“Thy secret pleasure turns to open shame;
Thy private feasting to a public fast;
Thy smoothing titles to a ragged1 name;
Thy sugar’d tongue to bitter worm wood taste:
Thy violent vanities can never last.”
Shakespeare, Rape2 of Lucrece, 11. 890–94.
Judith was waiting the return of Deerslayer on the platform, with stifled3 impatience4, when the latter reached the hut. Hist and Hetty were both in a deep sleep, on the bed usually occupied by the two daughters of the house, and the Delaware was stretched on the floor of the adjoining room, his rifle at his side, and a blanket over him, already dreaming of the events of the last few days. There was a lamp burning in the Ark, for the family was accustomed to indulge in this luxury on extraordinary occasions, and possessed5 the means, the vessel6 being of a form and material to render it probable it had once been an occupant of the chest.
As soon as the girl got a glimpse of the canoe, she ceased her hurried walk up and down the platform and stood ready to receive the young man, whose return she had now been anxiously expecting for some time. She helped him to fasten the canoe, and by aiding in the other little similar employments, manifested her desire to reach a moment of liberty as soon as possible. When this was done, in answer to an inquiry7 of his, she informed him of the manner in which their companions had disposed of themselves. He listened attentively9, for the manner of the girl was so earnest and impressive as to apprise10 him that she had something on her mind of more than common concern.
“And now, Deerslayer,” Judith continued, “you see I have lighted the lamp, and put it in the cabin of the Ark. That is never done with us, unless on great occasions, and I consider this night as the most important of my life. Will you follow me and see what I have to show you — hear what I have to say.”
The hunter was a little surprised, but, making no objections, both were soon in the scow, and in the room that contained the light. Here two stools were placed at the side of the chest, with the lamp on another, and a table near by to receive the different articles as they might be brought to view. This arrangement had its rise in the feverish11 impatience of the girl, which could brook12 no delay that it was in her power to obviate13. Even all the padlocks were removed, and it only remained to raise the heavy lid, again, to expose all the treasures of this long secreted14 hoard15.
“I see, in part, what all this means,” observed Deerslayer —“yes, I see through it, in part. But why is not Hetty present? Now Thomas Hutter is gone, she is one of the owners of these cur’osities, and ought to see them opened and handled.”
“Hetty sleeps —” answered Judith, huskily. “Happily for her, fine clothes and riches have no charms. Besides she has this night given her share of all that the chest may hold to me, that I may do with it as I please.”
“Is poor Hetty compass enough for that, Judith?” demanded the just-minded young man. “It’s a good rule and a righteous one, never to take when them that give don’t know the valie of their gifts; and such as God has visited heavily in their wits ought to be dealt with as carefully as children that haven’t yet come to their understandings.”
Judith was hurt at this rebuke18, coming from the person it did, but she would have felt it far more keenly had not her conscience fully16 acquitted19 her of any unjust intentions towards her feeble-minded but confiding20 sister. It was not a moment, however, to betray any of her usual mountings of the spirit, and she smothered21 the passing sensation in the desire to come to the great object she had in view.
“Hetty will not be wronged,” she mildly answered; “she even knows not only what I am about to do, Deerslayer, but why I do it. So take your seat, raise the lid of the chest, and this time we will go to the bottom. I shall be disappointed if something is not found to tell us more of the history of Thomas Hutter and my mother.”
“Why Thomas Hutter, Judith, and not your father? The dead ought to meet with as much reverence22 as the living!”
“I have long suspected that Thomas Hutter was not my father, though I did think he might have been Hetty’s, but now we know he was the father of neither. He acknowledged that much in his dying moments. I am old enough to remember better things than we have seen on this lake, though they are so faintly impressed on my memory that the earlier part of my life seems like a dream.”
“Dreams are but miserable23 guides when one has to detarmine about realities, Judith,” returned the other admonishingly. “Fancy nothing and hope nothing on their account, though I’ve known chiefs that thought ’em useful.”
“I expect nothing for the future from them, my good friend, but cannot help remembering what has been. This is idle, however, when half an hour of examination may tell us all, or even more than I want to know.”
Deerslayer, who comprehended the girl’s impatience, now took his seat and proceeded once more to bring to light the different articles that the chest contained. As a matter of course, all that had been previously24 examined were found where they had been last deposited, and they excited much less interest or comment than when formerly25 exposed to view. Even Judith laid aside the rich brocade with an air of indifference26, for she had a far higher aim before her than the indulgence of vanity, and was impatient to come at the still hidden, or rather unknown, treasures.
“All these we have seen before,” she said, “and will not stop to open. The bundle under your hand, Deerslayer, is a fresh one; that we will look into. God send it may contain something to tell poor Hetty and myself who we really are!”
“Ay, if some bundles could speak, they might tell wonderful secrets,” returned the young man deliberately27 undoing28 the folds of another piece of course canvass29, in order to come at the contents of the roll that lay on his knees: “though this doesn’t seem to be one of that family, seeing ’tis neither more nor less than a sort of flag, though of what nation, it passes my l’arnin’ to say.”
“That flag must have some meaning to it —” Judith hurriedly interposed. “Open it wider, Deerslayer, that we may see the colours.”
“Well, I pity the ensign that has to shoulder this cloth, and to parade it about on the field. Why ’tis large enough, Judith, to make a dozen of them colours the King’s officers set so much store by. These can be no ensign’s colours, but a gin’ral’s!”
“A ship might carry it, Deerslayer, and ships I know do use such things. Have you never heard any fearful stories about Thomas Hutter’s having once been concerned with the people they call buccaneers?”
“Buck30-ah-near! Not I— not I— I never heard him mentioned as good at a buck far off, or near by. Hurry Harry31 did till me something about its being supposed that he had formerly, in some way or other, dealings with sartain sea robbers, but, Lord, Judith, it can’t surely give you any satisfaction to make out that ag’in your mother’s own husband, though he isn’t your father.”
“Anything will give me satisfaction that tells me who I am, and helps to explain the dreams of childhood. My mother’s husband! Yes, he must have been that, though why a woman like her, should have chosen a man like him, is more than mortal reason can explain. You never saw mother, Deerslayer, and can’t feel the vast, vast difference there was between them!”
“Such things do happen, howsever;— yes, they do happen; though why providence32 lets them come to pass is more than I understand. I’ve knew the f’ercest warriors34 with the gentlest wives of any in the tribe, and awful scolds fall to the lot of Injins fit to be missionaries35.”
“That was not it, Deerslayer; that was not it. Oh! if it should prove that — no; I cannot wish she should not have been his wife at all. That no daughter can wish for her own mother! Go on, now, and let us see what the square looking bundle holds.”
Deerslayer complied, and he found that it contained a small trunk of pretty workmanship, but fastened. The next point was to find a key; but, search proving ineffectual, it was determined36 to force the lock. This Deerslayer soon effected by the aid of an iron instrument, and it was found that the interior was nearly filled with papers. Many were letters; some fragments of manuscripts, memorandums, accounts, and other similar documents. The hawk37 does not pounce38 upon the chicken with a more sudden swoop39 than Judith sprang forward to seize this mine of hitherto concealed40 knowledge. Her education, as the reader will have perceived, was far superior to her situation in life, and her eye glanced over page after page of the letters with a readiness that her schooling41 supplied, and with an avidity that found its origin in her feelings. At first it was evident that the girl was gratified; and we may add with reason, for the letters written by females, in innocence42 and affection, were of a character to cause her to feel proud of those with whom she had every reason to think she was closely connected by the ties of blood. It does not come within the scope of our plan to give more of these epistles, however, than a general idea of their contents, and this will best be done by describing the effect they produced on the manner, appearance, and feeling of her who was so eagerly perusing43 them.
It has been said, already, that Judith was much gratified with the letters that first met her eye. They contained the correspondence of an affectionate and inteffigent mother to an absent daughter, with such allusions44 to the answers as served in a great measure to fill up the vacuum left by the replies. They were not without admonitions and warnings, however, and Judith felt the blood mounting to her temples, and a cold shudder45 succeeding, as she read one in which the propriety46 of the daughter’s indulging in as much intimacy47 as had evidently been described in one of the daughter’s own letters, with an officer “who came from Europe, and who could hardly be supposed to wish to form an honorable connection in America,” was rather coldly commented on by the mother. What rendered it singular was the fact that the signatures had been carefully cut from every one of these letters, and wherever a name occurred in the body of the epistles it had been erased48 with so much diligence as to render it impossible to read it. They had all been enclosed in envelopes, according to the fashion of the age, and not an address either was to be found. Still the letters themselves had been religiously preserved, and Judith thought she could discover traces of tears remaining on several. She now remembered to have seen the little trunk in her mother’s keeping, previously to her death, and she supposed it had first been deposited in the chest, along with the other forgotten or concealed objects, when the letters could no longer contribute to that parent’s grief or happiness.
Next came another bundle, and these were filled with the protestations of love, written with passion certainly, but also with that deceit which men so often think it justifiable49 to use to the other sex. Judith had shed tears abundantly over the first packet, but now she felt a sentiment of indignation and pride better sustaining her. Her hand shook, however, and cold shivers again passed through her frame, as she discovered a few points of strong resemblance between these letters and some it had been her own fate to receive. Once, indeed, she laid the packet down, bowed her head to her knees, and seemed nearly convulsed. All this time Deerslayer sat a silent but attentive8 observer of every thing that passed. As Judith read a letter she put it into his hands to hold until she could peruse50 the next; but this served in no degree to enlighten her companion, as he was totally unable to read. Nevertheless he was not entirely51 at fault in discovering the passions that were contending in the bosom52 of the fair creature by his side, and, as occasional sentences escaped her in murmurs53, he was nearer the truth, in his divinations, or conjectures54, than the girl would have been pleased at discovering.
Judith had commenced with the earliest letters, luckily for a ready comprehension of the tale they told, for they were carefully arranged in chronological55 order, and to any one who would take the trouble to peruse them, would have revealed a sad history of gratified passion, coldness, and finally of aversion. As she obtained the clue to their import, her impatience would not admit of delay, and she soon got to glancing her eyes over a page by way of coming at the truth in the briefest manner possible. By adopting this expedient56, one to which all who are eager to arrive at results without encumbering57 themselves with details are so apt to resort, Judith made a rapid progress in these melancholy58 revelations of her mother’s failing and punishment. She saw that the period of her own birth was distinctly referred to, and even learned that the homely59 name she bore was given her by the father, of whose person she retained so faint an impression as to resemble a dream. This name was not obliterated60 from the text of the letters, but stood as if nothing was to be gained by erasing61 it. Hetty’s birth was mentioned once, and in that instance the name was the mother’s, but ere this period was reached came the signs of coldness, shadowing forth62 the desertion that was so soon to follow. It was in this stage of the correspondence that her mother had recourse to the plan of copying her own epistles. They were but few, but were eloquent63 with the feelings of blighted64 affection, and contrition65. Judith sobbed66 over them, until again and again she felt compelled to lay them aside from sheer physical inability to see; her eyes being literally67 obscured with tears. Still she returned to the task, with increasing interest, and finally succeeded in reaching the end of the latest communication that had probably ever passed between her parents.
All this occupied fully an hour, for near a hundred letters were glanced at, and some twenty had been closely read. The truth now shone clear upon the acute mind of Judith, so far as her own birth and that of Hetty were concerned. She sickened at the conviction, and for the moment the rest of the world seemed to be cut off from her, and she had now additional reasons for wishing to pass the remainder of her life on the lake, where she had already seen so many bright and so many sorrowing days.
There yet remained more letters to examine. Judith found these were a correspondence between her mother and Thomas Hovey. The originals of both parties were carefully arranged, letter and answer, side by side; and they told the early history of the connection between the ill-assorted pair far more plainly than Judith wished to learn it. Her mother made the advances towards a marriage, to the surprise, not to say horror of her daughter, and she actually found a relief when she discovered traces of what struck her as insanity68 — or a morbid69 desperation, bordering on that dire70 calamity71 — in the earlier letters of that ill-fated woman. The answers of Hovey were coarse and illiterate72, though they manifested a sufficient desire to obtain the hand of a woman of singular personal attractions, and whose great error he was willing to overlook for the advantage of possessing one every way so much his superior, and who it also appeared was not altogether destitute73 of money. The remainder of this part of the correspondence was brief, and it was soon confined to a few communications on business, in which the miserable wife hastened the absent husband in his preparations to abandon a world which there was a sufficient reason to think was as dangerous to one of the parties as it was disagreeable to the other. But a sincere expression had escaped her mother, by which Judith could get a clue to the motives74 that had induced her to marry Hovey, or Hutter, and this she found was that feeling of resentment75 which so often tempts76 the injured to inflict78 wrongs on themselves by way of heaping coals on the heads of those through whom they have suffered. Judith had enough of the spirit of that mother to comprehend this sentiment, and for a moment did she see the exceeding folly79 which permitted such revengeful feelings to get the ascendancy80.
There what may be called the historical part of the papers ceased. Among the loose fragments, however, was an old newspaper that contained a proclamation offering a reward for the apprehension81 of certain free-booters by name, among which was that of Thomas Hovey. The attention of the girl was drawn82 to the proclamation and to this particular name by the circumstance that black lines had been drawn under both, in ink. Nothing else was found among the papers that could lead to a discovery of either the name or the place of residence of the wife of Hutter. All the dates, signatures, and addresses had been cut from the letters, and wherever a word occurred in the body of the communications that might furnish a clue, it was scrupulously83 erased. Thus Judith found all her hopes of ascertaining84 who her parents were defeated, and she was obliged to fall back on her own resources and habits for everything connected with the future. Her recollection of her mother’s manners, conversation, and sufferings filled up many a gap in the historical facts she had now discovered, and the truth, in its outlines, stood sufficiently85 distinct before her to take away all desire, indeed, to possess any more details. Throwing herself back in her seat, she simply desired her companion to finish the examination of the other articles in the chest, as it might yet contain something of importance.
“I’ll do it, Judith; I’ll do it,” returned the patient Deerslayer, “but if there’s many more letters to read, we shall see the sun ag’in afore you’ve got through with the reading of them! Two good hours have you been looking at them bits of papers!”
“They tell me of my parents, Deerslayer, and have settled my plans for life. A girl may be excused, who reads about her own father and mother, and that too for the first time in her life! I am sorry to have kept you waiting.”
“Never mind me, gal86; never mind me. It matters little whether I sleep or watch; but though you be pleasant to look at, and are so handsome, Judith, it is not altogether agreeable to sit so long to behold87 you shedding tears. I know that tears don’t kill, and that some people are better for shedding a few now and then, especially young women; but I’d rather see you smile any time, Judith, than see you weep.”
This gallant88 speech was rewarded with a sweet, though a melancholy smile; and then the girl again desired her companion to finish the examination of the chest. The search necessarily continued some time, during which Judith collected her thoughts and regained89 her composure. She took no part in the search, leaving everything to the young man, looking listlessly herself at the different articles that came uppermost. Nothing further of much interest or value, however, was found. A sword or two, such as were then worn by gentlemen, some buckles90 of silver, or so richly plated as to appear silver, and a few handsome articles of female dress, composed the principal discoveries. It struck both Judith and the Deerslayer, notwithstanding, that some of these things might be made useful in effecting a negotiation91 with the Iroquois, though the latter saw a difficulty in the way that was not so apparent to the former. The conversation was first renewed in connection with this point.
“And now, Deerslayer,” said Judith, “we may talk of yourself, and of the means of getting you out of the hands of the Hurons. Any part, or all of what you have seen in the chest, will be cheerfully given by me and Hetty to set you at liberty.”
“Well, that’s gin’rous,— yes, ’tis downright free-hearted, and free-handed, and gin’rous. This is the way with women; when they take up a fri’ndship, they do nothing by halves, but are as willing to part with their property as if it had no value in their eyes. However, while I thank you both, just as much as if the bargain was made, and Rivenoak, or any of the other vagabonds, was here to accept and close the treaty, there’s two principal reasons why it can never come to pass, which may be as well told at once, in order no onlikely expectations may be raised in you, or any onjustifiable hopes in me.”
“What reason can there be, if Hetty and I are willing to part with the trifles for your sake, and the savages92 are willing to receive them?”
“That’s it, Judith; you’ve got the idees, but they’re a little out of their places, as if a hound should take the back’ard instead of the leading scent93. That the Mingos will be willing to receive them things, or any more like ’em you may have to offer is probable enough, but whether they’ll pay valie for ’em is quite another matter. Ask yourself, Judith, if any one should send you a message to say that, for such or such a price, you and Hetty might have that chist and all it holds, whether you’d think it worth your while to waste many words on the bargain?”
“But this chest and all it holds, are already ours; there is no reason why we should purchase what is already our own.”
“Just so the Mingos caculate! They say the chist is theirn, already; or, as good as theirn, and they’ll not thank anybody for the key.”
“I understand you, Deerslayer; surely we are yet in possession of the lake, and we can keep possession of it until Hurry sends troops to drive off the enemy. This we may certainly do provided you will stay with us, instead of going back and giving yourself up a prisoner, again, as you now seem determined on.”
“That Hurry Harry should talk in thisaway, is nat’ral, and according to the gifts of the man. He knows no better, and, therefore, he is little likely to feel or to act any better; but, Judith, I put it to your heart and conscience — would you, could you think of me as favorably, as I hope and believe you now do, was I to forget my furlough and not go back to the camp?”
“To think more favorably of you than I now do, Deerslayer, would not be easy; but I might continue to think as favorably — at least it seems so — I hope I could, for a world wouldn’t tempt77 me to let you do anything that might change my real opinion of you.”
“Then don’t try to entice94 me to overlook my furlough, gal! A furlough is a sacred thing among warriors and men that carry their lives in their hands, as we of the forests do, and what a grievous disapp’intment would it be to old Tamenund, and to Uncas, the father of the Sarpent, and to my other fri’nds in the tribe, if I was so to disgrace myself on my very first war-path. This you will pairceive, moreover, Judith, is without laying any stress on nat’ral gifts, and a white man’s duties, to say nothing of conscience. The last is king with me, and I try never to dispute his orders.”
“I believe you are right, Deerslayer,” returned the girl, after a little reflection and in a saddened voice: “a man like you ought not to act as the selfish and dishonest would be apt to act; you must, indeed, go back. We will talk no more of this, then. Should I persuade you to anything for which you would be sorry hereafter, my own regret would not be less than yours. You shall not have it to say, Judith — I scarce know by what name to call myself, now!”
“And why not? Why not, gal? Children take the names of their parents, nat’rally, and by a sort of gift, like, and why shouldn’t you and Hetty do as others have done afore ye? Hutter was the old man’s name, and Hutter should be the name of his darters;— at least until you are given away in lawful95 and holy wedlock96.”
“I am Judith, and Judith only,” returned the girl positively97 —“until the law gives me a right to another name. Never will I use that of Thomas Hutter again; nor, with my consent, shall Hetty! Hutter was not even his own name, I find, but had he a thousand rights to it, it would give none to me. He was not my father, thank heaven; though I may have no reason to be proud of him that was!”
“This is strange!” said Deerslayer, looking steadily98 at the excited girl, anxious to know more, but unwilling99 to inquire into matters that did not properly concern him; “yes, this is very strange and oncommon! Thomas Hutter wasn’t Thomas Hutter, and his darters weren’t his darters! Who, then, could Thomas Hutter be, and who are his darters?”
“Did you never hear anything whispered against the former life of this person, Deerslayer?” demanded Judith “Passing, as I did, for his child, such reports reached even me.”
“I’ll not deny it, Judith; no, I’ll not deny it. Sartain things have been said, as I’ve told you, but I’m not very credible100 as to reports. Young as I am, I’ve lived long enough to l’arn there’s two sorts of characters in the world — them that is ‘arned by deeds, and them that is ‘arned by tongues, and so I prefar to see and judge for myself, instead of letting every jaw101 that chooses to wag become my judgment102. Hurry Harry spoke103 pretty plainly of the whole family, as we journeyed this-a-way, and he did hint something consarning Thomas Hutter’s having been a free-liver on the water, in his younger days. By free-liver, I mean that he made free to live on other men’s goods.”
“He told you he was a pirate — there is no need of mincing104 matters between friends. Read that, Deerslayer, and you will see that he told you no more than the truth. This Thomas Hovey was the Thomas Hutter you knew, as is seen by these letters.”
As Judith spoke, with a flushed cheek and eyes dazzling with the brilliancy of excitement, she held the newspaper towards her companion, pointing to the proclamation of a Colonial Governor, already mentioned.
“Bless you, Judith!” answered the other laughing, “you might as well ask me to print that — or, for that matter to write it. My edication has been altogether in the woods; the only book I read, or care about reading, is the one which God has opened afore all his creatur’s in the noble forests, broad lakes, rolling rivers, blue skies, and the winds and tempests, and sunshine, and other glorious marvels105 of the land! This book I can read, and I find it full of wisdom and knowledge.”
“I crave106 your pardon, Deerslayer,” said Judith, earnestly, more abashed107 than was her wont108, in finding that she had in advertently made an appeal that might wound her compan ion’s pride. “I had forgotten your manner of life, and least of all did I wish to hurt your feelings.”
“Hurt my feelin’s? Why should it hurt my feelin’s to ask me to read, when I can’t read. I’m a hunter — and I may now begin to say a warrior33, and no missionary110, and therefore books and papers are of no account with such as I— No, no — Judith,” and here the young man laughed cordially, “not even for wads, seeing that your true deerkiller always uses the hide of a fa’a’n, if he’s got one, or some other bit of leather suitably prepared. There’s some that do say, all that stands in print is true, in which case I’ll own an unl’arned man must be somewhat of a loser; nevertheless, it can’t be truer than that which God has printed with his own hand in the sky, and the woods, and the rivers, and the springs.”
“Well, then, Hutter, or Hovey, was a pirate, and being no father of mine, I cannot wish to call him one. His name shall no longer be my name.”
“If you dislike the name of that man, there’s the name of your mother, Judith. Her’n may sarve you just as good a turn.”
“I do not know it. I’ve look’d through those papers, Deerslayer, in the hope of finding some hint by which I might discover who my mother was, but there is no more trace of the past, in that respect, than the bird leaves in the air.”
“That’s both oncommon, and onreasonable. Parents are bound to give their offspring a name, even though they give ’em nothing else. Now I come of a humble111 stock, though we have white gifts and a white natur’, but we are not so poorly off as to have no name. Bumppo we are called, and I’ve heard it said —” a touch of human vanity glowing on his cheek, “that the time has been when the Bumppos had more standing17 and note among mankind than they have just now.”
“They never deserved them more, Deerslayer, and the name is a good one; either Hetty, or myself, would a thousand times rather be called Hetty Bumppo, or Judith Bumppo, than to be called Hetty or Judith Hutter.”
“That’s a moral impossible,” returned the hunter, good humouredly, “onless one of you should so far demean herself as to marry me.”
Judith could not refrain from smiling, when she found how simply and naturally the conversation had come round to the very point at which she had aimed to bring it. Although far from unfeminine or forward, either in her feelings or her habits, the girl was goaded112 by a sense of wrongs not altogether merited, incited113 by the hopelessness of a future that seemed to contain no resting place, and still more influenced by feelings that were as novel to her as they proved to be active and engrossing114. The opening was too good, therefore, to be neglected, though she came to the subject with much of the indirectness and perhaps justifiable address of a woman.
“I do not think Hetty will ever marry, Deerslayer,” she said, “and if your name is to be borne by either of us, it must be borne by me.”
“There’s been handsome women too, they tell me, among the Bumppos, Judith, afore now, and should you take up with the name, oncommon as you be in this particular, them that knows the family won’t be altogether surprised.”
“This is not talking as becomes either of us, Deerslayer, for whatever is said on such a subject, between man and woman, should be said seriously and in sincerity115 of heart. Forgetting the shame that ought to keep girls silent until spoken to, in most cases, I will deal with you as frankly116 as I know one of your generous nature will most like to be dealt by. Can you — do you think, Deerslayer, that you could be happy with such a wife as a woman like myself would make?”
“A woman like you, Judith! But where’s the sense in trifling117 about such a thing? A woman like you, that is handsome enough to be a captain’s lady, and fine enough, and so far as I know edicated enough, would be little apt to think of becoming my wife. I suppose young gals118 that feel themselves to be smart, and know themselves to be handsome, find a sartain satisfaction in passing their jokes ag’in them that’s neither, like a poor Delaware hunter.”
This was said good naturedly, but not without a betrayal of feeling which showed that something like mortified119 sensibility was blended with the reply. Nothing could have occurred more likely to awaken120 all Judith’s generous regrets, or to aid her in her purpose, by adding the stimulant121 of a disinterested122 desire to atone123 to her other impulses, and cloaking all under a guise124 so winning and natural, as greatly to lessen125 the unpleasant feature of a forwardness unbecoming the sex.
“You do me injustice126 if you suppose I have any such thought, or wish,” she answered, earnestly. “Never was I more serious in my life, or more willing to abide127 by any agreement that we may make to-night. I have had many suitors, Deerslayer — nay128, scarce an unmarried trapper or hunter has been in at the Lake these four years, who has not offered to take me away with him, and I fear some that were married, too —”
“Ay, I’ll warrant that!” interrupted the other —“I’ll warrant all that! Take ’em as a body, Judith, ‘arth don’t hold a set of men more given to theirselves, and less given to God and the law.”
“Not one of them would I— could I listen to; happily for myself perhaps, has it been that such was the case. There have been well looking youths among them too, as you may have seen in your acquaintance, Henry March.”
“Yes, Harry is sightly to the eye, though, to my idees, less so to the judgment. I thought, at first, you meant to have him, Judith, I did; but afore he went, it was easy enough to verify that the same lodge129 wouldn’t be big enough for you both.”
“You have done me justice in that at least, Deerslayer. Hurry is a man I could never marry, though he were ten times more comely130 to the eye, and a hundred times more stout131 of heart than he really is.”
“Why not, Judith, why not? I own I’m cur’ous to know why a youth like Hurry shouldn’t find favor with a maiden132 like you?”
“Then you shall know, Deerslayer,” returned the girl, gladly availing herself of the opportunity of indirectly133 extolling134 the qualities which had so strongly interested her in her listener; hoping by these means covertly135 to approach the subject nearest her heart. “In the first place, looks in a man are of no importance with a woman, provided he is manly137, and not disfigured, or deformed138.”
“There I can’t altogether agree with you,” returned the other thoughtfully, for he had a very humble opinion of his own personal appearance; “I have noticed that the comeliest139 warriors commonly get the best-looking maidens140 of the tribe for wives, and the Sarpent, yonder, who is sometimes wonderful in his paint, is a gineral favorite with all the Delaware young women, though he takes to Hist, himself, as if she was the only beauty on ‘arth!”
“It may be so with Indians; but it is different with white girls. So long as a young man has a straight and manly frame, that promises to make him able to protect a woman, and to keep want from the door, it is all they ask of the figure. Giants like Hurry may do for grenadiers, but are of little account as lovers. Then as to the face, an honest look, one that answers for the heart within, is of more value than any shape or colour, or eyes, or teeth, or trifles like them. The last may do for girls, but who thinks of them at all, in a hunter, or a warrior, or a husband? If there are women so silly, Judith is not among them.”
“Well, this is wonderful! I always thought that handsome liked handsome, as riches love riches!”
“It may be so with you men, Deerslayer, but it is not always so with us women. We like stout-hearted men, but we wish to see them modest; sure on a hunt, or the war-path, ready to die for the right, and unwilling to yield to the wrong. Above all we wish for honesty — tongues that are not used to say what the mind does not mean, and hearts that feel a little for others, as well as for themselves. A true-hearted girl could die for such a husband! while the boaster, and the double-tongued suitor gets to be as hateful to the sight, as he is to the mind.”
Judith spoke bitterly, and with her usual force, but her listener was too much struck with the novelty of the sensations he experienced to advert109 to her manner. There was something so soothing141 to the humility142 of a man of his temperament143, to hear qualities that he could not but know he possessed himself, thus highly extolled144 by the loveliest female he had ever beheld145, that, for the moment, his faculties146 seemed suspended in a natural and excusable pride. Then it was that the idea of the possibility of such a creature as Judith becoming his companion for life first crossed his mind. The image was so pleasant, and so novel, that he continued completely absorbed by it for more than a minute, totally regardless of the beautiful reality that was seated before him, watching the expression of his upright and truth-telling countenance147 with a keenness that gave her a very fair, if not an absolutely accurate clue to his thoughts. Never before had so pleasing a vision floated before the mind’s eye of the young hunter, but, accustomed most to practical things, and little addicted148 to submitting to the power of his imagination, even while possessed of so much true poetical149 feeling in connection with natural objects in particular, he soon recovered his reason, and smiled at his own weakness, as the fancied picture faded from his mental sight, and left him the simple, untaught, but highly moral being he was, seated in the Ark of Thomas Hutter, at midnight, with the lovely countenance of its late owner’s reputed daughter, beaming on him with anxious scrutiny150, by the light of the solitary151 lamp.
“You’re wonderful handsome, and enticing152, and pleasing to look on, Judith!” he exclaimed, in his simplicity153, as fact resumed its ascendency over fancy. “Wonderful! I don’t remember ever to have seen so beautiful a gal, even among the Delawares; and I’m not astonished that Hurry Harry went away soured as well as disapp’inted!”
“Would you have had me, Deerslayer, become the wife of such a man as Henry March?”
“There’s that which is in his favor, and there’s that which is ag’in him. To my taste, Hurry wouldn’t make the best of husbands, but I fear that the tastes of most young women, hereaway, wouldn’t be so hard upon him.”
“No — no — Judith without a name would never consent to be called Judith March! Anything would be better than that.”
“Judith Bumppo wouldn’t sound as well, gal; and there’s many names that would fall short of March, in pleasing the ear.”
“Ah! Deerslayer, the pleasantness of the sound, in such cases, doesn’t come through the ear, but through the heart. Everything is agreeable, when the heart is satisfied. Were Natty154 Bumppo, Henry March, and Henry March, Natty Bumppo, I might think the name of March better than it is; or were he, you, I should fancy the name of Bumppo horrible!”
“That’s just it — yes, that’s the reason of the matter. Now, I’m nat’rally avarse to sarpents, and I hate even the word, which, the missionaries tell me, comes from human natur’, on account of a sartain sarpent at the creation of the ‘arth, that outwitted the first woman; yet, ever since Chingachgook has ‘arned the title he bears, why the sound is as pleasant to my ears as the whistle of the whippoorwill of a calm evening — it is. The feelin’s make all the difference in the world, Judith, in the natur’ of sounds; ay, even in that of looks, too.”
“This is so true, Deerslayer, that I am surprised you should think it remarkable155 a girl, who may have some comeliness156 herself, should not think it necessary that her husband should have the same advantage, or what you fancy an advantage. To me, looks in a man is nothing provided his countenance be as honest as his heart.”
“Yes, honesty is a great advantage, in the long run; and they that are the most apt to forget it in the beginning, are the most apt to l’arn it in the ind. Nevertheless, there’s more, Judith, that look to present profit than to the benefit that is to come after a time. One they think a sartainty, and the other an onsartainty. I’m glad, howsever, that you look at the thing in its true light, and not in the way in which so many is apt to deceive themselves.”
“I do thus look at it, Deerslayer,” returned the girl with emphasis, still shrinking with a woman’s sensitiveness from a direct offer of her hand, “and can say, from the bottom of my heart, that I would rather trust my happiness to a man whose truth and feelings may be depended on, than to a false-tongued and false-hearted wretch157 that had chests of gold, and houses and lands — yes, though he were even seated on a throne!”
“These are brave words, Judith; they’re downright brave words; but do you think that the feelin’s would keep ’em company, did the ch’ice actually lie afore you? If a gay gallant in a scarlet158 coat stood on one side, with his head smelling like a deer’s foot, his face smooth and blooming as your own, his hands as white and soft as if God hadn’t bestowed159 ’em that man might live by the sweat of his brow, and his step as lofty as dancing-teachers and a light heart could make it; and the other side stood one that has passed his days in the open air till his forehead is as red as his cheek; had cut his way through swamps and bushes till his hand was as rugged160 as the oaks he slept under; had trodden on the scent of game till his step was as stealthy as the catamount’s, and had no other pleasant odor about him than such as natur’ gives in the free air and the forest — now, if both these men stood here, as suitors for your feelin’s, which do you think would win your favor?”
Judith’s fine face flushed, for the picture that her companion had so simply drawn of a gay officer of the garrisons161 had once been particularly grateful to her imagination, though experience and disappointment had not only chilled all her affections, but given them a backward current, and the passing image had a momentary162 influence on her feelings; but the mounting colour was succeeded by a paleness so deadly, as to make her appear ghastly.
“As God is my judge,” the girl solemnly answered, “did both these men stand before me, as I may say one of them does, my choice, if I know my own heart, would be the latter. I have no wish for a husband who is any way better than myself.”
“This is pleasant to listen to, and might lead a young man in time to forget his own onworthiness, Judith! Howsever, you hardly think all that you say. A man like me is too rude and ignorant for one that has had such a mother to teach her. Vanity is nat’ral, I do believe, but vanity like that, would surpass reason.”
“Then you do not know of what a woman’s heart is capable! Rude you are not, Deerslayer, nor can one be called ignorant that has studied what is before his eyes as closely as you have done. When the affections are concerned, all things appear in their pleasantest colors, and trifles are overlooked, or are forgotten. When the heart feels sunshine, nothing is gloomy, even dull looking objects, seeming gay and bright, and so it would be between you and the woman who should love you, even though your wife might happen, in some matters, to possess what the world calls the advantage over you.”
“Judith, you come of people altogether above mine, in the world, and onequal matches, like onequal fri’ndships can’t often tarminate kindly163. I speak of this matter altogether as a fanciful thing, since it’s not very likely that you, at least, would be apt to treat it as a matter that can ever come to pass.”
Judith fastened her deep blue eyes on the open, frank countenance of her companion, as if she would read his soul. Nothing there betrayed any covert136 meaning, and she was obliged to admit to herself, that he regarded the conversation as argumentative, rather than positive, and that he was still without any active suspicion that her feelings were seriously involved in the issue. At first, she felt offended; then she saw the injustice of making the self-abasement and modesty164 of the hunter a charge against him, and this novel difficulty gave a piquancy165 to the state of affairs that rather increased her interest in the young man. At that critical instant, a change of plan flashed on her mind, and with a readiness of invention that is peculiar166 to the quick-witted and ingenious, she adopted a scheme by which she hoped effectually to bind167 him to her person. This scheme partook equally of her fertility of invention, and of the decision and boldness of her character. That the conversation might not terminate too abruptly168, however, or any suspicion of her design exist, she answered the last remark of Deerslayer, as earnestly and as truly as if her original intention remained unaltered.
“I, certainly, have no reason to boast of parentage, after what I have seen this night,” said the girl, in a saddened voice. “I had a mother, it is true; but of her name even, I am ignorant — and, as for my father, it is better, perhaps, that I should never know who he was, lest I speak too bitterly of him!”
“Judith,” said Deerslayer, taking her hand kindly, and with a manly sincerity that went directly to the girl’s heart, “tis better to say no more to-night. Sleep on what you’ve seen and felt; in the morning things that now look gloomy, may look more che’rful. Above all, never do anything in bitterness, or because you feel as if you’d like to take revenge on yourself for other people’s backslidings. All that has been said or done atween us, this night, is your secret, and shall never be talked of by me, even with the Sarpent, and you may be sartain if he can’t get it out of me no man can. If your parents have been faulty, let the darter be less so; remember that you’re young, and the youthful may always hope for better times; that you’re more quick-witted than usual, and such gin’rally get the better of difficulties, and that, as for beauty, you’re oncommon, which is an advantage with all. It is time to get a little rest, for to-morrow is like to prove a trying day to some of us.”
Deerslayer arose as he spoke, and Judith had no choice but to comply. The chest was closed and secured, and they parted in silence, she to take her place by the side of Hist and Hetty, and he to seek a blanket on the floor of the cabin he was in. It was not five minutes ere the young man was in a deep sleep, but the girl continued awake for a long time. She scarce knew whether to lament169, or to rejoice, at having failed in making herself understood. On the one hand were her womanly sensibilities spared; on the other was the disappointment of defeated, or at least of delayed expectations, and the uncertainty170 of a future that looked so dark. Then came the new resolution, and the bold project for the morrow, and when drowsiness171 finally shut her eyes, they closed on a scene of success and happiness, that was pictured by the fancy, under the influence of a sanguine172 temperament, and a happy invention.
1 ragged | |
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的 | |
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2 rape | |
n.抢夺,掠夺,强奸;vt.掠夺,抢夺,强奸 | |
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3 stifled | |
(使)窒息, (使)窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 ); 镇压,遏制; 堵 | |
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4 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
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5 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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6 vessel | |
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 | |
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7 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
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8 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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9 attentively | |
adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 | |
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10 apprise | |
vt.通知,告知 | |
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11 feverish | |
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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12 brook | |
n.小河,溪;v.忍受,容让 | |
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13 obviate | |
v.除去,排除,避免,预防 | |
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14 secreted | |
v.(尤指动物或植物器官)分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 );隐匿,隐藏 | |
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15 hoard | |
n./v.窖藏,贮存,囤积 | |
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16 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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17 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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18 rebuke | |
v.指责,非难,斥责 [反]praise | |
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19 acquitted | |
宣判…无罪( acquit的过去式和过去分词 ); 使(自己)作出某种表现 | |
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20 confiding | |
adj.相信人的,易于相信的v.吐露(秘密,心事等)( confide的现在分词 );(向某人)吐露(隐私、秘密等) | |
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21 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 | |
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22 reverence | |
n.敬畏,尊敬,尊严;Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称;v.尊敬,敬畏,崇敬 | |
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23 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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24 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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25 formerly | |
adv.从前,以前 | |
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26 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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27 deliberately | |
adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地 | |
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28 undoing | |
n.毁灭的原因,祸根;破坏,毁灭 | |
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29 canvass | |
v.招徕顾客,兜售;游说;详细检查,讨论 | |
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30 buck | |
n.雄鹿,雄兔;v.马离地跳跃 | |
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31 harry | |
vt.掠夺,蹂躏,使苦恼 | |
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32 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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33 warrior | |
n.勇士,武士,斗士 | |
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34 warriors | |
武士,勇士,战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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35 missionaries | |
n.传教士( missionary的名词复数 ) | |
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36 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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37 hawk | |
n.鹰,骗子;鹰派成员 | |
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38 pounce | |
n.猛扑;v.猛扑,突然袭击,欣然同意 | |
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39 swoop | |
n.俯冲,攫取;v.抓取,突然袭击 | |
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40 concealed | |
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的 | |
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41 schooling | |
n.教育;正规学校教育 | |
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42 innocence | |
n.无罪;天真;无害 | |
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43 perusing | |
v.读(某篇文字)( peruse的现在分词 );(尤指)细阅;审阅;匆匆读或心不在焉地浏览(某篇文字) | |
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44 allusions | |
暗指,间接提到( allusion的名词复数 ) | |
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45 shudder | |
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动 | |
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46 propriety | |
n.正当行为;正当;适当 | |
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47 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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48 erased | |
v.擦掉( erase的过去式和过去分词 );抹去;清除 | |
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49 justifiable | |
adj.有理由的,无可非议的 | |
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50 peruse | |
v.细读,精读 | |
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51 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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52 bosom | |
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 | |
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53 murmurs | |
n.低沉、连续而不清的声音( murmur的名词复数 );低语声;怨言;嘀咕 | |
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54 conjectures | |
推测,猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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55 chronological | |
adj.按年月顺序排列的,年代学的 | |
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56 expedient | |
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计 | |
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57 encumbering | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的现在分词 ) | |
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58 melancholy | |
n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 | |
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59 homely | |
adj.家常的,简朴的;不漂亮的 | |
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60 obliterated | |
v.除去( obliterate的过去式和过去分词 );涂去;擦掉;彻底破坏或毁灭 | |
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61 erasing | |
v.擦掉( erase的现在分词 );抹去;清除 | |
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62 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
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63 eloquent | |
adj.雄辩的,口才流利的;明白显示出的 | |
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64 blighted | |
adj.枯萎的,摧毁的 | |
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65 contrition | |
n.悔罪,痛悔 | |
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66 sobbed | |
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说 | |
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67 literally | |
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 | |
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68 insanity | |
n.疯狂,精神错乱;极端的愚蠢,荒唐 | |
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69 morbid | |
adj.病的;致病的;病态的;可怕的 | |
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70 dire | |
adj.可怕的,悲惨的,阴惨的,极端的 | |
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71 calamity | |
n.灾害,祸患,不幸事件 | |
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72 illiterate | |
adj.文盲的;无知的;n.文盲 | |
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73 destitute | |
adj.缺乏的;穷困的 | |
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74 motives | |
n.动机,目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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75 resentment | |
n.怨愤,忿恨 | |
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76 tempts | |
v.引诱或怂恿(某人)干不正当的事( tempt的第三人称单数 );使想要 | |
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77 tempt | |
vt.引诱,勾引,吸引,引起…的兴趣 | |
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78 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
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79 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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80 ascendancy | |
n.统治权,支配力量 | |
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81 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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82 drawn | |
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 | |
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83 scrupulously | |
adv.一丝不苟地;小心翼翼地,多顾虑地 | |
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84 ascertaining | |
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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85 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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86 gal | |
n.姑娘,少女 | |
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87 behold | |
v.看,注视,看到 | |
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88 gallant | |
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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89 regained | |
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地 | |
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90 buckles | |
搭扣,扣环( buckle的名词复数 ) | |
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91 negotiation | |
n.谈判,协商 | |
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92 savages | |
未开化的人,野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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93 scent | |
n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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94 entice | |
v.诱骗,引诱,怂恿 | |
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95 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
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96 wedlock | |
n.婚姻,已婚状态 | |
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97 positively | |
adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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98 steadily | |
adv.稳定地;不变地;持续地 | |
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99 unwilling | |
adj.不情愿的 | |
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100 credible | |
adj.可信任的,可靠的 | |
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101 jaw | |
n.颚,颌,说教,流言蜚语;v.喋喋不休,教训 | |
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102 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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103 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 | |
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104 mincing | |
adj.矫饰的;v.切碎;切碎 | |
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105 marvels | |
n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 );令人惊奇的事物(或事例);不平凡的成果;成就v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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106 crave | |
vt.渴望得到,迫切需要,恳求,请求 | |
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107 abashed | |
adj.窘迫的,尴尬的v.使羞愧,使局促,使窘迫( abash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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108 wont | |
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯 | |
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109 advert | |
vi.注意,留意,言及;n.广告 | |
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110 missionary | |
adj.教会的,传教(士)的;n.传教士 | |
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111 humble | |
adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;v.降低,贬低 | |
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112 goaded | |
v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 );激励;(用尖棒)驱赶;驱使(或怂恿、刺激)某人 | |
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113 incited | |
刺激,激励,煽动( incite的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114 engrossing | |
adj.使人全神贯注的,引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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115 sincerity | |
n.真诚,诚意;真实 | |
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116 frankly | |
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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117 trifling | |
adj.微不足道的;没什么价值的 | |
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118 gals | |
abbr.gallons (复数)加仑(液量单位)n.女孩,少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
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119 mortified | |
v.使受辱( mortify的过去式和过去分词 );伤害(人的感情);克制;抑制(肉体、情感等) | |
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120 awaken | |
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起 | |
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121 stimulant | |
n.刺激物,兴奋剂 | |
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122 disinterested | |
adj.不关心的,不感兴趣的 | |
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123 atone | |
v.赎罪,补偿 | |
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124 guise | |
n.外表,伪装的姿态 | |
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125 lessen | |
vt.减少,减轻;缩小 | |
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126 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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127 abide | |
vi.遵守;坚持;vt.忍受 | |
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128 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
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129 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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130 comely | |
adj.漂亮的,合宜的 | |
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132 maiden | |
n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 | |
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133 indirectly | |
adv.间接地,不直接了当地 | |
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134 extolling | |
v.赞美( extoll的现在分词 );赞颂,赞扬,赞美( extol的现在分词 ) | |
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135 covertly | |
adv.偷偷摸摸地 | |
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136 covert | |
adj.隐藏的;暗地里的 | |
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137 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
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138 deformed | |
adj.畸形的;变形的;丑的,破相了的 | |
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139 comeliest | |
adj.英俊的,好看的( comely的最高级 ) | |
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140 maidens | |
处女( maiden的名词复数 ); 少女; 未婚女子; (板球运动)未得分的一轮投球 | |
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141 soothing | |
adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 | |
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142 humility | |
n.谦逊,谦恭 | |
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143 temperament | |
n.气质,性格,性情 | |
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144 extolled | |
v.赞颂,赞扬,赞美( extol的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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145 beheld | |
v.看,注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 );瞧;看呀;(叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现)哎哟 | |
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146 faculties | |
n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 | |
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147 countenance | |
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 | |
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148 addicted | |
adj.沉溺于....的,对...上瘾的 | |
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149 poetical | |
adj.似诗人的;诗一般的;韵文的;富有诗意的 | |
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150 scrutiny | |
n.详细检查,仔细观察 | |
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151 solitary | |
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 | |
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152 enticing | |
adj.迷人的;诱人的 | |
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153 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
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154 natty | |
adj.整洁的,漂亮的 | |
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155 remarkable | |
adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 | |
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156 comeliness | |
n. 清秀, 美丽, 合宜 | |
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157 wretch | |
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人 | |
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158 scarlet | |
n.深红色,绯红色,红衣;adj.绯红色的 | |
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159 bestowed | |
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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160 rugged | |
adj.高低不平的,粗糙的,粗壮的,强健的 | |
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161 garrisons | |
守备部队,卫戍部队( garrison的名词复数 ) | |
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162 momentary | |
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的 | |
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163 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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164 modesty | |
n.谦逊,虚心,端庄,稳重,羞怯,朴素 | |
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165 piquancy | |
n.辛辣,辣味,痛快 | |
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166 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
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167 bind | |
vt.捆,包扎;装订;约束;使凝固;vi.变硬 | |
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168 abruptly | |
adv.突然地,出其不意地 | |
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169 lament | |
n.悲叹,悔恨,恸哭;v.哀悼,悔恨,悲叹 | |
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170 uncertainty | |
n.易变,靠不住,不确知,不确定的事物 | |
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171 drowsiness | |
n.睡意;嗜睡 | |
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172 sanguine | |
adj.充满希望的,乐观的,血红色的 | |
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