Two（2）

II
Father Gorman walked back through the gathering¹ twilight². Therewould be fog tonight, it was growing denser³ rapidly. He paused for a mo-ment, frowning. Such a fantastic extraordinary story… How much of itwas born of delirium⁴ and high fever? Some of it was true, of course—buthow much? Anyway it was important to make a note of certain nameswhilst they were fresh in his memory. The St. Francis Guild⁵ would be as-sembled when he got back. He turned abruptly⁶ into a small café, ordered acup of coffee and sat down. He felt in the pocket of his cassock. Ah, Mrs.
Gerahty — he’d asked her to mend the lining⁷. As usual, she hadn’t! Hisnotebook and a loose pencil and the few coins he carried about him, hadgone through to the lining. He prised up a coin or two and the pencil, butthe notebook was too difficult. The coffee came, and he asked if he couldhave a piece of paper.
“This do you?”
It was a torn paper bag. Father Gorman nodded and took it. He began towrite—the names—it was important not to forget the names. Names werethe sort of thing he did forget….
The café door opened and three young lads in Edwardian dress came inand sat down noisily.
Father Gorman finished his memorandum⁸. He folded up the scrap⁹ of pa-per and was about to shove it into his pocket when he remembered thehole. He did what he had often done before, pressed the folded scrapdown into his shoe.
A man came in quietly and sat down in a far corner. Father Gormantook a sip¹⁰ or two of the weak coffee for politeness’ sake, called for his bill,and paid. Then he got up and went out.
The man who had just come in seemed to change his mind. He looked athis watch as though he had mistaken the time, got up, and hurried out.
The fog was coming on fast. Father Gorman quickened his steps. Heknew his district very well. He took a shortcut¹¹ by turning down the smallstreet which ran close by the railway. He may have been conscious ofsteps behind him but he thought nothing of them. Why should he?
The blow from the cosh caught him completely unaware¹². He heeled for-ward and fell….

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 twilight   

n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期

参考例句：

• Twilight merged into darkness.夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
• Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth.薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。

3 denser   

adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• As Tito entered the neighbourhood of San Martino, he found the throng rather denser. 蒂托走近圣马丁教堂附近一带时，发现人群相当密集。

4 delirium   

n. 神智昏迷,说胡话;极度兴奋

参考例句：

• In her delirium, she had fallen to the floor several times. 她在神志不清的状态下几次摔倒在地上。
• For the next nine months, Job was in constant delirium.接下来的九个月，约伯处于持续精神错乱的状态。

5 guild   

n.行会，同业公会，协会

参考例句：

• He used to be a member of the Writers' Guild of America.他曾是美国作家协会的一员。
• You had better incorporate the firm into your guild.你最好把这个公司并入你的行业协会。

6 abruptly   

adv.突然地，出其不意地

参考例句：

• He gestured abruptly for Virginia to get in the car.他粗鲁地示意弗吉尼亚上车。
• I was abruptly notified that a half-hour speech was expected of me.我突然被通知要讲半个小时的话。

7 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

8 memorandum   

n.备忘录，便笺

参考例句：

• The memorandum was dated 23 August,2008.备忘录上注明的日期是2008年8月23日。
• The Secretary notes down the date of the meeting in her memorandum book.秘书把会议日期都写在记事本上。

9 scrap   

n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废

参考例句：

• A man comes round regularly collecting scrap.有个男人定时来收废品。
• Sell that car for scrap.把那辆汽车当残品卖了吧。

10 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

11 shortcut   

n.近路，捷径

参考例句：

• He was always looking for a shortcut to fame and fortune.他总是在找成名发财的捷径。
• If you take the shortcut,it will be two li closer.走抄道去要近2里路。

12 unaware   

a.不知道的，未意识到的

参考例句：

• They were unaware that war was near. 他们不知道战争即将爆发。
• I was unaware of the man's presence. 我没有察觉到那人在场。