Alas for the man and for the artist with the shifting point of perspective! Life shall be a confusion of ways to the one; the landscape shall rise up and confound the other. Take the case of Lorison. At one time he appeared to himself to be the feeblest of fools; at another he conceived that he followed ideals so fine that the world was not yet ready to accept them. During one mood he cursed his folly1; possessed2 by the other, he bore himself with a serene3 grandeur4 akin5 to greatness: in neither did he attain6 the perspective.
Generations before, the name had been "Larsen." His race had bequeathed him its fine-strung, melancholy7 temperament8, its saving balance of thrift9 and industry.
From his point of perspective he saw himself an outcast from society, forever to be a shady skulker10 along the ragged11 edge of respectability; a denizen12 des trois-quartz de monde, that pathetic spheroid lying between the haut and the demi, whose inhabitants envy each of their neigh- bours, and are scorned by both. He was self-condemned to this opinion, as he was self-exiled, through it, to this quaint13 Southern city a thousand miles from his former home. Here he had dwelt for longer than a year, know- ing but few, keeping in a subjective14 world of shadows which was invaded at times by the perplexing bulks of jarring realities. Then he fell in love with a girl whom he met in a cheap restaurant, and his story begins.
The Rue15 Chartres, in New Orleans, is a street of ghosts. It lies in the quarter where the Frenchman, in his prime, set up his translated pride and glory; where, also, the arrogant16 don had swaggered, and dreamed of gold and grants and ladies' gloves. Every flagstone has its grooves17 worn by footsteps going royally to the wooing and the fighting. Every house has a princely heartbreak; each doorway18 its untold19 tale of gallant20 promise and slow decay.
By night the Rue Chartres is now but a murky21 fissure22, from which the groping wayfarer23 sees, flung against the sky, the tangled24 filigree25 of Moorish26 iron balconies. Ths old houses of monsieur stand yet, indomitable against the century, but their essence is gone. The street is one of ghosts to whosoever can see them.
A faint heartbeat of the street's ancient glory still sur- vives in a corner occupied by the Café Carabine d'Or. Once men gathered there to plot against kings, and to warn presidents. They do so yet, but they are not the same kind of men. A brass27 button will scatter28 these; those would have set their faces against an army. Above the door hangs the sign board, upon which has been depicted29 a vast animal of unfamiliar30 species. In the act of firing upon this monster is represented an unobtrusive human levelling an obtrusive31 gun, once the colour of bright gold. Now the legend above the picture is faded beyond conjecture32; the gun's relation to the title is a matter of faith; the menaced animal, wearied of the long aim of the hunter, has resolved itself into a shapeless blot33.
The place is known as "Antonio's," as the name, white upon the red-lit transparency, and gilt34 upon the windows, attests35. There is a promise in "Antonio"; a justifiable36 expectancy37 of savoury things in oil and pepper and wine, and perhaps an angel's whisper of garlic. But the rest of the name is "O'Riley." Antonio O'Riley!
The Carabine d'Or is an ignominious38 ghost of the Rue Chartres. The café where Bienville and Conti dined, where a prince has broken bread, is become a "family ristaurant."
Its customers are working men and women, almost to a unit. Occasionally you will see chorus girls from the cheaper theatres, and men who follow avocations39 sub- ject to quick vicissitudes40; but at Antonio's -- name rich in Bohemian promise, but tame in fulfillment -- manners debonair41 and gay are toned down to the "family" stand- ard. Should you light a cigarette, mine host will touch you on the "arrum" and remind you that the proprieties42 are menaced. "Antonio" entices43 and beguiles44 from fiery45 legend without, but "O'Riley" teaches decorum within.
It was at this restaurant that Lorison first saw the girl. A flashy fellow with a predatory eye had followed her in, and had advanced to take the other chair at the little table where she stopped, but Lorison slipped into the seat before him. Their acquaintance began, and grew, and how for two months they had sat at the same table each evening, not meeting by appointment, but as if by a series of fortuitous and happy accidents. After dining, they would take a walk together in one of the little city parks, or among the panoramic46 markets where exhibits a con- tinuous vaudeville47 of sights and sounds. Always at eight o'clock their steps led them to a certain street corner, where she prettily48 but firmly bade him good night and left him. "I do not live far from here," she frequently said, "and you must let me go the rest of the way alone."
But now Lorison had discovered that he wanted to go the rest of the way with her, or happiness would depart, leaving, him on a very lonely corner of life. And at the same time that he made the discovery, the secret of his banishment49 from the society of the good laid its finger in his face and told him it must not be.
Man is too thoroughly50 an egoist not to be also an egotist; if he love, the object shall know it. During a lifetime he may conceal51 it through stress of expediency52 and honour, but it shall bubble from his dying lips, though it disrupt a neighbourhood. It is known, however, that most men do not wait so long to disclose their passion. In the case of Lorison, his particular ethics53 positively54 forbade him to declare his sentiments, but he must needs dally55 with the subject, and woo by innuendo56 at least.
On this night, after the usual meal at the Carabine d'Or, he strolled with his companion down the dim old street toward the river
The Rue Chartres perishes in the old Place d'Armes. The ancient Cabildo, where Spanish justice fell like hail, faces it, and the Cathedral, another provincial57 ghost, overlooks it. Its centre is a little, iron-railed park of flowers and immaculate gravelled walks, where citizens take the air of evenings. Pedestalled high above it, the general sits his cavorting58 steed, with his face turned stonily59 down the river toward English Turn, whence come no more Britons to bombard his cotton bales.
Often the two sat in this square, but to-night Lorison guided her past the stone-stepped gate, and still riverward. As they walked, he smiled to himself to think that all he knew of her -- except that be loved her -- was her name, Norah Greenway, and that she lived with her brother. They had talked about everything except themselves. Perhaps her reticence60 had been caused by his.
They came, at length, upon the levee, and sat upon a great, prostrate61 beam. The air was pungent62 with the dust of commerce. The great river slipped yellowly past. Across it Algiers lay, a longitudinous black bulk against a vibrant63 electric haze64 sprinkled with exact stars.
The girl was young and of the piquant65 order. A certain bright melancholy pervaded66 her; she possessed an untarnished, pale prettiness doomed68 to please. Her voice, when she spoke69, dwarfed70 her theme. It was the voice capable of investing little subjects with a large interest. She sat at ease, bestowing71 her skirts with the little womanly touch, serene as if the begrimed pier72 were a summer garden. Lorison poked73 the rotting boards with his cane74.
He began by telling her that he was in love with some one to whom he durst not speak of it. "And why not?" she asked, accepting swiftly his fatuous75 presentation of a third person of straw. "My place in the world," he answered, "is none to ask a woman to share. I am an outcast from honest people; I am wrongly accused of one crime, and am, I believe, guilty of another."
Thence he plunged77 into the story of his abdication78 from society. The story, pruned79 of his moral philosophy, deserves no more than the slightest touch. It is no new tale, that of the gambler's declension. During one night's sitting he lost, and then had imperilled a certain amount of his employer's money, which, by accident, he carried with him. He continued to lose, to the last wager80, and then began to gain, leaving the game winner to a somewhat formidable sum. The same night his employer's safe was robbed. A search was had; the winnings of Lorison were found in his room, their total forming an accusative nearness to the sum purloined81. He was taken, tried and, through incomplete evidence, released, smutched with the sinister82 devoirs of a dis- agreeing jury."It is not in the unjust accusation," he said to the girl, "that my burden lies, but in the knowledge that from the moment I staked the first dollar of the firm's money I was a criminal -- no matter whether I lost or won. You see why it is impossible for me to speak of love to her."
"It is a sad thing," said Norah, after a little pause. "to think what very good people there are in the world."
"Good?" said Lorison.
"I was thinking of this superior person whom you say you love. She must be a very poor sort of creature."
"I do not understand."
"Nearly," she continued, "as poor a sort of creature as yourself."
"You do not understand," said Lorison, removing his hat and sweeping83 back his fine, light hair. "Suppose she loved me in return, and were willing to marry me. Think, if you can, what would follow. Never a day Would pass but she would be reminded of her sacrifice. I would read a condescension84 in her smile, a pity even in her affection, that would madden me. No. The thing would stand between us forever. Only equals should mate. I could never ask her to come down upon my lower plane."
An arc light faintly shone upon Lorison's face. An illumination from within also pervaded it. The girl saw the rapt, ascetic85 look; it was the face either of Sir Galahad or Sir Fool.
"Quite starlike," she said, "is this unapproachable angel. Really too high to be grasped."
"By me, yes."
She faced him suddenly. "My dear friend, would you prefer your star fallen?" Lorison made a wide gesture.
"You push me to the bald fact," he declared; "you are not in sympathy with my argument. But I will answer you so. If I could reach my particular star, to drag it down, I would not do it; but if it were fallen, I would pick it up, and thank Heaven for the privilege."
They were silent for some minutes. Norah shivered, and thrust her hands deep into the pockets of her jacket. Lorison uttered a remorseful87 exclamation88.
"I'm not cold," she said. "I was just thinking. I ought to tell you something. You have selected a strange confidante. But you cannot expect a chance acquain- ance, picked up in a doubtful restaurant, to be an angel."
"Norah!" cried Lorison.
"Let me go on. You have told me about yourself. We have been such good friends. I must tell you now what I never wanted you to know. I am -- worse than you are. I was on the stage . . . I sang in the chorus . . . I was pretty bad, I guess . . . I stole diamonds from the prima donna . . . they arrested me . . . I gave most of them up, and they let me go . . . I drank wine every night . . . a great deal . . . I was very wicked, but -- "
Lorison knelt quickly by her side and took her hands.
"Dear Norah!" he said, exultantly89. "It is you, it is you I love! You never guessed it, did you? 'Tis you I meant all the time. Now I can speak. Let me make you forget the past. We have both suffered; let us shut out the world, and live for each other. Norah, do you hear me say I love you?"
"In spite of -- "
"Rather say because of it. You have come out of your past noble and good. Your heart is an angel's, Give it to me."
"A little while ago you feared the future too much to even speak."
"But for you; not for myself. Can you love me?"
She cast herself, wildly sobbing90, upon his breast.
"Better than life -- than truth itself -- than every- thing."
"And my own past," said Lorison, with a note of solicitude91 -- "can you forgive and -- "
"I answered you that," she whispered, "when I told you I loved you." She leaned away, and looked thought- fully92 at him. "If I had not told you about myself, would you have -- would you -- "
"No," he interrupted; "I would never have let you know I loved you. I would never have asked you this -- Norah, will you be my wife?"
She wept again.
"Oh, believe me; I am good now -- I am no longer wicked! I will be the best wife in the world. Don't think I am -- bad any more. If you do I shall die, I shall die!"
While he was consoling, her, she brightened up, eager and impetuous. "Will vou marry me to-night?" she said. "Will you prove it that way. I have a reason for wishing it to be to-night. Will you?"
Of one of two things was this exceeding frankness the outcome: either of importunate93 brazenness94 or of utter innocence95. The lover's perspective contained only the one.
"The sooner," said Lorison, "the happier I shall be."
"What is there to do?" she asked. "What do you have to get? Come! You should know."
Her energy stirred the dreamer to action.
"A city directory first," he cried, gayly, "to find where the man lives who gives licenses97 to happiness. We will go together and rout98 him out. Cabs, cars, policemen, telephones and ministers shall aid us."
"Father Rogan shall marry us," said the girl, with ardour. "I will take you to him."
An hour later the two stood at the open doorway of an immense, gloomy brick building in a narrow and lonely street. The license96 was tight in Norah's hand.
"Wait here a moment," she said, "till I find Father Rogan."
She plunged into the black hallway, and the lover was left standing99, as it were, on one leg, outside. His impa- tience was not greatly taxed. Gazing curiously100 into what seemed the hallway to Erebus, he was presently reassured101 by a stream of light that bisected the darkness, far down the passage. Then he heard her call, and fluttered lampward, like the moth102. She beckoned103 him through a doorway into the room whence emanated104 the light. The room was bare of nearly everything except books, which had subjugated105 all its space. Here and there little spots of territory had been reconquered. An elderly, bald man, with a superlatively calm, remote eye, stood by a table with a book in his hand, his finger still marking a page. His dress was sombre and appertained to a religious order. His eye denoted an acquaintance with the perspective.
"Father Rogan," said Norah, "this is he."
"The two of ye," said Father Rogan, "want to get married?"
They did not deny it. He married them. The cere- mony was quickly done. One who could have witnessed it, and felt its scope, might have trembled at the terrible inadequacy106 of it to rise to the dignity of its endless chain of results.
Afterward107 the priest spake briefly108, as if by rote109, of certain other civil and legal addenda110 that either might or should, at a later time, cap the ceremony. Lorison tendered a fee, which was declined, and before the door closed after the departing couple Father Rogan's book popped open again where his finger marked it.
In the dark hall Norah whirled and clung to her com- panion, tearful.
"Will you never, never be sorry?"
At last she was reassured.
At the first light they reached upon the street, she asked the time, just as she had each night. Lorison looked at his watch. Half-past eight.
Lorison thought it was from habit that she guided their steps toward the corner where they always parted. But, arrived there, she hesitated, and then released his arm. A drug store stood on the corner; its bright, soft light shone upon them.
"Please leave me here as usual to-night," said Norah, sweetly. "I must -- I would rather you would. You will not object? At six to-morrow evening I will meet you at Antonio's. I want to sit with vou there once more. And then -- I will go where you say." She gave him a bewildering, bright smile, and walked swiftly away.
Surely it needed all the strength of her charm to carry off this astounding111 behaviour. It was no discredit112 to Lorison's strength of mind that his head began to whirl. Pocketing his hands, he rambled113 vacuously114 over to the druggist's windows, and began assiduously to spell over the names of the patent medicines therein displayed.
As soon as be had recovered his wits, he proceeded along the street in an aimless fashion. After drifting for two or three squares, he flowed into a somewhat more pretentious115 thoroughfare, a way much frequented by him in his solitary116 ramblings. For here was a row of slops devoted117 to traffic in goods of the widest range of choice -- handiworks of art, skill and fancy, products of nature and labour from every zone.
Here, for a time, he loitered among the conspicuous118 windows, where was set, emphasized bv congested floods of light, the cunningest spoil of the interiors. There were few passers, and of this Lorison was glad. He was not of the world. For a long time he had touched his fellow man only at the gear of a levelled cog-wheel -- at right angles, and upon a different axis119. He had dropped into a distinctly new orbit. The stroke of ill fortune had acted upon him, in effect, as a blow delivered upon the apex120 of a certain ingenious toy, the musical top, which- when thus buffeted121 while spinning, gives forth122, with scarcely retarded123 motion, a complete change of key and chord.
Strolling along the pacific avenue, he experienced singular, supernatural calm, accompanied by an unusual a activity of brain. Reflecting upon recent affairs, be assured himself of his happiness in having won for a bride the one he had so greatly desired, yet he wondered mildly at his dearth124 of active emotion. Her strange behaviour in abandoning him without valid125 excuse on his bridal eve aroused in him only a vague and curious speculation126. Again, he found himself contemplating127, with complaisant128 serenity129, the incidents of her somewhat lively career. His perspective seemed to have been queerly shifted.
As he stood before a window near a corner, his ears were assailed130 by a waxing clamour and commotion131. He stood close to the window to allow passage to the cause of the hubbub132 -- a procession of human beings, which rounded the corner aid headed in his direction. He perceived a salient hue133 of blue and a glitter of brass about a central figure of dazzling white and silver, and a ragged wake of black, bobbing figures.
Two ponderous134 policemen Were conducting between them a woman dressed as if for the stage, in a short, white, satiny skirt reaching to the knees, pink stockings, and a sort of sleeveless bodice bright with relucent, armour-like scales. Upon her curly, light hair was perched, at a rollicking angle, a shining tin helmet. The costume was to be instantly recognized as one of those amazing con- ceptions to which competition has harried135 the inventors of the spectacular ballet. One of the officers bore a long cloak upon his axm, which, doubtless, had been intended to veil the I candid136 attractions of their effulgent137 prisoner, but, for some reason, it had not been called into use, to the vociferous138 delight of the tail of the procession.
Compelled by a sudden and vigorous movement of the woman, the parade halted before the window by which Lorison stood. He saw that she was young, and, at the first glance, was deceived by a sophistical prettiness of her face, which waned139 before a more judicious140 scrutiny141. Her look was bold and reckless, and upon her countenance142, where yet the contours of youth survived, were the finger- marks of old age's credentialed courier, Late Hours.
The young woman fixed143 her unshrinking gaze upon Lorison, and called to him in the voice of the wronged heroine in straits:
"Say! You look like a good fellow; come and put up the bail144, won't you? I've done nothing to get pinched for. It's all a mistake. See how they're treating me! You won't be sorry, if you'll help me out of this. Think of your sister or your girl being dragged along the streets this way! I say, come along now, like a good fellow."
It may be that Lorison, in spite of the unconvincing bathos of this appeal, showed a sympathetic face, for one of the officers left the woman's side, and went over to him.
"It's all right, Sir," he said, in a husky, confidential145 tone; "she's the right party. We took her after the first act at the Green Light Theatre, on a wire from the chief of police of Chicago. It's only a square or two to the station. Her rig's pretty bad, but she refused to change clothes -- or, rather," added the officer, with a smile, "to put on some. I thought I'd explain matters to you so you wouldn't think she was being imposed upon."
"What is the charge?" asked Lorison.
"Grand larceny146. Diamonds. Her husband is a jeweller in Chicago. She cleaned his show case of the sparklers, and skipped with a comic-opera troupe147."
The policeman, perceiving that the interest of the entire group of spectators was centred upon himself and Lorison -- their conference being regarded as a possible new com- plication -- was fain to prolong the situation -- which reflected his own importance -- by a little afterpiece of philosophical148 comment.
"A gentleman like you, Sir," he went on affably, "would never notice it, but it comes in my line to observe what an immense amount of trouble is made by that com- bination -- I mean the stage, diamonds and light-headed women who aren't satisfied with good homes. I tell you, Sir, a man these days and nights wants to know what his women folks are up to."
The policeman smiled a good night, and returned to the side of his charge, who had been intently watching Lorison's face during the conversation, no doubt for some indication of his intention to render succour. Now, at the failure of the sign, and at the movement made to continue the ignominious progress, she abandoned hope, and addressed him thus, pointedly149:
"You damn chalk-faced quitter! You was thinking of giving me a hand, but you let the cop talk you out of it the first word. You're a dandy to tie to. Say, if you ever get a girl, she'll have a picnic. Won't she work you to the queen's taste! Oh, my!" She concluded with a taunting150, shrill151 laugh that rasped Lorison like a saw. The policemen urged her forward; the delighted train of gaping152 followers153 closed up the rear; and the captive Amazon, accepting her fate, extended the scope of her maledictions so that none in hearing might seem to be slighted.
Then there came upon Lorison an overwhelming revulsion of his perspective. It may be that he had been ripe for it, that the abnormal condition of mind in which he had for so long existed was already about to revert154 to its balance; however, it is certain that the events of the last few minutes had furnished the channel, if not the impetus155, for the change.
The initial determining influence had been so small a thing as the fact and manner of his having been approached by the officer. That agent had, by the style of his accost156, restored the loiterer to his former place in society. In an instant he had been transformed from a somewhat rancid prowler along the fishy157 side streets of gentility into an honest gentleman, with whom even so lordly a guardian158 of the peace might agreeably exchange the compliments.
This, then, first broke the spell, and set thrilling in him a resurrected longing159 for the fellowship of his kind, and the rewards of the virtuous160. To what end, he vehemently161 asked himself, was this fanciful self-accusation, this empty renunciation, this moral squeamishness through which he had been led to abandon what was his heritage in life, and not beyond his deserts? Technically162, he was uncondemned; his sole guilty spot was in thought rather than deed, and cognizance of it unshared by others. For what good, moral or sentimental163, did he slink, retreating like the hedgehog from his own shadow, to and fro in this musty Bohemia that lacked even the picturesque164?
But the thing that struck home and set him raging was the part played by the Amazonian prisoner. To the counterpart of that astounding belligerent165 -- identical at least, in the way of experience -- to one, by her own confession166, thus far fallen, had he, not three hours since, been united in marriage. How desirable and natural it had seemed to him then, and how monstrous167 it seemed now! How the words of diamond thief number two yet burned in his ears: "If you ever get a cirl, she'll have a picnic. What did that that this women instinc- tively knew him for one they could hoodwink? Still again, there reverberated168 the policeman's sapient169 contribution to his agony: "A man these days and nights wants to know what his women folks are up to." Oh, yes, he had been a fool; he had looked at things from the wrong standpoint.
But the wildest note in all the clamour was struck by pain's forefinger170, jealousy171. Now, at least, he felt that keenest sting -- a mounting love unworthily bestowed172. Whatever she might be, he loved her; he bore in his own breast his doom67. A grating, comic flavour to his pre- dicament struck him suddenly, and he laughed creakingly as he swung down the echoing pavement. An impetuous desire to act, to battle with his fate, seized him. He stopped upon his heel, and smote173 his palms together triumphantly174. His wife was -- where? But there was a tangible175 link; an outlet176 more or less navigable, through which his derelict ship of matrimony might yet be safely towed -- the priest!
Like all imaginative men with pliable177 natures, Lorison was, when thoroughly stirred, apt to become tempest- uous. With a high and stubborn indignation upon him, be retraced178 his steps to the intersecting street by which he had come. Down this he hurried to the corner where he had parted with -- an astringent179 grimace180 tinctured the thought -- his wife. Thence still back he harked, follow- ing through an unfamiliar district his stimulated181 recollec- tions of the way they had come from that preposterous182 wedding. Many times he went abroad, and nosed his way back to, the trail, furious.
At last, when he reached the dark, calamitous183 building in which his madness had culminated184, and found the black hallway, he dashed down it, perceiving no light or sound. But he raised his voice, hailing loudly; reckless of everything but that he should find the old mischief- maker185 with the eyes that looked too far awav to see the disaster he had wrought186. The door opened, and in the stream of light Father Rogan stood, his book in hand, with his finger marking the place.
"Ah!" cried Lorison. "You are the man I want. I had a wife of you a few hours ago. I would not trouble you, but I neglected to note how it was done. Will you oblige me with the information whether the business is beyond remedy?"
"Come inside," said the priest; "there are other lodgers187 in the house, who might prefer sleep to even a gratified curiosity."
Lorison entered the room and took the chair offered him. The priest's eyes looked a courteous188 interrogation.
"I must apologize again," said the young man, "for so soon intruding189 upon you with my marital190 infelicities, but, as my wife has neglected to furnish me with her address, I am deprived of the legitimate191 recourse of a family row."
"I am quite a plain man," said Father Rogan, pleas- antly; "but I do not see how I am to ask you questions."
"Pardon my indirectness," said Lorison; "I will ask one. In this room to-night you pronounced me to be a husband. You afterward spoke of additional rites192 or performances that either should or could be effected. I paid little attention to your words then, but I am hungry to hear them repeated now. As matters stand, am I married past all help?"
"You are as legally and as firmly bound," said the priest, "as though it had been done in a cathedral, in the presence of thousands. The additional observances I referred to are not necessary to the strictest legality of the act, but were advised as a precaution for the future -- for convenience of proof in such contingencies193 as wills, inheritances and the like."
Lorison laughed harshly.
"Many thanks," he said. "Then there is no mistake, and I am the happy benedict. I suppose I should go stand upon the bridal corner, and when my wife gets through walking the streets she will look me up."
Father Rogan regarded him calmly.
"My son," he said, "when a man and woman come to me to be married I always marry them. I do this for the sake of other people whom they might go away and marry if they did not marry each other. As you see, I do not seek your confidence; but your case seems to me to be one not altogether devoid194 of interest. Very few marriages that have come to my notice have brought such well- expressed regret within so short a time. I will hazard one question: were you not under the impression that you loved the lady you married, at the time you did so;"
"Loved her!" cried Lorison, wildly. "Never so well as now, though she told me she deceived and sinned and stole. Never more than now, when, perhaps, she is laughing at the fool she cajoled and left, with scarcely a word, to return to God only knows what particular line of her former folly."
Father Rooan answered nothing. During the silence that succeeded, he sat with a quiet expectation beaming in his full, lambent eye.
"If you would listen -- " began Lorison. The priest held up his hand.
"As I hoped," he said. "I thought you would trust me. Wait but a moment." He brought a long clay pipe, filled and lighted it.
"Now, my son," he said.
Lorison poured a twelve month's accumulated con- fidence into Father Rogan's ear. He told all; not sparing himself or omitting the facts of his past, the events of the night, or his disturbing conjectures195 and fears.
"The main point," said the priest, when he had con- cluded, "seems to me to be this -- are you reasonably sure that you love this woman whom you have married?"
"Why," exclaimed Lorisoii, rising impulsively196 to his feet - "why should I deny it? But look at me -- am fish, flesh or fowl197? That is the main point to me, assure you."
"I understand you," said the priest, also risino,, and laying down his pipe. "The situation is one that has taxed the endurance of much older men than you -- in fact, especially much older men than you. I will try to relieve you from it, and this night. You shall see for yourself into exactly what predicament you have fallen, and how you shall, possibly, be extricated198. There is no evidence so credible199 as that of the eyesight."
Father Rogan moved about the room, and donned a soft black hat. Buttoning his coat to his throat, he laid his hand on the doorknob. "Let us walk," he said.
The two went out upon the street. The priest turned his face down it, and Lorison walked with him through a squalid district, where the houses loomed200, awry201 and desoiate-looking, high above them. Presently they turned into a less dismal202 side street, where the houses were smaller, and, though hinting of the most meagre comfort, lacked the concentrated wretchedness of the more populous203 byways.
At a segregated204, two-story house Father Rogan halted, and mounted the steps with the confidence of a familiar visitor. He ushered205 Lorison into a narrow hallway, faintly lighted by a cobwebbed hanging lamp. Almost immediately a door to the right opened and a dingy206 Irish- woman protruded207 her head.
"Good evening to ye, Mistress Geehan," said the priest, unconsciously, it seemed, falling into a delicately flavoured brogue. "And is it yourself can tell me if Norah has gone out again, the night, maybe?"
"Oh, it's yer blissid reverence208! Sure and I can tell ye the same. The purty darlin' wint out, as usual, but a bit later. And she says: 'Mother Geehan,' says she, 'it's me last noight out, praise the saints, this noight is!' And, oh, yer reverence, the swate, beautiful drame of a dress she had this toime! White satin and silk and ribbons, and lace about the neck and arrums -- 'twas a sin, yer reverence, the gold was spint upon it."
The priest heard Lorison catch his breath painfully, and a faint smile flickered209 across his own clean-cut mouth.
"Well, then, Mistress Geehan," said he, "I'll just step upstairs and see the bit boy for a minute, and I'll take this Gentleman up with me."
"He's awake, thin," said the woman. 'I've just come down from sitting wid him the last hour, tilling him fine shtories of ould County Tyrone. 'Tis a greedy gos- soon, it is, yer riverence, for me shtories."
"Small the doubt," said Father Rogan. "There's no rocking would put him to slape the quicker, I'm thinking."
Amid the woman's shrill protest against the retort, the two men ascended210 the steep stairway. The priest pushed open the door of a room near its top.
"Is that you already, sister?" drawled a sweet, childish voice from the darkness.
"It's only ould Father Denny come to see ye, darlin'; and a foine gentleman I've brought to make ye a gr-r-and call. And ye resaves us fast aslape in bed! Shame on yez manners!"
"Oh, Father Denny, is that you? I'm glad. And will you light the lamp, please? It's on the table by the door. And quit talking like Mother Geehan, Father Denny."
The priest lit the lamp, and Lorison saw a tiny, towsled- haired boy, with a thin, delicate face, sitting up in a small bed in a corner. Quickly, also, his rapid glance con- sidered the room and its contents. It was furnished with more than comfort, and its adornments plainly indicated a woman's discerning taste. An open door beyond revealed the blackness of an adjoining room's interior.
The boy clutched both of Father Rogan's hands. "I'm so glad you came," he said; "but why did you come in the night? Did sister send you?"
"Off wid ye! Am I to be sint about, at me age, as was Terence McShane, of Ballymahone? I come on me own r-r-responsibility."
Lorison had also advanced to the boy's bedside. He was fond of children; and the wee fellow, laving himself down to sleep alone ill that dark room, stirred-his heart.
"Aren't you afraid, little man?" he asked, stooping down beside him.
"Sometimes," answered the boy, with a shy smile, "when the rats make too much noise. But nearly every night, when sister goes out, Molt-her Geehan stays a while with me, and tells me funny stories. I'm not often afraid, sir."
"This brave little gentleman," said Father Rogan, "is a scholar of mine. Every day from half-past six to half- past eight -- when sister comes for him -- he stops in my study, and we find out what's in the inside of books. He knows multiplication211, division and fractions; and he's troubling me to begin wid the chronicles of Ciaran of Clonmaciioise, Corurac McCullenan and Cuan O'Loc- hain, the gr-r-reat Irish histhorians." The boy was evidently accustomed to the priest's Celtic pleasantries. A little, appreciative212 grin was all the attention the insin- nation of pedantry213 received.
Lorison, to have saved his life, could not have put to the child one of those vital questions that were wildly beating about, unanswered, in his own brain. The little fellow was very like Norah; he had the same shining hair and candid eyes.
"Oh, Father Denny," cried the boy, suddenly, "I forgot to tell you! Sister is not going away at night any more! She told me so when she kissed me good night as she was leaving. And she said she was so happy, and then she cried. Wasn't that queer? But I'm glad; aren't you?"
"Yes, lad. And now, ye omadhaun, go to sleep, and say good night; we must be going."
"Which shall I do first, Father Denny?"
"Faith, he's caught me again! Wait till I get the sassenach into the annals of Tageruach, the hagiographer; I'll give him enough of the Irish idiom to make him more respectful."
The light was out, and the small, brave voice bidding them good night from the dark room. They groped downstairs, and tore away from the garrulity214 of Mother Geehan.
Again the priest steered215 them through the dim ways, but this time in another direction. His conductor was serenely216 silent, and Lorison followed his example to the extent of seldom speaking. Serene he could not be. His heart beat suffocatingly217 in his breast. The following of this blind, menacing trail was pregnant with he knew not what humiliating revelation to be delivered at its end.
They came into a more pretentious street, where trade, it could be surmised218, flourished by day. And again the priest paused; this time before a lofty building, whose great doors and windows in the lowest floor were carefully shuttered and barred. Its higher apertures219 were dark, save in the third story, the windows of which were bril- liantly lighted. Lorison's ear caught a distant, regular, pleasing thrumming, as of music above. They stood at an angle of the building. Up, along the side nearest them, mounted an iron stairway. At its top was an upright, illuminated220 parallelogram. Father Rogan had stopped, and stood, musing221.
"I will say this much," he remarked, thoughtfully: "I believe you to be a better man than you think yourself to be, and a better man than I thought some hours ago. But do not take this," he added, with a smile, "as much praise. I promised you a possible deliverance from an unhappy perplexity. I will have to modify that promise. I can only remove the mystery that enhanced that per- plexity. Your deliverance depends upon yourself. Come."
He led his companion up the stairway. Halfway222 up, Lorison caught him by the sleeve. "Remember," he gasped223, "I love that woman."
"You desired to know.
"I -- Go on."
The priest reached the landing at the top of the stairway. Lorison, behind him, saw that the illuminated space was the glass upper half of a door opening into the lighted room. The rhythmic224 music increased as they neared it; the stairs shook with the mellow225 vibrations226.
Lorison stopped breathing when he set foot upon the highest step, for the priest stood aside, and motioned him to look through the glass of the door.
His eye, accustomed to the darkness, met first a blind- ing glare, and then he made out the faces and forms of many people, amid an extravagant227 display of splendid robings -- billowy laces, brilliant-hued finery, ribbons, silks and misty228 drapery. And then he caught the mean. ing of that jarring hum, and he saw the tired, pale, happy face of his wife, bending, as were a score of others, over her sewing machine -- toiling229, toiling. Here was the folly she pursued, and the end of his quest.
But not his deliverance, though even then remorse86 struck him. His shamed soul fluttered once more before it retired230 to make room for the other and better one. For, to temper his thrill of joy, the shine of the satin and the glimmer231 of ornaments232 recalled the disturbing figure of the bespangled Amazon, and the base duplicate histories it by the glare of footlights and stolen diamonds. It is past the wisdom of him who only sets the scenes, either to praise or blame the man. But this time his love over- came his scruples233. He took a quick step, and reached out his hand for the doorknob. Father Rogan was quicker to arrest it and draw him back.
"You use my trust in you queerly," said the priest sternly. "What are you about to do?"
"I am going to my wife," said Lorison. "Let me pass."
"Listen," said the priest, holding him firmly by the arm. "I am about to put you in possession of a piece of knowledge of which, thus far, you have scarcely proved deserving. I do not think you ever will; but I will not dwell upon that. You see in that room the woman you married, working for a frugal234 living for herself, and a generous comfort for an idolized brother. This building belongs to the chief costumer of the city. For months the advance orders for the coming Mardi Gras festivals have kept the work going day and night. I myself secured employment here for Norah. She toils235 here each night from nine o'clock until daylight, and, besides, carries home with her some of the finer costumes, requiring more delicate needlework, and works there part of the day. Somehow, you two have remained strangely ignorant of each other's lives. Are you convinced now that your wife is not walking the streets?"
"Let me go to her," cried Lorison, again struggling, "and beg her forgiveness!'
"Sir," said the priest, "do you owe me nothing? Be quiet. It seems so often that Heaven lets fall its choicest gifts into hands that must be taught to hold them. Listen again. You forgot that repentant236 sin must not comprom- ise, but look up, for redemption, to the purest and best. You went to her with the fine-spun sophistry237 that peace could be found in a mutual238 guilt76; and she, fearful of losing what her heart so craved239, thought it worth the price to buy it with a desperate, pure, beautiful lie. I have known her since the day she was born; she is as innocent and unsullied in life and deed as a holy saint. In that lowly street where she dwells she first saw the light, and she has lived there ever since, spending her days in generous self-sacrifice for others. Och, ye spalpeen!" continued Father Rogan, raising his finger in kindly240 anger at Lorison. "What for, I wonder, could she be after making a fool of hersilf, and shamin' her swate soul with lies, for the like of you!"
"Sir," said Lorison, trembling, "say what you please of me. Doubt it as you must, I will yet prove my gratitude241 to you, and my devotion to her. But let me speak to her once now, let me kneel for just one moment at her feet, and -- "
"Tut, tut!" said the priest. "How many acts of a love drama do you think an old bookworm like me capable of witnessing? Besides, what kind of figures do we cut, spying upon the mysteries of midnight millinery! Go to meet your wife to-morrow, as she ordered you, and obey her thereafter, and maybe some time I shall get forgive- ness for the part I have played in this night's work. Off wid yez down the shtairs, now! 'Tis late, and an ould man like me should be takin'his rest."
收听单词发音 |
1
folly
|
|
| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
possessed
|
|
| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
serene
|
|
| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
grandeur
|
|
| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
akin
|
|
| adj.同族的，类似的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
attain
|
|
| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
melancholy
|
|
| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
temperament
|
|
| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
thrift
|
|
| adj.节约，节俭；n.节俭，节约 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
skulker
|
|
| n.偷偷隐躲起来的人，偷懒的人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
11
ragged
|
|
| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
denizen
|
|
| n.居民，外籍居民 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
13
quaint
|
|
| adj.古雅的，离奇有趣的，奇怪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
subjective
|
|
| a.主观(上)的，个人的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
rue
|
|
| n.懊悔，芸香，后悔；v.后悔，悲伤，懊悔 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
arrogant
|
|
| adj.傲慢的，自大的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
grooves
|
|
| n.沟( groove的名词复数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏v.沟( groove的第三人称单数 )；槽；老一套；（某种）音乐节奏 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
doorway
|
|
| n.门口，(喻)入门；门路，途径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
untold
|
|
| adj.数不清的，无数的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
gallant
|
|
| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
murky
|
|
| adj.黑暗的，朦胧的；adv.阴暗地，混浊地；n.阴暗；昏暗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
fissure
|
|
| n.裂缝；裂伤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
wayfarer
|
|
| n.旅人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
tangled
|
|
| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
filigree
|
|
| n.金银丝做的工艺品；v.用金银细丝饰品装饰；用华而不实的饰品装饰；adj.金银细丝工艺的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
moorish
|
|
| adj.沼地的，荒野的，生[住]在沼地的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
brass
|
|
| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
scatter
|
|
| vt.撒，驱散，散开；散布/播；vi.分散，消散 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
depicted
|
|
| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
unfamiliar
|
|
| adj.陌生的，不熟悉的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
obtrusive
|
|
| adj.显眼的；冒失的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
conjecture
|
|
| n./v.推测，猜测 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
blot
|
|
| vt.弄脏（用吸墨纸）吸干；n.污点，污渍 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
gilt
|
|
| adj.镀金的；n.金边证券 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
attests
|
|
| v.证明( attest的第三人称单数 )；证实；声称…属实；使宣誓 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
justifiable
|
|
| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
expectancy
|
|
| n.期望，预期，（根据概率统计求得）预期数额 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
ignominious
|
|
| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
avocations
|
|
| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
vicissitudes
|
|
| n.变迁，世事变化；变迁兴衰( vicissitude的名词复数 )；盛衰兴废 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
debonair
|
|
| adj.殷勤的，快乐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
proprieties
|
|
| n.礼仪，礼节；礼貌( propriety的名词复数 )；规矩；正当；合适 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
entices
|
|
| 诱惑，怂恿( entice的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
beguiles
|
|
| v.欺骗( beguile的第三人称单数 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
fiery
|
|
| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
panoramic
|
|
| adj. 全景的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
vaudeville
|
|
| n.歌舞杂耍表演 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
prettily
|
|
| adv.优美地；可爱地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
banishment
|
|
| n.放逐，驱逐 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
conceal
|
|
| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
expediency
|
|
| n.适宜；方便；合算；利己 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
ethics
|
|
| n.伦理学；伦理观，道德标准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
positively
|
|
| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
dally
|
|
| v.荒废(时日)，调情 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
innuendo
|
|
| n.暗指，讽刺 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
provincial
|
|
| adj.省的，地方的；n．外省人，乡下人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
cavorting
|
|
| v.跳跃( cavort的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
stonily
|
|
| 石头地，冷酷地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
reticence
|
|
| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
prostrate
|
|
| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
pungent
|
|
| adj.（气味、味道）刺激性的，辛辣的；尖锐的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
vibrant
|
|
| adj.震颤的，响亮的，充满活力的，精力充沛的，(色彩)鲜明的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
haze
|
|
| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
65
piquant
|
|
| adj.辛辣的，开胃的，令人兴奋的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
66
pervaded
|
|
| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
67
doom
|
|
| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
68
doomed
|
|
| 命定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
69
spoke
|
|
| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
70
dwarfed
|
|
| vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
71
bestowing
|
|
| 砖窑中砖堆上层已烧透的砖 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
72
pier
|
|
| n.码头；桥墩，桥柱；[建]窗间壁，支柱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
73
poked
|
|
| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
74
cane
|
|
| n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
75
fatuous
|
|
| adj.愚昧的；昏庸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
76
guilt
|
|
| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
77
plunged
|
|
| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
78
abdication
|
|
| n.辞职；退位 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
79
pruned
|
|
| v.修剪（树木等）( prune的过去式和过去分词 )；精简某事物，除去某事物多余的部分 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
80
wager
|
|
| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
81
purloined
|
|
| v.偷窃( purloin的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
82
sinister
|
|
| adj.不吉利的，凶恶的，左边的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
83
sweeping
|
|
| adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
84
condescension
|
|
| n.自以为高人一等，贬低(别人) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
85
ascetic
|
|
| adj.禁欲的；严肃的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
86
remorse
|
|
| n.痛恨，悔恨，自责 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
87
remorseful
|
|
| adj.悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
88
exclamation
|
|
| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
89
exultantly
|
|
| adv.狂欢地，欢欣鼓舞地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
90
sobbing
|
|
| <主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
91
solicitude
|
|
| n.焦虑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
92
fully
|
|
| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
93
importunate
|
|
| adj.强求的；纠缠不休的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
94
brazenness
|
|
| 厚颜无耻 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
95
innocence
|
|
| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
96
license
|
|
| n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
97
licenses
|
|
| n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
98
rout
|
|
| n.溃退，溃败；v.击溃，打垮 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
99
standing
|
|
| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
100
curiously
|
|
| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
101
reassured
|
|
| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
102
moth
|
|
| n.蛾，蛀虫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
103
beckoned
|
|
| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
104
emanated
|
|
| v.从…处传出，传出( emanate的过去式和过去分词 )；产生，表现，显示 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
105
subjugated
|
|
| v.征服，降伏( subjugate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
106
inadequacy
|
|
| n.无法胜任，信心不足 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
107
afterward
|
|
| adv.后来；以后 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
108
briefly
|
|
| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
109
rote
|
|
| n.死记硬背，生搬硬套 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
110
addenda
|
|
| n.附录，附加物；附加物( addendum的名词复数 )；补遗；附录；（齿轮的）齿顶（高） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
111
astounding
|
|
| adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
112
discredit
|
|
| vt.使不可置信；n.丧失信义；不信，怀疑 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
113
rambled
|
|
| （无目的地）漫游( ramble的过去式和过去分词 )； （喻）漫谈； 扯淡； 长篇大论 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
114
vacuously
|
|
| adv.无意义地，茫然若失地，无所事事地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
115
pretentious
|
|
| adj.自命不凡的，自负的，炫耀的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
116
solitary
|
|
| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
117
devoted
|
|
| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
118
conspicuous
|
|
| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
119
axis
|
|
| n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
120
apex
|
|
| n.顶点，最高点 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
121
buffeted
|
|
| 反复敲打( buffet的过去式和过去分词 )； 连续猛击； 打来打去； 推来搡去 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
122
forth
|
|
| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
123
retarded
|
|
| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
124
dearth
|
|
| n.缺乏，粮食不足，饥谨 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
125
valid
|
|
| adj.有确实根据的；有效的；正当的，合法的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
126
speculation
|
|
| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
127
contemplating
|
|
| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
128
complaisant
|
|
| adj.顺从的，讨好的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
129
serenity
|
|
| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
130
assailed
|
|
| v.攻击( assail的过去式和过去分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
131
commotion
|
|
| n.骚动，动乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
132
hubbub
|
|
| n.嘈杂；骚乱 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
133
hue
|
|
| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
134
ponderous
|
|
| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
135
harried
|
|
| v.使苦恼( harry的过去式和过去分词 )；不断烦扰；一再袭击；侵扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
136
candid
|
|
| adj.公正的，正直的；坦率的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
137
effulgent
|
|
| adj.光辉的；灿烂的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
138
vociferous
|
|
| adj.喧哗的，大叫大嚷的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
139
waned
|
|
| v.衰落( wane的过去式和过去分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
140
judicious
|
|
| adj.明智的，明断的，能作出明智决定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
141
scrutiny
|
|
| n.详细检查，仔细观察 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
142
countenance
|
|
| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
143
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
144
bail
|
|
| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
145
confidential
|
|
| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
146
larceny
|
|
| n.盗窃（罪） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
147
troupe
|
|
| n.剧团，戏班；杂技团；马戏团 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
148
philosophical
|
|
| adj.哲学家的，哲学上的，达观的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
149
pointedly
|
|
| adv.尖地，明显地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
150
taunting
|
|
| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
151
shrill
|
|
| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
152
gaping
|
|
| adj.口的；张口的；敞口的；多洞穴的v.目瞪口呆地凝视( gape的现在分词 )；张开，张大 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
153
followers
|
|
| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
154
revert
|
|
| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
155
impetus
|
|
| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
156
accost
|
|
| v.向人搭话，打招呼 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
157
fishy
|
|
| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
158
guardian
|
|
| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
159
longing
|
|
| n.（for）渴望 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
160
virtuous
|
|
| adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
161
vehemently
|
|
| adv. 热烈地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
162
technically
|
|
| adv.专门地，技术上地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
163
sentimental
|
|
| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
164
picturesque
|
|
| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
165
belligerent
|
|
| adj.好战的，挑起战争的；n.交战国，交战者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
166
confession
|
|
| n.自白，供认，承认 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
167
monstrous
|
|
| adj.巨大的；恐怖的；可耻的，丢脸的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
168
reverberated
|
|
| 回响，回荡( reverberate的过去式和过去分词 )； 使反响，使回荡，使反射 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
169
sapient
|
|
| adj.有见识的，有智慧的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
170
forefinger
|
|
| n.食指 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
171
jealousy
|
|
| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
172
bestowed
|
|
| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
173
smote
|
|
| v.猛打，重击，打击( smite的过去式 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
174
triumphantly
|
|
| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
175
tangible
|
|
| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
176
outlet
|
|
| n.出口/路；销路；批发商店；通风口；发泄 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
177
pliable
|
|
| adj.易受影响的；易弯的；柔顺的，易驾驭的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
178
retraced
|
|
| v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
179
astringent
|
|
| adj.止血的，收缩的，涩的；n.收缩剂，止血剂 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
180
grimace
|
|
| v.做鬼脸，面部歪扭 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
181
stimulated
|
|
| a.刺激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
182
preposterous
|
|
| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
183
calamitous
|
|
| adj.灾难的，悲惨的；多灾多难；惨重 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
184
culminated
|
|
| v.达到极点( culminate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
185
maker
|
|
| n.制造者，制造商 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
186
wrought
|
|
| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
187
lodgers
|
|
| n.房客，租住者( lodger的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
188
courteous
|
|
| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
189
intruding
|
|
| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
190
marital
|
|
| adj.婚姻的，夫妻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
191
legitimate
|
|
| adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
192
rites
|
|
| 仪式，典礼( rite的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
193
contingencies
|
|
| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
194
devoid
|
|
| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
195
conjectures
|
|
| 推测，猜想( conjecture的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
196
impulsively
|
|
| adv.冲动地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
197
fowl
|
|
| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
198
extricated
|
|
| v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
199
credible
|
|
| adj.可信任的，可靠的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
200
loomed
|
|
| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
201
awry
|
|
| adj.扭曲的，错的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
202
dismal
|
|
| adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
203
populous
|
|
| adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
204
segregated
|
|
| 分开的； 被隔离的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
205
ushered
|
|
| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
206
dingy
|
|
| adj.昏暗的，肮脏的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
207
protruded
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
208
reverence
|
|
| n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
209
flickered
|
|
| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
210
ascended
|
|
| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
211
multiplication
|
|
| n.增加，增多，倍增；增殖，繁殖；乘法 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
212
appreciative
|
|
| adj.有鉴赏力的，有眼力的；感激的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
213
pedantry
|
|
| n.迂腐，卖弄学问 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
214
garrulity
|
|
| n.饶舌，多嘴 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
215
steered
|
|
| v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 )；操纵；控制；引导 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
216
serenely
|
|
| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
217
suffocatingly
|
|
| 令人窒息地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
218
surmised
|
|
| v.臆测，推断( surmise的过去式和过去分词 )；揣测；猜想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
219
apertures
|
|
| n.孔( aperture的名词复数 )；隙缝；（照相机的）光圈；孔径 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
220
illuminated
|
|
| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
221
musing
|
|
| n. 沉思，冥想 adj. 沉思的, 冥想的 动词muse的现在分词形式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
222
halfway
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
223
gasped
|
|
| 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： |
|
|
|
|
224
rhythmic
|
|
| adj.有节奏的，有韵律的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
225
mellow
|
|
| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
226
vibrations
|
|
| n.摆动( vibration的名词复数 )；震动；感受；（偏离平衡位置的）一次性往复振动 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
227
extravagant
|
|
| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
228
misty
|
|
| adj.雾蒙蒙的，有雾的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
229
toiling
|
|
| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
230
retired
|
|
| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
231
glimmer
|
|
| v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
232
ornaments
|
|
| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
233
scruples
|
|
| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
234
frugal
|
|
| adj.节俭的，节约的，少量的，微量的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
235
toils
|
|
| 网 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
236
repentant
|
|
| adj.对…感到悔恨的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
237
sophistry
|
|
| n.诡辩 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
238
mutual
|
|
| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
239
craved
|
|
| 渴望，热望( crave的过去式 )； 恳求，请求 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
240
kindly
|
|
| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
241
gratitude
|
|
| adj.感激，感谢 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |