In the Ti Ts’ui pavilion, Pao-ch’ai diverts herself with the multi-coloured butterflies — Over the mound1, where the flowers had been interred3, Tai-yü bewails their withered5 bloom.
Lin Tai-yü, we must explain in taking up the thread of our narrative6, was disconsolately7 bathed in tears, when her ear was suddenly attracted by the creak of the court gate, and her eyes by the appearance of Pao-ch’ai beyond the threshold. Pao-yü, Hsi Jen and a whole posse of inmates8 then walked out. She felt inclined to go up to Pao-yü and ask him a question; but dreading9 that if she made any inquiries11 in the presence of such a company, Pao-yü would be put to the blush and placed in an awkward position, she slipped aside and allowed Pao-ch’ai to prosecute13 her way. And it was only after Pao-yü and the rest of the party had entered and closed the gate behind them that she at last issued from her retreat. Then fixing her gaze steadfastly14 on the gateway15, she dropped a few tears. But inwardly conscious of their utter futility16 she retraced17 her footsteps and wended her way back into her apartment. And with heavy heart and despondent18 spirits, she divested19 herself of the remainder of her habiliments.
Tzu Chüan and Hsüeh Yen21 were well aware, from the experience they had reaped in past days, that Lin Tai-yü was, in the absence of anything to occupy her mind, prone22 to sit and mope, and that if she did not frown her eyebrows23, she anyway heaved deep sighs; but they were quite at a loss to divine why she was, with no rhyme or reason, ever so ready to indulge, to herself, in inexhaustible gushes24 of tears. At first, there were such as still endeavoured to afford her solace25; or who, suspecting lest she brooded over the memory of her father and mother, felt home-sick, or aggrieved26, through some offence given her, tried by every persuasion27 to console and cheer her; but, as contrary to all expectations, she subsequently persisted time and again in this dull mood, through each succeeding month and year, people got accustomed to her eccentricities28 and did not extend to her the least sympathy. Hence it was that no one (on this occasion) troubled her mind about her, but letting her sit and sulk to her heart’s content, they one and all turned in and went to sleep.
Lin Tai-yü leaned against the railing of the bed, clasping her knees with both hands, her eyes suffused29 with tears. She looked, in very truth, like a carved wooden image or one fashioned of mud. There she sat straight up to the second watch, even later, when she eventually fell asleep.
The whole night nothing remarkable30 transpired31. The morrow was the 26th day of the fourth moon. Indeed on this day, at one p.m., commenced the season of the ‘Sprouting seeds,’ and, according to an old custom, on the day on which this feast of ‘Sprouting seeds’ fell, every one had to lay all kinds of offerings and sacrificial viands32 on the altar of the god of flowers. Soon after the expiry of this season of ‘Sprouting seeds’ follows summertide, and us plants in general then wither4 and the god of flowers resigns his throne, it is compulsory33 to feast him at some entertainment, previous to his departure.
In the ladies’ apartments this custom was observed with still more rigour; and, for this reason, the various inmates Of the park of Broad Vista34 had, without a single exception, got up at an early hour. The young people either twisted flowers and willow35 twigs36 in such a way as to represent chairs and horses, or made tufted banners with damask, brocaded gauze and silk, and bound them with variegated37 threads. These articles of decoration were alike attached on every tree and plant; and throughout the whole expanse of the park, embroidered38 sashes waved to and fro, and ornamented39 branches nodded their heads about. In addition to this, the members of the family were clad in such fineries that they put the peach tree to shame, made the almond yield the palm, the swallow envious40 and the hawk41 to blush. We could not therefore exhaustively describe them within our limited space of time.
Pao-ch’ai, Ying Ch’un, T’an Ch’un, Hsi Ch’un, Li Wan42, lady Feng and other girls, as well as Ta Chieh Erh, Hsiang Ling and the waiting-maids were, one and all, we will now notice, in the garden enjoying themselves; the only person who could not be seen was Lin Tai-yü.
“How is it,” consequently inquired Ying Ch’un, “that I don’t see cousin Liu? What a lazy girl! Is she forsooth fast asleep even at this late hour of the day?”
“Wait all of you here,” rejoined Pao-ch’ai, “and I’ll go and shake her up and bring her.”
With these words, she speedily left her companions and repaired straightway into the Hsiao Hsiang lodge43.
While she was going on her errand, she met Wen Kuan and the rest of the girls, twelve in all, on their way to seek the party. Drawing near, they inquired after her health. After exchanging a few commonplace remarks, Pao-ch’ai turned round and pointing, said: “you will find them all in there; you had better go and join them. As for me, I’m going to fetch Miss Lin, but I’ll be back soon.”
Saying this, she followed the winding44 path, and came to the Hsiao Hsiang lodge. Upon suddenly raising her eyes, she saw Pao-yü walk in. Pao-ch’ai immediately halted, and, lowering her head, she gave way to meditation46 for a time. “Pao-yü and Lin Tai-yü,” she reflected, “have grown up together from their very infancy47. But cousins, though they be, there are many instances in which they cannot evade48 suspicion, for they joke without heeding49 propriety50; and at one time they are friends and at another at daggers51 drawn52. Tai-yü has, moreover, always been full of envy; and has ever displayed a peevish53 disposition54, so were I to follow him in at this juncture55, why, Pao-yü would, in the first place, not feel at ease, and, in the second, Tai-yü would give way to jealousy56. Better therefore for me to turn back.”
At the close of this train of thought, she retraced her steps. But just as she was starting to join her other cousins, she unexpectedly descried57, ahead of her, a pair of jade58-coloured butterflies, of the size of a circular fan. Now they soared high, now they made a swoop59 down, in their flight against the breeze; much to her amusement.
Pao-ch’ai felt a wish to catch them for mere60 fun’s sake, so producing a fan from inside her sleeve, she descended61 on to the turfed ground to flap them with it. The two butterflies suddenly were seen to rise; suddenly to drop: sometimes to come; at others to go. Just as they were on the point of flying across the stream to the other side, the enticement62 proved too much for Pao-ch’ai, and she pursued them on tiptoe straight up to the Ti Ts’ui pavilion, nestling on the bank of the pond; while fragrant63 perspiration64 dripped drop by drop, and her sweet breath panted gently. But Pao-ch’ai abandoned the idea of catching65 them, and was about to beat a retreat, when all at once she overheard, in the pavilion, the chatter66 of people engaged in conversation.
This pavilion had, it must be added, a verandah and zig-zag balustrades running all round. It was erected67 over the water, in the centre of a pond, and had on the four sides window-frames of carved wood work, stuck with paper. So when Pao-ch’ai caught, from without the pavilion, the sound of voices, she at once stood still and lent an attentive68 ear to what was being said.
“Look at this handkerchief,” she overheard. “If it’s really the one you’ve lost, well then keep it; but if it isn’t you must return it to Mr. Yün.”
“To be sure it is my own,” another party observed, “bring it along and give it to me.”
“What reward will you give me?” she further heard. “Is it likely that I’ve searched all for nothing!”
“I’ve long ago promised to recompense you, and of course I won’t play you false,” some one again rejoined.
“I found it and brought it round,” also reached her ear, “and you naturally will recompense me; but won’t you give anything to the person who picked it up?”
“Don’t talk nonsense,” the other party added, “he belongs to a family of gentlemen, and anything of ours he may pick up it’s his bounden duty to restore to us. What reward could you have me give him?”
“If you don’t reward him,” she heard some one continue, “what will I be able to tell him? Besides, he enjoined69 me time after time that if there was to be no recompense, I was not to give it to you.”
A short pause ensued. “Never mind!” then came out again to her, “take this thing of mine and present it to him and have done! But do you mean to let the cat out of the bag with any one else? You should take some oath.”
“If I tell any one,” she likewise overheard, “may an ulcer70 grow on my mouth, and may I, in course of time, die an unnatural71 death!”
“Ai-ya!” was the reply she heard; “our minds are merely bent72 upon talking, but some one might come and quietly listen from outside; wouldn’t it be as well to push all the venetians open. Any one seeing us in here will then imagine that we are simply chatting about nonsense. Besides, should they approach, we shall be able to observe them, and at once stop our conversation!”
Pao-ch’ai listened to these words from outside, with a heart full of astonishment73. “How can one wonder,” she argued mentally, “if all those lewd75 and dishonest people, who have lived from olden times to the present, have devised such thorough artifices76! But were they now to open and see me here, won’t they feel ashamed. Moreover, the voice in which those remarks were uttered resembles very much that of Hung Erh, attached to Pao-yü‘s rooms, who has all along shown a sharp eye and a shrewd mind. She’s an artful and perverse77 thing of the first class! And as I have now overheard her peccadilloes78, and a person in despair rebels as sure as a dog in distress79 jumps over the wall, not only will trouble arise, but I too shall derive80 no benefit. It would be better at present therefore for me to lose no time in retiring. But as I fear I mayn’t be in time to get out of the way, the only alternative for me is to make use of some art like that of the cicada, which can divest20 itself of its exuviae.”
She had scarcely brought her reflections to a close before a sound of ‘ko-chih’ reached her ears. Pao-ch’ai purposely hastened to tread with heavy step. “P’in Erh, I see where you’re hiding!” she cried out laughingly; and as she shouted, she pretended to be running ahead in pursuit of her.
As soon as Hsiao Hung and Chui Erh pushed the windows open from inside the pavilion, they heard Pao-ch’ai screaming, while rushing forward; and both fell into a state of trepidation81 from the fright they sustained.
Pao-ch’ai turned round and faced them. “Where have you been hiding Miss Lin?” she smiled.
“Who has seen anything of Miss Lin,” retorted Chui Erh.
“I was just now,” proceeded Pao-ch’ai, “on that side of the pool, and discerned Miss Lin squatting82 down over there and playing with the water. I meant to have gently given her a start, but scarcely had I walked up to her, when she saw me, and, with a detour83 towards the East, she at once vanished from sight. So mayn’t she be concealing84 herself in there?”
As she spoke85, she designedly stepped in and searched about for her. This over, she betook herself away, adding: “she’s certain to have got again into that cave in the hill, and come across a snake, which must have bitten her and put an end to her.”
So saying, she distanced them, feeling again very much amused. “I have managed,” she thought, “to ward12 off this piece of business, but I wonder what those two think about it.”
Hsiao Hung, who would have anticipated, readily credited as gospel the remarks she heard Pao-ch’ai make. But allowing just time enough to Pao-ch’ai to got to a certain distance, she instantly drew Chui Erh to her. “Dreadful!” she observed, “Miss Lin was squatting in here and must for a certainty have overheard what we said before she left.”
Albeit86 Chui Erh listened to her words, she kept her own counsel for a long time. “What’s to be done?” Hsiao Hung consequently exclaimed.
“Even supposing she did overhear what we said,” rejoined Chui Erh by way of answer, “why should she meddle87 in what does not concern her? Every one should mind her own business.”
“Had it been Miss Pao, it would not have mattered,” remarked Hsiao Hung, “but Miss Lin delights in telling mean things of people and is, besides, so petty-minded. Should she have heard and anything perchance comes to light, what will we do?”
During their colloquy89, they noticed Wen Kuan, Hsiang Ling, Ssu Ch’i, Shih Shu and the other girls enter the pavilion, so they were compelled to drop the conversation and to play and laugh with them. They then espied90 lady Feng standing91 on the top of the hillock, waving her hand, beckoning92 to Hsiao Hung. Hurriedly therefore leaving the company, she ran up to lady Feng and with smile heaped upon smile, “my lady,” she inquired, “what is it that you want?”
Lady Feng scrutinised her for a time. Observing how spruce and pretty she was in looks, and how genial93 in her speech, she felt prompted to give her a smile. “My own waiting-maid,” she said, “hasn’t followed me in here to-day; and as I’ve just this moment bethought myself of something and would like to send some one on an errand, I wonder whether you’re fit to undertake the charge and deliver a message faithfully.”
“Don’t hesitate in entrusting94 me with any message you may have to send,” replied Hsiao Hung with a laugh. “I’ll readily go and deliver it. Should I not do so faithfully, and blunder in fulfilling your business, my lady, you may visit me with any punishment your ladyship may please, and I’ll have nothing to say.”
“What young lady’s servant are you,” smiled lady Feng? “Tell me, so that when she comes back, after I’ve sent you out, and looks for you, I may be able to tell her about you.”
“I’m attached to our Master Secundus,’ Mr. Pao’s rooms,” answered Hsiao Hung.
“Ai-ya!” ejaculated lady Feng, as soon as she heard these words. “Are you really in Pao-yü‘s rooms! How strange! Yet it comes to the same thing. Well, if he asks for you, I’ll tell him where you are. Go now to our house and tell your sister P’ing that she’ll find on the table in the outer apartment and under the stand with the plate from the Ju kiln95, a bundle of silver; that it contains the one hundred and twenty taels for the embroiderers’ wages; and that when Chang Ts’ai’s wife comes, the money should be handed to her to take away, after having been weighed in her presence and been given to her to tally74. Another thing too I want. In the inner apartment and at the head of the bed you’ll find a small purse, bring it along to me.”
Hsiao Hung listened to her orders and then started to carry them out. On her return, in a short while, she discovered that lady Feng was not on the hillock. But perceiving Ssu Ch’i egress96 from the cave and stand still to tie her petticoat, she walked up to her. “Sister, do you know where our lady Secunda is gone to?” she asked.
“I didn’t notice,” rejoined Ssu Ch’i.
At this reply, Hsiao Hung turned round and cast a glance on all four quarters. Seeing T’an Ch’un and Pao-ch’ai standing by the bank of the pond on the opposite side and looking at the fish, Hsiao Hung advanced up to them. “Young ladies,” she said, straining a smile, “do you perchance have any idea where our lady Secunda is gone to now?”
“Go into your senior lady’s court and look for her!” T’an Ch’un answered.
Hearing this, Hsiao Hung was proceeding97 immediately towards the Tao Hsiang village, when she caught sight, just ahead of her, of Ch’ing Wen, Ch’i Hsia, Pi Hen, Ch’iu Wen, She Yüeh, Shih Shu, Ju Hua, Ying Erh and some other girls coming towards her in a group.
The moment Ch’ing Wen saw Hsiao Hung, she called out to her. “Are you gone clean off your head?” she exclaimed. “You don’t water the flowers, nor feed the birds or prepare the tea stove, but gad98 about outside!”
“Yesterday,” replied Hsiao Hung, “Mr. Secundus told me that there was no need for me to water the flowers to-day; that it was enough if they were watered every other day. As for the birds, you’re still in the arms of Morpheus, sister, when I give them their food.”
“And what about the tea-stove?” interposed Pi Hen.
“To-day,” retorted Hsiao Hung, “is not my turn on duty, so don’t ask me whether there be any tea or not!”
“Do you listen to that mouth of hers!” cried Ch’i Hsia, “but don’t you girls speak to her; let her stroll about and have done!”
“You’d better all go and ask whether I’ve been gadding99 about or not,” continued Hsiao Hung. “Our lady Secunda has just bidden me go and deliver a message, and fetch something.”
Saying this, she raised the purse and let them see it; and they, finding they could hit upon nothing more to taunt100 her with, trudged101 along onwards.
Ch’ing Wen smiled a sarcastic102 smile. “How funny!” she cried. “Lo, she climbs up a high branch and doesn’t condescend103 to look at any one of us! All she told her must have been just some word or two, who knows! But is it likely that our lady has the least notion of her name or surname that she rides such a high horse, and behaves in this manner! What credit is it in having been sent on a trifling104 errand like this! Will we, by and bye, pray, hear anything more about you? If you’ve got any gumption105, you’d better skedaddle out of this garden this very day. For, mind, it’s only if you manage to hold your lofty perch88 for any length of time that you can be thought something of!”
As she derided106 her, she continued on her way.
During this while, Hsiao Hung listened to her, but as she did not find it a suitable moment to retaliate107, she felt constrained108 to suppress her resentment109 and go in search of lady Feng.
On her arrival at widow Li’s quarters, she, in point of fact, discovered lady Feng seated inside with her having a chat. Hsiao Hung approached her and made her report. “Sister P’ing says,” she observed, “that as soon as your ladyship left the house, she put the money by, and that when Chang Ts’ai’s wife went in a little time to fetch it, she had it weighed in her presence, after which she gave it to her to take away.”
With these words, she produced the purse and presented it to her. “Sister P’ing bade me come and tell your ladyship,” she added, continuing, “that Wang Erh came just now to crave110 your orders, as to who are the parties from whom he has to go and (collect interest on money due) and sister P’ing explained to him what your wishes were and sent him off.”
“How could she tell him where I wanted him to go?” Lady Feng laughed.
“Sister P’ing says,” Hsiao Hung proceeded, “that our lady presents her compliments to your ladyship (widow Li) here-(To lady Feng) that our master Secundus has in fact not come home, and that albeit a delay of (a day) or two will take place (in the collection of the money), your ladyship should, she begs, set your mind at ease. (To Li Wan). That when lady Quinta is somewhat better, our lady will let lady Quinta know and come along with her to see your ladyship. (To lady Feng). That lady Quinta sent a servant the day before yesterday to come over and say that our lady, your worthy111 maternal112 aunt, had despatched a letter to inquire after your ladyship’s health; that she also wished to ask you, my lady, her worthy niece in here, for a couple of ‘long-life-great-efficacy-full-of-every-virtue’ pills; and that if you have any, they should, when our lady bids a servant come over, be simply given her to bring to our lady here, and that any one bound to-morrow for that side could then deliver them on her way to her ladyship, your aunt yonder, to take along with her.”
“Ai-yo-yo!” exclaimed widow Li, before the close of the message. “It’s impossible for me to make out what you’re driving at! What a heap of ladyships and misters!”
“It’s not to be wondered at that you can’t make them out,” interposed lady Feng laughing. “Why, her remarks refer to four or five distinct families.”
While speaking, she again faced Hsiao Hung. “My dear girl,” she smiled, “what a trouble you’ve been put to! But you speak decently, and unlike the others who keep on buzz-buzz-buzz, like mosquitoes! You’re not aware, sister-in-law, that I actually dread10 uttering a word to any of the girls outside the few servant-girls and matrons in my own immediate45 service; for they invariably spin out, what could be condensed in a single phrase, into a long interminable yarn113, and they munch114 and chew their words; and sticking to a peculiar115 drawl, they groan117 and moan; so much so, that they exasperate118 me till I fly into a regular rage. Yet how are they to know that our P’ing Erh too was once like them. But when I asked her: ‘must you forsooth imitate the humming of a mosquito, in order to be accounted a handsome girl?’ and spoke to her, on several occasions, she at length improved considerably119.”
“What a good thing it would be,” laughed Li Kung-ts’ai, “if they could all be as smart as you are.”
“This girl is first-rate!” rejoined lady Feng, “she just now delivered two messages. They didn’t, I admit, amount to much, yet to listen to her, she spoke to the point.”
“To-morrow,” she continued, addressing herself to Hsiao Hung smilingly, “come and wait on me, and I’ll acknowledge you as my daughter; and the moment you come under my control, you’ll readily improve.”
At this news, Hsiao Hung spurted120 out laughing aloud.
“What are you laughing for?” Lady Feng inquired. “You must say to yourself that I am young in years and that how much older can I be than yourself to become your mother; but are you under the influence of a spring dream? Go and ask all those people older than yourself. They would be only too ready to call me mother. But snapping my fingers at them, I to-day exalt121 you.”
“I wasn’t laughing about that,” Hsiao Hung answered with a smiling face. “I was amused by the mistake your ladyship made about our generations. Why, my mother claims to be your daughter, my lady, and are you now going to recognise me too as your daughter?”
“Who’s your mother?” Lady Feng exclaimed.
“Don’t you actually know her?” put in Li Kung-ts’ai with a smile. “She’s Lin Chih-hsiao’s child.”
This disclosure greatly surprised lady Feng. “What!” she consequently cried, “is she really his daughter?”
“Why Lin Chih-hsiao and his wife,” she resumed smilingly, “couldn’t either of them utter a sound if even they were pricked122 with an awl116. I’ve always maintained that they’re a well-suited couple; as the one is as deaf as a post, and the other as dumb as a mute. But who would ever have expected them to have such a clever girl! By how much are you in your teens?”
“I’m seventeen,” replied Hsia Hung.
“What is your name?” she went on to ask.
“My name was once Hung Yü.” Hsiao Hung rejoined. “But as it was a duplicate of that of Master Secundus, Mr. Pao-yü, I’m now simply called Hsiao Hung.”
Upon hearing this explanation, lady Feng raised her eyebrows into a frown, and turning her head round: “It’s most disgusting!” she remarked, “Those bearing the name Yü would seem to be very cheap; for your name is Yü, and so is also mine Yü. Sister-in-law,” she then observed; “I never let you know anything about it, but I mentioned to her mother that Lai Ta’s wife has at present her hands quite full, and that she hasn’t either any notion as to who is who in this mansion123. ‘You had better,’ (I said), ‘carefully select a couple of girls for my service.’ She assented124 unreservedly, but she put it off and never chose any. On the contrary, she sent this girl to some other place. But is it likely that she wouldn’t have been well off with me?”
“Here you are again full of suspicion!” Li Wan laughed. “She came in here long before you ever breathed a word to her! So how could you bear a grudge125 against her mother?”
“Well, in that case,” added lady Feng, “I’ll speak to Pao-yü to-morrow, and induce him to find another one, and to allow this girl to come along with me. I wonder, however, whether she herself is willing or not?”
“Whether willing or not,” interposed Hsiao Hung smiling, “such as we couldn’t really presume to raise our voices and object. We should feel it our privilege to serve such a one as your ladyship, and learn a little how to discriminate126 when people raise or drop their eyebrows and eyes (with pleasure or displeasure), and reap as well some experience in such matters as go out or come in, whether high or low, great and small.”
But during her reply, she perceived Madame Wang’s waiting-maid come and invite lady Feng to go over. Lady Feng bade good-bye at once to Li Kung-ts’ai and took her departure.
Hsiao Hung then returned into the I Hung court, where we will leave her and devote our attention for the present to Lin Tai-yü.
As she had had but little sleep in the night, she got up the next day at a late hour. When she heard that all her cousins were collected in the park, giving a farewell entertainment for the god of flowers, she hastened, for fear people should laugh at her for being lazy, to comb her hair, perform her ablutions, and go out and join them. As soon as she reached the interior of the court, she caught sight of Pao-yü, entering the door, who speedily greeted her with a smile. “My dear cousin,” he said, “did you lodge a complaint against me yesterday? I’ve been on pins and needles the whole night long.”
Tai-yü forthwith turned her head away. “Put the room in order,” she shouted to Tzu Chüan, “and lower one of the gauze window-frames. And when you’ve seen the swallows come back, drop the curtain; keep it down then by placing the lion on it, and after you have burnt the incense128, mind you cover the censer.”
So saying she stepped outside.
Pao-yü perceiving her manner, concluded again that it must be on account of the incident of the previous noon, but how could he have had any idea about what had happened in the evening? He kept on still bowing and curtseying; but Lin Tai-yü did not even so much as look at him straight in the face, but egressing alone out of the door of the court, she proceeded there and then in search of the other girls.
Pao-yü fell into a despondent mood and gave way to conjectures129.
“Judging,” he reflected, “from this behaviour of hers, it would seem as if it could not be for what transpired yesterday. Yesterday too I came back late in the evening, and, what’s more, I didn’t see her, so that there was no occasion on which I could have given her offence.”
As he indulged in these reflections, he involuntarily followed in her footsteps to try and catch her up, when he descried Pao-ch’ai and T’an-ch’un on the opposite side watching the frolics of the storks130.
As soon as they saw Tai-yü approach, the trio stood together and started a friendly chat. But noticing Pao-yü also come up, T’an Ch’un smiled. “Brother Pao,” she said, “are you all right. It’s just three days that I haven’t seen anything of you?”
“Are you sister quite well?” Pao-yü rejoined, a smile on his lips. “The other day, I asked news of you of our senior sister-in-law.”
“Brother Pao,” T’an Ch’un remarked, “come over here; I want to tell you something.”
The moment Pao-yü heard this, he quickly went with her. Distancing Pao-ch’ai and Tai-yü, the two of them came under a pomegranate tree. “Has father sent for you these last few days?” T’an Ch’un then asked.
“He hasn’t,” Pao-yü answered laughingly by way of reply.
“Yesterday,” proceeded T’an Ch’un, “I heard vaguely131 something or other about father sending for you to go out.”
“I presume,” Pao-yü smiled, “that some one must have heard wrong, for he never sent for me.”
“I’ve again managed to save during the last few months,” added T’an Ch’un with another smile, “fully ten tiaos, so take them and bring me, when at any time you stroll out of doors, either some fine writings or some ingenious knicknack.”
“Much as I have roamed inside and outside the city walls,” answered Pao-yü, “and seen grand establishments and large temples, I’ve never come across anything novel or pretty. One simply sees articles made of gold, jade, copper132 and porcelain133, as well as such curios for which we could find no place here. Besides these, there are satins, eatables, and wearing apparel.”
“Who cares for such baubles134!” exclaimed T’an Ch’un. “How could they come up to what you purchased the last time; that wee basket, made of willow twigs, that scent-box, scooped135 out of a root of real bamboo, that portable stove fashioned of glutinous136 clay; these things were, oh, so very nice! I was as fond of them as I don’t know what; but, who’d have thought it, they fell in love with them and bundled them all off, just as if they were precious things.”
“Is it things of this kind that you really want?” laughed Pao-yü. “Why, these are worth nothing! Were you to take a hundred cash and give them to the servant-boys, they could, I’m sure, bring two cart-loads of them.”
“What do the servant-boys know?” T’an Ch’un replied. “Those you chose for me were plain yet not commonplace. Neither were they of coarse make. So were you to procure137 me as many as you can get of them, I’ll work you a pair of slippers138 like those I gave you last time, and spend twice as much trouble over them as I did over that pair you have. Now, what do you say to this bargain?”
“Your reference to this,” smiled Pao-yü, “reminds me of an old incident. One day I had them on, and by a strange coincidence, I met father, whose fancy they did not take, and he inquired who had worked them. But how could I muster139 up courage to allude140 to the three words: my sister Tertia, so I answered that my maternal aunt had given them to me on the recent occasion of my birthday. When father heard that they had been given to me by my aunt, he could not very well say anything. But after a while, ‘why uselessly waste,’ he observed, ‘human labour, and throw away silks to make things of this sort!’ On my return, I told Hsi Jen about it. ‘Never mind,’ said Hsi Jen; but Mrs. Chao got angry. ‘Her own brother,’ she murmured indignantly, ‘wears slipshod shoes and socks in holes, and there’s no one to look after him, and does she go and work all these things!’”
T’an Ch’un, hearing this, immediately lowered her face. “Now tell me, aren’t these words utter rot!” she shouted. “What am I that I have to make shoes? And is it likely that Huan Erh hasn’t his own share of things! Clothes are clothes, and shoes and socks are shoes and socks; and how is it that any grudges141 arise in the room of a mere servant-girl and old matron? For whose benefit does she come out with all these things! I simply work a pair or part of a pair when I am at leisure, with time on my hands. And I can give them to any brother, elder or younger, I fancy; and who has a right to interfere142 with me? This is just another bit of blind anger!”
After listening to her, Pao-yü nodded his head and smiled. “Yet,” he said, “you don’t know what her motives143 may be. It’s but natural that she should also cherish some expectations.”
This apology incensed144 T’an Ch’un more than ever, and twisting her head round, “Even you have grown dull!” she cried. “She does, of course, indulge in expectations, but they are actuated by some underhand and paltry145 notion! She may go on giving way to these ideas, but I, for my part, will only care for Mr. Chia Cheng and Madame Wang. I won’t care a rap for any one else. In fact, I’ll be nice with such of my sisters and brothers, as are nice to me; and won’t even draw any distinction between those born of primary wives and those of secondary ones. Properly speaking, I shouldn’t say these things about her, but she’s narrow-minded to a degree, and unlike what she should be. There’s besides another ridiculous thing. This took place the last time I gave you the money to get me those trifles. Well, two days after that, she saw me, and she began again to represent that she had no money and that she was hard up. Nevertheless, I did not worry my brain with her goings on. But as it happened, the servant-girls subsequently quitted the room, and she at once started finding fault with me. ‘Why,’ she asked, ‘do I give you my savings146 to spend and don’t, after all, let Huan Erh have them and enjoy them?’ When I heard these reproaches, I felt both inclined to laugh, and also disposed to lose my temper; but I there and then skedaddled out of her quarters, and went over to our Madame Wang.”
As she was recounting this incident, “Well,” she overheard Pao-ch’ai sarcastically147 observe from the opposite direction, “have you done spinning your yarns148? If you have, come along! It’s quite evident that you are brother and sister, for here you leave every one else and go and discuss your own private matters. Couldn’t we too listen to a single sentence of what you have to say?”
While she taunted149 them, T’an Ch’un and Pao-yü eventually drew near her with smiling faces.
Pao-yü, however, failed to see Lin Tai-yü and he concluded that she had dodged150 out of the way and gone elsewhere. “It would be better,” he muttered, after some thought, “that I should let two days elapse, and give her temper time to evaporate before I go to her.” But as he drooped151 his head, his eye was attracted by a heap of touch-me-nots, pomegranate blossom and various kinds of fallen flowers, which covered the ground thick as tapestry153, and he heaved a sigh. “It’s because,” he pondered, “she’s angry that she did not remove these flowers; but I’ll take them over to the place, and by and bye ask her about them.”
As he argued to himself, he heard Pao-ch’ai bid them go out. “I’ll join you in a moment,” Pao-yü replied; and waiting till his two cousins had gone some distance, he bundled the flowers into his coat, and ascending154 the hill, he crossed the stream, penetrated155 into the arbour, passed through the avenues with flowers and wended his way straight for the spot, where he had, on a previous occasion, interred the peach-blossoms with the assistance of Lin Tai-yü. But scarcely had he reached the mound containing the flowers, and before he had, as yet, rounded the brow of the hill, than he caught, emanating156 from the off side, the sound of some one sobbing157, who while giving way to invective158, wept in a most heart-rending way.
“I wonder,” soliloquised Pao-yü, “whose servant-girl this is, who has been so aggrieved as to run over here to have a good cry!”
While speculating within himself, he halted. He then heard, mingled159 with wails:—
Flowers wither and decay; and flowers do fleet; they fly all o’er the skies;
Their bloom wanes160; their smell dies; but who is there with them to sympathise?
While vagrant161 gossamer162 soft doth on fluttering spring-bowers bind163 its coils,
And drooping164 catkins lightly strike and cling on the embroidered screens,
A maiden165 in the inner rooms, I sore deplore166 the close of spring.
Such ceaseless sorrow fills my breast, that solace nowhere can I find.
Past the embroidered screen I issue forth127, taking with me a hoe,
And on the faded flowers to tread I needs must, as I come and go.
The willow fibres and elm seeds have each a fragrance167 of their own.
What care I, peach blossoms may fall, pear flowers away be blown;
Yet peach and pear will, when next year returns, burst out again in bloom,
But can it e’er be told who will next year dwell in the inner room?
What time the third moon comes, the scented168 nests have been already built.
And on the beams the swallows perch, excessive spiritless and staid;
Next year, when the flowers bud, they may, it’s true, have ample to feed on:
But they know not that when I’m gone beams will be vacant and nests fall!
In a whole year, which doth consist of three hundred and sixty days,
Winds sharp as swords and frost like unto spears each other rigorous press,
So that how long can last their beauty bright; their fresh charm how long stays?
Sudden they droop152 and fly; and whither they have flown, ’tis hard to guess.
Flowers, while in bloom, easy the eye attract; but, when they wither, hard they are to find.
Now by the footsteps, I bury the flowers, but sorrow will slay169 me.
Alone I stand, and as I clutch the hoe, silent tears trickle170 down,
And drip on the bare twigs, leaving behind them the traces of blood.
The goatsucker hath sung his song, the shades lower of eventide,
So with the lotus hoe I return home and shut the double doors.
Upon the wall the green lamp sheds its rays just as I go to sleep.
The cover is yet cold; against the window patters the bleak171 rain.
How strange! Why can it ever be that I feel so wounded at heart!
Partly, because spring I regret; partly, because with spring I’m vexed172!
Regret for spring, because it sudden comes; vexed, for it sudden goes.
For without warning, lo! it comes; and without asking it doth fleet.
Yesterday night, outside the hall sorrowful songs burst from my mouth,
For I found out that flowers decay, and that birds also pass away.
The soul of flowers, and the spirit of birds are both hard to restrain.
Birds, to themselves when left, in silence plunge173; and flowers, alone, they blush.
Oh! would that on my sides a pair of wings could grow,
That to the end of heaven I may fly in the wake of flowers!
Yea to the very end of heaven,
Where I could find a fragrant grave!
For better, is it not, that an embroidered bag should hold my well-shaped bones,
And that a heap of stainless174 earth should in its folds my winsome175 charms enshroud.
For spotless once my frame did come, and spotless again it will go!
Far better than that I, like filthy176 mire177, should sink into some drain!
Ye flowers are now faded and gone, and, lo, I come to bury you.
But as for me, what day I shall see death is not as yet divined!
Here I am fain these flowers to inter2; but humankind will laugh me as a fool.
Who knows, who will, in years to come, commit me to my grave!
Mark, and you’ll find the close of spring, and the gradual decay of flowers,
Resemble faithfully the time of death of maidens178 ripe in years!
In a twinkle, spring time draws to a close, and maidens wax in age.
Flowers fade and maidens die; and of either nought179 any more is known.
After listening to these effusions, Pao-yü unconsciously threw himself down in a wandering frame of mind.
But, reader, do you feel any interest in him? If you do, the subsequent chapter contains further details about him.
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1
mound
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| n.土墩，堤，小山；v.筑堤，用土堆防卫 | |
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inter
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| v.埋葬 | |
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interred
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| v.埋，葬( inter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wither
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| vt.使凋谢，使衰退，(用眼神气势等)使畏缩；vi.枯萎，衰退，消亡 | |
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withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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disconsolately
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| adv.悲伤地，愁闷地；哭丧着脸 | |
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inmates
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| n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 ) | |
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dreading
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| v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的现在分词 ) | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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prosecute
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| vt.告发；进行；vi.告发，起诉，作检察官 | |
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steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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futility
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| n.无用 | |
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retraced
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| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
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despondent
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| adj.失望的，沮丧的，泄气的 | |
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divested
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| v.剥夺( divest的过去式和过去分词 )；脱去（衣服）；2。从…取去…；1。（给某人）脱衣服 | |
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divest
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| v.脱去，剥除 | |
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yen
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| n. 日元；热望 | |
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prone
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| adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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gushes
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| n.涌出，迸发( gush的名词复数 )v.喷，涌( gush的第三人称单数 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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aggrieved
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| adj.愤愤不平的，受委屈的；悲痛的；（在合法权利方面）受侵害的v.令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式)；令委屈，令苦恼，侵害( aggrieve的过去式和过去分词) | |
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persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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eccentricities
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| n.古怪行为( eccentricity的名词复数 )；反常；怪癖 | |
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29
suffused
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| v.（指颜色、水气等）弥漫于，布满( suffuse的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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viands
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| n.食品，食物 | |
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compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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willow
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| n.柳树 | |
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twigs
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| 细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 ) | |
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37
variegated
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| adj.斑驳的，杂色的 | |
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embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
envious
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| adj.嫉妒的，羡慕的 | |
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41
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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42
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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44
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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infancy
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| n.婴儿期；幼年期；初期 | |
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48
evade
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| vt.逃避，回避；避开，躲避 | |
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49
heeding
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| v.听某人的劝告，听从( heed的现在分词 ) | |
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50
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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51
daggers
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| 匕首，短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) | |
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52
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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53
peevish
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| adj.易怒的，坏脾气的 | |
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54
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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55
juncture
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| n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头 | |
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56
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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57
descried
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| adj.被注意到的，被发现的，被看到的 | |
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jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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59
swoop
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| n.俯冲，攫取；v.抓取，突然袭击 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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61
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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enticement
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| n.诱骗，诱人 | |
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fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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perspiration
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| n.汗水；出汗 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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67
ERECTED
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| adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立 | |
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68
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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enjoined
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| v.命令( enjoin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ulcer
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| n.溃疡，腐坏物 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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74
tally
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| n.计数器，记分，一致，测量；vt.计算，记录，使一致；vi.计算，记分，一致 | |
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lewd
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| adj.淫荡的 | |
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76
artifices
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| n.灵巧( artifice的名词复数 )；诡计；巧妙办法；虚伪行为 | |
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77
perverse
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| adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的 | |
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peccadilloes
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| n.轻罪，小过失( peccadillo的名词复数 ) | |
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79
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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80
derive
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| v.取得；导出；引申；来自；源自；出自 | |
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trepidation
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| n.惊恐，惶恐 | |
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82
squatting
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的现在分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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83
detour
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| n.绕行的路，迂回路；v.迂回，绕道 | |
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84
concealing
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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85
spoke
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| 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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86
albeit
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| conj.即使；纵使；虽然 | |
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87
meddle
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| v.干预，干涉，插手 | |
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88
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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colloquy
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| n.谈话，自由讨论 | |
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90
espied
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| v.看到( espy的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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91
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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92
beckoning
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| adj.引诱人的，令人心动的v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) | |
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93
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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94
entrusting
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的现在分词 ) | |
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95
kiln
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| n.（砖、石灰等）窑，炉；v.烧窑 | |
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96
egress
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| n.出去；出口 | |
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97
proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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98
gad
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| n.闲逛；v.闲逛 | |
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99
gadding
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| n.叮搔症adj.蔓生的v.闲逛( gad的现在分词 )；游荡；找乐子；用铁棒刺 | |
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100
taunt
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| n.辱骂，嘲弄；v.嘲弄 | |
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101
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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102
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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103
condescend
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| v.俯就，屈尊；堕落，丢丑 | |
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104
trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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105
gumption
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| n.才干 | |
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106
derided
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| v.取笑，嘲笑( deride的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
retaliate
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| v.报复，反击 | |
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108
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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109
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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110
crave
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| vt.渴望得到，迫切需要，恳求，请求 | |
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111
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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112
maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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113
yarn
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| n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事 | |
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114
munch
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| v.用力嚼，大声咀嚼 | |
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115
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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116
awl
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| n.尖钻 | |
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117
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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118
exasperate
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| v.激怒，使（疾病）加剧，使恶化 | |
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119
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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120
spurted
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| （液体，火焰等）喷出，（使）涌出( spurt的过去式和过去分词 )； （短暂地）加速前进，冲刺 | |
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121
exalt
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| v.赞扬，歌颂，晋升，提升 | |
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122
pricked
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| 刺，扎，戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 )； 刺伤； 刺痛； 使剧痛 | |
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123
mansion
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| n.大厦，大楼；宅第 | |
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124
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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125
grudge
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| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
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126
discriminate
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| v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待 | |
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127
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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128
incense
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| v.激怒；n.香，焚香时的烟，香气 | |
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129
conjectures
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| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
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130
storks
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| n.鹳( stork的名词复数 ) | |
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131
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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132
copper
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| n.铜；铜币；铜器；adj.铜(制)的；(紫)铜色的 | |
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133
porcelain
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| n.瓷；adj.瓷的，瓷制的 | |
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134
baubles
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| n.小玩意( bauble的名词复数 )；华而不实的小件装饰品；无价值的东西；丑角的手杖 | |
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135
scooped
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| v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等） | |
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136
glutinous
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| adj.粘的，胶状的 | |
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137
procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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138
slippers
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| n. 拖鞋 | |
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139
muster
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| v.集合，收集，鼓起，激起；n.集合，检阅，集合人员，点名册 | |
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140
allude
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| v.提及，暗指 | |
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141
grudges
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| 不满，怨恨，妒忌( grudge的名词复数 ) | |
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142
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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143
motives
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| n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 ) | |
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144
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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145
paltry
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| adj.无价值的，微不足道的 | |
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146
savings
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| n.存款，储蓄 | |
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147
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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148
yarns
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| n.纱( yarn的名词复数 )；纱线；奇闻漫谈；旅行轶事 | |
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149
taunted
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| 嘲讽( taunt的过去式和过去分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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150
dodged
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| v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避 | |
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151
drooped
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| 弯曲或下垂，发蔫( droop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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152
droop
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| v.低垂，下垂；凋萎，萎靡 | |
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153
tapestry
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| n.挂毯，丰富多采的画面 | |
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154
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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155
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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156
emanating
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| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的现在分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
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157
sobbing
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| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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158
invective
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| n.痛骂，恶意抨击 | |
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159
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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160
wanes
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| v.衰落( wane的第三人称单数 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
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161
vagrant
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| n.流浪者，游民；adj.流浪的，漂泊不定的 | |
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162
gossamer
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| n.薄纱，游丝 | |
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163
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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164
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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165
maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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166
deplore
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| vt.哀叹，对...深感遗憾 | |
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167
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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168
scented
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| adj.有香味的；洒香水的；有气味的v.嗅到(scent的过去分词) | |
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169
slay
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| v.杀死，宰杀，杀戮 | |
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170
trickle
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| vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散 | |
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171
bleak
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| adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的 | |
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172
vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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173
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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174
stainless
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| adj.无瑕疵的，不锈的 | |
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175
winsome
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| n.迷人的，漂亮的 | |
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176
filthy
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| adj.卑劣的；恶劣的，肮脏的 | |
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177
mire
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| n.泥沼，泥泞；v.使...陷于泥泞，使...陷入困境 | |
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178
maidens
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| 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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179
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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