The house he lived in was a nondescript affair called the San Bernardino Arms. It was an oblong three stories high, the back and sides of which were of plain, unpainted stucco, broken by even rows of unadorned windows. The fa?ade was the color of diluted1 mustard and its windows, all double, were framed by pink Moorish2 columns which supported turnip-shaped lintels.
His room was on the third floor, but he paused for a moment on the landing of the second. It was on that floor that Faye Greener lived, in 208. When someone laughed in one of the apartments he started guiltily and continued upstairs.
As he opened his door a card fluttered to the floor. “Honest Abe Kusich,” it said in large type, then underneath3 in smaller italics were several endorsements4, printed to look like press notices.
“ . . . the Lloyds of Hollywood”— Stanley Rose.
“Abe’s word is better than Morgan’s bonds”— Gail Brenshaw.
On the other side was a penciled message:
“Kingpin fourth, Solitair sixth. You can make some real dough5 on those nags6.”
After opening the window, he took off his jacket and lay down on the bed. Through the window he could see a square of enameled7 sky and a spray of eucalyptus8. A light breeze stirred its long, narrow leaves, making them show first their green side, then their silver one.
He began to think of “Honest Abe Kusich” in order not to think of Faye Greener. He felt comfortable and wanted to remain that way.
Abe was an important figure in a set of lithographs9 called “The Dancers” on which Tod was working. He was one of the dancers. Faye Greener was another and her father, Harry10, still another. They changed with each plate, but the group of uneasy people who formed their audience remained the same. They stood staring at the performers in just the way that they stared at the masqueraders on Vine Street. It was their stare that drove Abe and the others to spin crazily and leap into the air with twisted backs like hooked trout11.
Despite the sincere indignation that Abe’s grotesque12 depravity aroused in him, he welcomed his company. The little man excited him and in that way made him feel certain of his need to paint.
He had first met Abe when he was living on Ivar Street, in a hotel called the Chateau13 Mirabella. Another name for Ivar Street was “Lysol Alley,” and the Chateau was mainly inhabited by hustlers, their managers, trainers and advance agents.
In the morning its halls reeked14 of antiseptic. Tod didn’t like this odor. Moreover, the rent was high because it included police protection, a service for which he had no need. He wanted to move, but inertia15 and the fact that he didn’t know where to go kept him in the Chateau until he met Abe. The meeting was accidental.
He was on the way to his room late one night when he saw what he supposed was a pile of soiled laundry lying in front of the door across the hall from his own. Just as he was passing it, the bundle moved and made a peculiar16 noise. He struck a match, thinking it might be a dog wrapped in a blanket. When the light flared17 up, he saw it was a tiny man.
The match went out and he hastily lit another. It was a male dwarf18 rolled up in a woman’s flannel19 bathrobe. The round thing at the end was his slightly hydrocephalic head. A slow, choked snore bubbled from it.
The hall was cold and draughty. Tod decided20 to wake the man and stirred him with his toe. He groaned21 and opened his eyes.
“You oughtn’t to sleep there.”
“The hell you say,” said the dwarf, closing his eyes again. “You’ll catch cold.”
This friendly observation angered the little man still more.
“I want my clothes!” he bellowed22.
The bottom of the door next to which he was lying filled with light. Tod decided to take a chance and knock. A few seconds later a woman opened it part way. “What the hell do you want?” she demanded. “There’s a friend of yours out here who . . . ” Neither of them let him finish.
“So what!” she barked, slamming the door.
“Give me my clothes, you bitch!” roared the dwarf.
She opened the door again and began to hurl23 things into the ball. A jacket and trousers, a shirt, socks, shoes and underwear, a tie and hat followed each other through the air in rapid succession. With each article went a special curse.
Tod whistled with amazement24.
“You bet,” said the dwarf. “A lollapalooza — all slut and a yard wide.”
He laughed at his own joke, using a high-pitched cackle more dwarflike than anything that had come from him so far, then struggled to his feet and arranged the voluminous robe so that he could walk without tripping. Tod helped him gather his scattered26 clothing.
“Say, mister,” he asked, “could I dress in your place?”
Tod let him into his bathroom. While waiting for him to reappear, he couldn’t help imagining what had happened in the woman’s apartment. He began to feel sorry for having interfered27. But when the dwarf came out wearing his hat, Tod felt better.
The little man’s hat fixed28 almost everything. That year Tyrolean hats were being worn a great deal along Hollywood Boulevard and the dwarf’s was a fine specimen29. It was the proper magic green color and had a high, conical crown. There should have been a brass30 buckle31 on the front, but otherwise it was quite perfect.
The rest of his outfit32 didn’t go well with the hat. Instead of shoes with long points and a leather apron33, he wore a blue, double-breasted suit and a black shift with a yellow tie. Instead of a crooked34 thorn stick, he carried a rolled copy of the Daily Running Horse.
“That’s what I get for fooling with four-bit broads,” he said by way of greeting.
Tod nodded and tried to concentrate on the green hat. His ready acquiescence35 seemed to irritate the little man.
“No quiff can give Abe Kusich the fingeroo and get away with it,” he said bitterly. “Not when I can get her leg broke for twenty bucks36 and I got twenty.”
He took out a thick billfold and shook it at Tod.
“So she thinks she can give me the fingeroo, hah? Well, let me tell . . . ”
Tod broke in hastily.
“You’re right, Mr. Kusich.”
The dwarf came over to where Tod was sitting and for a moment Tod thought he was going to climb into his lap, but he only asked his name and shook hands. The little man had a powerful grip.
“Let me tell you something, Hackett, if you hadn’t come along, I’da broke in the door. That dame37 thinks she can give me the fingeroo, but she’s got another thinkola coming. But thanks anyway.”
“Forget it”
“I don’t forget nothing. I remember. I remember those who do me dirt and those who do me favors.”
He wrinkled his brow and was silent for a moment. “Listen,” he finally said, “seeing as you helped me, I got to return it. I don’t want anybody going around saying Abe Kusich owes him anything. So I’ll tell you what. I’ll give you a good one for the fifth at Caliente. You put a fiver on its nose and it’ll get you twenty smackeroos. What I’m telling you is strictly38 correct.”
Tod didn’t know how to answer and his hesitation39 offended the little man.
“Would I give you a bum40 steer41?” he demanded, scowling42. “Would I?”
Tod walked toward the door to get rid of him.
“No,” he said.
“Then why won’t you bet, hah?”
“What’s the name of the horse?” Tod asked, hoping to calm him.
The dwarf had followed him to the door, pulling the bathrobe after him by one sleeve. Hat and all, he came to a foot below Tod’s belt.
“Tragopan. He’s a certain, sure winner. I know the guy who owns him and he gave me the office.”
“Is he a Greek?” Tod asked.
He was being pleasant in order to hide the attempt he was making to maneuver43 the dwarf through the door. “Yeh, he’s a Greek. Do you know him?”
“No.”
“No?”
“No,” said Tod with finality.
“Keep your drawers on,” ordered the dwarf, “all I want to know is how you know he’s a Greek if you don’t know him?”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion and he clenched44 his fists.
“I just guessed it.”
“You did?”
The dwarf hunched46 his shoulders as though he were going to pull a gun or throw a punch. Tod backed off and tried to explain.
“I guessed he was a Greek because Tragopan is a Greek word that means pheasant.”
The dwarf was far from satisfied.
“How do you know what it means? You ain’t a Greek?”
“No, but I know a few Greek words.”
“So you’re a wise guy, hah, a know-it-all.”
He took a short step forward, moving on his toes, an Tod got set to block a punch.
“A college man, hah? Well, let me tell . . . ”
His foot caught in the wrapper and he fell forward on his hands. He forgot Tod and cursed the bathrobe, then got started on the woman again.
“So she thinks she can give me the fingeroo.”
He kept poking47 himself in the chest with his thumbs.
“Who gave her forty bucks for an abortion48? Who? And another ten to go to the country for a rest that time. To a ranch49 I sent her. And who got her fiddle50 out of hock that time in Santa Monica? Who?”
“That’s right,” Tod said, getting ready to give him a quick shove through the door.
But he didn’t have to shove him. The little man suddenly darted51 out of the room and ran down the hall, dragging the bathrobe after him.
A few days later, Tod went into a stationary52 store on Vine Street to buy a magazine. While he was looking through the rack, he felt a tug53 at the bottom of his jacket. It was Abe Kusich, the dwarf, again.
“How’s things?” he demanded.
Tod was surprised to find that he was just as truculentas as he had he had been the other night. Later, when he got to know him better, he discovered that Abe’s pugnacity54 was often a joke. When he used it on his friends, they played with him like one does with a growling55 puppy, staving off his mad rushes and then baiting him to rush again.
“Fair enough,” Tod said, “but I think I’ll move.”
He had spent most of Sunday looking for a place to live and was full of the subject. The moment he mentioned it, however, he knew that he had made a mistake. He tried to end the matter by turning away, but the little man blocked him. He evidently considered himself an expert on the housing situation. After naming and discarding a dozen possibilities without a word from Tod, he finally hit on the San Bernardino Arms.
“That’s the place for you, the San Berdoo. I live there, so I ought to know. The owner’s strictly from hunger. Come on, I’ll get you fixed up swell56.”
“I don’t know, I . . . ” Tod began.
The dwarf bridled57 instantly, and appeared to be mortally offended.
“I suppose it ain’t good enough for you. Well, let me tell you something, you . . . ”
Tod allowed himself to be bullied58 and went with the dwarf to Pinyon Canyon59. The rooms in the San Berdoo were small and not very clean. He rented one without hesitation, however, when he saw Faye Greener in the hall.
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1
diluted
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| 无力的，冲淡的 | |
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moorish
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| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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endorsements
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| n.背书( endorsement的名词复数 )；（驾驶执照上的）违章记录；（公开的）赞同；（通常为名人在广告中对某一产品的）宣传 | |
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dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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nags
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| n.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的名词复数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的第三人称单数 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责 | |
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enameled
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| 涂瓷釉于，给…上瓷漆，给…上彩饰( enamel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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eucalyptus
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| n.桉树，桉属植物 | |
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lithographs
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| n.平版印刷品( lithograph的名词复数 ) | |
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harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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trout
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| n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属) | |
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grotesque
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| adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物） | |
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chateau
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| n.城堡，别墅 | |
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reeked
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| v.发出浓烈的臭气( reek的过去式和过去分词 )；散发臭气；发出难闻的气味 (of sth)；明显带有（令人不快或生疑的跡象） | |
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inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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flannel
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| n.法兰绒；法兰绒衣服 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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bellowed
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| v.发出吼叫声，咆哮（尤指因痛苦）( bellow的过去式和过去分词 )；（愤怒地）说出（某事），大叫 | |
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hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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interfered
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| v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 )；调停；妨碍；干涉 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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buckle
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| n.扣子，带扣；v.把...扣住，由于压力而弯曲 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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acquiescence
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| n.默许；顺从 | |
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bucks
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| n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃 | |
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dame
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| n.女士 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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bum
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| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
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steer
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| vt.驾驶，为…操舵；引导；vi.驾驶 | |
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42
scowling
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| 怒视，生气地皱眉( scowl的现在分词 ) | |
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maneuver
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| n.策略[pl.]演习；v.(巧妙)控制；用策略 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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placate
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| v.抚慰，平息(愤怒) | |
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hunched
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| （常指因寒冷、生病或愁苦）耸肩弓身的，伏首前倾的 | |
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47
poking
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| n. 刺，戳，袋 vt. 拨开，刺，戳 vi. 戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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48
abortion
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| n.流产，堕胎 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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50
fiddle
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| n.小提琴；vi.拉提琴；不停拨弄，乱动 | |
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51
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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52
stationary
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| adj.固定的，静止不动的 | |
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53
tug
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| v.用力拖(或拉)；苦干；n.拖；苦干；拖船 | |
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54
pugnacity
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| n.好斗，好战 | |
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55
growling
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| n.吠声, 咆哮声 v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 | |
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56
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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57
bridled
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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58
bullied
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| adj.被欺负了v.恐吓，威逼( bully的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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