"I'll let you open the door—for luck, Judy," he said, holding out a key. "See if you can guess which door it belongs to."
"We-e-ll," she said, slowly revolving5 so as to see each hall in turn. "I'll take the one just ahead there. It hasn't any card on the door and all the others have."
"Clever child!" commended Bruce. "That escaped my notice. You're right, of course. Go ahead. Open up."
Judith put the key in its lock, turned it easily and then swung the door wide, but before the others could catch even a glimpse of the interior, she gave a little squeaking6 cry and rushed in, leaving the door to bang after her.
"Well, of all things!" exclaimed Patricia indignantly. "We're locked out!"
"We can ring if Bruce has no other key," said Elinor hastily. "She'll surely let us in."
So, as there was no other key, Patricia put her finger to the bell on the lintel and kept it there till the knob rattled7 and the door was flung open wide. Judith was standing8 in the middle of the big, comfortable studio and her face was flushed, but not one word did she say in explanation of her singular behavior.
Elinor and Patricia were so occupied with the room that she almost escaped reproof9, but Patricia, as she turned from admiring the stairway that wound up one side of the studio to a nook in the peaked roof above, caught a very knowing look on her little sister's face which was meant for Bruce, and she pounced10 on her immediately.
"What is the matter with you today, Ju?" she asked in an undertone, "I do wish you'd behave yourself. Bruce will be sorry he asked us if we're going to act like wild Indians."
Bruce and Elinor were inspecting the rooms on the other side of the studio, and had passed out of sight behind the second doorway12. Patricia forgot her censorship as the spirit of the explorer rose in her.
"Let's look at these rooms, Ju," she proposed, with a hand on the heavy curtain at her right.
Judith caught her hand with a cry of dismay.
"It's not fair, till Elinor comes, too!" she protested hotly. "Wait, they'll be back. I'll call them."
But Patricia, with a laugh, broke from her and lifted the curtain.
"Elinor didn't wait for us," she began gayly, "and I'm not——"
She broke off with her mouth and eyes opened to their widest, for there in the chair by the cozy13 grate sat Mrs. Shelly, while Miss Jinny stood chuckling14 her husky chuckle15 and rubbing her elbows nervously16 with both hands.
"They've come to stay!" shouted Judith in wild excitement. "They're going to be here the whole month! Wasn't it lovely of Bruce to get them, and won't it be transcendant, with all of us together!"
Patricia had for once no words, but she fell on Miss Jinny's willing neck, and to Judith's great wonder and Mrs. Shelly's delight, she kissed Miss Jinny with great vigor17 and despatch18.
"You duck!" she cried, and, although Judith gasped19 and paled at the audacious epithet20, Miss Jinny merely chuckled21 and patted her tenderly and then passed her on to the smiling, pink-cheeked little old lady in the rocker.
Such a time as they had all together when Elinor and Bruce joined them! And such a happy circle as they made around the studio fire, as twilight22 came on and the shadows crept out from the vast corners of the big room, and they made plans for the future and compared notes as to the past months of separation, with the cheerful flicker23 leaping and flaring24 on their ruddy faces, quite as it had in the old house at Rockham.
"Do you remember how we planned for this year?" said Patricia, her chin on her hand and her eyes on the leaping flame. "That was at Christmas time, only three short months ago, and we've all broken our plans already. David and Judy are the only ones who have stuck to theirs, and that is mainly because they can't help themselves. Here am I, studying at the Academy, after vowing25 I'd not waste money on myself at all. Elinor is dropping half her studies there and starting on an entirely26 new course—Interior Decoration and Stained Glass—under Mr. Bruce Haydon's personal supervision27; and as for Mrs. Shelly and Miss Jinny—they are so far out of their plans I don't believe they'll ever get back into them again."
Miss Jinny gave a snort of defiance28. "Just you wait till this month is over, Patricia Louise Kendall," she said belligerently29. "I'll be back in that old rut so tight you won't be able to see where I ran in again. Not go back to housekeeping with mama, indeed! I'll bet that I put up as many extra pickles30 and jams this year as I ever did, and with the exception of having the library and you people and the Haldens again, I don't see much change ahead of me, I can tell you!"
Patricia sighed and stretched herself luxuriantly.
"Well, I haven't any complaint to make with the new arrangements," she said expansively. "Things keep getting deliciouser and deliciouser all the time. I only wish we didn't have to go back to the boarding house tonight——"
"Indeed, you're not going to budge31 a step!" said Miss Jinny triumphantly32. "We planned it all out. You're to stay here and begin to be at home right off. You can go and pack tomorrow and have your things sent over as soon as you please."
"But," insisted Elinor, "we haven't anything——"
Again Miss Jinny interrupted. "I got your negligees and all from Mrs. Hudson this morning," she chuckled. "She knows you won't be back, and she's just as well pleased, for she's a good chance to rent your rooms right away, and I told her to go ahead. She'll keep your things till tomorrow or the next day. Now, come along and choose bunks33, though there isn't much choice, for there is only one big room with three beds in it. Mama and I are right next to you, you see."
The rooms on the right of the studio, a small one with a double bed in it for Miss Jinny and her mother, and the enormous room with the three beds for the girls, were separated by a tiled bath and were quite remote from the rooms on the other side, where was a corresponding small room to be used for a sitting-room34, and a slightly larger one for Bruce. Altogether, the arrangement was as satisfactory as could be wished and everyone was enthusiastic over the many comforts and conveniences that the place boasted.
"Fortunate that Symons had to hurry off to South America for that commission, wasn't it?" said Bruce, rubbing his hands before the fire. "We couldn't have got a snugger35 place, and just for the length of time we want it. I told Miss Jinny it would be flying in the face of Providence36 for her to refuse to come and occupy it."
Judith had been studying the problem of the rooms, and now put her question. "But where are we to have our meals?" she ventured. "I don't see any dining-room."
"They are coming in from Dufranne's and we're going to imbibe37 them in that room to the left," replied Bruce with a wave toward the sitting-room. "When we feel like it, we're going to Dufranne's for them." He turned to Mrs. Shelly with an air of charming courtesy that sat well on his strong face. "Are you still in the humor for dining out, madam?" he asked, in a tone easily heard by her.
"I'll put on my new bonnet39," she promised, and trotted40 off to her room, smoothing the tails of her basque with eager fingers.
"She's just as happy as a lark41," said Miss Jinny to the others. "I was so scared for fear she'd hate town life, but, lands alive, she takes to it like a duck to water. I shouldn't wonder if it did her a lot of good. She's been uncommonly42 quiet recently, and I believe she's been missing you girls."
Mrs. Shelly in her new bonnet with a gay little pansy on it, Miss Jinny in another bran new hat, made quite a festive43 appearance, and the great humor of them both and their sincere pleasure in being so important a part in the little home group gave an added zest44 to the evening's merry-making.
"Ju hasn't let go of Mrs. Shelly's hand since we left the restaurant," said Patricia apart to Elinor, as they were taking off their wraps in the studio again. "Poor little kid, she certainly does worship that dear little old lady."
"How she'd have adored mother, if she had only lived," said Elinor softly. "Mother was so lovely. I always feel that you two have been cheated out of so much—not even to have a dim memory of her."
Patricia's face grew wistful. "She went away when I was so little," she murmured absently. "Sometimes I do fancy that I can recall how she looked as she kissed me good-bye in the big station, but it must be only fancy—one doesn't remember much at two years old. I can see just how Judy looked though, when they brought her home after mother died, and I was only three and a half then."
"What are you two conspirators45 hatching up over there in the corner?" called Bruce from the fireside. "We're making out our schedule, and you don't know what you're missing!"
Settled in their places—they already had their own selected places in the ingle nook—with Mrs. Shelly rocking contentedly46 in the center of the half circle and Bruce smoking in the deep armchair, they grew enthusiastic again over the delightful47 prospect48 of the month that Bruce outlined for them.
"Judy, of course, will go to school," he said, blowing a little smoke ring at her. "Miss Pat will go to the sculpturing as usual, but may have a hand in any game here that she is able to hold up. You'll learn a heap, Paddy Malone, if you keep those ears of yours open, for Grantly, the fellow who is doing the bas-reliefs for the State Capitol building, will be about occasionally, and he's a cracker-jack in his line."
"See here," interrupted Miss Jinny, cocking her eyes severely49 at Bruce. "I'm not going to have Patricia hobnobbing with those Bohemians!"
Bruce roared with laughter. "My dear Dragon!" he cried, "don't you be afraid of your precious charges. Grantly hasn't any time to waste on young 'uns like Miss Pat. He's working, I tell you, and he doesn't like young ladies, anyway. Her only chance would be to overhear him spouting50 to me, which if she's discreet51 she may occasionally be able to do."
"Hope not," retorted Bruce amiably53. "Now as to Elinor." He stopped for so many rings that Judith stirred and cleared her throat impatiently, whereon he grinned cheerfully at her and went on. "As to Elinor. She will keep on with the night life, but the rest of her time will be spent in the studio here, working on studies and cartoons for a big wall decoration for a church, and a stained glass window for the same church—a purely54 mythical55 one, my dear Dragon, but intended to develop our promising56 student more rapidly than the easygoing method of the schools. What do you say to the program, young ladies?"
Patricia smiled at Elinor's fervid57 response and Judith's calm approval, but she uttered never a word, though Bruce looked at her inquiringly.
"Well?" he said at last. "What's the verdict?"
"I think it is simply great," replied Patricia with a ripple58 of mirth. "I honestly do, Bruce. I'm going to have a gorgeous time, and I'm awfully59 grateful to you for it."
"Well?" he repeated. "That's not all you're thinking, Miss Pat. You're simpering at some hidden invention of your own, and you know it. Out with it or we'll put the X-rays on it."
Patricia flung a look at Miss Jinny. "Really and truly I haven't any secret to confess, Bruce. I was only thinking how very nice it was for us, Judy and me, that we had such a genius for a sister."
Miss Jinny's eyes twinkled, but Bruce flushed and flicked60 his cigar ash into the fire with a dexterous61 finger.
"It has everything to do with all of us," responded Patricia promptly64. "We're just the tail of the comet, you know."
Bruce opened his eyes and sat up, piercing Patricia with a keen gaze. Evidently he found no reserve behind her words, for he broke into a laugh and shook his head at her.
"I'm in a regular nest of female detectives," he retaliated65 gayly. "Between you and Judy I shan't have a single secret left at the end of the month. I'll have to watch myself like thunder, Miss Jinny, or they'll make a miserable66 hen-pecked man of me!"
Miss Jinny grunted67 amiably at him, and then rose. "I guess you know what you're about, Bruce Haydon. Don't look to me to protect you, though, for I'm a mighty68 active feminist69, and I can't waste any of my valuable time taking care of such a common critter as a man." With a nod to the girls, she beckoned70 her mother.
"Time for bed, mama dear," she said clearly. "I've got your ginger71 tea ready for you, and I guess it's the last you'll want this year." In a lower tone she explained to the others: "Just brewed72 it to make her feel more at home, you know. She doesn't need it in this fiery73 furnace of a place."
Mrs. Shelly, with a kindly74 good-night to Bruce, trotted after them, fumbling75 with her watch pocket.
"I declare, if it isn't half-past ten!" she exclaimed, as she snapped the blue enameled76 lid of her little watch. "My little girl ought to have been in bed an hour ago."
Judith twined her arms about her and kissed her fondly.
"It doesn't matter just for tonight, does it, Mama Shelly?" she asked with pretty deference77. "There are going to be such a lot of nights to go to bed early in."
Mrs. Shelly nodded briskly. "And I'll come sit with you while you're getting ready," she promised, patting Judith's hand. "We can have some good talks together then, and I'll remember more stories for you, too."
Much to Judith's delight she kissed them all around, and then she hustled78 off after Miss Jinny, leaving them to themselves in the big, comfortable room.
Patricia flung herself on the fur rug that lay before the empty fireplace.
"I don't feel as if I'd ever want to go to sleep," she said rapturously. "It seems like a glorious dream that we're going to live in this romantic place a whole month. Bruce is a perfect duck to fix it up so we can all be together. I shan't study much here, I feel that in my bones, but I'll have a gorgeous time. How do you feel about it, Judy?"
Judith sat with one stocking in her hand, dreaming, and she awoke with a start.
"I'm going to write!" she declared, dramatically waving the stocking about. "This is truly inspiring!"
Patricia gave a short laugh. "Did it ever occur to you that our little Judy might make a fair actress, Norn?" she asked, deftly79 catching80 the bare foot that supported Judith and bringing her down on the rug beside her. "Her passion for the limelight grows, I notice, and recent events have not tended to make her unmindful of her merits."
"Oh, stop teasing, Miss Pat," cried Judith, wriggling81 free. "I wouldn't be an actress if you'd hire me. I'm going to be a writer, and now I'm going to bed. Good-night," and she made a flying leap into her pillows and covered herself to the eyes. "Don't say another word to me tonight," she warned, "or I'll call Miss Jinny. I'm going to sleep."
Patricia yawned and rose. "I guess I'll follow her virtuous82 example. I'm really getting awfully drowsy83, now it's so quiet," she confessed.
Elinor was already half asleep when Patricia suddenly sat up with a mirthful gurgle.
"What fun it'll be to tell the gang at the Academy," she crowed. "Won't Griffin rejoice and won't Doris Leighton wish she'd been good! Margaret Howes will have a chance to meet Bruce, too. It'll be a perfect lark all around!"
Elinor sighed in deep content.
"Maybe Bruce will let Margaret work with me sometimes," she murmured joyfully84. "I know he's going to like Griffin tremendously; she's just the sort to fit in with us all. Miss Jinny's crazy over her. I don't believe we'll see poor Doris Leighton again. Griffin told me she was leaving."
Patricia cuddled down in the pillows again, with a chuckle.
"Miss Jinny told me that Mr. Spicer had asked us all to tea at the Science and Arts Club," she said. "The Haldens are coming in for Easter and all the other holidays, and we're going to simply revel85 in delightful doings right here in the studio. It's a dream of goodly revelry, Norn, isn't it?" "It means more than that to me," replied Elinor. "It means work—glorious, big, beautiful work——"
"Do you know," interrupted Patricia, suddenly alert again, "I don't believe I'll ever amount to a row of pins as an artist? I always forget the work and think only of the people and the fun. I wonder if I can't brace86 up and do something worth while. I'll start in tomorrow—see if I don't."
点击收听单词发音
1 jingled | |
喝醉的 | |
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2 invitingly | |
adv. 动人地 | |
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3 puckered | |
v.(使某物)起褶子或皱纹( pucker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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4 aslant | |
adv.倾斜地;adj.斜的 | |
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5 revolving | |
adj.旋转的,轮转式的;循环的v.(使)旋转( revolve的现在分词 );细想 | |
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6 squeaking | |
v.短促地尖叫( squeak的现在分词 );吱吱叫;告密;充当告密者 | |
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7 rattled | |
慌乱的,恼火的 | |
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8 standing | |
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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9 reproof | |
n.斥责,责备 | |
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10 pounced | |
v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击) | |
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11 giggle | |
n.痴笑,咯咯地笑;v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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12 doorway | |
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径 | |
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13 cozy | |
adj.亲如手足的,密切的,暖和舒服的 | |
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14 chuckling | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的现在分词 ) | |
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15 chuckle | |
vi./n.轻声笑,咯咯笑 | |
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16 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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17 vigor | |
n.活力,精力,元气 | |
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18 despatch | |
n./v.(dispatch)派遣;发送;n.急件;新闻报道 | |
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19 gasped | |
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要 | |
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20 epithet | |
n.(用于褒贬人物等的)表述形容词,修饰语 | |
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21 chuckled | |
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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22 twilight | |
n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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23 flicker | |
vi./n.闪烁,摇曳,闪现 | |
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24 flaring | |
a.火焰摇曳的,过份艳丽的 | |
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25 vowing | |
起誓,发誓(vow的现在分词形式) | |
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26 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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27 supervision | |
n.监督,管理 | |
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28 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
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29 belligerently | |
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30 pickles | |
n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 );处于困境;遇到麻烦;菜酱 | |
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31 budge | |
v.移动一点儿;改变立场 | |
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32 triumphantly | |
ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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33 bunks | |
n.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的名词复数 );空话,废话v.(车、船等倚壁而设的)铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 );空话,废话 | |
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34 sitting-room | |
n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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35 snugger | |
adj.整洁的( snug的比较级 );温暖而舒适的;非常舒适的;紧身的 | |
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36 providence | |
n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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37 imbibe | |
v.喝,饮;吸入,吸收 | |
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38 alacrity | |
n.敏捷,轻快,乐意 | |
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39 bonnet | |
n.无边女帽;童帽 | |
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40 trotted | |
小跑,急走( trot的过去分词 ); 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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41 lark | |
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏 | |
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42 uncommonly | |
adv. 稀罕(极,非常) | |
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43 festive | |
adj.欢宴的,节日的 | |
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44 zest | |
n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣 | |
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45 conspirators | |
n.共谋者,阴谋家( conspirator的名词复数 ) | |
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46 contentedly | |
adv.心满意足地 | |
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47 delightful | |
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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48 prospect | |
n.前景,前途;景色,视野 | |
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49 severely | |
adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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50 spouting | |
n.水落管系统v.(指液体)喷出( spout的现在分词 );滔滔不绝地讲;喋喋不休地说;喷水 | |
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51 discreet | |
adj.(言行)谨慎的;慎重的;有判断力的 | |
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52 subsiding | |
v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的现在分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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53 amiably | |
adv.和蔼可亲地,亲切地 | |
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54 purely | |
adv.纯粹地,完全地 | |
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55 mythical | |
adj.神话的;虚构的;想像的 | |
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56 promising | |
adj.有希望的,有前途的 | |
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57 fervid | |
adj.热情的;炽热的 | |
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58 ripple | |
n.涟波,涟漪,波纹,粗钢梳;vt.使...起涟漪,使起波纹; vi.呈波浪状,起伏前进 | |
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59 awfully | |
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地 | |
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60 flicked | |
(尤指用手指或手快速地)轻击( flick的过去式和过去分词 ); (用…)轻挥; (快速地)按开关; 向…笑了一下(或瞥了一眼等) | |
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61 dexterous | |
adj.灵敏的;灵巧的 | |
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62 meek | |
adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 | |
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63 gratitude | |
adj.感激,感谢 | |
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64 promptly | |
adv.及时地,敏捷地 | |
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65 retaliated | |
v.报复,反击( retaliate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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66 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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67 grunted | |
(猪等)作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 ); (指人)发出类似的哼声; 咕哝着说 | |
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68 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
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69 feminist | |
adj.主张男女平等的,女权主义的 | |
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70 beckoned | |
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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71 ginger | |
n.姜,精力,淡赤黄色;adj.淡赤黄色的;vt.使活泼,使有生气 | |
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72 brewed | |
调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 ); 酝酿; 沏(茶); 煮(咖啡) | |
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73 fiery | |
adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的 | |
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74 kindly | |
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 | |
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75 fumbling | |
n. 摸索,漏接 v. 摸索,摸弄,笨拙的处理 | |
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76 enameled | |
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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77 deference | |
n.尊重,顺从;敬意 | |
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78 hustled | |
催促(hustle的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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79 deftly | |
adv.灵巧地,熟练地,敏捷地 | |
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80 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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81 wriggling | |
v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕 | |
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82 virtuous | |
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的 | |
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83 drowsy | |
adj.昏昏欲睡的,令人发困的 | |
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84 joyfully | |
adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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85 revel | |
vi.狂欢作乐,陶醉;n.作乐,狂欢 | |
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86 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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