Chapter 10

Thereupon Nana became a smart woman, mistress of all that is foolish and filthy¹ in man, marquise in the ranks of her calling. It was a sudden but decisive start, a plunge² into the garish³ day of gallant⁴ notoriety and mad expenditure⁵ and that daredevil wastefulness⁶ peculiar⁷ to beauty. She at once became queen among the most expensive of her kind. Her photographs were displayed in shopwindows, and she was mentioned in the papers. When she drove in her carriage along the boulevards the people would turn and tell one another who that was with all the unction of a nation saluting⁸ its sovereign, while the object of their adoration⁹ lolled easily back in her diaphanous¹⁰ dresses and smiled gaily¹¹ under the rain of little golden curls which ran riot above the blue of her made-up eyes and the red of her painted lips. And the wonder of wonders was that the great creature, who was so awkward on the stage, so very absurd the moment she sought to act the chaste¹² woman, was able without effort to assume the role of an enchantress in the outer world. Her movements were lithe¹³ as a serpent's, and the studied and yet seemingly involuntary carelessness with which she dressed was really exquisite¹⁴ in its elegance¹⁵. There was a nervous distinction in all she did which suggested a wellborn Persian cat; she was an aristocrat¹⁶ in vice¹⁷ and proudly and rebelliously¹⁸ trampled¹⁹ upon a prostrate²⁰ Paris like a sovereign whom none dare disobey. She set the fashion, and great ladies imitated her.

Nana's fine house was situated²¹ at the hangingscorner of the Rue²² Cardinet, in the Avenue de Villiers. The avenue was part of the luxurious²³ quarter at that time springing up in the vague district which had once been the Plaine Monceau. The house had been built by a young painter, who was intoxicated²⁴ by a first success, and had been perforce resold almost as soon as it was habitable. It was in the palatial²⁵ Renaissance²⁶ manner and had fantastic interior arrangements which consisted of modern conveniences framed in a setting of somewhat artificial originality²⁷. Count Muffat had bought the house ready furnished and full of hosts of beautiful objects--lovely Eastern hangings, old credences, huge chairs of the Louis XIII epoch²⁸. And thus Nana had come into artistic²⁹ surroundings of the choicest kind and of the most extravagantly³⁰ various dates. But since the studio, which occupied the central portion of the house, could not be of any use to her, she had upset existing arrangements, establishing a small drawing room on the first floor, next to her bedroom and dressing³¹ room, and leaving a conservatory³², a large drawing room and a dining room to look after themselves underneath³³. She astonished the architect with her ideas, for, as became a Parisian workgirl who understands the elegancies of life by instinct, she had suddenly developed a very pretty taste for every species of luxurious refinement³⁴. Indeed, she did not spoil her house overmuch; nay³⁵, she even added to the richness of the furniture, save here and there, where certain traces of tender foolishness and vulgar magnificence betrayed the ex-flower seller who had been wont³⁶ to dream in front of shopwindows in the arcades³⁷.

A carpet was spread on the steps beneath the great awning³⁸ over the front door in the court, and the moment you entered the hall you were greeted by a perfume as of violets and a soft, warm atmosphere which thick hangings helped to produce. A window, whose yellow- and rose-colored panes³⁹ suggested the warm pallor of human flesh, gave light to the wide staircase, at the foot of which a Negro in carved wood held out a silver tray full of visiting cards and four white marble women, with bosoms⁴¹ displayed, raised lamps in their uplifted hands. Bronzes and Chinese vases full of flowers, divans⁴³ covered with old Persian rugs, armchairs upholstered in old tapestry⁴⁴, furnished the entrance hall, adorned⁴⁵ the stairheads and gave the first-floor landing the appearance of an anteroom. Here men's overcoats and hats were always in evidence, and there were thick hangings which deadened every sound. It seemed a place apart: on entering it you might have fancied yourself in a chapel⁴⁶, whose very air was thrilling with devotion, whose very silence and seclusion⁴⁷ were fraught⁴⁸ with mystery.

Nana only opened the large and somewhat too-sumptuous⁴⁹ Louis XVI drawing room on those gala nights when she received society from the Tuileries or strangers of distinction. Ordinarily she only came downstairs at mealtimes, and she woul of the finest needlework. Armchairs wide as beds and sofas deep as alcoves⁵⁰ suggested voluptuous⁵¹ idleness and the somnolent⁵² life of the seraglio. The prevailing⁵³ tone of the room was old gold blended with green and red, and nothing it contained too forcibly indicated the presence of the courtesan save the luxuriousness⁵⁴ of the seats. Only two "biscuit" statuettes, a woman in her shift, hunting for fleas⁵⁵, and another with nothing at all on, walking on her hands and waving her feet in the air, sufficed to sully the room with a note of stupid originality.

Through a door, which was nearly always ajar, the dressing room was visible. It was all in marble and glass with a white bath, silver jugs⁵⁶ and basins and crystal and ivory appointments. A drawn⁵⁷ curtain filled the place with a clear twilight⁵⁸ which seemed to slumber⁵⁹ in the warm scent⁶⁰ of violets, that suggestive perfume peculiar to Nana wherewith the whole house, from the roof to the very courtyard, was penetrated⁶¹.

The furnishing of the house was a most important undertaking⁶². Nana certainly had Zoe with her, that girl so devoted⁶³ to her fortunes. For months she had been tranquilly⁶⁴ awaiting this abrupt⁶⁶, new departure, as became a woman who was certain of her powers of prescience, and now she was triumphant⁶⁷; she was mistress of the house and was putting by a round sum while serving Madame as honestly as possible. But a solitary⁶⁸ lady's maid wasd feel rather lost on such days as she lunched by herself in the lofty dining room with its Gobelin tapestry and its monumental sideboard, adorned with old porcelain⁶⁹ and marvelous pieces of ancient plate. She used to go upstairs again as quickly as possible, for her home was on the first floor, in the three rooms, the bed, dressing and small drawing room above described. Twice already she had done the bedchamber up anew: on the first occasion in mauve satin, on the second in blue silk under lace. But she had not been satisfied with this; it had struck her as "nohowish," and she was still unsuccessfully seeking for new colors and designs. On the elaborately upholstered bed, which was as low as a so no longer sufficient. A butler, a coachman, a porter and a cook were wanted. Besides, it was necessary to fill the stables. It was then that Labordette made himself most useful. He undertook to perform all sorts of errands which bored the count; he made a comfortable job of the purchase of horses; he visited the coachbuilders; he guided the young woman in her choice of things. She was to be met with at the shops, leaning on his arm. Labordette even got in the servants--Charles, a great, tall coachman, who had been in service with the Duc de Corbreuse; Julien, a little, smiling, much-becurled butler, and a married couple, of whom the wife Victorine became cook while the husband Francois was taken on as porter and footman. The last mentioned in powder and breeches wore Nana's livery, which was a sky-blue one adorned with silver lace, and he received visitors in the hall. The whole thing was princely in the correctness of its style.

At the end of two months the house was set going. The cost had been more than three hundred thousand francs. There were eight horses in the stables, and five carriages in the coach houses, and of these five one was a landau with silver embellishments, which for the moment occupied the attention of all Paris. And amid this great wealth Nana began settling down and making her nest. After the third representation of the Petite Duchesse she had quitted the theater, leaving Bordenave to struggle on against a bankruptcy⁷¹ which, despite the count's money, was imminent⁷². Nevertheless, she was still bitter about her failure. It added to that other bitterness, the lesson Fontan had given her, a shameful⁷³ lesson for which she held all men responsible. Accordingly she now declared herself very firm and quite proof against sudden infatuations, but thoughts of vengeance⁷⁴ took no hold of her volatile⁷⁵ brain. What did maintain a hold on it in the hours when she was not indignant was an ever-wakeful lust⁷⁶ of expenditure, added to a natural contempt for the man who paid and to a perpetual passion for consumption and waste, which took pride in the ruin of her lovers.

At starting Nana put the count on a proper footing and clearly mapped out the conditions of their relationship. The count gave twelve thousand francs monthly, presents excepted, and demanded nothing in return save absolute fidelity⁷⁷. She swore fidelity but insisted also on being treated with the utmost consideration, on enjoying complete liberty as mistress of the house and on having her every wish respected. For instance, she was to receive her friends every day, and he was to come only at stated times. In a word, he was to repose⁷⁸ a blind confidence in her in everything. And when he was seized with jealous anxiety and hesitated to grant what she wanted, she stood on her dignity and threatened to give him back all he had given or even swore by little Louiset to perform what she promised. This was to suffice him. There was no love where mutual⁷⁹ esteem⁸⁰ was wanting. At the end of the first month Muffat respected her.

But she desired and obtained still more. Soon she began to influence him, as became a good-natured courtesan. When he came to her in a moody⁸¹ condition she cheered him up, confessed him and then gave him good advice. Little by little she interested herself in the annoyanceut of the troubled waters.

One morning when Muffat had not yet left the bedroom Zoe ushered⁸² a gentleman into the dressing room, where Nana was changing her underwear. He was trembling violently.

"Good gracious! It's Zizi!" said the young woman in great astonishment⁸³.

It was, indeed, Georges. But when he saw her in her shift, with her golden hair over her bare shoulders, he threw his arms round her neck and round her waist and kissed her in all directions. She began struggling to get free, for she was frightened, and in smothered⁸⁴ tones she stammered⁸⁵:

"Do leave off! He's there! Oh, it's silly of you! And you, Zoe, are you out of your senses? Take him away and keep him downstairs; I'll try and come down."

Zoe had to push him in front of her. When Nana was able to rejoin them in the drawing room downstairs she scolded them both, and Zoe pursed up her lips and took her departure with a vexed⁸⁷ expression, remarking that she had only been anxious to give Madame a pleasure. Georges was so glad to see Nana again and gazed at her with such delight that his fine eyes began filling with tears. The miserable⁸⁸ days were over now; his mother believed him to have grown reasonable and had allowed him to leave Les Fondettes. Accordingly, the moment he had reached the terminus, he had got a conveyance⁸⁹ in order the more quickly to come and kiss his sweet darling. He spoke⁹⁰ of living at her sids of his home life, in his wife, in his daughter, in his love affairs and financial difficulties; she was very sensible, very fair and right-minded. On one occasion only did she let anger get the better of her, and that was when he confided⁹¹ to her that doubtless Daguenet was going to ask for his daughter Estelle in marriage. When the count began making himself notorious Daguenet had thought it a wise move to break off with Nana. He had treated her like a base hussy and had sworn to snatch his future father-in-law out of the creature's clutches. In return Nana abused her old Mimi in a charming fashion. He was a renegade who had devoured⁹² his fortune in the company of vile⁹³ women; he had no moral sense. True, he did not let them pay him money, but he profited by that of others and only repaid them at rare intervals⁹⁴ with a bouquet⁹⁵ or a dinner. And when the count seemed inclined to find excuses for these failings she bluntly informed him that Daguenet had enjoyed her favors, and she added disgusting particulars. Muffat had grown ashen-pale. There was no question of the young man now. This would teach him to be lacking in gratitude⁹⁷!

Meanwhile the house had not been entirely⁹⁸ furnished, when one evening after she had lavished⁹⁹ the most energetic promises of fidelity on Muffat Nana kept the Count Xavier de Vandeuvres for the night. For the last fortnight he had been paying her assiduous court, visiting her and sending presents of flowers, and now she gave way not so much out of sudden infatuation as to prove that she was a free woman. The idea of gain followed later when, the day after, Vandeuvres helped her to pay a bill which she did not wish to mention to the other man. From Vandeuvres she would certainly derive¹⁰⁰ from eight to ten thousand francs a month, and this would prove very useful as pocket money. In those days he was finishing the last of his fortune in an access of burning, feverish¹⁰¹ folly¹⁰². His horses and Lucy had devoured three of his farms, and at one gulp¹⁰³ Nana was going to swallow his last chateau¹⁰⁴, near Amiens. He seemed in a hurry to sweep everything away, down to the ruins of the old tower built by a Vandeuvres under Philip Augustus. He was mad for ruin and thought it a great thing to leave the last golden bezants of his coat of arms in the grasp of this courtesan, whom the world of Paris desired. He, too, accepted Nana's conditions, leaving her entire freedom of action and claiming her caresses¹⁰⁵ only on certain days. He was not even naively¹⁰⁶ impassioned enough to require her to make vows¹⁰⁷. Muffat suspected nothing. As to Vandeuvres, he knew things would take place for a certainty, but he never made the least allusion¹⁰⁸ to them and pretended total ignorance, while his lips wore the subtle smile of the skeptical¹⁰⁹ man of pleasure who does not seek the impossible, provided he can have his day and that Paris is aware of it.

From that time forth¹¹⁰ Nana's house was really properly appointed. The staff of servants was complete in the stable, in the kitchen and in my lady's chamber⁷⁰. Zoe organized everything and passed successfully through the most unforeseen difficulties. The household moved as easily as the scenery in a theater and was regulated like a grand administrative¹¹² concern. Indeed, it worked with such precision that during the early months there were no jars and no derangements. Madame, however, pained Zoe extremely with her imprudent acts, her sudden fits of unwisdom, her mad bravado¹¹³. Still the lady's maid grew gradually lenient¹¹⁴, for she had noticed that she made increased profits in seasons of wanton waste when Madame had committed a folly which must be made up for. It was then that the presents began raining on her, and he fished up many a louis oe in future, as he used to do down in the country when he waited for her, barefooted, in the bedroom at La Mignotte. And as he told her about himself, he let his fingers creep forward, for he longed to touch her after that cruel year of separation. Then he got possession of her hands, felt about the wide sleeves of her dressing jacket, traveled up as far as her shoulders.

"You still love your baby?" he asked in his child voice.

"Oh, I certainly love him!" answered Nana, briskly getting out of his clutches. "But you come popping in without warning. You know, my little man, I'm not my own mistress; you must be good!"

Georges, when he got out of his cab, had been so dizzy with the feeling that his long desire was at last about to be satisfied that he had not even noticed what sort of house he was entering. But now he became conscious of a change in the things around him. He examined the sumptuous dining room with its lofty decorated ceiling, its Gobelin hangings, its buffet¹¹⁵ blazing with plate.

"Yes, yes!" he remarked sadly.

And with that she made him understand that he was never to come in the mornings but between four and six in the afternoon, if he cared to. That was her reception time. Then as he looked at her with suppliant¹¹⁶, questioning eyes and craved¹¹⁷ no boon¹¹⁸ at all, she, in her turn, kissed him on the forehead in the most amiable¹¹⁹ way.

"Be very good," she whispered. "I'll do all I can."

But the truth was that this remark now meant nothing. She thought Georges very nice and would have liked him as a companion, but as nothing else. Nevertheless, when he arrived daily at four o'clock he seemed so wretched that she was often fain to be as compliant¹²⁰ as of old and would hide him in cupboards and constantly allow him to pick up the crumbs¹²¹ from Beauty's table. He hardly ever left the house now and became as much one of its inmates¹²² as the little dog Bijou. Together they nestled among Mistress's skirts and enjoyed a little of her at a time, even when she was with another man, while doles¹²³ of sugar and stray caresses not seldom fell to their share in her hours of loneliness and boredom¹²⁴.

Doubtless Mme Hugon found out that the lad had again returned to that wicked woman's arms, for she hurried up to Paris and came and sought aid from her other son, the Lieutenant¹²⁵ Philippe, who was then in garrison¹²⁶ at Vincennes. Georges, who was hiding from his elder brother, was seized with despairing apprehension¹²⁷, for he feared the latter might adopt violent tactics, and as his tenderness for Nana was so nervously¹²⁹ expansive that he could not keep anything from her, he soon began talking of nothing but his big brother, a great, strong fellow, who was capable of all kinds of things.

"You know," he explained, "Mamma won't come to you while she can send my brother. Oh, she'll certainly send Philippe to fetch me."

The first time he said this Nana was deeply wounded. She said frigidly¹³¹:

"Gracious me, I should like to see him come! For all that he's a lieutenant in the army, Francois will chuck him out in double-quick time!"

Soon, as the lad kept returning to the subject of his brother, she ended by taking a certain interest in Philippe, and in a week's time she knew him from head to foot--knew him as very tall and very strong and merry and somewhat rough. She learned intimate details, too, and found out that he had hair on his arms and a birthmark on his shoulder. So thoroughly¹³² did she learn her lesson that one day, when she was full of the image of the man who was to be turned out of doors by her orders, she cried out:

"I say, Zizi, your brother's not coming. He's a base deserter!"

The next day, when Georges and Nana were alone together, Francois came upstairs to ask whether Madame would receive Lieutenant Philippe Hugon. Georges grew extremely white and murmured:

"I suspected it; Mamma was talking about it this morning."

And he besought¹³³ the young woman to send down word that she could not see visitors. But she was already on her feet and seemed all aflame as she said:

"Why should I not see him? He would think me afraid. Dear me, we'll have a good laugh! Just leave the gentleman in the drawing room for a quarter of an hour, Francois; afterward¹³⁴ bring him up to me."

She did not sit down again but began pacing feverishly¹³⁵ to and fro between the fireplace and a Venetian mirror hanging above an Italian chest. And each time she reached the latter she glanced at the glass and tried the effect of a smile, while Georges sat nervously on a sofa, trembling at the thought of the coming scene. As she walked up and down she kept jerking out such little phrases as:

"It will calm the fellow down if he has to wait a quarter of an hour. Besides, if he thinks he's calling on a tottie the drawing room will stun¹³⁶ him! Yes, yes, have a good look at everything, my fine fellow! It isn't imitation, and it'll teach you to respect the lady who owns it. Respect's what men need to feel! The quarter of an hour's gone by, eh? No? Only ten minutes? Oh, we've got plenty of time."

She did not stay where she was, however. At the end of the quarter of an hour she sent Georges away after making him solemnly promise not to listen at the door, as such conduct would scarcely look proper in case the servants saw him. As he went into her bedroom Zizi ventured in a choking sort of way to remark:

"It's my brother, you know--"

"Don't you fear," she said with much dignity; "if he's polite I'll be polite."

Francois ushered in Philippe Hugon, who wore morning dress. Georges began crossing on tiptoe on the other side of the room, for he was anxious to obey the young woman. But the sound of voices retained him, and he hesitated in such anguish¹³⁸ of mind that his knees gave way under him. He began imagining that a dread¹³⁹ catastrophe¹⁴⁰ would befall, that blows would be struck, that something abominable¹⁴¹ would happen, which would make Nana everlastingly¹⁴² odious¹⁴⁴ to him. And so he could not withstand the temptation to come back and put his ear against the door. He heard very ill, for the thick portieres deadened every sound, but he managed to catch certain words spoken by Philippe, stern phrases in which such terms as "mere⁸⁶ child," "family," "honor," were distinctly audible. He was so anxious about his darling's possible answers that his heart beat violently and filled his head with a confused, buzzing noise. She was sure to give vent¹³⁷ to a "Dirty blackguard!" or to a "Leave me bloody¹⁴⁵ well alone! I'm in my own house!" But nothing happened--not a breath came from her direction. Nana seemed dead in there! Soon even his brother's voice grew gentler, and he could not make it out at all, when a strange murmuring sound finally stupefied him. Nana was sobbing¹⁴⁶! For a moment or two he was the prey¹⁴⁷ of contending feelings and knew not whether to run away or to fall upon Philippe. But just then Zoe came into the room, and he withdrew from the door, ashamed at being thus surprised.

She began quietly to put some linen¹⁴⁸ away in a cupboard while he stood mute and motionless, pressing his forehead against a windowpane. He was tortured by uncertainty¹⁴⁹. After a short silence the woman asked:

"It's your brother that's with Madame?"

"Yes," replied the lad in a choking voice.

There was a fresh silence.

"And it makes you anxious, doesn't it, Monsieur Georges?"

"Yes," he rejoined in the same painful, suffering tone.

Zoe was in no hurry. She folded up some lace and said slowly:

"You're wrong; Madame will manage it all."

And then the conversation ended; they said not another word. Still she did not leave the room. A long quarter of an hour passed, and she turned round again without seeming to notice the look of exasperation¹⁵⁰ overspreading the lad's face, which was already white with the effects of uncertainty and constraint¹⁵¹. He was casting sidelong glances in the direction of the drawing room.

Maybe Nana was still crying. The other must have grown savage¹⁵² and have dealt her blows. Thus when Zoe finally took her departure he ran to the door and once more pressed his ear against it. He was thunderstruck; his head swam, for he heard a brisk outburst of gaiety, tender, whispering voices and the smothered giggles¹⁵³ of a woman who is being tickled¹⁵⁴. Besides, almost directly afterward, Nana conducted Philippe to the head of the stairs, and there was an exchange of cordial and familiar phrases.

When Georges again ventured into the drawing room the young woman was standing¹⁵⁵ before the mirror, looking at herself.

"Well?" he asked in utter bewilderment.

"Well, what?" she said without turning round. Then negligently¹⁵⁶:

"What did you mean? He's very nice, is your brother!"

"So it's all right, is it?"

"Oh, certainly it's all right! Goodness me, what's come over you? One would have thought we were going to fight!"

Georges still failed to understand.

"I thought I heard--that is, you didn't cry?" he stammered out.

"Me cry!" she exclaimed, looking fixedly¹⁵⁸ at him. "Why, you're dreaming! What makes you think I cried?"

Thereupon the lad was treated to a distressing¹⁵⁹ scene for having disobeyed and played Paul Pry¹⁶¹ behind the door. She sulked, and he returned with coaxing¹⁶² submissiveness to the old subject, for he wished to know all about it.

"And my brother then?"

"Your brother saw where he was at once. You know, I might have been a tottie, in which case his interference would have been accounted for by your age and the family honor! Oh yes, I understand those kinds of feelings! But a single glance was enough for him, and he behaved like a well-bred man at once. So don't be anxious any longer. It's all over--he's gone to quiet your mamma!"

And she went on laughingly:

"For that matter, you'll see your brother here. I've invited him, and he's going to return."

"Oh, he's going to return," said the lad, growing white. He added nothing, and they ceased talking of Philippe. She began dressing to go out, and he watched her with his great, sad eyes. Doubtless he was very glad that matters had got settled, for he would have preferred death to a rupture¹⁶³ of their connection, but deep down in his heart there was a silent anguish, a profound sense of pain, which he had no experience of and dared not talk about. How Philippe quieted their mother's fears he never knew, but three days later she returned to Les Fondettes, apparently¹⁶⁴ satisfied. On the evening of her return, at Nana's house, he trembled when Francois announced the lieutenant, but the latter jested gaily and treated him like a young rascal¹⁶⁵, whose escapade he had favored as something not likely to have any consequences. The lad's heart was sore within him; he scarcely dared move and blushed girlishly at the least word that was spoken to him. He had not lived much in Philippe's society; he was ten years his junior, and he feared him as he would a father, from whom stories about women are concealed¹⁶⁶. Accordingly he experienced an uneasy sense of shame when he saw him so free in Nana's company and heard him laugh uproariously, as became a man who was plunging¹⁶⁷ into a life of pleasure with the gusto born of magnificent health. Nevertheless, when his brother shortly began to present himself every day, Georges ended by getting somewhat used to it all. Nana was radiant.

This, her latest installation, had been involving all the riotous¹⁶⁸ waste attendant on the life of gallantry, and now her housewarming was being defiantly¹⁶⁹ celebrated¹⁷⁰ in a grand mansion¹⁷¹ positively¹⁷² overflowing¹⁷³ with males and with furniture.

One afternoon when the Hugons were there Count Muffat arrived out of hours. But when Zoe told him that Madame was with friends he refused to come in and took his departure discreetly¹⁷⁵, as became a gallant gentleman. When he made his appearance again in the evening Nana received him with the frigid¹³⁰ indignation of a grossly affronted¹⁷⁶ woman.

"Sir," she said, "I have given you no cause why you should insult me. You must understand this: when I am at home to visitors, I beg you to make your appearance just like other people."

The count simply gaped¹⁷⁷ in astonishment. "But, my dear--" he endeavored to explain.

"Perhaps it was because I had visitors! Yes, there were men here, but what d'you suppose I was doing with those men? You only advertise a woman's affairs when you act the discreet¹⁷⁴ lover, and I don't want to be advertised; I don't!"

He obtained his pardon with difficulty, but at bottom he was enchanted¹⁷⁸. It was with scenes such as these that she kept him in unquestioning and docile¹⁷⁹ submission¹⁸⁰. She had long since succeeded in imposing¹⁸¹ Georges on him as a young vagabond who, she declared, amused her. She made him dine with Philippe, and the count behaved with great amiability¹⁸². When they rose from table he took the young man on one side and asked news of his mother. From that time forth the young Hugons, Vandeuvres and Muffat were openly about the house and shook hands as guests and intimates might have done. It was a more convenient arrangement than the previous one. Muffat alone still abstained¹⁸³ discreetly from too-frequent visits, thus adhering to the ceremonious policy of an ordinary strange caller. At night when Nana was sitting on her bearskins drawing off her stockings, he would talk amicably¹⁸⁴ about the other three gentlemen and lay especial stress on Philippe, who was loyalty¹⁸⁵ itself.

"It's very true; they're nice," Nana would say as she lingered on the floor to change her shift. "Only, you know, they see what I am. One word about it and I should chuck 'em all out of doors for you!"

Nevertheless, despite her luxurious life and her group of courtiers, Nana was nearly bored to death. She had men for every minute of the night, and money overflowed¹⁸⁶ even among the brushes and combs in the drawers of her dressing table. But all this had ceased to satisfy her; she felt that there was a void somewhere or other, an empty place provocative¹⁸⁷ of yawns. Her life dragged on, devoid¹⁸⁸ of occupation, and successive days only brought back the same monotonous¹⁸⁹ hours. Tomorrow had ceased to be; she lived like a bird: sure of her food and ready to perch¹⁹⁰ and roost on any branch which she came to. This certainty of food and drink left her lolling effortless for whole days, lulled¹⁹¹ her to sleep in conventual idleness and submission as though she were the prisoner of her trade. Never going out except to drive, she was losing her walking powers. She reverted¹⁹² to low childish tastes, would kiss Bijou from morning to night and kill time with stupid pleasures while waiting for the man whose caresses she tolerated with an appearance of complaisant¹⁹³ lassitude. Amid this species of self-abandonment she now took no thought about anything save her personal beauty; her sole care was to look after herself, to wash and to perfume her limbs, as became one who was proud of being able to undress at any moment and in face of anybody without having to blush for her imperfections.

At ten in the morning Nana would get up. Bijou, the Scotch¹⁹⁴ griffon dog, used to lick her face and wake her, and then would ensue a game of play lasting¹⁴³ some five minutes, during which the dog would race about over her arms and legs and cause Count Muffat much distress¹⁶⁰. Bijou was the first little male he had ever been jealous of. It was not at all proper, he thought, that an animal should go poking¹⁹⁵ its nose under the bedclothes like that! After this Nana would proceed to her dressing room, where she took a bath. Toward eleven o'clock Francois would come and do up her hair before beginning the elaborate manipulations of the afternoon.

At breakfast, as she hated feeding alone, she nearly always had Mme Maloir at table with her. This lady would arrive from unknown regions in the morning, wearing her extravagantly quaint¹⁹⁶ hats, and would return at night to that mysterious existence of hers, about which no one ever troubled. But the hardest to bear were the two or three hours between lunch and the toilet. On ordinary occasions she proposed a game of bezique to her old friend; on others she would read the Figaro, in which the theatrical¹⁹⁷ echoes and the fashionable news interested her. Sometimes she even opened a book, for she fancied herself in literary matters. Her toilet kept her till close on five o'clock, and then only she would wake from her daylong drowse and drive out or receive a whole mob of men at her own house. She would often dine abroad and always go to bed very late, only to rise again on the morrow with the same languor¹⁹⁸ as before and to begin another day, differing in nothing from its predecessor¹⁹⁹.

The great distraction²⁰⁰ was to go to the Batignolles and see her little Louis at her aunt's. For a fortnight at a time she forgot all about him, and then would follow an access of maternal²⁰¹ love, and she would hurry off on foot with all the modesty²⁰² and tenderness becoming a good mother. On such occasions she would be the bearer of snuff for her aunt and of oranges and biscuits for the child, the kind of presents one takes to a hospital. Or again she would drive up in her landau on her return from the Bois, decked in costumes, the resplendence of which greatly excited the dwellers²⁰³ in the solitary street. Since her niece's magnificent elevation²⁰⁴ Mme Lerat had been puffed²⁰⁵ up with vanity. She rarely presented herself in the Avenue de Villiers, for she was pleased to remark that it wasn't her place to do so, but she enjoyed triumphs in her own street. She was delighted when the young woman arrived in dresses that had cost four or five thousand francs and would be occupied during the whole of the next day in showing off her presents and in citing prices which quite stupefied the neighbors. As often as not, Nana kept Sunday free for the sake of "her family," and on such occasions, if Muffat invited her, she would refuse with the smile of a good little shopwoman. It was impossible, she would answer; she was dining at her aunt's; she was going to see Baby. Moreover, that poor little man Louiset was always ill. He was almost three years old, growing quite a great boy! But he had had an eczema on the back of his neck, and now concretions were forming in his ears, which pointed¹¹¹, it was feared, to decay of the bones of the skull²⁰⁶. When she saw how pale he looked, with his spoiled blood and his flabby flesh all out in yellow patches, she would become serious, but her principal feeling would be one of astonishment. What could be the matter with the little love that he should grow so weakly? She, his mother, was so strong and well!

On the days when her child did not engross²⁰⁷ attention Nana would again sink back into the noisy monotony of her existence, with its drives in the Bois, first nights at the theater, dinners and suppers at the Maison-d'Or or the Cafe Anglais, not to mention all the places of public resort, all the spectacles to which crowds rushed--Mabille, the reviews, the races. But whatever happened she still felt that stupid, idle void, which caused her, as it were, to suffer internal cramps²⁰⁸. Despite the incessant²⁰⁹ infatuations that possessed²¹⁰ her heart, she would stretch out her arms with a gesture of immense weariness the moment she was left alone. Solitude²¹¹ rendered her low spirited at once, for it brought her face to face with the emptiness and boredom within her. Extremely gay by nature and profession, she became dismal²¹² in solitude and would sum up her life in the following ejaculation, which recurred²¹³ incessantly²¹⁴ between her yawns:

"Oh, how the men bother me!"

One afternoon as she was returning home from a concert, Nana, on the sidewalk in the Rue Montmartre, noticed a woman trotting²¹⁵ along in down-at-the-heel boots, dirty petticoats and a hat utterly²¹⁶ ruined by the rain. She recognized her suddenly.

"Stop, Charles!" she shouted to the coachman and began calling: "Satin, Satin!"

Passers-by turned their heads; the whole street stared. Satin had drawn near and was still further soiling herself against the carriage wheels.

"Do get in, my dear girl," said Nana tranquilly, disdaining²¹⁷ the onlookers²¹⁸.

And with that she picked her up and carried her off, though she was in disgusting contrast to her light blue landau and her dress of pearl-gray silk trimmed with Chantilly, while the street smiled at the coachman's loftily dignified²¹⁹ demeanor²²⁰.

From that day forth Nana had a passion to occupy her thoughts. Satin became her vicious foible. Washed and dressed and duly installed in the house in the Avenue de Villiers, during three days the girl talked of Saint-Lazare and the annoyances²²¹ the sisters had caused her and how those dirty police people had put her down on the official list. Nana grew indignant and comforted her and vowed²²² she would get her name taken off, even though she herself should have to go and find out the minister of the interior. Meanwhile there was no sort of hurry: nobody would come and search for her at Nana's--that was certain. And thereupon the two women began to pass tender afternoons together, making numberless endearing little speeches and mingling²²³ their kisses with laughter. The same little sport, which the arrival of the plainclothes men had interrupted in the Rue de Laval, was beginning again in a jocular sort of spirit. One fine evening, however, it became serious, and Nana, who had been so disgusted at Laure's, now understood what it meant. She was upset and enraged²²⁴ by it, the more so because Satin disappeared on the morning of the fourth day. No one had seen her go our. She had, indeed, slipped away in her new dress, seized by a longing²²⁵ for air, full of sentimental²²⁶ regret for her old street existence.

That day there was such a terrible storm in the house that all the servants hung their heads in sheepish silence. Nana had come near beating Francois for not throwing himself across the door through which Satin escaped. She did her best, however, to control herself, and talked of Satin as a dirty swine. Oh, it would teach her to pick filthy things like that out of the gutter²²⁷!

When Madame shut herself up in her room in the afternoon Zoe heard her sobbing. In the evening she suddenly asked for her carriage and had herself driven to Laure's. It had occurred to her that she would find Satin at the table d'hote in the Rue des Martyrs²²⁸. She was not going there for the sake of seeing her again but in order to catch her one in the face! As a matter of fact Satin was dining at a little table with Mme Robert. Seeing Nana, she began to laugh, but the former, though wounded to the quick, did not make a scene. On the contrary, she was very sweet and very compliant. She paid for champagne²²⁹ made five or six tablefuls tipsy and then carried off Satin when Mme Robert was in the closets. Not till they were in the carriage did she make a mordant²³⁰ attack on her, threatening to kill her if she did it again.

After that day the same little business began again continually. On twenty different occasions Nana, tragically²³¹ furious, as only a jilted woman can be ran off in pursuit of this sluttish creature, whose flights were prompted by the boredom she suffered amid the comforts of her new home. Nana began to talk of boxing Mme Robert's ears; one day she even meditated²³² a duel²³³; there was one woman too many, she said.

In these latter times, whenever she dined at Laure's, she donned her diamonds and occasionally brought with her Louise Violaine, Maria Blond and Tatan Nene, all of them ablaze²³⁴ with finery; and while the sordid²³⁵ feast was progressing in the three saloons and the yellow gaslight flared²³⁶ overhead, these four resplendent ladies would demean themselves with a vengeance, for it was their delight to dazzle the little local courtesans and to carry them off when dinner was over. On days such as these Laure, sleek²³⁸ and tight-laced as ever would kiss everyone with an air of expanded maternity²³⁹. Yet notwithstanding all these circumstances Satin's blue eyes and pure virginal face remained as calm as heretofore; torn, beaten and pestered²⁴⁰ by the two women, she would simply remark that it was a funny business, and they would have done far better to make it up at once. It did no good to slap her; she couldn't cut herself in two, however much she wanted to be nice to everybody. It was Nana who finally carried her off in triumph, so assiduously had she loaded Satin with kindnesses and presents. In order to be revenged, however, Mme Robert wrote abominable, anonymous²⁴¹ letters to her rival's lovers.

For some time past Count Muffat had appeared suspicious, and one morning, with considerable show of feeling, he laid before Nana an anonymous letter, where in the very first sentences she read that she was accused of deceiving the count with Vandeuvres and the young Hugons.

"It's false! It's false!" she loudly exclaimed in accents of extraordinary candor²⁴².

"You swear?" asked Muffat, already willing to be comforted.

"I'll swear by whatever you like--yes, by the head of my child!"

But the letter was long. Soon her connection with Satin was described in the broadest and most ignoble²⁴³ terms. When she had done reading she smiled.

"Now I know who it comes from," she remarked simply.

And as Muffat wanted her denial to the charges therein contained, she resumed quietly enough:

"That's a matter which doesn't concern you, dear old pet. How can it hurt you?"

She did not deny anything. He used some horrified²⁴⁴ expressions. Thereupon she shrugged²⁴⁵ her shoulders. Where had he been all this time? Why, it was done everywhere! And she mentioned her friends and swore that fashionable ladies went in for it. In fact, to hear her speak, nothing could be commoner or more natural. But a lie was a lie, and so a moment ago he had seen how angry she grew in the matter of Vandeuvres and the young Hugons! Oh, if that had been true he would have been justified²⁴⁶ in throttling²⁴⁷ her! But what was the good of lying to him about a matter of no consequence? And with that she repeated her previous expression:

"Come now, how can it hurt you?"

Then as the scene still continued, she closed it with a rough speech:

"Besides, dear boy, if the thing doesn't suit you it's very simple: the house door's open! There now, you must take me as you find me!"

He hung his head, for the young woman's vows of fidelity made him happy at bottom. She, however, now knew her power over him and ceased to consider his feelings. And from that time forth Satin was openly installed in the house on the same footing as the gentlemen. Vandeuvres had not needed anonymous letters in order to understand how matters stood, and accordingly he joked and tried to pick jealous quarrels with Satin. Philippe and Georges, on their parts, treated her like a jolly good fellow, shaking hands with her and cracking the riskiest²⁴⁸ jokes imaginable.

Nana had an adventure one evening when this slut of a girl had given her the go-by and she had gone to dine in the Rue des Martyrs without being able to catch her. While she was dining by herself Daguenet had appeared on the scene, for although he had reformed, he still occasionally dropped in under the influence of his old vicious inclinations²⁴⁹. He hoped of course that no one would meet him in these black recesses²⁵⁰, dedicated²⁵¹ to the town's lowest depravity. Accordingly even Nana's presence seemed to embarrass him at the outset. But he was not the man to run away and, coming forward with a smile, he asked if Madame would be so kind as to allow him to dine at her table. Noticing his jocular tone, Nana assumed her magnificently frigid demeanor and icily replied:

"Sit down where you please, sir. We are in a public place."

Thus begun, the conversation proved amusing. But at dessert Nana, bored and burning for a triumph, put her elbows on the table and began in the old familiar way:

"Well, what about your marriage, my lad? Is it getting on all right?"

"Not much," Daguenet averred²⁵².

As a matter of fact, just when he was about to venture on his request at the Muffats', he had met with such a cold reception from the count that he had prudently²⁵³ refrained. The business struck him as a failure. Nana fixed¹⁵⁷ her clear eyes on him; she was sitting, leaning her chin on her hand, and there was an ironical²⁵⁴ curve about her lips.

"Oh yes! I'm a baggage," she resumed slowly. "Oh yes, the future father-in-law will have to be dragged from between my claws! Dear me, dear me, for a fellow with NOUS, you're jolly stupid! What! D'you mean to say you're going to tell your tales to a man who adores me and tells me everything? Now just listen: you shall marry if I wish it, my little man!"

For a minute or two he had felt the truth of this, and now he began scheming out a method of submission. Nevertheless, he still talked jokingly, not wishing the matter to grow serious, and after he had put on his gloves he demanded the hand of Mlle Estelle de Beuville in the strict regulation manner. Nana ended by laughing, as though she had been tickled. Oh, that Mimi! It was impossible to bear him a grudge²⁵⁵! Daguenet's great successes with ladies of her class were due to the sweetness of his voice, a voice of such musical purity and pliancy²⁵⁶ as to have won him among courtesans the sobriquet²⁵⁷ of "Velvet-Mouth." Every woman would give way to him when he lulled her with his sonorous²⁵⁸ caresses. He knew this power and rocked Nana to sleep with endless words, telling her all kinds of idiotic²⁵⁹ anecdotes²⁶⁰. When they left the table d'hote she was blushing rosy²⁶¹-red; she trembled as she hung on his arm; he had reconquered her. As it was very fine, she sent her carriage away and walked with him as far as his own place, where she went upstairs with him naturally enough. Two hours later, as she was dressing again, she said:

"So you hold to this marriage of yours, Mimi?"

"Egad," he muttered, "it's the best thing I could possibly do after all! You know I'm stony²⁶² broke."

She summoned him to button her boots, and after a pause:

"Good heavens! I've no objection. I'll shove you on! She's as dry as a lath, is that little thing, but since it suits your game--oh, I'm agreeable: I'll run the thing through for you."

Then with bosom⁴⁰ still uncovered, she began laughing:

"Only what will you give me?"

He had caught her in his arms and was kissing her on the shoulders in a perfect access of gratitude while she quivered with excitement and struggled merrily and threw herself backward in her efforts to be free.

"Oh, I know," she cried, excited by the contest. "Listen to what I want in the way of commission. On your wedding day you shall make me a present of your innocence²⁶³. Before your wife, d'you understand?"

"That's it! That's it!" he said, laughing even louder than Nana.

The bargain amused them--they thought the whole business very good, indeed.

Now as it happened, there was a dinner at Nana's next day. For the matter of that, it was the customary Thursday dinner, and Muffat, Vandeuvres, the young Hugons and Satin were present. The count arrived early. He stood in need of eighty thousand francs wherewith to free the young woman from two or three debts and to give her a set of sapphires²⁶⁴ she was dying to possess. As he had already seriously lessened²⁶⁵ his capital, he was in search of a lender, for he did not dare to sell another property. With the advice of Nana herself he had addressed himself to Labordette, but the latter, deeming it too heavy an undertaking, had mentioned it to the hairdresser Francis, who willingly busied himself in such affairs in order to oblige his lady clients. The count put himself into the hands of these gentlemen but expressed a formal desire not to appear in the matter, and they both undertook to keep in hand the bill for a hundred thousand francs which he was to sign, excusing themselves at the same time for charging a matter of twenty thousand francs interest and loudly denouncing the blackguard usurers to whom, they declared, it had been necessary to have recourse. When Muffat had himself announced, Francis was putting the last touches to Nana's coiffure. Labordette also was sitting familiarly in the dressing room, as became a friend of no consequence. Seeing the count, he discreetly placed a thick bundle of bank notes among the powders and pomades, and the bill was signed on the marble-topped dressing table. Nana was anxious to keep Labordette to dinner, but he declined--he was taking a rich foreigner about Paris. Muffat, however, led him aside and begged him to go to Becker, the jeweler, and bring him back thence the set of sapphires, which he wanted to present the young woman by way of surprise that very evening. Labordette willingly undertook the commission, and half an hour later Julien handed the jewel case mysteriously to the count.

During dinnertime Nana was nervous. The sight of the eighty thousand francs had excited her. To think all that money was to go to tradespeople! It was a disgusting thought. After soup had been served she grew sentimental, and in the splendid dining room, glittering with plate and glass, she talked of the bliss²⁶⁶ of poverty. The men were in evening dress, Nana in a gown of white embroidered²⁶⁷ satin, while Satin made a more modest appearance in black silk with a simple gold heart at her throat, which was a present from her kind friend. Julien and Francois waited behind the guests and were assisted in this by Zoe. All three looked most dignified.

"It's certain I had far greater fun when I hadn't a cent!" Nana repeated.

She had placed Muffat on her right hand and Vandeuvres on her left, but she scarcely looked at them, so taken up was she with Satin, who sat in state between Philippe and Georges on the opposite side of the table.

"Eh, duckie?" she kept saying at every turn. "How we did use to laugh in those days when we went to Mother Josse's school in the Rue Polonceau!"

When the roast was being served the two women plunged²⁶⁸ into a world of reminiscences. They used to have regular chattering²⁶⁹ fits of this kind when a sudden desire to stir the muddy depths of their childhood would possess them. These fits always occurred when men were present: it was as though they had given way to a burning desire to treat them to the dunghill on which they had grown to woman's estate. The gentlemen paled visibly and looked embarrassed. The young Hugons did their best to laugh, while Vandeuvres nervously toyed with his beard and Muffat redoubled his gravity.

"You remember Victor?" said Nana. "There was a wicked little fellow for you! Why, he used to take the little girls into cellars!"

"I remember him perfectly," replied Satin. "I recollect²⁷⁰ the big courtyard at your place very well. There was a portress there with a broom!"

"Mother Boche--she's dead."

"And I can still picture your shop. Your mother was a great fatty. One evening when we were playing your father came in drunk. Oh, so drunk!"

At this point Vandeuvres tried to intercept²⁷¹ the ladies' reminiscences and to effect a diversion,"I say, my dear, I should be very glad to have some more truffles. They're simply perfect. Yesterday I had some at the house of the Duc de Corbreuse, which did not come up to them at all."

"The truffles, Julien!" said Nana roughly.

Then returning to the subject:

"By Jove, yes, Dad hadn't any sense! And then what a smash there was! You should have seen it--down, down, down we went, starving away all the time. I can tell you I've had to bear pretty well everything and it's a miracle I didn't kick the bucket over it, like Daddy and Mamma."

This time Muffat, who was playing with his knife in a state of infinite exasperation, made so bold as to intervene.

"What you're telling us isn't very cheerful."

"Eh, what? Not cheerful!" she cried with a withering²⁷² glance. "I believe you; it isn't cheerful! Somebody had to earn a living for us dear boy. Oh yes, you know, I'm the right sort; I don't mince²⁷³ matters. Mamma was a laundress; Daddy used to get drunk, and he died of it! There! If it doesn't suit you--if you're ashamed of my family--"

They all protested. What was she after now? They had every sort of respect for her family! But she went on:"If you're ashamed of my family you'll please leave me, because I'm not one of those women who deny their father and mother. You must take me and them together, d'you understand?"

They took her as required; they accepted the dad, the mamma, the past; in fact, whatever she chose. With their eyes fixed on the tablecloth²⁷⁴, the four now sat shrinking and insignificant²⁷⁵ while Nana, in a transport of omnipotence²⁷⁶, trampled on them in the old muddy boots worn long since in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or. She was determined²⁷⁷ not to lay down the cudgels just yet. It was all very fine to bring her fortunes, to build her palaces; she would never leave off regretting the time when she munched²⁷⁸ apples! Oh, what bosh that stupid thing money was! It was made for the tradespeople! Finally her outburst ended in a sentimentally²⁷⁹ expressed desire for a simple, openhearted existence, to be passed in an atmosphere of universal benevolence²⁸⁰.

When she got to this point she noticed Julien waiting idly by.

"Well, what's the matter? Hand the champagne then!" she said. "Why d'you stand staring at me like a goose?"

During this scene the servants had never once smiled. They apparently heard nothing, and the more their mistress let herself down, the more majestic²⁸¹ they became. Julien set to work to pour out the champagne and did so without mishap²⁸², but Francois, who was handing round the fruit, was so unfortunate as to tilt²⁸³ the fruit dish too low, and the apples, the pears and the grapes rolled on the table.

"You bloody clumsy lot!" cried Nana.

The footman was mistaken enough to try and explain that the fruit had not been firmly piled up. Zoe had disarranged it by taking out some oranges.

"Then it's Zoe that's the goose!" said Nana.

"Madame--" murmured the lady's maid in an injured tone.

Straightway Madame rose to her feet, and in a sharp voice and with royally authoritative²⁸⁴ gesture:

"We've had enough of this, haven't we? Leave the room, all of you! We don't want you any longer!"

This summary procedure calmed her down, and she was forthwith all sweetness and amiability. The dessert proved charming, and the gentlemen grew quite merry waiting on themselves. But Satin, having peeled a pear, came and ate it behind her darling, leaning on her shoulder the while and whispering sundry²⁸⁵ little remarks in her ear, at which they both laughed very loudly. By and by she wanted to share her last piece of pear with Nana and presented it to her between her teeth. Whereupon there was a great nibbling²⁸⁶ of lips, and the pear was finished amid kisses. At this there was a burst of comic protest from the gentlemen, Philippe shouting to them to take it easy and Vandeuvres asking if one ought to leave the room. Georges, meanwhile, had come and put his arm round Satin's waist and had brought her back to her seat.

"How silly of you!" said Nana. "You're making her blush, the poor, darling duck. Never mind, dear girl, let them chaff²⁸⁷. It's our own little private affair."

And turning to Muffat, who was watching them with his serious expression:

"Isn't it, my friend?"

"Yes, certainly," he murmured with a slow nod of approval.

He no longer protested now. And so amid that company of gentlemen with the great names and the old, upright traditions, the two women sat face to face, exchanging tender glances, conquering, reigning²⁸⁸, in tranquil⁶⁵ defiance²⁸⁹ of the laws of sex, in open contempt for the male portion of the community. The gentlemen burst into applause.

The company went upstairs to take coffee in the little drawing room, where a couple of lamps cast a soft glow over the rosy hangings and the lacquer and old gold of the knickknacks. At that hour of the evening the light played discreetly over coffers, bronzes and china, lighting²⁹⁰ up silver or ivory inlaid work, bringing into view the polished contours of a carved stick and gleaming over a panel with glossy²⁹¹ silky reflections. The fire, which had been burning since the afternoon, was dying out in glowing embers. It was very warm--the air behind the curtains and hangings was languid with warmth. The room was full of Nana's intimate existence: a pair of gloves, a fallen handkerchief, an open book, lay scattered²⁹² about, and their owner seemed present in careless attire²⁹³ with that well-known odor of violets and that species of untidiness which became her in her character of good-natured courtesan and had such a charming effect among all those rich surroundings. The very armchairs, which were as wide as beds, and the sofas, which were as deep as alcoves, invited to slumber oblivious²⁹⁴ of the flight of time and to tender whispers in shadowy corners.

Satin went and lolled back in the depths of a sofa near the fireplace. She had lit a cigarette, but Vandeuvres began amusing himself by pretending to be ferociously²⁹⁵ jealous. Nay, he even threatened to send her his seconds if she still persisted in keeping Nana from her duty. Philippe and Georges joined him and teased her and badgered her so mercilessly that at last she shouted out:

"Darling! Darling! Do make 'em keep quiet! They're still after me!"

"Now then, let her be," said Nana seriously. "I won't have her tormented²⁹⁶; you know that quite well. And you, my pet, why d'you always go mixing yourself up with them when they've got so little sense?"

Satin, blushing all over and putting out her tongue, went into the dressing room, through the widely open door of which you caught a glimpse of pale marbles gleaming in the milky²⁹⁷ light of a gas flame in a globe of rough glass. After that Nana talked to the four men as charmingly as hostess could. During the day she had read a novel which was at that time making a good deal of noise. It was the history of a courtesan, and Nana was very indignant, declaring the whole thing to be untrue and expressing angry dislike to that kind of monstrous²⁹⁸ literature which pretends to paint from nature. "Just as though one could describe everything," she said. Just as though a novel ought not to be written so that the reader may while away an hour pleasantly! In the matter of books and of plays Nana had very decided²⁹⁹ opinions: she wanted tender and noble productions, things that would set her dreaming and would elevate her soul. Then allusion being made in the course of conversation to the troubles agitating³⁰⁰ Paris, the incendiary articles in the papers, the incipient³⁰¹ popular disturbances³⁰² which followed the calls to arms nightly raised at public meetings, she waxed wroth with the Republicans. What on earth did those dirty people who never washed really want? Were folks not happy? Had not the emperor done everything for the people? A nice filthy lot of people! She knew 'em; she could talk about 'em, and, quite forgetting the respect which at dinner she had just been insisting should be paid to her humble³⁰³ circle in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or, she began blackguarding her own class with all the terror and disgust peculiar to a woman who had risen successfully above it. That very afternoon she had read in the Figaro an account of the proceedings³⁰⁴ at a public meeting which had verged³⁰⁵ on the comic. Owing to the slang words that had been used and to the piggish behavior of a drunken man who had got himself chucked, she was laughing at those proceedings still.

"Oh, those drunkards!" she said with a disgusted air. "No, look you here, their republic would be a great misfortune for everybody! Oh, may God preserve us the emperor as long as possible!"

"God will hear your prayer, my dear," Muffat replied gravely. "To be sure, the emperor stands firm."

He liked her to express such excellent views. Both, indeed, understood one another in political matters. Vandeuvres and Philippe Hugon likewise indulged in endless jokes against the "cads," the quarrelsome set who scuttled³⁰⁶ off the moment they clapped eyes on a bayonet. But Georges that evening remained pale and somber³⁰⁷.

"What can be the matter with that baby?" asked Nana, noticing his troubled appearance.

"With me? Nothing--I am listening," he muttered.

But he was really suffering. On rising from table he had heard Philippe joking with the young woman, and now it was Philippe, and not himself, who sat beside her. His heart, he knew not why, swelled³⁰⁸ to bursting. He could not bear to see them so close together; such vile thoughts oppressed him that shame mingled³⁰⁹ with his anguish. He who laughed at Satin, who had accepted Steiner and Muffat and all the rest, felt outraged³¹⁰ and murderous at the thought that Philippe might someday touch that woman.

"Here, take Bijou," she said to comfort him, and she passed him the little dog which had gone to sleep on her dress.

And with that Georges grew happy again, for with the beast still warm from her lap in his arms, he held, as it were, part of her.

Allusion had been made to a considerable loss which Vandeuvres had last night sustained at the Imperial Club. Muffat, who did not play, expressed great astonishment, but Vandeuvres smilingly alluded³¹¹ to his imminent ruin, about which Paris was already talking. The kind of death you chose did not much matter, he averred; the great thing was to die handsomely. For some time past Nana had noticed that he was nervous and had a sharp downward droop³¹² of the mouth and a fitful gleam in the depths of his clear eyes. But he retained his haughty³¹³ aristocratic manner and the delicate elegance of his impoverished³¹⁴ race, and as yet these strange manifestations³¹⁵ were only, so to speak, momentary³¹⁶ fits of vertigo³¹⁷ overcoming a brain already sapped by play and by debauchery. One night as he lay beside her he had frightened her with a dreadful story. He had told her he contemplated³¹⁸ shutting himself up in his stable and setting fire to himself and his horses at such time as he should have devoured all his substance. His only hope at that period was a horse, Lusignan by name, which he was training for the Prix de Paris. He was living on this horse, which was the sole stay of his shaken credit, and whenever Nana grew exacting³¹⁹ he would put her off till June and to the probability of Lusignan's winning.

"Bah! He may very likely lose," she said merrily, "since he's going to clear them all out at the races."

By way of reply he contented³²⁰ himself by smiling a thin, mysterious smile. Then carelessly:

"By the by, I've taken the liberty of giving your name to my outsider, the filly. Nana, Nana--that sounds well. You're not vexed?"

"Vexed, why?" she said in a state of inward ecstasy³²¹.

The conversation continued, and same mention was made of an execution shortly to take place. The young woman said she was burning to go to it when Satin appeared at the dressing-room door and called her in tones of entreaty³²². She got up at once and left the gentlemen lolling lazily about, while they finished their cigars and discussed the grave question as to how far a murderer subject to chronic³²³ alcoholism is responsible for his act. In the dressing room Zoe sat helpless on a chair, crying her heart out, while Satin vainly endeavored to console her.

"What's the matter?" said Nana in surprise.

"Oh, darling, do speak to her!" said Satin. "I've been trying to make her listen to reason for the last twenty minutes. She's crying because you called her a goose."

"Yes, madame, it's very hard--very hard," stuttered Zoe, choked by a fresh fit of sobbing.

This sad sight melted the young woman's heart at once. She spoke kindly³²⁴, and when the other woman still refused to grow calm she sank down in front of her and took her round the waist with truly cordial familiarity:

"But, you silly, I said 'goose' just as I might have said anything else. How shall I explain? I was in a passion--it was wrong of me; now calm down."

"I who love Madame so," stuttered Zoe; "after all I've done for Madame."

Thereupon Nana kissed the lady's maid and, wishing to show her she wasn't vexed, gave her a dress she had worn three times. Their quarrels always ended up in the giving of presents! Zoe plugged her handkerchief into her eyes. She carried the dress off over her arm and added before leaving that they were very sad in the kitchen and that Julien and Francois had been unable to eat, so entirely had Madame's anger taken away their appetites. Thereupon Madame sent them a louis as a pledge of reconciliation³²⁵. She suffered too much if people around her were sorrowful.

Nana was returning to the drawing room, happy in the thought that she had patched up a disagreement which was rendering³²⁶ her quietly apprehensive³²⁷ of the morrow, when Satin came and whispered vehemently³²⁸ in her ear. She was full of complaint, threatened to be off if those men still went on teasing her and kept insisting that her darling should turn them all out of doors for that night, at any rate. It would be a lesson to them. And then it would be so nice to be alone, both of them! Nana, with a return of anxiety, declared it to be impossible. Thereupon the other shouted at her like a violent child and tried hard to overrule her.

"I wish it, d'you see? Send 'em away or I'm off!"

And she went back into the drawing room, stretched herself out in the recesses of a divan⁴², which stood in the background near the window, and lay waiting, silent and deathlike, with her great eyes fixed upon Nana.

The gentlemen were deciding against the new criminological theories. Granted that lovely invention of irresponsibility in certain pathological cases, and criminals ceased to exist and sick people alone remained. The young woman, expressing approval with an occasional nod, was busy considering how best to dismiss the count. The others would soon be going, but he would assuredly prove obstinate³²⁹. In fact, when Philippe got up to withdraw, Georges followed him at once--he seemed only anxious not to leave his brother behind. Vandeuvres lingered some minutes longer, feeling his way, as it were, and waiting to find out if, by any chance, some important business would oblige Muffat to cede³³⁰ him his place. Soon, however, when he saw the count deliberately³³¹ taking up his quarters for the night, he desisted from his purpose and said good-by, as became a man of tact¹²⁸. But on his way to the door, he noticed Satin staring fixedly at Nana, as usual. Doubtless he understood what this meant, for he seemed amused and came and shook hands with her.

"We're not angry, eh?" he whispered. "Pray pardon me. You're the nicer attraction of the two, on my honor!"

Satin deigned³³² no reply. Nor did she take her eyes off Nana and the count, who were now alone. Muffat, ceasing to be ceremonious, had come to sit beside the young woman. He took her fingers and began kissing them. Whereupon Nana, seeking to change the current of his thoughts, asked him if his daughter Estelle were better. The previous night he had been complaining of the child's melancholy³³³ behavior--he could not even spend a day happily at his own house, with his wife always out and his daughter icily silent.

In family matters of this kind Nana was always full of good advice, and when Muffat abandoned all his usual self-control under the influence of mental and physical relaxation³³⁴ and once more launched out into his former plaints, she remembered the promise she had made.

"Suppose you were to marry her?" she said. And with that she ventured to talk of Daguenet. At the mere mention of the name the count was filled with disgust. "Never," he said after what she had told him!

She pretended great surprise and then burst out laughing and put her arm round his neck.

"Oh, the jealous man! To think of it! Just argue it out a little. Why, they slandered³³⁵ me to you--I was furious. At present I should be ever so sorry if--"

But over Muffat's shoulder she met Satin's gaze. And she left him anxiously and in a grave voice continued:

"This marriage must come off, my friend; I don't want to prevent your daughter's happiness. The young man's most charming; you could not possibly find a better sort."

And she launched into extraordinary praise of Daguenet. The count had again taken her hands; he no longer refused now; he would see about it, he said, they would talk the matter over. By and by, when he spoke of going to bed, she sank her voice and excused herself. It was impossible; she was not well. If he loved her at all he would not insist! Nevertheless, he was obstinate; he refused to go away, and she was beginning to give in when she met Satin's eyes once more. Then she grew inflexible³³⁶. No, the thing was out of the question! The count, deeply moved and with a look of suffering, had risen and was going in quest of his hat. But in the doorway³³⁷ he remembered the set of sapphires; he could feel the case in his pocket. He had been wanting to hide it at the bottom of the bed so that when she entered it before him she should feel it against her legs. Since dinnertime he had been meditating³³⁸ this little surprise like a schoolboy, and now, in trouble and anguish of heart at being thus dismissed, he gave her the case without further ceremony.

"What is it?" she queried³³⁹. "Sapphires? Dear me! Oh yes, it's that set. How sweet you are! But I say, my darling, d'you believe it's the same one? In the shopwindow it made a much greater show."

That was all the thanks he got, and she let him go away. He noticed Satin stretched out silent and expectant, and with that he gazed at both women and without further insistence³⁴⁰ submitted to his fate and went downstairs. The hall door had not yet closed when Satin caught Nana round the waist and danced and sang. Then she ran to the window.

"Oh, just look at the figure he cuts down in the street!" The two women leaned upon the wrought-iron window rail in the shadow of the curtains. One o'clock struck. The Avenue de Villiers was deserted³⁴¹, and its double file of gas lamps stretched away into the darkness of the damp March night through which great gusts³⁴² of wind kept sweeping³⁴³, laden³⁴⁴ with rain. There were vague stretches of land on either side of the road which looked like gulfs of shadow, while scaffoldings round mansions³⁴⁵ in process of construction loomed³⁴⁶ upward under the dark sky. They laughed uncontrollably as they watched Muffat's rounded back and glistening³⁴⁷ shadow disappearing along the wet sidewalk into the glacial, desolate³⁴⁸ plains of new Paris. But Nana silenced Satin.

"Take care; there are the police!"

Thereupon they smothered their laughter and gazed in secret fear at two dark figures walking with measured tread on the opposite side of the avenue. Amid all her luxurious surroundings, amid all the royal splendors³⁴⁹ of the woman whom all must obey, Nana still stood in horror of the police and did not like to hear them mentioned any oftener than death. She felt distinctly unwell when a policeman looked up at her house. One never knew what such people might do! They might easily take them for loose women if they heard them laughing at that hour of the night. Satin, with a little shudder³⁵⁰, had squeezed herself up against Nana. Nevertheless, the pair stayed where they were and were soon interested in the approach of a lantern, the light of which danced over the puddles³⁵¹ in the road. It was an old ragpicker woman who was busy raking in the gutters³⁵². Satin recognized her.

"Dear me," she exclaimed, "it's Queen Pomare with her wickerwork shawl!"

And while a gust⁹⁶ of wind lashed³⁵³ the fine rain in their faces she told her beloved the story of Queen Pomare. Oh, she had been a splendid girl once upon a time: all Paris had talked of her beauty. And such devilish go and such cheek! Why, she led the men about like dogs, and great people stood blubbering on her stairs! Now she was in the habit of getting tipsy, and the women round about would make her drink absinthe for the sake of a laugh, after which the street boys would throw stones at her and chase her. In fact, it was a regular smashup; the queen had tumbled into the mud! Nana listened, feeling cold all over.

"You shall see," added Satin.

She whistled a man's whistle, and the ragpicker, who was then below the window, lifted her head and showed herself by the yellow flare²³⁷ of her lantern. Framed among rags, a perfect bundle of them, a face looked out from under a tattered³⁵⁴ kerchief--a blue, seamed face with a toothless, cavernous mouth and fiery³⁵⁵ bruises³⁵⁶ where the eyes should be. And Nana, seeing the frightful³⁵⁷ old woman, the wanton drowned in drink, had a sudden fit of recollection and saw far back amid the shadows of consciousness the vision of Chamont--Irma d'Anglars, the old harlot crowned with years and honors, ascending³⁵⁸ the steps in front of her chateau amid abjectly³⁵⁹ reverential villagers. Then as Satin whistled again, making game of the old hag, who could not see her:

"Do leave off; there are the police!" she murmured in changed tones. "In with us, quick, my pet!"

The measured steps were returning, and they shut the window. Turning round again, shivering, and with the damp of night on her hair, Nana was momentarily astounded³⁶⁰ at sight of her drawing room. It seemed as though she had forgotten it and were entering an unknown chamber. So warm, so full of perfume, was the air she encountered that she experienced a sense of delighted surprise. The heaped-up wealth of the place, the Old World furniture, the fabrics³⁶¹ of silk and gold, the ivory, the bronzes, were slumbering³⁶² in the rosy light of the lamps, while from the whole of the silent house a rich feeling of great luxury ascended³⁶³, the luxury of the solemn reception rooms, of the comfortable, ample dining room, of the vast retired³⁶⁴ staircase, with their soft carpets and seats. Her individuality, with its longing for domination and enjoyment³⁶⁵ and its desire to possess everything that she might destroy everything, was suddenly increased. Never before had she felt so profoundly the puissance of her sex. She gazed slowly round and remarked with an expression of grave philosophy:

"Ah well, all the same, one's jolly well right to profit by things when one's young!"

But now Satin was rolling on the bearskins in the bedroom and calling her.

"Oh, do come! Do come!"

Nana undressed in the dressing room, and in order to be quicker about it she took her thick fell of blonde hair in both hands and began shaking it above the silver wash hand basin, while a downward hail of long hairpins³⁶⁶ rang a little chime on the shining metal.


于是娜娜变成了一个时髦女子，一个依靠男性的荒唐和堕落来生活的寄生虫，一个颇具贵妇仪态的高等妓女。她的失足虽是偶然的，却决定了她的终身。她摇身一变成了著名的风流女子，尽人皆知的一掷千金、肆无忌惮地卖弄姿色的女流。她很快在要价最高的妓女中成了王后。她的照片陈列在橱窗里，报纸上常常见到她的名字。每当她乘坐马车经过大街上时，人们都掉过头来看她一眼，呼唤她的名字，激奋之情犹如民众见到王后一般；而她则身着轻飘飘的服装，悠然自得地倚靠在车子上，脸上挂着微笑，十分快乐，金色的细雨般的一缕缕细小鬈发垂挂到涂蓝的眼圈边和搽口红的嘴唇边。说来奇怪，这个胖姑娘在舞台上是那么笨拙，扮演正经女人是那么滑稽可笑，但在街上扮演迷人的女子，却不费吹灰之力。她的身体像水蛇一般柔软自如，衣着得体，看起来是随意穿戴，却显得风度翩翩，像一只矫捷超群的纯种母猫，堪称烟花女中的佼佼者。她很高傲，富有叛逆精神，像一个权力至高无上的统治者，把巴黎踩在脚下。她随意穿上什么款式的服装，贵妇们便纷纷仿效她。

娜娜的公馆在维里埃大街，卡迪内街的拐角处，所处地段是一个豪华地区。这里原来是蒙梭平原，一座座建筑在这空旷的土地上拔地而起。这座公馆当初是由一位青年画家所建，这位画家由于在绘画艺术上初露锋芒，兴奋得飘飘然起来，便建了这座公馆，可是房子刚刚粉刷完毕，又不得不把它卖掉。房子颇具文艺复兴时代的建筑的风貌，外观很像一座宫殿，内部布局别具一格，舒适的起居设备都是现代的，但又具备不落俗套的特色。缪法伯爵买下了这座配备家具的公馆，里面摆了许多小摆设，配上了华美的东方帷幔，古色古香的餐具柜，路易十三时代的大扶手椅；因此，娜娜不期而获得了颇具艺术特色的家具，家具都是经过精心挑选的，富有不同时代特色。不过，占据公馆中央的画室，对她来说毫无用场，于是她就把楼上楼下通通改造一番，在底层设了一间温室、一大间客厅、一间饭厅，在二楼靠近她的卧室和梳妆室的地方，设了一间小客厅。她的设想令建筑师们惊讶不已，她仿佛生来就要过奢侈的生活，作为巴黎街头妓女，追求时髦豪华是她的天性。总之，她并未把公馆搞得不像样子，甚至还使富丽堂皇的家具上增添了一些摆设，仅在某些方面留下雅致得有点可笑、华丽得有点刺目的痕迹，由此可以看出她昔日是个卖花女，曾经在商店的橱窗前构想自己未来生活的蓝图。

院子里，在大雨罩遮盖下，门口的石阶上铺着地毯；一到前厅就闻到一股紫罗兰的香味，四壁上的帷幔很厚实，屋内的气温宜人。一扇彩绘大玻璃窗，上面的玻璃有黄色的，也有玫瑰色的，射出淡黄色的肉色光线，照亮着宽大的楼梯。楼梯脚下，有一个木雕黑人，手捧一只银制托盘，盘里摆满了来访者的名片；还有四个白色大理石女子，乳房裸露，手擎高脚台灯。前厅里和楼梯平台上，陈列着中国青铜器皿和景泰蓝瓶，里面插满了鲜花，还有铺着波斯坐毯的长沙发，铺着古色古香毯子的扶手椅，这些陈设把前厅和二楼平台装饰成候见厅。厅内经常放着男客的大衣和帽子，帷幔和地毯把房间包得严严的，发不出一点声响，一进门就觉得是在屏息冥思，仿佛进了一座小教堂，因虔诚而浑身战栗。每扇门都关得严严的，屋内一派寂静气氛使人产生神秘的感觉。

大客厅具有路易十六时代的风格，陈设过分豪华，只在举行盛大晚会时，娜娜才打开它来接待社伊勒里宫的达官显贵和外国宾客。平时，她只在吃饭的时候才下楼，有时她一个人单独在饭厅里就餐时，失落之感油然而生。餐厅很高，墙上挂着巴黎戈贝兰壁毯，还有一个硕大无朋的食具橱，里面放着古老的瓷器，令人赞叹的老式银餐具，这些东西令人赏心悦目。她吃完饭后，便赶快上楼。她住在二楼，占有三个房间：一间卧室，一间梳妆室和一间小客厅。她的卧室已经重新布置过两次，第一次用的是淡紫色的缎子，第二次用的是镶花边的蓝色绸料；但是她还不满意，觉得这样显得平淡无奇，她还在想新的花样，却终未想出来。一张垫软垫的床矮得像沙发，床上的威尼斯针钩花边值二万法郎。家具都漆成白色和蓝色，上面还镶着银色细丝；屋子里到处都散放着白熊皮，多得把地毯都盖住了。娜娜有一种怪癖，也是一种穷奢极欲的表现，她喜欢坐在地上脱长袜子，这个习惯始终没有改掉。在卧室旁边的小客厅里，小玩意儿摆得杂乱无章，它们全是精美的艺术品；墙上挂的是浅玫瑰红丝绸帷幔，即一种褪了色的土耳其玫瑰红颜色，上面织着金线，沿着帷幔，摆放着各个国家、各种风格的物品，显得分外醒目，有意大利珍品收藏柜，西班牙和葡萄牙的小箱子，中国的小宝塔，日本的精贵屏风，还有瓷器，青铜器，绣花丝绸，细针钩花边的地毯；扶手椅宽大得像床，长沙发很深，颇像放床的凹室，坐在上面感到软绵绵、懒洋洋的，不禁使人联想到后宫里那种昏昏欲睡的生活。这间房子保持着淡黄褐色的基本色调，辅色是绿色和红色；除了几张椅子格外舒服外，没有任何东西能充分表明这里是妓女居住的地方；只有两尊本色瓷器女人塑像，一个女人穿着衬衫在捉跳蚤，另一个身上一丝不挂，两脚朝天，双手着地行走。这两件原始、愚蠢之作，犹如一个污点，把整个客厅的艺术格调破坏了。透过一扇几乎一直开着的门，可以望见那间梳妆室，映入眼帘的尽是大理石和镜子，里面有白色的浴缸，银水壶和银脸盆，还有水晶和象牙饰物。从一块垂落的窗帘中，射进来一道白色的微光，这道微光似乎被紫罗兰的香味熏得昏昏欲睡，从娜娜身上发出来的这股撩人的香味散发到整个公馆和院子里。

给这座房屋配备必要的用品是一件大事。娜娜幸亏有了佐爱。这个女仆对她的发迹立下了汗马功劳，她很敏感，坚信娜娜一定会发迹，几个月来，她一直在静静地等待着这一天的倏然来到。如今佐爱洋洋得意成了公馆的女管家，她通过忠心耿耿地侍候太太，让自己发财。但是娜娜仅有一个女仆是不够的，还必须有一个膳食总管，一个马车夫，一个门房和一个厨娘。此外，还得建几个马厩。于是，拉博德特便成了非常有用的人，伯爵不愿意干的跑腿事情，他都承担下来了。他用不正当的手段买下了几匹马，跑各个马车商店，为少妇挑选东西出谋划策，人们经常看见他挽着娜娜的膀子出入于各家店铺。他甚至还带来一班仆人：一个是夏尔，是个身材魁梧的马车夫，他来自德·科布勒兹公爵家；一个是朱利安，矮个子，满头鬈发，总是笑吟吟的，他是膳食总管；还有一对夫妻，妻子名叫维克托里娜，是厨娘，丈夫叫弗朗索瓦，是来当门房和听差的。弗朗索瓦穿着短裤，脸上搽了粉，上身穿着娜娜规定的浅蓝色和银色饰带的仆人制服，站在前厅里接待客人。这样的穿着和端庄的神态无异于王公贵族府邸。

到了第二个月，公馆里的一切都配备齐全了。共计花掉三万多法郎，马厩里有八匹马，车库里有五辆马车，其中一辆带银饰的双篷四轮马车，一时吸引了全巴黎的人。娜娜就在这样的财富中安顿下来，建立了自己的家。她演了三场《小公爵夫人》，便离开了剧院。她抛下了博尔德纳夫，让他在破产的边缘上挣扎，伯爵的资助对他也无济于事。然而，这次演戏的失败使她苦不堪言。加之与丰唐的那段共同生活的教训，她认为所有的男人都是卑鄙的。因此，她认为自己现在很坚强了，不至于因热恋上一个男人而不顾一切了。但是，她的头脑很单纯，复仇的想法并没有坚持多久。除了生气的时候，她心里想的总是怎样花钱，她对拿钱供她不断挥霍的男人，天生怀着蔑视，她对情夫们的破产而感到洋洋得意。

娜娜首先确定了伯爵在公馆里的地位。她订了他们的关系规章。伯爵每月拿出一万二千法郎，礼物还不算在内，作为回报，他只能要求她对他绝对忠实。她发誓忠实于他。但她要求他尊重她，要充分尊重她的个人意愿，她要有主妇的全部自由。这样，她每天接待自己的朋友，而伯爵只能在规定的时间里来；总之，对于一切事情，他对她要盲目信任。每当他因吃醋而惴惴不安，犹豫不决时，她便摆出一副尊严的样子，威胁说要把一切东西还给他，或者用她的小路易的脑袋发誓。这样伯爵就满意了，没有尊重就没有爱情。直到第一月末．缪法是很尊重她的。

但是，娜娜得寸进尺，不久，她就像忠贞女子一样对他施加影响。当伯爵怏怏不乐时，她就逗他高兴，让他说出内心不高兴的原因，然后开导他。渐渐地，他内心的烦恼，他妻子和女儿的事情，他内心的想法和金钱上的问题，她都一一过问，而且表现得合情合理，非常公正，非常诚实。只有一次，她没有控制住自己的情绪，发起火来。一天伯爵告诉她，达盖内可能要向他的女儿爱丝泰勒求婚。自从伯爵与娜娜的关系引起人们的注意以来，达盖内认为最巧妙的办法就是与娜娜断绝关系，把她看成淫妇了事，并发誓要把他未来的岳父从娜娜的魔爪中夺回来。因此，她就拼命讲她过去的咪咪的坏话：他是一个好色之徒，与一些不三不四的女人在一起厮混，把家当挥霍殆尽；他没有道德，他虽然不用女人的钱来养活自己，但是他经常利用女人的钱，只是不时给女人送一束鲜花或请女人吃一顿晚饭；但是伯爵听了她的话，似乎原谅他的这些缺点，于是，她就直截了当地告诉他，达盖内同她睡过觉，并且讲了一些不堪入耳的细节。刹那间，缪法脸色变得苍白。这个年轻人与他女儿的婚事就不必谈了。这次给了忘恩负义的达盖内一个很好的教训。

然而，公馆里的家具还没有配备齐全。一天晚上，娜娜滔滔不绝地对缪法作了许多山盟海誓以后，竟然把格扎维埃·德·旺德夫尔伯爵留下来同宿。旺德夫尔伯爵已苦苦追求她两个星期了，每次来看她都带着一束鲜花。她终于答应了他，她这样做并非因为一时恋迷上了他，而是为了证明她是自由的。从他那里捞好处是事后才想到的，就在她接待旺德夫尔的第二天，他替她还了一笔债款，这笔债她是不愿意向其他男人讲的。从那以后，她每月从他那里得到八千至一万法郎；这笔零花钱对她很有用。旺德夫尔一时头脑发热，把他的全部家当挥霍殆尽。他为马匹和吕西已经花掉了他的三个庄园，娜娜又要一口吞掉他的靠近亚眠的别墅；他急于要把全部财产一扫而光，连他的祖宗在菲利普—奥古斯特①治下建造的古堡的残垣断壁也不放过。他渴望破产到了疯狂的地步，他觉得把象征他的家族的徽章上的最后一枚金色圆形图案也拱手交给这个全巴黎为之垂涎的妓女是件崇高的事情。他也接受了娜娜的全部条件，她有完全行动自由，只有在规定的日子才能享受到她的温情，甚至连叫她发誓的天真热情也没有。缪法对娜娜的誓言毫不怀疑。而旺德夫尔呢，对这些一清二楚；不过，他从不丝毫流露出来。他假装全然不知，脸上总是堆着寻欢作乐、玩世不恭者微妙的笑容，他对办不到的事情总不提出要求，只要他在规定的时间与娜娜寻欢作乐，全巴黎的人都知道，他就满足了。

①菲利普—奥古斯特（一一六五～一二二三）法国中世纪卡佩王朝第一位伟大的国王。

从那以后，娜娜的家里真正是应有尽有。仆人都有了，马厩里、厨房里、太太的卧室里的仆人都有了。佐爱负责统管一切，对一些最错综复杂的出乎意料的事情，她总能处理得妥妥当当；家里安排得像剧院里一样有条不紊，像大行政机关里一样井井有条，一切运转得如此准确无误，开头两个月里，没有发生任何冲突和不协调现象。只是太太经常犯轻举、冒失、心血来潮和冒充好汉的毛病，给佐爱惹来太多的麻烦。因此，这个贴身女仆也就慢慢变得办事懈怠了，而且她还发觉在乱糟糟的时候，即太太做了蠢事而需要补救时，她就能从中捞到较大的好处。这时候，礼物像雨点般地落到她手中，她就混水摸鱼，从中捞到一些金路易。

一天早上，缪法还没有走出卧室，佐爱便把一位哆哆嗦嗦的先生领进梳妆室，娜娜正在里面换衣服。

“瞧！是治治！”娜娜惊讶地说道。

进来的人确实是乔治。可是，他见娜娜身穿睡衣，金发披散在裸露的肩上，就扑上去搂住她的脖子，把她抱得紧紧的，在她身上到处吻着，娜娜怕被人看见，拼命挣脱着，压低了声音，嘟囔道：

“行啦，他在房间里！真荒唐……而你呢，佐爱你疯了？把他带走！叫他呆在楼下，我马上想办法下来。”

佐爱不得不当着她的面把他推走。娜娜到了楼下饭厅里，见到他们时，把他们两人训斥了一顿。佐爱撅着嘴，气乎乎地走出去，一边说她本来想让太太高兴一下的。乔治再次见到娜娜，感到非常高兴，眼睛一直盯着她，里面噙满了泪水。现在，他的苦日子已经一去不复返了，他的母亲觉得他有理智了，便允许他离开丰岱特庄园；他在火车站刚下车，就坐上一辆马车，想尽快赶来吻一吻他的心肝宝贝。他说以后要生活在她身边，就像过去生活在“藏娇楼”别墅那样，他光着脚，在卧室里等她。他饱尝了一年辛酸离别之苦，现在急切需要摸摸她，他一边讲自己的情况，一边伸过手去，他抓住她的手，在睡衣的宽大衣袖里乱摸，一直摸到肩膀。

“你一直在爱着你的小宝贝吗？”他用孩子的口气问道。

“我当然爱他喽！”娜娜回答道，猛然挣脱他，“可是你连招呼都不打就突然来了……你知道，我的小宝贝，现在我是身不由己啦，你得聪明一点。”

乔治下马车后，以为长期的愿望终于可以得到满足了，顿时心花怒放，连他到了什么地方都没看一看。这时，他才注意到周围的一切都变了样子。他仔细察看着富丽堂皇的餐厅，装饰一新的高高的天花板，戈贝兰挂毯和餐具柜里的闪闪发光的银餐具。

“啊，你说得对。”他伤感地说。

于是娜娜告诉他，以后早上不要来。下午四点至六点，他要来可以来；这段时间她接待客人。接着，他用询问、恳求的目光瞅着她，并未对她提出什么要求，她便在他的额头上吻了一下，表示自己是一个心肠好的女人。

“听我的话，我要尽可能让你来。”她低声说道。

其实，她这句话对他来说并不意味着什么。她觉得乔治很乖，只想让他来作个伴儿，并没有其它想法。不过，他每天四点钟来时，似乎带着一副沮丧的神情，她便再作一点让步，她把他藏在衣柜里，让他继续享受别人享受残剩下来的美色。他再也不离开公馆，同女主人亲亲热热，像那条小巧玲珑的狗一样，躲在女主人的裙子里，即使她和别的男人睡觉的时候，他也能分享到她的一点点爱宠；在她孤独寂寞时，还能得到一些意外的收获，她会对他很甜蜜，并且抚爱他。

于贡太太大概知道了她的儿子又投入了这个坏女人的怀抱，因为她跑到巴黎，去向他的另一个儿子菲利普中尉求助，他当时驻扎在万森。乔治做事总是瞒着哥哥，这一次他感到绝望，生怕哥哥揍他。每次当他向娜娜一古脑儿倾吐爱情时，便什么也不隐瞒，所以他很快就向娜娜谈起他的哥哥，说他是一个健壮的男子汉，什么事都敢干。

“你知道吧，”他解释道，“妈妈不会到你家里来，而她会派我的哥哥来……当然喽，她会派菲利普来找我的。”

娜娜第一次听到这样的话，很生气。她用强硬的口气说道：

“我倒要看看他有多大能耐！他是中尉又怎么样，弗朗索瓦会不客气地把他赶出去！”

后来，由于这个孩子总是谈他的哥哥，她终于也关心起菲利普了。一个星期后，她对他从头到脚都了解了，他个子很高，身体健壮，性格开朗，有点粗暴；此外，他还有一些外人不知的细节，胳膊上有毛，一个肩膀上长颗痣。她对他的情况了解得那么多，一天，她对这个她要赶出门的男人有了一个完整的印象，她嚷道：

“喂，治治，你的哥哥不来了吧……他是个不守信用的人！”

第二天，当乔治单独和娜娜在一起时，弗朗索瓦上楼来，问太太是否接待菲利普·于贡中尉。乔治顿时脸色苍白，期期艾艾地说道：

“我早预料到了，妈妈早上还对我说过这件事。”

他哀求少妇派人去回话，就说她此刻不能接见客人。但是娜娜已经站起来了，激动地说：

“为什么不接见？不接见他，他还以为我怕他呢。啊，这回我们可要看笑话啦……弗朗索瓦，把这位先生带到客厅里，让他等一刻钟。然后，你再带他来见我。”

她没有再坐下来，在壁炉上的镜子和一面威尼斯镜子中间气急败坏地来回踱步，那面威尼斯镜子挂在一只意大利小匣子的上方；每走一次，她都朝镜子里望一眼，竭力微笑一下。乔治则精疲力竭，坐在一张长沙发上，他想到马上就要发生的一场风波，浑身颤抖起来。她一边踱步，一边断断续续地说道：

“让这小伙子等上一刻钟后，他就自然平静下来了……另外，如果他以为来到一个妓女家里，这间客厅就会使他大开眼界……对了，对了，好好看一看吧，我的好好先生。这里可没有一样是假货，仅这一点就足以叫你尊重这里的女主人。对男人来说，他们还应当尊重女人……嗯？一刻钟过了吗？不，还不到十分钟。哦！我们有的是时间。”

她不停地走动着。一刻钟到了，她打发乔治离开，一边叫他保证不在门外偷听，因为如果他被仆人们看见，就有失体统。乔治走出卧室时，壮着胆量用哽塞的声音说道：

“你要知道，他是我的哥哥……”

“别担心，”她摆出一副庄重的神态说道，“如果他讲礼貌，我也讲礼貌。”

弗朗索瓦领着菲利普·于贡进来，他身着礼服。开头，乔治听少妇的话，蹑手蹑脚地走出卧室。但是他俩谈话的声音又使他停下脚步，这时他迟疑不决，忧心忡忡，两腿发软。他想象这下子他要遭殃了，一定会挨耳光或类似的令人厌恶的事，使他以后跟娜娜在一起时，总是心里不痛快。因此，他克制不住一心想偷听的念头，便走回来，把耳朵贴到门上。他听得很不清楚，厚厚的门帘使声音变低了。然而，他毕竟听见了菲利普的几句话，他的话说得很严厉，话里有“孩子”、“家庭”、“荣誉”几个词讲得很清楚。他心里惶惶不安，想听到他的心上人怎样回答。他的心怦怦直跳，头晕目眩，耳朵里嗡嗡作响。她肯定开口就骂“下流坯”或“给我滚出去，这里是我的家！”可是什么也没有发生，一点声息也没有；娜娜好像死在里面了。过了一会儿，他哥哥的声音变得温和了。他懵住了，这时候，一阵古怪的低语声使他吃了一惊。原来娜娜啜泣起来。有一阵子，他内心的矛盾折磨着他，又想逃走，又想扑到菲利普的身上。然而，恰巧这时候，佐爱走向卧室，他急忙从那扇门边离开，但还是被她撞见了，他神态很尴尬。

佐爱不吭一声，开始整理衣柜里的衣服；他默不作声，一动也不动，把额头靠在一扇窗户的玻璃上，心里惴惴不安。佐爱沉默了一会后，问道：

“在太太那儿的那个人是你哥哥？”

“是的。”孩子用哽住的声音回答。

他们又沉默了一阵子。

“他在这里使你感到不安，是吗？乔治先生。”

“是的。”他依然用痛苦、说话费力的声音回答道。

佐爱从容地叠着花边，她慢吞吞地说道：

“你错了……太太会妥善处理的。”

他们两人就谈了这些，再也没有继续说下去。佐爱没有离开卧室。又过了整整一刻钟，她掉过头来，没有看到孩子发火，这时他行动不能自由，事情究竟怎样，他蒙在鼓里，脸色顿时变得苍白。他向客厅里瞟了几眼。他俩在客厅里呆了那么久，究竟在干什么呢？也许娜娜一直在哭泣。菲利普是个粗鲁的人，他一定打了她几个耳光。佐爱终于走了，他又跑到门口，再次把耳朵贴在门上偷听。这下子他可慌了，显然是被吓昏了头。因为他突然听见一阵欢声笑语，那是温柔的窃窃私语声和女人被人搔痒时抑制不住的笑声。紧接着娜娜把菲利普送到楼梯边，分别时彼此还说了几句亲热话。

乔治壮着胆子走进客厅，少妇站在镜子前，自我打量着。

“怎样啦？”他惊愕地问道。

“什么怎样啦？”她连头也不转一下，说道。

然后，她若无其事地说道：

“你以前对我是怎么说的？你的哥哥为人挺好嘛！”

“那么，问题解决了？”

“当然解决了……啊！你干吗这样问我？人家还以为我们要打架呢。”

乔治仍然不明白娜娜的话的意思，结结巴巴地说道：

“我似乎听见……你没有哭吗？”

“我哭了！”她大声嚷道，眼睛盯住他，“你在做梦吧！你为什么想到我哭过呢？”

娜娜大发雷霆，责备他不听她的话，躲在门边偷听，孩子被责备得惶惶不安。既然娜娜跟他生气，他便装出顺从的样子，走到她身边，想知道个究竟。

“那么，我的哥哥……”

“你的哥哥很快就知道他到了什么地方……你该明白，如果我真是一个婊子，那么在这种情况下，他考虑到你的年龄和你家庭的荣誉，他出来干涉是对的。哦！我是理解这类感情的……他到这里看了一眼就明白了，所以他表现得像个上流社会的人……这样，你就别担心了，一切事都完了，他回去会劝你妈妈放心的。”

她又笑着说道：

“而且，你会在这儿见到你哥哥……我已经邀请过他了，他还会来的。”

“啊！他还来这儿。”孩子说道，脸色变得煞白。

他下面什么也没有说，他们不再谈菲利普了。接着，她穿衣服准备出去，他睁着一双忧愁的大眼睛瞧着她。显而易见，他对事情的顺利解决感到很满意，因为他宁可死也不愿跟娜娜断绝关系；但是，在他的内心深处，却埋藏着他从来没有经历过的不安和深深的痛苦，他从来不敢对人讲出来。他怎么也不知道菲利普用什么方法使他母亲放心的。三天后，他的母亲高高兴兴地回到了丰岱特庄园。就在她回家的当天晚上，他还在娜娜家里，弗朗索瓦跑来通报中尉来了，他听了身上打了一个寒战。中尉很高兴，开玩笑地说，他把乔治当成一个逃学的顽童，他还在母亲面前为他逃学开脱过失，所以母亲才不继续过问。乔治心里仍然感到很紧张，不敢动弹一下，即使听到无关紧要的话，也像女孩子一样，脸羞得绯红。他哥哥比他大十岁，过去对他很少表现出兄弟般的情谊；乔治像怕父亲一般怕他，他与女人在一起厮混的事，直到现在还瞒着他。他看见菲利普坐在娜娜旁边，身体是那样健壮，他自由自在，放声大笑，尽情欢乐，他就感到羞愧而又尴尬。不过，后来他哥哥天天到娜娜家里来，他终于有点习惯了。娜娜精神焕发，满面春风，这是她荒淫无度的风流生活的尾声。这座公馆里满是男人和家具，仿佛异乎寻常地总是设宴庆祝乔迁之喜。

一天下午，于贡兄弟都在娜娜公馆里，缪法伯爵没有按照规定的时间来了。佐爱告诉他太太在会见客人，他便装成一副谨慎大度的绅士样子，没有进门就走了。等到他晚上再来时，娜娜像受了侮辱的妇女，憋着一肚子气，冷冰冰地接待他。

“先生，”她说，“我没有什么做得不对，让你来侮辱我……以后我在家里，请你像别的客人一样进来，听清楚了吧！”

伯爵听后，惊得目瞪口呆。

“但是，亲爱的……”他竭力想作些解释。

“因为我可能有客人！是的，客人中还有男人，你以为我和这些男人在一起干什么？……有人装出一副知趣情人的样子，大肆宣扬一个女人怎样怎样，我可不愿别人这样来宣扬我！”

他好不容易才得到她的原谅，其实，他心里还是挺高兴的。娜娜就是用这种发脾气的办法使伯爵顺从，并相信她是忠于他的。她强使伯爵接受乔治已有很长时间，她说乔治是个逗她喜欢的孩子。她又叫伯爵同菲利普在一起吃饭，伯爵也乐意地接受了；吃过饭后，他把年轻人拉到一边，询问他母亲的情况。从那时起，于贡兄弟、旺德夫尔和缪法公然成了一家人了，他们一见面就握手，像是亲密无间的朋友。这样，样样事情就好办了。只有缪法一人行动谨慎，避免来的次数太多，保持着陌生人来访时的言谈举止。晚上，娜娜坐在地上的虎皮上脱袜子时，他总是亲切地谈到这几位先生，谈得最多的是菲利普，他觉得他是忠厚的化身。

“这倒是真的，他们为人都很好，”娜娜坐在地上换睡衣，一边说道，“不过，你知道，他们都了解我是怎样一个人……他们胆敢说我一句不好，我就把他们赶出去。”

然而，娜娜虽然过着纸醉金迷的生活，周围又有一群阿谀奉承的人，仍然烦闷得要命。她每天夜里男人不离身，富得连梳妆台的抽屉都塞满了钱，与梳子和刷子混放在一起。可是这一切她还不感到满足，她总觉得什么地方有些空虚，什么地方不充实，使她想打呵欠。她成天无所事事，每天都过着同样的单调的生活。她想不到明天会怎样，她像鸟儿一样生活着，不愁没有吃的，随时准备栖息在任何一根树枝上。她确信有人供养她，便整天躺着，不干一点事，像在修道院里一样，在闲逸和顺从中昏昏欲睡，仿佛她是妓女职业中的囚徒。她有腿不走路，出门就坐车。她恢复了孩提时代的兴趣，从早到晚没完没了地亲着小狗珍宝，把时间消磨在无意义的玩艺上。她唯一的事情就是等待男人，她以表面殷勤、实质厌倦的态度忍受男人们的玩弄。在这种自暴自弃中，她唯一关心的是自己的娇艳容貌，她经常对着镜子，端详自己的身体，观察自己怎样洗澡，怎样往身上洒香水。她洋洋得意，她能在任何时候，在任何人面前，把身上脱得一丝不挂，并且不觉得害羞。

每天早上，娜娜十点钟起床，总是那只苏格兰卷毛狗舔她的脸，把她唤醒；接着，她与狗玩五分钟，让狗在她的胳膊上和大腿上乱跑乱窜，缪法看了很恼火。小狗成了他吃醋的第一个小男人。让一只小畜生把头伸进被窝里，真不像样子。随后，娜娜走到梳洗室去洗澡。将近十一点钟时，弗朗西斯来给她卷头发，复杂的梳理，要等到下午才做。她最讨厌一个人吃饭，吃午饭几乎总有马卢瓦太太作陪。马卢瓦太太早上总是戴着形状古怪的帽子，不知从什么地方来，晚上回到她那神秘生活的地方，对此谁也不去打听。最难度过的时间是午饭后到梳头之间的那两三个小时。平常她总是主动提出与马卢瓦太太玩玩纸牌，有时她也看看《费加罗报》，她对报上有关戏剧方面的报道和上流社会新闻颇感兴趣；她甚至偶尔也会打开一本书，因为她自诩爱好文学。头发梳理一直要到近五点钟时才告结束，这时她才从长时间的昏昏欲睡中清醒过来，然后乘马车出去，或在家里接待一大群男人。她经常在外面吃晚饭，晚上睡得很晚，第二天起床后，浑身仍然疲惫不堪。她每天都是这样度过的。

她最大的乐趣就是去巴蒂尼奥勒，到姑妈家里看望她的小路易。她常常半个月忘记他；然后，像发疯似的，徒步去看他，她心里满怀慈母般的歉意和慈爱，像去医院探望病人一样，带去一些礼物，有给姑母的烟草，有给儿子的桔子和饼干；有时她坐着自己的双篷四轮马车，去布洛涅森林，回来时去看儿子，她的衣着打扮轰动了那条僻静街道上的居民。自从侄女发迹以来，勒拉太太的虚荣心总是抑制不住要表现出来。她很少到维里埃大街来，装腔作势地说那里不是她去的地方；但是在她家的那条街道上，她总是自鸣得意，每当娜娜穿着价值四五千法郎的裙子到来，她就乐开了怀，第二天整天忙得不停，把侄女给她的礼物拿出来给左邻右舍观看，还把每样东西的价值一一说出来，邻居们听了，个个惊讶得目瞪口呆。通常娜娜总是与家人在一起过星期天，这天如果缪法邀她出去，她就像市民主妇那样微微一笑，谢绝他的邀请，说这不可能，她要到姑母家去吃晚饭，并去看她的小宝贝。尽管这样，这个可怜的孩子还总是生病。他快满三岁了，该长得很结实了。然而，他的后颈上生了湿疹，如今耳朵里又出现脓肿，令人担心的是头盖骨上再生出骨疽来。当她见他脸色苍白，血气不佳，肌肉松驰，上面有黄色斑点时，她就愁眉不展；她心里尤其感到奇怪。这个小宝贝怎么啦，为什么身体坏到这个样子？而她自己呢，他的母亲，身体竟然如此健康！

不去看孩子的日子里，她仍然过着一种繁忙而有规律的生活，到布洛涅森林散步，到剧院看首场演出，到金屋餐馆或英吉利咖啡馆吃晚饭或夜宵；另外，她还去所有公共场所，观看大家竞相观看的节目，如马比耶舞会、黄色歌舞演出和赛马。尽管这样，她仍然有无所事事的空虚感，像胃痉挛一样痛苦。虽然她不断地热恋上一个个男人，但是当她孤零零一个人时，她总是伸懒腰，好像疲乏不堪和寂寞马上使她忧愁起来，因为她又感到空虚，对自己感到厌倦。她的职业和她的天性决定她快乐地生活着，但是这时她的心情变得沉重起来，常常在两个呵欠之间，喊出足以概括她的生活的话来：

“啊！男人真叫我讨厌！”

一天下午，娜娜听音乐会回来，她瞥见一个女人大步流星地走在蒙马特街的人行道上，她的高帮皮鞋的鞋跟磨破了，裙子很脏，帽子被雨淋得不像样子。娜娜倏然认出她来。

“停车，夏尔！”她对车夫叫道。

接着，她又呼唤她的名字：

“萨丹！萨丹！”

路上行人都转过头来，街上的人都瞧着她们，萨丹向她走过来，衣服碰到车轮上，弄脏了。

“上车吧，我的姑娘。”娜娜不顾围观的人，若无其事地说。

尽管萨丹浑身脏得叫人恶心，娜娜还是让她上了自己那辆浅蓝色的双篷四轮马车，把她带回家；萨丹紧挨着她的镶着尚蒂伊花边的珠灰色绸裙子坐着。街上的人看见车夫自命不凡的样子，个个都露出了笑容。

从那以后，娜娜有了迷恋的人了，她的生活变得充实了。萨丹成了她的同性恋对象。她在维里埃街的公馆里住下来后，梳洗干净，换了衣服，她向娜娜整整讲了三天圣拉扎尔教养所里的情况，里面的修女如何令人讨厌，那些混蛋警察怎样把她列入暗娼名单。娜娜听了很愤怒，她安慰她，她发誓要亲自去找部长，把她从那里搭救出来。现在不必着急，警察肯定不会到她家里来找萨丹。于是，她俩在一起度过了几个甜蜜的下午，她们情语绵绵，互相又是吻，又是笑。这次是前一次在拉瓦尔街玩的把戏的继续，那次她们在玩时，警察突然来了，把她们冲散了，这次又重新开始，像开玩笑似的。后来，一天晚上，她们真正作爱了。娜娜在洛尔餐馆那里见过这套把戏，起初很反感，现在她明白是怎么回事了。她被萨丹弄得晕头转向，如痴如醉，使她丧魂落魄的是，到了第四天上午，萨丹失踪了。谁也没有看见她出去。她穿着新裙子溜走了，她一心想呼吸新鲜空气，还迷恋她的街头生活。

那一天，公馆里起了一场轩然大波，所有仆人都吓得低着头，不敢吱声。娜娜气得差点揍弗朗索瓦一顿，责备他没有守好门，让萨丹溜走了。但是她还是竭力克制住了，没有发出火来，她骂萨丹是臭婊子，以后不再到阴沟洞里去捡这类烂货了，这件事给了她一个教训。当天下午，太太把自己关在房里，佐爱听见她在啜泣。晚上，她突然叫人把她的马车准备好，把她拉到洛尔饭店去。她头脑里产生一个想法，也许能在殉道者街的那家饭店的餐桌上找到萨丹。她不是想重新见到她，而是想掴她的耳光。果然，萨丹与罗贝尔夫人在一张小餐桌上吃饭。她瞥见娜娜走来，笑起来了。娜娜内心很激动，但并未同她吵起来，态度很和蔼，很柔顺。她请大家喝香槟酒，把五六桌人灌得醉醺醺的，趁罗贝尔夫人上卫生间之际，把萨丹拉走了。刚上了马车，娜娜咬了她一口，并威胁她，如果她再犯，就把她杀了。

但是，这样的把戏又继续发生了，而且发生过好多次，娜娜很伤心，作为一个被欺骗的女子，她很气愤。娜娜跑出去到处寻找这只野鸡，她所以老是飞走，是为了寻求一时的热恋，另外，对公馆里的舒适生活她也感到厌倦。娜娜扬言要掴罗贝尔太太的耳光；有一天，她甚至希望同她决斗，因为她们三人中有一个多余的人。现在，她每次去洛尔饭店吃饭，总要戴上她的钻石戒指，有时还带着路易丝·维奥莱纳、玛丽亚·布隆、塔唐·内内一起去，她们个个身着盛装，光艳夺人。洛尔饭店的三间餐厅里，灯光昏暗，弥漫着蹩脚菜肴的气味，这些女人大摆阔气，附近的小婊子们看了惊讶不已，这使她们飘飘然起来，她们在饭后便把小婊子们一个个带走。每逢这样的日子，洛尔总是穿着光彩夺目的紧身衣，露出一副宽厚大度的慈母的神态，亲吻每个人。只有萨丹，每次遇到这些麻烦事时，总是保持冷静，睁着蓝蓝的眼睛，露出处女般的纯洁的面容；她常被两个女人争夺，她被咬，被打，被拉来拉去，而她只说这太可笑了，劝她们最好和解算了。掴她的耳光又有什么用呢，尽管她很乐意让大家都高兴，但是她又不能把自己分成两半。最后还是娜娜占了上风，她对萨丹说了无数温柔的话，又送给她那么多的礼物；为了报复，罗贝尔夫人给自己的情敌的每个情夫写了恶毒的匿名信。

一段时期以来，缪法伯爵似乎焦虑不安。一天上午，他很激动，把一封匿名信放在娜娜的面前。娜娜看了头几行，就知道信中控告她欺骗伯爵，与旺德夫尔和于贡兄弟私通。

“这是胡说！这是胡说！”她以极其坦率的口气斩钉截铁地嚷道。

“你敢赌咒吗？”缪法问道，他已松了一口气。

“啊！你叫我用什么来赌咒都可以……好吧，就用我的儿子的脑袋来赌咒吧！”

这封信很长。下面写了她与萨丹的关系，措词极其露骨下流。她看完信后，嫣然一笑。

“现在我知道这封信是谁写的。”她只简单地说了一句。

缪法听后，要求她辟谣，她心平气和地对他说：

“萨丹这件事，亲爱的，与你没有什么关系……这对你有什么害处呢？”

她对此事并不否认。缪法说了一些气愤的话，她听后耸了耸肩膀。他是哪个时代的人？这种事司空见惯，她说出了她的几个女友的名字，她发誓说上流社会的妇女都是这样。总之，照她说来，没有什么事比这种事更普遍、更自然的了。不符合事实的事她才生气，所以，刚才关于她与旺德夫尔和于贡兄弟的事，他看见她是多么气愤。啊！如果这事是真的，他完全有理由把她掐死。但是一件鸡毛蒜皮的事，对他说谎有什么好处呢？她重复了刚才的一句话：

“这对你有什么害处呢？”

争吵还没有完，她倏然用生硬的语气打断了缪法的话：“何况，亲爱的，如果你觉得不合适，那么很简单……门是开着的……就这样，你要我就得要本来面目的我。”

缪法低下头来。实际上，娜娜对他发誓，他很高兴。她看到自己占了上风，便不再对他客气了。从那以后，萨丹被公开收留在她家里，跟先生们平起平坐。旺德夫尔不需要收到匿名信就知道是怎么回事；他经常拿萨丹开玩笑，嫉妒她，找碴儿同她吵架，菲利普和乔治却把她当成同伴，同她握手，同她讲些不堪入耳的笑话。

一天晚上，娜娜又经历了一段奇遇。萨丹这个婊子扔下娜娜不管了，娜娜便到殉道者街去吃晚饭，同时寻找萨丹，结果没有找到她。当娜娜一个人在吃晚饭时，达盖内来了。他虽然准备结婚，但有时老毛病复发，到这里逛逛，以为在巴黎的这个阴暗、肮脏的角落里，不会遇见什么熟人。因此，见到娜娜在那儿，他似乎显得有点尴尬。但是他不是一个见了女人就退却的男人。他笑吟吟地走到娜娜前面，问太太是否允许他与她同桌吃饭。娜娜见他在开玩笑，便摆出一副庄重、冷淡的神态，语气生硬地说道：

“先生，你喜欢坐在哪里就坐在哪里。我们现在是在公共场所。”

谈话开始是用这样的语调，显得很有趣。但是在吃餐后点心时，娜娜有点忍不住了，巴不得炫耀一下自己的胜利，便把双肘放在桌子上，然后用亲昵的口气问道：

“喂，宝贝，你的婚事进展得顺利吗？”

“不大顺利。”达盖内承认道。

事实上，他正鼓足勇气向缪法家提出求婚时，他感到缪法伯爵对他态度很冷淡，他便小心翼翼地打消了这个念头。他觉得这件事告吹了。娜娜的明亮眼睛盯住他，用手托着下巴，嘴唇微微一翘，以示讥讽。

“啊！我可是个荡妇，”她慢吞吞地说道，“你该把你未来的岳父从我的魔爪中夺走……怎么！你是个聪明的小伙子，怎么胡涂到这个地步！怎么啦！你居然跟一个钟爱我、对我无话不说的男人说我的坏话！……你听着，我的小宝贝，只有我同意，你的婚事才会成功。”

这一点他刚才已觉察出来了，他正盘算着怎样才能使娜娜顺从自己的意愿。然而，他总是开着玩笑，不想一本正经地谈这件事。他戴上手套，做出严肃的样子，正式请求娜娜允许他向爱斯泰勒·德·伯维尔小姐求婚。她像被人搔痒似的，一下子笑起来。哦！这个咪咪！对他恨也恨不起来。达盖内在女人面前获得成功的原因，是他说话温柔，嗓音纯正，悦耳得像音乐一样，所以妓女们给他起了一个绰号，叫他“丝绒嘴巴”，在他那温柔、抚爱的声音的包围下，女人们都顺从他。他知道自己这种本事的威力，就用絮絮叨叨的甜言蜜语给她催眠，给她讲些荒诞不经的故事。他们离开饭桌时，娜娜的脸泛起红晕，挽起他的胳膊，浑身瑟瑟抖抖，被他重新征服了。因为天气很晴朗，她把马车打发走了，陪他一直步行回到他家门口，随后，又自然地陪他上了楼。过了两个小时，她一边穿衣服，一边对他说道：

“那么，咪咪，你一定要与伯爵的女儿结婚吗？”

“太太！”他悄声说道，“这还算是我的最好选择……你知道，我现在穷得连一个子儿也没有了。”

她叫他帮她结鞋带。沉默片刻后，她说道：

“天哪！我呀，我还会有什么意见……我来出面给你帮忙……这个小姑娘瘦得像干柴。不过，既然这是你们两个人的事情……哦！我是乐于助人的，我就给你撮合吧。”

她的胸部还裸露着，她笑起来，说道：

“不过，你拿什么酬谢我呢？”

他对她感恩戴德，一把搂住她，在她的肩膀上使劲吻着。

娜娜兴高采烈，浑身哆嗦着，头往后仰，挣扎着。

“啊！我知道，”她被他吻得兴奋了，大声嚷道，“你听着，我要你来答谢我的，就是你结婚的那一天，要把你的初夜权给我……就是说，在你同你老婆作爱之前，听见了吧！”

“好的！好的！”他说道，笑得比她更欢。

他们对这笔交易很感兴趣。他们觉得这件事这样处理很好。

恰巧第二天，娜娜家里举行晚宴，这是星期四的例行晚宴，缪法、旺德夫尔、于贡兄弟和萨丹都出席了。缪法伯爵很早就到了。他必须拿出八万法郎来为少妇还清两三笔债务，还要给她买一条蓝宝石项链，她非常羡慕这样的项链。他已经动用了他的很大一部分财产，但还不敢出售他的不动产，所以想找一个放债的人。他听从娜娜的话，去找拉博德特；但是拉博德特觉得这笔交易数字太大，就去对理发师弗朗西斯说，弗朗西斯很愿意为自己的顾客效劳。于是伯爵委托两位先生去办，但他明确表示，不能露出是他借钱的丝毫迹象。两位先生答应，把十万法郎本票放在公事包里拿回来，让伯爵收到后再签字。这十万法郎中有两万法郎是利息，他们请求伯爵谅解他们，并大骂那些放高利贷的坏蛋，可是，用他们的话来说，要借钱就只好去叩他们的门。缪法来后，叫人传话时，弗朗西斯刚刚替娜娜梳好头。拉博德特也在梳妆室里，他像一个不太重要的朋友，随便地呆在那里。他看见伯爵进来，就小心翼翼地把一大捆钞票放在香粉和香脂中间，随后，伯爵就在大理石梳妆台的本票上签了字。娜娜要留拉博德特吃晚饭，他谢绝了，他要领一个巴黎的阔佬客人出去逛逛。这时，缪法把他拉到一边，恳求他到贝克的珠宝店里走一趟，把那条蓝宝石项链买回来，他想当晚送给娜娜，让她惊喜一下。拉博德特满口答应完成这个差使。半个小时以后，朱利安悄悄把珠宝匣子交给伯爵。吃晚饭时，娜娜烦躁不安。她看到八万法郎，心里很激动。真想不到，这样一大笔钱统统要交到售货商的手里！这真让她心烦。上汤后，她就伤感起来，在这间富丽堂皇的餐厅里，银餐具和水晶器皿闪闪发光，她不禁感慨万千，赞美起贫穷的幸福。男人们都身着礼服，她自己穿着一件绣花白缎裙子，萨丹则穿得很简朴，穿一件黑绸裙子，脖子上只挂着一只金心坠子，那是好朋友娜娜送给她的礼物。站在客人们背后的是朱利安和弗朗索瓦，他俩在佐爱的帮助下，侍候客人们，三个人表情都很严肃。

“当然，从前我一贫如洗的时候，比现在更愉快。”娜娜说道。

娜娜叫缪法坐在她的右边，叫旺德夫尔坐在她的左边；但她几乎不看他们一眼，却注视着坐在她对面的萨丹。萨丹的两边坐着菲利普和乔治。

“是吗，我的小猫咪？”她每说一句话，都这么问萨丹一声，“当年我们在波隆梭街若斯嬷嬷寄宿学校上学时，生活得多欢乐！”

烤肉端来了。两个女人仍然大谈着往事，好像不谈过去的事情就觉得恐慌，突然感到需要把少年时代的污泥浊水搅动一下；尤其是有男人在场时，她们似乎抑制不住这种狂热，把她们过去成长的粪土也讲出来，硬要他们听一听。在座的先生们听得脸上泛白，眸子里露出尴尬的神色。于贡兄弟竭力想笑，旺德夫尔神经质般地捻着胡子，缪法神态越发严肃起来。

“你还记得维克多吗？”娜娜说道，“他是一个坏孩子，常常把小女孩带到地窖里！”

“你说的一点不错，”萨丹回答道，“我记得很清楚，你家有一个大院子，有一个女门房，手里总是拿着一把扫帚……”

“她是博什老太，已经去世了。”

“我还记得你家的店铺……你妈很胖。一天晚上，我们在一起玩时，你爸爸喝醉回来了，醉得很厉害！”

这时候，旺德夫尔试图把话题岔开，在他们回忆往事的时候插了一句：

“喂，亲爱的，我想再吃点块菰……块菰味道真鲜美。我昨天在德·科布勒兹公爵家里吃过，但味道没有这里的好。”

“朱利安，来点块菰！”娜娜粗声粗气地说。

接着，她又回到了原来的话题：

“啊！天哪，爸爸真胡涂……所以他失败得那样惨！如果你见到这样的情景，破了产，经济拮据！……我可以说我各种苦头都吃过，我没有像爸爸和妈妈那样死掉，真是奇迹。”

缪法神经质般地拿着餐刀在玩，这一次他竟壮着胆子插话了。

“你们讲的都是不令人高兴的事。”

“嗯？什么？不令人高兴！”她嚷起来，狠狠瞪了他一眼。

“我也认为这些是不令人愉快的事！……可是，我们那时得有人给我们面包吃呀，亲爱的……哦！我呀，你知道，我是个老实姑娘，事情是怎样，我就说怎样。妈妈是洗衣妇，爸爸酗酒，最后因醉酒而死，实际情况就是这样！如果你们听了认为不合适，如果你们觉得我出身的家庭不光彩的话……”

大家都说不是这个意思。她说这些，究竟要找什么碴儿呢！大家都尊重她的家庭出身。但是，她还是继续说下去：

“如果你们觉得我的家庭不光彩，那么，你们就离开我好了，因为我不是连父母都不认的女人……你们要我，就得连我的父母一起要，明白了吧！”

他们要她，也必须要听她讲她的爸爸、妈妈、她的过去、她所要回忆的一切，四个男人现在都缩着身子，眼睛盯着桌面。她像掌握着至高无上的权力的女人，盛怒之下，把他们都踩在她过去在金滴街穿的旧鞋子底下。这时她还未息怒：即使有人送她财产，给她建造宫殿也无济于事，她还是要怀念过去啃土豆的时代。金钱是蠢货，只能用来开开玩笑！它是为商人而造的。最后，她这股火气以一种感伤的愿望而了结，说她要过一种简朴的生活，恳诚待人，生活在普通的善良的人们中间。

这时，她见朱利安垂着双手，在那里侍候。

“喂，怎么啦？斟香槟酒呀，”她说道，“看我干什么？像个呆鹅。”

在太太发火时，没有一个仆人露出一丝微笑。他们似乎没听见，太太越唠叨，他们越显得庄重。朱利安乖乖地开始斟香槟酒。弗朗索瓦端水果时，不巧把水果盘子歪了一下，苹果、梨子和葡萄都滚到了桌子上。

“该死的笨蛋！娜娜骂道。

弗朗索瓦不该辩解，他说水果原来摆得不稳，佐爱拿橙子时触动过了。

“那么，”娜娜说，“佐爱就是笨蛋。”

“可是，太太……”贴身女仆的自尊心受到伤害，低声说道。

太太站起来，摆出王后般的威严，用命令的口气说道：“行了，对吧？……统统滚出去！……我们不需要你们了。”

赶走了仆人，她平静了下来。她立刻显得温柔可爱。餐后点心味道很好，先生们都自己动手，吃得挺高兴。萨丹削了一只梨，走到娜娜身后来吃，倚在她的肩上，靠在她的耳边说了一些话，说完两人纵情大笑；然后，萨丹要把自己的最后一块梨分一半给娜娜，萨丹用牙齿咬着梨，送到娜娜的嘴边，两个人的嘴唇靠到一起，在接吻中把梨吃掉。于是，先生们提出了令人发笑的抗议。菲利普大声叫大家不必看不顺眼。旺德夫尔问他们是不是该出去一会儿。乔治跑过来抱住萨丹的腰，把她拉到自己的座位上。

“你们真蠢！”娜娜说道，“你们把我可怜的宝贝的脸都弄红了……别睬他们，姑娘，让他们开玩笑好了，这是咱俩的私事。”

缪法神态严肃地瞅着她们，娜娜转过头来，对他说道：

“你说对吧，我的朋友？”

“对的，肯定对。”他慢慢地点了一下头，喃喃说道。

没有人再提抗议了。这些先生都出身于名门望族，都受过正统教育，她们坐在他们中间，面对着面互相含情脉脉，泰然自若地滥施女性的淫威，公然表示对男人们的蔑视，使他们不得不接受她们，承认她们的主宰地位。他们还为她们的行动拍手叫好。

大家到楼上小客厅里喝咖啡。两盏灯发出柔和的光线，照亮了粉红色的帷幔、暗金色的漆器小摆设。在夜间这样的时刻，在一些小箱子、青铜器和瓷器中间，一道幽暗的光线照亮了一件白银或象牙镶嵌的饰物，把一根有发亮的雕刻图案的小棍照得更加醒目，把一块镶板也照得发出丝绒般的反光。下午生的火已成火炭，窗帘和门帘遮得严严的，房间里暖烘烘的，令人昏昏欲睡。这间屋子里充满了娜娜的私生活的气氛，乱扔的手套，落在地上的手绢，一本打开的书，还常常看见她在屋里穿着睡衣，身上散发出一股紫罗兰的香味。她的没有条理的妓女生活，在这富丽堂皇的氛围中，产生了一种迷人的效果。那些宽大得像床的扶手椅，深得像凹室的长沙发足以引人昏昏欲睡，把时间置之脑后，诱人坐在暗淡的角落里，窃窃私语，笑吟吟地倾吐衷肠。

萨丹走近壁炉边，躺到一张长沙发上，点燃一支香烟。旺德夫尔跟她开玩笑，装出吃醋的样子，拼命与她争吵，威胁她说，如果她再缠住娜娜，不让她尽主人的职责，他就要派证人来揭发她。菲利普和乔治也凑过来帮腔，一起捉弄她，使劲捏她，最后她叫起来：

“亲爱的！亲爱的！叫他们规矩一些吧！他们总缠住我。”

“喂，放开她，”娜娜严肃地说，“你们知道，我不愿意看到别人纠缠她……而你呢，我的小猫咪，既然他们这样不懂情理，你为什么总是与他们混在一起？”

萨丹脸都气红了，她伸伸舌头，到梳妆室去了。梳妆室的门敞开着，透过那扇门，可以看见一只毛玻璃球形灯罩，里面燃着一盏灯，射出的乳白色的光线把大理石梳妆台照亮了。这时候，娜娜以充满魅力的女主人的身份同四个男人交谈起来。她在白天读了一本轰动一时的小说，小说写的是一个妓女的身世。她读完后很气愤，她说故事很不真实，而且对这种标榜描写现实生活的淫秽文学表示反感和愤慨。好像什么内容都可以写似的！好像小说写出来不是让人愉乐消遣似的！关于书籍和戏剧，娜娜有自己的特有的见解，她希望读到描写爱情的高雅作品，所写的内容能留给她想象的余地，并使她的灵魂变得高尚。尔后，他们的话题倏地转到震动巴黎的骚乱上来，报纸上刊登的煽风点火的文章，每天晚上都有公共集会，有人号召人们拿起武器，散会后就出现骚乱，她愤怒地攻击共和派人。这些从来不洗澡的脏汉究竟想干什么呢？难道人们生活得还不幸福吗？难道皇帝办的一切不都是为了老百姓吗？老百姓是下流坯！她了解老百姓，她能够评论他们；她竟忘记了刚才吃饭时她要求人家尊重金滴路上的那些小人物阶层，现在又以发迹女人的身份，带着厌恶和恐惧的情绪来攻击自己人。恰巧就在那天下午，她在《费加罗报》上读到一篇关于一次公共集会的报道，集会很滑稽，会上讲话者用的是俚语，有一个醉汉洋相百出，被人赶出了会场，她看后还觉得好笑。

“嘿！这群酒鬼，”她带着厌恶的神情说道，“不，你们等着瞧吧，他们的共和国对大家来说，将是一场大灾难……啊！上帝保佑皇上坐稳江山，坐得越长越好！”

“上帝会听到你的祈祷的，亲爱的，”缪法一本正经地回答道，“行了，皇上的江山坐得很稳。”

他很喜欢见到她发表这些正确的看法。在政治上他们两人观点一致。旺德夫尔和于贡中尉也不停地对这些“流氓”进行冷嘲热讽，说他们是一群大吵大嚷的人，一见到刺刀就逃之夭夭。那天晚上，乔治面色苍白，怏怏不乐。

“这孩子怎么啦？”娜娜见他露出不舒服的神态，问道。

“我呀，没有什么，我在听你们谈话。”乔治低声说道。

他心里很难过。吃完饭后，他就听到菲利普跟少妇开玩笑；而现在又是菲利普而不是他自己坐在娜娜的身边。他气得胸口发胀，像要爆炸似的，他也不知道是什么原因。他不能容忍他们两人在一起，一些难于启齿的想法哽在他的喉咙里，他感到羞耻和苦恼。他讥笑萨丹，因为她先后在娜娜家里接受了斯泰内、缪法和其他人。他很恼火，一想到菲利普可能有朝一日会摸娜娜，就气得发狂。

“喂！抱抱珍宝吧。”娜娜为了安慰他，对他说道，一边把在她裙子上睡觉的小狗递给他。

乔治又变得快活起来，他抱着还带着娜娜膝盖上的热气的小狗，就像抱着娜娜身上的某一部分。

他们又谈到旺德夫尔，他在前一天晚上，在帝国俱乐部赌输了一大笔钱，缪法不会赌博，听了大吃一惊，但是，旺德夫尔仍然笑吟吟的，暗示自己即将破产，巴黎全城人都在议论这件事：人吗，怎样死并不要紧，要紧的是要死得漂亮。一段时间以来，娜娜发觉他有些烦躁不安，嘴角上有了一条衰老的皱纹，清澈、深邃的目光里露出犹疑不定的神色。但他仍然保持高傲的贵族派头和没落了的名门望族的翩翩风度。他已经为赌博和女人绞尽脑汁，这种翩翩风度犹如短暂的眩晕症发作。一天晚上，他睡在娜娜的身边，对她说了一番可怕的话，她听了吓得要命：等他把财产挥霍殆尽时，就把自己关在马厩里，放一把火，与马同归于尽。现在他的唯一希望寄托在一匹名叫吕西尼昂的马身上，他正在对它进行训练，让它在巴黎赛马中夺取头奖。他就是靠这匹马活着，他已动摇了的信誉全靠这匹马来维持住。每当娜娜提出向他要什么东西，他都说要等到六月份，等吕西尼昂在赛马中赢了再说。

“算了吧！”她开玩笑地说，“也可能输掉，因为它要把所有的马都淘汰了才行。”

他只用一丝神秘的微笑作答。然后，他轻松地说：

“我想起一件事要告诉你，我冒昧地把你的名字给了我的一匹小母马，它获胜希望很小……娜娜，娜娜，这个名字真响亮，你不生气吧？”

“生气，为什么？”她说道，其实她很高兴。

他们继续谈话，谈到最近要处决杀人犯，娜娜急于要去观看，这时候萨丹出现在梳妆室的门口，用央求的语气叫她。娜娜马上站起来，离开这些先生，走向萨丹，丢下几位先生不管。那几位先生都懒洋洋地躺着，一边抽雪茄烟，一边讨论一个严肃的问题：一个患有慢性酒精中毒的杀人犯，应负多大杀人罪责。佐爱倒在梳妆室的一张椅子上，哭得像个泪人，萨丹尽力劝她，她也不听。

“怎么啦？”娜娜惊讶地问道。

“啊！亲爱的，你劝劝她吧，”萨丹说道，“我已经劝她好长时间了……因为你叫她笨蛋，她才哭的。”

“是的，太太……骂得太重了……骂得太重了……”佐爱结结巴巴地说着，又被一阵啜泣哽住了。

娜娜见此情景，心一下子软了。她说了一些好话安慰她。佐爱还没有平静下来，娜娜便蹲在她面前，用手搂住她的腰，做出亲热而深情的样子。

“你真死心眼。我说笨蛋跟说别的话一样。难道我是有意说的吗！我是在气头上……好啦，我错啦，你就消消气吧。”

“我这样热爱太太……”佐爱嘟囔道，“我为太太干了那么多的事……”

于是娜娜拥抱了佐爱。接着，为了表明她并没有生她的气，就把一件才穿过三次的裙子送给佐爱。她们每次口角都以娜娜送礼物而告终。佐爱用手绢揩干眼泪，把裙子搁在手臂上拿走了，走时还说厨房里有人很不开心，朱利安和弗朗索瓦吃不下饭，太太发脾气，他们倒了胃口。太太又叫佐爱给他们每人捎去一个金路易，作为和解的表示。只要她身边的人愁眉苦脸，她就很难过。

娜娜回到客厅里，平息了这场风波，她很高兴，不必为第二天的事而暗自发愁了，这时萨丹凑到她的耳边，没完没了地跟她说话。她向娜娜告状，并威胁说，如果这些男人再捉弄她，她就要走了。她要求娜娜那天夜里就把他们统统赶走，这样好教训教训他们。再说，只有她们两个人，那该多好呀！娜娜听了有点发愁，断言说这是不可能的。于是，萨丹就像一个粗野的孩子对娜娜耍赖，一定要娜娜听她的话。

“我要这样，听见了吧！……要么把他们赶走，要么就是我离开这里！”

说完，萨丹就回到客厅，往窗户边的长沙发上一躺，一个人呆在那儿，一声不吭，像个死人，一双大眼睛盯着娜娜，等待娜娜回答她。

这些先生们的讨论结果，一致反对刑法学家有关犯罪的新理论。根据这种杜撰出来的所谓理论，某些病理状态的犯罪就可以不负刑事责任，这样说来，就没有罪犯，只有病人了。娜娜一边点头赞同先生们的结论，一边考虑用什么办法把伯爵打发走。其他人马上就会走，但伯爵一定不肯走。不出娜娜所料，菲利普刚站起来要走，乔治也马上站起来，他唯一担心是怕他哥哥比他迟走。旺德夫尔又呆了几分钟，观测风向，看看缪法是否因为有什么事情而走掉，这样他就可以取而代之，后来他看见伯爵干脆不走，要留下来过夜，也就不再坚持了，识相地告辞了。可是，当他向门口走去时，发觉萨丹两眼发愣，他明白了她的意思，心里感到很有趣，便走过去同她握手。

“嗯？我们没有闹翻吧？”他喃喃说道，“请原谅我……我用名誉担保，你是最漂亮的姑娘。”

萨丹不屑于跟他讲话。这时，娜娜和伯爵两人单独呆在一起，萨丹一直注视着他俩。缪法不再有所顾忌，便过来坐在娜娜身边，抓起她的手指亲吻着。娜娜想打个岔，问他的女儿爱斯泰勒的身体是否好了一些。昨天晚上，伯爵还抱怨这个孩子性格忧郁；他在家里没有一天生活得愉快，他的妻子成天不在家，他的女儿冷冰冰的，一声不吭。对于伯爵的这些家庭问题，娜娜总是出一些好主意。那天晚上，缪法觉得身心轻松愉快，便对她诉起苦来。

“如果你把她嫁出去呢？”她想起了对达盖内的承诺，说道。

她马上大胆说出了达盖内的名字。伯爵一听到这名字，就怒不可遏。他听过娜娜对他讲的那些关于达盖内的情况，他永远也不会把女儿嫁给达盖内。

她做出惊讶的样子，接着哈哈大笑起来，搂住他的脖子，说道：

“啊！你吃醋啦，难道这是真的！……你冷静想一想。当时他对你说了我的坏话，我气坏了……今天我感到很抱歉。”

她从伯爵的肩上看过去，目光正好与萨丹的目光相遇。她感到心慌，立即松开他，一本正经地说道：

“我的朋友，这门亲事一定要做成，我不想妨碍你女儿的幸福。这个青年很好，你是找不到这样的好青年的。”

接着，她大谈达盖内的优点。伯爵抓住她的手，他不再说不行了，他再考虑一下，以后再谈这事。然后他提出要上床睡觉，娜娜压低了嗓门，对他说出一些理由，不能奉陪，她说月经来了，如果他真的有点爱她，就不应该强求。然而，他很固执，坚决不走，她有点软下来了，这时她又遇到了萨丹的目光，于是，她的态度又强硬起来。不行，这是不可能的。伯爵非常激动，脸上显出痛苦的表情，他站起来，找他的帽子，然而，他刚走到门口，忽然想起那条蓝宝石项链，因为他感觉到口袋里的首饰匣子。他原来打算把它藏在床里边，等她第一个上床后，一伸腿就可以碰到项链，这是大孩子送礼物让对方惊讶的一种方法。他从吃晚饭时就在想这个方法。他现在这样被打发走，心里惶惶不安，怏怏不乐，他生硬地把首饰匣交给她。

“这是什么？”她问道，“瞧！这是蓝宝石……啊！真的，就是这条项链。你是多么可爱！……喂，亲爱的，你相信就是我看见的那一条吗？把它摆在橱窗里，更好看。”

这就算她对他的全部答谢，她还是让他走了。他看见萨丹躺在那儿，在静静地等待着。于是他瞧瞧两个女人，只好听从，不再坚持留下来了，他走下楼去。前厅的门还没有关上，萨丹就一下子搂住娜娜的腰，一股劲儿跳呀，唱呀。随后，她跑到窗口，说道：

“瞧他走在人行道的那副样子！”两个女人在窗帘的遮掩下，把胳膊肘支在铁栏杆上。一点钟敲响了。维里埃大街上空荡荡的，在这三月的潮湿的夜色中，两排煤气街灯延伸到远处，狂风夹着雨扑打在煤气灯上。一块块空地上，看上去犹如一个个黑魆魆的洞穴，正在建筑中的公馆的脚手架耸立在漆黑的夜空中。缪法弓着背，沿着潮湿的人行道走着，他穿过巴黎这片新开辟的冰冷、空荡荡的平地，向前走去，连他的身影仿佛都充满忧伤。她俩见他那副狼狈相，失声大笑起来。这时娜娜叫萨丹住口：

“注意，警察来了！”

于是她们压低了笑声，心里隐约感到恐惧，瞧着马路对面迈着整齐步伐走过来的两个黑影。娜娜虽然过着豪华的生活，像女王一样受人尊敬，但对警察还是怕得要命，不喜欢听人谈到警察，就像不喜欢听人谈到死亡一样。看见一个警察抬头瞧瞧她的公馆，她心里就发慌。谁也不知道这些人会怎样对待她。如果他们听见她们在夜间这个时分狂笑，就很可能把她们当成妓女。萨丹把身子紧紧贴在娜娜身上，微微打着寒战。然而，她们仍然呆在窗口，被一盏渐渐靠近她们的提灯吸引住了，那盏灯光在马路旁的一片片水洼中摇晃着。原来是一个捡破烂的老妪在水洼中捡东西。萨丹认出她来了。

“哎哟，”萨丹说，“原来是波玛蕾王后，她围一条柳条开司米围巾。”

这时，一阵风夹着毛毛细雨，打在她们脸上，萨丹向娜娜讲述了波玛蕾王后的身世。哦，过去她是一个美丽无比的妓女，她的花容月貌，巴黎无人不夸；她富有魅力，又有胆量，男人像牲口一样听她使唤，一些大人物还在她的楼梯上哭泣呢！如今她酗酒，同区的女人们为了逗趣，总灌她苦艾酒；她酒后走在街上，顽童们跟在她后边向她扔石块。总之，她真正是一落千丈，一个王后跌到粪堆里了！娜娜听着，浑身都凉了。

“让你看看吧。”萨丹说。

她像男人那样吹了一下口哨。那个捡破烂的女人到了窗户下面，她抬起头向上看，在她的提灯的微弱昏黄光亮下，她被看得清楚了。她浑身衣衫褴褛，颈上的围巾已经破成碎片，面色发青，脸上布满伤痕，牙齿都脱落了，嘴像一个空洞，两只眼睛红红的，还有伤痕。娜娜面对这个沉湎于酒的可怕的老妓女，倏然产生一个回忆，在黑暗中，她仿佛看见了夏蒙古堡，仿佛看见了伊尔玛，当昂格拉斯这个年高德劭的妓女，正踏在古堡的台阶上，全村居民都俯伏在她的脚下。萨丹又吹起口哨，嘲笑那个没有看见她的老妪。

“别吹了，警察来了！”娜娜低声说道，她吓得嗓音都变了。

“快回到屋里来吧，我的小猫咪。”

警察又迈着整齐的步伐回来了。她们把窗户关好。娜娜回过头来，浑身打着哆嗦，头发湿漉漉的，在客厅前愣了一阵，仿佛忘记了这是她的客厅，好像到了一个陌生的地方。她感到那里的空气那么温暖，那么芳香，顿时感到很幸福。这里堆满了财富，古色古香的家具，金丝绸料，象牙，青铜器，这一切都在粉红色的灯光下沉睡着；幽静的整座公馆给人以无比豪华的感觉，会客厅庄严肃穆，饭厅宽敞舒适，楼梯宽阔宁静，地毯和座椅舒适而雅致。这一切是她自身的倏然扩大，是她的主宰和享受欲望的膨胀，是她的占有一切进而毁掉一切的欲望的膨胀。她从来没有这样深刻地感觉到她的性的威力。她举目慢悠悠地环顾四周，用哲学家的严肃神态说道：

“对呀！一个人年轻时及时行乐还是对的！”

这时，萨丹躺在卧室的熊皮上打滚，一边呼唤她：

“快来呀！快来呀！”

娜娜在梳妆室里脱衣服。为了快点到达萨丹身边，就用手抓住她那厚厚的金发，在银盆上面抖动，长长的发夹像冰雹似地落在发亮的银盆子上，发出一阵清脆悦耳的响声。

1 filthy   

adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的

参考例句：

• The whole river has been fouled up with filthy waste from factories.整条河都被工厂的污秽废物污染了。
• You really should throw out that filthy old sofa and get a new one.你真的应该扔掉那张肮脏的旧沙发，然后再去买张新的。

2 plunge   

v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲

参考例句：

• Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
• That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

3 garish   

adj.华丽而俗气的，华而不实的

参考例句：

• This colour is bright but not garish.这颜色艳而不俗。
• They climbed the garish purple-carpeted stairs.他们登上铺着俗艳的紫色地毯的楼梯。

4 gallant   

adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的

参考例句：

• Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
• These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。

5 expenditure   

n.(时间、劳力、金钱等)支出；使用，消耗

参考例句：

• The entry of all expenditure is necessary.有必要把一切开支入账。
• The monthly expenditure of our family is four hundred dollars altogether.我们一家的开销每月共计四百元。

6 wastefulness   

浪费，挥霍，耗费

参考例句：

• Everybody' s pained to see such wastefulness. 任何人看到这种浪费现象都会很痛心的。
• EveryBody's pained to see such wastefulness. 我们看到这种浪费现象很痛心。

7 peculiar   

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。

8 saluting   

v.欢迎，致敬( salute的现在分词 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• 'Thank you kindly, sir,' replied Long John, again saluting. “万分感谢，先生。”高个子约翰说着又行了个礼。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
• He approached the young woman and, without saluting, began at once to converse with her. 他走近那年青女郎，马上就和她攀谈起来了，连招呼都不打。 来自辞典例句

9 adoration   

n.爱慕，崇拜

参考例句：

• He gazed at her with pure adoration.他一往情深地注视着她。
• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。

10 diaphanous   

adj.(布)精致的，半透明的

参考例句：

• She was wearing a dress of diaphanous silk.她穿着一件薄如蝉翼的绸服。
• We have only a diaphanous hope of success.我们只有隐约的成功希望。

11 gaily   

adv.欢乐地，高兴地

参考例句：

• The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
• She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。

12 chaste   

adj.贞洁的；有道德的；善良的；简朴的

参考例句：

• Comparatively speaking,I like chaste poetry better.相比较而言，我更喜欢朴实无华的诗。
• Tess was a chaste young girl.苔丝是一个善良的少女。

13 lithe   

adj.(指人、身体)柔软的，易弯的

参考例句：

• His lithe athlete's body had been his pride through most of the fifty - six years.他那轻巧自如的运动员体格，五十六年来几乎一直使他感到自豪。
• His walk was lithe and graceful.他走路轻盈而优雅。

14 exquisite   

adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的

参考例句：

• I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
• I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。

15 elegance   

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。

16 aristocrat   

n.贵族，有贵族气派的人，上层人物

参考例句：

• He was the quintessential english aristocrat.他是典型的英国贵族。
• He is an aristocrat to the very marrow of his bones.他是一个道道地地的贵族。

17 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

18 rebelliously   

adv.造反地，难以控制地

参考例句：

• He rejected her words rebelliously. 他极力反对她的观点。 来自互联网

19 trampled   

踩( trample的过去式和过去分词 )； 践踏； 无视； 侵犯

参考例句：

• He gripped his brother's arm lest he be trampled by the mob. 他紧抓着他兄弟的胳膊，怕他让暴民踩着。
• People were trampled underfoot in the rush for the exit. 有人在拼命涌向出口时被踩在脚下。

20 prostrate   

v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的

参考例句：

• She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
• The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。

21 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

22 rue   

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。

23 luxurious   

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。

24 intoxicated   

喝醉的，极其兴奋的

参考例句：

• She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
• They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉，东南西北全然不辨。

25 palatial   

adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的

参考例句：

• Palatial office buildings are being constructed in the city.那个城市正在兴建一些宫殿式办公大楼。
• He bought a palatial house.他买了套富丽堂皇的大房子。

26 renaissance   

n.复活，复兴，文艺复兴

参考例句：

• The Renaissance was an epoch of unparalleled cultural achievement.文艺复兴是一个文化上取得空前成就的时代。
• The theme of the conference is renaissance Europe.大会的主题是文艺复兴时期的欧洲。

27 originality   

n.创造力，独创性；新颖

参考例句：

• The name of the game in pop music is originality.流行音乐的本质是独创性。
• He displayed an originality amounting almost to genius.他显示出近乎天才的创造性。

28 epoch   

n.(新)时代；历元

参考例句：

• The epoch of revolution creates great figures.革命时代造就伟大的人物。
• We're at the end of the historical epoch,and at the dawn of another.我们正处在一个历史时代的末期，另一个历史时代的开端。

29 artistic   

adj.艺术(家)的，美术(家)的；善于艺术创作的

参考例句：

• The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
• These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。

30 extravagantly   

adv.挥霍无度地

参考例句：

• The Monroes continued to entertain extravagantly. 门罗一家继续大宴宾客。 来自辞典例句
• New Grange is one of the most extravagantly decorated prehistoric tombs. 新格兰奇是装饰最豪华的史前陵墓之一。 来自辞典例句

31 dressing   

n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料

参考例句：

• Don't spend such a lot of time in dressing yourself.别花那么多时间来打扮自己。
• The children enjoy dressing up in mother's old clothes.孩子们喜欢穿上妈妈旧时的衣服玩。

32 conservatory   

n.温室，音乐学院；adj.保存性的，有保存力的

参考例句：

• At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里，他学会了怎样谱曲。
• The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。

33 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

34 refinement   

n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼

参考例句：

• Sally is a woman of great refinement and beauty. 莎莉是个温文尔雅又很漂亮的女士。
• Good manners and correct speech are marks of refinement.彬彬有礼和谈吐得体是文雅的标志。

35 nay   

adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者

参考例句：

• He was grateful for and proud of his son's remarkable,nay,unique performance.他为儿子出色的，不，应该是独一无二的表演心怀感激和骄傲。
• Long essays,nay,whole books have been written on this.许多长篇大论的文章，不，应该说是整部整部的书都是关于这件事的。

36 wont   

adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯

参考例句：

• He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
• It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。

37 arcades   

n.商场( arcade的名词复数 )；拱形走道（两旁有商店或娱乐设施）；连拱廊；拱形建筑物

参考例句：

• Clothes are on sale in several shopping arcades these days. 近日一些服装店的服装正在大减价。 来自轻松英语会话---联想4000词(下)
• The Plaza Mayor, with its galleries and arcades, is particularly impressive. 市长大厦以其别具风格的走廊和拱廊给人留下十分深刻的印象。 来自互联网

38 awning   

n.遮阳篷；雨篷

参考例句：

• A large green awning is set over the glass window to shelter against the sun.在玻璃窗上装了个绿色的大遮棚以遮挡阳光。
• Several people herded under an awning to get out the shower.几个人聚集在门栅下避阵雨

39 panes   

窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sun caught the panes and flashed back at him. 阳光照到窗玻璃上，又反射到他身上。
• The window-panes are dim with steam. 玻璃窗上蒙上了一层蒸汽。

40 bosom   

n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的

参考例句：

• She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
• A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

41 bosoms   

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

参考例句：

• How beautifully gold brooches glitter on the bosoms of our patriotic women! 金光闪闪的别针佩在我国爱国妇女的胸前，多美呀！
• Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty. 我们寻个僻静的地方，去痛哭一场吧。

42 divan   

n.长沙发；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集

参考例句：

• Lord Henry stretched himself out on the divan and laughed.亨利勋爵伸手摊脚地躺在沙发椅上，笑着。
• She noticed that Muffat was sitting resignedly on a narrow divan-bed.她看见莫法正垂头丧气地坐在一张不宽的坐床上。

43 divans   

n.（可作床用的）矮沙发( divan的名词复数 )；（波斯或其他东方诗人的）诗集

参考例句：

44 tapestry   

n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面

参考例句：

• How about this artistic tapestry and this cloisonne vase?这件艺术挂毯和这个景泰蓝花瓶怎么样？
• The wall of my living room was hung with a tapestry.我的起居室的墙上挂着一块壁毯。

45 adorned   

[计]被修饰的

参考例句：

• The walls were adorned with paintings. 墙上装饰了绘画。
• And his coat was adorned with a flamboyant bunch of flowers. 他的外套上面装饰着一束艳丽刺目的鲜花。

46 chapel   

n.小教堂，殡仪馆

参考例句：

• The nimble hero,skipped into a chapel that stood near.敏捷的英雄跳进近旁的一座小教堂里。
• She was on the peak that Sunday afternoon when she played in chapel.那个星期天的下午，她在小教堂的演出，可以说是登峰造极。

47 seclusion   

n.隐遁，隔离

参考例句：

• She liked to sunbathe in the seclusion of her own garden.她喜欢在自己僻静的花园里晒日光浴。
• I live very much in seclusion these days.这些天我过着几乎与世隔绝的生活。

48 fraught   

adj.充满…的，伴有(危险等)的；忧虑的

参考例句：

• The coming months will be fraught with fateful decisions.未来数月将充满重大的决定。
• There's no need to look so fraught!用不着那么愁眉苦脸的！

49 sumptuous   

adj.豪华的，奢侈的，华丽的

参考例句：

• The guests turned up dressed in sumptuous evening gowns.客人们身着华丽的夜礼服出现了。
• We were ushered into a sumptuous dining hall.我们被领进一个豪华的餐厅。

50 alcoves   

n.凹室( alcove的名词复数 )；（花园）凉亭；僻静处；壁龛

参考例句：

• In the alcoves on either side of the fire were bookshelves. 火炉两边的凹室里是书架。 来自辞典例句
• Tiny streams echo in enormous overhanging alcoves. 小溪流的回声在巨大而突出的凹壁中回荡。 来自互联网

51 voluptuous   

adj.肉欲的，骄奢淫逸的

参考例句：

• The nobility led voluptuous lives.贵族阶层过着骄奢淫逸的生活。
• The dancer's movements were slow and voluptuous.舞女的动作缓慢而富挑逗性。

52 somnolent   

adj.想睡的，催眠的；adv.瞌睡地；昏昏欲睡地；使人瞌睡地

参考例句：

• The noise of the stream had a pleasantly somnolent effect.小河潺潺的流水声有宜人的催眠效果。
• The sedative makes people very somnolent.这种镇静剂会让人瞌睡。

53 prevailing   

adj.盛行的；占优势的；主要的

参考例句：

• She wears a fashionable hair style prevailing in the city.她的发型是这个城市流行的款式。
• This reflects attitudes and values prevailing in society.这反映了社会上盛行的态度和价值观。

54 luxuriousness   

参考例句：

55 fleas   

n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求）

参考例句：

• The dog has fleas. 这条狗有跳蚤。
• Nothing must be done hastily but killing of fleas. 除非要捉跳蚤，做事不可匆忙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

56 jugs   

（有柄及小口的）水壶( jug的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Two china jugs held steaming gravy. 两个瓷罐子装着热气腾腾的肉卤。
• Jugs-Big wall lingo for Jumars or any other type of ascenders. 大岩壁术语，祝玛式上升器或其它种类的上升器。

57 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

58 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

59 slumber   

n.睡眠，沉睡状态

参考例句：

• All the people in the hotels were wrapped in deep slumber.住在各旅馆里的人都已进入梦乡。
• Don't wake him from his slumber because he needs the rest.不要把他从睡眠中唤醒，因为他需要休息。

60 scent   

n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉

参考例句：

• The air was filled with the scent of lilac.空气中弥漫着丁香花的芬芳。
• The flowers give off a heady scent at night.这些花晚上散发出醉人的芳香。

61 penetrated   

adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The knife had penetrated his chest. 刀子刺入了他的胸膛。
• They penetrated into territory where no man had ever gone before. 他们已进入先前没人去过的地区。

62 undertaking   

n.保证，许诺，事业

参考例句：

• He gave her an undertaking that he would pay the money back with in a year.他向她做了一年内还钱的保证。
• He is too timid to venture upon an undertaking.他太胆小，不敢从事任何事业。

63 devoted   

adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的

参考例句：

• He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

64 tranquilly   

adv. 宁静地

参考例句：

• He took up his brush and went tranquilly to work. 他拿起刷子，一声不响地干了起来。
• The evening was closing down tranquilly. 暮色正在静悄悄地笼罩下来。

65 tranquil   

adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的

参考例句：

• The boy disturbed the tranquil surface of the pond with a stick. 那男孩用棍子打破了平静的池面。
• The tranquil beauty of the village scenery is unique. 这乡村景色的宁静是绝无仅有的。

66 abrupt   

adj.突然的，意外的；唐突的，鲁莽的

参考例句：

• The river takes an abrupt bend to the west.这河突然向西转弯。
• His abrupt reply hurt our feelings.他粗鲁的回答伤了我们的感情。

67 triumphant   

adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的

参考例句：

• The army made a triumphant entry into the enemy's capital.部队胜利地进入了敌方首都。
• There was a positively triumphant note in her voice.她的声音里带有一种极为得意的语气。

68 solitary   

adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士

参考例句：

• I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
• The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

69 porcelain   

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。

70 chamber   

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。

71 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

72 imminent   

adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的

参考例句：

• The black clounds show that a storm is imminent.乌云预示暴风雨即将来临。
• The country is in imminent danger.国难当头。

73 shameful   

adj.可耻的，不道德的

参考例句：

• It is very shameful of him to show off.他向人炫耀自己，真不害臊。
• We must expose this shameful activity to the newspapers.我们一定要向报社揭露这一无耻行径。

74 vengeance   

n.报复，报仇，复仇

参考例句：

• He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
• For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。

75 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

76 lust   

n.性(淫)欲；渴(欲)望；vi.对…有强烈的欲望

参考例句：

• He was filled with lust for power.他内心充满了对权力的渴望。
• Sensing the explorer's lust for gold, the chief wisely presented gold ornaments as gifts.酋长觉察出探险者们垂涎黄金的欲念，就聪明地把金饰品作为礼物赠送给他们。

77 fidelity   

n.忠诚，忠实；精确

参考例句：

• There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
• His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。

78 repose   

v.(使)休息；n.安息

参考例句：

• Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
• Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。

79 mutual   

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。

80 esteem   

n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。

81 moody   

adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的

参考例句：

• He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。
• I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

82 ushered   

v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
• A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

83 astonishment   

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。

84 smothered   

（使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制

参考例句：

• He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
• The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。

85 stammered   

v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

86 mere   

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。

87 vexed   

adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论

参考例句：

• The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
• He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

88 miserable   

adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的

参考例句：

• It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。
• Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

89 conveyance   

n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具

参考例句：

• Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。
• Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。

90 spoke   

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。

91 confided   

v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
• He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

92 devoured   

吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 )； 耗尽； 津津有味地看； 狼吞虎咽地吃光

参考例句：

• She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志，还是报纸，只要能弄得到，她都看得津津有味。
• The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。

93 vile   

adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的

参考例句：

• Who could have carried out such a vile attack?会是谁发起这么卑鄙的攻击呢？
• Her talk was full of vile curses.她的话里充满着恶毒的咒骂。

94 intervals   

n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息

参考例句：

• The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
• Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。

95 bouquet   

n.花束，酒香

参考例句：

• This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。

96 gust   

n.阵风，突然一阵（雨、烟等），（感情的）迸发

参考例句：

• A gust of wind blew the front door shut.一阵大风吹来，把前门关上了。
• A gust of happiness swept through her.一股幸福的暖流流遍她的全身。

97 gratitude   

adj.感激，感谢

参考例句：

• I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。
• She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

98 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。

99 lavished   

v.过分给予，滥施( lavish的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• I lavished all the warmth of my pent-up passion. 我把憋在心里那一股热烈的情感尽量地倾吐出来。 来自辞典例句
• An enormous amount of attention has been lavished on these problems. 在这些问题上，我们已经花费了大量的注意力。 来自辞典例句

100 derive   

v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自

参考例句：

• We derive our sustenance from the land.我们从土地获取食物。
• We shall derive much benefit from reading good novels.我们将从优秀小说中获得很大好处。

101 feverish   

adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的

参考例句：

• He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
• They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。

102 folly   

n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话

参考例句：

• Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
• Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。

103 gulp   

vt.吞咽，大口地吸（气）；vi.哽住；n.吞咽

参考例句：

• She took down the tablets in one gulp.她把那些药片一口吞了下去。
• Don't gulp your food,chew it before you swallow it.吃东西不要狼吞虎咽，要嚼碎了再咽下去。

104 chateau   

n.城堡，别墅

参考例句：

• The house was modelled on a French chateau.这房子是模仿一座法国大别墅建造的。
• The chateau was left to itself to flame and burn.那府第便径自腾起大火燃烧下去。

105 caresses   

爱抚，抚摸( caress的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A breeze caresses the cheeks. 微风拂面。
• Hetty was not sufficiently familiar with caresses or outward demonstrations of fondness. 海蒂不习惯于拥抱之类过于外露地表现自己的感情。

106 naively   

adv. 天真地

参考例句：

• They naively assume things can only get better. 他们天真地以为情况只会变好。
• In short, Knox's proposal was ill conceived and naively made. 总而言之，诺克斯的建议考虑不周，显示幼稚。

107 vows   

誓言( vow的名词复数 )； 郑重宣布，许愿

参考例句：

• Matrimonial vows are to show the faithfulness of the new couple. 婚誓体现了新婚夫妇对婚姻的忠诚。
• The nun took strait vows. 那位修女立下严格的誓愿。

108 allusion   

n.暗示，间接提示

参考例句：

• He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech.在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
• She made no allusion to the incident.她没有提及那个事件。

109 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

110 forth   

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。

111 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

112 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

113 bravado   

n.虚张声势，故作勇敢，逞能

参考例句：

• Their behaviour was just sheer bravado. 他们的行为完全是虚张声势。
• He flourished the weapon in an attempt at bravado. 他挥舞武器意在虚张声势。

114 lenient   

adj.宽大的，仁慈的

参考例句：

• The judge was lenient with him.法官对他很宽大。
• It's a question of finding the means between too lenient treatment and too severe punishment.问题是要找出处理过宽和处罚过严的折中办法。

115 buffet   

n.自助餐；饮食柜台；餐台

参考例句：

• Are you having a sit-down meal or a buffet at the wedding?你想在婚礼中摆桌宴还是搞自助餐？
• Could you tell me what specialties you have for the buffet?你能告诉我你们的自助餐有什么特色菜吗？

116 suppliant   

adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者

参考例句：

• He asked for help in a suppliant attitude.他以恳求的态度要我帮忙。
• He knelt as a suppliant at the altar.他跪在祭坛前祈祷。

117 craved   

渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求

参考例句：

• She has always craved excitement. 她总渴望刺激。
• A spicy, sharp-tasting radish was exactly what her stomach craved. 她正馋着想吃一个香甜可口的红萝卜呢。

118 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

119 amiable   

adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的

参考例句：

• She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。
• We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

120 compliant   

adj.服从的，顺从的

参考例句：

• I don't respect people who are too compliant.我看不起那种唯命是从，唯唯诺诺的人。
• For years I had tried to be a compliant and dutiful wife.几年来，我努力做一名顺从和尽职尽职的妻子。

121 crumbs   

int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式

参考例句：

• She stood up and brushed the crumbs from her sweater. 她站起身掸掉了毛衣上的面包屑。
• Oh crumbs! Is that the time? 啊，天哪！都这会儿啦？

122 inmates   

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》

123 doles   

救济物( dole的名词复数 )； 失业救济金

参考例句：

• They have accepted doles. 他们已经接受了救济物品。
• Some people able and willing to work were forced to accept doles. 一些有能力也愿意工作的人被迫接受赈济品。

124 boredom   

n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊

参考例句：

• Unemployment can drive you mad with boredom.失业会让你无聊得发疯。
• A walkman can relieve the boredom of running.跑步时带着随身听就不那么乏味了。

125 lieutenant   

n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员

参考例句：

• He was promoted to be a lieutenant in the army.他被提升为陆军中尉。
• He prevailed on the lieutenant to send in a short note.他说动那个副官，递上了一张简短的便条进去。

126 garrison   

n.卫戍部队；驻地，卫戍区；vt.派(兵)驻防

参考例句：

• The troops came to the relief of the besieged garrison.军队来援救被围的守备军。
• The German was moving to stiffen up the garrison in Sicily.德军正在加强西西里守军之力量。

127 apprehension   

n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑

参考例句：

• There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。
• She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

128 tact   

n.机敏，圆滑，得体

参考例句：

• She showed great tact in dealing with a tricky situation.她处理棘手的局面表现得十分老练。
• Tact is a valuable commodity.圆滑老练是很有用处的。

129 nervously   

adv.神情激动地，不安地

参考例句：

• He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇，努力忍着不哭出来。
• He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。

130 frigid   

adj.寒冷的，凛冽的；冷淡的；拘禁的

参考例句：

• The water was too frigid to allow him to remain submerged for long.水冰冷彻骨，他在下面呆不了太长时间。
• She returned his smile with a frigid glance.对他的微笑她报以冷冷的一瞥。

131 frigidly   

adv.寒冷地；冷漠地；冷淡地；呆板地

参考例句：

132 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

133 besought   

v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的过去式和过去分词 )；(beseech的过去式与过去分词)

参考例句：

• The prisoner besought the judge for mercy/to be merciful. 囚犯恳求法官宽恕[乞求宽大]。 来自辞典例句
• They besought him to speak the truth. 他们恳求他说实话. 来自辞典例句

134 afterward   

adv.后来；以后

参考例句：

• Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏，然后吃饭。
• Afterward,the boy became a very famous artist.后来，这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。

135 feverishly   

adv. 兴奋地

参考例句：

• Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
• The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。

136 stun   

vt.打昏，使昏迷，使震惊，使惊叹

参考例句：

• When they told me she had gone missing I was totally stunned.他们告诉我她不见了时，我当时完全惊呆了。
• Sam stood his ground and got a blow that stunned him.萨姆站在原地，被一下打昏了。

137 vent   

n.通风口，排放口；开衩；vt.表达，发泄

参考例句：

• He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
• When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时，发动机就会停转。

138 anguish   

n.(尤指心灵上的)极度痛苦，烦恼

参考例句：

• She cried out for anguish at parting.分手时，她由于痛苦而失声大哭。
• The unspeakable anguish wrung his heart.难言的痛苦折磨着他的心。

139 dread   

vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧

参考例句：

• We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
• Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。

140 catastrophe   

n.大灾难，大祸

参考例句：

• I owe it to you that I survived the catastrophe.亏得你我才大难不死。
• This is a catastrophe beyond human control.这是一场人类无法控制的灾难。

141 abominable   

adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的

参考例句：

• Their cruel treatment of prisoners was abominable.他们虐待犯人的做法令人厌恶。
• The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable.这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。

142 everlastingly   

永久地，持久地

参考例句：

• Why didn't he hold the Yankees instead of everlastingly retreating? 他为什么不将北军挡住，反而节节败退呢？
• "I'm tired of everlastingly being unnatural and never doing anything I want to do. "我再也忍受不了这样无休止地的勉强自己，永远不能赁自己高兴做事。

143 lasting   

adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持

参考例句：

• The lasting war debased the value of the dollar.持久的战争使美元贬值。
• We hope for a lasting settlement of all these troubles.我们希望这些纠纷能获得永久的解决。

144 odious   

adj.可憎的，讨厌的

参考例句：

• The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。
• His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。

145 bloody   

adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染

参考例句：

• He got a bloody nose in the fight.他在打斗中被打得鼻子流血。
• He is a bloody fool.他是一个十足的笨蛋。

146 sobbing   

<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的

参考例句：

• I heard a child sobbing loudly. 我听见有个孩子在呜呜地哭。
• Her eyes were red with recent sobbing. 她的眼睛因刚哭过而发红。

147 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

148 linen   

n.亚麻布，亚麻线，亚麻制品；adj.亚麻布制的，亚麻的

参考例句：

• The worker is starching the linen.这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
• Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool.精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。

149 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

150 exasperation   

n.愤慨

参考例句：

• He snorted with exasperation.他愤怒地哼了一声。
• She rolled her eyes in sheer exasperation.她气急败坏地转动着眼珠。

151 constraint   

n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物

参考例句：

• The boy felt constraint in her presence.那男孩在她面前感到局促不安。
• The lack of capital is major constraint on activities in the informal sector.资本短缺也是影响非正规部门生产经营的一个重要制约因素。

152 savage   

adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人

参考例句：

• The poor man received a savage beating from the thugs.那可怜的人遭到暴徒的痛打。
• He has a savage temper.他脾气粗暴。

153 giggles   

n.咯咯的笑( giggle的名词复数 )；傻笑；玩笑；the giggles 止不住的格格笑v.咯咯地笑( giggle的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Her nervous giggles annoyed me. 她神经质的傻笑把我惹火了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I had to rush to the loo to avoid an attack of hysterical giggles. 我不得不冲向卫生间，以免遭到别人的疯狂嘲笑。 来自辞典例句

154 tickled   

（使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐

参考例句：

• We were tickled pink to see our friends on television. 在电视中看到我们的一些朋友，我们高兴极了。
• I tickled the baby's feet and made her laugh. 我胳肢孩子的脚，使她发笑。

155 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

156 negligently   

参考例句：

• Losses caused intentionally or negligently by the lessee shall be borne by the lessee. 如因承租人的故意或过失造成损失的，由承租人负担。 来自经济法规部分
• Did the other person act negligently? 他人的行为是否有过失？ 来自口语例句

157 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

158 fixedly   

adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地

参考例句：

• He stared fixedly at the woman in white. 他一直凝视着那穿白衣裳的女人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The great majority were silent and still, looking fixedly at the ground. 绝大部分的人都不闹不动，呆呆地望着地面。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

159 distressing   

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。

160 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

161 pry   

vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起)

参考例句：

• He's always ready to pry into other people's business.他总爱探听别人的事。
• We use an iron bar to pry open the box.我们用铁棍撬开箱子。

162 coaxing   

v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱；“锻炼”效应

参考例句：

• No amount of coaxing will make me change my mind. 任你费尽口舌也不会说服我改变主意。
• It took a lot of coaxing before he agreed. 劝说了很久他才同意。 来自辞典例句

163 rupture   

n.破裂；(关系的)决裂；v.(使)破裂

参考例句：

• I can rupture a rule for a friend.我可以为朋友破一次例。
• The rupture of a blood vessel usually cause the mark of a bruise.血管的突然破裂往往会造成外伤的痕迹。

164 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

165 rascal   

n.流氓；不诚实的人

参考例句：

• If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做，我就认为他是个恶棍。
• The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。

166 concealed   

a.隐藏的，隐蔽的

参考例句：

• The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
• I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

167 plunging   

adj.跳进的，突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》

168 riotous   

adj.骚乱的；狂欢的

参考例句：

• Summer is in riotous profusion.盛夏的大地热闹纷繁。
• We spent a riotous night at Christmas.我们度过了一个狂欢之夜。

169 defiantly   

adv.挑战地，大胆对抗地

参考例句：

• Braving snow and frost, the plum trees blossomed defiantly. 红梅傲雪凌霜开。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。 来自《简明英汉词典》

170 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

171 mansion   

n.大厦，大楼；宅第

参考例句：

• The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
• The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

172 positively   

adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实

参考例句：

• She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
• The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。

173 overflowing   

n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。
• The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。

174 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。

175 discreetly   

ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He had only known the perennial widow, the discreetly expensive Frenchwoman. 他只知道她是个永远那么年轻的寡妇，一个很会讲排场的法国女人。
• Sensing that Lilian wanted to be alone with Celia, Andrew discreetly disappeared. 安德鲁觉得莉莲想同西莉亚单独谈些什么，有意避开了。

176 affronted   

adj.被侮辱的，被冒犯的v.勇敢地面对( affront的过去式和过去分词 )；相遇

参考例句：

• He hoped they would not feel affronted if they were not invited . 他希望如果他们没有获得邀请也不要感到受辱。
• Affronted at his impertinence,she stared at him coldly and wordlessly. 被他的无礼而冒犯，她冷冷地、无言地盯着他。 来自《简明英汉词典》

177 gaped   

v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的过去式和过去分词 )；张开，张大

参考例句：

• A huge chasm gaped before them. 他们面前有个巨大的裂痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The front door was missing. A hole gaped in the roof. 前门不翼而飞，屋顶豁开了一个洞。 来自辞典例句

178 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。

179 docile   

adj.驯服的，易控制的，容易教的

参考例句：

• Circus monkeys are trained to be very docile and obedient.马戏团的猴子训练得服服贴贴的。
• He is a docile and well-behaved child.他是个温顺且彬彬有礼的孩子。

180 submission   

n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出

参考例句：

• The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
• No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。

181 imposing   

adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的

参考例句：

• The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
• He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。

182 amiability   

n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的

参考例句：

• His amiability condemns him to being a constant advisor to other people's troubles. 他那和蔼可亲的性格使他成为经常为他人排忧解难的开导者。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I watched my master's face pass from amiability to sternness. 我瞧着老师的脸上从和蔼变成严峻。 来自辞典例句

183 abstained   

v.戒（尤指酒），戒除( abstain的过去式和过去分词 )；弃权（不投票）

参考例句：

• Ten people voted in favour, five against and two abstained. 十人投票赞成，五人反对，两人弃权。
• They collectively abstained (from voting) in the elections for local councilors. 他们在地方议会议员选举中集体弃权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

184 amicably   

adv.友善地

参考例句：

• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The couple parted amicably. 这对夫妻客气地分手了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

185 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

186 overflowed   

溢出的

参考例句：

• Plates overflowed with party food. 聚会上的食物碟满盘盈。
• A great throng packed out the theater and overflowed into the corridors. 一大群人坐满剧院并且还有人涌到了走廊上。 来自《简明英汉词典》

187 provocative   

adj.挑衅的，煽动的，刺激的，挑逗的

参考例句：

• She wore a very provocative dress.她穿了一件非常性感的裙子。
• His provocative words only fueled the argument further.他的挑衅性讲话只能使争论进一步激化。

188 devoid   

adj.全无的，缺乏的

参考例句：

• He is completely devoid of humour.他十分缺乏幽默。
• The house is totally devoid of furniture.这所房子里什么家具都没有。

189 monotonous   

adj.单调的，一成不变的，使人厌倦的

参考例句：

• She thought life in the small town was monotonous.她觉得小镇上的生活单调而乏味。
• His articles are fixed in form and monotonous in content.他的文章千篇一律，一个调调儿。

190 perch   

n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于

参考例句：

• The bird took its perch.鸟停歇在栖木上。
• Little birds perch themselves on the branches.小鸟儿栖歇在树枝上。

191 lulled   

vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• They lulled her into a false sense of security. 他们哄骗她，使她产生一种虚假的安全感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The movement of the train lulled me to sleep. 火车轻微的震动催我进入梦乡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

192 reverted   

恢复( revert的过去式和过去分词 )； 重提； 回到…上； 归还

参考例句：

• After the settlers left, the area reverted to desert. 早期移民离开之后，这个地区又变成了一片沙漠。
• After his death the house reverted to its original owner. 他死后房子归还给了原先的主人。

193 complaisant   

adj.顺从的，讨好的

参考例句：

• He has a pretty and complaisant wife.他有个漂亮又温顺的妻子。
• He is complaisant to her.他对她百依百顺。

194 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

参考例句：

• Facts will eventually scotch these rumours.这种谣言在事实面前将不攻自破。
• Italy was full of fine views and virtually empty of Scotch whiskey.意大利多的是美景，真正缺的是苏格兰威士忌。

195 poking   

n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢

参考例句：

• He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
• He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。

196 quaint   

adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的

参考例句：

• There were many small lanes in the quaint village.在这古香古色的村庄里，有很多小巷。
• They still keep some quaint old customs.他们仍然保留着一些稀奇古怪的旧风俗。

197 theatrical   

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。

198 languor   

n.无精力，倦怠

参考例句：

• It was hot,yet with a sweet languor about it.天气是炎热的，然而却有一种惬意的懒洋洋的感觉。
• She,in her languor,had not troubled to eat much.她懒懒的，没吃多少东西。

199 predecessor   

n.前辈，前任

参考例句：

• It will share the fate of its predecessor.它将遭受与前者同样的命运。
• The new ambassador is more mature than his predecessor.新大使比他的前任更成熟一些。

200 distraction   

n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐

参考例句：

• Total concentration is required with no distractions.要全神贯注，不能有丝毫分神。
• Their national distraction is going to the disco.他们的全民消遣就是去蹦迪。

201 maternal   

adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的

参考例句：

• He is my maternal uncle.他是我舅舅。
• The sight of the hopeless little boy aroused her maternal instincts.那个绝望的小男孩的模样唤起了她的母性。

202 modesty   

n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素

参考例句：

• Industry and modesty are the chief factors of his success.勤奋和谦虚是他成功的主要因素。
• As conceit makes one lag behind,so modesty helps one make progress.骄傲使人落后，谦虚使人进步。

203 dwellers   

n.居民，居住者( dweller的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City dwellers think country folk have provincial attitudes. 城里人以为乡下人思想迂腐。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They have transformed themselves into permanent city dwellers. 他们已成为永久的城市居民。 来自《简明英汉词典》

204 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

205 puffed   

adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧

参考例句：

• He lit a cigarette and puffed at it furiously. 他点燃了一支香烟，狂吸了几口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. 他觉得长大了，便自以为了不起。 来自《简明英汉词典》

206 skull   

n.头骨；颅骨

参考例句：

• The skull bones fuse between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five.头骨在15至25岁之间长合。
• He fell out of the window and cracked his skull.他从窗子摔了出去，跌裂了颅骨。

207 engross   

v.使全神贯注

参考例句：

• I go into bookshops and engross myself in diet books and cookbooks.我走进书店，聚精会神地读关于饮食的书以及食谱。
• If there was one piece of advice I would offer to improve your reading rate it would be simply to engross yourself in the material you are studying.如果让我给你一个忠告来提高你的阅读速度的话，那就是全神贯注的研究你的资料。

208 cramps   

n. 抽筋, 腹部绞痛, 铁箍 adj. 狭窄的, 难解的 v. 使...抽筋, 以铁箍扣紧, 束缚

参考例句：

• If he cramps again let the line cut him off. 要是它再抽筋，就让这钓索把它勒断吧。
• "I have no cramps." he said. “我没抽筋，"他说。

209 incessant   

adj.不停的，连续的

参考例句：

• We have had incessant snowfall since yesterday afternoon.从昨天下午开始就持续不断地下雪。
• She is tired of his incessant demands for affection.她厌倦了他对感情的不断索取。

210 possessed   

adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的

参考例句：

• He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
• He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。

211 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

212 dismal   

adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的

参考例句：

• That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
• My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。

213 recurred   

再发生，复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 )； 治愈

参考例句：

• Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
• She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候，她总是有点畏缩。

214 incessantly   

ad.不停地

参考例句：

• The machines roar incessantly during the hours of daylight. 机器在白天隆隆地响个不停。
• It rained incessantly for the whole two weeks. 雨不间断地下了整整两个星期。

215 trotting   

小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走

参考例句：

• The riders came trotting down the lane. 这骑手骑着马在小路上慢跑。
• Alan took the reins and the small horse started trotting. 艾伦抓住缰绳，小马开始慢跑起来。

216 utterly   

adv.完全地，绝对地

参考例句：

• Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民，把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
• I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。

217 disdaining   

鄙视( disdain的现在分词 )； 不屑于做，不愿意做

参考例句：

218 onlookers   

n.旁观者，观看者( onlooker的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• A crowd of onlookers gathered at the scene of the crash. 在撞车地点聚集了一大群围观者。
• The onlookers stood at a respectful distance. 旁观者站在一定的距离之外，以示尊敬。

219 dignified   

a.可敬的，高贵的

参考例句：

• Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
• He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。

220 demeanor   

n.行为；风度

参考例句：

• She is quiet in her demeanor.她举止文静。
• The old soldier never lost his military demeanor.那个老军人从来没有失去军人风度。

221 annoyances   

n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事

参考例句：

• At dinner that evening two annoyances kept General Zaroff from perfect enjoyment one. 当天晚上吃饭时，有两件不称心的事令沙洛夫吃得不很香。 来自辞典例句
• Actually, I have a lot of these little annoyances-don't we all? 事实上我有很多类似的小烦恼，我们不都有这种小烦恼吗？ 来自互联网

222 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

223 mingling   

adj.混合的

参考例句：

• There was a spring of bitterness mingling with that fountain of sweets. 在这个甜蜜的源泉中间，已经掺和进苦涩的山水了。
• The mingling of inconsequence belongs to us all. 这场矛盾混和物是我们大家所共有的。

224 enraged   

使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 )； 歜； 激愤

参考例句：

• I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令，我极为恼火。
• The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。

225 longing   

n.（for）渴望

参考例句：

• Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
• His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

226 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

227 gutter   

n.沟，街沟，水槽，檐槽，贫民窟

参考例句：

• There's a cigarette packet thrown into the gutter.阴沟里有个香烟盒。
• He picked her out of the gutter and made her a great lady.他使她脱离贫苦生活，并成为贵妇。

228 martyrs   

n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情）

参考例句：

• the early Christian martyrs 早期基督教殉道者
• They paid their respects to the revolutionary martyrs. 他们向革命烈士致哀。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

229 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

230 mordant   

adj.讽刺的；尖酸的

参考例句：

• Actors feared the critic's mordant pen.演员都惧怕这位批评家辛辣尖刻的笔调。
• His mordant wit appealed to students.他那尖刻的妙语受到学生们的欢迎。

231 tragically   

adv. 悲剧地，悲惨地

参考例句：

• Their daughter was tragically killed in a road accident. 他们的女儿不幸死于车祸。
• Her father died tragically in a car crash. 她父亲在一场车祸中惨死。

232 meditated   

深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑

参考例句：

• He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。
• She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

233 duel   

n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争

参考例句：

• The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。
• Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

234 ablaze   

adj.着火的，燃烧的；闪耀的，灯火辉煌的

参考例句：

• The main street was ablaze with lights in the evening.晚上，那条主要街道灯火辉煌。
• Forests are sometimes set ablaze by lightning.森林有时因雷击而起火。

235 sordid   

adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的

参考例句：

• He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
• They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。

236 Flared   

adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The match flared and went out. 火柴闪亮了一下就熄了。
• The fire flared up when we thought it was out. 我们以为火已经熄灭，但它突然又燃烧起来。

237 flare   

v.闪耀，闪烁；n.潮红；突发

参考例句：

• The match gave a flare.火柴发出闪光。
• You need not flare up merely because I mentioned your work.你大可不必因为我提到你的工作就动怒。

238 sleek   

adj.光滑的，井然有序的；v.使光滑，梳拢

参考例句：

• Women preferred sleek,shiny hair with little decoration.女士们更喜欢略加修饰的光滑闪亮型秀发。
• The horse's coat was sleek and glossy.这匹马全身润泽有光。

239 maternity   

n.母性，母道，妇产科病房；adj.孕妇的，母性的

参考例句：

• Women workers are entitled to maternity leave with full pay.女工产假期间工资照发。
• Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.受训的护士必须在产科病房工作数周。

240 pestered   

使烦恼，纠缠( pester的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Journalists pestered neighbours for information. 记者缠着邻居打听消息。
• The little girl pestered the travellers for money. 那个小女孩缠着游客要钱。

241 anonymous   

adj.无名的；匿名的；无特色的

参考例句：

• Sending anonymous letters is a cowardly act.寄匿名信是懦夫的行为。
• The author wishes to remain anonymous.作者希望姓名不公开。

242 candor   

n.坦白，率真

参考例句：

• He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor.他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
• He and his wife had avoided candor,and they had drained their marriage.他们夫妻间不坦率，已使婚姻奄奄一息。

243 ignoble   

adj.不光彩的，卑鄙的；可耻的

参考例句：

• There's something cowardly and ignoble about such an attitude.这种态度有点怯懦可鄙。
• Some very great men have come from ignoble families.有些伟人出身低微。

244 horrified   

a.(表现出)恐惧的

参考例句：

• The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。
• We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

245 shrugged   

vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
• She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

246 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

247 throttling   

v.扼杀( throttle的现在分词 )；勒死；使窒息；压制

参考例句：

• This fight scarf is throttling me. 这条束得紧紧的围巾快要把我窒息死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The latter may be used with bypass or throttling valves in the tower water pipework circuit. 近来，可采用在冷却塔的水管系统中设置旁通阀或节流阀。 来自辞典例句

248 riskiest   

冒险的，危险的( risky的最高级 )

参考例句：

• With markets lately rising, the riskiest investments are finding takers. 他说，在周期高峰时，投资者会追逐风险最高的资产。
• The riskiest subprime securitieshave almost no takers. 风险最高的次级证券几乎没有人持有。

249 inclinations   

倾向( inclination的名词复数 )； 倾斜； 爱好； 斜坡

参考例句：

• She has artistic inclinations. 她有艺术爱好。
• I've no inclinations towards life as a doctor. 我的志趣不是行医。

250 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

参考例句：

• I could see the inmost recesses. 我能看见最深处。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I had continually pushed my doubts to the darker recesses of my mind. 我一直把怀疑深深地隐藏在心中。 来自《简明英汉词典》

251 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

252 averred   

v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出

参考例句：

• She averred that she had never seen the man before. 她斩钉截铁地说以前从未见过这个男人。
• The prosecutor averred that the prisoner killed Lois. 检察官称被拘犯杀害洛伊丝属实。 来自互联网

253 prudently   

adv. 谨慎地，慎重地

参考例句：

• He prudently pursued his plan. 他谨慎地实行他那计划。
• They had prudently withdrawn as soon as the van had got fairly under way. 他们在蓬车安全上路后立即谨慎地离去了。

254 ironical   

adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的

参考例句：

• That is a summary and ironical end.那是一个具有概括性和讽刺意味的结局。
• From his general demeanour I didn't get the impression that he was being ironical.从他整体的行为来看，我不觉得他是在讲反话。

255 grudge   

n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做

参考例句：

• I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
• I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。

256 pliancy   

n.柔软，柔顺

参考例句：

• Movable splitters should always advertise their pliancy with cursor hinting. 可移动的分割线应该借助光标暗示显示其受范性。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• Use cursor hinting to indicate pliancy. 运用光标暗示来表达受范性。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

257 sobriquet   

n.绰号

参考例句：

• In Paris he was rewarded with the sobriquet of an "ultra-liberal".在巴黎，他被冠以“超自由主义者”的绰号。
• Andrew Jackson was known by the sobriquet "Old Hickory." 安德鲁•杰克生以其绰号“老山胡桃”而知名。

258 sonorous   

adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇

参考例句：

• The sonorous voice of the speaker echoed round the room.那位演讲人洪亮的声音在室内回荡。
• He has a deep sonorous voice.他的声音深沉而洪亮。

259 idiotic   

adj.白痴的

参考例句：

• It is idiotic to go shopping with no money.去买东西而不带钱是很蠢的。
• The child's idiotic deeds caused his family much trouble.那小孩愚蠢的行为给家庭带来许多麻烦。

260 anecdotes   

n.掌故，趣闻，轶事( anecdote的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor 关于他短暂演员生涯的趣闻逸事
• He related several anecdotes about his first years as a congressman. 他讲述自己初任议员那几年的几则轶事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

261 rosy   

adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的

参考例句：

• She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
• She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。

262 stony   

adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的

参考例句：

• The ground is too dry and stony.这块地太干，而且布满了石头。
• He listened to her story with a stony expression.他带着冷漠的表情听她讲经历。

263 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

264 sapphires   

n.蓝宝石，钢玉宝石( sapphire的名词复数 )；蔚蓝色

参考例句：

• Again there was that moment of splintered sapphires before the lids, dropping like scales, extinguished it. 她眼眶中又闪烁出蓝宝石的光彩，接着眼睑象鱼鳞般地垂落下来，双目又黯然失色了。 来自辞典例句
• She also sported a somewhat gawdy gold watch set with diamonds and sapphires. 她还收到一块镶着钻石和蓝宝石的金表。 来自辞典例句

265 lessened   

减少的，减弱的

参考例句：

• Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来，多少削弱了演讲的力量。
• The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行，住在城内的中产家庭减少了。

266 bliss   

n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福

参考例句：

• It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
• He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。

267 embroidered   

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。

268 plunged   

v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降

参考例句：

• The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
• She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

269 chattering   

n. （机器振动发出的）咔嗒声，(鸟等)鸣，啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的，啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式

参考例句：

• The teacher told the children to stop chattering in class. 老师叫孩子们在课堂上不要叽叽喳喳讲话。
• I was so cold that my teeth were chattering. 我冷得牙齿直打战。

270 recollect   

v.回忆，想起，记起，忆起，记得

参考例句：

• He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
• She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。

271 intercept   

vt.拦截，截住，截击

参考例句：

• His letter was intercepted by the Secret Service.他的信被特工处截获了。
• Gunmen intercepted him on his way to the airport.持枪歹徒在他去机场的路上截击了他。

272 withering   

使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的

参考例句：

• She gave him a withering look. 她极其蔑视地看了他一眼。
• The grass is gradually dried-up and withering and pallen leaves. 草渐渐干枯、枯萎并落叶。

273 mince   

n.切碎物；v.切碎，矫揉做作地说

参考例句：

• Would you like me to mince the meat for you?你要我替你把肉切碎吗？
• Don't mince matters,but speak plainly.不要含糊其词，有话就直说吧。

274 tablecloth   

n.桌布，台布

参考例句：

• He sat there ruminating and picking at the tablecloth.他坐在那儿沉思，轻轻地抚弄着桌布。
• She smoothed down a wrinkled tablecloth.她把起皱的桌布熨平了。

275 insignificant   

adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的

参考例句：

• In winter the effect was found to be insignificant.在冬季，这种作用是不明显的。
• This problem was insignificant compared to others she faced.这一问题与她面临的其他问题比较起来算不得什么。

276 omnipotence   

n.全能，万能，无限威力

参考例句：

• Central bankers have never had any illusions of their own omnipotence. 中行的银行家们已经不再对于他们自己的无所不能存有幻想了。 来自互联网
• Introduce an omnipotence press automatism dividing device, explained it operation principle. 介绍了冲压万能自动分度装置，说明了其工作原理。 来自互联网

277 determined   

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。

278 munched   

v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She munched on an apple. 她在大口啃苹果。
• The rabbit munched on the fresh carrots. 兔子咯吱咯吱地嚼着新鲜胡萝卜。 来自辞典例句

279 sentimentally   

adv.富情感地

参考例句：

• I miss the good old days, ' she added sentimentally. ‘我怀念过去那些美好的日子，’她动情地补充道。 来自互联网
• I have an emotional heart, it is sentimentally attached to you unforgettable. 我心中有一份情感，那是对你刻骨铭心的眷恋。 来自互联网

280 benevolence   

n.慈悲，捐助

参考例句：

• We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
• He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。

281 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

282 mishap   

n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸

参考例句：

• I'm afraid your son had a slight mishap in the playground.不好了，你儿子在操场上出了点小意外。
• We reached home without mishap.我们平安地回到了家。

283 tilt   

v.(使)倾侧；(使)倾斜；n.倾侧；倾斜

参考例句：

• She wore her hat at a tilt over her left eye.她歪戴着帽子遮住左眼。
• The table is at a slight tilt.这张桌子没放平，有点儿歪.

284 authoritative   

adj.有权威的，可相信的；命令式的；官方的

参考例句：

• David speaks in an authoritative tone.大卫以命令的口吻说话。
• Her smile was warm but authoritative.她的笑容很和蔼，同时又透着威严。

285 sundry   

adj.各式各样的，种种的

参考例句：

• This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。
• We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。

286 nibbling   

v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬

参考例句：

• We sat drinking wine and nibbling olives. 我们坐在那儿，喝着葡萄酒嚼着橄榄。
• He was nibbling on the apple. 他在啃苹果。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

287 chaff   

v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳

参考例句：

• I didn't mind their chaff.我不在乎他们的玩笑。
• Old birds are not caught with chaff.谷糠难诱老雀。

288 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

289 defiance   

n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗

参考例句：

• He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning.他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
• He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance.他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。

290 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

291 glossy   

adj.平滑的；有光泽的

参考例句：

• I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
• She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。

292 scattered   

adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的

参考例句：

• Gathering up his scattered papers,he pushed them into his case.他把散乱的文件收拾起来，塞进文件夹里。

293 attire   

v.穿衣，装扮[同]array；n.衣着；盛装

参考例句：

• He had no intention of changing his mode of attire.他无意改变着装方式。
• Her attention was attracted by his peculiar attire.他那奇特的服装引起了她的注意。

294 oblivious   

adj.易忘的，遗忘的，忘却的，健忘的

参考例句：

• Mother has become quite oblivious after the illness.这次病后，妈妈变得特别健忘。
• He was quite oblivious of the danger.他完全没有察觉到危险。

295 ferociously   

野蛮地，残忍地

参考例句：

• The buck shook his antlers ferociously. 那雄鹿猛烈地摇动他的鹿角。
• At intervals, he gritted his teeth ferociously. 他不时狠狠的轧平。

296 tormented   

饱受折磨的

参考例句：

• The knowledge of his guilt tormented him. 知道了自己的罪责使他非常痛苦。
• He had lain awake all night, tormented by jealousy. 他彻夜未眠，深受嫉妒的折磨。

297 milky   

adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的

参考例句：

• Alexander always has milky coffee at lunchtime.亚历山大总是在午餐时喝掺奶的咖啡。
• I like a hot milky drink at bedtime.我喜欢睡前喝杯热奶饮料。

298 monstrous   

adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的

参考例句：

• The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升，形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
• Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人！

299 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

300 agitating   

搅动( agitate的现在分词 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论

参考例句：

• political groups agitating for social change 鼓吹社会变革的政治团体
• They are agitating to assert autonomy. 他们正在鼓吹实行自治。

301 incipient   

adj.起初的，发端的，初期的

参考例句：

• The anxiety has been sharpened by the incipient mining boom.采矿业初期的蓬勃发展加剧了这种担忧。
• What we see then is an incipient global inflation.因此，我们看到的是初期阶段的全球通胀.

302 disturbances   

n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍

参考例句：

• The government has set up a commission of inquiry into the disturbances at the prison. 政府成立了一个委员会来调查监狱骚乱事件。
• Extra police were called in to quell the disturbances. 已调集了增援警力来平定骚乱。

303 humble   

adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低

参考例句：

• In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
• Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。

304 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

305 verged   

接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The situation verged on disaster. 形势接近于灾难的边缘。
• Her silly talk verged on nonsense. 她的蠢话近乎胡说八道。

306 scuttled   

v.使船沉没( scuttle的过去式和过去分词 )；快跑，急走

参考例句：

• She scuttled off when she heard the sound of his voice. 听到他的说话声，她赶紧跑开了。
• The thief scuttled off when he saw the policeman. 小偷看见警察来了便急忙跑掉。 来自《简明英汉词典》

307 somber   

adj.昏暗的，阴天的，阴森的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• He had a somber expression on his face.他面容忧郁。
• His coat was a somber brown.他的衣服是暗棕色的。

308 swelled   

增强( swell的过去式和过去分词 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）

参考例句：

• The infection swelled his hand. 由于感染，他的手肿了起来。
• After the heavy rain the river swelled. 大雨过后，河水猛涨。

309 mingled   

混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系]

参考例句：

• The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
• The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候，这一男一女就开始交往了。

310 outraged   

a.震惊的，义愤填膺的

参考例句：

• Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。
• He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

311 alluded   

提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• In your remarks you alluded to a certain sinister design. 在你的谈话中，你提到了某个阴谋。
• She also alluded to her rival's past marital troubles. 她还影射了对手过去的婚姻问题。

312 droop   

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。

313 haughty   

adj.傲慢的，高傲的

参考例句：

• He gave me a haughty look and walked away.他向我摆出傲慢的表情后走开。
• They were displeased with her haughty airs.他们讨厌她高傲的派头。

314 impoverished   

adj.穷困的，无力的，用尽了的v.使（某人）贫穷( impoverish的过去式和过去分词 )；使（某物）贫瘠或恶化

参考例句：

• the impoverished areas of the city 这个城市的贫民区
• They were impoverished by a prolonged spell of unemployment. 他们因长期失业而一贫如洗。 来自《简明英汉词典》

315 manifestations   

n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式）

参考例句：

• These were manifestations of the darker side of his character. 这些是他性格阴暗面的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• To be wordly-wise and play safe is one of the manifestations of liberalism. 明哲保身是自由主义的表现之一。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

316 momentary   

adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的

参考例句：

• We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you.我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
• I caught a momentary glimpse of them.我瞥了他们一眼。

317 vertigo   

n.眩晕

参考例句：

• He had a dreadful attack of vertigo.他忽然头晕得厉害。
• If you have vertigo it seems as if the whole room is spinning round you.如果你头晕，就会觉得整个房间都旋转起来

318 contemplated   

adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式

参考例句：

• The doctor contemplated the difficult operation he had to perform. 医生仔细地考虑他所要做的棘手的手术。
• The government has contemplated reforming the entire tax system. 政府打算改革整个税收体制。

319 exacting   

adj.苛求的，要求严格的

参考例句：

• He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
• The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移，公众的要求更趋严格。

320 contented   

adj.满意的，安心的，知足的

参考例句：

• He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
• The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。

321 ecstasy   

n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷

参考例句：

• He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。
• Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

322 entreaty   

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。

323 chronic   

adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的

参考例句：

• Famine differs from chronic malnutrition.饥荒不同于慢性营养不良。
• Chronic poisoning may lead to death from inanition.慢性中毒也可能由虚弱导致死亡。

324 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

325 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

326 rendering   

n.表现，描写

参考例句：

• She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
• His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。

327 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。

328 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

329 obstinate   

adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的

参考例句：

• She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了，不会让任何人帮她的。
• The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。

330 cede   

v.割让，放弃

参考例句：

• The debater refused to cede the point to her opponent.辩论者拒绝向她的对手放弃其主张。
• Not because I'm proud.In fact,in front of you I cede all my pride.这不是因为骄傲，事实上我在你面前毫无骄傲可言。

331 deliberately   

adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地

参考例句：

• The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。
• They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

332 deigned   

v.屈尊，俯就( deign的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Carrie deigned no suggestion of hearing this. 嘉莉不屑一听。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Carrie scarcely deigned to reply. 嘉莉不屑回答。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

333 melancholy   

n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的

参考例句：

• All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
• He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过，他感到很郁闷。

334 relaxation   

n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐

参考例句：

• The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.部长一向反对法律上的任何放宽。
• She listens to classical music for relaxation.她听古典音乐放松。

335 slandered   

造谣中伤( slander的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She slandered him behind his back. 她在背地里对他造谣中伤。
• He was basely slandered by his enemies. 他受到仇敌卑鄙的诋毁。

336 inflexible   

adj.不可改变的，不受影响的，不屈服的

参考例句：

• Charles was a man of settled habits and inflexible routine.查尔斯是一个恪守习惯、生活规律不容打乱的人。
• The new plastic is completely inflexible.这种新塑料是完全不可弯曲的。

337 doorway   

n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径

参考例句：

• They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
• Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。

338 meditating   

a.沉思的，冥想的

参考例句：

• They were meditating revenge. 他们在谋划进行报复。
• The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics. 这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。

339 queried   

v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的过去式和过去分词 )；询问

参考例句：

• She queried what he said. 她对他说的话表示怀疑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• \"What does he have to do?\" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事？”琴向觉民问道，她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家（1-26） - 家（1-26）

340 insistence   

n.坚持；强调；坚决主张

参考例句：

• They were united in their insistence that she should go to college.他们一致坚持她应上大学。
• His insistence upon strict obedience is correct.他坚持绝对服从是对的。

341 deserted   

adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的

参考例句：

• The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
• The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。

342 gusts   

一阵强风( gust的名词复数 )； （怒、笑等的）爆发； （感情的）迸发； 发作

参考例句：

• Her profuse skirt bosomed out with the gusts. 她的宽大的裙子被风吹得鼓鼓的。
• Turbulence is defined as a series of irregular gusts. 紊流定义为一组无规则的突风。

343 sweeping   

adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的

参考例句：

• The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。
• Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

344 laden   

adj.装满了的；充满了的；负了重担的；苦恼的

参考例句：

• He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
• Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。

345 mansions   

n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑，空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗，钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
• Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊，那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌！ 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹

346 loomed   

v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• A dark shape loomed up ahead of us. 一个黑糊糊的影子隐隐出现在我们的前面。
• The prospect of war loomed large in everyone's mind. 战事将起的庞大阴影占据每个人的心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

347 glistening   

adj.闪耀的，反光的v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼里闪着晶莹的泪花。
• Her eyes were glistening with tears. 她眼睛中的泪水闪着柔和的光。 来自《用法词典》

348 desolate   

adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂

参考例句：

• The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
• We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后，我们都觉得万分孤寂。

349 splendors   

n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫

参考例句：

• The sun rose presently and sent its unobstructed splendors over the land. 没多大工夫，太阳就出来了，毫无阻碍，把它的光华异彩散布在大地之上。 来自辞典例句
• Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. 她那世人的肉身禁不住炽热的神光。 来自辞典例句

350 shudder   

v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动

参考例句：

• The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材，他浑身一阵战栗。
• We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。

351 puddles   

n.水坑， （尤指道路上的）雨水坑( puddle的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The puddles had coalesced into a small stream. 地面上水洼子里的水汇流成了一条小溪。
• The road was filled with puddles from the rain. 雨后路面到处是一坑坑的积水。 来自《简明英汉词典》

352 gutters   

（路边）排水沟( gutter的名词复数 )； 阴沟； （屋顶的）天沟； 贫贱的境地

参考例句：

• Gutters lead the water into the ditch. 排水沟把水排到这条水沟里。
• They were born, they grew up in the gutters. 他们生了下来，以后就在街头长大。

353 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：

• The rain lashed at the windows. 雨点猛烈地打在窗户上。
• The cleverly designed speech lashed the audience into a frenzy. 这篇精心设计的演说煽动听众使他们发狂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

354 tattered   

adj.破旧的，衣衫破的

参考例句：

• Her tattered clothes in no way detracted from her beauty.她的破衣烂衫丝毫没有影响她的美貌。
• Their tattered clothing and broken furniture indicated their poverty.他们褴褛的衣服和破烂的家具显出他们的贫穷。

355 fiery   

adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的

参考例句：

• She has fiery red hair.她有一头火红的头发。
• His fiery speech agitated the crowd.他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。

356 bruises   

n.瘀伤，伤痕，擦伤( bruise的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He was covered with bruises after falling off his bicycle. 他从自行车上摔了下来，摔得浑身伤痕。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The pear had bruises of dark spots. 这个梨子有碰伤的黑斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》

357 frightful   

adj.可怕的；讨厌的

参考例句：

• How frightful to have a husband who snores!有一个发鼾声的丈夫多讨厌啊！
• We're having frightful weather these days.这几天天气坏极了。

358 ascending   

adj.上升的，向上的

参考例句：

• Now draw or trace ten dinosaurs in ascending order of size.现在按照体型由小到大的顺序画出或是临摹出10只恐龙。

359 abjectly   

凄惨地； 绝望地； 糟透地； 悲惨地

参考例句：

• She shrugged her shoulders abjectly. 她无可奈何地耸了耸肩。
• Xiao Li is abjectly obedient at home, as both his wife and daughter can "direct" him. 小李在家里可是个听话的顺民，妻子女儿都能“领导”他。

360 astounded   

v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词)；愕然；愕；惊讶

参考例句：

• His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
• How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话？我感到大为震惊。

361 fabrics   

织物( fabric的名词复数 )； 布； 构造； （建筑物的）结构（如墙、地面、屋顶）：质地

参考例句：

• cotton fabrics and synthetics 棉织物与合成织物
• The fabrics are merchandised through a network of dealers. 通过经销网点销售纺织品。

362 slumbering   

微睡，睡眠（slumber的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• It was quiet. All the other inhabitants of the slums were slumbering. 贫民窟里的人已经睡眠静了。
• Then soft music filled the air and soothed the slumbering heroes. 接着，空中响起了柔和的乐声，抚慰着安睡的英雄。

363 ascended   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He has ascended into heaven. 他已经升入了天堂。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The climbers slowly ascended the mountain. 爬山运动员慢慢地登上了这座山。 来自《简明英汉词典》

364 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

365 enjoyment   

n.乐趣；享有；享用

参考例句：

• Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同，我们这次访问更加愉快了。
• After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话，这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

366 hairpins   

n.发夹( hairpin的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The price of these hairpins are about the same. 这些发夹的价格大致相同。 来自互联网
• So the king gives a hundred hairpins to each of them. 所以国王送给她们每人一百个漂亮的发夹。 来自互联网