Mr Shepherd, a civil, cautious lawyer, who, whatever might be his hold or his views on Sir Walter, would rather have the disagreeable prompted by anybody else, excused himself from offering the slightest hint, and only begged leave to recommend an implicit1 reference to the excellent judgement of Lady Russell, from whose known good sense he fully2 expected to have just such resolute3 measures advised as he meant to see finally adopted.
Lady Russell was most anxiously zealous4 on the subject, and gave it much serious consideration. She was a woman rather of sound than of quick abilities, whose difficulties in coming to any decision in this instance were great, from the opposition5 of two leading principles. She was of strict integrity herself, with a delicate sense of honour; but she was as desirous of saving Sir Walter's feelings, as solicitous6 for the credit of the family, as aristocratic in her ideas of what was due to them, as anybody of sense and honesty could well be. She was a benevolent7, charitable, good woman, and capable of strong attachments8, most correct in her conduct, strict in her notions of decorum, and with manners that were held a standard of good-breeding. She had a cultivated mind, and was, generally speaking, rational and consistent; but she had prejudices on the side of ancestry9; she had a value for rank and consequence, which blinded her a little to the faults of those who possessed10 them. Herself the widow of only a knight11, she gave the dignity of a baronet all its due; and Sir Walter, independent of his claims as an old acquaintance, an attentive12 neighbour, an obliging landlord, the husband of her very dear friend, the father of Anne and her sisters, was, as being Sir Walter, in her apprehension13, entitled to a great deal of compassion14 and consideration under his present difficulties.
They must retrench15; that did not admit of a doubt. But she was very anxious to have it done with the least possible pain to him and Elizabeth. She drew up plans of economy, she made exact calculations, and she did what nobody else thought of doing: she consulted Anne, who never seemed considered by the others as having any interest in the question. She consulted, and in a degree was influenced by her in marking out the scheme of retrenchment16 which was at last submitted to Sir Walter. Every emendation of Anne's had been on the side of honesty against importance. She wanted more vigorous measures, a more complete reformation, a quicker release from debt, a much higher tone of indifference17 for everything but justice and equity18.
"If we can persuade your father to all this, " said Lady Russell, looking over her paper, "much may be done. If he will adopt these regulations, in seven years he will be clear; and I hope we may be able to convince him and Elizabeth, that Kellynch Hall has a respectability in itself which cannot be affected19 by these reductions; and that the true dignity of Sir Walter Elliot will be very far from lessened20 in the eyes of sensible people, by acting21 like a man of principle. What will he be doing, in fact, but what very many of our first families have done, or ought to do? There will be nothing singular in his case; and it is singularity which often makes the worst part of our suffering, as it always does of our conduct. I have great hope of prevailing22. We must be serious and decided23; for after all, the person who has contracted debts must pay them; and though a great deal is due to the feelings of the gentleman, and the head of a house, like your father, there is still more due to the character of an honest man. "
This was the principle on which Anne wanted her father to be proceeding24, his friends to be urging him. She considered it as an act of indispensable duty to clear away the claims of creditors25 with all the expedition which the most comprehensive retrenchments could secure, and saw no dignity in anything short of it. She wanted it to be prescribed, and felt as a duty. She rated Lady Russell's influence highly; and as to the severe degree of self-denial which her own conscience prompted, she believed there might be little more difficulty in persuading them to a complete, than to half a reformation. Her knowledge of her father and Elizabeth inclined her to think that the sacrifice of one pair of horses would be hardly less painful than of both, and so on, through the whole list of Lady Russell's too gentle reductions.
How Anne's more rigid26 requisitions might have been taken is of little consequence. Lady Russell's had no success at all: could not be put up with, were not to be borne. "What! every comfort of life knocked off! Journeys, London, servants, horses, table-- contractions27 and restrictions28 every where! To live no longer with the decencies even of a private gentleman! No, he would sooner quit Kellynch Hall at once, than remain in it on such disgraceful terms. "
"Quit Kellynch Hall. " The hint was immediately taken up by Mr Shepherd, whose interest was involved in the reality of Sir Walter's retrenching29, and who was perfectly30 persuaded that nothing would be done without a change of abode31. "Since the idea had been started in the very quarter which ought to dictate32, he had no scruple33, " he said, "in confessing his judgement to be entirely34 on that side. It did not appear to him that Sir Walter could materially alter his style of living in a house which had such a character of hospitality and ancient dignity to support. In any other place Sir Walter might judge for himself; and would be looked up to, as regulating the modes of life in whatever way he might choose to model his household. "
Sir Walter would quit Kellynch Hall; and after a very few days more of doubt and indecision, the great question of whither he should go was settled, and the first outline of this important change made out.
There had been three alternatives, London, Bath, or another house in the country. All Anne's wishes had been for the latter. A small house in their own neighbourhood, where they might still have Lady Russell's society, still be near Mary, and still have the pleasure of sometimes seeing the lawns and groves35 of Kellynch, was the object of her ambition. But the usual fate of Anne attended her, in having something very opposite from her inclination36 fixed37 on. She disliked Bath, and did not think it agreed with her; and Bath was to be her home.
Sir Walter had at first thought more of London; but Mr Shepherd felt that he could not be trusted in London, and had been skilful38 enough to dissuade39 him from it, and make Bath preferred. It was a much safer place for a gentleman in his predicament: he might there be important at comparatively little expense. Two material advantages of Bath over London had of course been given all their weight: its more convenient distance from Kellynch, only fifty miles, and Lady Russell's spending some part of every winter there; and to the very great satisfaction of Lady Russell, whose first views on the projected change had been for Bath, Sir Walter and Elizabeth were induced to believe that they should lose neither consequence nor enjoyment40 by settling there.
Lady Russell felt obliged to oppose her dear Anne's known wishes. It would be too much to expect Sir Walter to descend41 into a small house in his own neighbourhood. Anne herself would have found the mortifications of it more than she foresaw, and to Sir Walter's feelings they must have been dreadful. And with regard to Anne's dislike of Bath, she considered it as a prejudice and mistake arising, first, from the circumstance of her having been three years at school there, after her mother's death; and secondly42, from her happening to be not in perfectly good spirits the only winter which she had afterwards spent there with herself.
Lady Russell was fond of Bath, in short, and disposed to think it must suit them all; and as to her young friend's health, by passing all the warm months with her at Kellynch Lodge43, every danger would be avoided; and it was in fact, a change which must do both health and spirits good. Anne had been too little from home, too little seen. Her spirits were not high. A larger society would improve them. She wanted her to be more known.
The undesirableness44 of any other house in the same neighbourhood for Sir Walter was certainly much strengthened by one part, and a very material part of the scheme, which had been happily engrafted on the beginning. He was not only to quit his home, but to see it in the hands of others; a trial of fortitude45, which stronger heads than Sir Walter's have found too much. Kellynch Hall was to be let. This, however, was a profound secret, not to be breathed beyond their own circle.
Sir Walter could not have borne the degradation46 of being known to design letting his house. Mr Shepherd had once mentioned the word "advertise, " but never dared approach it again. Sir Walter spurned47 the idea of its being offered in any manner; forbad the slightest hint being dropped of his having such an intention; and it was only on the supposition of his being spontaneously solicited48 by some most unexceptionable applicant49, on his own terms, and as a great favour, that he would let it at all.
How quick come the reasons for approving what we like! Lady Russell had another excellent one at hand, for being extremely glad that Sir Walter and his family were to remove from the country. Elizabeth had been lately forming an intimacy50, which she wished to see interrupted. It was with the daughter of Mr Shepherd, who had returned, after an unprosperous marriage, to her father's house, with the additional burden of two children. She was a clever young woman, who understood the art of pleasing--the art of pleasing, at least, at Kellynch Hall; and who had made herself so acceptable to Miss Elliot, as to have been already staying there more than once, in spite of all that Lady Russell, who thought it a friendship quite out of place, could hint of caution and reserve.
Lady Russell, indeed, had scarcely any influence with Elizabeth, and seemed to love her, rather because she would love her, than because Elizabeth deserved it. She had never received from her more than outward attention, nothing beyond the observances of complaisance51; had never succeeded in any point which she wanted to carry, against previous inclination. She had been repeatedly very earnest in trying to get Anne included in the visit to London, sensibly open to all the injustice52 and all the discredit53 of the selfish arrangements which shut her out, and on many lesser54 occasions had endeavoured to give Elizabeth the advantage of her own better judgement and experience; but always in vain: Elizabeth would go her own way; and never had she pursued it in more decided opposition to Lady Russell than in this selection of Mrs Clay; turning from the society of so deserving a sister, to bestow55 her affection and confidence on one who ought to have been nothing to her but the object of distant civility.
From situation, Mrs Clay was, in Lady Russell's estimate, a very unequal, and in her character she believed a very dangerous companion; and a removal that would leave Mrs Clay behind, and bring a choice of more suitable intimates within Miss Elliot's reach, was therefore an object of first-rate importance.
谢泼德先生是位斯文谨慎的律师,他对沃尔特爵士不管有多大的制约,有什么看法,碰到什么不愉快的事情,总是宁肯让别人提出,因而他推说自己拿不出半点主意,委婉地建议他们听听拉塞尔夫人的精辟见解。拉塞尔夫人是个有名的聪明人,他最终想要沃尔特爵士采纳的具体措施,完全可以指望让她提出来。
拉塞尔夫人对这桩事可真是既焦急又热心,认认真真地做了一番考虑。她这个人与其说思想敏捷,不如说办事稳健,在眼下这个问题上,她遇到了两个互相对立的主要原则,一时很难打定主意。她本人倒十分诚挚,也很讲体面,但她又像其他通情达理的诚实人一样,一心想要顾全沃尔特爵士的感情,维护他们家族的声誉,从贵族的角度设身处地地为他们的应得利益着想。她是个宽厚慈善的好女人,感情强烈,品行端正,拘泥礼仪,言谈举止被视为教养有素的楷模。她心性娴雅,一般说来也很明智,坚定。不过,她有些偏爱名门贵族,尊崇高官厚位,因而对达官贵人的缺点便有点视而不见。她自己仅仅是个骑士的遗媚,对一位准男爵也就尊祟备至。沃尔特爵士不仅是她的老朋友、客气的邻居、热心的房东、密友的丈夫、安妮姊妹的父亲,而且是她心目中的沃尔特爵士,他如今陷入了困境,值得引起别人的深切同情和关心。
他们必须节省开支,这是毋庸置疑的。但是她很想把事情办得妥帖些,以便尽量不给沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白带来痛苦。她拟定了节约计划,进行了精确的计算,并且做出了别人意想不到的事情:她征求了安妮的意见,而在别人看来,这位安妮好像对此事毫无干系似的。而且在制定最后递交给沃尔特爵士的那份节约计划的过程中,还多多少少受到了安妮的影响。安妮的每一点修改意见,都主张实事求是,不讲排场。她要求采取更加有力的措施,来一个更加彻底的改革,更快地从债务中解脱出来,听语气,更加强调要入情入理,别的因素概不考虑。
“如果我们能说服你父亲接受这些意见,”拉塞尔夫人一面看着她的改革方案,一面说道,“那就解决大问题啦。如果他肯采纳这些调整措施,他七年后便能还清欠债。我希望我们能让他和伊丽莎白认识到:凯林奇大厦本身是体面的,这种体面不会因为缩减开支而受到影响;沃尔特·埃利奥特爵士是有尊严的,而在明智人的心目中,这种真正的尊严决不会因为他按照原则办事而受到损害。事实上,他要做的不正是许多名门世家做过或者应该做的事情吗?他的情况并没有什么特殊的地方,这种特殊论往往使我们的行动遭到非难,也使我们吃尽最大的苦头。我们大有希望说服他。我们一定要认真果断,因为负债的人归根到底总得偿还。虽然我们要充分照顾像你父亲这样一位绅士、家长的感情,但是我们更要注意维护一个诚实人的人格。”
安妮要她父亲遵循的,要他的朋友们敦促他接受的,正是这条原则。她认为,采取全面的节俭措施,以最快的速度偿清一切债务,这是义不容辞的责任,舍此决没有什么尊严可谈。她要求把这一条规定下来,让大家视为一项义务。她高度估价拉塞尔夫人的影响;至于说她自己凭着良心提出的严于克己,她相信,要说服大家来一场彻底的改革,也许不会比动员一场半拉子改革更困难。她了解父亲和伊丽莎白,纵观拉塞尔夫人提出的那个过于温和的节俭清单,她觉得减掉一对马不见得比减掉两对马更好受些。
安妮那些更苛刻的要求会遇到何种反应,这已经无关紧要了。拉塞尔夫人的要求压根儿没有获得成功:对方无法接受,无法容忍。“什么!砍掉生活中的一切舒适条件!旅行,进城,仆人,马匹,用餐——样样都要缩减,样样都要限制!以后的生活连个无名绅士的体面都没有了!不,我宁可马上离开凯林奇大厦,也不愿意按这样的屈辱条件继续呆在里面。”
“离开凯林奇大厦!”谢泼德先生立即接过话茬。他一心想要促使沃尔特爵士真正节省开支,但是他又十分清楚地认识到:倘若不让他换个住所,则将一事无成。“既然有权发号施令的人提出了这个念头,”他说,“那我也就毫无顾忌地承认:我完全同意这个意见。据我看来,沃尔特爵士在大厦里既然要保持名门世家、殷勤好客的声誉,就不可能从根本上改变现在的生活派头。换个别的地方,沃尔特爵士就能自己作主,随心所欲地选择自己的生活方式,安排自己的家务,并且受到人们的敬仰。”
沃尔特爵士准备离开凯林奇大厦。犹豫了几天之后,去向的大问题解决了,这次重大变革的初步方案也拟定好了。
有三个可供选择的去处:伦敦,巴思(英格兰西部著名的矿泉疗养胜地)和乡下的另外一所住宅。安妮满心希望选择后者。那是一幢离他们庄园不远的小房子,住在那里可以同拉塞尔夫人继续交往,还可以与玛丽挨得很近,有时还可以欣赏一下凯林奇的草坪和树林,这真是安妮梦寐以求的目标。但是安妮命该如此,事情的结果往往同她的意愿背道而驰。她不喜欢巴思,觉得那地方不合她的胃口,可她偏偏得住到巴思。
沃尔特爵士起先想去伦敦,可是谢泼德先生觉得他在伦敦叫人放心不下,便巧言巧语地劝说他打消了这个念头,从而选中了巴思。对于一个身处逆境的人来说,这个地方保险得多:在那儿,他可以相对地少花钱,而又过得很显贵。不用说,巴思和伦敦比起来,是有两个优越条件起了作用:一是它距离凯林奇只有五十英里,来往更方便,二是拉塞尔夫人每年冬天可以去那里住些日子。本来,拉塞尔夫人在规划改革的过程中,最先考虑的就是巴思,现在也大为满意了。沃尔特爵士和伊丽莎白经过开导,觉得搬到巴思既不会丢掉身分,又不会失去乐趣。
拉塞尔夫人分明知道亲爱的安妮的心愿,却又不得不加以反对。要让沃尔特爵士纡尊降贵地住进他庄园附近的一座小房子里,这委实太过分了。就连安妮自己也会发现,这比她预先想象的更加有失体面,沃尔特爵士感情上一定通不过。至于说安妮不喜欢巴思,拉塞尔夫人认为那不过是一种偏见和误解,安妮之所以产生这种偏见和误解,首先是由于她在母亲死后,曾到那里读了三年书,其次是由于她同拉塞尔夫人在那里度过的唯一的那个冬天,却碰巧赶上精神不很偷快。
总而言之,拉塞尔夫人很喜欢巴思,便以为这地方一定会中大伙的意。至于说到她的年轻朋友的身体,只要她赶天热的时候来凯林奇村同教母住上几个月,一切有损健康的因素都可避免。其实,换换环境对她的身心都有好处。安妮很少出门,别人也很少见到她。她情绪不高,多跟人交往交往会使情绪有所好转。她希望有更多的人认识安妮。
对沃尔特爵士来说,他们的搬迁计划幸好从一开始便包括一项内容,而且是很重要的一项内容,这就使他更不喜欢在方圆左近找座房子。原来,他不但要离开自己的家,而且要看着它落到别人手里;这即使对毅力比沃尔特爵士更强的人,也是个难以承受的考验。凯林奇大厦要出租。不过这是绝密,不得泄露给外人知道。
沃尔特爵士不愿让人知道他想出租房子,他忍受不了这个屈辱。有一次,谢泼德先生提到了“登广告”,可是后来再也没敢说起这话。沃尔特爵士坚决反对主动提出出租,不管采取什么形式。丝毫不准向人透露他有这种打算。只有假定有位极其合适的申请人主动向他提出请求,他才会按照自己的条件,作为大恩大典而出租凯林奇大厦。
人要是喜欢什么,找起理由来还真够快当的!拉塞尔夫人之所以对沃尔特爵士一家搬出乡下感到无比高兴,还有一个极其过硬的理由。伊丽莎白最近结交了一位知心朋友,拉塞尔夫人巴不得让她们一刀两断。这位朋友是谢泼德先生的女儿,她婚后感到不幸福,便带着两个累赘孩子,回到了娘家。她是个机灵的年轻女人,懂得卖乖讨好的诀窍——至少懂得在凯林奇大厦卖乖讨好的诀窍。她赢得了埃利奥特小姐的欢心,尽管拉塞尔夫人认为结交这个朋友不合适,一再暗示小姐要当心,要克制,可是那位朋友来大厦盘桓已经不止一次了。
的确,拉塞尔夫人对伊丽莎白是没有什么左右力的,不过她看样子还喜欢她,这倒不是因为伊丽莎白讨人喜爱,而是因为拉塞尔夫人愿意这么做。这位夫人从伊丽莎白那里得到的,仅仅是表面上的客客气气,大不过是表示表示礼貌罢了。她从来没有说服伊丽莎白克服以往的偏见,接受她要表明的观点。沃尔特爵士父女每次去伦敦都把安妮撇在家里,拉塞尔夫人深知这种安排自私不公,有失体面,曾几次三番地力争让安妮跟着一起去,并且多次试图拿自己的见解和经验开导伊丽莎白,但总是徒劳无益,伊丽莎白偏要一意孤行。而在选择克莱夫人作朋友的过程中,她同拉塞尔夫人作对的思想从来没有表现得那么坚决。她抛开一个如此可爱的妹妹,而去错爱一个按理只配受到淡然以礼相待的女人,把她当作了知心人。
从地位上判断,拉塞尔夫人觉得克莱夫人与伊丽莎白很不相称;从人品上看,拉塞尔夫人又认为克莱夫人是个十分危险的伙伴。因此,通过搬家甩掉克莱夫人,让埃利奥特小姐结交一些更为合适的知心朋友,便成为一个头等重要的目标。
1 implicit | |
a.暗示的,含蓄的,不明晰的,绝对的 | |
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2 fully | |
adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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3 resolute | |
adj.坚决的,果敢的 | |
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4 zealous | |
adj.狂热的,热心的 | |
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5 opposition | |
n.反对,敌对 | |
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6 solicitous | |
adj.热切的,挂念的 | |
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7 benevolent | |
adj.仁慈的,乐善好施的 | |
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8 attachments | |
n.(用电子邮件发送的)附件( attachment的名词复数 );附着;连接;附属物 | |
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9 ancestry | |
n.祖先,家世 | |
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10 possessed | |
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的 | |
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11 knight | |
n.骑士,武士;爵士 | |
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12 attentive | |
adj.注意的,专心的;关心(别人)的,殷勤的 | |
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13 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
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14 compassion | |
n.同情,怜悯 | |
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15 retrench | |
v.节省,削减 | |
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16 retrenchment | |
n.节省,删除 | |
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17 indifference | |
n.不感兴趣,不关心,冷淡,不在乎 | |
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18 equity | |
n.公正,公平,(无固定利息的)股票 | |
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19 affected | |
adj.不自然的,假装的 | |
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20 lessened | |
减少的,减弱的 | |
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21 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
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22 prevailing | |
adj.盛行的;占优势的;主要的 | |
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23 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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24 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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25 creditors | |
n.债权人,债主( creditor的名词复数 ) | |
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26 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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27 contractions | |
n.收缩( contraction的名词复数 );缩减;缩略词;(分娩时)子宫收缩 | |
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28 restrictions | |
约束( restriction的名词复数 ); 管制; 制约因素; 带限制性的条件(或规则) | |
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29 retrenching | |
v.紧缩开支( retrench的现在分词 );削减(费用);节省 | |
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30 perfectly | |
adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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31 abode | |
n.住处,住所 | |
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32 dictate | |
v.口授;(使)听写;指令,指示,命令 | |
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33 scruple | |
n./v.顾忌,迟疑 | |
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34 entirely | |
ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 | |
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35 groves | |
树丛,小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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36 inclination | |
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 | |
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37 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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38 skilful | |
(=skillful)adj.灵巧的,熟练的 | |
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39 dissuade | |
v.劝阻,阻止 | |
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40 enjoyment | |
n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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41 descend | |
vt./vi.传下来,下来,下降 | |
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42 secondly | |
adv.第二,其次 | |
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43 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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44 undesirableness | |
不受欢迎的人,不良分子( undesirable的名词复数 ) | |
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45 fortitude | |
n.坚忍不拔;刚毅 | |
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46 degradation | |
n.降级;低落;退化;陵削;降解;衰变 | |
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47 spurned | |
v.一脚踢开,拒绝接受( spurn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48 solicited | |
v.恳求( solicit的过去式和过去分词 );(指娼妇)拉客;索求;征求 | |
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49 applicant | |
n.申请人,求职者,请求者 | |
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50 intimacy | |
n.熟悉,亲密,密切关系,亲昵的言行 | |
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51 complaisance | |
n.彬彬有礼,殷勤,柔顺 | |
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52 injustice | |
n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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53 discredit | |
vt.使不可置信;n.丧失信义;不信,怀疑 | |
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54 lesser | |
adj.次要的,较小的;adv.较小地,较少地 | |
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55 bestow | |
v.把…赠与,把…授予;花费 | |
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