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Chapter 2
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TREATS OF OLIVER TWIST'S GROWTH, EDUCATION, AND BOARD

For the next eight or ten months, Oliver was the victim of a systematic1 course of treachery and deception2. He was brought up by hand. The hungry and destitute3 situation of the infant orphan4 was duly reported by the workhouse authorities to the parish authorities. The parish authorities inquired with dignity of the workhouse authorities, whether there was no female then domiciled in 'the house' who was in a situation to impart to Oliver Twist, the consolation5 and nourishment6 of which he stood in need. The workhouse authorities replied with humility7, that there was not. Upon this, the parish authorities magnanimously and humanely8 resolved, that Oliver should be 'farmed,' or, in other words, that he should be dispatched to a branch-workhouse some three miles off, where twenty or thirty other juvenile10 offenders11 against the poor-laws, rolled about the floor all day, without the inconvenience of too much food or too much clothing, under the parental12 superintendence of an elderly female, who received the culprits at and for the consideration of sevenpence-halfpenny per small head per week. Sevenpence-halfpenny's worth per week is a good round diet for a child; a great deal may be got for sevenpence-halfpenny, quite enough to overload13 its stomach, and make it uncomfortable. The elderly female was a woman of wisdom and experience; she knew what was good for children; and she had a very accurate perception of what was good for herself. So, she appropriated the greater part of the weekly stipend14 to her own use, and consigned15 the rising parochial generation to even a shorter allowance than was originally provided for them. Thereby16 finding in the lowest depth a deeper still; and proving herself a very great experimental philosopher.

Everybody knows the story of another experimental philosopher who had a great theory about a horse being able to live without eating, and who demonstrated it so well, that he had got his own horse down to a straw a day, and would unquestionably have rendered him a very spirited and rampacious animal on nothing at all, if he had not died, four-and-twenty hours before he was to have had his first comfortable bait of air. Unfortunately for, the experimental philosophy of the female to whose protecting care Oliver Twist was delivered over, a similar result usually attended the operation of _her_ system; for at the very moment when the child had contrived17 to exist upon the smallest possible portion of the weakest possible food, it did perversely18 happen in eight and a half cases out of ten, either that it sickened from want and cold, or fell into the fire from neglect, or got half-smothered by accident; in any one of which cases, the miserable19 little being was usually summoned into another world, and there gathered to the fathers it had never known in this.

Occasionally, when there was some more than usually interesting inquest upon a parish child who had been overlooked in turning up a bedstead, or inadvertently scalded to death when there happened to be a washing--though the latter accident was very scarce, anything approaching to a washing being of rare occurrence in the farm--the jury would take it into their heads to ask troublesome questions, or the parishioners would rebelliously20 affix21 their signatures to a remonstrance22. But these impertinences were speedily checked by the evidence of the surgeon, and the testimony23 of the beadle; the former of whom had always opened the body and found nothing inside (which was very probable indeed), and the latter of whom invariably swore whatever the parish wanted; which was very self-devotional. Besides, the board made periodical pilgrimages to the farm, and always sent the beadle the day before, to say they were going. The children were neat and clean to behold24, when _they_ went; and what more would the people have!

It cannot be expected that this system of farming would produce any very extraordinary or luxuriant crop. Oliver Twist's ninth birthday found him a pale thin child, somewhat diminutive25 in stature26, and decidedly small in circumference27. But nature or inheritance had implanted a good sturdy spirit in Oliver's breast. It had had plenty of room to expand, thanks to the spare diet of the establishment; and perhaps to this circumstance may be attributed his having any ninth birth-day at all. Be this as it may, however, it was his ninth birthday; and he was keeping it in the coal-cellar with a select party of two other young gentleman, who, after participating with him in a sound thrashing, had been locked up for atrociously presuming to be hungry, when Mrs. Mann, the good lady of the house, was unexpectedly startled by the apparition28 of Mr. Bumble, the beadle, striving to undo29 the wicket of the garden-gate.

'Goodness gracious! Is that you, Mr. Bumble, sir?' said Mrs. Mann, thrusting her head out of the window in well-affected ecstasies30 of joy. '(Susan, take Oliver and them two brats31 upstairs, and wash 'em directly.)--My heart alive! Mr. Bumble, how glad I am to see you, sure-ly!'

Now, Mr. Bumble was a fat man, and a choleric32; so, instead of responding to this open-hearted salutation in a kindred spirit, he gave the little wicket a tremendous shake, and then bestowed33 upon it a kick which could have emanated34 from no leg but a beadle's.

'Lor, only think,' said Mrs. Mann, running out,--for the three boys had been removed by this time,--'only think of that! That I should have forgotten that the gate was bolted on the inside, on account of them dear children! Walk in sir; walk in, pray, Mr. Bumble, do, sir.'

Although this invitation was accompanied with a curtsey that might have softened35 the heart of a church-warden, it by no means mollified the beadle.

'Do you think this respectful or proper conduct, Mrs. Mann,' inquired Mr. Bumble, grasping his cane37, 'to keep the parish officers a waiting at your garden-gate, when they come here upon porochial business with the porochial orphans38? Are you aweer, Mrs. Mann, that you are, as I may say, a porochial delegate, and a stipendiary?'

'I'm sure Mr. Bumble, that I was only a telling one or two of the dear children as is so fond of you, that it was you a coming,' replied Mrs. Mann with great humility.

Mr. Bumble had a great idea of his oratorical39 powers and his importance. He had displayed the one, and vindicated40 the other. He relaxed.

'Well, well, Mrs. Mann,' he replied in a calmer tone; 'it may be as you say; it may be. Lead the way in, Mrs. Mann, for I come on business, and have something to say.'

Mrs. Mann ushered41 the beadle into a small parlour with a brick floor; placed a seat for him; and officiously deposited his cocked hat and cane on the table before him. Mr. Bumble wiped from his forehead the perspiration42 which his walk had engendered43, glanced complacently44 at the cocked hat, and smiled. Yes, he smiled. Beadles are but men: and Mr. Bumble smiled.

'Now don't you be offended at what I'm a going to say,' observed Mrs. Mann, with captivating sweetness. 'You've had a long walk, you know, or I wouldn't mention it. Now, will you take a little drop of somethink, Mr. Bumble?'

'Not a drop. Nor a drop,' said Mr. Bumble, waving his right hand in a dignified45, but placid46 manner.

'I think you will,' said Mrs. Mann, who had noticed the tone of the refusal, and the gesture that had accompanied it. 'Just a leetle drop, with a little cold water, and a lump of sugar.'

Mr. Bumble coughed.

'Now, just a leetle drop,' said Mrs. Mann persuasively47.

'What is it?' inquired the beadle.

'Why, it's what I'm obliged to keep a little of in the house, to put into the blessed infants' Daffy, when they ain't well, Mr. Bumble,' replied Mrs. Mann as she opened a corner cupboard, and took down a bottle and glass. 'It's gin. I'll not deceive you, Mr. B. It's gin.'

'Do you give the children Daffy, Mrs. Mann?' inquired Bumble, following with his eyes the interesting process of mixing.

'Ah, bless 'em, that I do, dear as it is,' replied the nurse. 'I couldn't see 'em suffer before my very eyes, you know sir.'

'No'; said Mr. Bumble approvingly; 'no, you could not. You are a humane9 woman, Mrs. Mann.' (Here she set down the glass.) 'I shall take a early opportunity of mentioning it to the board, Mrs. Mann.' (He drew it towards him.) 'You feel as a mother, Mrs. Mann.' (He stirred the gin-and-water.) 'I--I drink your health with cheerfulness, Mrs. Mann'; and he swallowed half of it.

'And now about business,' said the beadle, taking out a leathern pocket-book. 'The child that was half-baptized Oliver Twist, is nine year old to-day.'

'Bless him!' interposed Mrs. Mann, inflaming48 her left eye with the corner of her apron49.

'And notwithstanding a offered reward of ten pound, which was afterwards increased to twenty pound. Notwithstanding the most superlative, and, I may say, supernat'ral exertions50 on the part of this parish,' said Bumble, 'we have never been able to discover who is his father, or what was his mother's settlement, name, or con--dition.'

Mrs. Mann raised her hands in astonishment51; but added, after a moment's reflection, 'How comes he to have any name at all, then?'

The beadle drew himself up with great pride, and said, 'I inwented it.'

'You, Mr. Bumble!'

'I, Mrs. Mann. We name our fondlings in alphabetical52 order. The last was a S,--Swubble, I named him. This was a T,--Twist, I named _him_. The next one comes will be Unwin, and the next Vilkins. I have got names ready made to the end of the alphabet, and all the way through it again, when we come to Z.'

'Why, you're quite a literary character, sir!' said Mrs. Mann.

'Well, well,' said the beadle, evidently gratified with the compliment; 'perhaps I may be. Perhaps I may be, Mrs. Mann.' He finished the gin-and-water, and added, 'Oliver being now too old to remain here, the board have determined53 to have him back into the house. I have come out myself to take him there. So let me see him at once.'

'I'll fetch him directly,' said Mrs. Mann, leaving the room for that purpose. Oliver, having had by this time as much of the outer coat of dirt which encrusted his face and hands, removed, as could be scrubbed off in one washing, was led into the room by his benevolent54 protectress.

'Make a bow to the gentleman, Oliver,' said Mrs. Mann.

Oliver made a bow, which was divided between the beadle on the chair, and the cocked hat on the table.

'Will you go along with me, Oliver?' said Mr. Bumble, in a majestic55 voice.

Oliver was about to say that he would go along with anybody with great readiness, when, glancing upward, he caught sight of Mrs. Mann, who had got behind the beadle's chair, and was shaking her fist at him with a furious countenance56. He took the hint at once, for the fist had been too often impressed upon his body not to be deeply impressed upon his recollection.

'Will she go with me?' inquired poor Oliver.

'No, she can't,' replied Mr. Bumble. 'But she'll come and see you sometimes.'

This was no very great consolation to the child. Young as he was, however, he had sense enough to make a feint of feeling great regret at going away. It was no very difficult matter for the boy to call tears into his eyes. Hunger and recent ill-usage are great assistants if you want to cry; and Oliver cried very naturally indeed. Mrs. Mann gave him a thousand embraces, and what Oliver wanted a great deal more, a piece of bread and butter, less he should seem too hungry when he got to the workhouse. With the slice of bread in his hand, and the little brown-cloth parish cap on his head, Oliver was then led away by Mr. Bumble from the wretched home where one kind word or look had never lighted the gloom of his infant years. And yet he burst into an agony of childish grief, as the cottage-gate closed after him. Wretched as were the little companions in misery58 he was leaving behind, they were the only friends he had ever known; and a sense of his loneliness in the great wide world, sank into the child's heart for the first time.

Mr. Bumble walked on with long strides; little Oliver, firmly grasping his gold-laced cuff59, trotted60 beside him, inquiring at the end of every quarter of a mile whether they were 'nearly there.' To these interrogations Mr. Bumble returned very brief and snappish replies; for the temporary blandness61 which gin-and-water awakens62 in some bosoms63 had by this time evaporated; and he was once again a beadle.

Oliver had not been within the walls of the workhouse a quarter of an hour, and had scarcely completed the demolition64 of a second slice of bread, when Mr. Bumble, who had handed him over to the care of an old woman, returned; and, telling him it was a board night, informed him that the board had said he was to appear before it forthwith.

Not having a very clearly defined notion of what a live board was, Oliver was rather astounded65 by this intelligence, and was not quite certain whether he ought to laugh or cry. He had no time to think about the matter, however; for Mr. Bumble gave him a tap on the head, with his cane, to wake him up: and another on the back to make him lively: and bidding him to follow, conducted him into a large white-washed room, where eight or ten fat gentlemen were sitting round a table. At the top of the table, seated in an arm-chair rather higher than the rest, was a particularly fat gentleman with a very round, red face.

'Bow to the board,' said Bumble. Oliver brushed away two or three tears that were lingering in his eyes; and seeing no board but the table, fortunately bowed to that.

'What's your name, boy?' said the gentleman in the high chair.

Oliver was frightened at the sight of so many gentlemen, which made him tremble: and the beadle gave him another tap behind, which made him cry. These two causes made him answer in a very low and hesitating voice; whereupon a gentleman in a white waistcoat said he was a fool. Which was a capital way of raising his spirits, and putting him quite at his ease.

'Boy,' said the gentleman in the high chair, 'listen to me. You know you're an orphan, I suppose?'

'What's that, sir?' inquired poor Oliver.

'The boy _is_ a fool--I thought he was,' said the gentleman in the white waistcoat.

'Hush66!' said the gentleman who had spoken first. 'You know you've got no father or mother, and that you were brought up by the parish, don't you?'

'Yes, sir,' replied Oliver, weeping bitterly.

'What are you crying for?' inquired the gentleman in the white waistcoat. And to be sure it was very extraordinary. What _could_ the boy be crying for?

'I hope you say your prayers every night,' said another gentleman in a gruff voice; 'and pray for the people who feed you, and take care of you--like a Christian68.'

'Yes, sir,' stammered69 the boy. The gentleman who spoke67 last was unconsciously right. It would have been very like a Christian, and a marvellously good Christian too, if Oliver had prayed for the people who fed and took care of _him_. But he hadn't, because nobody had taught him.

'Well! You have come here to be educated, and taught a useful trade,' said the red-faced gentleman in the high chair.

'So you'll begin to pick oakum to-morrow morning at six o'clock,' added the surly one in the white waistcoat.

For the combination of both these blessings71 in the one simple process of picking oakum, Oliver bowed low by the direction of the beadle, and was then hurried away to a large ward36; where, on a rough, hard bed, he sobbed72 himself to sleep. What a novel illustration of the tender laws of England! They let the paupers73 go to sleep!

Poor Oliver! He little thought, as he lay sleeping in happy unconsciousness of all around him, that the board had that very day arrived at a decision which would exercise the most material influence over all his future fortunes. But they had. And this was it:

The members of this board were very sage57, deep, philosophical75 men; and when they came to turn their attention to the workhouse, they found out at once, what ordinary folks would never have discovered--the poor people liked it! It was a regular place of public entertainment for the poorer classes; a tavern76 where there was nothing to pay; a public breakfast, dinner, tea, and supper all the year round; a brick and mortar77 elysium, where it was all play and no work. 'Oho!' said the board, looking very knowing; 'we are the fellows to set this to rights; we'll stop it all, in no time.' So, they established the rule, that all poor people should have the alternative (for they would compel nobody, not they), of being starved by a gradual process in the house, or by a quick one out of it. With this view, they contracted with the water-works to lay on an unlimited78 supply of water; and with a corn-factor to supply periodically small quantities of oatmeal; and issued three meals of thin gruel79 a day, with an onion twice a week, and half a roll of Sundays. They made a great many other wise and humane regulations, having reference to the ladies, which it is not necessary to repeat; kindly80 undertook to divorce poor married people, in consequence of the great expense of a suit in Doctors' Commons; and, instead of compelling a man to support his family, as they had theretofore done, took his family away from him, and made him a bachelor! There is no saying how many applicants81 for relief, under these last two heads, might have started up in all classes of society, if it had not been coupled with the workhouse; but the board were long-headed men, and had provided for this difficulty. The relief was inseparable from the workhouse and the gruel; and that frightened people.

For the first six months after Oliver Twist was removed, the system was in full operation. It was rather expensive at first, in consequence of the increase in the undertaker's bill, and the necessity of taking in the clothes of all the paupers, which fluttered loosely on their wasted, shrunken forms, after a week or two's gruel. But the number of workhouse inmates82 got thin as well as the paupers; and the board were in ecstasies.

The room in which the boys were fed, was a large stone hall, with a copper83 at one end: out of which the master, dressed in an apron for the purpose, and assisted by one or two women, ladled the gruel at mealtimes. Of this festive84 composition each boy had one porringer, and no more--except on occasions of great public rejoicing, when he had two ounces and a quarter of bread besides.

The bowls never wanted washing. The boys polished them with their spoons till they shone again; and when they had performed this operation (which never took very long, the spoons being nearly as large as the bowls), they would sit staring at the copper, with such eager eyes, as if they could have devoured85 the very bricks of which it was composed; employing themselves, meanwhile, in sucking their fingers most assiduously, with the view of catching86 up any stray splashes of gruel that might have been cast thereon. Boys have generally excellent appetites. Oliver Twist and his companions suffered the tortures of slow starvation for three months: at last they got so voracious87 and wild with hunger, that one boy, who was tall for his age, and hadn't been used to that sort of thing (for his father had kept a small cook-shop), hinted darkly to his companions, that unless he had another basin of gruel per diem, he was afraid he might some night happen to eat the boy who slept next him, who happened to be a weakly youth of tender age. He had a wild, hungry eye; and they implicitly88 believed him. A council was held; lots were cast who should walk up to the master after supper that evening, and ask for more; and it fell to Oliver Twist.

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook's uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper74 assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked89 at Oliver; while his next neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity90:

'Please, sir, I want some more.'

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

'What!' said the master at length, in a faint voice.

'Please, sir,' replied Oliver, 'I want some more.'

The master aimed a blow at Oliver's head with the ladle; pinioned91 him in his arm; and shrieked92 aloud for the beadle.

The board were sitting in solemn conclave93, when Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said,

'Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked for more!'

There was a general start. Horror was depicted94 on every countenance.

'For _more_!' said Mr. Limbkins. 'Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted95 by the dietary?'

'He did, sir,' replied Bumble.

'That boy will be hung,' said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. 'I know that boy will be hung.'

Nobody controverted96 the prophetic gentleman's opinion. An animated97 discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into instant confinement98; and a bill was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice99 to any trade, business, or calling.

'I never was more convinced of anything in my life,' said the gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and read the bill next morning: 'I never was more convinced of anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be hung.'

As I purpose to show in the sequel whether the white waistcoated gentleman was right or not, I should perhaps mar70 the interest of this narrative100 (supposing it to possess any at all), if I ventured to hint just yet, whether the life of Oliver Twist had this violent termination or no.


接下来的八个月,或者说十个月,奥立弗成了一种有组织的背信弃义与欺诈行为的牺牲品,他是用奶瓶喂大的。济贫院当局按规定将这名孤儿嗷嗷待哺、一无所有的情况上报教区当局。教区当局一本正经地咨询济贫院方面,眼下“院内”是否连一个能够为奥立弗提供亟需的照料和营养的女人也腾不出。济贫院当局谦恭地回答说,腾不出来。鉴于这一点,教区当局很慷慨地决定,将奥立弗送去“寄养”,换成别的说法,就是给打发到三英里以外的一处分院去,那边有二三十个违反了济贫法的小犯人整天在地板上打滚,毫无吃得太饱,穿得过暖的麻烦,有一个老太婆给他们以亲如父母的管教,老太婆把这帮小犯人接受下来,是看在每颗小脑袋一星期补贴六个半便士的分上。一星期七个半便士,可以为一个孩子办出一流的伙食,七个半便士可以买不少东西了,完全足以把一只小肚子给撑坏,反而不舒服。老婆子足智多谋,阅历非浅,很懂得调理孩子这一套,更有一本算计得非常老到的私账。就这样,她把每周的大部分生活费派了自己的用场,用在教区新一代身上的津贴也就比规定的少了许多。她居然发现深处自有更深处,证明她本人是一个非常了不起的实验哲学家。

    人人都知道另一位实验哲学家的佳话,他自有一套马儿不吃草也能跑得好的高见,还演证得活龙活现,把自己一匹马的饲料降到每天只喂一根干草。毫无疑问,要不是那匹马在即将获得第一份可口的空气饲料之前二十四小时一命呜乎,他早就调教出一匹什么东西都不吃的烈性子骏马来了。接受委托照看奥立弗退斯特的那位女士也信奉实验哲学,不幸的是,她的一套制度实施起来也往往产生极其相似的结果。每当孩子们已经训练得可以依靠低劣得不能再低劣的食物中少得不能再少的一部分活下去的时候,十个之中倒有八个半会出现这样的情形:要么在饥寒交迫下病倒在床,要么一不留神掉进了火里,要不就是偶然之间给呛得半死,只要出现其中任何一种情况,可怜的小生命一般都会被召到另一个世界,与他们在这个世界上从未见过的先人团聚去了。

    在翻床架子的时候,没有看见床上还有教区收养的一名孤儿,居然连他一块倒过来,或者正赶上洗洗涮涮的时候一不留神把孩子给烫死了――不过后一种事故非常罕见,洗洗涮测一类的事在寄养所里可以说是绝无仅有――发生这样的事“矜于诂训,摘其章句,而不能统其大义之所极”。开其后玄,偶尔也会吃官司,很有趣,但并不多见。陪审团也许会心血来潮,提出一些棘手的问题,要不就是教区居民公然联名提出抗议。不过,这类不识相的举动很快就会被教区医生的证明和干事的证词给顶回去,前者照例把尸体剖开看看,发现里边空无一物(这倒是极为可能的),后者则是教区要他们怎么发誓他们就怎么发誓,誓词中充满献身精神。此外,理事会定期视察寄养所,总是提前一天派干事去说一声,他们要来了,到他们去的时候,孩子们个个收抬得又干净又光鲜,令人爽心说目,人们还要怎么样。

    不能指望这种寄养制度会结出什么了不得的或者是丰硕的果实。奥立弗退斯特的九岁生日到了,眼见得还是一个苍白瘦弱的孩子,个子矮矮的,腰也细得不得了。然而不知是由于造化还是遗传,奥立弗胸中已经种下了刚毅倔强的精神。这种精神有广阔的空间得以发展,还要归功于寄养所伙食太差,说不定正是由于这种待遇,他才好歹活到了自己的第九个生日。不管怎么说吧,今天是他的九岁生日,他正在煤窖里庆祝生日,客人是经过挑选的,只有另外两位小绅士,他们仨真是穷凶极恶,居然喊肚子饿,一起结结实实挨了一顿打,之后又给关了起来。这时候,所里那位好当家人麦恩太太忽然吓了一跳,她没有想到教区干事邦布尔先生会不期而至,此时他正在奋力打开花园大门上的那道小门。

    “天啦。是你吗,邦布尔先生?”麦恩太太说着,把头探出窗外,一脸喜出望外的神气装得恰到好处。“苏珊,把奥立弗和他们两个臭小子带到楼上去,赶紧替他们洗洗干净。哎呀呀,邦布尔先生,见到你我真是太高兴了,真――的。”

    这不,邦布尔先生人长得胖,又是急性子,所以,对于如此亲昵的一番问候绵延法国哲学家柏格森最先用来描述人的深层心理特,他非但没有以同样的亲昵作出回答,反而狠命摇了一下那扇小门,又给了它一脚,除了教区干事,任谁也踢不出这样一脚来。

    “天啦,瞧我,”麦恩太太说着,连忙奔出来,这功夫三个孩子已经转移了,“瞧我这记性,我倒忘了门是从里边闩上的,这都是为了这些个小乖乖。进来吧,先生,请进请进,邦布尔先生,请吧。”

    尽管这一邀请配有一个足以让任何一名教区干事心软下来的屈膝礼,可这位干事丝毫不为所动。

    “麦恩太太,你认为这样做合乎礼节,或者说很得体吧?”邦布尔先生紧握手杖,问道,“教区公务人员为区里收养的孤儿的教区公务上这儿来是通过“本质”(抽象概念)的中介认识客体的。由于中介的,你倒让他们在花园门口老等着?你难道不知道,麦恩太太,你还是一位贫民救济处的代理人,而且是领薪水的吗?”

    “说真的,邦布尔先生,我只不过是在给小乖乖说,是你来了,他们当中有一两个还真喜欢你呢。”麦恩太太毕恭毕敬地回答。

    邦布尔先生一向认为自己口才不错,身价也很高,这功夫他不但展示了口才,又确立了自己的身价,态度也就开始有所松动。

    “好了,好了,麦恩太太,”他口气和缓了一些,“就算是像你说的那样吧毛泽东书信选集毛泽东1920―1950年间的372封书信,可能是这样。领我进屋去吧,麦恩太太,无事不登三宝殿,我有话要说。”

    麦恩太太把干事领进一间砖砌地面的小客厅,请他坐下来,又自作主张把他的三角帽和手杖放在他面前的一张桌子上。邦布尔先生抹掉额头上因赶路沁出的汗水,得意地看了一眼三角帽,微笑起来。一点不错,他微微一笑。当差的毕竟也是人,邦布尔先生笑了。

    “我说,你该不会生气吧?瞧,走了老远的路,你是知道的,要不我也不会多事。”麦恩太太的口气甜得令人无法招架。“哦,你要不要喝一小口,邦布尔先生?”

    “一滴也不喝,一滴也不喝。”邦布尔先生连连摆动右手,一副很有分寸但又不失平和的派头。

    “我寻思你还是喝一口,”麦恩太太留心到了对方回绝时的口气以及随之而来的动作,便说道,“只喝一小口,掺一点点冷水,放块糖。”

    邦布尔咳嗽了一声。

    “好,喝一小口。”麦恩太太乖巧地说。

    “什么酒?”干事问。

    “哟,不就是我在家里总得备上一点的那种东西,赶上这帮有福气的娃娃身体不舒服的时候,就兑一点达菲糖浆,给他们喝下去,邦布尔先生。”麦恩太太一边说,一边打开角橱,取出一瓶酒和一只杯子。“杜松子酒,我不骗你,邦先生,这是杜松子酒。”

    “你也给孩子们服达菲糖浆,麦恩太太?”调酒的程序很是有趣,邦布尔先生的眼光紧追不舍,一边问道。

    “上天保佑,是啊,不管怎么贵,”监护人回答,“我不忍心看着他们在我眼皮底下遭罪,先生,你是知道的。”

    “是啊,”邦布尔先生表示赞同,“你不忍心。麦恩太太,你是个有同情心的女人。”(这当儿她放下了杯子。)“我会尽快找个机会和理事会提到这事,麦恩太太。”(他把酒杯挪到面前。)“你给人感觉就像一位母亲,麦恩太太。”(他把掺水杜松子酒调匀。)“我――我十分乐意为你的健康干杯,麦恩太太。”他一口就喝下去半杯。

    “现在谈正事,”干事说着,掏出一个皮夹子。“那个连洗礼都没有做完的孩子,奥立弗退斯特,今天满九岁了。”

    “老天保佑他。”麦恩太太插了一句嘴,一边用围裙角抹了抹左眼。

    “尽管明摆着悬赏十英镑,后来又增加到二十镑,尽管本教区方面已经尽了最大努力,应该说,最最超乎寻常的努力,”邦布尔说道,“我们还是没法弄清楚他父亲是谁,也不知道他母亲的住址、姓名、或者说有关的情――形。”

    麦恩太太惊奇地扬起双手,沉思了半晌,说道,“那,他到底是怎么取上名字的?”

    干事正了正脸色,洋洋得意地说,“我给取的。”

    “你,邦布尔先生。”

    “是我,麦恩太太。我们照着ABC的顺序给这些宝贝取名字,上一个是S――斯瓦布尔,我给取的。这一个是T――我就叫他退斯特,下边来的一个就该叫恩文了,再下一个是维尔金斯。我已经把名字取到末尾几个字母了,等我们到了Z的时候,就又重头开始。”

    “乖乖,你可真算得上是位大文豪呢,先生。”麦思太太说。

    “得了,得了,”干事显然让这一番恭维吹捧得心花怒放,“兴许算得上,兴许算得上吧,麦恩太太。”他把掺水杜松子酒一饮而尽,补充说,“奥立弗呆在这里嫌大了一些,理事会决定让他迁回济贫院,我亲自过来一趟就是要带他走,你叫他这就来见我。”

    “我马上把他叫来。”麦恩太太说着,特意离开了客厅。这时候,奥立弗脸上手上包着的一层污泥已经擦掉,洗一次也就只能擦掉这么多,由这位好心的女保护人领着走进房间。

    “给这位先生鞠个躬,奥立弗。”麦恩太太说。

    奥立弗鞠了一躬,这一番礼仪半是对着坐在椅子上的教区干事,半是对着桌上的三角帽。

    “奥立弗,你愿意跟我一块儿走吗?”邦布尔先生的声音很威严。

    奥立弗刚要说他巴不得跟谁一走了事,眼睛一抬,正好看见麦恩太太拐到邦布尔先生椅子后边,正气势汹汹地冲着自己挥动拳头,他立刻领会了这一暗示,这副拳头在他身上加盖印记的次数太多了,不可能不在他的记忆中留下深刻的印象。

    “她也跟我一起去吗?”可怜的奥立弗问。

    “不,她走不开,”邦布尔先生回答,“不过她有时会来看看你。”

    对这个孩子说来,这完全算不上一大安慰,尽管他还很小,却已经能够特意装出非常舍不得离开的表情。要这个孩子挤出几滴泪水也根本不是什么太难的事情。只要想哭,挨饿以及新近遭受的虐待也很有帮助。奥立弗哭得的确相当自然。麦恩太太拥抱了奥立弗一千次,还给了他一块奶油面包,这对他要实惠得多,省得他一到济贫院就露出一副饿痨相。奥立弗手里拿着面包,戴上一顶教区配备的茶色小帽,当下便由邦布尔先生领出了这一所可悲的房屋,他在这里度过的幼年时代真是一团漆黑,从来没有被一句温和的话语或是一道亲切的目光照亮过。尽管如此,当那所房子的大门在身后关上时,他还是顿时感到一阵稚气的哀伤,他把自己那班不幸的小伙伴丢在身后了,他们淘气是淘气,但却是他结识的不多的几个好朋友,一种只身掉进茫茫人海的孤独感第一次沉入孩子的心田。

    邦布尔先生大步流星地走着,小奥立弗紧紧抓住他的金边袖口,一溜小跑地走在旁边。每走两三百码,他就要问一声是不是“快到了”。对于这些问题,邦布尔先生报以极其简短而暴躁的答复,掺水杜松子酒在某些人胸中只能唤起短时间的温和大度,这种心情到这会儿已经蒸发完了,他重又成为一名教区干事。

    奥立弗在济贫院里还没呆上一刻钟,刚解决了另外一片面包,把他交给一位老太太照看,自己去办事的邦布尔先生就回来了,他告诉奥立弗,今天晚上赶上理事会开会,理事们要他马上去见一面。

    奥立弗多少给这个消息吓了一跳,一块木板怎么是活的①,他显然一无所知,完全搞不清楚自己究竟应该笑还是应该哭,不过,他也没功夫去琢磨这事了。邦布尔先生用手杖在他头上敲了一记,以便使他清醒过来,落在背上的另一记是要他振作些,然后吩咐他跟上,领着他走进一间粉刷过的大房间,十来位胖胖的绅士围坐在一张桌子前边。上首一把圈椅比别的椅子高出许多,椅子上坐着一位特别胖的绅士,一张脸滚圆通红——

    ①在英语里,“理事会”和“木板”二词同形。

    “给各位理事鞠一躬。”邦布尔说道。奥立弗抹掉在眼睛里打转的两三滴泪水,他看见前面只有一张桌子,没有木板,只好将就着朝桌子鞠了一躬。

    “孩子,你叫什么名字?”高椅子上的绅士开口了。

    奥立弗一见有这么多绅士不禁大吃一惊,浑身直哆嗦,干事又在背后捅了他一下,打得他号陶大哭。由于这两个原因,他回答的时候声音很低,而且很犹豫,一位穿白色背心的先生当即断言,他是一个傻瓜。应该说明,预言吉凶是这位绅士提神开心的一种重要方法。

    “孩子,”坐在高椅子上的绅士说道,“你听着,我想,你知道自己是孤儿吧?”

    “先生,你说什么?”可怜的奥立弗问道。

    “这孩子是个傻瓜――以前可能就是。”穿白背心的绅士说。

    “别打岔。”最先发话的那位绅士说道,“你无父无母,是教区把你抚养大的,你知道不知道?”

    “知道,先生。”奥立弗回答时哭得很伤心。

    “你哭什么?”穿白背心的绅士问道。是啊,这确实太不可理解了,这孩子能有什么值得哭的?

    “我希望你每天晚上作祷告,”另一位绅士厉声说,“为那些养育你,照应你的人祈祷――要像一个基督徒。”

    “是,先生。”孩子结结巴巴地说。刚刚发言的那位先生无意间倒是说中了。要是奥立弗为那些养育他,照应他的人祈祷过的话,肯定早就很像一个基督徒了,而且是一个出类拔萃的基督徒。可他从来不曾作过祷告,因为根本没有人教他。

    “行了。你上这儿来是接受教育,是来学一门有用处的手艺的。”高椅子上那位红脸绅士说。

    “那你明天早晨六点钟就开始拆旧麻绳①。”白背心绅士绷着脸补充了一句——

    ①用来填塞船板缝,属于囚犯和穷人的工作。

    为了答谢他们通过拆旧麻绳这么一个简简单单的工序,把授业和传艺这两大善举融为一体,奥立弗在邦布尔的指教下又深深地鞠了一躬,便被匆匆忙忙带进一间大收容室,在那里,在一张高低不平的硬床上,他抽抽答答地睡着了。好一幅绝妙的写照,活现了仁慈为怀的英国法律。法律毕竟是允许穷人睡觉的。

    可怜的奥立弗。他何曾想到,就在他陷入沉睡,对身边的一切都毫不知晓的情况下,就在这一天,理事会作出了一个与他未来的命运息息相关的决定。已经定了。事情是这样的:

    该理事会诸君都是一些练达睿智的哲人,当他们关心起济贫院来的时候,立刻发现了一个等闲之辈绝对看不出来的问题――穷人们喜欢济贫院。对于比较卑贱的阶级,济贫院是一个名副其实的公共娱乐场所,一家不用花钱的旅店,三顿便饭带茶点常年都有,整个是一个砖泥结构的乐园,在那里尽可整天玩耍,不用干活。“啊哈!”看来深知个中缘由的理事先生们发话了,“要想纠正这种情况,得靠我们这班人了,我们要立即加以制止。”于是乎,他们定下了规矩,凡是穷人都应当作出选择(他们不会强迫任何人,从来不强迫),要么在济贫院里按部就班地饿死,要么在院外来个痛快的。为此目的,他们与自来水厂订下了无限制供水的合同,和粮商谈定,按期向济贫院供应少量燕麦片,配给的情况是每天三顿稀粥,一礼拜两次发放一头洋葱,逢礼拜天增发半个面包卷。他们还制定了无数涉及妇女的规章制度,条条都很英明而又不失厚道,这里恕不一一复述。鉴于伦敦民事律师公会①收费太贵,理事们便厚道仁慈地着手拆散穷苦的夫妇,不再强迫男方跟以往一样赡养妻小,而是夺走他们的家室,使他们成为光棍。单凭以上两条,如果不是与济贫院配套,社会各阶层不知会有多少人申请救济。不过理事会的先生们都是些有识之士,对这一难题早已成竹在胸。救济一与济贫院、麦片粥挂上了钩,就把人们吓跑了——

    ①以前伦敦专门处理遗嘱、结婚、离婚的机构。

    奥立弗退斯特迁回济贫院的头六个月,这种制度正处于全力实施之中。一开始花销颇大,殡仪馆开出的账单很长,又要把院内贫民穿的衣裳改小,才喝了一两个礼拜的稀粥,衣服就开始在他们那枯瘦如柴的身上哗啦啦地飘动起来。济贫院的人数毕竟和社会上的贫民一样大为减少,理事会别提有多高兴。

    孩子们进食的场所是一间宽敞的大厅,一口钢锅放在大厅一侧,开饭的时候,大师傅在锅边舀粥,他为此还特意系上了围裙,并有一两个女人替他打杂。按照这样一种过节一般的布置,每个孩子分得一汤碗粥,绝不多给――遇上普天同庆的好日子,增发二又四分之一盎司面包。粥碗从来用不着洗,孩子们非用汤匙把碗刮得重又明光铮亮了才住手。进行这一道工序的时候(这绝对花不了多少时间,汤匙险些就有碗那般大了),他们坐在那儿,眼巴巴地瞅着铜锅,恨不得把垫锅的砖也给吞下去,与此同时,他们下死劲地吸着手指头,决不放过可能掉落下来的汁水粥粒。男孩子大都有一副呱呱叫的好胃口。三个月以来,奥立弗退斯特和同伴们一起忍受着慢性饥饿的煎熬。到后来实在饿得顶不住了,都快发疯了,有一名男童个子长得比年龄大,又向来没有经历过这种事情(他父亲开过一家小饭铺),阴沉着脸向同伴们暗示,除非每天额外多给他一碗粥,否则难保哪天晚上他不会把睡在他身边的那个孩子吃掉,而那又偏巧是个年幼可欺的小不点。他说话的时候眼睛里闪动着一副野性的饥饿目光,孩子们没有不相信的。大家开了一个会,抽签决定谁在当天傍晚吃过饭以后到大师傅那里去再要一点粥,奥立弗退斯特中签了。

    黄昏来临,孩子们坐到了各自的位子上,大师傅身着厨子行头,往锅边一站,打下手的两名贫妇站在他的身后。粥一一分发到了,冗长的祷告念完之后便是花不了多少时间的进餐。碗里的粥一扫而光,孩子们交头接耳,直向奥立弗使眼色,这时,邻桌用胳膊肘轻轻推了他一下。奥立弗尽管还是个孩子,却已经被饥饿与苦难逼得什么都顾不上,挺而走险了。他从桌边站起来,手里拿着汤匙和粥盆,朝大师傅走去,开口时多少有一点被自己的大胆吓了一跳:

    “对不起,先生,我还要一点。”

    大师傅是个身强体壮的胖子,他的脸刷地变白了,好一会儿,他愕然不解地紧盯着这个造反的小家伙,接着他有点稳不大住了,便贴在锅灶上。帮厨的女人由于惊愕,孩子们则是由于害怕,一个个都动弹不得。

    “什么!”大师傅好容易开了口,声音有气无力。

    “对不起,先生,我还要。”奥立弗答道。

    大师傅操起勺子,照准奥立弗头上就是一下,又伸开双臂把他紧紧夹住,尖声高呼着,快把干事叫来。

    理事们正在密商要事,邦布尔先生一头冲进房间,情绪十分激昂,对高椅子上的绅士说道:

    “利姆金斯先生,请您原谅,先生。奥立弗退斯特还要。”

    全场为之震惊,恐惧活画在一张张脸孔上。

    “还要!”利姆金斯先生说,“镇静,邦布尔,回答清楚。我该没有听错,你是说他吃了按标准配给的晚餐之后还要?”

    “是这样,先生。”邦布尔答道。

    “那孩子将来准会被绞死,”白背心绅士说,“我断定那孩子会被绞死。”

    对这位绅士的预见,谁也没有反驳。理事会进行了一番热烈的讨论。奥立弗当下就被禁闭起来。第二天早晨,大门外边贴出了一张告示,说是凡愿接手教区,收留奥立弗退斯特者酬金五镑,换句话说,只要有人,不论是男是女,想招一个徒弟,去从事任何一种手艺、买卖、行业,都可以来领五镑现金和奥立弗退斯特。

    “鄙人平生确信不疑之事,”第二天早晨,穿白背心的绅士一边敲门,一边浏览着这张告示说道,“鄙人平生确信不疑之事,没有一件能与这事相比,我断定这小鬼必受绞刑。”

    穿白背心的绅士到底说中了没有,笔者打算以后再披露。如果我眼下贸然点破,奥立弗退斯特会不会落得这般可怕的下场,说不定就会损害这个故事的趣味了(假定它多少有一些趣味的话)。


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 systematic SqMwo     
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的
参考例句:
  • The way he works isn't very systematic.他的工作不是很有条理。
  • The teacher made a systematic work of teaching.这个教师进行系统的教学工作。
2 deception vnWzO     
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计
参考例句:
  • He admitted conspiring to obtain property by deception.他承认曾与人合谋骗取财产。
  • He was jailed for two years for fraud and deception.他因为诈骗和欺诈入狱服刑两年。
3 destitute 4vOxu     
adj.缺乏的;穷困的
参考例句:
  • They were destitute of necessaries of life.他们缺少生活必需品。
  • They are destitute of common sense.他们缺乏常识。
4 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。
5 consolation WpbzC     
n.安慰,慰问
参考例句:
  • The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
  • This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
6 nourishment Ovvyi     
n.食物,营养品;营养情况
参考例句:
  • Lack of proper nourishment reduces their power to resist disease.营养不良降低了他们抵抗疾病的能力。
  • He ventured that plants draw part of their nourishment from the air.他大胆提出植物从空气中吸收部分养分的观点。
7 humility 8d6zX     
n.谦逊,谦恭
参考例句:
  • Humility often gains more than pride.谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
  • His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility.他的声音还是那么温和,甚至有点谦卑。
8 humanely Kq9zvf     
adv.仁慈地;人道地;富人情地;慈悲地
参考例句:
  • Is the primary persona being treated humanely by the product? 该产品对待首要人物角色时是否有人情味? 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
  • In any event, China's interest in treating criminals more humanely has limits. 无论如何,中国对更人道地对待罪犯的兴趣有限。 来自互联网
9 humane Uymy0     
adj.人道的,富有同情心的
参考例句:
  • Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗?
  • Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。
10 juvenile OkEy2     
n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的
参考例句:
  • For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人,他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
  • Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。
11 offenders dee5aee0bcfb96f370137cdbb4b5cc8d     
n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 );犯规者;罪犯;妨害…的人(或事物)
参考例句:
  • Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
  • Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
12 parental FL2xv     
adj.父母的;父的;母的
参考例句:
  • He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
  • Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。
13 overload RmHz40     
vt.使超载;n.超载
参考例句:
  • Don't overload the boat or it will sink.别超载,否则船会沉。
  • Large meals overload the digestive system.吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。
14 stipend kuPwO     
n.薪贴;奖学金;养老金
参考例句:
  • The company is going to ajust my stipend from this month onwards.从这一个月开始公司将对我的薪金作调整。
  • This sum was nearly a third of his total stipend.这笔钱几乎是他全部津贴的三分之一。
15 consigned 9dc22c154336e2c50aa2b71897ceceed     
v.把…置于(令人不快的境地)( consign的过去式和过去分词 );把…托付给;把…托人代售;丟弃
参考例句:
  • I consigned her letter to the waste basket. 我把她的信丢进了废纸篓。
  • The father consigned the child to his sister's care. 那位父亲把孩子托付给他妹妹照看。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
16 thereby Sokwv     
adv.因此,从而
参考例句:
  • I have never been to that city,,ereby I don't know much about it.我从未去过那座城市,因此对它不怎么熟悉。
  • He became a British citizen,thereby gaining the right to vote.他成了英国公民,因而得到了投票权。
17 contrived ivBzmO     
adj.不自然的,做作的;虚构的
参考例句:
  • There was nothing contrived or calculated about what he said.他说的话里没有任何蓄意捏造的成分。
  • The plot seems contrived.情节看起来不真实。
18 perversely 8be945d3748a381de483d070ad2ad78a     
adv. 倔强地
参考例句:
  • Intelligence in the mode of passion is always perversely. 受激情属性控制的智力,总是逆着活动的正确方向行事。
  • She continue, perversely, to wear shoes that damaged her feet. 她偏偏穿那双挤脚的鞋。
19 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。
20 rebelliously cebb4afb4a7714d3d2878f110884dbf2     
adv.造反地,难以控制地
参考例句:
  • He rejected her words rebelliously. 他极力反对她的观点。 来自互联网
21 affix gK0y7     
n.附件,附录 vt.附贴,盖(章),签署
参考例句:
  • Please affix your signature to the document. 请你在这个文件上签字。
  • Complete the form and affix four tokens to its back. 填完该表,在背面贴上4张凭券。
22 remonstrance bVex0     
n抗议,抱怨
参考例句:
  • She had abandoned all attempts at remonstrance with Thomas.她已经放弃了一切劝戒托马斯的尝试。
  • Mrs. Peniston was at the moment inaccessible to remonstrance.目前彭尼斯顿太太没功夫听她告状。
23 testimony zpbwO     
n.证词;见证,证明
参考例句:
  • The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
  • He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。
24 behold jQKy9     
v.看,注视,看到
参考例句:
  • The industry of these little ants is wonderful to behold.这些小蚂蚁辛勤劳动的样子看上去真令人惊叹。
  • The sunrise at the seaside was quite a sight to behold.海滨日出真是个奇景。
25 diminutive tlWzb     
adj.小巧可爱的,小的
参考例句:
  • Despite its diminutive size,the car is quite comfortable.尽管这辆车很小,但相当舒服。
  • She has diminutive hands for an adult.作为一个成年人,她的手显得非常小。
26 stature ruLw8     
n.(高度)水平,(高度)境界,身高,身材
参考例句:
  • He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。
  • The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。
27 circumference HOszh     
n.圆周,周长,圆周线
参考例句:
  • It's a mile round the circumference of the field.运动场周长一英里。
  • The diameter and the circumference of a circle correlate.圆的直径与圆周有相互关系。
28 apparition rM3yR     
n.幽灵,神奇的现象
参考例句:
  • He saw the apparition of his dead wife.他看见了他亡妻的幽灵。
  • But the terror of this new apparition brought me to a stand.这新出现的幽灵吓得我站在那里一动也不敢动。
29 undo Ok5wj     
vt.解开,松开;取消,撤销
参考例句:
  • His pride will undo him some day.他的傲慢总有一天会毁了他。
  • I managed secretly to undo a corner of the parcel.我悄悄地设法解开了包裹的一角。
30 ecstasies 79e8aad1272f899ef497b3a037130d17     
狂喜( ecstasy的名词复数 ); 出神; 入迷; 迷幻药
参考例句:
  • In such ecstasies that he even controlled his tongue and was silent. 但他闭着嘴,一言不发。
  • We were in ecstasies at the thought of going home. 一想到回家,我们高兴极了。
31 brats 956fd5630fab420f5dae8ea887f83cd9     
n.调皮捣蛋的孩子( brat的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • I've been waiting to get my hands on you brats. 我等着干你们这些小毛头已经很久了。 来自电影对白
  • The charming family had turned into a parcel of brats. 那个可爱的家庭一下子变成了一窝臭小子。 来自互联网
32 choleric tVQyp     
adj.易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • His pride and choleric temper were to ruin him.他生性高傲自恃而又易于发怒,这会毁了他的。
  • He was affable at one moment,choleric the next.他一会儿还和蔼可亲,可一转眼就火冒三丈。
33 bestowed 12e1d67c73811aa19bdfe3ae4a8c2c28     
赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
  • He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
34 emanated dfae9223043918bb3d770e470186bcec     
v.从…处传出,传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 );产生,表现,显示
参考例句:
  • Do you know where these rumours emanated from? 你知道谣言出自何处吗? 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The rumor emanated from Chicago. 谣言来自芝加哥。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
35 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。
36 ward LhbwY     
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
参考例句:
  • The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
  • During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时,我要点根火把,抵挡蚊虫。
37 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
参考例句:
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
38 orphans edf841312acedba480123c467e505b2a     
孤儿( orphan的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • The poor orphans were kept on short commons. 贫苦的孤儿们吃不饱饭。
  • Their uncle was declared guardian to the orphans. 这些孤儿的叔父成为他们的监护人。
39 oratorical oratorical     
adj.演说的,雄辩的
参考例句:
  • The award for the oratorical contest was made by a jury of nine professors. 演讲比赛的裁决由九位教授组成的评判委员会作出。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • His oratorical efforts evoked no response in his audience. 他的雄辩在听众中不起反响。 来自辞典例句
40 vindicated e1cc348063d17c5a30190771ac141bed     
v.澄清(某人/某事物)受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 );表明或证明(所争辩的事物)属实、正当、有效等;维护
参考例句:
  • I have every confidence that this decision will be fully vindicated. 我完全相信这一决定的正确性将得到充分证明。
  • Subsequent events vindicated the policy. 后来的事实证明那政策是对的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
41 ushered d337b3442ea0cc4312a5950ae8911282     
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
  • A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
42 perspiration c3UzD     
n.汗水;出汗
参考例句:
  • It is so hot that my clothes are wet with perspiration.天太热了,我的衣服被汗水湿透了。
  • The perspiration was running down my back.汗从我背上淌下来。
43 engendered 9ea62fba28ee7e2bac621ac2c571239e     
v.产生(某形势或状况),造成,引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The issue engendered controversy. 这个问题引起了争论。
  • The meeting engendered several quarrels. 这次会议发生了几次争吵。 来自《简明英汉词典》
44 complacently complacently     
adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地
参考例句:
  • He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
  • "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
45 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的,高贵的
参考例句:
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中,他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
46 placid 7A1yV     
adj.安静的,平和的
参考例句:
  • He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
  • You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。
47 persuasively 24849db8bac7f92da542baa5598b1248     
adv.口才好地;令人信服地
参考例句:
  • Students find that all historians argue reasonably and persuasively. 学生们发现所有的历史学家都争论得有条有理,并且很有说服力。 来自辞典例句
  • He spoke a very persuasively but I smelled a rat and refused his offer. 他说得头头是道,但我觉得有些可疑,于是拒绝了他的建议。 来自辞典例句
48 inflaming 680d9d4b23288e1c2a803752cc2520a4     
v.(使)变红,发怒,过热( inflame的现在分词 )
参考例句:
  • And, by inflaming the liver, hepatitis can adversely affect dozens of life processes. 而肝脏的炎症又会对数十种生命过程产生有害影响。 来自辞典例句
  • Your throat are inflaming. 你的喉部发炎了。 来自互联网
49 apron Lvzzo     
n.围裙;工作裙
参考例句:
  • We were waited on by a pretty girl in a pink apron.招待我们的是一位穿粉红色围裙的漂亮姑娘。
  • She stitched a pocket on the new apron.她在新围裙上缝上一只口袋。
50 exertions 2d5ee45020125fc19527a78af5191726     
n.努力( exertion的名词复数 );费力;(能力、权力等的)运用;行使
参考例句:
  • As long as they lived, exertions would not be necessary to her. 只要他们活着,是不需要她吃苦的。 来自辞典例句
  • She failed to unlock the safe in spite of all her exertions. 她虽然费尽力气,仍未能将那保险箱的锁打开。 来自辞典例句
51 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇,惊异
参考例句:
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
52 alphabetical gfvyY     
adj.字母(表)的,依字母顺序的
参考例句:
  • Please arrange these books in alphabetical order.请把这些书按字母顺序整理一下。
  • There is no need to maintain a strict alphabetical sequence.不必保持严格的字顺。
53 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。
54 benevolent Wtfzx     
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的
参考例句:
  • His benevolent nature prevented him from refusing any beggar who accosted him.他乐善好施的本性使他不会拒绝走上前向他行乞的任何一个乞丐。
  • He was a benevolent old man and he wouldn't hurt a fly.他是一个仁慈的老人,连只苍蝇都不愿伤害。
55 majestic GAZxK     
adj.雄伟的,壮丽的,庄严的,威严的,崇高的
参考例句:
  • In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
  • He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。
56 countenance iztxc     
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
参考例句:
  • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
  • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
57 sage sCUz2     
n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的
参考例句:
  • I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
  • The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。
58 misery G10yi     
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
参考例句:
  • Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。
  • He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。
59 cuff 4YUzL     
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口
参考例句:
  • She hoped they wouldn't cuff her hands behind her back.她希望他们不要把她反铐起来。
  • Would you please draw together the snag in my cuff?请你把我袖口上的裂口缝上好吗?
60 trotted 6df8e0ef20c10ef975433b4a0456e6e1     
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走
参考例句:
  • She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。
  • Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。
61 blandness daf94019dba9916badfff53f8a741639     
n.温柔,爽快
参考例句:
  • Blandness in the basic politics of the media became standard. 传播媒介在基本政治问题上通常采取温和的态度。 来自辞典例句
  • Those people who predicted an exercise in bureaucratic blandness were confounded. 那些认为这一系列政治活动将会冠冕堂皇的走过场的人是糊涂和愚蠢的。 来自互联网
62 awakens 8f28b6f7db9761a7b3cb138b2d5a123c     
v.(使)醒( awaken的第三人称单数 );(使)觉醒;弄醒;(使)意识到
参考例句:
  • The scene awakens reminiscences of my youth. 这景象唤起我年轻时的往事。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • The child awakens early in the morning. 这个小孩早晨醒得早。 来自辞典例句
63 bosoms 7e438b785810fff52fcb526f002dac21     
胸部( bosom的名词复数 ); 胸怀; 女衣胸部(或胸襟); 和爱护自己的人在一起的情形
参考例句:
  • How beautifully gold brooches glitter on the bosoms of our patriotic women! 金光闪闪的别针佩在我国爱国妇女的胸前,多美呀!
  • Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there weep our sad bosoms empty. 我们寻个僻静的地方,去痛哭一场吧。
64 demolition omezd     
n.破坏,毁坏,毁坏之遗迹
参考例句:
  • The church has been threatened with demolition for years. 这座教堂多年来一直面临拆毀的威胁。
  • The project required the total demolition of the old bridge. 该项目要求将老桥完全拆毁。
65 astounded 7541fb163e816944b5753491cad6f61a     
v.使震惊(astound的过去式和过去分词);愕然;愕;惊讶
参考例句:
  • His arrogance astounded her. 他的傲慢使她震惊。
  • How can you say that? I'm absolutely astounded. 你怎么能说出那种话?我感到大为震惊。
66 hush ecMzv     
int.嘘,别出声;n.沉默,静寂;v.使安静
参考例句:
  • A hush fell over the onlookers.旁观者们突然静了下来。
  • Do hush up the scandal!不要把这丑事声张出去!
67 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。
68 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的;n.基督教徒
参考例句:
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
69 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
70 mar f7Kzq     
vt.破坏,毁坏,弄糟
参考例句:
  • It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。
  • Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。
71 blessings 52a399b218b9208cade790a26255db6b     
n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福
参考例句:
  • Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
72 sobbed 4a153e2bbe39eef90bf6a4beb2dba759     
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
参考例句:
  • She sobbed out the story of her son's death. 她哭诉着她儿子的死。
  • She sobbed out the sad story of her son's death. 她哽咽着诉说她儿子死去的悲惨经过。
73 paupers 4c4c583df03d9b7a0e9ba5a2f5e9864f     
n.穷人( pauper的名词复数 );贫民;贫穷
参考例句:
  • The garment is expensive, paupers like you could never afford it! 这件衣服很贵,你这穷鬼根本买不起! 来自互联网
  • Child-friendliest among the paupers were Burkina Faso and Malawi. 布基纳法索,马拉维,这俩贫穷国家儿童友善工作做得不错。 来自互联网
74 pauper iLwxF     
n.贫民,被救济者,穷人
参考例句:
  • You lived like a pauper when you had plenty of money.你有大把钱的时候,也活得像个乞丐。
  • If you work conscientiously you'll only die a pauper.你按部就班地干,做到老也是穷死。
75 philosophical rN5xh     
adj.哲学家的,哲学上的,达观的
参考例句:
  • The teacher couldn't answer the philosophical problem.老师不能解答这个哲学问题。
  • She is very philosophical about her bad luck.她对自己的不幸看得很开。
76 tavern wGpyl     
n.小旅馆,客栈;小酒店
参考例句:
  • There is a tavern at the corner of the street.街道的拐角处有一家酒馆。
  • Philip always went to the tavern,with a sense of pleasure.菲利浦总是心情愉快地来到这家酒菜馆。
77 mortar 9EsxR     
n.灰浆,灰泥;迫击炮;v.把…用灰浆涂接合
参考例句:
  • The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。
  • The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。
78 unlimited MKbzB     
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的
参考例句:
  • They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
  • There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
79 gruel GeuzG     
n.稀饭,粥
参考例句:
  • We had gruel for the breakfast.我们早餐吃的是粥。
  • He sat down before the fireplace to eat his gruel.他坐到壁炉前吃稀饭。
80 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
参考例句:
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
81 applicants aaea8e805a118b90e86f7044ecfb6d59     
申请人,求职人( applicant的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • There were over 500 applicants for the job. 有500多人申请这份工作。
  • He was impressed by the high calibre of applicants for the job. 求职人员出色的能力给他留下了深刻印象。
82 inmates 9f4380ba14152f3e12fbdf1595415606     
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
83 copper HZXyU     
n.铜;铜币;铜器;adj.铜(制)的;(紫)铜色的
参考例句:
  • The students are asked to prove the purity of copper.要求学生们检验铜的纯度。
  • Copper is a good medium for the conduction of heat and electricity.铜是热和电的良导体。
84 festive mkBx5     
adj.欢宴的,节日的
参考例句:
  • It was Christmas and everyone was in festive mood.当时是圣诞节,每个人都沉浸在节日的欢乐中。
  • We all wore festive costumes to the ball.我们都穿着节日的盛装前去参加舞会。
85 devoured af343afccf250213c6b0cadbf3a346a9     
吞没( devour的过去式和过去分词 ); 耗尽; 津津有味地看; 狼吞虎咽地吃光
参考例句:
  • She devoured everything she could lay her hands on: books, magazines and newspapers. 无论是书、杂志,还是报纸,只要能弄得到,她都看得津津有味。
  • The lions devoured a zebra in a short time. 狮子一会儿就吃掉了一匹斑马。
86 catching cwVztY     
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住
参考例句:
  • There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
  • Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。
87 voracious vLLzY     
adj.狼吞虎咽的,贪婪的
参考例句:
  • She's a voracious reader of all kinds of love stories.什么样的爱情故事她都百看不厌。
  • Joseph Smith was a voracious book collector.约瑟夫·史密斯是个如饥似渴的藏书家。
88 implicitly 7146d52069563dd0fc9ea894b05c6fef     
adv. 含蓄地, 暗中地, 毫不保留地
参考例句:
  • Many verbs and many words of other kinds are implicitly causal. 许多动词和许多其他类词都蕴涵着因果关系。
  • I can trust Mr. Somerville implicitly, I suppose? 我想,我可以毫无保留地信任萨莫维尔先生吧?
89 winked af6ada503978fa80fce7e5d109333278     
v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮
参考例句:
  • He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼,她便知道他的想法和她一样。
  • He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
90 temerity PGmyk     
n.鲁莽,冒失
参考例句:
  • He had the temerity to ask for higher wages after only a day's work.只工作了一天,他就蛮不讲理地要求增加工资。
  • Tins took some temerity,but it was fruitless.这件事做得有点莽撞,但结果还是无用。
91 pinioned dd9a58e290bf8ac0174c770f05cc9e90     
v.抓住[捆住](双臂)( pinion的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • His arms were pinioned to his sides. 他的双臂被绑在身体两侧。
  • Pinioned by the press of men around them, they were unable to move. 周围的人群挤压着他们,使他们动弹不得。 来自辞典例句
92 shrieked dc12d0d25b0f5d980f524cd70c1de8fe     
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。
  • Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫,陆子潇尖声叫:“告诉什么? 来自汉英文学 - 围城
93 conclave eY9yw     
n.秘密会议,红衣主教团
参考例句:
  • Signore,I ask and I prey,that you break this conclave.各位阁下,我请求,并祈祷,你们能停止这次秘密会议。
  • I met my partner at that conclave and my life moved into a huge shift.我就是在那次大会上遇到了我的伴侣的,而我的生活就转向了一个巨大的改变。
94 depicted f657dbe7a96d326c889c083bf5fcaf24     
描绘,描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 ); 描述
参考例句:
  • Other animals were depicted on the periphery of the group. 其他动物在群像的外围加以修饰。
  • They depicted the thrilling situation to us in great detail. 他们向我们详细地描述了那激动人心的场面。
95 allotted 5653ecda52c7b978bd6890054bd1f75f     
分配,拨给,摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • I completed the test within the time allotted . 我在限定的时间内完成了试验。
  • Each passenger slept on the berth allotted to him. 每个旅客都睡在分配给他的铺位上。
96 controverted d56d1c6a2982010981fd64d70b34e79a     
v.争论,反驳,否定( controvert的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
97 animated Cz7zMa     
adj.生气勃勃的,活跃的,愉快的
参考例句:
  • His observations gave rise to an animated and lively discussion.他的言论引起了一场气氛热烈而活跃的讨论。
  • We had an animated discussion over current events last evening.昨天晚上我们热烈地讨论时事。
98 confinement qpOze     
n.幽禁,拘留,监禁;分娩;限制,局限
参考例句:
  • He spent eleven years in solitary confinement.他度过了11年的单独监禁。
  • The date for my wife's confinement was approaching closer and closer.妻子分娩的日子越来越近了。
99 apprentice 0vFzq     
n.学徒,徒弟
参考例句:
  • My son is an apprentice in a furniture maker's workshop.我的儿子在一家家具厂做学徒。
  • The apprentice is not yet out of his time.这徒工还没有出徒。
100 narrative CFmxS     
n.叙述,故事;adj.叙事的,故事体的
参考例句:
  • He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。
  • Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。


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