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CHAPTER XII
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 She reached home in the evening.  The Phillips’s old rooms had been twice let since Christmas, but were now again empty.  The McKean with his silent ways and his everlasting1 pipe had gone to America to superintend the production of one of his plays.  The house gave her the feeling of being haunted.  She had her dinner brought up to her and prepared for a long evening’s work; but found herself unable to think—except on the one subject that she wanted to put off thinking about.  To her relief the last post brought her a letter from Arthur.  He had been called to Lisbon to look after a contract, and would be away for a fortnight.  Her father was not as well as he had been.
 
It seemed to just fit in.  She would run down and spend a few quiet days at Liverpool.  In her old familiar room where the moon peeped in over the tops of the tall pines she would be able to reason things out.  Perhaps her father would be able to help her.  She had lost her childish conception of him as of someone prim2 and proper, with cut and dried formulas for all occasions.  That glimpse he had shown her of himself had established a fellowship between them.  He, too, had wrestled3 with life’s riddles4, not sure of his own answers.  She found him suffering from his old heart trouble, but more cheerful than she had known him for years.  Arthur seemed to be doing wonders with the men.  They were coming to trust him.
 
“The difficulty I have always been up against,” explained her father, “has been their suspicion.  ‘What’s the cunning old rascal5 up to now?  What’s his little game?’  That is always what I have felt they were thinking to themselves whenever I have wanted to do anything for them.  It isn’t anything he says to them.  It seems to be just he, himself.”
 
He sketched6 out their plans to her.  It seemed to be all going in at one ear and out at the other.  What was the matter with her?  Perhaps she was tired without knowing it.  She would get him to tell her all about it to-morrow.  Also, to-morrow, she would tell him about Phillips, and ask his advice.  It was really quite late.  If he talked any more now, it would give her a headache.  She felt it coming on.
 
She made her “good-night” extra affectionate, hoping to disguise her impatience7.  She wanted to get up to her own room.
 
But even that did not help her.  It seemed in some mysterious way to be no longer her room, but the room of someone she had known and half forgotten: who would never come back.  It gave her the same feeling she had experienced on returning to the house in London: that the place was haunted.  The high cheval glass from her mother’s dressing-room had been brought there for her use.  The picture of an absurdly small child—the child to whom this room had once belonged—standing before it naked, rose before her eyes.  She had wanted to see herself.  She had thought that only her clothes stood in the way.  If we could but see ourselves, as in some magic mirror?  All the garments usage and education has dressed us up in laid aside.  What was she underneath8 her artificial niceties, her prim moralities, her laboriously9 acquired restraints, her unconscious pretences10 and hypocrisies12?  She changed her clothes for a loose robe, and putting out the light drew back the curtains.  The moon peeped in over the top of the tall pines, but it only stared at her, indifferent.  It seemed to be looking for somebody else.
 
Suddenly, and intensely to her own surprise, she fell into a passionate13 fit of weeping.  There was no reason for it, and it was altogether so unlike her.  But for quite a while she was unable to control it.  Gradually, and of their own accord, her sobs15 lessened16, and she was able to wipe her eyes and take stock of herself in the long glass.  She wondered for the moment whether it was really her own reflection that she saw there or that of some ghostly image of her mother.  She had so often seen the same look in her mother’s eyes.  Evidently the likeness17 between them was more extensive than she had imagined.  For the first time she became conscious of an emotional, hysterical18 side to her nature of which she had been unaware19.  Perhaps it was just as well that she had discovered it.  She would have to keep a stricter watch upon herself.  This question of her future relationship with Phillips: it would have to be thought out coldly, dispassionately.  Nothing unexpected must be allowed to enter into it.
 
It was some time before she fell asleep.  The high glass faced her as she lay in bed.  She could not get away from the idea that it was her mother’s face that every now and then she saw reflected there.
 
She woke late the next morning.  Her father had already left for the works.  She was rather glad to have no need of talking.  She would take a long walk into the country, and face the thing squarely with the help of the cheerful sun and the free west wind that was blowing from the sea.  She took the train up north and struck across the hills.  Her spirits rose as she walked.
 
It was only the intellectual part of him she wanted—the spirit, not the man.  She would be taking nothing away from the woman, nothing that had ever belonged to her.  All the rest of him: his home life, the benefits that would come to her from his improved means, from his social position: all that the woman had ever known or cared for in him would still be hers.  He would still remain to her the kind husband and father.  What more was the woman capable of understanding?  What more had she any right to demand?
 
It was not of herself she was thinking.  It was for his work’s sake that she wanted to be near to him always: that she might counsel him, encourage him.  For this she was prepared to sacrifice herself, give up her woman’s claim on life.  They would be friends, comrades—nothing more.  That little lurking20 curiosity of hers, concerning what it would be like to feel his strong arms round her, pressing her closer and closer to him: it was only a foolish fancy.  She could easily laugh that out of herself.  Only bad women had need to be afraid of themselves.  She would keep guard for both of them.  Their purity of motive21, their high purpose, would save them from the danger of anything vulgar or ridiculous.
 
Of course they would have to be careful.  There must be no breath of gossip, no food for evil tongues.  About that she was determined22 even more for his sake than her own.  It would be fatal to his career.  She was quite in agreement with the popular demand, supposed to be peculiarly English, that a public man’s life should be above reproach.  Of what use these prophets without self-control; these social reformers who could not shake the ape out of themselves?  Only the brave could give courage to others.  Only through the pure could God’s light shine upon men.
 
It was vexing23 his having moved round the corner, into North Street.  Why couldn’t the silly woman have been content where she was.  Living under one roof, they could have seen one another as often as was needful without attracting attention.  Now, she supposed, she would have to be more than ever the bosom25 friend of Mrs. Phillips—spend hours amid that hideous26 furniture, surrounded by those bilious27 wallpapers.  Of course he could not come to her.  She hoped he would appreciate the sacrifice she would be making for him.  Fortunately Mrs. Phillips would give no trouble.  She would not even understand.
 
What about Hilda?  No hope of hiding their secret from those sharp eyes.  But Hilda would approve.  They could trust Hilda.  The child might prove helpful.
 
It cast a passing shadow upon her spirits, this necessary descent into details.  It brought with it the suggestion of intrigue28, of deceit: robbing the thing, to a certain extent, of its fineness.  Still, what was to be done?  If women were coming into public life these sort of relationships with men would have to be faced and worked out.  Sex must no longer be allowed to interfere29 with the working together of men and women for common ends.  It was that had kept the world back.  They would be the pioneers of the new order.  Casting aside their earthly passions, humbly30 with pure hearts they would kneel before God’s altar.  He should bless their union.
 
A lark31 was singing.  She stood listening.  Higher and higher he rose, pouring out his song of worship; till the tiny, fragile body disappeared as if fallen from him, leaving his sweet soul still singing.  The happy tears came to her eyes, and she passed on.  She did not hear that little last faint sob14 with which he sank exhausted32 back to earth beside a hidden nest among the furrows33.
 
She had forgotten the time.  It was already late afternoon.  Her long walk and the keen air had made her hungry.  She had a couple of eggs with her tea at a village inn, and was fortunate enough to catch a train that brought her back in time for dinner.  A little ashamed of her unresponsiveness the night before, she laid herself out to be sympathetic to her father’s talk.  She insisted on hearing again all that he and Arthur were doing, opposing him here and there with criticism just sufficient to stimulate34 him; careful in the end to let him convince her.
 
These small hypocrisies were new to her.  She hoped she was not damaging her character.  But it was good, watching him slyly from under drawn-down lids, to see the flash of triumph that would come into his tired eyes in answer to her half-protesting: “Yes, I see your point, I hadn’t thought of that,” her half reluctant admission that “perhaps” he was right, there; that “perhaps” she was wrong.  It was delightful35 to see him young again, eager, boyishly pleased with himself.  It seemed there was a joy she had not dreamed of in yielding victory as well as in gaining it.  A new tenderness was growing up in her.  How considerate, how patient, how self-forgetful he had always been.  She wanted to mother him.  To take him in her arms and croon over him, hushing away remembrance of the old sad days.
 
Folk’s words came back to her: “And poor Jack36 Allway.  Tell him I thank him for all those years of love and gentleness.”  She gave him the message.
 
Folk had been right.  He was not offended.  “Dear old chap,” he said.  “That was kind of him.  He was always generous.”
 
He was silent for a while, with a quiet look on his face.
 
“Give him our love,” he said.  “Tell him we came together, at the end.”
 
It was on her tongue to ask him, as so often she had meant to do of late, what had been the cause of her mother’s illness—if illness it was: what it was that had happened to change both their lives.  But always something had stopped her—something ever present, ever watchful37, that seemed to shape itself out of the air, bending towards her with its finger on its lips.
 
She stayed over the week-end; and on the Saturday, at her suggestion, they took a long excursion into the country.  It was the first time she had ever asked him to take her out.  He came down to breakfast in a new suit, and was quite excited.  In the car his hand had sought hers shyly, and, feeling her responsive pressure, he had continued to hold it; and they had sat for a long time in silence.  She decided38 not to tell him about Phillips, just yet.  He knew of him only from the Tory newspapers and would form a wrong idea.  She would bring them together and leave Phillips to make his own way.  He would like Phillips when he knew him, she felt sure.  He, too, was a people’s man.  The torch passed down to him from his old Ironside ancestors, it still glowed.  More than once she had seen it leap to flame.  In congenial atmosphere, it would burn clear and steadfast39.  It occurred to her what a delightful solution of her problem, if later on her father could be persuaded to leave Arthur in charge of the works, and come to live with her in London.  There was a fine block of flats near Chelsea Church with long views up and down the river.  How happy they could be there; the drawing-room in the Adams style with wine-coloured curtains!  He was a father any young woman could be proud to take about.  Unconsciously she gave his hand an impulsive40 squeeze.  They lunched at an old inn upon the moors41; and the landlady42, judging from his shy, attentive43 ways, had begun by addressing her as Madame.
 
“You grow wonderfully like your mother,” he told her that evening at dinner.  “There used to be something missing.  But I don’t feel that, now.”
 
She wrote to Phillips to meet her, if possible, at Euston.  There were things she wanted to talk to him about.  There was the question whether she should go on writing for Carleton, or break with him at once.  Also one or two points that were worrying her in connection with tariff44 reform.  He was waiting for her on the platform.  It appeared he, too, had much to say.  He wanted her advice concerning his next speech.  He had not dined and suggested supper.  They could not walk about the streets.  Likely enough, it was only her imagination, but it seemed to her that people in the restaurant had recognized him, and were whispering to one another: he was bound to be well known.  Likewise her own appearance, she felt, was against them as regarded their desire to avoid observation.  She would have to take to those mousey colours that did not suit her, and wear a veil.  She hated the idea of a veil.  It came from the East and belonged there.  Besides, what would be the use?  Unless he wore one too.  “Who is the veiled woman that Phillips goes about with?”  That is what they would ask.  It was going to be very awkward, the whole thing.  Viewed from the distance, it had looked quite fine.  “Dedicating herself to the service of Humanity” was how it had presented itself to her in the garden at Meudon, the twinkling labyrinth45 of Paris at her feet, its sordid46 by-ways hidden beneath its myriad47 lights.  She had not bargained for the dedication48 involving the loss of her self-respect.
 
They did not talk as much as they had thought they would.  He was not very helpful on the Carleton question.  There was so much to be said both for and against.  It might be better to wait and see how circumstances shaped themselves.  She thought his speech excellent.  It was difficult to discover any argument against it.
 
He seemed to be more interested in looking at her when he thought she was not noticing.  That little faint vague fear came back to her and stayed with her, but brought no quickening of her pulse.  It was a fear of something ugly.  She had the feeling they were both acting24, that everything depended upon their not forgetting their parts.  In handing things to one another, they were both of them so careful that their hands should not meet and touch.
 
They walked together back to Westminster and wished each other a short good-night upon what once had been their common doorstep.  With her latchkey in her hand, she turned and watched his retreating figure, and suddenly a wave of longing49 seized her to run after him and call him back—to see his eyes light up and feel the pressure of his hands.  It was only by clinging to the railings and counting till she was sure he had entered his own house round the corner and closed the door behind him, that she restrained herself.
 
It was a frightened face that looked at her out of the glass, as she stood before it taking off her hat.
 
She decided that their future meetings should be at his own house.  Mrs. Phillips’s only complaint was that she knocked at the door too seldom.
 
“I don’t know what I should do without you, I really don’t,” confessed the grateful lady.  “If ever I become a Prime Minister’s wife, it’s you I shall have to thank.  You’ve got so much courage yourself, you can put the heart into him.  I never had any pluck to spare myself.”
 
She concluded by giving Joan a hug, accompanied by a sloppy50 but heartfelt kiss.
 
She would stand behind Phillips’s chair with her fat arms round his neck, nodding her approval and encouragement; while Joan, seated opposite, would strain every nerve to keep her brain fixed51 upon the argument, never daring to look at poor Phillips’s wretched face, with its pleading, apologetic eyes, lest she should burst into hysterical laughter.  She hoped she was being helpful and inspiring!  Mrs. Phillips would assure her afterwards that she had been wonderful.  As for herself, there were periods when she hadn’t the faintest idea about what she was talking.
 
Sometimes Mrs. Phillips, called away by domestic duty, would leave them; returning full of excuses just as they had succeeded in forgetting her.  It was evident she was under the impression that her presence was useful to them, making it easier for them to open up their minds to one another.
 
“Don’t you be put off by his seeming a bit unresponsive,” Mrs. Phillips would explain.  “He’s shy with women.  What I’m trying to do is to make him feel you are one of the family.”
 
“And don’t you take any notice of me,” further explained the good woman, “when I seem to be in opposition52, like.  I chip in now and then on purpose, just to keep the ball rolling.  It stirs him up, a bit of contradictoriness53.  You have to live with a man before you understand him.”
 
One morning Joan received a letter from Phillips, marked immediate54.  He informed her that his brain was becoming addled55.  He intended that afternoon to give it a draught56 of fresh air.  He would be at the Robin57 Hood58 gate in Richmond Park at three o’clock.  Perhaps the gods would be good to him.  He would wait there for half an hour to give them a chance, anyway.
 
She slipped the letter unconsciously into the bosom of her dress, and sat looking out of the window.  It promised to be a glorious day, and London was stifling59 and gritty.  Surely no one but an unwholesome-minded prude could jib at a walk across a park.  Mrs. Phillips would be delighted to hear that she had gone.  For the matter of that, she would tell her—when next they met.
 
Phillips must have seen her getting off the bus, for he came forward at once from the other side of the gate, his face radiant with boyish delight.  A young man and woman, entering the park at the same time, looked at them and smiled sympathetically.
 
Joan had no idea the park contained such pleasant by-ways.  But for an occasional perambulator they might have been in the heart of the country.  The fallow deer stole near to them with noiseless feet, regarding them out of their large gentle eyes with looks of comradeship.  They paused and listened while a missal thrush from a branch close to them poured out his song of hope and courage.  From quite a long way off they could still hear his clear voice singing, telling to the young and brave his gallant60 message.  It seemed too beautiful a day for politics.  After all, politics—one has them always with one; but the spring passes.
 
He saw her on to a bus at Kingston, and himself went back by train.  They agreed they would not mention it to Mrs. Phillips.  Not that she would have minded.  The danger was that she would want to come, too; honestly thinking thereby61 to complete their happiness.  It seemed to be tacitly understood there would be other such excursions.
 
The summer was propitious62.  Phillips knew his London well, and how to get away from it.  There were winding63 lanes in Hertfordshire, Surrey hills and commons, deep, cool, bird-haunted woods in Buckingham.  Each week there was something to look forward to, something to plan for and manoeuvre64.  The sense of adventure, a spice of danger, added zest65.  She still knocked frequently, as before, at the door of the hideously-furnished little house in North Street; but Mrs. Phillips no longer oppressed her as some old man of the sea she could never hope to shake off from her shoulders.  The flabby, foolish face, robbed of its terrors, became merely pitiful.  She found herself able to be quite gentle and patient with Mrs. Phillips.  Even the sloppy kisses she came to bear without a shudder66 down her spine67.
 
“I know you are only doing it because you sympathize with his aims and want him to win,” acknowledged the good lady.  “But I can’t help feeling grateful to you.  I don’t feel how useless I am while I’ve got you to run to.”
 
They still discussed their various plans for the amelioration and improvement of humanity; but there seemed less need for haste than they had thought.  The world, Joan discovered, was not so sad a place as she had judged it.  There were chubby68, rogue-eyed children; whistling lads and smiling maidens69; kindly70 men with ruddy faces; happy mothers crooning over gurgling babies.  There was no call to be fretful and vehement71.  They would work together in patience and in confidence.  God’s sun was everywhere.  It needed only that dark places should be opened up and it would enter.
 
Sometimes, seated on a lichened72 log, or on the short grass of some sloping hillside, looking down upon some quiet valley, they would find they had been holding hands while talking.  It was but as two happy, thoughtless children might have done.  They would look at one another with frank, clear eyes and smile.
 
Once, when their pathway led through a littered farm-yard, he had taken her up in his arms and carried her and she had felt a glad pride in him that he had borne her lightly as if she had been a child, looking up at her and laughing.
 
An old bent73 man paused from his work and watched them.  “Lean more over him, missie,” he advised her.  “That’s the way.  Many a mile I’ve carried my lass like that, in flood time; and never felt her weight.”
 
Often on returning home, not knowing why, she would look into the glass.  It seemed to her that the girlhood she had somehow missed was awakening74 in her, taking possession of her, changing her.  The lips she had always seen pressed close and firm were growing curved, leaving a little parting, as though they were not quite so satisfied with one another.  The level brows were becoming slightly raised.  It gave her a questioning look that was new to her.  The eyes beneath were less confident.  They seemed to be seeking something.
 
One evening, on her way home from a theatre, she met Flossie.  “Can’t stop now,” said Flossie, who was hurrying.  “But I want to see you: most particular.  Was going to look you up.  Will you be at home to-morrow afternoon at tea-time?”
 
There was a distinct challenge in Flossie’s eye as she asked the question.  Joan felt herself flush, and thought a moment.
 
“Yes,” she answered.  “Will you be coming alone?”
 
“That’s the idea,” answered Flossie; “a heart to heart talk between you and me, and nobody else.  Half-past four.  Don’t forget.”
 
Joan walked on slowly.  She had the worried feeling with which, once or twice, when a schoolgirl, she had crawled up the stairs to bed after the head mistress had informed her that she would see her in her private room at eleven o’clock the next morning, leaving her to guess what about.  It occurred to her, in Trafalgar Square, that she had promised to take tea with the Greysons the next afternoon, to meet some big pot from America.  She would have to get out of that.  She felt it wouldn’t do to put off Flossie.
 
She went to bed wakeful.  It was marvellously like being at school again.  What could Flossie want to see her about that was so important?  She tried to pretend to herself that she didn’t know.  After all, perhaps it wasn’t that.
 
But she knew that it was the instant Flossie put up her hands in order to take off her hat.  Flossie always took off her hat when she meant to be unpleasant.  It was her way of pulling up her sleeves.  They had their tea first.  They seemed both agreed that that would be best.  And then Flossie pushed back her chair and sat up.
 
She had just the head mistress expression.  Joan wasn’t quite sure she oughtn’t to stand.  But, controlling the instinct, leant back in her chair, and tried to look defiant75 without feeling it.
 
“How far are you going?” demanded Flossie.
 
Joan was not in a comprehending mood.
 
“If you’re going the whole hog76, that’s something I can understand,” continued Flossie.  “If not, you’d better pull up.”
 
“What do you mean by the whole hog?” requested Joan, assuming dignity.
 
“Oh, don’t come the kid,” advised Flossie.  “If you don’t mind being talked about yourself, you might think of him.  If Carleton gets hold of it, he’s done for.”
 
“‘A little bird whispers to me that Robert Phillips was seen walking across Richmond Park the other afternoon in company with Miss Joan Allway, formerly77 one of our contributors.’  Is that going to end his political career?” retorted Joan with fine sarcasm78.
 
Flossie fixed a relentless79 eye upon her.  “He’ll wait till the bird has got a bit more than that to whisper to him,” she suggested.
 
“There’ll be nothing more,” explained Joan.  “So long as my friendship is of any assistance to Robert Phillips in his work, he’s going to have it.  What use are we going to be in politics—what’s all the fuss about, if men and women mustn’t work together for their common aims and help one another?”
 
“Why can’t you help him in his own house, instead of wandering all about the country?” Flossie wanted to know.
 
“So I do,” Joan defended herself.  “I’m in and out there till I’m sick of the hideous place.  You haven’t seen the inside.  And his wife knows all about it, and is only too glad.”
 
“Does she know about Richmond Park—and the other places?” asked Flossie.
 
“She wouldn’t mind if she did,” explained Joan.  “And you know what she’s like!  How can one think what one’s saying with that silly, goggle-eyed face in front of one always.”
 
Flossie, since she had become engaged, had acquired quite a matronly train of thought.  She spoke80 kindly, with a little grave shake of her head.  “My dear,” she said, “the wife is always in the way.  You’d feel just the same whatever her face was like.”
 
Joan grew angry.  “If you choose to suspect evil, of course you can,” she answered with hauteur81.  “But you might have known me better.  I admire the man and sympathize with him.  All the things I dream of are the things he is working for.  I can do more good by helping82 and inspiring him”—she wished she had not let slip that word “inspire.”  She knew that Flossie would fasten upon it—“than I can ever accomplish by myself.  And I mean to do it.”  She really did feel defiant, now.
 
“I know, dear,” agreed Flossie, “you’ve both of you made up your minds it shall always remain a beautiful union of twin spirits.  Unfortunately you’ve both got bodies—rather attractive bodies.”
 
“We’ll keep it off that plane, if you don’t mind,” answered Joan with a touch of severity.
 
“I’m willing enough,” answered Flossie.  “But what about Old Mother Nature?  She’s going to be in this, you know.”
 
“Take off your glasses, and look at it straight,” she went on, without giving Joan time to reply.  “What is it in us that ‘inspires’ men?  If it’s only advice and sympathy he’s after, what’s wrong with dear old Mrs. Denton?  She’s a good walker, except now and then, when she’s got the lumbago.  Why doesn’t he get her to ‘inspire’ him?”
 
“It isn’t only that,” explained Joan.  “I give him courage.  I always did have more of that than is any use to a woman.  He wants to be worthy83 of my belief in him.  What is the harm if he does admire me—if a smile from me or a touch of the hand can urge him to fresh effort?  Suppose he does love me—”
 
Flossie interrupted.  “How about being quite frank?” she suggested.  “Suppose we do love one another.  How about putting it that way?”
 
“And suppose we do?” agreed Joan, her courage rising.  “Why should we shun84 one another, as if we were both of us incapable85 of decency86 or self-control?  Why must love be always assumed to make us weak and contemptible87, as if it were some subtle poison?  Why shouldn’t it strengthen and ennoble us?”
 
“Why did the apple fall?” answered Flossie.  “Why, when it escapes from its bonds, doesn’t it soar upward?  If it wasn’t for the irritating law of gravity, we could skip about on the brink88 of precipices89 without danger.  Things being what they are, sensible people keep as far away from the edge as possible.”
 
“I’m sorry,” she continued; “awfully sorry, old girl.  It’s a bit of rotten bad luck for both of you.  You were just made for one another.  And Fate, knowing what was coming, bustles90 round and gets hold of poor, silly Mrs. Phillips so as to be able to say ‘Yah.’”
 
“Unless it all comes right in the end,” she added musingly91; “and the poor old soul pegs92 out.  I wouldn’t give much for her liver.”
 
“That’s not bringing me up well,” suggested Joan: “putting those ideas into my head.”
 
“Oh, well, one can’t help one’s thoughts,” explained Flossie.  “It would be a blessing93 all round.”
 
They had risen.  Joan folded her hands.  “Thank you for your scolding, ma’am,” she said.  “Shall I write out a hundred lines of Greek?  Or do you think it will be sufficient if I promise never to do it again?”
 
“You mean it?” said Flossie.  “Of course you will go on seeing him—visiting them, and all that.  But you won’t go gadding94 about, so that people can talk?”
 
“Only through the bars, in future,” she promised.  “With the gaoler between us.”  She put her arms round Flossie and bent her head, so that her face was hidden.
 
Flossie still seemed troubled.  She held on to Joan.
 
“You are sure of yourself?” she asked.  “We’re only the female of the species.  We get hungry and thirsty, too.  You know that, kiddy, don’t you?”
 
Joan laughed without raising her face.  “Yes, ma’am, I know that,” she answered.  “I’ll be good.”
 
She sat in the dusk after Flossie had gone; and the laboured breathing of the tired city came to her through the open window.  She had rather fancied that martyr’s crown.  It had not looked so very heavy, the thorns not so very alarming—as seen through the window.  She would wear it bravely.  It would rather become her.
 
Facing the mirror of the days to come, she tried it on.  It was going to hurt.  There was no doubt of that.  She saw the fatuous95, approving face of the eternal Mrs. Phillips, thrust ever between them, against the background of that hideous furniture, of those bilious wall papers—the loneliness that would ever walk with her, sit down beside her in the crowded restaurant, steal up the staircase with her, creep step by step with her from room to room—the ever unsatisfied yearning96 for a tender word, a kindly touch.  Yes, it was going to hurt.
 
Poor Robert!  It would be hard on him, too.  She could not help feeling consolation97 in the thought that he also would be wearing that invisible crown.
 
She must write to him.  The sooner it was done, the better.  Half a dozen contradictory98 moods passed over her during the composing of that letter; but to her they seemed but the unfolding of a single thought.  On one page it might have been his mother writing to him; an experienced, sagacious lady; quite aware, in spite of her affection for him, of his faults and weaknesses; solicitous99 that he should avoid the dangers of an embarrassing entanglement100; his happiness being the only consideration of importance.  On others it might have been a queen laying her immutable101 commands upon some loyal subject, sworn to her service.  Part of it might have been written by a laughing philosopher who had learnt the folly102 of taking life too seriously, knowing that all things pass: that the tears of to-day will be remembered with a smile.  And a part of it was the unconsidered language of a loving woman.  And those were the pages that he kissed.
 
His letter in answer was much shorter.  Of course he would obey her wishes.  He had been selfish, thinking only of himself.  As for his political career, he did not see how that was going to suffer by his being occasionally seen in company with one of the most brilliantly intellectual women in London, known to share his views.  And he didn’t care if it did.  But inasmuch as she valued it, all things should be sacrificed to it.  It was hers to do what she would with.  It was the only thing he had to offer her.
 
Their meetings became confined, as before, to the little house in North Street.  But it really seemed as if the gods, appeased103 by their submission104, had decided to be kind.  Hilda was home for the holidays; and her piercing eyes took in the situation at a flash.  She appeared to have returned with a new-born and exacting105 affection for her mother, that astonished almost as much as it delighted the poor lady.  Feeling sudden desire for a walk or a bus ride, or to be taken to an entertainment, no one was of any use to Hilda but her mother.  Daddy had his silly politics to think and talk about.  He must worry them out alone; or with the assistance of Miss Allway.  That was what she was there for.  Mrs. Phillips, torn between her sense of duty and fear of losing this new happiness, would yield to the child’s coaxing106.  Often they would be left alone to discuss the nation’s needs uninterrupted.  Conscientiously107 they would apply themselves to the task.  Always to find that, sooner or later, they were looking at one another, in silence.
 
One day Phillips burst into a curious laugh.  They had been discussing the problem of the smallholder.  Joan had put a question to him, and with a slight start he had asked her to repeat it.  But it seemed she had forgotten it.
 
“I had to see our solicitor108 one morning,” he explained, “when I was secretary to a miners’ union up north.  A point had arisen concerning the legality of certain payments.  It was a matter of vast importance to us; but he didn’t seem to be taking any interest, and suddenly he jumped up.  ‘I’m sorry, Phillips,’ he said, ‘but I’ve got a big trouble of my own on at home—I guess you know what—and I don’t seem to care a damn about yours.  You’d better see Delauny, if you’re in a hurry.’  And I did.”
 
He turned and leant over his desk.  “I guess they’ll have to find another leader if they’re in a hurry,” he added.  “I don’t seem able to think about turnips109 and cows.”
 
“Don’t make me feel I’ve interfered110 with your work only to spoil it,” said Joan.
 
“I guess I’m spoiling yours, too,” he answered.  “I’m not worth it.  I might have done something to win you and keep you.  I’m not going to do much without you.”
 
“You mean my friendship is going to be of no use to you?” asked Joan.
 
He raised his eyes and fixed them on her with a pleading, dog-like look.
 
“For God’s sake don’t take even that away from me,” he said.  “Unless you want me to go to pieces altogether.  A crust does just keep one alive.  One can’t help thinking what a fine, strong chap one might be if one wasn’t always hungry.”
 
She felt so sorry for him.  He looked such a boy, with the angry tears in his clear blue eyes, and that little childish quivering of the kind, strong, sulky mouth.
 
She rose and took his head between her hands and turned his face towards her.  She had meant to scold him, but changed her mind and laid his head against her breast and held it there.
 
He clung to her, as a troubled child might, with his arms clasped round her, and his head against her breast.  And a mist rose up before her, and strange, commanding voices seemed calling to her.
 
He could not see her face.  She watched it herself with dim half consciousness as it changed before her in the tawdry mirror above the mantelpiece, half longing that he might look up and see it, half terrified lest he should.
 
With an effort that seemed to turn her into stone, she regained111 command over herself.
 
“I must go now,” she said in a harsh voice, and he released her.
 
“I’m afraid I’m an awful nuisance to you,” he said.  “I get these moods at times.  You’re not angry with me?”
 
“No,” she answered with a smile.  “But it will hurt me if you fail.  Remember that.”
 
She turned down the Embankment after leaving the house.  She always found the river strong and restful.  So it was not only bad women that needed to be afraid of themselves—even to the most high-class young woman, with letters after her name, and altruistic112 interests: even to her, also, the longing for the lover’s clasp.  Flossie had been right.  Mother Nature was not to be flouted113 of her children—not even of her new daughters; to them, likewise, the family trait.
 
She would have run away if she could, leaving him to guess at her real reason—if he were smart enough.  But that would have meant excuses and explanations all round.  She was writing a daily column of notes for Greyson now, in addition to the weekly letter from Clorinda; and Mrs. Denton, having compromised with her first dreams, was delegating to Joan more and more of her work.  She wrote to Mrs. Phillips that she was feeling unwell and would be unable to lunch with them on the Sunday, as had been arranged.  Mrs. Phillips, much disappointed, suggested Wednesday; but it seemed on Wednesday she was no better.  And so it drifted on for about a fortnight, without her finding the courage to come to any decision; and then one morning, turning the corner into Abingdon Street, she felt a slight pull at her sleeve; and Hilda was beside her.  The child had shown an uncanny intuition in not knocking at the door.  Joan had been fearing that, and would have sent down word that she was out.  But it had to be faced.
 
“Are you never coming again?” asked the child.
 
“Of course,” answered Joan, “when I’m better.  I’m not very well just now.  It’s the weather, I suppose.”
 
The child turned her head as they walked and looked at her.  Joan felt herself smarting under that look, but persisted.
 
“I’m very much run down,” she said.  “I may have to go away.”
 
“You promised to help him,” said the child.
 
“I can’t if I’m ill,” retorted Joan.  “Besides, I am helping him.  There are other ways of helping people than by wasting their time talking to them.”
 
“He wants you,” said the child.  “It’s your being there that helps him.”
 
Joan stopped and turned.  “Did he send you?” she asked.
 
“No,” the child answered.  “Mama had a headache this morning, and I slipped out.  You’re not keeping your promise.”
 
Palace Yard, save for a statuesque policeman, was empty.
 
“How do you know that my being with him helps him?” asked Joan.
 
“You know things when you love anybody,” explained the child.  “You feel them.  You will come again, soon?”
 
Joan did not answer.
 
“You’re frightened,” the child continued in a passionate, low voice.  “You think that people will talk about you and look down upon you.  You oughtn’t to think about yourself.  You ought to think only about him and his work.  Nothing else matters.”
 
“I am thinking about him and his work,” Joan answered.  Her hand sought Hilda’s and held it.  “There are things you don’t understand.  Men and women can’t help each other in the way you think.  They may try to, and mean no harm in the beginning, but the harm comes, and then not only the woman but the man also suffers, and his work is spoilt and his life ruined.”
 
The small, hot hand clasped Joan’s convulsively.
 
“But he won’t be able to do his work if you keep away and never come back to him,” she persisted.  “Oh, I know it.  It all depends upon you.  He wants you.”
 
“And I want him, if that’s any consolation to you,” Joan answered with a short laugh.  It wasn’t much of a confession114.  The child was cute enough to have found that out for herself.  “Only you see I can’t have him.  And there’s an end of it.”
 
They had reached the Abbey.  Joan turned and they retraced115 their steps slowly.
 
“I shall be going away soon, for a little while,” she said.  The talk had helped her to decision.  “When I come back I will come and see you all.  And you must all come and see me, now and then.  I expect I shall have a flat of my own.  My father may be coming to live with me.  Good-bye.  Do all you can to help him.”
 
She stooped and kissed the child, straining her to her almost fiercely.  But the child’s lips were cold.  She did not look back.
 
Miss Greyson was sympathetic towards her desire for a longish holiday and wonderfully helpful; and Mrs. Denton also approved, and, to Joan’s surprise, kissed her; Mrs. Denton was not given to kissing.  She wired to her father, and got his reply the same evening.  He would be at her rooms on the day she had fixed with his travelling bag, and at her Ladyship’s orders.  “With love and many thanks,” he had added.  She waited till the day before starting to run round and say good-bye to the Phillipses.  She felt it would be unwise to try and get out of doing that.  Both Phillips and Hilda, she was thankful, were out; and she and Mrs. Phillips had tea alone together.  The talk was difficult, so far as Joan was concerned.  If the woman had been possessed116 of ordinary intuition, she might have arrived at the truth.  Joan almost wished she would.  It would make her own future task the easier.  But Mrs. Phillips, it was clear, was going to be no help to her.
 
For her father’s sake, she made pretence11 of eagerness, but as the sea widened between her and the harbour lights it seemed as if a part of herself were being torn away from her.
 
They travelled leisurely117 through Holland and the Rhine land, and that helped a little: the new scenes and interests; and in Switzerland they discovered a delightful little village in an upland valley with just one small hotel, and decided to stay there for a while, so as to give themselves time to get their letters.  They took long walks and climbs, returning tired and hungry, looking forward to their dinner and the evening talk with the few other guests on the veranda118.  The days passed restfully in that hidden valley.  The great white mountains closed her in.  They seemed so strong and clean.
 
It was on the morning they were leaving that a telegram was put into her hands.  Mrs. Phillips was ill at lodgings119 in Folkestone.  She hoped that Joan, on her way back, would come to see her.
 
She showed the telegram to her father.  “Do you mind, Dad, if we go straight back?” she asked.
 
“No, dear,” he answered, “if you wish it.”
 
“I would like to go back,” she said.
 

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 everlasting Insx7     
adj.永恒的,持久的,无止境的
参考例句:
  • These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
  • He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。
2 prim SSIz3     
adj.拘泥形式的,一本正经的;n.循规蹈矩,整洁;adv.循规蹈矩地,整洁地
参考例句:
  • She's too prim to enjoy rude jokes!她太古板,不喜欢听粗野的笑话!
  • He is prim and precise in manner.他的态度一本正经而严谨
3 wrestled c9ba15a0ecfd0f23f9150f9c8be3b994     
v.(与某人)搏斗( wrestle的过去式和过去分词 );扭成一团;扭打;(与…)摔跤
参考例句:
  • As a boy he had boxed and wrestled. 他小的时候又是打拳又是摔跤。
  • Armed guards wrestled with the intruder. 武装警卫和闯入者扭打起来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
4 riddles 77f3ceed32609b0d80430e545f553e31     
n.谜(语)( riddle的名词复数 );猜不透的难题,难解之谜
参考例句:
  • Few riddles collected from oral tradition, however, have all six parts. 但是据收集的情况看,口头流传的谜语很少具有这完整的六部分。 来自英汉非文学 - 民俗
  • But first, you'd better see if you can answer riddles. 但是你首先最好想想你会不会猜谜语。 来自辞典例句
5 rascal mAIzd     
n.流氓;不诚实的人
参考例句:
  • If he had done otherwise,I should have thought him a rascal.如果他不这样做,我就认为他是个恶棍。
  • The rascal was frightened into holding his tongue.这坏蛋吓得不敢往下说了。
6 sketched 7209bf19355618c1eb5ca3c0fdf27631     
v.草拟(sketch的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • The historical article sketched the major events of the decade. 这篇有关历史的文章概述了这十年中的重大事件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He sketched the situation in a few vivid words. 他用几句生动的语言简述了局势。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
7 impatience OaOxC     
n.不耐烦,急躁
参考例句:
  • He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
  • He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
8 underneath VKRz2     
adj.在...下面,在...底下;adv.在下面
参考例句:
  • Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
  • She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣,里面套着一条连衣裙。
9 laboriously xpjz8l     
adv.艰苦地;费力地;辛勤地;(文体等)佶屈聱牙地
参考例句:
  • She is tracing laboriously now. 她正在费力地写。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She is laboriously copying out an old manuscript. 她正在费劲地抄出一份旧的手稿。 来自辞典例句
10 pretences 0d462176df057e8e8154cd909f8d95a6     
n.假装( pretence的名词复数 );作假;自命;自称
参考例句:
  • You've brought your old friends out here under false pretences. 你用虚假的名义把你的那些狐朋狗党带到这里来。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
  • There are no pretences about him. 他一点不虚伪。 来自辞典例句
11 pretence pretence     
n.假装,作假;借口,口实;虚伪;虚饰
参考例句:
  • The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。
  • He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。
12 hypocrisies 3b18b8e95a06b5fb1794de1cb3cdc4c8     
n.伪善,虚伪( hypocrisy的名词复数 )
参考例句:
13 passionate rLDxd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的
参考例句:
  • He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
  • He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
14 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣
参考例句:
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答,也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
15 sobs d4349f86cad43cb1a5579b1ef269d0cb     
啜泣(声),呜咽(声)( sob的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • She was struggling to suppress her sobs. 她拼命不让自己哭出来。
  • She burst into a convulsive sobs. 她突然抽泣起来。
16 lessened 6351a909991322c8a53dc9baa69dda6f     
减少的,减弱的
参考例句:
  • Listening to the speech through an interpreter lessened its impact somewhat. 演讲辞通过翻译的嘴说出来,多少削弱了演讲的力量。
  • The flight to suburbia lessened the number of middle-class families living within the city. 随着迁往郊外的风行,住在城内的中产家庭减少了。
17 likeness P1txX     
n.相像,相似(之处)
参考例句:
  • I think the painter has produced a very true likeness.我认为这位画家画得非常逼真。
  • She treasured the painted likeness of her son.她珍藏她儿子的画像。
18 hysterical 7qUzmE     
adj.情绪异常激动的,歇斯底里般的
参考例句:
  • He is hysterical at the sight of the photo.他一看到那张照片就异常激动。
  • His hysterical laughter made everybody stunned.他那歇斯底里的笑声使所有的人不知所措。
19 unaware Pl6w0     
a.不知道的,未意识到的
参考例句:
  • They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
  • I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。
20 lurking 332fb85b4d0f64d0e0d1ef0d34ebcbe7     
潜在
参考例句:
  • Why are you lurking around outside my house? 你在我房子外面鬼鬼祟祟的,想干什么?
  • There is a suspicious man lurking in the shadows. 有一可疑的人躲在阴暗中。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
21 motive GFzxz     
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的
参考例句:
  • The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
  • He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。
22 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。
23 vexing 9331d950e0681c1f12e634b03fd3428b     
adj.使人烦恼的,使人恼火的v.使烦恼( vex的现在分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
参考例句:
  • It is vexing to have to wait a long time for him. 长时间地等他真使人厌烦。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Lately a vexing problem had grown infuriatingly worse. 最近发生了一个讨厌的问题,而且严重到令人发指的地步。 来自辞典例句
24 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的
参考例句:
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她,她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代,她的表演生涯黯然失色。
25 bosom Lt9zW     
n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的
参考例句:
  • She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
  • A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
26 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的,可憎的,可怕的,恐怖的
参考例句:
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗,是丑陋的畜牲。
27 bilious GdUy3     
adj.胆汁过多的;易怒的
参考例句:
  • The quality or condition of being bilious.多脂肪食物使有些人患胆汁病。
  • He was a bilious old gentleman.他是一位脾气乖戾的老先生。
28 intrigue Gaqzy     
vt.激起兴趣,迷住;vi.耍阴谋;n.阴谋,密谋
参考例句:
  • Court officials will intrigue against the royal family.法院官员将密谋反对皇室。
  • The royal palace was filled with intrigue.皇宫中充满了勾心斗角。
29 interfere b5lx0     
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰
参考例句:
  • If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话,可能弊多利少。
  • When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件,棘手的事情就来了。
30 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地,谦卑地
参考例句:
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的,先生,”约翰恭顺地说道。
31 lark r9Fza     
n.云雀,百灵鸟;n.嬉戏,玩笑;vi.嬉戏
参考例句:
  • He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。
  • She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。
32 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
参考例句:
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
33 furrows 4df659ff2160099810bd673d8f892c4f     
n.犁沟( furrow的名词复数 );(脸上的)皱纹v.犁田,开沟( furrow的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • I could tell from the deep furrows in her forehead that she was very disturbed by the news. 从她额头深深的皱纹上,我可以看出她听了这个消息非常不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Dirt bike trails crisscrossed the grassy furrows. 越野摩托车的轮迹纵横交错地布满条条草沟。 来自辞典例句
34 stimulate wuSwL     
vt.刺激,使兴奋;激励,使…振奋
参考例句:
  • Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
  • Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。
35 delightful 6xzxT     
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的
参考例句:
  • We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
  • Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
36 jack 53Hxp     
n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克
参考例句:
  • I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
  • He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
37 watchful tH9yX     
adj.注意的,警惕的
参考例句:
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
  • It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。
38 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
39 steadfast 2utw7     
adj.固定的,不变的,不动摇的;忠实的;坚贞不移的
参考例句:
  • Her steadfast belief never left her for one moment.她坚定的信仰从未动摇过。
  • He succeeded in his studies by dint of steadfast application.由于坚持不懈的努力他获得了学业上的成功。
40 impulsive M9zxc     
adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的
参考例句:
  • She is impulsive in her actions.她的行为常出于冲动。
  • He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man,but a very honest and sincere one.他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人,也不多愁善感.他为人十分正直、诚恳。
41 moors 039ba260de08e875b2b8c34ec321052d     
v.停泊,系泊(船只)( moor的第三人称单数 )
参考例句:
  • the North York moors 北约克郡的漠泽
  • They're shooting grouse up on the moors. 他们在荒野射猎松鸡。 来自《简明英汉词典》
42 landlady t2ZxE     
n.女房东,女地主
参考例句:
  • I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。
  • The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。
43 attentive pOKyB     
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的
参考例句:
  • She was very attentive to her guests.她对客人招待得十分周到。
  • The speaker likes to have an attentive audience.演讲者喜欢注意力集中的听众。
44 tariff mqwwG     
n.关税,税率;(旅馆、饭店等)价目表,收费表
参考例句:
  • There is a very high tariff on jewelry.宝石类的关税率很高。
  • The government is going to lower the tariff on importing cars.政府打算降低进口汽车的关税。
45 labyrinth h9Fzr     
n.迷宫;难解的事物;迷路
参考例句:
  • He wandered through the labyrinth of the alleyways.他在迷宫似的小巷中闲逛。
  • The human mind is a labyrinth.人的心灵是一座迷宫。
46 sordid PrLy9     
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的
参考例句:
  • He depicts the sordid and vulgar sides of life exclusively.他只描写人生肮脏和庸俗的一面。
  • They lived in a sordid apartment.他们住在肮脏的公寓房子里。
47 myriad M67zU     
adj.无数的;n.无数,极大数量
参考例句:
  • They offered no solution for all our myriad problems.对于我们数不清的问题他们束手无策。
  • I had three weeks to make a myriad of arrangements.我花了三个星期做大量准备工作。
48 dedication pxMx9     
n.奉献,献身,致力,题献,献辞
参考例句:
  • We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
  • Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。
49 longing 98bzd     
n.(for)渴望
参考例句:
  • Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
  • His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
50 sloppy 1E3zO     
adj.邋遢的,不整洁的
参考例句:
  • If you do such sloppy work again,I promise I'll fail you.要是下次作业你再马马虎虎,我话说在头里,可要给你打不及格了。
  • Mother constantly picked at him for being sloppy.母亲不断地批评他懒散。
51 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
52 opposition eIUxU     
n.反对,敌对
参考例句:
  • The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
  • The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
53 contradictoriness f0723e2e89424f5d4006fd27df3f9425     
矛盾性
参考例句:
  • The fundamental cause of the development of a thing lies in its internal contradictoriness. 事物发展的根本原因在于其内部矛盾。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
54 immediate aapxh     
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的
参考例句:
  • His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
  • We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。
55 addled fc5f6c63b6bb66aeb3c1f60eba4e4049     
adj.(头脑)糊涂的,愚蠢的;(指蛋类)变坏v.使糊涂( addle的过去式和过去分词 );使混乱;使腐臭;使变质
参考例句:
  • Being in love must have addled your brain. 坠入爱河必已使你神魂颠倒。
  • He has addled his head with reading and writing all day long. 他整天读书写字,头都昏了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
56 draught 7uyzIH     
n.拉,牵引,拖;一网(饮,吸,阵);顿服药量,通风;v.起草,设计
参考例句:
  • He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。
  • It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗,没有过堂风。
57 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟,红襟鸟
参考例句:
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟,知道春天要到了。
58 hood ddwzJ     
n.头巾,兜帽,覆盖;v.罩上,以头巾覆盖
参考例句:
  • She is wearing a red cloak with a hood.她穿着一件红色带兜帽的披风。
  • The car hood was dented in.汽车的发动机罩已凹了进去。
59 stifling dhxz7C     
a.令人窒息的
参考例句:
  • The weather is stifling. It looks like rain. 今天太闷热,光景是要下雨。
  • We were stifling in that hot room with all the windows closed. 我们在那间关着窗户的热屋子里,简直透不过气来。
60 gallant 66Myb     
adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的
参考例句:
  • Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
  • These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
61 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。
62 propitious aRNx8     
adj.吉利的;顺利的
参考例句:
  • The circumstances were not propitious for further expansion of the company.这些情况不利于公司的进一步发展。
  • The cool days during this week are propitious for out trip.这种凉爽的天气对我们的行程很有好处。
63 winding Ue7z09     
n.绕,缠,绕组,线圈
参考例句:
  • A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
  • The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。
64 manoeuvre 4o4zbM     
n.策略,调动;v.用策略,调动
参考例句:
  • Her withdrawal from the contest was a tactical manoeuvre.她退出比赛是一个战术策略。
  • The clutter of ships had little room to manoeuvre.船只橫七竖八地挤在一起,几乎没有多少移动的空间。
65 zest vMizT     
n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣
参考例句:
  • He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
  • He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。
66 shudder JEqy8     
v.战粟,震动,剧烈地摇晃;n.战粟,抖动
参考例句:
  • The sight of the coffin sent a shudder through him.看到那副棺材,他浑身一阵战栗。
  • We all shudder at the thought of the dreadful dirty place.我们一想到那可怕的肮脏地方就浑身战惊。
67 spine lFQzT     
n.脊柱,脊椎;(动植物的)刺;书脊
参考例句:
  • He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。
  • His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。
68 chubby wrwzZ     
adj.丰满的,圆胖的
参考例句:
  • He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实,可并不发胖。
  • The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。
69 maidens 85662561d697ae675e1f32743af22a69     
处女( maiden的名词复数 ); 少女; 未婚女子; (板球运动)未得分的一轮投球
参考例句:
  • stories of knights and fair maidens 关于骑士和美女的故事
  • Transplantation is not always successful in the matter of flowers or maidens. 花儿移栽往往并不成功,少女们换了环境也是如此。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
70 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。
71 vehement EL4zy     
adj.感情强烈的;热烈的;(人)有强烈感情的
参考例句:
  • She made a vehement attack on the government's policies.她强烈谴责政府的政策。
  • His proposal met with vehement opposition.他的倡导遭到了激烈的反对。
72 lichened 658e5353692e5f74979c0f55dc66d463     
adj.长满地衣的,长青苔的
参考例句:
73 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
参考例句:
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
74 awakening 9ytzdV     
n.觉醒,醒悟 adj.觉醒中的;唤醒的
参考例句:
  • the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
  • People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。
75 defiant 6muzw     
adj.无礼的,挑战的
参考例句:
  • With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时,仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
  • He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
76 hog TrYzRg     
n.猪;馋嘴贪吃的人;vt.把…占为己有,独占
参考例句:
  • He is greedy like a hog.他像猪一样贪婪。
  • Drivers who hog the road leave no room for other cars.那些占着路面的驾驶员一点余地都不留给其他车辆。
77 formerly ni3x9     
adv.从前,以前
参考例句:
  • We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
  • This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。
78 sarcasm 1CLzI     
n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
参考例句:
  • His sarcasm hurt her feelings.他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
  • She was given to using bitter sarcasm.她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
79 relentless VBjzv     
adj.残酷的,不留情的,无怜悯心的
参考例句:
  • The traffic noise is relentless.交通车辆的噪音一刻也不停止。
  • Their training has to be relentless.他们的训练必须是无情的。
80 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。
81 hauteur z58yc     
n.傲慢
参考例句:
  • Once,she had been put off by his hauteur.她曾经对他的傲慢很反感。
  • A deeper shade of hauteur overspread his features,but he said not a word.一阵傲慢的阴影罩上了他的脸,可是他一句话也没有说。
82 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
83 worthy vftwB     
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的
参考例句:
  • I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
  • There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
84 shun 6EIzc     
vt.避开,回避,避免
参考例句:
  • Materialists face truth,whereas idealists shun it.唯物主义者面向真理,唯心主义者则逃避真理。
  • This extremist organization has shunned conventional politics.这个极端主义组织有意避开了传统政治。
85 incapable w9ZxK     
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的
参考例句:
  • He would be incapable of committing such a cruel deed.他不会做出这么残忍的事。
  • Computers are incapable of creative thought.计算机不会创造性地思维。
86 decency Jxzxs     
n.体面,得体,合宜,正派,庄重
参考例句:
  • His sense of decency and fair play made him refuse the offer.他的正直感和公平竞争意识使他拒绝了这一提议。
  • Your behaviour is an affront to public decency.你的行为有伤风化。
87 contemptible DpRzO     
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的
参考例句:
  • His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬,言语粗俗。
  • That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。
88 brink OWazM     
n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘,边沿
参考例句:
  • The tree grew on the brink of the cliff.那棵树生长在峭壁的边缘。
  • The two countries were poised on the brink of war.这两个国家处于交战的边缘。
89 precipices d5679adc5607b110f77aa1b384f3e038     
n.悬崖,峭壁( precipice的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • Sheer above us rose the Spy-glass, here dotted with single pines, there black with precipices. 我们的头顶上方耸立着陡峭的望远镜山,上面长着几棵孤零零的松树,其他地方则是黑黝黝的悬崖绝壁。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
  • Few people can climb up to the sheer precipices and overhanging rocks. 悬崖绝壁很少有人能登上去。 来自互联网
90 bustles 5c44cce1f432309de7c14c07b9b7484f     
热闹( bustle的名词复数 ); (女裙后部的)衬垫; 撑架
参考例句:
  • She bustles about cooking breakfast in a most officious manner. 她为准备早餐忙得团团转。
  • Everyone bustles during rush hours. 上下班时间每个人都忙忙碌碌的。
91 musingly ddec53b7ea68b079ee6cb62ac6c95bf9     
adv.沉思地,冥想地
参考例句:
92 pegs 6e3949e2f13b27821b0b2a5124975625     
n.衣夹( peg的名词复数 );挂钉;系帐篷的桩;弦钮v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的第三人称单数 );使固定在某水平
参考例句:
  • She hung up the shirt with two (clothes) pegs. 她用两只衣夹挂上衬衫。 来自辞典例句
  • The vice-presidents were all square pegs in round holes. 各位副总裁也都安排得不得其所。 来自辞典例句
93 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿
参考例句:
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
94 gadding a7889528acccca0f7df39cd69638af06     
n.叮搔症adj.蔓生的v.闲逛( gad的现在分词 );游荡;找乐子;用铁棒刺
参考例句:
  • She likes gadding about while the children are at school. 孩子们在学校里的时候,她喜欢到处逛逛。 来自辞典例句
  • We spent the whole day gadding about Paris. 我们一整天都在巴黎游玩。 来自辞典例句
95 fatuous 4l0xZ     
adj.愚昧的;昏庸的
参考例句:
  • He seems to get pride in fatuous remarks.说起这番蠢话来他似乎还挺得意。
  • After his boring speech for over an hour,fatuous speaker waited for applause from the audience.经过超过一小时的烦闷的演讲,那个愚昧的演讲者还等着观众的掌声。
96 yearning hezzPJ     
a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的
参考例句:
  • a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
  • He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
97 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。
98 contradictory VpazV     
adj.反驳的,反对的,抗辩的;n.正反对,矛盾对立
参考例句:
  • The argument is internally contradictory.论据本身自相矛盾。
  • What he said was self-contradictory.他讲话前后不符。
99 solicitous CF8zb     
adj.热切的,挂念的
参考例句:
  • He was so solicitous of his guests.他对他的客人们非常关切。
  • I am solicitous of his help.我渴得到他的帮助。
100 entanglement HoExt     
n.纠缠,牵累
参考例句:
  • This entanglement made Carrie anxious for a change of some sort.这种纠葛弄得嘉莉急于改变一下。
  • There is some uncertainty about this entanglement with the city treasurer which you say exists.对于你所说的与市财政局长之间的纠葛,大家有些疑惑。
101 immutable ma9x3     
adj.不可改变的,永恒的
参考例句:
  • Nothing in the world is immutable.世界没有一成不变的东西。
  • They free our minds from considering our world as fixed and immutable.它们改变着人们将世界看作是永恒不变的观点。
102 folly QgOzL     
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话
参考例句:
  • Learn wisdom by the folly of others.从别人的愚蠢行动中学到智慧。
  • Events proved the folly of such calculations.事情的进展证明了这种估计是愚蠢的。
103 appeased ef7dfbbdb157a2a29b5b2f039a3b80d6     
安抚,抚慰( appease的过去式和过去分词 ); 绥靖(满足另一国的要求以避免战争)
参考例句:
  • His hunger could only be appeased by his wife. 他的欲望只有他的妻子能满足。
  • They are the more readily appeased. 他们比较容易和解。
104 submission lUVzr     
n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出
参考例句:
  • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword.战败将军缴剑表示投降。
  • No enemy can frighten us into submission.任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
105 exacting VtKz7e     
adj.苛求的,要求严格的
参考例句:
  • He must remember the letters and symbols with exacting precision.他必须以严格的精度记住每个字母和符号。
  • The public has been more exacting in its demands as time has passed.随着时间的推移,公众的要求更趋严格。
106 coaxing 444e70224820a50b0202cb5bb05f1c2e     
v.哄,用好话劝说( coax的现在分词 );巧言骗取;哄劝,劝诱;“锻炼”效应
参考例句:
  • No amount of coaxing will make me change my mind. 任你费尽口舌也不会说服我改变主意。
  • It took a lot of coaxing before he agreed. 劝说了很久他才同意。 来自辞典例句
107 conscientiously 3vBzrQ     
adv.凭良心地;认真地,负责尽职地;老老实实
参考例句:
  • He kept silent,eating just as conscientiously but as though everything tasted alike. 他一声不吭,闷头吃着,仿佛桌上的饭菜都一个味儿。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She discharged all the responsibilities of a minister conscientiously. 她自觉地履行部长的一切职责。 来自《简明英汉词典》
108 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师,事务律师
参考例句:
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
109 turnips 0a5b5892a51b9bd77b247285ad0b3f77     
芜青( turnip的名词复数 ); 芜菁块根; 芜菁甘蓝块根; 怀表
参考例句:
  • Well, I like turnips, tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers, onions and carrots. 噢,我喜欢大萝卜、西红柿、茄子、菜花、洋葱和胡萝卜。 来自魔法英语-口语突破(高中)
  • This is turnip soup, made from real turnips. 这是大头菜汤,用真正的大头菜做的。
110 interfered 71b7e795becf1adbddfab2cd6c5f0cff     
v.干预( interfere的过去式和过去分词 );调停;妨碍;干涉
参考例句:
  • Complete absorption in sports interfered with his studies. 专注于运动妨碍了他的学业。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I am not going to be interfered with. 我不想别人干扰我的事情。 来自《简明英汉词典》
111 regained 51ada49e953b830c8bd8fddd6bcd03aa     
复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 ); 赢回; 重回; 复至某地
参考例句:
  • The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
  • She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻,但很快恢复了镇静。
112 altruistic hzuzA6     
adj.无私的,为他人着想的
参考例句:
  • It is superficial to be altruistic without feeling compassion.无慈悲之心却说利他,是为表面。
  • Altruistic spirit should be cultivated by us vigorously.利他的精神是我们应该努力培养的。
113 flouted ea0b6f5a057e93f4f3579d62f878c68a     
v.藐视,轻视( flout的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • North Vietnam flouted the accords from the day they were signed. 北越从签字那天起就无视协定的存在。 来自辞典例句
  • They flouted all our offers of help and friendship. 他们对我们愿意提供的所有帮助和友谊表示藐视。 来自辞典例句
114 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
115 retraced 321f3e113f2767b1b567ca8360d9c6b9     
v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 );回忆;回顾;追溯
参考例句:
  • We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返,想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
116 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
参考例句:
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
117 leisurely 51Txb     
adj.悠闲的;从容的,慢慢的
参考例句:
  • We walked in a leisurely manner,looking in all the windows.我们慢悠悠地走着,看遍所有的橱窗。
  • He had a leisurely breakfast and drove cheerfully to work.他从容的吃了早餐,高兴的开车去工作。
118 veranda XfczWG     
n.走廊;阳台
参考例句:
  • She sat in the shade on the veranda.她坐在阳台上的遮荫处。
  • They were strolling up and down the veranda.他们在走廊上来回徜徉。
119 lodgings f12f6c99e9a4f01e5e08b1197f095e6e     
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍
参考例句:
  • When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时,太阳已下山了。
  • I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。


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