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Chapter 8 In which Sophie leaves the castle in several direct
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To Sophie’s relief, Calcifer blazed up bright and cheerful next morning. If she had not had enough of Howl, she would have been almost touched by how glad Howl was to see Calcifer.
“I thought she’d done for you, you old ball of gas,” Howl said, kneeling at the hearth1 with his sleeves trailing in the ash.
“I was only tired,” Calcifer said. “There was some kind of drag on the castle. I’d never taken it that fast before.”
“Well, don’t let her make you do it again,” said Howl. He stood up, gracefully2 brushing ash off his gray-and-scarlet suit. “Make a start on that spell today, Michael. And if anyone comes from the King, I’m away on urgent private business until tomorrow. I’m going to see Lettie, but you needn’t tell him that.” He picked up his guitar and opened the door with the knob green-down, onto the wide, cloudy hills.
The scarecrow was there again. When Howl opened the door, it pitched sideways across him with its turnip3 face in his chest. The guitar uttered an awful twang-oing. Sophie gave a faint squawk of terror and hung onto the chair. One of the scarecrow’s stick arms was scraping stiffly around to get a purchase on the door. From the way Howl’s feet were braced5, it was clear he was being shoved quite hard. There was no doubt the thing was determined6 to get into the castle.
Calcifer’s blue face leaned out of the grate. Michael stood stock still beyond. “There really is a scarecrow!” they both said.
“Oh, is there” Do tell!” Howl panted. He got one foot up against the door frame and heaved. The scarecrow flew lumpishly away backward, to land with a light rustle7 in the heather some yards off. It sprang up instantly and came hopping8 towards the castle again. Howl hurriedly laid the guitar on the doorstep and jumped down to meet it. “No you don’t, my friend,” he said with one hand out. “Go back where you came from.” He walked forward slowly, still with his hand out. The scarecrow retreated a little, hopping slowly and warily9 backward. When Howl stopped, the scarecrow stopped too, with its one leg planted in the heather and its ragged10 arms tilting11 this way and that like a person sparring for an opening. The rags fluttering on its arms seemed a mad imitation of Howl’s sleeves.
“So you won’t go?” Howl said. And the turnip head slowly moved from side to side. No. “I’m afraid you’ll have to,” Howl said. “You scare Sophie, and there’s no knowing what she’ll do when she’s scared. Come to think of it, you scare me too.” Howl’s arms moved, heavily, as if he was lifting a large weight, until they were raised high above his head. He shouted out a strange word, which was half hidden in a crack of sudden thunder. And the scarecrow went soaring away. Up and backward it went, rags fluttering, arms wheeling in protest, up and out, and on and on, until it was a soaring speck12 in the sky, then a vanishing point in the clouds, and then not to be seen at all.
Howl lowered his arms and came back to the doorway13, mopping his face on the back of his hand. “I take back my hard words, Sophie,” he said, panting. “That thing was alarming. It may have been dragging the castle back all yesterday. It had some of the strongest magic I’ve met. Whatever was it-all that was left of the last person you cleaned for?”
 
 
Sophie gave a weak little cackle of laughter. Her heart was behaving badly again.
Howl realized something was wrong with her. He jumped indoors across his guitar, took hold of her elbow, and sat her in the chair. “Take it easy now!” Something happened between Howl and Calcifer then. Sophie felt it, because e she was being held by Howl, and Calcifer was still leaning out of the grate. Whatever it was, her heart began to behave properly again almost at once. Howl looked at Calcifer, shrugged14, and turned away to give Michael a whole lot of instructions about making Sophie keep quiet for the rest of the day. Then he picked up the guitar and left at last.
Sophie lay in the chair and pretended to feel twice as ill as she did, she had to let Howl get out of sight. It was a nuisance he was going to Upper Folding as well, but she would walk so much more slowly that she would arrive around the time he started back. The important thing was not to meet him on the way. She watched Michael slyly while he spread out his spell and scratched his head over it. She waited until he dragged big leather books off the shelves and began making notes in a frantic15, depressed16 sort of way. When he seemed properly absorbed, Sophie muttered several times, “Stuffy in here!”
Michael took no notice. “Terribly stuffy,” Sophie said, getting up and shambling to the door. “Fresh air.” She opened the door and climbed out. Calcifer obligingly stopped the castle dead while she did. Sophie landed in the heather and took a look round to get her bearings. The road over the hills to Upper Folding was a sandy line through the heather just downhill from the castle. Naturally. Calcifer would not make things inconvenient17 for Howl. Sophie set off toward it. She felt a little sad. She was going to miss Michael and Calcifer.
She was almost at the road when there was shouting behind her. Michael came bounding down the hillside after her, and the tall black castle came bobbling along behind him, shedding anxious puffs18 of smoke from all four turrets19.
“What are you doing?” Michael said when he caught up. From the way he looked at her, Sophie could see he thought the scarecrow had sent her wrong in the head.
“I’m perfectly21 all right,” Sophie said indignantly. “I’m simply going to see my other sis-ter’s granddaughter. She’s called Lettie too. Now do you understand?”
“Where does she live?” Michael demanded, as if he thought Sophie might not know.
“Upper Folding,” said Sophie.
“But that’s over ten miles away!” Michael said. “I promised Howl I’d make you rest. I can’t let you go. I told him I wouldn’t let you out of my sight.”
Sophie did not look very kindly22 on this. Howl thought she was useful now because he wanted her to see the King. Of course he did not want her to leave the castle. “Huh!” she said.
“Besides,” said Michael, slowly grasping the situation, “Howl must have gone to Upper Folding too.”
“I’m quite sure he had,” said Sophie.
“Then you’re anxious about this girl, it she’s your great-niece,” Michael said, arriving at the point at last. “I see! But I can’t let you go.”
 
  

  “I’m going,” said Sophie.
“But if Howl sees you there he’ll be furious,” Michael went on, working things out. “Because I promised him, he’ll be mad with both of us. You ought to rest.” Then, when Sophie was almost ready to hit him, he exclaimed, “Wait! There’s a pair of seven-league boots in the broom cupboard!”
He took Sophie by her skinny old wrist and towed her uphill to the waiting castle. She was forced to give little hops23 in order not to catch her feet in the heather. “But,” she panted, “seven leagues is twenty-one miles! I’d be halfway24 to Porthaven in two strides!”
“No, it’s ten and a half miles a step,” said Michael. “That makes Upper Folding almost exactly. If we each take one boot and go together, then I won’t be letting you out of my sight and you won’t be doing anything strenuous25, and we’ll get there before Howl does, so he won’t even know we’ve been. That solves all our problems beautifully!”
Michael was so pleased with himself that Sophie did not have the heart to protest. She shrugged and supposed Michael had better find out about the two Lettie’s before they changed looks again. It was more honest this way. But when Michael fetched the boots from the broom cupboard, Sophie began to have doubts. Up to now she had thought they were two leather buckets that had somehow lost their handles and then got a little squashed.
“You’re supposed to put your foot in them, shoe and all,” Michael explained as he carried the two heavy, bucket-shaped things to the door. “These are the prototypes of the boots Howl made for the King’s army. We managed to get the later ones a bit lighter26 and more boot-shaped.” He and Sophie sat on the doorstep and each put one foot in a boot. “Point yourself toward Upper Folding before you put the boot down,” Michael warned her. He and Sophie stood up on the foot which was in an ordinary shoe and carefully swung themselves round to face Upper Folding. “Now tread,” said Michael.
Zip! The landscape instantly rushed past them so fast it was only a blur27, a gray-green blur for the land and a blue-gray blur for the sky. The wind of their going tore at Sophie’s hair and dragged every wrinkly in her face backward until she thought she would arrive with half her face behind each ear.
The rushing stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Everything was calm and sunny. They were knee-deep in buttercups in the middle of Upper Folding village common. A cow nearby stared at them. Beyond it, thatched cottages drowsed under trees. Unfortunately, the bucketlike boot was so heavy that Sophie staggered as she landed.
“Don’t put that foot down!” Michael yelled, too late.
There was another zipping blur and more rushing wind. When it stopped, Sophie found herself right down the Folding Valley, almost into Marsh28 Folding. “Oh, drat!” she said, and hopped29 carefully round on her shoe and tried again.
Zip! Blur. And she was back on Upper Folding green again, staggering forward with the weight of the boot. She had a glimpse of Michael diving to catch her-
Zip! Blur. “Oh, bother!” wailed30 Sophie. She was up in the hills again. The crooked31 black shape of the castle was drifting peacefully nearby. Calcifer was amusing himself blowing black smoke rings from one turret20. Sophie saw that much before her shoe caught in the heather and she stumbled forward again.
 
  Zip! Zip! This time Sophie visited in rapid succession the Market Square of Market Chipping and the front lawn of a very grand mansion32. “Blow!” she cried. “Drat!” One word for each place. And she was off again with her own momentum33 and another Zip! right down at the end of that valley on a field somewhere. A large red bull raised its ringed nose from the grass and thoughtfully lowered its horns.
“I’m just leaving, my good beast!” Sophie cried, hopping herself round frantically34.
Zip! Back to the mansion. Zip! to Market Square. Zip! and there was the castle yet again. She was getting the hang of it. Zip! Here was Upper Folding-but how did you stop? Zip!
“Oh, confound it!” Sophie cried, almost in Marsh Folding again.
This time she hopped round very carefully and trod with great deliberation. Zip! and fortunately the boot landed in a cowpat and she sat down with a thump35. Michael sprinted36 up before Sophie could move and dragged the boot off her foot. “Thank you!” Sophie cried breathlessly. “There seemed no reason why I should ever stop!”
Sophie’s heart pounded a bit as they walked across the common to Mrs. Fairfax’s house, but only in the way heart’s do when you have done a lot rather quickly. She felt very grateful for whatever Howl and Calcifer had done.
“Nice place,” Michael remarked as he hid the boots in Mrs. Fairfax’s hedge.
Sophie agreed. The house was the biggest in the village. It was thatched, with white walls between the black beams, and, and Sophie remembered from visits as a child, you walked up to the porch through a garden crowded with flowers and humming with bees. Over the porch honeysuckle and a white climbing rose were competing as to which could give most work to the bees. It was a perfect, hot summer morning down here in Upper Folding.
Mrs. Fairfax answered the door herself. She was one of those plump, comfortable ladies, with swathes of butter-colored hair coiled round her head, who made you feel good with life just to look at her. Sophie felt just the tiniest bit envious37 of Lettie. Mrs. Fairfax looked from Sophie to Michael. She had seen Sophie last a year ago as a girl of seventeen, and there was no reason for her to recognize her as an old woman of ninety. “Good morning to you,” she said politely.
Sophie sighed. Michael said, “This is Lettie Hatter’s great-aunt. I brought her to see Lettie.”
“Oh, I thought the face looked familiar!” Mrs. Fairfax exclaimed. “There’s quite a family likeness38. Do come in. Lettie’s little bit busy just now, but have some scones39 and honey while you wait.”
She opened her front door wider. Instantly a large collie dog squeezed past Mrs. Fairfax’s skirts, barged between Sophie and Michael, and ran across the nearest flower bed, snapping off flowers right and left.
“Oh, stop him!” Mrs. Fairfax gasped41, flying off in pursuit. “I don’t want him out just now!”
There was a minute or so of helter-skelter chase, in which the dog ran hither and thither42, whining43 in a disturbed way, and Mrs. Fairfax and Sophie ran after the dog, jumping flower beds and getting in one another’s way, and Michael ran after Sophie crying, “Stop! You’ll make yourself ill!” Then the dog set off loping round one corner of the house. Michael realized that the way to stop Sophie was to stop the dog. He made a crosswise dash through the flower beds, plunged45 round the house after the dog, and seized it by two handfuls of its thick coat just as it reached the orchard46 at the back.
 
  Sophie hobbled up to find Michael pulling the dog away backward and making such strange faces at her that she thought at first he was ill. But he jerked his head so often toward the orchard that she realized he was trying to tell her something. She stuck her face round the corner of the house, expecting to see a swarm47 of bees.
Howl was there with Lettie. They were in a grove48 of mossy apple trees in full bloom, with a row of beehives in the distance. Lettie sat in a white garden seat. Howl was kneeling on one knee in the grass at her feet, holding one of her hands and looking noble and ardent49. Lettie was smiling lovingly at him. But the worst of it, as far as Sophie was concerned, was that Lettie did not look like Martha at all. She was her own extremely beautiful self. She was wearing a dress of the same kind of pinks and white as the crowded apple blossom overhead. Her dark hair trailed in glossy50 curls over one shoulder and her eyes shone with devotion for Howl.
Sophie brought her head back round the corner and looked with dismay at Michael holding the whining collie dog. “He must have had a speed spell with him,” Michael whispered, equally dismayed.
Mrs. Fairfax caught them up, panting and trying to pin back a loose coil of her buttery hair. “Bad dog!” she said in a fierce whisper to the collie. “I’ll put a spell on you of you do that once more!” The dog blinked and crouched51 down. Mrs. Fairfax pointed52 a stern finger. “Into the house! Stay in the house!” The collie shook himself free of Michael’s hands and slunk away round the house again. “Thank you so much,” Mrs. Fairfax said to Michael as they all followed it. “He will keep trying to bite Lettie’s visitor. Inside!” she shouted sternly in the front garden, as the collie seemed to be thinking of going round the house and getting the orchard the other way. The dog gave her a woeful look over its shoulder and crawled dismally53 indoors through the porch.
“That dog may have the right idea,” Sophie said. “Mrs. Fairfax, do you know who Lettie’s visitor is?”
Mrs. Fairfax chuckled54. “The Wizard Pendragon, or Howl, or whatever he calls himself,” she said. “But Lettie and I don’t let on we know. It amused me when he first turned up, calling himself Sylvester Oak, because I could see he’d forgotten me, though I hadn’t forgotten him, even though is hair used to be black in his student days.” Mrs. Fairfax by now had her hands folded on front of her and was standing55 bolt upright, prepared to talk all day, as Sophie had often seen her do before. “He was my old tutor’s very last pupil, you know, before she retired56. When Mr. Fairfax was alive he used to like me to transport us both to Kingsbury to see a show from time to time. I can manage two very nicely if I take it slowly. And I always used to drop in on old Mrs. Pentstemmon while I was there. She likes her old pupils to keep in touch. And one time she introduced this young Howl to us. Oh, she was proud of him. She taught Wizard Suliman too, you know, and she said Howl was twice as good-”
“But don’t you know the reputation Howl has?” Michael interrupted.
 
  
  Getting into Mrs. Fairfax’s conversation was rather like getting into a skipping rope. You had to choose the exact moment, but once you were in, you were in. Mrs. Fairfax turned herself slightly to face Michael.
“Most of it’s just talk to my mind,” she said. Michael opened his mouth to say that it was not, but he was in the skipping rope then and it went on turning. “And I said to Lettie, ‘Here’s your big chance, my love.’ I knew Howl could teach her twenty times more than I could-for I don’t mind telling you, Lettie’s brains go way beyond mine, and she could end up in the same league as the Witch of the Waste, only in a good way. Lettie’s a good girl and I’m fond of her. If Mrs. Pentstemmon was still teaching, I’d have Lettie go to her tomorrow. But she isn’t. So I said, ‘Lettie, here’s Wizard Howl courting you and you could do worse than to fall in love with him yourself and let him be your teacher. The pair of you will go far.’ I don’t think Lettie was too keen on the idea at first, but she’s been softening57 lately, and today it seems to be going beautifully.”
Here Mrs. Fairfax paused to beam benevolently58 at Michael, and Sophie dashed into the skipping rope for her turn. “But someone told me Lettie was fond of someone else,” she said.
“Sorry for him, you mean,” said Mrs. Fairfax. She lowered her voice. “There’s a terrible disability there,” she whispered suggestively, “and it’s asking too much of any girl. I told him so. I’m sorry for him myself-”
Sophie managed a mystified “Oh?”
“-but it’s a fearsomely strong spell. It’s very sad,” Mrs. Fairfax would on. “I had to tell him there’s no way someone of my abilities can break anything that’s put on by the Witch of the Waste. Howl might, but of course he can’t ask Howl, can he?”
Here Michael, who kept looking nervously59 to the corner of the house in case Howl came round it and discovered them, managed to trample60 through the skipping rope and stop it by saying, “I think we’d better be going.”
“Are you sure you won’t come in for a taste of my honey?” asked Mrs. Fairfax. “I use it in nearly all my spells, you know.” And she was off again, this time about the magical properties of honey. Michael and Sophie walked purposefully down the path to the gate and Mrs. Fairfax drifted behind them, talking away and sorrowfully straightening plants that the dog had bent61 as she talked. Sophie meanwhile racked her brain for a way to find out how Mrs. Fairfax knew Lettie was Lettie, without upsetting Michael. Mrs. Fairfax paused to gasp40 a bit as she heaved a large lupine upright.
Sophie took the plunge44. “Mrs. Fairfax, wasn’t it my niece Martha who was supposed to come to you?”
“Naughty girls!” Mrs. Fairfax said, smiling and shaking her head as she emerged from the lupine. “As if I wouldn’t recognize one of my own honey-based spells! But as I said to her at the time, ‘I’m not one to keep anyone against their will and I’d always rather teach someone who wants to learn. Only’ I said to her, ‘I’ll have no pretense62 here. You stay as your own self or not at all.’ And it’s worked out very happily, as you see. Are you sure you won’t stay and ask her yourself?”
“I think we’d better go,” Sophie said.
“We have to get back,” Michael added, with another nervous look toward the orchard. He collected the seven-league boots from the hedge and set one down outside the gate for Sophie. “And I’m going to hold onto you this time,” he said.
Mrs. Fairfax leaned over her gate while Sophie inserted her foot in the boot. “Seven-leaguers,” she said. “Would you believe, I’ve not seen any of those for years. Very useful things for someone you age, Mrs. Er-I wouldn’t mind a pair myself these days. So it’s you Lettie inherits her witchcraft63 from, is it? Not that it necessarily runs in families, but as often as not-”
Michael took hold of Sophie’s arm and pulled. Both boots came down and the rest of Mrs. Fairfax’s talk vanished in the Zip! and rush of air. Next moment Michael had to brace4 his feet in order not to collide with the castle. The door was open. Inside, Calcifer was roaring, “Porthaven door! Someone’s been banging on it ever since you left.” 
  

    第8章飞天七里格靴

    次日早晨,看到卡西法明亮快活地燃烧着时,苏菲真是松了一口气。如果她不是受够了豪尔的话,还真会被豪尔看到看西法时那份神情所感动。

    “老火球,我还以为你被她给整死了!”豪尔跪在壁炉旁,袖子垂在灰烬里。

    “我只是累了,”卡西法说:“好象有股力量在后头拉住城堡似的。我从不曾带着它飞那么快。”

    “好了,下次别让她在指使你做同样的事了。”他站起来,优雅地将灰红色外套上的灰烬拂掉。“麦可,你今天可以开始弄那个咒语了。还有,如果国王那边派人来,就跟他说我有要紧的私人事件要处理,明天才会回来。我要去找乐蒂,不过你犯不着告诉他。”他拿起吉他,将门把往下转到绿色,打开门,外面是宽广、多云的山丘。

    稻草人又出现了。豪尔开门时它正好由侧面跳过来,萝卜脸就撞在豪尔胸前,吉他发出当的一声。苏菲紧抓住椅子,害怕得哇哇叫,声音衰弱无力。稻草人的一只手僵硬地抓扒着,想抓住门,木杆压在豪尔脚上,依豪尔抱着脚的样子看来,那一下还真是踩得不轻。无疑地,那家伙是吃了秤砣铁了心,非要进来不可。

    卡西法的蓝脸拉出了炉架,麦可在后头一动都不敢动。“真的有稻草人耶!”两人异口同声地说。

    “是吗?现在才来说!”豪尔喘着气。举起一只脚,对着门框边踹过去,稻草人整个向后飞出去,跌在后头满是石楠的地上,发出‘沙’的一声轻响。它马上一跃而起,再度对着城堡跳过来。

    豪尔匆忙将吉他放在门口阶梯上,跳下去迎战。“朋友,不成的。”边说边举起一只手来:“回你原来的地方去!”他慢慢向它走过去,手仍伸着。稻草人稍稍往后退,慢慢地、小心地往后跳。脚踩在石楠上,衣袖褴褛的双手不时晃动着,像格斗者在寻找对方的空门似的,双臂上飞扬的破布恰好与豪尔的长袖相辉映。

    “还是不肯走吗?”豪尔问它。稻草人头慢慢地左右摇动,不走!“恐怕你非走不可,”豪尔说:“你把苏菲吓坏了。没人知道她吓坏时会做出什么事来。事实上,你也吓到我了。”

    豪尔的双手开始动,很吃力的样子,仿佛举重一般,直到高高举到头上为止。他大声喊出一个奇怪的字,声音被突然出现的累声掩盖了一半,稻草人就飞了起来,向上,向后飞,破布在风中飞扬,双手转动着在抗议,越飞越高,越飞越远,渐渐成为高空中的一点,然后在云端中渺不可见,之后就再也看不见了。

    豪尔放下手,回到门阶,以手背擦脸,喘着气说:“苏菲,我要收回那些责怪你的话。那家伙乱恐怖的。昨天也许就是它在后面拉着城堡,它拥有我所见过最强的魔法。那到底是什么东西呢?该不会是你以前顾主的屋子,被你清洁后剩下的部分吧?”

    苏菲无力地笑了几声,她的心脏又开始不舒服了。

    豪尔注意到她不对劲,跳过吉他,进入门里,扶住她的手肘,让她在椅子上坐下来。

    “慢慢来,慢慢来。”苏菲感到豪尔和卡西法之间好象发生了点什么。她所以能感觉到,是因为当时豪尔正扶着她,而卡西法仍旧探身在壁炉之外。不论那是什么,她的心脏几乎是马上又开始正常地跳动。豪尔看了卡西法一眼,耸耸肩,然后转身对麦可发出一长串、关于如何让苏菲静养一整天的指令,然后拿起吉他,终于出门去了。

    苏菲在椅子上躺着,假装自己病得起码有两倍严重。她必须趁豪尔不在时做这件事。糟糕的是,他也是要去上福而丁。不过她可以慢慢地走。这样,她可以在他差不多要起程回来的时候抵达。重点是,不能在路上叫他撞着。麦可将咒语摊开来,搔着头在伤脑筋。苏菲在旁偷偷观察他,她一直等到他由书架上取下一本厚厚的皮革书,疯狂、似乎又很苦恼地开始做笔记。看他似乎是非常专注在工作上了,苏菲开始喃喃地说:“这儿好闷。”一连说了几次。

    麦可完全没有反应。“闷得要命。”苏菲边说边起身,往门口蹒跚走去。“新鲜空气!”

    边说边打开门爬出区,卡西法不得不让城堡完全停顿下来。苏菲走下石楠地,四处眺望,以确定自己的位置。越过山丘往上福而丁的路,是一条穿越石楠地的多沙小路,就在城堡下坡不远处。卡西法当然不会让豪尔不方便。苏菲开始对着那条路走去,她觉得有些悲伤,她会想念麦可跟卡西法的。

    就在她快走到路口时,后面传来一阵叫唤声。麦可跟着她一路跳下山坡,高高的黑色城堡则四个角楼喷着烟,焦虑地跟在他深厚一路跳动。

    “你在干吗?”麦可上来后问她。由他的眼光看来,他显然认为苏菲被稻草人吓的脑筋不太正常了。

    “我没事,”苏菲觉得被侮辱了:“我不过是要去看我另一个妹妹的孙女罢了。她的名字也叫做乐蒂.海特。现在你懂了吧?”

    “她住哪儿?”麦可逼问,仿佛认定了苏菲不会知道。

    “上福而丁。”苏菲回答。

    “那可是在十哩之外呢!”麦可说:“我答应豪尔要让你好好休息的,我不能放你走,我跟他说过绝不让你离开我的视线!”

    苏菲可不高兴听到这些。因为需要她去见国王,所以豪尔现在觉得她有用了,当然不要她离开城堡了!“哼!”她嗤之以鼻。

    “而且,”麦可慢慢进入状况了。“豪尔一定也是去上福而丁。”

    “我确信他是的。”苏菲说。

    “那么,你是在为这个可能是你孙外甥女的女孩担心喽?”麦可终于抓到重点。

    “知道了。但我还是不能让你去。”

    “我就是要去。”苏菲坚持着。

    “如果豪尔在那里看到你,他会很生气的。”麦可边说边想。“而且因为我跟他承诺过,所以他也会一并声我的气。你应该休息才对。”

    苏菲越听越生气,几乎想动手揍他了,他突然大叫道:“等等!放扫帚的柜子里有一双七里格靴!”

    他抓住苏菲老瘦的手腕,拉着她上坡,走向等着的城堡。为了不被石楠绊住,她只好一路跳着。“可是,”她气喘吁吁地说:“七个里格是二十一哩!我只消跨两步就到往避难港的半路了。”

    “不对!跨一步是十哩半,”麦可说:“差不多就是到上福而丁的距离。我们一人穿一双,一起上路,这样我就不会让你离开我的视线,你也不会过度劳累,而且我们可以赶在豪尔之前到达,这样他就不知道我们去了哪里。我们所有的问题不就都圆满解决了吗?”

    麦可显然是太得意了,让苏菲不好泼他冷水。她耸耸肩不置可否,心里想到,或许让麦可在两个乐蒂把外貌换回之前让他知道事实比较好,这样比较诚实。但是当麦可由储物柜拿出七里格靴时,她开始犹豫。她一直以为它们是两个掉了提柄,又被挤压得有点变形的皮桶,谁知道……

    “穿的时候是连脚带鞋都放进去的。”麦可边将这两个活像水桶的东西提到门口,边解释:“这是豪尔为国王的军队造的靴子的原型。最后的制成品比较轻,也比较像靴子。”他跟苏菲坐在门阶上,各放一脚到靴子里。“身体先面对上福而丁的方向,在把靴子放下。”麦可警告她。他跟苏菲各用穿普通鞋的那只脚站起来,然后转身面对上福而丁。“现在,跨步!”麦可喊口号。

    滋!身旁的景色一下就飞过去了。因为太快,看来只是一片模糊……灰绿色的是土地,蓝灰色的是天空。

    前进速度带起的风扯着苏菲的头发,并将她脸上的皱纹全部往后拉扯。苏菲想着,到达目的地时,只怕一半的脸都跑到耳后去了。

    但是,开始的同时也就突然结束了。身旁一切是那么祥和,阳光普照。他们已置身上福而丁中间一块草原上头,站在及膝的金凤花之间,旁边一头牛惊奇地凝视着他们,再过去,是懒洋洋坐落在树下的茅屋。不幸的是,因为那桶状的靴子实在太重,苏菲停下来时因此晃动了一下,脚步踉跄。

    “别把脚踩下去!”麦可喊道,但是太迟了!

    旁边马上又是一片模糊和疾风。当一切停下来时,苏菲发现他们跑到福而丁谷,都快到福而丁沼泽区了。“噢,岂有此理!”她咒骂了一声,小心地以单脚跳转身来,再试一次。

    滋!模糊。他们再度回到上福而丁的草原,她却又被靴子的重量拖着前跨步,她眼角瞥见麦可俯身要扶她……

    滋!模糊。“天哪!”苏菲大声叹气,这次他们回到山丘了,形状歪歪的黑色城堡就在近处漂浮着。卡西法看得兴高采烈,由一个角楼里吹出一圈圈的黑烟。苏菲只看到这儿,然后她的靴子在石楠上绊了一下,她向前俯跌……

    滋!滋!这次苏菲以飞快的速度跑到马克奇平镇的方形市场,再跑到一栋豪宅的前院。“什么嘛!”“岂有此理!”每个地方恰好够她喊一句话。然后‘滋’的一声,她又被带往山谷尾端的某个草原。一只硕大的红色公牛由草地上抬起它戴着鼻环的鼻子,然后审慎地低下头,以角对着他们。

    “牛儿乖,我们马上就走!”苏菲大叫,急急跳转身。

    滋!回到豪宅。滋!回到方形时常。滋!又看到城堡啦!她越来越熟稔了。滋!终于又回到上福而丁了。但是——该怎么停下来呢?滋!

    “噢!真个该死!”苏菲大叫。又快跑到福而丁沼泽区了。

    这次她非常小心地跳转身,很谨慎地跨步。滋!这次她踩到一块牛粪,一屁股坐到底墒。麦可一跃而起,在苏菲能移动之前一把将靴子由她脚上扯下来。“谢啦!”苏菲上气不接下气地叫道:“好象没有非要停下来不可的理由。”

    他们走过草原,往菲菲克丝太太叫走去,苏菲的心跳不由得稍稍加快,但只是像一下子做了许多事后那种心跳的感觉,她不禁对豪尔和卡西法稍早为她所做的事充满感激。

    “好地方。”麦可边将靴子藏在菲菲克丝太太家的树篱间边说。

    苏菲同意他的看法。那房子是村里最大的一间,屋顶覆有茅草,黑色的梁木之间是白色的墙。苏菲小时候来玩过,她记得要走到前廊之前会先穿越一个繁花盛放、蜜蜂嗡嗡飞舞的花园。前廊上头爬有一棵忍冬及一棵会攀爬的白色蔷薇,两棵都开满了花,似乎在比赛,看谁能让蜜蜂更忙碌。那是一个完美的、炎热的上福而丁堡的夏日早晨。

    菲菲克丝太太自己前来开门,她是那种看起来很舒服的、胖胖的女人,奶油色的头发盘在头上。光看着她,就让人觉得生命是件美好的事。苏菲觉得有那么一点点嫉妒乐蒂。菲菲克丝太太瞧瞧苏菲又瞧瞧麦可,上次她见到苏菲是一年前的事,当时苏菲十七岁。现在当然不可能要她认出眼前这个九十岁的老妇。“早啊。”她礼貌地打招呼。

    苏菲叹了一口气。麦可说:“这是乐蒂.海特的姨婆。我带她来找乐蒂。”

    “哦,难怪觉得脸看来好熟!”菲菲克丝太太说:“有你们家族的特征。快近来!乐蒂现在正忙着,你们等的时候不妨吃点圆饼和蜂蜜。”

    她将前门开大一些。突然,一只大大的柯利狗由菲菲克丝太太的裙边挤过,穿过苏菲和麦可之间,跑过最近的花床,两侧的花跟着倒霉,折枝断叶。

    “噢,快阻止它!还不能让他出来!”菲菲克丝太太喘着气,在后头拼命追赶。

    接下来几分钟是一团混乱。狗以一种令人不舒服的声音吠叫着,东南西北乱窜。菲菲克丝太太和苏菲追着它跑,时而跳过花圃,时而互相妨碍。麦可则追着苏菲大叫:“快停下来!你会跑出病来的!”然后狗朝着房子的一个转角跑去。麦可意识到要苏菲停下来的唯一方法,就是让那只狗停下来,于是改变策略,快速地横过花圃,绕过房子,对狗扑过去,在它行将跑到屋后的果园之前,扯住它身上的皮毛。

    苏菲蹒跚着赶到时,麦可正在将狗往后拉,同时一直对她做出奇怪的表情。起先,她以为麦可不舒服,但在他多次将头往果园方向甩动后,她终于明白他不过是想要告诉她什么。

    她藏到屋子的转角,只露出头来,心想大概会看到一群蜜蜂。

    但是,她看到豪尔和乐蒂在一起。他们在一个开满了花、树身长着青苔的小苹果林里。

    乐蒂做在一把白色的庭园椅上,豪尔单膝跪在她脚边的草地上,抓着她的一只手,表情既高尚又热切。乐蒂则亲切地对着他微笑。但对苏菲而言,最糟的是,乐蒂看起来一点也不像玛莎,她还是那个美丽非凡的乐蒂。她身上穿的是一件与顶上满簇苹果花类似的粉红及白色的洋装,她光华卷曲的黑发垂落在一边的肩膀,眼里则闪着对豪尔的爱。

    苏菲将头缩回来,不悦的看着手里犹抓着呜呜叫的柯利狗的麦可。“他一定是用了速度咒语!”麦可说,声音里同样透着不悦。

    菲菲克丝太太赶上来了。边喘气边试着将一缕松掉的头发别回去。“坏狗!”她轻声但严厉地跟狗说:“你再给我搞一次的话,我就跟你下咒!”狗眨了眨眼,乖乖坐下。菲菲克丝太太以手指着它,严厉地说:“到屋里去!不准出来!”狗挣脱麦可的手,溜过屋子的转角,大家跟着它后面走。菲菲克丝太太跟麦可说:“多谢你了。他想去咬乐蒂的客人。进去!”她在屋前的花园又严厉地大叫一声,因为狗好象想绕过屋子另一个转角跑到果园去。狗转过头来悲伤地看她一眼,很不快乐地经由前廊爬进屋里。

    “搞不好那狗是对的。”苏菲说:“菲菲克丝太太,你可知道乐蒂的客人是谁?”

    菲菲克丝太太咯咯地笑。“围龙先生,或者豪尔,或是任何他高兴称呼自己的名字。我想到他第一次来的时候就忍不住好笑,他自称是希尔斯德.奥克。他显然不记得我了,我可是没忘记他,虽然他学生时代头发是黑的。”菲菲克丝太太现在双手在胸前互搭,身体站得挺直,苏菲见过好几次这个架势,知道这以为着她准备要说上一天话啦。“他是我的老师退休前收的最后一名弟子。我先生还活着时,常常三五不时要我施法送我们两人去金斯别利看表演,如果我把速度放得很慢时是可以办到的每次去我都会顺道拜访老潘思德曼太太。她喜欢跟旧日的学生保持联系。有一次她介绍这位年轻的豪尔给我们认识。噢,她非常以他为傲。你知道,苏利曼也是她教出来的,但是她说豪尔的能力在他俩之上……”

    “可是,你难道不知道他的名声吗?”麦可插嘴。

    要插进菲菲克丝太太的谈话,有点像是要加入正在转动的跳绳一样,你必须选对时刻,进场的时间对了,才搭得上线。菲菲克丝太太微微转过身来看着麦可。

    “对我而言,那些大多是传言罢了。”她说。麦可张嘴,想说不是的,但是跳绳自顾自地往下跳。“所以我就跟乐蒂说:‘亲爱的,这可是你的大好机会哦!’反正我也不介意告诉你们,豪尔可以教给她的,当在我二十倍以上。乐蒂的聪明远在我之上,将来似乎会达到荒地女巫那种等级的,只不过,她会是‘好’的那种女巫。乐蒂是个好女孩,我很喜欢她。如果潘思德曼太太仍在教学的话,我会马上就送乐蒂过去。但是她已经退休了,所以我跟乐蒂说:‘豪尔巫师来追求你,再也没有比这更好的事了,跟他恋爱,然后让他来教你。你们这一对将很有不凡的成就。’乐蒂刚开始有点排斥,但最近好多了。今天看来则进行得相当顺利的样子。”

    说到这儿,菲菲克丝太太停下来对麦可亲切地微笑。苏菲赶紧抢进来,参与跳绳:“可是,有人跟我说乐蒂喜欢的是别人。”

    “你是同情他吧?”菲菲克丝太太压低了声音:“可是,真的无能为力。”她意有所指地悄声说:“那对任何女孩都太残忍。我就是这么跟他说的,我自己也蛮同情他的……”

    苏菲听得满头雾水:“哦……”

    “……但是那个咒语实在是太强了,真是另人难过。”菲菲克丝太太继续喋喋不休:“我只好告诉他,我的能力无法破除荒地女巫下的任何魔咒。豪尔或许有办法,但是他当然无法跟豪尔开口,对不对?”

    麦可一直紧张地注视着屋子转角处,深怕豪尔走过来,发现他们。这时他逮住空隙,插嘴打断跳绳的韵律:“我想我们该走了。”

    “你真的不要近来尝尝我的蜂蜜吗?”菲菲克丝太太问道。“你们知道吗?我几乎所有的咒语都用到蜂蜜。”

    然后她的话匣子又开了,这次说的是关于蜂蜜的各种神奇特性。麦可和苏菲刻意朝大门方向走去,菲菲克丝太太落在他们之后,嘴里兀自说着,不时怜惜地停下来,将被狗弄弯的植物扶直。苏菲飞快地动脑筋,想在不惊吓到麦可的情况下,问菲菲克丝太太她是怎么发现乐蒂是乐蒂的。菲菲克丝太太将一棵大大的羽扇豆扶直后,停下来喘气。

    苏菲马上跳进来:“菲菲克丝太太,本来不是安排我另一个孙外甥女玛莎过来的吗?”

    “顽皮的孩子们!”菲菲克丝太太微笑着摇头,由羽扇花旁站起来。“我怎会认不出自己以蜂蜜为底调制的咒语呢?不过就像我当时跟她说的:‘不想学的人我绝不会留她!我宁可教有心学习的人。但是,我这儿不允许有任何伪装,所以你要的话,就必须以本来面貌留下来。’结果就像你看到的,一切都很好。你真的不想留下来问她?”

    “我想我们该走了。”苏菲说。

    “我们得回家了。”麦可加上一句,同时又紧张地瞥了果园的方向一眼。他由树篱里取出七里格靴,出了大门后,为苏菲放下一个,说:“这次我要好好抓着你。”

    菲菲克丝太太由大门探出头来,看苏菲把脚放到靴子里。“七里格靴!你相信吗,我不知多久没见到这玩意儿了!对你这种年纪的人是再方便不过了。呃……该怎么称呼你来着?到我这个年龄似乎也可以考虑拥有一双。所以乐蒂的巫术天分是遗传自你吧?虽然不一定会透过遗传,但是通常……”

    麦可拉住苏菲的手臂,两只靴子同时着地,菲菲克丝太太剩下的话语就在‘滋!’的一声及疾风中消失了。接着麦可必须抱住自己的脚,以免和城堡相撞。门开着,卡西法对着他们咆哮:“避难港的门!从你们离开后,有人一直在敲那门。”


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 hearth n5by9     
n.壁炉炉床,壁炉地面
参考例句:
  • She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来,在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。
  • She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里,打开电灯。
2 gracefully KfYxd     
ad.大大方方地;优美地
参考例句:
  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
3 turnip dpByj     
n.萝卜,芜菁
参考例句:
  • The turnip provides nutrition for you.芜菁为你提供营养。
  • A turnip is a root vegetable.芜菁是根茎类植物。
4 brace 0WzzE     
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备
参考例句:
  • My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
  • You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。
5 braced 4e05e688cf12c64dbb7ab31b49f741c5     
adj.拉牢的v.支住( brace的过去式和过去分词 );撑牢;使自己站稳;振作起来
参考例句:
  • They braced up the old house with balks of timber. 他们用梁木加固旧房子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The house has a wooden frame which is braced with brick. 这幢房子是木结构的砖瓦房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 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。
7 rustle thPyl     
v.沙沙作响;偷盗(牛、马等);n.沙沙声声
参考例句:
  • She heard a rustle in the bushes.她听到灌木丛中一阵沙沙声。
  • He heard a rustle of leaves in the breeze.他听到树叶在微风中发出的沙沙声。
8 hopping hopping     
n. 跳跃 动词hop的现在分词形式
参考例句:
  • The clubs in town are really hopping. 城里的俱乐部真够热闹的。
  • I'm hopping over to Paris for the weekend. 我要去巴黎度周末。
9 warily 5gvwz     
adv.留心地
参考例句:
  • He looked warily around him,pretending to look after Carrie.他小心地看了一下四周,假装是在照顾嘉莉。
  • They were heading warily to a point in the enemy line.他们正小心翼翼地向着敌人封锁线的某一处前进。
10 ragged KC0y8     
adj.衣衫褴褛的,粗糙的,刺耳的
参考例句:
  • A ragged shout went up from the small crowd.这一小群人发出了刺耳的喊叫。
  • Ragged clothing infers poverty.破衣烂衫意味着贫穷。
11 tilting f68c899ac9ba435686dcb0f12e2bbb17     
倾斜,倾卸
参考例句:
  • For some reason he thinks everyone is out to get him, but he's really just tilting at windmills. 不知为什么他觉得每个人都想害他,但其实他不过是在庸人自扰。
  • So let us stop bickering within our ranks.Stop tilting at windmills. 所以,让我们结束内部间的争吵吧!再也不要去做同风车作战的蠢事了。
12 speck sFqzM     
n.微粒,小污点,小斑点
参考例句:
  • I have not a speck of interest in it.我对它没有任何兴趣。
  • The sky is clear and bright without a speck of cloud.天空晴朗,一星星云彩也没有。
13 doorway 2s0xK     
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
参考例句:
  • They huddled in the shop doorway to shelter from the rain.他们挤在商店门口躲雨。
  • Mary suddenly appeared in the doorway.玛丽突然出现在门口。
14 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩(shrug的过去式与过去分词形式)
参考例句:
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀,什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩,装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
15 frantic Jfyzr     
adj.狂乱的,错乱的,激昂的
参考例句:
  • I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
  • He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。
16 depressed xu8zp9     
adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
参考例句:
  • When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
  • His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
17 inconvenient m4hy5     
adj.不方便的,令人感到麻烦的
参考例句:
  • You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。
  • Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗?
18 puffs cb3699ccb6e175dfc305ea6255d392d6     
n.吸( puff的名词复数 );(烟斗或香烟的)一吸;一缕(烟、蒸汽等);(呼吸或风的)呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 );喷着汽(或烟)移动;吹嘘;吹捧
参考例句:
  • We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里,轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
  • Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句
19 turrets 62429b8037b86b445f45d2a4b5ed714f     
(六角)转台( turret的名词复数 ); (战舰和坦克等上的)转动炮塔; (摄影机等上的)镜头转台; (旧时攻城用的)塔车
参考例句:
  • The Northampton's three turrets thundered out white smoke and pale fire. “诺思安普敦号”三座炮塔轰隆隆地冒出白烟和淡淡的火光。
  • If I can get to the gun turrets, I'll have a chance. 如果我能走到炮塔那里,我就会赢得脱险的机会。
20 turret blPww     
n.塔楼,角塔
参考例句:
  • This ancient turret has attracted many visitors.这座古老的塔楼吸引了很多游客。
  • The soldier scaled the wall of the fortress by turret.士兵通过塔楼攀登上了要塞的城墙。
21 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地
参考例句:
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
22 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。
23 hops a6b9236bf6c7a3dfafdbc0709208acc0     
跳上[下]( hop的第三人称单数 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花
参考例句:
  • The sparrow crossed the lawn in a series of hops. 那麻雀一蹦一跳地穿过草坪。
  • It is brewed from malt and hops. 它用麦精和蛇麻草酿成。
24 halfway Xrvzdq     
adj.中途的,不彻底的,部分的;adv.半路地,在中途,在半途
参考例句:
  • We had got only halfway when it began to get dark.走到半路,天就黑了。
  • In study the worst danger is give up halfway.在学习上,最忌讳的是有始无终。
25 strenuous 8GvzN     
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的
参考例句:
  • He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
  • You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。
26 lighter 5pPzPR     
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级
参考例句:
  • The portrait was touched up so as to make it lighter.这张画经过润色,色调明朗了一些。
  • The lighter works off the car battery.引燃器利用汽车蓄电池打火。
27 blur JtgzC     
n.模糊不清的事物;vt.使模糊,使看不清楚
参考例句:
  • The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
  • If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了,图像就会变得模糊不清。
28 marsh Y7Rzo     
n.沼泽,湿地
参考例句:
  • There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
  • I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。
29 hopped 91b136feb9c3ae690a1c2672986faa1c     
跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 ); 单足蹦跳; 齐足(或双足)跳行; 摘葎草花
参考例句:
  • He hopped onto a car and wanted to drive to town. 他跳上汽车想开向市区。
  • He hopped into a car and drove to town. 他跳进汽车,向市区开去。
30 wailed e27902fd534535a9f82ffa06a5b6937a     
v.哭叫,哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句
31 crooked xvazAv     
adj.弯曲的;不诚实的,狡猾的,不正当的
参考例句:
  • He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指,示意我们到他那儿去。
  • You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。
32 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦,大楼;宅第
参考例句:
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
33 momentum DjZy8     
n.动力,冲力,势头;动量
参考例句:
  • We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
  • The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。
34 frantically ui9xL     
ad.发狂地, 发疯地
参考例句:
  • He dashed frantically across the road. 他疯狂地跑过马路。
  • She bid frantically for the old chair. 她发狂地喊出高价要买那把古老的椅子。
35 thump sq2yM     
v.重击,砰然地响;n.重击,重击声
参考例句:
  • The thief hit him a thump on the head.贼在他的头上重击一下。
  • The excitement made her heart thump.她兴奋得心怦怦地跳。
36 sprinted cbad7fd28d99bfe76a3766a4dd081936     
v.短距离疾跑( sprint的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He sprinted for the line. 他向终点线冲去。
  • Sergeant Horne sprinted to the car. 霍恩中士全力冲向那辆汽车。 来自辞典例句
37 envious n8SyX     
adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的
参考例句:
  • I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
  • She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
38 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。
39 scones 851500ddb2eb42d0ca038d69fbf83f7e     
n.烤饼,烤小圆面包( scone的名词复数 )
参考例句:
  • scones and jam with clotted cream 夹有凝脂奶油和果酱的烤饼
  • She makes scones and cakes for the delectation of visitors. 她烘制了烤饼和蛋糕供客人享用。 来自辞典例句
40 gasp UfxzL     
n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说
参考例句:
  • She gave a gasp of surprise.她吃惊得大口喘气。
  • The enemy are at their last gasp.敌人在做垂死的挣扎。
41 gasped e6af294d8a7477229d6749fa9e8f5b80     
v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 );喘息;倒抽气;很想要
参考例句:
  • She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
  • People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
42 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的
参考例句:
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。
43 whining whining     
n. 抱怨,牢骚 v. 哭诉,发牢骚
参考例句:
  • That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
  • The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着(要进来)。
44 plunge 228zO     
v.跳入,(使)投入,(使)陷入;猛冲
参考例句:
  • Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。
  • That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。
45 plunged 06a599a54b33c9d941718dccc7739582     
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
参考例句:
  • The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。
  • She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳,从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。
46 orchard UJzxu     
n.果园,果园里的全部果树,(美俚)棒球场
参考例句:
  • My orchard is bearing well this year.今年我的果园果实累累。
  • Each bamboo house was surrounded by a thriving orchard.每座竹楼周围都是茂密的果园。
47 swarm dqlyj     
n.(昆虫)等一大群;vi.成群飞舞;蜂拥而入
参考例句:
  • There is a swarm of bees in the tree.这树上有一窝蜜蜂。
  • A swarm of ants are moving busily.一群蚂蚁正在忙碌地搬家。
48 grove v5wyy     
n.林子,小树林,园林
参考例句:
  • On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees.山顶上一片高大的树林。
  • The scent of lemons filled the grove.柠檬香味充满了小树林。
49 ardent yvjzd     
adj.热情的,热烈的,强烈的,烈性的
参考例句:
  • He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。
  • Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。
50 glossy nfvxx     
adj.平滑的;有光泽的
参考例句:
  • I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
  • She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。
51 crouched 62634c7e8c15b8a61068e36aaed563ab     
v.屈膝,蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • He crouched down beside her. 他在她的旁边蹲了下来。
  • The lion crouched ready to pounce. 狮子蹲下身,准备猛扑。
52 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的,直截了当的
参考例句:
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
53 dismally cdb50911b7042de000f0b2207b1b04d0     
adv.阴暗地,沉闷地
参考例句:
  • Fei Little Beard assented dismally. 费小胡子哭丧着脸回答。 来自子夜部分
  • He began to howl dismally. 它就凄凉地吠叫起来。 来自辞典例句
54 chuckled 8ce1383c838073977a08258a1f3e30f8     
轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
  • She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
55 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
56 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的
参考例句:
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
57 softening f4d358268f6bd0b278eabb29f2ee5845     
变软,软化
参考例句:
  • Her eyes, softening, caressed his face. 她的眼光变得很温柔了。它们不住地爱抚他的脸。 来自汉英文学 - 家(1-26) - 家(1-26)
  • He might think my brain was softening or something of the kind. 他也许会觉得我婆婆妈妈的,已经成了个软心肠的人了。
58 benevolently cbc2f6883e3f60c12a75d387dd5dbd94     
adv.仁慈地,行善地
参考例句:
  • She looked on benevolently. 她亲切地站在一边看着。 来自《简明英汉词典》
59 nervously tn6zFp     
adv.神情激动地,不安地
参考例句:
  • He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
  • He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
60 trample 9Jmz0     
vt.踩,践踏;无视,伤害,侵犯
参考例句:
  • Don't trample on the grass. 勿踏草地。
  • Don't trample on the flowers when you play in the garden. 在花园里玩耍时,不要踩坏花。
61 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。
62 pretense yQYxi     
n.矫饰,做作,借口
参考例句:
  • You can't keep up the pretense any longer.你无法继续伪装下去了。
  • Pretense invariably impresses only the pretender.弄虚作假欺骗不了真正的行家。
63 witchcraft pe7zD7     
n.魔法,巫术
参考例句:
  • The woman practising witchcraft claimed that she could conjure up the spirits of the dead.那个女巫说她能用魔法召唤亡灵。
  • All these things that you call witchcraft are capable of a natural explanation.被你们统统叫做巫术的那些东西都可以得到合情合理的解释。


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