The ranks of the Bed Line moved closer together; for it was cold. They were alluvial1 deposit of the stream of life lodged2 in the delta3 of Fifth Avenue and Broadway. The Bed Liners stamped their freezing feet, looked at the empty benches in Madison Square whence Jack4 Frost had evicted5 them, and muttered to one another in a confusion of tongues. The Flatiron Building, with its impious, cloud-piercing architecture looming6 mistily7 above them on the opposite delta, might well have stood for the tower of Babel, whence these polyglot8 idlers had been called by the winged walking delegate of the Lord.
Standing9 on a pine box a head higher than his flock of goats, the Preacher exhorted10 whatever transient and shifting audience the north wind doled11 out to him. It was a slave market. Fifteen cents bought you a man. You deeded him to Morpheus; and the recording12 angel gave you credit.
The preacher was incredibly earnest and unwearied. He had looked over the list of things one may do for one's fellow man, and had assumed for himself the task of putting to bed all who might apply at his soap box on the nights of Wednesday and Sunday. That left but five nights for other philanthropists to handle; and had they done their part as well, this wicked city might have become a vast Arcadian dormitory where all might snooze and snore the happy hours away, letting problem plays and the rent man and business go to the deuce.
The hour of eight was but a little while past; sightseers in a small, dark mass of pay ore were gathered in the shadow of General Worth's monument. Now and then, shyly, ostentatiously, carelessly, or with conscientious13 exactness one would step forward and bestow14 upon the Preacher small bills or silver. Then a lieutenant15 of Scandinavian coloring and enthusiasm would march away to a lodging16 house with a squad17 of the redeemed18. All the while the Preacher exhorted the crowd in terms beautifully devoid19 of eloquence20 - splendid with the deadly, accusative monotony of truth. Before the picture of the Bed Liners fades you must hear one phrase of the Preacher's - the one that formed his theme that night. It is worthy21 of being stenciled22 on all the white ribbons in the world.
"No man ever learned to be a drunkard on five-cent whisky."
Think of it, tippler. It covers the ground from the sprouting23 rye to the Potter's Field.
A clean-profiled, erect24 young man in the rear rank of the bedless emulated25 the terrapin26, drawing his head far down into the shell of his coat collar. It was a well-cut tweed coat; and the trousers still showed signs of having flattened27 themselves beneath the compelling goose. But, conscientiously28, I must warn the milliner's apprentice29 who reads this, expecting a Reginald Montressor in straits, to peruse30 no further. The young man was no other than Thomas McQuade, ex-coachman, discharged for drunkenness one month before, and now reduced to the grimy ranks of the one-night bed seekers.
If you live in smaller New York you must know the Van Smuythe family carriage, drawn31 by the two 1,500-pound, 100 to 1-shot bays. The carriage is shaped like a bath-tub. In each end of it reclines an old lady Van Smuythe holding a black sunshade the size of a New Year's Eve feather tickler. Before his downfall Thomas McQuade drove the Van Smuythe bays and was himself driven by Annie, the Van Smuythe lady's maid. But it is one of the saddest things about romance that a tight shoe or an empty commissary or an aching tooth will make a temporary heretic of any Cupid-worshiper. And Thomas's physical troubles were not few. Therefore, his soul was less vexed32 with thoughts of his lost lady's maid than it was by the fancied presence of certain non-existent things that his racked nerves almost convinced him were flying, dancing, crawling, and wriggling33 on the asphalt and in the air above and around the dismal34 campus of the Bed Line army. Nearly four weeks of straight whisky and a diet limited to crackers35, bologna, and pickles36 often guarantees a psycho-zoological sequel. Thus desperate, freezing, angry, beset37 by phantoms38 as he was, he felt the need of human sympathy and intercourse39.
The Bed Liner standing at his right was a young man of about his own age, shabby but neat.
"What's the diagnosis40 of your case, Freddy?" asked Thomas, with the freemasonic familiarity of the damned - "Booze? That's mine. You don't look like a panhandler. Neither am I. A month ago I was pushing the lines over the backs of the finest team of Percheron buffaloes42 that ever made their mile down Fifth Avenue in 2.85. And look at me now! Say; how do you come to be at this bed bargain-counter rummage43 sale."
The other young man seemed to welcome the advances of the airy ex-coachman.
"No," said he, "mine isn't exactly a case of drink. Unless we allow that Cupid is a bartender. I married unwisely, according to the opinion of my unforgiving relatives. I've been out of work for a year because I don't know how to work; and I've been sick in Bellevue and other hospitals for months. My wife and kid had to go back to her mother. I was turned out of the hospital yesterday. And I haven't a cent. That's my tale of woe44."
"Tough luck," said Thomas. "A man alone can pull through all right. But I hate to see the women and kids get the worst of it."
Just then there hummed up Fifth Avenue a motor car so splendid, so red, so smoothly45 running, so craftily46 demolishing47 the speed regulations that it drew the attention even of the listless Bed Liners. Suspended and pinioned48 on its left side was an extra tire.
When opposite the unfortunate company the fastenings of this tire became loosed. It fell to the asphalt, bounded and rolled rapidly in the wake of the flying car.
Thomas McQuade, scenting49 an opportunity, darted50 from his place among the Preacher's goats. In thirty seconds he had caught the rolling tire, swung it over his shoulder, and was trotting51 smartly after the car. On both sides of the avenue people were shouting, whistling, and waving canes52 at the red car, pointing to the enterprising Thomas coming up with the lost tire.
One dollar, Thomas had estimated, was the smallest guerdon that so grand an automobilist could offer for the service he had rendered, and save his pride.
Two blocks away the car had stopped. There was a little, brown, muffled54 chauffeur55 driving, and an imposing56 gentleman wearing a magnificent sealskin coat and a silk hat on a rear seat.
Thomas proffered57 the captured tire with his best ex-coachman manner and a look in the brighter of his reddened eyes that was meant to be suggestive to the extent of a silver coin or two and receptive up to higher denominations58.
But the look was not so construed59. The sealskinned gentleman received the tire, placed it inside the car, gazed intently at the ex-coachman, and muttered to himself inscrutable words.
"Strange - strange!" said he. "Once or twice even I, myself, have fancied that the Chaldean Chiroscope has availed. Could it be possible?"
Then he addressed less mysterious words to the waiting and hopeful Thomas.
"Sir, I thank you for your kind rescue of my tire. And I would ask you, if I may, a question. Do you know the family of Van Smuythes living in Washington Square North?"
"Oughtn't I to?" replied Thomas. "I lived there. Wish I did yet."
The sealskinned gentleman opened a door of the car.
"Step in please," he said. "You have been expected."
Thomas McQuade obeyed with surprise but without hesitation60. A seat in a motor car seemed better than standing room in the Bed Line. But after the lap-robe had been tucked about him and the auto53 had sped on its course, the peculiarity61 of the invitation lingered in his mind.
"Maybe the guy hasn't got any change," was his diagnosis. "Lots of these swell62 rounders don't lug63 about any ready money. Guess he'll dump me out when he gets to some joint64 where he can get cash on his mug. Anyhow, it's a cinch that I've got that open-air bed convention beat to a finish."
Submerged in his greatcoat, the mysterious automobilist seemed, himself, to marvel65 at the surprises of life. "Wonderful! amazing! strange!" he repeated to himself constantly.
When the car had well entered the crosstown Seventies, it swung eastward66 a half block and stopped before a row of high-stooped, brownstone-front houses.
"Be kind enough to enter my house with me," said the sealskinned gentleman when they had alighted. "He's going to dig up, sure," reflected Thomas, following him inside.
There was a dim light in the hall. His host conducted him through a door to the left, closing it after him and leaving them in absolute darkness. Suddenly a luminous67 globe, strangely decorated, shone faintly in the centre of an immense room that seemed to Thomas more splendidly appointed than any he had ever seen on the stage or read of in fairy tales.
The walls were hidden by gorgeous red hangings embroidered68 with fantastic gold figures. At the rear end of the room were draped porti`eres of dull gold spangled with silver crescents and stars. The furniture was of the costliest69 and rarest styles. The ex-coachman's feet sank into rugs as fleecy and deep as snowdrifts. There were three or four oddly shaped stands or tables covered with black velvet70 drapery.
Thomas McQuade took in the splendors71 of this palatial72 apartment with one eye. With the other he looked for his imposing conductor - to find that he had disappeared.
"B'gee!" muttered Thomas, "this listens like a spook shop. Shouldn't wonder if it ain't one of these Moravian Nights' adventures that you read about. Wonder what became of the furry73 guy."
Suddenly a stuffed owl74 that stood on an ebony perch41 near the illuminated75 globe slowly raised his wings and emitted from his eyes a brilliant electric glow.
With a fright-born imprecation, Thomas seized a bronze statuette of Hebe from a cabinet near by and hurled76 it with all his might at the terrifying and impossible fowl77. The owl and his perch went over with a crash. With the sound there was a click, and the room was flooded with light from a dozen frosted globes along the walls and ceiling. The gold portieres parted and closed, and the mysterious automobilist entered the room. He was tall and wore evening dress of perfect cut and accurate taste. A Vandyke beard of glossy78, golden brown, rather long and wavy79 hair, smoothly parted, and large, magnetic, orientally occult eyes gave him a most impressive and striking appearance. If you can conceive a Russian Grand Duke in a Rajah's throneroom advancing to greet a visiting Emperor, you will gather something of the majesty80 of his manner. But Thomas McQuade was too near his d t's to be mindful of his p's and q's. When he viewed this silken, polished, and somewhat terrifying host he thought vaguely81 of dentists.
"Say, doc," said he resentfully, "that's a hot bird you keep on tap. I hope I didn't break anything. But I've nearly got the williwalloos, and when he threw them 32-candle-power-lamps of his on me, I took a snap-shot at him with that little brass82 Flatiron Girl that stood on the sideboard."
"That is merely a mechanical toy," said the gentleman with a wave of his hand. "May I ask you to be seated while I explain why I brought you to my house. Perhaps you would not understand nor be in sympathy with the psychological prompting that caused me to do so. So I will come to the point at once by venturing to refer to your admission that you know the Van Smuythe family, of Washington Square North."
"Any silver missing," asked Thomas tartly83. "Any joolry displaced? Of course I know 'em. Any of the old ladies' sunshades disappeared? Well, I know 'em. And then what?"
The Grand Duke rubbed his white hands together softly.
"Wonderful!" he murmured. "Wonderful! Shall I come to believe in the Chaldean Chiroscope myself? Let me assure you," he continued, "that there is nothing for you to fear. Instead, I think I can promise you that very good fortune awaits you. We will see."
"Do they want me back?" asked Thomas, with something of his old professional pride in his voice. "I'll promise to cut out the booze and do the right thing if they'll try me again. But how did you get wise, doc? B'gee, it's the swellest employment agency I was ever in, with its flashlight owls85 and so forth86."
With an indulgent smile the gracious host begged to be excused for two minutes. He went out to the sidewalk and gave an order to the chauffeur, who still waited with the car. Returning to the mysterious apartment, he sat by his guest and began to entertain him so well by his witty87 and genial88 converse89 that the poor Bed Liner almost forgot the cold streets from which he had been so recently and so singularly rescued. A servant brought some tender cold fowl and tea biscuits and a glass of miraculous90 wine; and Thomas felt the glamour91 of Arabia envelop92 him. Thus half an hour sped quickly; and then the honk93 of the returned motor car at the door suddenly drew the Grand Duke to his feet, with another soft petition for a brief absence.
Two women, well muffled against the cold, were admitted at the front door and suavely94 conducted by the master of the house down the hall through another door to the left and into a smaller room, which was screened and segregated96 from the larger front room by heavy, double portieres. here the furnishings were even more elegant and exquisitely97 tasteful than in the other. On a gold-inlaid rosewood table were scattered98 sheets of white paper and a queer, triangular99 instrument or toy, apparently100 of gold, standing on little wheels.
The taller woman threw back her black veil and loosened her cloak. She was fifty, with a wrinkled and sad face. The other, young and plump, took a chair a little distance away and to the rear as a servant or an attendant might have done.
"You sent for me, Professor Cherubusco," said the elder woman, wearily. "I hope you have something more definite than usual to say. I've about lost the little faith I had in your art. I would not have responded to your call this evening if my sister had not insisted upon it."
"Madam," said the professor, with his princeliest smile, "the true Art cannot fail. To find the true psychic101 and potential branch sometimes requires time. We have not succeeded, I admit, with the cards, the crystal, the stars, the magic formulae of Zarazin, nor the Oracle102 of Po. But we have at last discovered the true psychic route. The Chaldean Chiroscope has been successful in our search."
The professor's voice had a ring that seemed to proclaim his belief in his own words. The elderly lady looked at him with a little more interest.
"Why, there was no sense in those words that it wrote with my hands on it," she said. "What do you mean?"
"The words were these," said Professor Cherubusco, rising to his full magnificent height: "By the fifth wheel of the chariot he shall come."
"I haven't seen many chariots," said the lady, "but I never saw one with five wheels."
"Progress," said the professor - "progress in science and mechanics has accomplished103 it - though, to be exact, we may speak of it only as an extra tire. Progress in occult art has advanced in proportion. Madam, I repeat that the Chaldean Chiroscope has succeeded. I can not only answer the question that you have propounded104, but I can produce before your eyes the proof thereof."
And now the lady was disturbed both in her disbelief and in her poise105.
"O professor!" she cried anxiously - "When? - where? Has he been found? Do not keep me in suspense106."
"I beg you will excuse me for a very few minutes," said Professor Cherubusco, "and I think I can demonstrate to you the efficacy of the true Art."
Thomas was contentedly107 munching108 the last crumbs109 of the bread and fowl when the enchanter appeared suddenly at his side.
"Are you willing to return to your old home if you are assured of a welcome and restoration to favor?" he asked, with his courteous110, royal smile.
"Do I look bughouse?" answered Thomas. "Enough of the footback life for me. But will they have me again? The old lady is as fixed111 in her ways as a nut on a new axle."
"My dear young man," said the other, "she has been searching for you everywhere."
"Great!" said Thomas. "I'm on the job. That team of dropsical domedaries they call horses is a handicap for a first-class coachman like myself; but I'll take the job back, sure, doc. They're good people to be with."
And now a change came o'er the suave95 countenance112 of the Caliph of Bagdad. He looked keenly and suspiciously at the ex-coachman.
"May I ask what your name is?" he said shortly.
"You've been looking for me," said Thomas, "and don't know my name? You're a funny kind of sleuth. You must be one of the Central Office gumshoers. I'm Thomas McQuade, of course; and I've been chauffeur of the Van Smuythe elephant team for a year. They fired me a month ago for - well, doc, you saw what I did to your old owl. I went broke on booze, and when I saw the tire drop off your whiz wagon113 I was standing in that squad of hoboes at the Worth monument waiting for a free bed. Now, what's the prize for the best answer to all this?"
To his intense surprise Thomas felt himself lifted by the collar and dragged, without a word of explanation, to the front door. This was opened, and he was kicked forcibly down the steps with one heavy, disillusionizing, humiliating impact of the stupendous Arabian's shoe.
As soon as the ex-coachman had recovered his feet and his wits he hastened as fast as he could eastward toward Broadway.
"Crazy guy," was his estimate of the mysterious automobilist. "Just wanted to have some fun kiddin', I guess. He might have dug up a dollar, anyhow. Now I've got to hurry up and get back to that gang of bum114 bed hunters before they all get preached to sleep."
When Thomas reached the end of his two-mile walk he found the ranks of the homeless reduced to a squad of perhaps eight or ten. He took the proper place of a newcomer at the left end of the rear rank. In a file in front of him was the young man who had spoken to him of hospitals and something of a wife and child.
"Sorry to see you back again," said the young man, turning to speak to him. "I hoped you had struck something better than this."
"Me?" said Thomas. "Oh, I just took a run around the block to keep warm! I see the public ain't lending to the Lord very fast tonight."
"In this kind of weather," said the young man, "charity avails itself of the proverb, and both begins and ends at home."
And the Preacher and his vehement115 lieutenant struck up a last hymn116 of petition to Providence117 and man. Those of the Bed Liners whose windpipes still registered above 32 degrees hopelessly and tunelessly joined in.
In the middle of the second verse Thomas saw a sturdy girl with wind-tossed drapery battling against the breeze and coming straight toward him from the opposite sidewalk. "Annie!" he yelled, and ran toward her.
"You fool, you fool!" she cried, weeping and laughing, and hanging upon his neck, "why did you do it?"
"The Stuff," explained Thomas briefly118. "You know. But subsequently nit. Not a drop." He led her to the curb119. "How did you happen to see me?"
"I came to find you," said Annie, holding tight to his sleeve. "Oh, you big fool! Professor Cherubusco told us that we might find you here."
"Professor Ch - Dont' know the guy. What saloon does he work in?"
"He's a clairvoyant120, Thomas; the greatest in the world. He found you with the Chaldean telescope, he said."
"He's a liar," said Thomas. "I never had it. He never saw me have anybody's telescope."
"And he said you came in a chariot with five wheels or something."
"Annie," said Thoms solicitously121, "you're giving me the wheels now. If I had a chariot I'd have gone to bed in it long ago. And without any singing and preaching for a nightcap, either."
"Listen, you big fool. The Missis says she'll take you back. I begged her to. But you must behave. And you can go up to the house to-night; and your old room over the stable is ready."
"Great!" said Thomas earnestly. "You are It, Annie. But when did these stunts122 happen?"
"To-night at Professor Cherubusco's. He sent his automobile123 for the Missis, and she took me along. I've been there with her before."
"What's the professor's line?"
"He's a clairvoyant and a witch. The Missis consults him. He knows everything. But he hasn't done the Missis any good yet, though she's paid him hundreds of dollars. But he told us that the stars told him we could find you here."
"What's the old lady want this cherry-buster to do?"
"That's a family secret," said Annie. "And now you've asked enough questions. Come on home, you big fool."
They had moved but a little way up the street when Thomas stopped.
"Got any dough124 with you, Annie?" he asked.
Annie looked at him sharply.
"Oh, I know what that look means," said Thomas. "You're wrong. Not another drop. But there's a guy that was standing next to me in the bed line over there that's in bad shape. He's the right kind, and he's got wives or kids or something, and he's on the sick list. No booze. If you could dig up half a dollar for him so he could get a decent bed I'd like it."
Annie's fingers began to wiggle in her purse.
"Sure, I've got money," said she. "Lots of it. Twelve dollars." And then she added, with woman's ineradicable suspicion of vicarious benevolence125: "Bring him here and let me see him first."
Thomas went on his mission. The wan84 Bed Liner came readily enough. As the two drew near, Annie looked up from her purse and screamed:
"Mr. Walter - Oh - Mr. Walter!"
"Is that you, Annie?" said the young man meekly126.
"Oh, Mr. Walter! - and the Missis hunting high and low for you!"
"Does mother want to see me?" he asked, with a flush coming out on his pale cheek.
"She's been hunting for you high and low. Sure, she wants to see you. She wants you to come home. She's tried police and morgues and lawyers and advertising127 and detectives and rewards and everything. And then she took up clearvoyants. You'll go right home, won't you, Mr. Walter?"
"Gladly, if she wants me," said the young man. "Three years is a long time. I suppose I'll have to walk up, though, unless the street cars are giving free rides. I used to walk and beat that old plug team of bays we used to drive to the carriage. Have they got them yet?"
"They have," said Thomas, feelingly. "And they'll have 'em ten years from now. The life of the royal elephantibus truckhorseibus is one hundred and forty-nine years. I'm the coachman. Just got my reappointment five minutes ago. Let's all ride up in a surface car - that is - er - if Annie will pay the fares."
On the Broadway car Annie handed each one of the prodigals128 a nickel to pay the conductor.
"Seems to me you are mighty129 reckless the way you throw large sums of money around," said Thomas sarcastically130.
"In that purse," said Annie decidedly, "is exactly $11.85. I shall take every cent of it to-morrow and give it to professor Cherubusco, the greatest man in the world."
"Well," said Thomas, "I guess he must be a pretty fly guy to pipe off things the way he does. I'm glad his spooks told him where you could find me. If you'll give me his address, some day I'll go up there, myself, and shake his hand."
Presently Thomas moved tentatively in his seat, and thoughtfully felt an abrasion131 or two on his knees and his elbows.
"Say, Annie," said he confidentially132, maybe it's one of the last dreams of booze, but I've a kind of a recollection of riding in authomobile with a swell guy that took me to a house full of eagles and arc lights. He fed me on biscuits and hot air, and then kicked me down the front steps. If it was the d t's, why am I so sore?"
"Shut up, you fool," said Annie.
"If I could find that funny guy's house, said Thomas, in conclusion, "I'd go up there some day and punch his nose for him."
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alluvial
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| adj.冲积的；淤积的 | |
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lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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delta
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| n.（流的）角洲 | |
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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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evicted
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| v.（依法从房屋里或土地上）驱逐，赶出( evict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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mistily
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| adv.有雾地，朦胧地，不清楚地 | |
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polyglot
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| adj.通晓数种语言的；n.通晓多种语言的人 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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exhorted
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| v.劝告，劝说( exhort的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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doled
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| 救济物( dole的过去式和过去分词 )； 失业救济金 | |
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recording
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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bestow
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| v.把…赠与，把…授予；花费 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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lodging
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squad
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redeemed
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devoid
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eloquence
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worthy
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stenciled
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sprouting
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erect
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emulated
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| v.与…竞争( emulate的过去式和过去分词 )；努力赶上；计算机程序等仿真；模仿 | |
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terrapin
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| n.泥龟；鳖 | |
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flattened
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| [医]（水）平扁的，弄平的 | |
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conscientiously
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apprentice
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| n.学徒，徒弟 | |
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peruse
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drawn
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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33
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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34
dismal
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| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
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35
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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36
pickles
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| n.腌菜( pickle的名词复数 )；处于困境；遇到麻烦；菜酱 | |
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37
beset
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| v.镶嵌；困扰，包围 | |
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38
phantoms
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| n.鬼怪，幽灵( phantom的名词复数 ) | |
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39
intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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40
diagnosis
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| n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断 | |
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41
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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42
buffaloes
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| n.水牛（分非洲水牛和亚洲水牛两种）( buffalo的名词复数 )；（南非或北美的）野牛；威胁；恐吓 | |
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43
rummage
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| v./n.翻寻，仔细检查 | |
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44
woe
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| n.悲哀，苦痛，不幸，困难；int.用来表达悲伤或惊慌 | |
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45
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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46
craftily
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| 狡猾地，狡诈地 | |
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47
demolishing
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| v.摧毁( demolish的现在分词 )；推翻；拆毁（尤指大建筑物）；吃光 | |
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48
pinioned
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| v.抓住[捆住]（双臂）( pinion的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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49
scenting
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| vt.闻到（scent的现在分词形式） | |
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50
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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51
trotting
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| 小跑，急走( trot的现在分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走 | |
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52
canes
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| n.（某些植物，如竹或甘蔗的）茎( cane的名词复数 )；（用于制作家具等的）竹竿；竹杖 | |
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53
auto
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| n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车 | |
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54
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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55
chauffeur
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| n.(受雇于私人或公司的)司机；v.为…开车 | |
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56
imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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57
proffered
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| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
denominations
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| n.宗派( denomination的名词复数 )；教派；面额；名称 | |
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59
construed
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| v.解释（陈述、行为等）( construe的过去式和过去分词 )；翻译，作句法分析 | |
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60
hesitation
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| n.犹豫，踌躇 | |
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61
peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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62
swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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63
lug
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| n.柄，突出部，螺帽；(英）耳朵；（俚）笨蛋；vt.拖，拉，用力拖动 | |
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64
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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65
marvel
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| vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事 | |
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66
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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67
luminous
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| adj.发光的，发亮的；光明的；明白易懂的；有启发的 | |
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68
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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69
costliest
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| adj.昂贵的( costly的最高级 )；代价高的；引起困难的；造成损失的 | |
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70
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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71
splendors
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| n.华丽( splendor的名词复数 )；壮丽；光辉；显赫 | |
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72
palatial
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| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
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73
furry
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| adj.毛皮的；似毛皮的；毛皮制的 | |
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74
owl
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| n.猫头鹰，枭 | |
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75
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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76
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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77
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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78
glossy
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| adj.平滑的；有光泽的 | |
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79
wavy
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| adj.有波浪的，多浪的，波浪状的，波动的，不稳定的 | |
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80
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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81
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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82
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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83
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 | |
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84
wan
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| (wide area network)广域网 | |
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85
owls
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| n.猫头鹰( owl的名词复数 ) | |
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86
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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87
witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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88
genial
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| adj.亲切的，和蔼的，愉快的，脾气好的 | |
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89
converse
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| vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反 | |
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90
miraculous
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| adj.像奇迹一样的，不可思议的 | |
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91
glamour
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| n.魔力，魅力；vt.迷住 | |
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92
envelop
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| vt.包，封，遮盖；包围 | |
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93
honk
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| n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声 | |
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94
suavely
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95
suave
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| adj.温和的；柔和的；文雅的 | |
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96
segregated
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| 分开的； 被隔离的 | |
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97
exquisitely
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| adv.精致地；强烈地；剧烈地；异常地 | |
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98
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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99
triangular
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| adj.三角（形）的，三者间的 | |
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100
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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101
psychic
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| n.对超自然力敏感的人；adj.有超自然力的 | |
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102
oracle
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| n.神谕，神谕处，预言 | |
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103
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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104
propounded
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| v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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105
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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106
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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107
contentedly
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| adv.心满意足地 | |
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108
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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109
crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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110
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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111
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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112
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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113
wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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114
bum
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| n.臀部；流浪汉，乞丐；vt.乞求，乞讨 | |
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115
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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116
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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117
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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118
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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119
curb
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| n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制 | |
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120
clairvoyant
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| adj.有预见的；n.有预见的人 | |
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121
solicitously
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| adv.热心地，热切地 | |
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122
stunts
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| n.惊人的表演( stunt的名词复数 )；（广告中）引人注目的花招；愚蠢行为；危险举动v.阻碍…发育[生长]，抑制，妨碍( stunt的第三人称单数 ) | |
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123
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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124
dough
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| n.生面团；钱，现款 | |
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125
benevolence
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| n.慈悲，捐助 | |
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126
meekly
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| adv.温顺地，逆来顺受地 | |
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127
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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128
prodigals
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| n.浪费的( prodigal的名词复数 )；铺张的；挥霍的；慷慨的 | |
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129
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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130
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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131
abrasion
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| n.磨（擦）破，表面磨损 | |
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132
confidentially
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| ad.秘密地，悄悄地 | |
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