Prince Michael, of the Electorate1 of Valleluna, sat on his favourite bench in the park. The coolness of the September night quickened the life in him like a rare, tonic2 wine. The benches were not filled; for park loungers, with their stagnant3 blood, are prompt to detect and fly home from the crispness of early autumn. The moon was just clearing the roofs of the range of dwellings4 that bounded the quadrangle on the east. Children laughed and played about the fine- sprayed fountain. In the shadowed spots fauns and hamadryads wooed, unconscious of the gaze of mortal eyes. A hand organ--Philomel by the grace of our stage carpenter, Fancy--fluted and droned in a side street. Around the enchanted5 boundaries of the little park street cars spat6 and mewed and the stilted7 trains roared like tigers and lions prowling for a place to enter.
And above the trees shone the great, round, shining face of an illuminated8 clock in the tower of an antique public building.
Prince Michael's shoes were wrecked9 far beyond the skill of the carefullest cobbler. The ragman would have declined any negotiations10 concerning his clothes. The two weeks' stubble on his face was grey and brown and red and greenish yellow--as if it had been made up from individual contributions from the chorus of a musical comedy.
No man existed who had money enough to wear so bad a hat as his.
Prince Michael sat on his favourite bench and smiled. It was a diverting thought to him that he was wealthy enough to buy every one of those close-ranged, bulky, window-lit mansions11 that faced him, if he chose. He could have matched gold, equipages, jewels, art treasures, estates and acres with any Croesus in this proud city of Manhattan, and scarcely have entered upon the bulk of his holdings. He could have sat at table with reigning12 sovereigns. The social world, the world of art, the fellowship of the elect, adulation, imitation, the homage13 of the fairest, honours from the highest, praise from the wisest, flattery, esteem14, credit, pleasure, fame--all the honey of life was waiting in the comb in the hive of the world for Prince Michael, of the Electorate of Valleluna, whenever he might choose to take it. But his choice was to sit in rags and dinginess15 on a bench in a park. For he had tasted of the fruit of the tree of life, and, finding it bitter in his mouth, had stepped out of Eden for a time to seek distraction16 close to the unarmoured, beating heart of the world.
These thoughts strayed dreamily through the mind of Prince Michael, as he smiled under the stubble of his polychromatic beard. Lounging thus, clad as the poorest of mendicants in the parks, he loved to study humanity. He found in altruism17 more pleasure than his riches, his station and all the grosser sweets of life had given him.
It was his chief solace18 and satisfaction to alleviate19 individual distress20, to confer favours upon worthy21 ones who had need of succour, to dazzle unfortunates by unexpected and bewildering gifts of truly royal magnificence, bestowed22, however, with wisdom and judiciousness23.
And as Prince Michael's eye rested upon the glowing face of the great clock in the tower, his smile, altruistic24 as it was, became slightly tinged25 with contempt. Big thoughts were the Prince's; and it was always with a shake of his head that he considered the subjugation26 of the world to the arbitrary measures of Time. The comings and goings of people in hurry and dread27, controlled by the little metal moving hands of a clock, always made him sad.
By and by came a young man in evening clothes and sat upon the third bench from the Prince. For half an hour he smoked cigars with nervous haste, and then he fell to watching the face of the illuminated clock above the trees. His perturbation was evident, and the Prince noted28, in sorrow, that its cause was connected, in some manner, with the slowly moving hands of the timepiece.
His Highness arose and went to the young man's bench.
"I beg your pardon for addressing you," he said, "but I perceive that you are disturbed in mind. If it may serve to mitigate29 the liberty I have taken I will add that I am Prince Michael, heir to the throne of the Electorate of Valleluna. I appear incognito30, of course, as you may gather from my appearance. It is a fancy of mine to render aid to others whom I think worthy of it. Perhaps the matter that seems to distress you is one that would more readily yield to our mutual31 efforts."
The young man looked up brightly at the Prince. Brightly, but the perpendicular32 line of perplexity between his brows was not smoothed away. He laughed, and even then it did not. But he accepted the momentary33 diversion.
"Glad to meet you, Prince," he said, good humouredly. "Yes, I'd say you were incog. all right. Thanks for your offer of assistance--but I don't see where your butting-in would help things any. It's a kind of private affair, you know--but thanks all the same."
Prince Michael sat at the young man's side. He was often rebuffed but never offensively. His courteous34 manner and words forbade that.
"Clocks," said the Prince, "are shackles35 on the feet of mankind. I have observed you looking persistently36 at that clock. Its face is that of a tyrant37, its numbers are false as those on a lottery38 ticket; its hands are those of a bunco steerer, who makes an appointment with you to your ruin. Let me entreat39 you to throw off its humiliating bonds and to cease to order your affairs by that insensate monitor of brass40 and steel."
"I don't usually," said the young man. "I carry a watch except when I've got my radiant rags on."
"I know human nature as I do the trees and grass," said the Prince, with earnest dignity. "I am a master of philosophy, a graduate in art, and I hold the purse of a Fortunatus. There are few mortal misfortunes that I cannot alleviate or overcome. I have read your countenance41, and found in it honesty and nobility as well as distress. I beg of you to accept my advice or aid. Do not belie42 the intelligence I see in your face by judging from my appearance of my ability to defeat your troubles."
The young man glanced at the clock again and frowned darkly. When his gaze strayed from the glowing horologue of time it rested intently upon a four-story red brick house in the row of dwellings opposite to where he sat. The shades were drawn43, and the lights in many rooms shone dimly through them.
"Ten minutes to nine!" exclaimed the young man, with an impatient gesture of despair. He turned his back upon the house and took a rapid step or two in a contrary direction.
"Remain!" commanded Prince Michael, in so potent44 a voice that the disturbed one wheeled around with a somewhat chagrined45 laugh.
"I'll give her the ten minutes and then I'm off," he muttered, and then aloud to the Prince: "I'll join you in confounding all clocks, my friend, and throw in women, too."
"Sit down," said the Prince calmly. "I do not accept your addition. Women are the natural enemies of clocks, and, therefore, the allies of those who would seek liberation from these monsters that measure our follies46 and limit our pleasures. If you will so far confide47 in me I would ask you to relate to me your story."
The young man threw himself upon the bench with a reckless laugh.
"Your Royal Highness, I will," he said, in tones of mock deference48. "Do you see yonder house--the one with three upper windows lighted? Well, at 6 o'clock I stood in that house with the young lady I am-- that is, I was--engaged to. I had been doing wrong, my dear Prince-- I had been a naughty boy, and she had heard of it. I wanted to be forgiven, of course--we are always wanting women to forgive us, aren't we, Prince?"
"'I want time to think it over,' said she. 'There is one thing certain; I will either fully49 forgive you, or I will never see your face again. There will be no half-way business. At half-past eight,' she said, 'at exactly half-past eight you may be watching the middle upper window of the top floor. If I decide to forgive I will hang out of that window a white silk scarf. You will know by that that all is as was before, and you may come to me. If you see no scarf you may consider that everything between us is ended forever.' That," concluded the young man bitterly, "is why I have been watching that clock. The time for the signal to appear has passed twenty- three minutes ago. Do you wonder that I am a little disturbed, my Prince of Rags and Whiskers?"
"Let me repeat to you," said Prince Michael, in his even, well- modulated50 tones, "that women are the natural enemies of clocks. Clocks are an evil, women a blessing51.
The signal may yet appear."
"Never, on your principality!" exclaimed the young man, hopelessly. "You don't know Marian--of course. She's always on time, to the minute. That was the first thing about her that attracted me. I've got the mitten53 instead of the scarf. I ought to have known at 8.31 that my goose was cooked. I'll go West on the 11.45 to-night with Jack54 Milburn. The jig's up. I'll try Jack's ranch55 awhile and top off with the Klondike and whiskey. Good-night--er--er--Prince."
Prince Michael smiled his enigmatic, gentle, comprehending smile and caught the coat sleeve of the other. The brilliant light in the Prince's eyes was softening56 to a dreamier, cloudy translucence57.
"Wait," he said solemnly, "till the clock strikes. I have wealth and power and knowledge above most men, but when the clock strikes I am afraid. Stay by me until then.
This woman shall be yours. You have the word of the hereditary58 Prince of Valleluna. On the day of your marriage I will give you $100,000 and a palace on the Hudson. But there must be no clocks in that palace--they measure our follies and limit our pleasures. Do you agree to that?"
"Of course," said the young man, cheerfully, "they're a nuisance, anyway--always ticking and striking and getting you late for dinner."
He glanced again at the clock in the tower. The hands stood at three minutes to nine.
"I think," said Prince Michael, "that I will sleep a little. The day has been fatiguing59."
He stretched himself upon a bench with the manner of one who had slept thus before.
"You will find me in this park on any evening when the weather is suitable," said the Prince, sleepily. "Come to me when your marriage day is set and I will give you a cheque for the money."
"Thanks, Your Highness," said the young man, seriously. "It doesn't look as if I would need that palace on the Hudson, but I appreciate your offer, just the same."
Prince Michael sank into deep slumber60. His battered61 hat rolled from the bench to the ground. The young man lifted it, placed it over the frowsy face and moved one of the grotesquely62 relaxed limbs into a more comfortable position. "Poor devil!" he said, as he drew the tattered63 clothes closer about the Prince's breast.
Sonorous64 and startling came the stroke of 9 from the clock tower. The young man sighed again, turned his face for one last look at the house of his relinquished65 hopes--and cried aloud profane66 words of holy rapture67.
From the middle upper window blossomed in the dusk a waving, snowy, fluttering, wonderful, divine emblem68 of forgiveness and promised joy.
By came a citizen, rotund, comfortable, home-hurrying, unknowing of the delights of waving silken scarfs on the borders of dimly-lit parks.
"Will you oblige me with the time, sir?" asked the young man; and the citizen, shrewdly conjecturing69 his watch to be safe, dragged it out and announced:
"Twenty-nine and a half minutes past eight, sir."
And then, from habit, he glanced at the clock in the tower, and made further oration70.
"By George! that clock's half an hour fast! First time in ten years I've known it to be off. This watch of mine never varies a--"
But the citizen was talking to vacancy71. He turned and saw his hearer, a fast receding72 black shadow, flying in the direction of a house with three lighted upper windows.
And in the morning came along two policemen on their way to the beats they owned. The park was deserted73 save for one dilapidated figure that sprawled74, asleep, on a bench. They stopped and gazed upon it.
"It's Dopy Mike," said one. "He hits the pipe every night. Park bum75 for twenty years. On his last legs, I guess."
The other policeman stooped and looked at something crumpled76 and crisp in the hand of the sleeper77.
"Gee78!" he remarked. "He's doped out a fifty-dollar bill, anyway. Wish I knew the brand of hop52 that he smokes."
And then "Rap, rap, rap!" went the club of realism against the shoe soles of Prince Michael, of the Electorate of Valleluna.
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1
electorate
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| n.全体选民；选区 | |
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tonic
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| n./adj.滋补品，补药，强身的，健体的 | |
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stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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spat
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| n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声 | |
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stilted
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| adj.虚饰的；夸张的 | |
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illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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negotiations
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| 协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过 | |
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mansions
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| n.宅第，公馆，大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) | |
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reigning
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| adj.统治的，起支配作用的 | |
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homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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esteem
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| n.尊敬，尊重；vt.尊重，敬重；把…看作 | |
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dinginess
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| n.暗淡，肮脏 | |
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distraction
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| n.精神涣散，精神不集中，消遣，娱乐 | |
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altruism
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| n.利他主义，不自私 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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alleviate
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| v.减轻，缓和，缓解(痛苦等) | |
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distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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judiciousness
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| n.明智 | |
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altruistic
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| adj.无私的，为他人着想的 | |
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tinged
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| v.（使）发丁丁声( ting的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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subjugation
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| n.镇压，平息，征服 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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mitigate
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| vt.（使）减轻，（使）缓和 | |
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incognito
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| adv.匿名地；n.隐姓埋名；adj.化装的，用假名的，隐匿姓名身份的 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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momentary
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| adj.片刻的，瞬息的；短暂的 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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shackles
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| 手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊 | |
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persistently
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| ad.坚持地；固执地 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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lottery
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| n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事 | |
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entreat
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| v.恳求，恳请 | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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belie
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| v.掩饰，证明为假 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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potent
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| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
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chagrined
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| adj.懊恼的，苦恼的v.使懊恼，使懊丧，使悔恨( chagrin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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follies
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| 罪恶，时事讽刺剧； 愚蠢，蠢笨，愚蠢的行为、思想或做法( folly的名词复数 ) | |
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confide
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| v.向某人吐露秘密 | |
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deference
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| n.尊重，顺从；敬意 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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modulated
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| 已调整[制]的，被调的 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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52
hop
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| n.单脚跳，跳跃；vi.单脚跳，跳跃；着手做某事；vt.跳跃，跃过 | |
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mitten
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| n.连指手套，露指手套 | |
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54
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 | |
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softening
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| 变软，软化 | |
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translucence
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| n.半透明 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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fatiguing
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| a.使人劳累的 | |
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slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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battered
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| adj.磨损的；v.连续猛击；磨损 | |
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grotesquely
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| adv. 奇异地,荒诞地 | |
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tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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sonorous
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| adj.响亮的，回响的；adv.圆润低沉地；感人地；n.感人，堂皇 | |
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relinquished
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| 交出，让给( relinquish的过去式和过去分词 )； 放弃 | |
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profane
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| adj.亵神的，亵渎的；vt.亵渎，玷污 | |
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rapture
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| n.狂喜；全神贯注；着迷；v.使狂喜 | |
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emblem
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| n.象征，标志；徽章 | |
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conjecturing
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| v. & n. 推测，臆测 | |
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oration
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| n.演说，致辞，叙述法 | |
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vacancy
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| n.（旅馆的）空位，空房，（职务的）空缺 | |
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72
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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deserted
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| adj.荒芜的，荒废的，无人的，被遗弃的 | |
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sprawled
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| v.伸开四肢坐[躺]( sprawl的过去式和过去分词)；蔓延；杂乱无序地拓展；四肢伸展坐着（或躺着） | |
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bum
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| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
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crumpled
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| adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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gee
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| n.马；int.向右！前进！，惊讶时所发声音；v.向右转 | |
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