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Book 3 Chapter 14 The Knitting Done
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IN that same juncture1 of time when the Fifty-Two awaited their fate, Madame Defarge held darkly ominous2 council with The Vengeance3 and Jacques Three of the Revolutionary Jury. Not in the wine-shop did Madame Defarge confer with these ministers, but in the shed of the wood-sawyer, erst a mender of roads. The sawyer himself did not participate in the conference, but abided at a little distance, like an outer satellite who was not to speak until required, or to offer an opinion until invited.

`But our Defarge,' said Jacques Three, `is undoubtedly4 a good Republican? Eh?'

`There is no better,' the voluble Vengeance protested in her shrill5 notes, `in France.

`Peace, little Vengeance,' said Madame Defarge, laying her hand with a slight frown on her lieutenant's lips, `hear me speak. My husband, fellow-citizen, is a good Republican and a bold man; he has deserved well of the Republic, and possesses its confidence. But my husband has his weaknesses, and he is so weak as to relent towards this Doctor.'

`It is a great pity,' croaked7 Jacques Three, dubiously8 shaking his head, with his cruel fingers at his hungry mouth; `it is not quite like a good citizen; it is a thing to regret.

`See you,' said madame, `I care nothing for this Doctor, I. He may wear his head or lose it, for any interest I have in him; it is all one to me. But, the Evrémonde people are to be exterminated9, and the wife and child must follow the husband and father.'

`She has a fine head for it,' croaked Jacques Three. `I have seen blue eyes and golden hair there, and they looked charming when Samson held them up.' Ogre that he was, he spoke10 like an epicure11.

Madame Defarge cast down her eyes, and reflected a little. `The child also,' observed Jacques Three, with a meditative12 enjoyment13 of his words, `has golden hair and blue eyes. And we seldom have a child there. It is a pretty sight!'

`In a word,' said Madame Defarge, coming out of her short abstraction, `I cannot trust my husband in this matter.

Not only do I feel, since last night, that I dare not confide6 to him the details of my projects; but also I feel that if I delay, there is danger of his giving warning, and then they might escape.

`That must never be,' croaked Jacques Three; `no one must escape. We have not half enough as it is. We ought to have six score a day.'

`In a word,' Madame Defarge went on, `my husband has not my reason for pursuing this family to annihilation, and I have not his reason for regarding this Doctor with any sensibility. I must act for myself, therefore. Come hither, little citizen.

The wood-sawyer, who held her in the respect, and himself in the submission14, of mortal fear, advanced with his hand to his red cap.

`Touching those signals, little citizen,' said Madame Defarge, sternly, `that she made to the prisoners; you are ready to bear witness to them this very day?'

`Ay, ay, why not!' cried the sawyer. `Every day, in all weathers, from two to four, always signalling, sometimes with the little one, sometimes without. I know what I know. I have seen with my eyes.'

He made all manner of gestures while he spoke, as if in incidental imitation of some few of the great diversity of signals that he had never seen.

`Clearly plots,' said Jacques Three. `Transparently!'

`There is no doubt of the Jury?' inquired Madame Defarge, letting her eyes turn to him with a gloomy smile.

`Rely upon the patriotic15 Jury, dear citizeness. I answer for my fellow-Jurymen.'

`Now, let me see,' said Madame Defarge, pondering again. `Yet once more! Can I spare this Doctor to my husband? I have no feeling either way. Can I spare him?'

`He would count as one head,' observed Jacques Three, in a low voice. `We really have not heads enough; it would be a pity, I think.'

`He was signalling with her when I saw her,' argued Madame Defarge; `I cannot speak of one without the other; and I must not be silent, and trust the case wholly to him, this little citizen here. For, I am not a bad witness.

The Vengeance and Jacques Three vied with each other in their fervent16 protestations that she was the most admirable and marvellous of witnesses. The little citizen, not to be outdone, declared her to be a celestial17 witness.

He must take his chance,' said Madame Defarge. `No, I cannot spare him! You are engaged at three o'clock; you are going to see the batch18 of to-day executed.--You?'

The question was addressed to the wood-sawyer, who hurriedly replied in the affirmative: seizing the occasion to add that he was the most ardent19 of Republicans, and that he would be in effect the most desolate20 of Republicans, if anything prevented him from enjoying the pleasure of smoking his afternoon pipe in the contemplation of the droll21 national barber. He was so very demonstrative herein, that he might have been suspected (perhaps was, by the dark eyes that looked Contemptuously at him out of Madame Defarge's head) of having his small individual fears for his own personal safety, every hour in the day.

`I,' said madame, `am equally engaged at the same place. After it is over-say at eight to-night--come you to me, in Saint Antoine, and we will give information against these' people at my section.'

The wood-sawyer said he would be proud and flattered to attend the citizeness. The citizeness looking at him, he became embarrassed, evaded22 her glance as a small dog would have done, retreated among his wood, and hid his confusion over the handle of his saw.

Madame Defarge beckoned23 the Juryman and The Vengeance a little nearer to the door, and there expounded24 her further views to them thus:

`She will now be at home, awaiting the moment of his death. She will be mourning and grieving. She will be in a state of mind to impeach25 the justice of the Republic. She will be full of sympathy with its enemies. I will go to her.'

`What an admirable woman; what an adorable woman!' exclaimed Jacques Three, rapturously. `Ah, my cherished!' cried The Vengeance; and embraced her.

`Take you my knitting,' said Madame Defarge, placing it in her lieutenant's hands, `and have it ready for me in my usual seat. Keep me my usual chair. Go you there, straight, for there will probably be a greater concourse than usual, to-day.'

`I willingly obey the orders of my Chief' said The Vengeance with alacrity26, and kissing her cheek. `You will not be late?'

`I shall be there before the commencement.'

`And before the tumbrils arrive. Be sure you are there, my soul,' said The Vengeance, calling after her, for she had already turned into the street, `before the tumbrils arrive!'

Madame Defarge slightly waved her hand, to imply that she heard, and might be relied upon to arrive in good time, and so went through tile mud, and round the corner of the prison wall. The Vengeance and the Juryman, looking alter her as she walked
away, were highly appreciative27 of her fine figure, and her superb moral endowments.

There were many women at that time, upon whom the time laid a dreadfully disfiguring hand; but, there was not one among them more to be dreaded28 than this ruthless woman, now taking her way along the streets. Of a strong and fearless character, of shrewd sense and readiness, of great determination, of that kind of beauty which not only seems to impart to its possessor firmness and animosity, but to strike into others an instinctive29 recognition of those qualities; the troubled time would have heaved her up, under any circumstances. But, imbued30 from her childhood with a brooding sense of, wrong, and an inveterate31 hatred32 of a class, opportunity had developed her into a tigress. She was absolutely without pity. If she had ever had the virtue33 in her, it had quite gone out of her.

It was nothing to her, that an innocent man was to die for the sins of his forefathers34; she saw, not him, but them. It was nothing to her, that his wife was to be made a widow and his daughter an orphan35; that was insufficient36 punishment, because they were her natural enemies and her prey37, and as such had no right to live. To appeal to her, was made hopeless by her having no sense of pity, even for herself. If she had been laid low in the streets, in any of the many encounters in which she had been engaged, she would not have pitied herself; nor, if she had been ordered to the axe38 to-morrow, would she have gone to it with any softer feeling than a fierce desire to change places with the man who sent her there.

Such a heart Madame Defarge carried under her rough robe. Carelessly worn, it was a becoming robe enough, in a certain weird39 way, and her dark hair looked rich under her coarse red cap. Lying hidden in her bosom40, was a loaded pistol. Lying hidden at her waist, was a sharpened dagger41. Thus accoutred, and walking with the confident tread of such a character, and with the supple42 freedom of a woman who had habitually43 walked in her girlhood, bare-foot and bare-legged, on the brown sea-sand, Madame Defarge took her way along the streets.

Now, when the journey of the travelling coach, at that very moment waiting for the completion of its load, had been planned out last night, the difficulty of taking Miss Pross in it had much engaged Mr. Lorry's attention. It was not merely desirable to avoid
overloading the coach, but it was of the highest importance that the time occupied in examining it and its passengers, should be reduced to the utmost; since their escape might depend on the saving of only a few seconds here and there. Finally, he had
proposed, after anxious consideration, that Miss Pross and Jerry, who were at liberty to leave the city, should leave it at three o'clock in the lightest-wheeled conveyance44 known to that period. Unencumbered with luggage, they would soon overtake the coach, and, passing it and preceding it on the road, would order its horses in advance, and greatly facilitate its progress during the precious hours of the night, when delay was the most to be dreaded.

Seeing in this arrangement the hope of rendering45 real service in that pressing emergency, Miss Pross hailed it with joy. She and Jerry had beheld46 the coach start, had known who it was that Solomon brought, had passed some ten minutes in tortures of suspense47, and were now concluding their arrangements to follow the coach, even as Madame Defarge, taking her way through the streets, now drew nearer and nearer to the else-deserted48 lodging49 in which they held their consultation50.

`Now what do you think, Mr. Cruncher,' said Miss Pross, whose agitation51 was so great that she could hardly speak, or stand, or move, or live: `what do you think of our not starting from this court-yard? Another carriage having already gone from here to-day, it might awaken52 suspicion.

`My opinion, miss,' returned Mr. Cruncher, `is as, you're right. Likewise wot I'll stand by you, right or wrong.

`I am so distracted with fear and hope for our precious creatures,' said Miss Pross, wildly crying, `that I am incapable53 of forming any plan. Are you capable of forming any plan, my dear good Mr. Cruncher?'

`Respectin' a future spear o' life, miss,' returned Mr. Cruncher, `I hope so. Respectin' any present use o' this here blessed old head o' mine, I think not. Would you do me the favour, miss, to take notice o' two promises and wows wot it is my wishes fur to record in this here crisis?'

`Oh, for gracious sake!' cried Miss Pross, still wildly crying, `record them at once, and get them out of the way, like an excellent man.

`First,' said Mr. Cruncher, who was all in a tremble, and who spoke with an ashy and solemn visage, `them poor things well out o' this, never no more will I do it, never no more!'

`I am quite sure, Mr. Cruncher,' returned Miss Pross, `that you never will do it again, whatever it is, and I beg you not to think it necessary to mention more particularly what it is.'

`No, miss,' returned Jerry, `it shall not be named to you. Second: them poor things well out o' this, and never no more will I interfere54 with Mrs. Cruncher's flopping56, never no more!'

`Whatever housekeeping arrangement that may be,' said Miss Pross, striving to dry her eyes and compose herself, `I have no doubt it is best that Mrs. Cruncher should have it entirely57 under her own superintendence.--O my poor darlings!'

`I go so far as to say, miss, morehover,' proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with a most alarming tendency to hold forth58 as from a pulpit--`and let my words be took down and took to Mrs. Cruncher through yourself--that wot my opinions respectin' flopping has undergone a change, and that wot I only hope with all my heart as Mrs. Cruncher may be a flopping at the present time.'

There, there, there! I hope she is, my dear man,' cried the distracted Miss Pross, `and I hope she finds it answering her expectations.'

`Forbid it,' proceeded Mr. Cruncher, with additional solemnity, additional slowness, and additional tendency to hold forth and hold out, `as anything wot I have ever said or done should be wisited on my earnest wishes for them poor creeturs now! Forbid it as we shouldn't all flop55 (if it was anyways conwenient) to get `em out o' this here dismal59 risk! Forbid it, miss! Wot I say, for--BID it!' This was Mr. Cruncher's conclusion after a protracted60 but vain endeavour to find a better one.

And still Madame Defarge, pursuing her way along the streets, came nearer and nearer.

`If we ever get back to our native land,' said Miss Pross, `you may rely upon my telling Mrs. Cruncher as much as I may be able to remember and understand of what you have so impressively said; and at all events you may be sure that I shall bear witness to your being thoroughly61 in earnest at this dreadful time. Now, pray let us think! My esteemed62 Mr. Cruncher, let us think!'

Still, Madame Defarge, pursuing her way along the streets, came nearer and nearer.

`If you were to go before,' said Miss Pross, `and stop the vehicle and horses from coming here, and were to wait somewhere for me; wouldn't that be best?'

Mr. Cruncher thought it might be best.

`Where could you wait for me?' asked Miss Pross.

Mr. Cruncher was so bewildered that he could think of no locality but Temple Bar. Alas63! Temple Bar was hundreds of miles away, and Madame Defarge was drawing very near indeed.

`By the cathedral door,' said Miss Pross. `Would it be much out of the way, to take me in, near the great cathedral door between the two towers?'

`No, miss,' answered Mr. Cruncher.

`Then, like the best of men,' said Miss Pross, `go to the posting-house straight, and make that change.'

`I am doubtful,' said Mr. Cruncher, hesitating and shaking his head, `about leaving of you, you see. We don't know what may happen.'

`Heaven knows we don't,' returned Miss Pross, `but have no fear for me. Take me in at the cathedral, at Three o'clock, or as near it as you can, and I am sure it will be better than our going from here. I feel certain of it. There! Bless you, Mr. Cruncher! Think--not of me, but of the lives that may depend on both of us !'

This exordium, and Miss Pross's two hands in quite agonised entreaty64 clasping his, decided65 Mr. Cruncher. With an encouraging nod or two, he immediately went out to alter the arrangements, and left her by herself to follow as she had proposed.

The having originated a precaution which was already in course of execution, was a great relief to Miss Pross. The necessity of Composing her appearance so that it should attract no special notice in the streets, was another relief She looked at her watch, and it was twenty minutes past two. She had no time to lose, but must get ready at once.

Afraid, in her extreme perturbation, of the loneliness of the deserted rooms, and of half-imagined faces peeping from behind every open door in them, Miss Pross got a basin of cold water and began laving her eyes, which were swollen66 and red. Haunted by her feverish67 apprehensions68, she could not bear to have her sight obscured for a minute at a time by the dripping water, but constantly paused and looked round to see that there was no one watching her. In one of those pauses she recoiled69 and cried out, for she saw a figure standing70 in the room.

The basin fell to the ground broken, and the water flowed to the feet of Madame Defarge. By strange stern ways, and through much staining blood, those feet had come to meet that water.

Madame Defarge looked coldly at her, and said, `The wife of Evrémonde; where is she?'

It flashed upon Miss Pross's mind that the doors were all standing open, and would suggest the flight. Her first act was to shut them. There were four in the room, and she shut them all. She then placed herself before the door of the chamber71 which Lucie had occupied.

Madame Defarge's dark eyes followed her through this rapid movement, and rested on her when it was finished. Miss Pross had nothing beautiful about her; years had not tamed the wildness, or softened72 the grimness, of her appearance; but, she too was a determined73 woman in her different way, and she measured Madame Defarge with her eyes, every inch.

`You might, from your appearance, be the wife of Lucifer,' said Miss Pross, in her breathing. `Nevertheless, you shall not get the better of me. I am an Englishwoman.

Madame Defarge looked at her scornfully, but still with something of Miss Pross's own perception that they two were at bay. She saw a tight, hard, wiry woman before her, as Mr. Lorry had seen in the same figure a woman with a strong hand, in the years gone by. She knew full well that Miss Pross was the family's devoted74 friend; Miss Pross knew full well that Madame Defarge was the family's malevolent75 enemy.

`On my way yonder,' said Madame Defarge, with a slight movement of her hand towards the fatal spot, `where they reserve my chair and my knitting for me, I am come, to make my compliments to her in passing. I wish to see her.

`I know that your intentions are evil,' said Miss Pross, `and you may depend upon it, I'll hold my own against them.'

Each spoke in her own language; neither understood the other's words; both were very watchful76, and intent to deduce from look and manner, what the unintelligible77 words meant.

`It will do her no good to keep herself concealed78 from me at this moment,' said Madame Defarge. `Good patriots79 will know what that means. Let me see her. Go tell her that I wish to see her. Do you hear?'

`If those eyes of yours were bed-winches,' returned Miss Pross, `and I was an English four-poster, they shouldn't loose a splinter of me. No, you wicked foreign woman; I am your match.'

Madame Defarge was not likely to follow these idiomatic80 remarks in detail; but, she so far understood them as to perceive that she was set at naught81.

`Woman imbecile and pig-like!' said Madame Defarge, frowning. `I take no answer from you. I demand to see her. Either tell her that I demand to see her, or stand out of the way of the door and let me go to her!' This, with an angry explanatory wave of her right arm.

`I little thought,' said bliss82 Pross, `that I should ever want to understand your nonsensical language; but I would give all I have, except the clothes I wear, to know whether you suspect the truth, or any part of it.'

Neither of them for a single moment released the other's eyes. Madame Defarge had not moved from the spot where she stood when Miss Pross first became aware of her; but she now advanced one step.

`I am a Briton,' said Miss Pross, `I am desperate. I don't care an English Two-pence for myself. I know that the longer I keep you here, the greater hope there is for my Ladybird. I'll not leave a handful of that dark hair upon your head, if you lay a finger on me!'

Thus Miss Pross, with a shake of her head and a flash of her eyes between every rapid sentence, and every rapid sentence a whole breath. Thus Miss Pross, who had never struck a blow in her life.

But, her courage was of that emotional nature that it brought the irrepressible tears into her eyes. This was a courage that Madame Defarge so little comprehended as to mistake for weakness. `Ha, ha!' she laughed, `you poor wretch83! What are you worth! I address myself to that Doctor.' Then she raised her voice and called out, `Citizen Doctor! Wife of Evrémonde! Child of Evrémonde! Any person but this miserable84 fool, answer the Citizeness Defarge!'

Perhaps the following silence, perhaps some latent disclosure in the expression of Miss Pross's face, perhaps a sudden misgiving85 apart from either suggestion, whispered to Madame Defarge that they were gone. Three of the doors she opened swiftly, and looked in.

`Those rooms are all in disorder86, there has been hurried packing, there are odds87 and ends upon the ground. There is no one in that room behind you! Let me look.'

`Never!' said Miss Pross, who understood the request as perfectly88 as Madame Defarge understood the answer.

`If they are not in that room, they are gone, and can be pursued and brought back,' said Madame Defarge to herself.

`As long as you don't know whether they are in that room or not, you are uncertain what to do,' said Miss Pross to herself; `and you shall not know that, if I can prevent your knowing it; and know that, or not know that, you shall not leave here while I can hold you.'

`I have been in the streets from the first, nothing has stopped me, I will tear you to pieces, but I will have you from that door,' said Madame Defarge.

`We are alone at the top of a high house in a solitary89 courtyard, we are not likely to be heard, and I pray for bodily strength to keep you here, while every minute you are here is worth a hundred thousand guineas to my darling,' said Miss Pross.

Madame Defarge made at the door. Miss Pross, on the instinct of the moment, seized her round tile waist in both her arms, and held her tight. It was in vain for Madame Defarge to struggle and to strike; Miss Pross, with the vigorous tenacity90 of love, always so much stronger than hate, clasped her tight, and even lifted her from the floor in the struggle that they had. The two hands of Madame Defarge buffeted91 and tore her face; but, Miss Pross, with her head down, held her round the waist, and clung to her with more than the hold of a drowning woman.

Soon, Madame Defarge's hands ceased to strike, and felt at her encircled waist. `It is under my arm,' said Miss Pross, in smothered92 tones, `you shall not draw it. I am stronger than you, I bless Heaven for it. I'll hold you till one or other of us faints or dies!'

Madame Defarge's hands were at her bosom. Miss Pross looked up, saw what it was, struck at it, struck out a flash and a crash, and stood alone--blinded with smoke.

All this was in a second. As the smoke cleared, leaving an awful stillness, it passed out on the air, like the soul of the furious woman whose body lay lifeless on the ground.

In the first fright and horror of her situation, Miss Pross passed the body as far from it as she could, and ran down the stairs to call for fruitless help. Happily, she bethought herself of the consequences of what she did, in time to check herself and go back. It was dreadful to go in at the door again; but, she did go in, and even went near it, to get the bonnet93 and other things that she must wear. These she put on, out on the staircase, first shutting and locking the door and taking away the key. She then sat down on the stairs a few moments to breathe and to cry, and then got up and hurried away.

By good fortune she had a veil on her bonnet, or she could hardly have gone along the streets without being stopped. By good fortune, too, she was naturally so peculiar94 in appearance as not to show disfigurement like any other woman. She needed both
advantages, for the marks of griping fingers were deep in her face, and her hair was torn, and her dress (hastily composed with unsteady hands) was clutched and dragged a hundred ways

In crossing the bridge, she dropped the door key in the river. Arriving at the cathedral some few minutes before her escort, and waiting there, she thought, what if the key were already taken in a net, what if it were identified, what if the door were opened and the remains95 discovered, what if she were stopped at the gate, sent to prison, and charged with murder! In the midst of these fluttering thoughts, the escort appeared, took her in, and took her away.

`Is there any noise in the streets?' she asked him.

`The usual noises,' Mr. Cruncher replied; and looked surprised by the question and by her aspect.

`I don't hear you,' said Miss Pross. `What do you say?'

It was in vain for Mr. Cruncher to repeat what he said; Miss Pross could not hear him. `So I'll nod my head,' thought Mr. Cruncher, amazed, `at all events she'll see that.' And she did.

`Is there any noise in the streets now?' asked Miss Pross again, presently.

Again Mr. Cruncher nodded his head.

`I don't hear it.'

`Gone deaf in a hour?' said Mr. Cruncher, ruminating96, with his mind much disturbed; `wot's come to her?'

`I feel,' said Miss Pross, `as if there had been a flash and a crash, and that crash was the last thing I should ever hear in this life.'

`Blest if she ain't in a queer condition!' said Mr. Cruncher, more and more disturbed. `Wot can she have been a takin', to keep her courage up? Hark! There's the roll of them dreadful carts! You can hear that, miss?'

`I can hear,' said Miss Pross, seeing that he spoke to her, `nothing. O, my good man, there was first a great crash, and then a great stillness, and that stillness seems to be fixed97 and unchangeable, never to be broken any more as long as my life lasts.'

`If she don't hear the roll of those dreadful carts, now very nigh their journey's end,' said Mr. Cruncher, glancing over his shoulder, `it's my opinion that indeed she never will hear anything else in this world.'

And indeed she never did.


在五十二个人等待着自己的命运的同时,德伐日太太召集复仇女神和革命陪审团的陪审员雅克三号开了一个阴暗不祥的会。德伐日太太跟两位命运的差役磋商的地点不在酒店,而在过去的补路工、现在的锯木工的小屋里。锯木工并未参加会议,他像个外层空间的卫星一样呆在远处,准备只在必要时或得到邀请时才发表意见。,

“可是我们的德伐日,”雅克三号说,“无疑是个优秀的共和分子,是么?”

“在法国没有比他更优秀的了,”口若悬河的复仇女神尖声尖气地肯定。

“别吵,小复仇,”德伐日太太略微皱了皱眉,伸出个指头挡在她助手的唇边,“听我说,公民伙计,我的丈夫是个优秀的共和分子,也是个大胆的人,值得共和国的尊重。他也获得了共和国的信任。但是他有他的弱点,他对医生心慈手软。”

“很遗憾,”雅克三号低沉地说,含义不明地摇着脑袋,几根残忍的手指又在嘴边猴急地抓挠。“那就不太像个好公民了,很遗憾。”

“你们要明白,”老板娘说,“我对医生没兴趣。他丢不丢脑袋我不管,那对我都一样。但是埃佛瑞蒙德一家可得要斩草除根,老婆和孩子必须跟丈夫和爸爸去。”、

“她有一个漂亮的脑袋跟着去呢,”雅克三号低沉地说。“我在这几看见过不少蓝眼睛金头发的脑袋,参孙提起那脑袋的样子可真迷人。”他虽是个吃人恶魔,说话倒像个美食家。

德伐日太太垂下眼脸想了想。

“还有那孩于也是金头发蓝眼睛,”雅克三号带着享受的神气思考着。“在那儿很少看见孩子。倒挺迷人的:”

“总而言之,”德伐日太太停顿了片刻,说道,“这事我信不过我丈夫。我从昨天晚上起就感到不但不能把我计划的细节告诉他,而旦动手要快,否则他还可能走漏消息,让他们跑掉。”

“绝不能让他们跑掉,”雅克三号低沉地说。“一个也不准。就现在这种情况人数还不到一半呢。应该每天杀他一百二十个的。”

“总而言之,”德伐日太太说下去,“我要把这一家斩草除根的道理我的老公不理解;他对医生那么关怀的道理我也想不通。因此我得亲手采取行动。来呀,小公民。”

锯木工用手碰了碰红便帽,走了过来。他对她毕恭毕敬,服服帖帖,怕得要命。

“你今天就可以作证,证明那些手势么,小公民?德伐日太太严厉地说。

“可以,可以,为什么不可以!”锯木工叫道,“每天,不论天晴下雨,从两点到四点,总在那儿打手势,有时带着那小的,有时没带。我知道的事我是知道的。我是亲眼看见的。”

他说话时做了许多手势,仿佛偶然模仿着几个他其实从没见过的复杂手势。

“显然是搞阴谋,”雅克三号说,“再清楚不过了。”

“陪审团不会有问题吧?”德伐日太太露出个阴沉的微笑把眼光转向他说。

“相信爱国的陪审团吧,亲爱的女公民,我可以为我陪审团的伙计们打包票。”

“现在我来想想,”德伐日太太又沉思起来,“再想一想吧!为了我那老公,我能不能放过医生呢?放不放过对我都一样。我能放过他么?”

“他也要算一个脑袋呢,”雅克三号低声说。“我们现有的脑袋还嫌不够,放过了怪可惜的,我觉得。”

“我见到那女人的时候,医生也跟她一样在打手势呢!”德伐日太太争辩道,“我不能谈这个不谈那个,我不能把这案子全交给这个小公民去办,因为我做起证人来也并不差。”

复仇女神和雅克三号彼此争先恐后地肯定她是最值得尊重,也是最精采的证人。小公民不甘落后,便说她是举世无双的证人。

“不,我不能放过他,”德伐日太太说,“他得凭命去闯了!你三点钟有事,要去看今天杀的这一批——是吗?”

这话问的是锯木工。锯木工赶快说他也要去,而且抓紧机会补充说,他是最积极的共和分子。实际上若是有什么东西使他失去了享受一边抽午后烟、一边欣赏国家级剃头师傅精采表演的机会,他就会成为最孤独的共和分子了。他的表白有点过分,甚至叫人怀疑他每时每刻都在为自己那渺小的安全担心。而他也许确实在受着怀疑,因为德伐日太太一双黑眼睛正轻蔑地望着他。

“我也同样要到那儿去。”老板娘说。“那儿的事结束之后,你们就到我那儿,到圣安托万去,就定在八点吧,我们要到我那个区去揭发这几个人。”

锯木工说他若是能陪伴女公民,他会引以为荣,感到骄傲的。女公民却白了他一眼,弄得他很尴尬,像小狗一样躲着她的目光,钻到木柴堆里拉起锯来,借以掩饰自己的狼狈。

德伐日太太招呼陪审员和复仇女神往门边靠了靠,向他俩进一步说明了她的观点:

“那女的现在准在家等着他死去的时刻。她会哀悼,会痛苦,一定会对共和国的审判心怀不满,对共和国的敌人满怀同情。我要到她那儿去。”

“多么令人钦佩的女人,多么值得崇拜的女人!”雅克三号欣喜若狂,叫道。“啊,我的心肝宝贝!”复仇女神叫了起来,拥抱了她。

“你把我的编织活儿拿去,”德伐日太太把毛线放到助手手里,“把它放在我平时的座位上,占好座包。马上去,因为十有八九今天的人会比平常多。”

“我衷心接受上级的命令,”复仇女神敏捷作答,而且亲了亲她的面颊。“你不会迟到吧?”

“行刑开始之前我准到。”

“囚车到达之前。一准要到,我的宝贝,”复仇女神对着她的背影说,因为她已转身上了街。“囚车到达之前!”

德伐日太太轻轻挥了挥手,表示她听见了,一定准时到达,然后便穿过泥泞、绕过了监狱大墙。复仇女神和陪审员望着她远去,对她那漂亮的身影和无与伦比的道德秉赋表示了崇高的赞赏。

那时的许多妇女都被时代之手捏弄得可怕地变了形,却没有一个妇女能比现在走在大街上的这个无情的女人更可怕的了。她有坚强勇敢的性格,精明敏捷的头脑,还有巨大的决心。她具有一种美,那美不但赋予了她稳定坚实、苦大仇深的特色,而且使人不由得由衷地赞美这一特色。无论情况如何,那“混乱的时代”是必然会使她出人头地的。但是由于她从儿童时代起就深感含冤受屈,养成了根深蒂固的阶级仇恨,机会便把她发展成了一只母老虎。她是绝对没有怜惜之情的。即使曾有过也早已泯灭了。

一个清白无辜的男人要为父辈的罪行而死亡,这在她完全不算一回事。她看见的不是他,而是他的父辈。那个男人的妻子要变成寡妇,女儿要变成孤儿,这在她也不算一回事。那种惩罚还不够,因为她们都是她天生的敌人,是她的战利品,本没有活下去的权利。要使她谅解是办不到的,她没有怜惜之心,甚至对自己也如此。若是她在自己参加过的战斗中倒下了,她也不会怜惜自己;若是她被送上断头台,她也只会咬牙切齿恨不得让送她上断头台的人跟她易地而处,却没有丝毫怨艾伤感的柔情。

在德伐日太太那粗布袍子下而的就是这样一颗心。那布袍她随意穿着,却很合身,但带几分怪诞。那一头黑发在粗糙的红便帽之下显得尤其丰密。她胸前掖了一把子弹上膛的手枪。腰间别了一把磨得飞快的匕首。她便以这样一身装束、这样一个角色的自信步伐在大街上走着:表现了习惯于光着腿赤着脚在褐色的沙滩上行走的妇女的矫健和轻松。

此时那辆旅行马车正在等着旅客到齐。昨天晚上罗瑞先生为普洛丝小姐是否坐这辆车曾经煞费踌躇。马车需要避免超重,尤其需要尽量缩短检查马车和乘客的时间,因为他们是否能逃掉大有可能决定于在这儿那儿省下的分分秒秒。经过苦苦思索,他终于决定让普洛丝小姐和杰瑞去坐那时很有名的最轻便型马车,在三点钟出发,因为他们可以自由出入巴黎。他们没有行车拖累,可以很快便赶上驿车,赶到前面去,事先给驿车雇好马匹,使它在夜间宝贵的时间里迅速前进—一夜里是最怕耽误的。

普洛丝小姐明白了照这种安排她在那千钧一发的时刻可以起到的真正作用,便高高兴兴地同意了。她跟杰瑞看到马车出发,看清楚了所罗门送来的是什么人,又提心吊胆地忙了十来分钟,现在正做着追赶驿车的最后准备。这时德伐日太太正在街上行走,距离这间寓所越来越近了一—这里的房客已全都撤离,只有他俩还在商量:

“现在,克朗彻先生,”普洛丝小姐说,她激动得话也说不出,站也站不住,动也不会动,连活都不知道该怎么活下去了。“你觉得我们若是不从这个院子出发,怎么样?今天已经从这儿走了一辆车,再走一辆车会引起疑心的。”

“我认为你说得对,小姐,”克朗彻先生回答。“而且我总是拥护你的,不管你对不对。”

“我为几个心肝宝贝又是害怕、又抱着希望,简直都急疯了,”普洛丝小姐放声大哭,“我是什么主意都想不出来了。你能出个主意么,我亲爱的可怜的克朗彻先生?”

“要说对将来的生活出点主意,我大概还能行,小姐,”克朗彻回答,“要说在此刻开动我这上帝保佑的老脑筋,我怕是办不到了。在眼前的紧急关头我想作出两个保证,发两道誓言,你能帮助我记住么,小姐?”

“啊,天呐!”普洛丝小姐还在号啕痛哭说,“我马上记住,可你得像个出色的男子汉一样别把它挂在心上。”

“首先,”克朗彻先生全身发抖,说话时面如死灰,神情庄重,“只要那几个可怜的人能安全脱险,我以后就不再干那种事了,再也不干了!”

“我很肯定,克朗彻先生,”普洛丝小姐回答,“你以后决不会再干了,不管是什么。我求你不要认为需要特别说明那是什么。”

“不会的,小姐,”杰瑞回答,“我是不会告诉你的。第二,只要那几个可怜的人能平安脱险,我就再也不会干涉克朗彻太太跪地做祈祷了。再也不会了!”

“‘不管是什么家务事,”普洛丝小姐擦着眼泪努力镇定着自己说,“我都相信,还是完全交给克朗彻太太经管为好。啊,我可怜的宝贝们!”

“我甚至还要说,小姐,”克朗彻先生接着讲下去,样子很令人吃惊,好像是在布道台上发表演说,“请你记下我的话,亲自告诉我太太,我对做祷告的事已经改变了看法。我倒打心眼里希望克朗彻太太这时在为我们跪下来做祷告呢!”

“好了,好了,好了,我希望她在祷告,亲爱的,”急得发疯的普洛丝小姐叫道,“还
希望她的祷告应验!”

“千万别应验,”克朗彻先生说下去,说得更庄严、更缓慢、更有坚持到底的意思。“可不能让我说过的话、干过的事现在报应在我为这些可怜的人许的愿上!别应验,我们都应当跪下来(若是方便的话)祈祷他们逃出这种可怕的危险。别应验,小姐:我要说的是,别应—一验!”这是克朗彻先生在长期努力想得到一个更好的结论之后所下的结论。

这时,德伐日太太正沿着大街走来,越来越近了。

“你说得太动人了,”普洛丝小姐说,“若是我们能回到故乡,请相信我,我一定把我记得住而又听懂了的话转告克朗彻太太。而且,无论发生了什么事,你都可以相信我,对你在这个可怕时刻的一本正经的态度可以作证。现在,请让我们来想一想,我尊重的克朗彻先生,让我们来想一想!”

这时,德伐日太太正沿着大街走来,越来越近了。

“若是你能先走一步,”普洛丝小姐说,“叫马车别到这儿来,另找个地方等我,是不是会更好?”

克朗彻认为那样会更好。

“那你在什么地方等我呢?”普洛丝小姐问。

克朗彻满脑子糊涂,除了伦敦法学会,他想不出别的地点。可是天哪!伦敦法学会远在千里之外,而德伐日太太只不过咫尺之遥

“在大教堂门口吧,”普洛丝小姐说。“我在那地方上车不太绕道吧?在大教堂两座钟楼中间那大门口?”

“不绕道,小姐,”克朗彻回答。

“那么,就像个最好的男子汉一样,马上去车站,把路线改了,”普洛丝小姐说。

“我离开你可有点不放心,”克朗彻先生犹豫起来,摇着头说。“你看,不知道会发生什么情况的。”

“那只有天才知道,”普洛丝小姐回答。“别为我担心。三点钟或略早一点到大教堂来接我,我相信那要比从这儿出发好得多,我肯定。好了!上帝保佑你,克朗彻先生!别顾着我,顾着那几条命吧,那得靠我们呢!”

这一番言辞,再加上普洛丝小姐两只手攥住他的手,表现了痛苦的请求,使克朗彻先生下定了决心。他点了点头,表示鼓励,便去改变行车路线了,留下她一个人按自己的建议去跟他会合。

想出了这么一个预防措施,而且已经开始执行,普洛丝小姐大大她松了一口气。她的外表必须镇静如常,以免引起特别注意,这也使她安定下来。她看看表,两点二十分。她再也不能浪费时间了,必须立即作好准备。

她心里乱成一团。没了人的屋子空荡荡的,她害怕;每一道开着的门背后都仿佛有面孔在窥视,她也怕。普洛丝小姐打了一盆水开始洗她那双红肿的眼睛。她满怀莫名的恐俱,很怕眼睛上的水会暂时挡住了视线,因此不断停下来四面瞧瞧,怕有人在看她。有一次她刚停下来却不禁大叫起来,往后一退,因为她见到一个人影站在屋里。

脸盆落到地下摔碎了,水流到德伐日太太脚边——那双脚曾从血泊中走过,步伐威严而独特。”

德伐日太太冷冷地望着她说,“埃佛瑞蒙德的太太到哪儿去了?”

普洛丝小姐突然想起所有的门分开着,会叫人想到逃跑。她的第一个动作便是把门全都关了起来。屋里有四道门,她全关上了。然后她站在露西的房门口。

德伐日太太深色的眼睛跟随着她那迅速的行动,然后落在她身上。岁月并不曾驯服普洛丝小姐的野性,也不曾让她那粗糙的外形变得柔和。她也是个强悍的女人,虽然路数不同。她也用眼睛打量了德伐日太太身上的每一部分。

“别看你那样子像魔鬼的老婆,”普洛丝小姐细声说,“你占不了我的上风,我可是个英国女人。”

德伐日太太轻蔑地望着她,她的感觉跟普洛丝小姐却也差不多;她俩可算是狭路相逢了。德伐日太太眼前是个结实、健壮、矫捷的妇女,正跟多年前罗瑞先生眼前那个胳膊结实的妇女一样。德伐日太太很清楚,普洛丝小姐是这家的忠实朋友;普洛丝小姐也很清楚,德伐日太太是这家的凶恶敌人。

“我要到那边去,”德伐日太太一只手往那杀人的地方略微挥了一挥,“她们在那几给我保留了座位和我的毛线活儿。我是顺道来向她致敬的。我想见见她。”

“我知道你不怀好意,”普洛丝小姐说。“不过你放心,你那坏心眼休想在我面前得逞。”

两人一个说法语,一个说英语,谁也听不懂谁的话,可彼此都很警惕,想从对方的神色态度推测出没听懂的意思。

“这个时候把她藏起来不让她见我,对她可没有好处,”德伐日太太说。“优秀的爱国者都明白那是什么意思。让我见她。告诉她我要见她。听见了没有?”

“就算你那眼睛骨碌碌转得像辘轳,”普洛丝小姐回答,“我可是张四根柱子的英国床,任你眼睛怎么转,也别想动我一分一毫。不行,你这个恶毒的女老外,我今儿跟你泡上了。”

看来德伐日太太对这些村言俚语并不理解,但却明白对方并没有把自己放在眼里。

“白痴,蠢猪!”德伐日太太皱着眉头。“我不要你回答,我要求跟她见面。你去告诉她,我要见地,再不然就别站在门口,让我自己进去!”说时她怒气冲冲打着手势。

“我才懒得听你那瞎胡闹的外国话呢,”普洛丝小姐说,“不过为了知道你是否猜到了真象(或许只猜到一部分),我倒愿意把我的一切都送给人——除了这一身衣服之外。”

两人彼此目不转睛地盯着。德伐日太太从普洛丝小姐意识到她来到这儿以后就在原地没动,可现在她前进了一步。

“我可是个不列颠人,”普洛丝小姐说。“今天我豁出去了,我愿拿这条不值两便士的命拼了。我知道我把你缠在这里的时间越长,我那小鸟儿就越有希望。你要是敢碰我一指头,我就把你那黑头发拔个精光,一根不剩!”

这样,普洛丝小姐每匆忙说完一句话就要摇一摇脑袋,瞪一瞪眼睛,而她的每句话又都说得气喘吁吁。她像这样开始了战斗—一她可是一辈于没跟人干过仗的。

可是她的勇气却带着感情冲动的性质,她的眼里已不禁噙满了泪珠。对她这种形式的勇气表现,德伐日太太却误会了,以为是软弱。“哈!哈!”她笑了,“你这个可怜虫!还充什么好汉!我要找医生讲话。”说时便放开嗓门叫了起来,“医生公民!埃佛瑞蒙德太太!埃佛瑞蒙德家的媳妇!除了这个可怜兮的笨蛋,你们谁来跟女公民德伐日答话?”

也许是由于随之而来的沉默,也许是由于普洛丝小姐的表情无意中泄露了天机,也许是由于与两者无关的突然灵机一动,总之德伐日太太看出他们已经走掉了。她赶紧打开了三道门,往里面看。

“三间屋子都乱糟糟的,有人匆忙打过行李,七零八碎的东西扔了满地。你身后的屋里怕也是没有人了!让我看看!”

“休想!”普洛丝小姐完全明白她的要求,正如德伐日太太完全明白她的回答一样。

“他们若是不在那屋里,便是逃跑了。还可以派人去追,把他们抓回来,”德伐日太太自言自语。

“只要你弄不清楚她们究竟在不在这屋里,你就无法决定该怎么办,”普洛丝小姐自言自语。“只要我不让你弄清楚,你就别想弄清楚。不管你清楚不清楚,我只要能缠住你,你就别想离开这儿。”

“我从小就在街面上跑,什么东西也没拦住过我。我能把你撕得粉碎,我现在得把你从门口轰走,”德伐日太太说。

“我们这院子孤零零的,高楼顶上又只有我们两个,看样子不会有人听见。我祈祷上帝给我力量把你缠住,你在这儿的每一分钟对我那宝贝儿都值十万金币呢!”普洛丝小姐说。

德伐日太太往屋里便闯,普洛丝小姐一时性起,伸出双臂把她紧紧拦腰抱住。德伐日太太又是挣扎,又是殴打,但都无济于事。普洛丝小姐满怀挚爱,有坚韧的活力,把她抱得很紧——爱比恨永远要强大得多——在挣扎中她甚至把她抱离了地面。德伐日太太用两只手打她,抓她的脸,可是普洛丝小姐只顾低了头搂住她的腰,比怕淹死的女人搂得还紧。

德伐日太太马上停止了殴打,伸手往被搂紧的腰间摸去。“你那玩艺儿在我的胳膊下呢,”普洛丝小姐屏住气说,“你休想拔出来。谢谢老天爷,我的力气可比你大。我要一直抱住你,直到我们有一个昏过去或者是死掉!”

德伐日太太的手己到了胸前。普洛丝小姐抬头一看,认出了那是什么东西,便一拳打了过去,打出了一道闪光、一声巨响,然后便是她一个人站在那里,什么都看不见了。

这一切只发生在刹那之间。硝烟散去,只留下可怕的平静。硝烟就像那大发雷霆的妇女的灵魂一样在空气里消散了,那女人的身子却躺在地上,死了。

普洛丝小姐被这情况吓了一跳,怕得要命。她先是往楼下跑,想离那尸体远远的,去找其实找不到的人帮忙。幸好她想起了自己惹下的祸的后果,便赶快停步,跑了回来。她十分害怕重新进屋,可她仍然进去了,而且从尸体身边走过,取出了她必须穿戴的帽子和衣物。她然后下了楼,关了门,上了锁,取下钥匙,又坐在台阶上喘了一会儿气,哭了一会儿,这才站起身来匆匆走掉。

幸好她的帽子上垂着面纱,否则她在路上怕是难免受人盘问的。也幸好她天生长相奇特,因此不至于像别的妇女给人衣冠不整的印象。她需要这两个有利条件,因为她头发散乱,脸上留下深深的指甲印,衣服也给东拉西扯弄了个乱七八糟,只用颤抖的手匆忙整理过一下。

过桥时她把钥匙扔进了河里。她比她的保镖早几分钟到达大教堂,在等他时她想了许多。若是那钥匙叫渔网网住了会怎么样?若是鉴定出是哪家的钥匙会怎么样?若是门打开,发现了尸体会怎么样?若是在城门自把她扣留下来,送进监狱,判她杀人罪又会怎么样?她正在满脑子胡思乱想,她的保镖来了,让她上了车,把她带走了。

“街上有闹声没有?”她问他。

“有日常的闹声,”克朗彻先生回答,他因为这个问题和她那副怪像露出一脸惊讶。

“你的话我没听见,”普洛丝小姐说,“你说的是什么?”

克朗彻先生重复了他的回答,可那也没有用,普洛丝小姐仍然听不见。“那我就点头吧,”克朗彻先生大吃一惊,想道。“这她无论如何是懂得的。”她倒是懂的。

“街上现在有闹声没有?”普洛丝小姐不久又问。

克朗彻先生义点了点头。

“可我没听见。”

“才一个小时耳朵怎么就聋了?”克朗彻先生寻思,心里很着急。“她出了什么事了?”

“我觉得,”普洛丝小姐说,“好像火光一闪,又砰的一声,那一声就成了我这一辈子听见的最后一声了。”

“她这个样子可真奇怪!”克朗彻先生越来越紧张,“她喝了什么玩艺儿给自己壮胆了么?听!那吓人的囚车在隆隆地响!你听见车声了没有,小姐?”

“一点儿也没听见,”普洛丝小姐见他说话便回答。“啊,我的好人,先是一声砰,声音大极了,然后就没有声音了,再也没有声音了,永远没有了,我这一辈子怕是再也听不见声音了。”

既然她连那些可怕的四车的轰隆声都听不见,——囚车,快到目的地了,”克朗彻先生掉过头看了一眼说,“我看她确实是再也听不见这世界上的声音了。”

她确实是再也听不见了。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 juncture e3exI     
n.时刻,关键时刻,紧要关头
参考例句:
  • The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
  • It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。
2 ominous Xv6y5     
adj.不祥的,不吉的,预兆的,预示的
参考例句:
  • Those black clouds look ominous for our picnic.那些乌云对我们的野餐来说是个不祥之兆。
  • There was an ominous silence at the other end of the phone.电话那头出现了不祥的沉默。
3 vengeance wL6zs     
n.报复,报仇,复仇
参考例句:
  • He swore vengeance against the men who murdered his father.他发誓要向那些杀害他父亲的人报仇。
  • For years he brooded vengeance.多年来他一直在盘算报仇。
4 undoubtedly Mfjz6l     
adv.确实地,无疑地
参考例句:
  • It is undoubtedly she who has said that.这话明明是她说的。
  • He is undoubtedly the pride of China.毫无疑问他是中国的骄傲。
5 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的;刺耳的;v尖叫
参考例句:
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
6 confide WYbyd     
v.向某人吐露秘密
参考例句:
  • I would never readily confide in anybody.我从不轻易向人吐露秘密。
  • He is going to confide the secrets of his heart to us.他将向我们吐露他心里的秘密。
7 croaked 9a150c9af3075625e0cba4de8da8f6a9     
v.呱呱地叫( croak的过去式和过去分词 );用粗的声音说
参考例句:
  • The crow croaked disaster. 乌鸦呱呱叫预报灾难。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • 'she has a fine head for it," croaked Jacques Three. “她有一个漂亮的脑袋跟着去呢,”雅克三号低沉地说。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
8 dubiously dubiously     
adv.可疑地,怀疑地
参考例句:
  • "What does he have to do?" queried Chin dubiously. “他有什么心事?”琴向觉民问道,她的脸上现出疑惑不解的神情。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • He walked out fast, leaving the head waiter staring dubiously at the flimsy blue paper. 他很快地走出去,撇下侍者头儿半信半疑地瞪着这张薄薄的蓝纸。 来自辞典例句
9 exterminated 26d6c11b25ea1007021683e86730eb44     
v.消灭,根绝( exterminate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • It was exterminated root and branch. 它被彻底剪除了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The insects can be exterminated by spraying DDT. 可以用喷撒滴滴涕的方法大量杀死这种昆虫。 来自《用法词典》
10 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
11 epicure Eolx4     
n.行家,美食家
参考例句:
  • This cookery book have being wrote by a real epicure.这本食谱是由一位真正的美食家写的。
  • He researches diets carefully,and is a true epicure.他对于饮食非常有研究,可以算得上是名副其实的美食家了。
12 meditative Djpyr     
adj.沉思的,冥想的
参考例句:
  • A stupid fellow is talkative;a wise man is meditative.蠢人饶舌,智者思虑。
  • Music can induce a meditative state in the listener.音乐能够引导倾听者沉思。
13 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。
14 submission lUVzr     
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出
参考例句:
  • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
  • No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
15 patriotic T3Izu     
adj.爱国的,有爱国心的
参考例句:
  • His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
  • The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。
16 fervent SlByg     
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的
参考例句:
  • It was a debate which aroused fervent ethical arguments.那是一场引发强烈的伦理道德争论的辩论。
  • Austria was among the most fervent supporters of adolf hitler.奥地利是阿道夫希特勒最狂热的支持者之一。
17 celestial 4rUz8     
adj.天体的;天上的
参考例句:
  • The rosy light yet beamed like a celestial dawn.玫瑰色的红光依然象天上的朝霞一样绚丽。
  • Gravity governs the motions of celestial bodies.万有引力控制着天体的运动。
18 batch HQgyz     
n.一批(组,群);一批生产量
参考例句:
  • The first batch of cakes was burnt.第一炉蛋糕烤焦了。
  • I have a batch of letters to answer.我有一批信要回复。
19 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
参考例句:
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
20 desolate vmizO     
adj.荒凉的,荒芜的;孤独的,凄凉的;v.使荒芜,使孤寂
参考例句:
  • The city was burned into a desolate waste.那座城市被烧成一片废墟。
  • We all felt absolutely desolate when she left.她走后,我们都觉得万分孤寂。
21 droll J8Tye     
adj.古怪的,好笑的
参考例句:
  • The band have a droll sense of humour.这个乐队有一种滑稽古怪的幽默感。
  • He looked at her with a droll sort of awakening.他用一种古怪的如梦方醒的神情看着她.
22 evaded 4b636015da21a66943b43217559e0131     
逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出
参考例句:
  • For two weeks they evaded the press. 他们有两周一直避而不见记者。
  • The lion evaded the hunter. 那狮子躲开了猎人。
23 beckoned b70f83e57673dfe30be1c577dd8520bc     
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He beckoned to the waiter to bring the bill. 他招手示意服务生把账单送过来。
  • The seated figure in the corner beckoned me over. 那个坐在角落里的人向我招手让我过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
24 expounded da13e1b047aa8acd2d3b9e7c1e34e99c     
论述,详细讲解( expound的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He expounded his views on the subject to me at great length. 他详细地向我阐述了他在这个问题上的观点。
  • He warmed up as he expounded his views. 他在阐明自己的意见时激动起来了。
25 impeach Ua6xD     
v.弹劾;检举
参考例句:
  • We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
  • The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。
26 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。
27 appreciative 9vDzr     
adj.有鉴赏力的,有眼力的;感激的
参考例句:
  • She was deeply appreciative of your help.她对你的帮助深表感激。
  • We are very appreciative of their support in this respect.我们十分感谢他们在这方面的支持。
28 dreaded XuNzI3     
adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句:
  • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
  • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
29 instinctive c6jxT     
adj.(出于)本能的;直觉的;(出于)天性的
参考例句:
  • He tried to conceal his instinctive revulsion at the idea.他试图饰盖自己对这一想法本能的厌恶。
  • Animals have an instinctive fear of fire.动物本能地怕火。
30 imbued 0556a3f182102618d8c04584f11a6872     
v.使(某人/某事)充满或激起(感情等)( imbue的过去式和过去分词 );使充满;灌输;激发(强烈感情或品质等)
参考例句:
  • Her voice was imbued with an unusual seriousness. 她的声音里充满着一种不寻常的严肃语气。
  • These cultivated individuals have been imbued with a sense of social purpose. 这些有教养的人满怀着社会责任感。 来自《简明英汉词典》
31 inveterate q4ox5     
adj.积习已深的,根深蒂固的
参考例句:
  • Hitler was not only an avid reader but also an inveterate underliner.希特勒不仅酷爱读书,还有写写划划的习惯。
  • It is hard for an inveterate smoker to give up tobacco.要一位有多年烟瘾的烟民戒烟是困难的。
32 hatred T5Gyg     
n.憎恶,憎恨,仇恨
参考例句:
  • He looked at me with hatred in his eyes.他以憎恨的眼光望着我。
  • The old man was seized with burning hatred for the fascists.老人对法西斯主义者充满了仇恨。
33 virtue BpqyH     
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力
参考例句:
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。
34 forefathers EsTzkE     
n.祖先,先人;祖先,祖宗( forefather的名词复数 );列祖列宗;前人
参考例句:
  • They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left. 它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • All of us bristled at the lawyer's speech insulting our forefathers. 听到那个律师在讲演中污蔑我们的祖先,大家都气得怒发冲冠。 来自《简明英汉词典》
35 orphan QJExg     
n.孤儿;adj.无父母的
参考例句:
  • He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大,并且把自己的医术传给了他。
  • The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。
36 insufficient L5vxu     
adj.(for,of)不足的,不够的
参考例句:
  • There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
  • In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代,科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。
37 prey g1czH     
n.被掠食者,牺牲者,掠食;v.捕食,掠夺,折磨
参考例句:
  • Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
  • The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。
38 axe 2oVyI     
n.斧子;v.用斧头砍,削减
参考例句:
  • Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利,你要当心。
  • The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。
39 weird bghw8     
adj.古怪的,离奇的;怪诞的,神秘而可怕的
参考例句:
  • From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
  • His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
40 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
41 dagger XnPz0     
n.匕首,短剑,剑号
参考例句:
  • The bad news is a dagger to his heart.这条坏消息刺痛了他的心。
  • The murderer thrust a dagger into her heart.凶手将匕首刺进她的心脏。
42 supple Hrhwt     
adj.柔软的,易弯的,逢迎的,顺从的,灵活的;vt.使柔软,使柔顺,使顺从;vi.变柔软,变柔顺
参考例句:
  • She gets along well with people because of her supple nature.她与大家相处很好,因为她的天性柔和。
  • He admired the graceful and supple movements of the dancers.他赞扬了舞蹈演员优雅灵巧的舞姿。
43 habitually 4rKzgk     
ad.习惯地,通常地
参考例句:
  • The pain of the disease caused him habitually to furrow his brow. 病痛使他习惯性地紧皱眉头。
  • Habitually obedient to John, I came up to his chair. 我已经习惯于服从约翰,我来到他的椅子跟前。
44 conveyance OoDzv     
n.(不动产等的)转让,让与;转让证书;传送;运送;表达;(正)运输工具
参考例句:
  • Bicycles have become the most popular conveyance for Chinese people.自行车已成为中国人最流行的代步工具。
  • Its another,older,usage is a synonym for conveyance.它的另一个更古老的习惯用法是作为财产转让的同义词使用。
45 rendering oV5xD     
n.表现,描写
参考例句:
  • She gave a splendid rendering of Beethoven's piano sonata.她精彩地演奏了贝多芬的钢琴奏鸣曲。
  • His narrative is a super rendering of dialect speech and idiom.他的叙述是方言和土语最成功的运用。
46 beheld 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
参考例句:
  • His eyes had never beheld such opulence. 他从未见过这样的财富。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The soul beheld its features in the mirror of the passing moment. 灵魂在逝去的瞬间的镜子中看到了自己的模样。 来自英汉文学 - 红字
47 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。
48 deserted GukzoL     
adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的
参考例句:
  • The deserted village was filled with a deathly silence.这个荒废的村庄死一般的寂静。
  • The enemy chieftain was opposed and deserted by his followers.敌人头目众叛亲离。
49 lodging wRgz9     
n.寄宿,住所;(大学生的)校外宿舍
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging. 账单包括吃、住费用。
  • Where can you find lodging for the night? 你今晚在哪里借宿?
50 consultation VZAyq     
n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
参考例句:
  • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
  • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
51 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
52 awaken byMzdD     
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起
参考例句:
  • Old people awaken early in the morning.老年人早晨醒得早。
  • Please awaken me at six.请于六点叫醒我。
53 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
54 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
55 flop sjsx2     
n.失败(者),扑通一声;vi.笨重地行动,沉重地落下
参考例句:
  • The fish gave a flop and landed back in the water.鱼扑通一声又跳回水里。
  • The marketing campaign was a flop.The product didn't sell.市场宣传彻底失败,产品卖不出去。
56 flopping e9766012a63715ac6e9a2d88cb1234b1     
n.贬调v.(指书、戏剧等)彻底失败( flop的现在分词 );(因疲惫而)猛然坐下;(笨拙地、不由自主地或松弛地)移动或落下;砸锅
参考例句:
  • The fish are still flopping about. 鱼还在扑腾。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • What do you mean by flopping yourself down and praying agin me?' 咚一声跪下地来咒我,你这是什么意思” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
57 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
58 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。
59 dismal wtwxa     
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的
参考例句:
  • That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
  • My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。
60 protracted 7bbc2aee17180561523728a246b7f16b     
adj.拖延的;延长的v.拖延“protract”的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • The war was protracted for four years. 战争拖延了四年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We won victory through protracted struggle. 经过长期的斗争,我们取得了胜利。 来自《简明英汉词典》
61 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。
62 esteemed ftyzcF     
adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 );敬重;认为;以为
参考例句:
  • The art of conversation is highly esteemed in France. 在法国十分尊重谈话技巧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He esteemed that he understood what I had said. 他认为已经听懂我说的意思了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
63 alas Rx8z1     
int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等)
参考例句:
  • Alas!The window is broken!哎呀!窗子破了!
  • Alas,the truth is less romantic.然而,真理很少带有浪漫色彩。
64 entreaty voAxi     
n.恳求,哀求
参考例句:
  • Mrs. Quilp durst only make a gesture of entreaty.奎尔普太太仅做出一种哀求的姿势。
  • Her gaze clung to him in entreaty.她的眼光带着恳求的神色停留在他身上。
65 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
66 swollen DrcwL     
adj.肿大的,水涨的;v.使变大,肿胀
参考例句:
  • Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着,她的双腿已经肿了。
  • A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她,她的手臂肿起来了。
67 feverish gzsye     
adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的
参考例句:
  • He is too feverish to rest.他兴奋得安静不下来。
  • They worked with feverish haste to finish the job.为了完成此事他们以狂热的速度工作着。
68 apprehensions 86177204327b157a6d884cdb536098d8     
疑惧
参考例句:
  • He stood in a mixture of desire and apprehensions. 他怀着渴望和恐惧交加的心情伫立着。
  • But subsequent cases have removed many of these apprehensions. 然而,随后的案例又消除了许多类似的忧虑。
69 recoiled 8282f6b353b1fa6f91b917c46152c025     
v.畏缩( recoil的过去式和过去分词 );退缩;报应;返回
参考例句:
  • She recoiled from his touch. 她躲开他的触摸。
  • Howard recoiled a little at the sharpness in my voice. 听到我的尖声,霍华德往后缩了一下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
70 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。
71 chamber wnky9     
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
参考例句:
  • For many,the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber.对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
  • The chamber was ablaze with light.会议厅里灯火辉煌。
72 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。
73 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的;有决心的
参考例句:
  • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
  • He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
74 devoted xu9zka     
adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的
参考例句:
  • He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
  • We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
75 malevolent G8IzV     
adj.有恶意的,恶毒的
参考例句:
  • Why are they so malevolent to me?他们为什么对我如此恶毒?
  • We must thwart his malevolent schemes.我们决不能让他的恶毒阴谋得逞。
76 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
77 unintelligible sfuz2V     
adj.无法了解的,难解的,莫明其妙的
参考例句:
  • If a computer is given unintelligible data, it returns unintelligible results.如果计算机得到的是难以理解的数据,它给出的也将是难以理解的结果。
  • The terms were unintelligible to ordinary folk.这些术语一般人是不懂的。
78 concealed 0v3zxG     
a.隐藏的,隐蔽的
参考例句:
  • The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
  • I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
79 patriots cf0387291504d78a6ac7a13147d2f229     
爱国者,爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Abraham Lincoln was a fine type of the American patriots. 亚伯拉罕·林肯是美国爱国者的优秀典型。
  • These patriots would fight to death before they surrendered. 这些爱国者宁愿战斗到死,也不愿投降。
80 idiomatic ob8xN     
adj.成语的,符合语言习惯的
参考例句:
  • In our reading we should always be alert for idiomatic expressions.我们在阅读过程中应经常注意惯用法。
  • In his lecture,he bore down on the importance of idiomatic usage in a language.他在演讲中着重强调了语言中习惯用法的重要性。
81 naught wGLxx     
n.无,零 [=nought]
参考例句:
  • He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
  • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
82 bliss JtXz4     
n.狂喜,福佑,天赐的福
参考例句:
  • It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。
  • He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴,因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。
83 wretch EIPyl     
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人
参考例句:
  • You are really an ungrateful wretch to complain instead of thanking him.你不但不谢他,还埋怨他,真不知好歹。
  • The dead husband is not the dishonoured wretch they fancied him.死去的丈夫不是他们所想象的不光彩的坏蛋。
84 miserable g18yk     
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的
参考例句:
  • It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他,这是可耻的。
  • Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。
85 misgiving tDbxN     
n.疑虑,担忧,害怕
参考例句:
  • She had some misgivings about what she was about to do.她对自己即将要做的事情存有一些顾虑。
  • The first words of the text filled us with misgiving.正文开头的文字让我们颇为担心。
86 disorder Et1x4     
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
参考例句:
  • When returning back,he discovered the room to be in disorder.回家后,他发现屋子里乱七八糟。
  • It contained a vast number of letters in great disorder.里面七零八落地装着许多信件。
87 odds n5czT     
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别
参考例句:
  • The odds are 5 to 1 that she will win.她获胜的机会是五比一。
  • Do you know the odds of winning the lottery once?你知道赢得一次彩票的几率多大吗?
88 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。
89 solitary 7FUyx     
adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士
参考例句:
  • I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。
  • The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际,显得十分壮美。
90 tenacity dq9y2     
n.坚韧
参考例句:
  • Tenacity is the bridge to success.坚韧是通向成功的桥。
  • The athletes displayed great tenacity throughout the contest.运动员在比赛中表现出坚韧的斗志。
91 buffeted 2484040e69c5816c25c65e8310465688     
反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 ); 连续猛击; 打来打去; 推来搡去
参考例句:
  • to be buffeted by the wind 被风吹得左右摇摆
  • We were buffeted by the wind and the rain. 我们遭到风雨的袭击。
92 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制
参考例句:
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
93 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽;童帽
参考例句:
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
94 peculiar cinyo     
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
参考例句:
  • He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
  • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
95 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物,残留物;遗体,遗迹
参考例句:
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
96 ruminating 29b02bd23c266a224e13df488b3acca0     
v.沉思( ruminate的现在分词 );反复考虑;反刍;倒嚼
参考例句:
  • He sat there ruminating and picking at the tablecloth. 他坐在那儿沉思,轻轻地抚弄着桌布。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He is ruminating on what had happened the day before. 他在沉思前一天发生的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
97 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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