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Chapter 46 Our Pet Fox Finds a Tail
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Frank returned home, and his immediate1 business was of course with his father, and with Mr Gazebee, who was still at Greshamsbury.

‘But who is the heir?’ asked Mr Gazebee, when Frank had explained that the death of Sir Louis rendered unnecessary any immediate legal steps.

‘Upon my word, I don’t know,’ said Frank.

‘You saw Dr Thorne,’ said the squire2. ‘He must have known.’

‘I never thought of asking him,’ said Frank, naively3.

Mr Gazebee looked rather solemn. ‘I wonder at that,’ said he; ‘for everything depends on the hands the property will go into. Let me see; I think Sir Roger had a married sister. Was not that so, Mr Gresham?’ And then it occurred for the first time, both to the squire and to his son, that Mary Thorne was the eldest4 child of this sister. But it never occurred to either of them that Mary could be the baronet’s heir.

Dr Thorne came down for a couple of days before the fortnight was over to see his patients, and then returned again to London. But during this short visit he was utterly5 dumb on the subject of the heir. He called at Greshamsbury to see Lady Arabella, and was even questioned by the squire on the subject. But he obstinately6 refused to say anything more than nothing certain could be known for a few days.

Immediately after his return, Frank saw Mary, and told her all that had happened. ‘I cannot understand my uncle,’ said she, almost trembling as she stood close to him in her own drawing-room. ‘He usually hates mysteries, and yet now he is so mysterious. He told me, Frank — that was after I had written that unfortunate letter —’

‘Unfortunate indeed! I wonder what you really thought of me when you were writing it?’

‘If you had heard what your mother said, you would not be surprised. But, after that, uncle said —’

‘Said what?’

‘He seemed to think — I don’t remember what it was he said. But he said, he hoped that things might yet turn out well; and then I was almost sorry that I had written the letter.’

‘Of course you were sorry, and so you ought to have been. To say that you would never call me Frank again!’

‘I didn’t exactly say that.’

‘I have told him that I will wait a fortnight, and so I will. After that, I shall take the matter into my own hands.’

It may be supposed that Lady Arabella was not well pleased to learn that Frank and Mary had been again together; and, in the agony of her spirit, she did say some ill-natured things before Augusta, who had now returned home from Courcy Castle, as to the gross impropriety of Mary’s conduct. But to Frank she said nothing.

Nor was there much said between Frank and Beatrice. If everything could really be settled at the end of that fortnight which was to witness the disclosure of the doctor’s mystery, there would still be time to arrange that Mary should be at the wedding. ‘It shall be settled then,’ he said to himself; ‘and if it be settled, my mother will hardly venture to exclude my affianced bride from the house.’ It was now the beginning of August, and it wanted yet a month to the Oriel wedding.

But though he said nothing to his mother or to Beatrice, he did say much to his father. In the first place, he showed him Mary’s letter. ‘If your heart be not made of stone it will be softened7 by that,’ he said. Mr Gresham’s heart was not of stone, and he did acknowledge that the letter was a very sweet letter. But we know how the drop of water hollows stone. It was not by the violence of his appeal that Frank succeeded in obtaining from his father a sort of half-consent that he would no longer oppose the match; but by the assiduity with which the appeal was repeated. Frank, as we have said, had more stubbornness of will than his father; and so, before the fortnight was over, the squire had been talked over, and promised to attend at the doctor’s bidding.

‘I suppose you had better take the Hazlehurst farm,’ said he to his son, with a sigh. ‘It joins the park and the home-fields, and I will give you them up also. God knows, I don’t care about farming any more — or about anything else either.’

‘Don’t say that, father.’

‘Well, well! But, Frank, where will you live? The old house is big enough for us all. But how would Mary get on with your mother?’

At the end of this fortnight, true to his time, the doctor returned to the village. He was a bad correspondent; and though he had written some short notes to Mary, he had said no word to her about his business. It was late in the evening when he got home, and it was understood by Frank and the squire that they were to be with him on the following morning. Not a word had been said to Lady Arabella on the subject.

It was late in the evening when he got home, and Mary waited for him with a heart almost sick with expectation. As soon as the fly had stopped at the little gate she heard his voice, and heard at once that it was quick, joyful8, and telling much of inward satisfaction. He had a good-natured word for Janet, and called Thomas an old blunder-head in a manner that made Bridget laugh outright9.

‘He’ll have his nose put out of joint10 some day; won’t he?’ said the doctor. Bridget blushed and laughed again, and made a sign to Thomas that he had better look to his face.

Mary was in his arms before he was yet within the door. ‘My darling,’ said he, tenderly kissing her. ‘You are my own darling yet awhile.’

‘Of course I am. Am I not always to be so?’

‘Well, well; let me have some tea, at any rate, for I’m in a fever of thirst. They may call that tea at the Junction11 if they will; but if China were sunk under the sea it would make no difference to them.’

Dr Thorne always was in a fever of thirst when he got home from the railway, and always made complaint as to tea at the Junction. Mary went about her usual work with almost more than her usual alacrity12, and so they were soon seated in the drawing-room together.

She soon found that his manner was more than ordinarily kind to her; and there was moreover something about him which seemed to make him sparkle with contentment, but he said no word about Frank, nor did he make any allusion13 to the business which had taken him up to town.

‘Have you got through all your work?’ she said to him once.

‘Yes, yes; I think all.’

‘And thoroughly14?’

‘Yes; thoroughly, I think. But I am very tired, and so are you too, darling, with waiting for me.’

‘Oh, no, I am not tired,’ said she, as she went on continually filling his cup; ‘but I am so happy to have you home again. You have been away so much lately.’

‘Ah, yes; well I suppose I shall not go away any more now. It will be somebody else’s turn now.’

‘Uncle, I think you are going to take up writing mystery romances, like Mrs Radciffe’s.’

‘Yes; and I’ll begin tomorrow, certainly with — But, Mary, I will not say another word to-night. Give me a kiss, dearest, and I’ll go.’

Mary did kiss him, and he did go. But as she was still lingering in the room, putting away a book, or a reel of thread, and then sitting down to think what the morrow would bring forth15, the doctor again came into the room in his dressing-gown, and with the slippers16 on.

‘What, not gone yet?’ said he.

‘No, not yet; I’m going now.’

‘You and I, Mary, have always affected17 a good deal of indifference18 as to money, and all that sort of thing.’

‘I won’t acknowledge that it has been an affectation at all,’ she answered.

‘Perhaps not; but we have often expressed it, have we not?’

‘I suppose, uncle, you think that we are like the fox that lost his tail, or rather some unfortunate fox that might be born without one.’

‘I wonder how we should either of us bear it if we found ourselves suddenly rich. It would be a great temptation — a sore temptation. I fear, Mary, that when poor people talk disdainfully of money, they often are like your fox, born without a tail. If nature suddenly should give that beast a tail, would he not be prouder of it than all the other foxes in the wood?’

‘Well, I suppose he would. That’s the very meaning of the story. But how moral you’ve become all of a sudden, at twelve o’clock at night! Instead of being Mrs Radcliffe, I shall think you’re Mr Aesop.’

He took up the article which he had come to seek, and kissing her again on the forehead, went away to his bed-room without further speech. ‘What can he mean by all this about money?’ said Mary to herself. ‘It cannot be that by Sir Louis’s death he will get any of all this property;’ and then she began to bethink herself whether, after all, she would wish him to be a rich man. ‘If he were very rich, he might do something to assist Frank; and then —’

There never was a fox yet without a tail who would not be delighted to find himself suddenly possessed19 of that appendage20. Never; let the untailed fox have been ever so sincere in his advice to his friends! We are all of us, the good and the bad, looking for tails — for one tail, or for more than one; we do so too often by ways that are mean enough: but perhaps there is no tail-seeker more mean, more sneakingly mean than he who looks out to adorn21 his bare back by a tail by marriage.

The doctor was up very early the next morning, long before Mary was ready with her teacups. He was up, and in his own study behind the shop, arranging dingy22 papers, pulling about tin boxes which he had brought down with him from London, and piling on his writing-table one set of documents in one place, and one in another. ‘I think I understand it all,’ said he; ‘but yet I know I shall be bothered. Well, I never will be anyone’s trustee again. Let me see!’ and then he sat down, and with bewildered look recapitulated23 to himself sundry24 heavy items. ‘What those shares are really worth I cannot understand, and nobody seems to be able to tell one. They must make it out among them as best they can. Let me see; that’s Boxall Hill, and this is Greshamsbury. I’ll put a newspaper over Greshamsbury, or the squire will know it!’ and then, having made his arrangements, he went to his breakfast.

I know I am wrong, my much and truly honoured critic, about these title-deeds and documents. But when we’ve got a barrister in hand, then if I go wrong after that, let the blame be on my own shoulders — or on his.

The doctor ate his breakfast quickly; and did not talk much to his niece. But what he did say was of a nature to make her feel strangely happy. She could not analyse her own feelings, or give a reason for her own confidence; but she certainly did feel, and even trust, that something was going to happen after breakfast which would make her more happy than she had been for many months.

‘Janet,’ said he, looking at his watch, ‘if Mr Gresham and Mr Frank call, show them into my study. What are you going to do with yourself, my dear?’

‘I don’t know, uncle; you are so mysterious, and I am in such a twitter, that I don’t know what to do. Why is Mr Gresham coming here — that is, the squire?’

‘Because I have business with him about the Scatcherd property. You know that he owed Sir Louis money. But don’t go out, Mary. I want you to be in the way if I should have to call for you. You can stay in the drawing-room, can’t you?’

‘Oh, yes, uncle; or here.’

‘No, dearest; go into the drawing-room.’ Mary obediently did as she was bid; and there she sat, for the next three hours, wondering, wondering, wondering. During the greater part of that time, however, she well knew that Mr Gresham, senior, and Mr Gresham, junior, were both with her uncle, below.

At eleven the doctor’s visitors came. he had expected them somewhat earlier, and was beginning to become fidgety. He had so much on his hands that he could not sit still for a moment till he had, at any rate, commenced it. The expected footsteps were at last heard on the gravel-path, and moment or two afterwards Janet ushered25 the father and son into the room.

The squire did not look very well. He was worn and sorrowful, and rather pale. The death of his young creditor26 might be supposed to have given him some relief from his more pressing cares, but the necessity of yielding to Frank’s wishes had almost more than balanced this. When a man has daily to reflect that he is poorer than he was the day before, he soon becomes worn and sorrowful.

But Frank was well; both in health and spirits. He also felt as Mary did, that the day was to bring forth something which should end his present troubles; and he could not but be happy to think that he could now tell Dr Thorne that his father’s consent to his marriage had been given.

The doctor shook hands with them both, and then they sat down. They were all rather constrained27 in their manner; and at first it seemed that nothing but little speeches of compliment were to be made. At last, the squire remarked that Frank had been talking to him about Miss Thorne.

‘About Mary?’ said the doctor.

‘Yes; about Mary,’ said the squire, correcting himself. It was quite unnecessary that he should use so cold a name as the other, now that he had agreed to the match.

‘Well!’ said Dr Thorne.

‘I suppose it must be so, doctor. He has set his heart upon it, and God knows, I have nothing to say against her — against her personally. No one could say a word against her. She is a sweet, good girl, excellently brought up; and, as for myself, I have always loved her.’ Frank drew near to his father, and pressed his hand against the squire’s arm, by way of giving him, in some sort, a filial embrace for his kindness.

‘Thank you, squire, thank you,’ said the doctor. ‘It is very good of you to say that. She is a good girl, and if Frank chooses to take her, he will, in my estimation, have made a good choice.’

‘Chooses!’ said Frank, with all the enthusiasm of a lover.

The squire felt himself perhaps a little ruffled28 at the way in which the doctor received his gracious intimation; but he did now show it as he went on. ‘They cannot, you know, doctor, look to be rich people —’

‘Ah! well, well,’ interrupted the doctor.

‘I have told Frank so, and I think that you should tell Mary. Frank means to take some land into his hand, and he must farm it as a farmer. I will endeavour to give him three, or perhaps four hundred a year. But you know better —’

‘Stop, squire; stop a minute. We will talk about that presently. This death of poor Sir Louis will make a difference.’

‘Not permanently,’ said the squire mournfully.

‘And now, Frank,’ said the doctor, not attending to the squire’s last words, ‘what do you say?’

‘What do I say? I say what I said to you in London the other day. I believe Mary loves me; indeed, I won’t be affected — I know she does. I have loved her — I was going to say always; and, indeed, I almost might say so. My father knows that this is no light fancy of mine. As to what he says about our being poor, why —’

The doctor was very arbitrary, and would hear neither of them on the subject.

‘Mr Gresham,’ said he, interrupting Frank, ‘of course I am well aware how very little suited Mary is by birth to marry your only son.’

‘It is too late to think about that now,’ said the squire.

‘It is not too late for me to justify29 myself,’ replied the doctor. ‘We have long known each other, Mr Gresham, and you said here the other day, that this is a subject as to which we have been of one mind. Birth and blood are very valuable gifts.’

‘I certainly think so,’ said the squire; ‘but one can’t have everything.’

‘No; one can’t have everything.’

‘If I am satisfied in that matter —’ began Frank.

‘Stop a moment, my dear boy,’ said the doctor. ‘As your father says, one can’t have everything. My dear friend —’ and he gave his hand to the squire —‘do not be angry if I alluded30 for a moment to the estate. It has grieved me to see it melting away — the old family acres that have so long been the heritage of the Greshams.’

‘We need not talk about that now, Dr Thorne,’ said Frank, in an almost angry tone.

‘But I must, Frank, for one moment, to justify myself. I could not have excused myself in letting Mary think that she could become your wife if I had not hoped that good might come of it.’

‘Well; good will come of it,’ said Frank, who did not quite understand at what the doctor was driving.

‘I hope so. I have had much doubt about this, and have been sorely perplexed31; but now I do hope so. Frank — Mr Gresham —’ and then Dr Thorne rose from his chair; but was, for a moment, unable to go on with his tale.

‘We will hope that it is all for the best,’ said the squire.

‘I am sure it is,’ said Frank.

‘Yes; I hope it is. I do think it is; I am sure it is, Frank. Mary will not come to you empty-handed. I wish for your sake — yes, and for hers too — that her birth were equal to her fortune, as her worth is superior to both. Mr Gresham, this marriage will, at any rate, put an end to your pecuniary32 embarrassments33 — unless, indeed, Frank should prove a hard creditor. My niece is Sir Roger Scatcherd’s heir.’

The doctor, as soon as he made the announcement, began to employ himself sedulously34 about the papers on the table; which, in the confusion caused by his own emotion, he transferred hither and thither35 in such a manner as to upset all his previous arrangements. ‘And now,’ he said, ‘I might as well explain, as well as I can, of what that fortune consists. Here, this is — no —’

‘But, Dr Thorne,’ said the squire, now perfectly36 pale, and almost gasping37 for breath, ‘what is it you mean?’

‘There’s not a shadow of doubt,’ said the doctor. ‘I’ve had Sir Abraham Haphazard38, and Sir Rickety Giggs, and old Neversaye Dis, and Mr Snilam; and they are all of the same opinion. There is not the smallest doubt about it. Of course, she must administer, and all that; and I’m afraid there’ll be a very heavy sum to pay for the tax; for she cannot inherit as a niece, you know. Mr Snilam pointed39 out that particularly. But, after all that, there’ll be — I’ve got it down on a piece of paper, somewhere — three grains of blue pill. I’m really so bothered, squire, with all these papers, and all those lawyers, that I don’t know whether I’m sitting or standing40. There’s ready money enough to pay all the tax and all the debts. I know that, at any rate.’

‘You don’t mean to say that Mary Thorne is now possessed of all Sir Roger Scatcherd’s wealth?’ at last ejaculated the squire.

‘But that’s exactly what I do mean to say,’ said the doctor, looking up from his papers with a tear in his eye, and a smile on his mouth; ‘and what is more, squire, you owe her at the present moment exactly — I’ve got that down too, somewhere, only I am so bothered with all these papers. Come, squire, when do you mean to pay her? She’s in a great hurry, as young ladies are when they want to get married.’

The doctor was inclined to joke if possible, so as to carry off, as it were, some of the great weight of obligation which it might seem that he was throwing on the father and son; but the squire was by no means in a state to understand a joke: hardly as yet in a state to comprehend what was so very serious in this matter.

‘Do you mean that Mary is the owner of Boxall Hill?’ said he.

‘Indeed I do,’ said the doctor; and he was just going to add, ‘and of Greshamsbury also,’ but he stopped himself.

‘What, the whole property there?’

‘That’s only a small portion,’ said the doctor. ‘I almost wish it were all, for then I would not be so bothered. Look here; these are the Boxall Hill title-deeds; that’s the simplest part of the whole affair; and Frank may go and settle himself there tomorrow if he pleases.’

‘Stop a moment, Dr Thorne,’ said Frank. These were the only words which he had yet uttered since the tidings had been conveyed to him.

‘And these, squire, are the Greshamsbury papers:’ and the doctor, with considerable ceremony, withdrew the covering newspapers. ‘Look at them; there they all are once again. When I suggested to Mr Snilam that I supposed they might now all go back to the Greshamsbury muniment room, I thought he would have fainted. As I cannot return them to you, you will have to wait till Frank shall give them up.’

‘But, Dr Thorne,’ said Frank.

‘Well, my boy.’

‘Does Mary know all about this?’

‘Not a word of it. I mean that you shall tell her.’

‘Perhaps, under such very altered circumstances —’

‘Eh?’

‘The change is so great and so sudden, so immense in its effects, that Mary may wish perhaps —’

‘Wish! wish what? Wish not to be told of it at all?’

‘I shall not think of holding her to her engagement — that is, if — I mean to say, she should have time at any rate for consideration.’

‘Oh, I understand,’ said the doctor. ‘She shall have time for consideration. How much shall we give her, squire, three minutes? Go up to her Frank: she is in the drawing-room.’

Frank went to the door, and then hesitated, and returned. ‘I could not do it,’ said he. ‘I don’t think that I understand it all yet. I am so bewildered that I could not tell her;’ and he sat down at the table, and began to sob41 with emotion.

‘And she knows nothing of it?’ said the squire.

‘Not a word. I thought that I would keep the pleasure of telling her for Frank.’

‘She should not be left in suspense42,’ said the squire.

‘Come, Frank, go up to her,’ again urged the doctor. ‘You’ve been ready enough with your visits when you knew that you ought to stay away.’

‘I cannot do it,’ said Frank, after a pause of some moments; ‘nor is it right that I should. It would be taking advantage of her.’

‘Go to her yourself, doctor; it is you that should do it,’ said the squire.

After some further slight delay, the doctor got up, and did go upstairs. He, even, was half afraid of the task. ‘It must be done,’ he said to himself, as his heavy steps mounted the stairs. ‘But how to tell it?’

When he entered, Mary was standing half-way up the room, as though she had risen to meet him. Her face was troubled, and her eyes were almost wild. The emotion, the hopes, the fears of the morning had almost been too much for her. She had heard the murmuring of the voices in the room below, and had known that one of them was that of her lover. Whether that discussion was to be for her good or ill she did not know; but she felt that further suspense would almost kill her. ‘I could wait for years,’ she said to herself, ‘if I did but know. If I lost him, I suppose I should bear it, if I did but know.’— Well; she was going to know.

Her uncle met her in the middle of the room. His face was serious, though not sad; too serious to confirm her hopes at that moment of doubt. ‘What is it, uncle?’ she said, taking one of his hands between both of her own. ‘What is it? Tell me.’ And as she looked up into his face with her wild eyes, she almost frightened him.

‘Mary,’ he said gravely, ‘you have heard much, I know of Sir Roger Scatcherd’s great fortune.’

‘Yes, yes, yes!’

‘Now that poor Sir Louis is dead —’

‘Well, uncle, well?’

‘It has been left —’

‘To Frank! to Mr Gresham, to the squire!’ exclaimed Mary, who felt, with an agony of doubt, that this sudden accession of immense wealth might separate her still further from her lover.

‘No, Mary, not to the Greshams; but to yourself.’

‘To me!’ she cried, and putting both her hands to her forehead, she seemed to be holding her temples together. ‘To me!’

‘Yes, Mary; it is all your own now. To do as you like best with it all — all. May God, in His mercy, enable you to bear the burden, and lighten for you the temptation!’

She had so far moved as to find the nearest chair, and there she was now seated, staring at her uncle with fixed43 eyes. ‘Uncle,’ she said, ‘what does it mean?’ Then he came, and sitting beside her, he explained, as best he could, the story of her birth, and her kinship with the Scatcherds. ‘And where is he, uncle?’ she said. ‘Why does he not come to me?’

‘I wanted him to come, but her refused. They are both there now, the father and son; shall I fetch them?’

‘Fetch them! whom? The squire? No, uncle; but may we go to them?’

‘Surely, Mary.’

‘But, uncle —’

‘Yes, dearest.’

‘Is it true? are you sure? For his sake, you know; not for my own. The squire, you know — Oh, uncle! I cannot go.’

‘They shall come to you.’

No — no. I have gone to him such hundreds of times; I will never allow that he shall be sent to me. But, uncle, is it true?’

The doctor, as he went downstairs, muttered something about Sir Abraham Haphazard, and Sir Rickety Giggs; but these great names were much thrown away upon poor Mary. The doctor entered the room first, and the heiress followed him with downcast eyes and timid steps. She was at first afraid to advance, but when she did look up, and saw Frank standing alone by the window, her lover restored her courage, and rushing up to him, she threw herself into his arms. ‘Oh, Frank; my own Frank! my own Frank! we shall never be separated again.’


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
2 squire 0htzjV     
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅
参考例句:
  • I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
  • The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
3 naively c42c6bc174e20d494298dbdd419a3b18     
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。
4 eldest bqkx6     
adj.最年长的,最年老的
参考例句:
  • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
  • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
5 utterly ZfpzM1     
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。
6 obstinately imVzvU     
ad.固执地,顽固地
参考例句:
  • He obstinately asserted that he had done the right thing. 他硬说他做得对。
  • Unemployment figures are remaining obstinately high. 失业数字仍然顽固地居高不下。
7 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
(使)变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 ); 缓解打击; 缓和; 安慰
参考例句:
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
8 joyful N3Fx0     
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的
参考例句:
  • She was joyful of her good result of the scientific experiments.她为自己的科学实验取得好成果而高兴。
  • They were singing and dancing to celebrate this joyful occasion.他们唱着、跳着庆祝这令人欢乐的时刻。
9 outright Qj7yY     
adv.坦率地;彻底地;立即;adj.无疑的;彻底的
参考例句:
  • If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事,你应该直率地对我说。
  • You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。
10 joint m3lx4     
adj.联合的,共同的;n.关节,接合处;v.连接,贴合
参考例句:
  • I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤,肩膀脫臼了。
  • We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。
11 junction N34xH     
n.连接,接合;交叉点,接合处,枢纽站
参考例句:
  • There's a bridge at the junction of the two rivers.两河的汇合处有座桥。
  • You must give way when you come to this junction.你到了这个路口必须让路。
12 alacrity MfFyL     
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意
参考例句:
  • Although the man was very old,he still moved with alacrity.他虽然很老,动作仍很敏捷。
  • He accepted my invitation with alacrity.他欣然接受我的邀请。
13 allusion CfnyW     
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。
14 thoroughly sgmz0J     
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。
15 forth Hzdz2     
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。
16 slippers oiPzHV     
n. 拖鞋
参考例句:
  • a pair of slippers 一双拖鞋
  • He kicked his slippers off and dropped on to the bed. 他踢掉了拖鞋,倒在床上。
17 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的,假装的
参考例句:
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
18 indifference k8DxO     
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎
参考例句:
  • I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
  • He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。
19 possessed xuyyQ     
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。
20 appendage KeJy7     
n.附加物
参考例句:
  • After their work,the calculus was no longer an appendage and extension of Greek geometry.经过他们的工作,微积分不再是古希腊几何的附庸和延展。
  • Macmillan must have loathed being judged as a mere appendage to domestic politics.麦克米伦肯定极不喜欢只被当成国内政治的附属品。
21 adorn PydzZ     
vt.使美化,装饰
参考例句:
  • She loved to adorn herself with finery.她喜欢穿戴华丽的服饰。
  • His watercolour designs adorn a wide range of books.他的水彩设计使许多图书大为生色。
22 dingy iu8xq     
adj.昏暗的,肮脏的
参考例句:
  • It was a street of dingy houses huddled together. 这是一条挤满了破旧房子的街巷。
  • The dingy cottage was converted into a neat tasteful residence.那间脏黑的小屋已变成一个整洁雅致的住宅。
23 recapitulated d1a4ddd13f7a73e90e35ed9fc197c867     
v.总结,扼要重述( recapitulate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • At the climax of the movement the \"fixed idea\" is recapitulated by full orchestra ff. 在这个乐章的高潮处,整个乐队以ff的力度重现“固定乐思”。 来自辞典例句
  • He recapitulated the main points of the speech. 他把讲话的重点扼要重述了一遍。 来自互联网
24 sundry CswwL     
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。
25 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
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》
26 creditor tOkzI     
n.债仅人,债主,贷方
参考例句:
  • The boss assigned his car to his creditor.那工头把自己的小汽车让与了债权人。
  • I had to run away from my creditor whom I made a usurious loan.我借了高利贷不得不四处躲债。
27 constrained YvbzqU     
adj.束缚的,节制的
参考例句:
  • The evidence was so compelling that he felt constrained to accept it. 证据是那样的令人折服,他觉得不得不接受。
  • I feel constrained to write and ask for your forgiveness. 我不得不写信请你原谅。
28 ruffled e4a3deb720feef0786be7d86b0004e86     
adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • She ruffled his hair affectionately. 她情意绵绵地拨弄着他的头发。
  • All this talk of a strike has clearly ruffled the management's feathers. 所有这些关于罢工的闲言碎语显然让管理层很不高兴。
29 justify j3DxR     
vt.证明…正当(或有理),为…辩护
参考例句:
  • He tried to justify his absence with lame excuses.他想用站不住脚的借口为自己的缺席辩解。
  • Can you justify your rude behavior to me?你能向我证明你的粗野行为是有道理的吗?
30 alluded 69f7a8b0f2e374aaf5d0965af46948e7     
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。
31 perplexed A3Rz0     
adj.不知所措的
参考例句:
  • The farmer felt the cow,went away,returned,sorely perplexed,always afraid of being cheated.那农民摸摸那头牛,走了又回来,犹豫不决,总怕上当受骗。
  • The child was perplexed by the intricate plot of the story.这孩子被那头绪纷繁的故事弄得迷惑不解。
32 pecuniary Vixyo     
adj.金钱的;金钱上的
参考例句:
  • She denies obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception.她否认通过欺骗手段获得经济利益。
  • She is so independent that she refused all pecuniary aid.她很独立,所以拒绝一切金钱上的资助。
33 embarrassments 5f3d5ecce4738cceef5dce99a8a6434a     
n.尴尬( embarrassment的名词复数 );难堪;局促不安;令人难堪或耻辱的事
参考例句:
  • But there have been many embarrassments along the way. 但是一路走来已经是窘境不断。 来自互联网
  • The embarrassments don't stop there. 让人难受的事情还没完。 来自互联网
34 sedulously c8c26b43645f472a76c56ac7fe5a2cd8     
ad.孜孜不倦地
参考例句:
  • In this view they were sedulously abetted by their mother, aunts and other elderly female relatives. 在这方面,他们得到了他们的母亲,婶婶以及其它年长的女亲戚们孜孜不倦的怂恿。
  • The clerk laid the two sheets of paper alongside and sedulously compared their contents. 那职员把两张纸并排放在前面,仔细比较。
35 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
36 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
37 gasping gasping     
adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词
参考例句:
  • He was gasping for breath. 他在喘气。
  • "Did you need a drink?""Yes, I'm gasping!” “你要喝点什么吗?”“我巴不得能喝点!”
38 haphazard n5oyi     
adj.无计划的,随意的,杂乱无章的
参考例句:
  • The town grew in a haphazard way.这城镇无计划地随意发展。
  • He regrerted his haphazard remarks.他悔不该随口说出那些评论话。
39 pointed Il8zB4     
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。
40 standing 2hCzgo     
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。
41 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣
参考例句:
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
42 suspense 9rJw3     
n.(对可能发生的事)紧张感,担心,挂虑
参考例句:
  • The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
  • The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
43 fixed JsKzzj     
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。


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