ONE, TWO, BUCKLE MY SHOE 4

IV
The meeting of the Board of Directors was over. It had passed off smoothly¹. The report was good.
There should have been no discordant² note. Yet to the sensitive Mr. Samuel Rotherstein there had
been something, some nuance³ in the chairman’s manner.
There had been, once or twice, a shortness, an acerbity⁴, in his tone—quite uncalled for by the
proceedings⁵.
Some secret worry, perhaps? But somehow Rotherstein could not connect a secret worry with
Alistair Blunt. He was such an unemotional man. He was so very normal. So essentially⁶ British.
There was, of course, always liver … Mr. Rotherstein’s liver gave him a bit of trouble from
time to time. But he’d never known Alistair to complain of his liver. Alistair’s health was as sound
as his brain and his grasp of finance. It was not annoying heartiness—just quiet well-being⁷.
And yet—there was something—once or twice the chairman’s hand had wandered to his face.
He had sat supporting his chin. Not his normal attitude. And once or twice he had seemed actually
—yes, distrait⁸.
They came out of the boardroom and passed down the stairs.
Rotherstein said:
“Can’t give you a lift, I suppose?”
Alistair Blunt smiled and shook his head.
“My car’s waiting.” He glanced at his watch. “I’m not going back to the city.” He paused. “As a
matter of fact I’ve got an appointment with the dentist.”
The mystery was solved.

1 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。

2 discordant   

adj.不调和的

参考例句：

• Leonato thought they would make a discordant pair.里奥那托认为他们不适宜作夫妻。
• For when we are deeply mournful discordant above all others is the voice of mirth.因为当我们极度悲伤的时候，欢乐的声音会比其他一切声音都更显得不谐调。

3 nuance   

n.(意义、意见、颜色)细微差别

参考例句：

• These users will easily learn each nuance of the applications they use.这些用户会很快了解他们所使用程序的每一细微差别。
• I wish I hadn't become so conscious of every little nuance.我希望我不要变得这样去思索一切琐碎之事。

4 acerbity   

n.涩，酸，刻薄

参考例句：

• His acerbity to his daughter came home to roost.他对女儿的刻薄得到了恶报。
• The biggest to amino acerbity demand still is animal feed additive.对氨基酸需求量最大的仍是动物饲料添加剂。

5 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

6 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

7 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。

8 distrait   

adj.心不在焉的

参考例句：

• The distrait boy is always losing his books.这个心不在焉的男孩老是丢书。
• The distrait actress fluffed her lines.那位心不在焉的女演员忘了台词。