Eighteen INTERLUDE

Eighteen INTERLUDE
Hercule Poirot passed through the gate of the churchyard. He walked up one of the paths, andpresently, against a moss-grown wall he stopped, looking down on a grave. He stood there forsome minutes looking first at the grave, then at the view of the Downs and sea beyond. Then hiseyes came back again. Flowers had been put recently on the grave. A small bunch of assorted¹ wildflowers, the kind of bunch that might have been left by a child, but Poirot did not think that it wasa child who had left them. He read the lettering on the grave.
To the memory of
DOROTHEA JARROW
Died Sept 15th 1960
Also of
MARGARET RAVENSCROFT
Died Oct 3rd 1960
Sister of above
Also of
ALISTAIR RAVENSCROFT
Died Oct 3rd 1960
Her husband
In their Death they were not divided
Forgive us our trespasses³
As we forgive those that trespass² against us
Lord, have Mercy upon us
Christ, have Mercy upon us
Lord, have Mercy upon us
Poirot stood there a moment or two. He nodded his head once or twice. Then he left thechurchyard and walked by a footpath⁴ that led out onto the cliff and along the cliff. Presently hestood still again looking out to the sea. He spoke⁵ to himself.
“I am sure now that I know what happened and why. I understand the pity of it and the tragedy.
One has to go back such a long way. In my end is my beginning, or should one put it differently?
‘In my beginning was my tragic⁶ end?’ The Swiss girl must have known—but will she tell me? Theboy believes she will. For their sakes—the girl and the boy. They cannot accept life unless theyknow.”

1 assorted   

adj.各种各样的，各色俱备的

参考例句：

• There's a bag of assorted sweets on the table.桌子上有一袋什锦糖果。
• He has always assorted with men of his age.他总是与和他年令相仿的人交往。

2 trespass   

n./v.侵犯，闯入私人领地

参考例句：

• The fishing boat was seized for its trespass into restricted waters.渔船因非法侵入受限制水域而被扣押。
• The court sentenced him to a fine for trespass.法庭以侵害罪对他判以罚款。

3 trespasses   

罪过( trespass的名词复数 )； 非法进入

参考例句：

• If you forgive men their trespasses,your Heavenly Father will also forgive you. 如果你们饶恕他们的过失，你们的天父也必将饶恕你们的过失。
• Forgive us our trespasses! 宽恕我们的罪过吧！

4 footpath   

n.小路，人行道

参考例句：

• Owners who allow their dogs to foul the footpath will be fined.主人若放任狗弄脏人行道将受处罚。
• They rambled on the footpath in the woods.他俩漫步在林间蹊径上。

5 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：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

6 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。