伤口,刻痕;苏格兰威士忌酒;v.粉碎,消灭,阻止;adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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84 loon | |
n.狂人 | |
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85 wager | |
n.赌注;vt.押注,打赌 | |
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86 hemp | |
n.大麻;纤维 | |
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87 cravat | |
n.领巾,领结;v.使穿有领结的服装,使结领结 | |
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88 privy | |
adj.私用的;隐密的 | |
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89 graceful | |
adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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90 recesses | |
n.壁凹( recess的名词复数 );(工作或业务活动的)中止或暂停期间;学校的课间休息;某物内部的凹形空间v.把某物放在墙壁的凹处( recess的第三人称单数 );将(墙)做成凹形,在(墙)上做壁龛;休息,休会,休庭 | |
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91 intrude | |
vi.闯入;侵入;打扰,侵扰 | |
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