From Friday morning until the following Tuesday noon, moving amid such scenes as previously1 had soexhilarated and enthralled2 him, Clyde was now compelled to suffer the most frightful3 fears and dreads4. For,although met by Sondra, as well as Bertine, at the door of the Cranston lodge5, and shown by them to the room hewas to occupy, he could not help but contrast every present delight here with the danger of his immediate6 andcomplete destruction.
As he had entered, Sondra had poutingly7 whispered, so that Bertine might not hear: "Baddie! Staying down therea whole week when you might have been up here. And Sondra planning everything for you! You ought to have agood spanking8. I was going to call up to-day to see where you were." Yet at the same time her eyes conveyingthe infatuation that now dominated her.
And he, in spite of his troubled thoughts achieving a gay smile,--for once in her presence even the terror ofRoberta's death, his own present danger appeared to dwindle9. If only all went well, now,--nothing were traced tohim! A clear path! A marvelous future! Her beauty! Her love! Her wealth. And yet, after being ushered10 to hisroom, his bag having been carried in before him, at once becoming nervous as to the suit. It was damp andwrinkled. He must hide it on one of the upper shelves of a closet, maybe. And the moment he was alone and thedoor locked, taking it out, wet and wrinkled, the mud of the shores of Big Bittern still about the legs--yetdeciding perhaps not--perhaps he had better keep it locked in his bag until night when he could better decidewhat to do. Yet tying up in a single bundle, in order to have them laundered11, other odds12 and ends he had wornthat day. And, as he did so, terribly, sickeningly conscious of the mystery and drama as well as the pathos13 of hislife--all he had contacted since his arrival in the east, how little he had in his youth. How little he had now,really. The spaciousness14 and grandeur15 of this room as contrasted with the one he occupied in Lycurgus. Thestrangeness of his being here at all after yesterday. The blue waters of this bright lake without as contrasted withthe darker ones of Big Bittern. And on the green-sward that reached from this bright, strong, rambling16 house,with its wide veranda17 and striped awnings18 to the shore of the lake itself, Stuart Finchley and Violet Taylor,together with Frank Harriet and Wynette Phant, in the smartest of sport clothes, playing tennis, while Bertine andHarley Baggott tolled19 in the shade of a striped marquee swing.
And, he himself, after bathing and dressing20, assuming a jocular air although his nerves remained tense and hismood apprehensive21. And then descending22 to where Sondra and Burchard Taylor and Jill Trumbull were laughingover some amusing experiences in connection with motor-boating the day before. Jill Trumbull called to him ashe came out: "Hello, Clyde! Been playing hookey or what? I haven't seen you in I don't know when." And he,after smiling wistfully at Sondra, craving23 as never before her sympathy as well as her affection, drawing himselfup on the railing of the veranda and replying, as smoothly24 as he could: "Been working over at Albany sinceTuesday. Hot down there. It's certainly fine to be up here to-day. Who's all up?" And Jill Trumbull, smiling: "Oh,nearly every one, I guess. I saw Vanda over at the Randalls' yesterday. And Scott wrote Bertine he was comingto the Point next Tuesday. It looks to me as though no one was going over to Greenwood much this year." Andthen a long and intense discussion as to why Greenwood was no longer what it had been. And then Sondraexclaiming: "That reminds me! I have to phone Bella to-day. She promised to come up to that horse show overat Bristol week after next, sure." And then more talk of horses and dogs. And Clyde, listening intently in hisanxiety to seem an integral part of it all, yet brooding on all that so desperately25 concerned him. Those three men.
Roberta. Maybe they had found her body by now--who could tell, yet saying to himself--why so fearsome? Wasit likely that in that depth of water--fifty feet maybe, for all he knew--that they would find her? Or that they could ever identify him with Clifford Golden or Carl Graham? How could they? Hadn't he really and trulycovered his tracks except for those three men? THOSE THREE MEN! He shivered, as with cold, in spite ofhimself.
And then Sondra, sensing a note of depression about him. (She had determined26 from his obvious lack ofequipment on his first visit that perhaps the want of money was at the bottom of his present mood, and soproposed later this day to extract seventy-five dollars from her purse and force that upon him in order that at nopoint where petty expenditures27 should be required, should he feel the least bit embarrassed during his stay thistime.) And after a few moments, thinking of the short golf course, with its variety of concealing28 hazards forunseen kisses and embraces, she now jumped up with: "Who's for a mixed foursome? Come on, Jill, Clyde,Burch! I'll bet Clyde and I can turn in a lower card than you two can!""I'll take that!" exclaimed Burchard Taylor, rising and straightening his yellow and blue striped sweater, "even ifI didn't get in until four this morning. How about you, Jilly? If you want to make that for the lunches, Sonny, I'lltake it."And at once Clyde wincing30 and chilling, for he was thinking of the miserable31 twenty-five dollars left him fromall his recent ghastly adventures. And a lunch for four here would cost not less than eight or ten dollars! Perhapsmore. At the same time, Sondra, noting his expression, exclaimed: "That's a go!" and drawing near to Clydetapped him gently with her toe, exclaiming: "But I have to change. I'll be right down. In the meantime, Clyde, I'lltell you what you do--go and find Andrew and tell him to get the clubs, will you? We can go over in your boat,can't we, Burchy?" And Clyde, hurrying to find Andrew, and thinking of the probable cost of the lunch if he andSondra were defeated, but being caught up with by Sondra and seized by the arm. "Wait a minute, honey, I'll beright back." Then dashing up the steps to her room, and in a moment down again, a handful of bills she hadreserved shut tightly in her little fist: "Here, darling, quick!" she whispered, taking hold of one of Clyde's coatpockets and putting the money into it. "Ssh! Not a word, now! Hurry! It's to pay for the lunch in case we lose,and some other things. I'll tell you afterwards. Oh, but I do love you, baby boy!" And then, her warm, browneyes fixed32 on him for a moment in profound admiration33, dashing up the stairs again, from where she called:
"Don't stand there, silly! Get the golf clubs! The golf clubs!" And she was gone.
And Clyde, feeling his pocket and realizing that she had given him much--plenty, no doubt, for all of his needswhile here, as well as to escape if need be. And exclaiming to himself: "Darling!" "Baby girl!" His beautiful,warm, generous Sondra! She loved him so--truly loved him. But if ever she should find out! Oh, God! And yetall for her, if she only knew. All for her! And then finding Andrew and returning with him carrying the bags.
And here was Sondra again, dancing down in a smart green knitted sports costume. And Jill in a new cap andblouse which made her look like a jockey, laughing at Burchard who was at the wheel of the boat. And Sondracalling back to Bertine and Harley Baggott in the swing as she was passing: "Hey, fellows! You won't come,eh?""Where?""Casino Golf Club.""Oh, too far. See you after lunch on the beach, though."And then Burchard shooting the boat out in the lake with a whir that set it bounding like a porpoise--and Clydegazing half in a dream, half delight and hope and the other half a cloud of shadow and terror, with arrest anddeath, maybe, stalking close behind. For in spite of all his preliminary planning, he was beginning to feel that hehad made a mistake in openly coming out of the wood this morning. And yet had it not been best, since the onlyalternative was that of remaining there by day and coming out at night and following the shore road on foot toSharon? That would have required two or three days. And Sondra, anxious as well as curious about the delay,might have telephoned to Lycurgus, thereby34 raising some question in regard to him which might have proveddangerous later might it not?
But here now, this bright day, with seemingly no cares of any kind, for these others at least, however dark andbleak his own background might be. And Sondra, all gayety because of his presence, now jumping up, her brightscarf held aloft in one hand like a pennant35, and exclaiming foolishly and gayly: "Cleopatra sailing to meet--tomeet--who was it she was sailing to meet, anyhow?""Charlie Chaplin," volunteered Taylor, at the same time proceeding36 to ricochet the boat as roughly and erraticallyas possible in order to make her lose her balance.
"Oh, you silly!" returned Sondra, spreading her feet sufficiently37 apart to maintain her equilibrium38, and adding forthe benefit of Burchard: "No, you don't either, Burchy," then continuing: "Cleopatra sailing, a-a-oh, I know,aquaplaning," and throwing her head back and her arms wide, while the boat continued to jump and lurch39 like afrightened horse.
"See if you can upset me now, Burchy," she called.
And Burchard, throwing the boat from side to side as swiftly as he dared, with Jill Trumbull, anxious for her ownsafety, calling: "Oh, say, what do you want to do? Drown us all?" at which Clyde winced40 and blanched41 as thoughstruck.
At once he felt sick, weak. He had never imagined that it was going to be like this; that he was going to suffer so.
He had imagined that it was all going to be different. And yet here he was, blanching42 at every accidental andunintended word! Why, if he were put to any real test--an officer descending on him unexpectedly and askinghim where he had been yesterday and what he knew of Roberta's death--why, he would mumble43, shiver, not beable to talk, maybe--and so give his whole case away wouldn't he! He must brace29 up, try to look natural, happy-mustn'the--for this first day at least.
Fortunately in the speed and excitement of the play, the others seemed not to notice the startling effect of theremark upon him, and he managed by degrees to recover his outward composure. Then the launch approachedthe Casino and Sondra, wishing to execute some last showy stunt44, jumped up and catching45 the rail pulled herselfup, while the boat rolled past only to reverse later. And Clyde, because of a happy smile in his direction, wasseized by an uncontrollable desire for her--her love, sympathy, generosity46, courage. And so now, to match hersmiles, he jumped up and after assisting Jill to the steps, quickly climbed up after her, pretending a gayety andenthusiasm that was as hollow inwardly as outwardly it was accurate.
"Gee! Some athlete you are!"And then on the links a little later with her, and under her guidance and direction, playing as successful a gameas it was possible with his little experience and as troubled as he was. And she, because of the great delight ofhaving him all to herself in shadowy hazards where they might kiss and embrace, beginning to tell him of aproposed camping trip which she, Frank Harriet, Wynette Phant, Burchard Taylor, her brother Stuart, GrantCranston and Bertine, as well as Harley Baggott, Perley Haynes, Jill Trumbull and Violet Taylor, had beenorganizing for a week, and which was to begin on the morrow afternoon, with a motor trip thirty miles up thelake and then forty miles east to a lake known as Bear, along which, with tents and equipment, they were tocanoe to certain beaches and scenes known only to Harley and Frank. Different days, different points. The boyswould kill squirrels and catch fish for food. Also there would be moonlight trips to an inn that could be reachedby boat, so they said. A servant or two or three from different homes was to accompany them, as well as achaperon or two. But, oh, the walks in the woods! The opportunities for love--canoe trips on the lake--hours ofuninterrupted love-making for at least a week!
In spite of all that had occurred thus far to give him pause, he could not help thinking that whatever happened,was it not best to go? How wonderful to have her love him so! And what else here could he do? It would takehim out of this, would it not--farther and farther from the scene of the--of the--accident and in case any one werelooking for any one who looked like him, for instance-- well, he would not be around where he could be seen andcommented upon. THOSE THREE MEN.
Yet, as it now instantly occurred to him, under no circumstances must he leave here without first finding out asdefinitely as possible whether any one was as yet suspected. And once at the Casino, and for the moment leftalone, he learned on inquiring at the news stand that there would be no Albany, Utica, or any local afternoonpaper there until seven or seven-thirty. He must wait until then to know.
And so although after the lunch there was swimming and dancing, then a return to the Cranstons with HarleyBaggott and Bertine--Sondra going to Pine Point, with an agreement to meet him afterwards at the Harriets' fordinner--still his mind was on the business of getting these papers at the first possible opportunity. Yet unless, ashe now saw, he was so fortunate as to be able to stop on his way from the Cranstons' to the Harriets' and soobtain one or all, he must manage to come over to this Casino in the morning before leaving for Bear Lake. Hemust have them. He must know what, if anything, was either being said or done so far in regard to that drownedcouple.
But on his way to Harriets' he was not able to get the papers. They had not come. And none at the Harriets'
either, when he first arrived. Yet sitting on the veranda about a half hour later, talking with the others althoughbrooding as to all this, Sondra herself appeared and said: "Oh, say, people! I've got something to tell you. Twopeople were drowned this morning or yesterday up at Big Bittern, so Blanche Locke was telling me just nowover the phone. She's up at Three Mile Bay today and she says they've found the body of the girl but not the manyet. They were drowned in the south part of the lake somewhere, she said."At once Clyde sat up, rigid47 and white, his lips a bloodless line, his eyes fixed not on anything here but rather thedistant scene at Big Bittern--the tall pines, the dark water closing over Roberta. Then they had found her body.
And now would they believe that his body was down there, too, as he had planned? But, listen! He must hear inspite of his dizziness.
"Gee, that's tough!" observed Burchard Taylor, stopping his strumming on a mandolin. "Anybody we know?""She says she didn't hear yet.""I never did like that lake," put in Frank Harriet. "It's too lonely. Dad and I and Mr. Randall were up there fishinglast summer, but we didn't stay long. It's too gloomy.""We were up there three weeks ago--don't you remember, Sondra?" added Harley Baggott. "You didn't care forit.""Yes, I remember," replied Sondra. "A dreadfully lonely place. I can't imagine any one wanting to go up there foranything.""Well, I only hope it isn't any one we know from around here," added Burchard, thoughtfully. "It would put acrimp in the fun around here for a while, anyhow."And Clyde unconsciously wet his dry lips with his tongue and swallowed to moisten his already dry throat.
"I don't suppose any of to-day's papers would have anything about it yet. Has any one looked?" inquired WynettePhant, who had not heard Sondra's opening remark.
"There ain't no papers," commented Burchard Taylor. "Besides, it's not likely yet, didn't Sondra say she justheard it from Blanche Locke over the phone? She's up near there.""Oh, yes, that's right."And yet might not that small local afternoon paper of Sharon--The Banner, wasn't it--have something as to this?
If only he could see it yet to-night!
But another thought! For Heaven's sake! It came to him now for the first time. His footprints! Were there any inthe mud of that shore? He had not even stopped to look, climbing out so hastily as he did. And might there nothave been? And then would they not know and proceed to follow him--the man those three men saw? CliffordGolden! That ride down this morning. His going out to the Cranstons' in their car. That wet suit over in the roomat the Cranstons'! Had any one in his absence been in his room as yet to look, examine, inquire--open his bag,maybe? An officer? God! It was there in his bag. But why in his bag or anywhere else near him now? Why hadhe not hidden it before this--thrown it in the lake here, maybe, with a stone in it? That would keep it down. God!
What was he thinking in the face of such a desperate situation as this? Supposing he did need the suit!
He was now up, standing--mentally and physically48 frozen really--his eyes touched with a stony49 glaze50 for the moment. He must get out of here. He must go back there, at once, and dispose of that suit--drop it in the lake-hideit somewhere in those woods beyond the house! And yet--he could not do that so swiftly, either--leave soinstantly after this light conversation about the drowning of those two people. How would that look?
And as instantly there came the thought--no--be calm--show no trace of excitement of any kind, if you canmanage it--appear cool--make some unimportant remark, if you can.
And so now, mustering51 what nervous strength he had, and drawing near to Sondra, he said: "Too bad, eh?" Yet ina voice that for all its thinly-achieved normality was on the borderline of shaking and trembling. His knees andhis hands, also.
"Yes, it certainly is," replied Sondra, turning to him alone now. "I always hate to hear of anything like that, don'tyou? Mother worries so about Stuart and me fooling around these lakes as it is.""Yes, I know." His voice was thick and heavy. He could scarcely form the words. They were smothered52, choked.
His lips tightened53 to a thinner white line than before. His face grew paler still.
"Why, what's the matter, Clydie?" Sondra asked, of a sudden, looking at him more closely. "You look so pale!
Your eyes. Anything wrong? Aren't you feeling well tonight, or is it this light out here?"She turned to look at some of the others in order to make sure, then back at him. And he, feeling the extremeimportance of looking anything but the way she was describing him now drew himself up as best he could, andreplied: "Oh, no. It must be the light, I guess. Sure, it's the light. I had--a--a hard day yesterday, that's all. Ishouldn't have come over to-night, I suppose." And then achieving the weirdest54 and most impossible of smiles.
And Sondra, gazing most sympathetically, adding: "Was he so tired? My Clydie-mydie boy, after his workyesterday. Why didn't my baby boy tell me that this morning instead of doing all that we did today? Want me toget Frank to run you down to the Cranstons' now? Or maybe you'd like to go up in his room and lie down? Hewon't mind, I know. Shall I ask him?"She turned as if to speak to Frank, but Clyde, all but panic-stricken by this latest suggestion, and yet angling foran excuse to leave, exclaimed earnestly and yet shakily: "Please, please don't, darling. I--I--don't want you to. I'llbe all right. I'll go up after a bit if I want to, or maybe home a little early, if you're going after a while, but notnow. I'm not feeling as good as I should, but I'll be all right."Sondra, because of his strained and as she now fancied almost peevish55 tone, desisted with: "All right, honey. Allright. But if you don't feel well, I wish you would let me get Frank to take you down or go upstairs. He won'tmind. And then after a while--about ten-thirty--I'll excuse myself and you can go down with me to your place.
I'll take you there before I go home and whoever else wants to go. Won't my baby boy do something like that?"And Clyde saying: "Well, I think I'll go up and get a drink, anyhow." And disappearing in one of the spaciousbaths of the Harriet home, locking the door and sitting down and thinking, thinking--of Roberta's bodyrecovered, of the possibilities of a bruise56 of some kind, of the possibility of the print of his own feet in the mudand sandy loam57 of the shore; of that suit over at the Cranstons', the men in the wood, Roberta's bag, hat and coat,his own liningless hat left on the water--and wondering what next to do. How to act! How to talk! Whether to go downstairs to Sondra now and persuade her to go, or whether to stay and suffer and agonize58? And what wouldthe morrow's papers reveal? What? What? And was it wise, in case there was any news which would make itlook as though eventually he was to be sought after, or in any way connected with this, to go on that proposedcamping trip tomorrow! Or, wiser, to run away from here? He had some money now. He could go to New York,Boston, New Orleans where Ratterer was--but oh, no--not where any one knew him.
Oh, God! The folly59 of all his planning in connection with all this to date! The flaws! Had he ever really plannedit right from the start? Had he ever really imagined, for instance, that Roberta's body would be found in that deepwater? And yet, here it was--risen so soon--this first day--to testify against him! And although he had signed ashe had on those registers up there, was it not possible now, on account of those three men and that girl on thatboat, for him to be traced? He must think, think, think! And get out of here as soon as possible, before anythingreally fatal in connection with that suit should happen.
Growing momentarily weaker and more terrorized, he now decided60 to return to Sondra below, and say that hewas really feeling quite sick and that if she did not object he would prefer to go home with her, if she couldarrange it. And consequently, at ten-thirty, when the evening still had hours to go, Sondra announced to Burchardthat she was not feeling well and would he run her and Clyde and Jill down to her place, but that she would seethem all on the morrow in time for the proposed departure for Bear Lake.
And Clyde, though brooding as to whether this early leaving on his part was not another of those wretched errorswhich had seemed to mark every step of this desperate and murderous scheme so far, finally entering the swiftlaunch and being raced to the Cranston lodge in no time. And once there, excusing himself to Burchard andSondra as nonchalantly and apologetically as might be, and then hurrying to his own room only to find the suit ashe had left it-- no least evidence that any one had been there to disturb the serenity61 of his chamber62. Just the same,nervously63 and suspiciously, he now took it out and tied it up, and then waiting and listening for a silent momentin which to slip from the house unobserved--finally ambled64 out as though going for a short walk. And then, bythe shore of the lake--about a quarter of a mile distant from the house--seeking out a heavy stone and tying thesuit to that. And then throwing it out into the water, as far as his strength would permit. And then returning, assilently and gloomily and nervously as he had gone, and brooding and brooding as to what the morrow mightreveal and what, if any appeared to question him, he would say.
从星期五早上起一直到下个星期二下午,克莱德虽然置身于昔日里曾让她那么狂喜倾倒的环境里,可是心中却不能不感到无比惊恐。从桑德拉和伯蒂娜在克兰斯顿家别墅大门口迎接他,一直到把他领进留给他住的那个房间,他总是禁不住把眼前每一种乐趣跟他即将遭到的灭顶之灾作对照。
他刚进房,桑德拉怕给伯蒂娜听见,就嘟起嘴,低声说:
"缺德鬼!
整整一星期,本该早就来这儿,你却偏偏赖在那儿。可桑德拉什么都给你准备好啦!
真该好好揍你一顿。我想在今天给你打电话,看看你到底是在哪儿。"可她眼里却流露出对他的一片痴心。
克莱德尽管心乱如麻,好歹也乐呵呵地冲她微微一笑……因为,一到她面前,所有一切恐怖,即使是罗伯达之死也好,还是他自己目前的危险也好,仿佛都骤然变小了。但愿如今一切顺顺当当……他丝毫不被暴露出来就好了!
前头就是康庄大家!
令人惊异的未来!
她的美!
她的爱!
她的财富!
然而,一走进他的手提箱早就安放在那里的他的房间,那套衣服一下子就使他慌了神。要知道那套衣服潮呼呼。皱巴巴的。他非把它藏起来不可,也许就藏在衣柜最上头的某一格吧。等到房间里只剩他一个人,房门也锁上了,他就把那套衣服……湿漉漉。
皱巴巴,裤腿四周还带着大比腾湖边的泥巴……拿出来。不过,他又决定,也许先不去动它……说不定最好照旧锁在他箱子里,等到晚上再说。到时候,也许他可以决定该怎么处置最好。可是,他把那天穿的其他零碎衣物束成一捆,打算拿出去洗。可他一束好,却不觉黯然神伤,想到他这一辈子竟是如此不可思议,富于戏剧性,而又多么令人为之动怜……他到东部来以后的遭际,他少年时代的穷困。说实话,现在他还是不名一文啊。眼前这个房间,跟他在莱柯格斯那个小房间相比,该有多么宽敞,多么豪华。昨天才过去,他本人终于来到了这里,该有多奇怪呀。窗外蓝莹莹的湖水,跟大比腾黑糊糊的湖水恰成对比。这幢明亮。坚固。布局很散的宅邸,还有宽大的游廊,带有条纹的天篷,并且从它绿油油的草坪一直延伸到湖边。斯图尔特。芬奇利。维奥莱特。泰勒,还有弗兰克。哈里特。威南特。范特都穿着最漂亮的运动衣,正在打网球;而伯蒂娜和哈利。巴戈特正懒洋洋地躺在一张带条纹的大帐篷底下。
他洗过澡,换过衣服以后,装出一副挺轻松的样子,尽管他的神经依然很紧张,心里充满惧怕。他走出屋子,正向桑德拉。伯查德。泰勒。杰尔。特朗布尔他们那边走去。这时,他们正为前天汽艇上一件什么有趣的事哈哈大笑。
杰尔。特朗布尔冲他喊道:
"喂,克莱德!
溜了,还是怎么的?
我觉得好象很久没看见你啦。"他先是若有所思地向桑德拉笑笑,这时特别需要得到她的同情和爱情,随后扶住游廊的栏杆,尽可能心平气和地回答说:
"我从星期二起一直在奥尔巴尼办事。那儿真热呀。今天我上这儿来,当然高兴极了。这儿都来了哪些人?
"杰尔。
特朗布尔笑着说:
"哦,依我看,差不多全来了。昨天我在兰德尔家,就见到过范达。还有斯科特写信给伯蒂娜,说他下星期二来松树岬。我看,今年去格林伍德湖的,好象人数不是非常多。"接下来是一场又长又热烈的讨论:
为什么格林伍德湖今不如昔了。这时,桑德拉突然喊道:
"天哪,我差点儿给忘了!
今天,我得给贝拉打电话。她答应下星期来布里斯托尔看赛马。"然后就马呀。狗呀谈了一通。尽管克莱德焦急地装成自己跟大伙儿一样洗耳恭听,其实,他心里还在默想着自己性命交关的那些事。他路遇的那三个人。罗伯达。她的尸体说不定这时已经找到了……有谁说得准哩。可他又自言自语道……干吗要这么骇怕?
湖水那么深,据他知道,也许有五十英尺,恐怕未必就找得到她吧?
再说,人们怎能知道他就是……克利福德。戈尔登,或是卡尔。格雷厄姆呢?
怎么会知道呢?
不是他把自己所有的痕迹确实都给掩盖过去了,除了他路遇的那三个人?
就是那三个人呀!
他禁不住浑身发抖了,就象得了寒颤似的。
桑德拉一下子觉察到他神情有些沮丧。(这回他头一次来访,她一见到他随身带的东西显然太少,就断定目前他心境不佳,也许因为手头没有钱用。因此,她打算就在当天自己掏腰包,拿出七十五块美元,硬要他收下,以便他这次逗留在这儿如果要花一点零用钱至少也不会感到狼狈。)过了一会儿,她一想到高尔夫球场,球道左右有不少隐蔽的障碍物,要在那儿接吻。拥抱而不被人看见,便跳了起来说:
"谁来双打高尔夫球?
杰尔。克莱德。伯奇(伯奇:
即伯查德的昵称。),一块来吧!
我敢打赌,克莱德跟我,准把你们两个赢了!
""我来!
"伯查德。泰勒喊道,站了起来,整一整他身上那件黄蓝两色条纹运动衫。"哪怕我到今天凌晨四点钟才回家。你怎么样,杰利(杰利:
即杰尔的昵称。)?
要是输了,请大伙儿吃饭,小伙计同意吗?
"克莱德马上抖索起来,浑身发冷。他想到自己经过最近可怖的冒险以后,只剩下二十五块美元,怪可怜的了。可是四个人在这里吃饭,至少也得破费八到十块美元!
说不定还不止此数。但桑德拉一发觉他面有窘色,便大声喊道:
"得了,一言为定!
"随后,走到克莱德身边,用脚尖轻轻地踢踢他,喊道:
"不过我还得换衣服哩。一会儿就来。得了,克莱德,我说你这就去找安德鲁,关照他把球棍准备好,怎么样?
我们就坐你的船去,伯奇,是吧?
"克莱德连忙去找安德鲁,心中正盘算他跟桑德拉要是输了的话,请客就得花多少钱,不料却被桑德拉赶上来,一把拽住他的胳臂。"等一会儿,亲爱的。我马上就来。"说完,她冲上楼梯,直奔自己房间,一眨眼又下来了,她那小手紧攥着给自己留着的一叠钞票:
"喂,亲爱的,快拿去吧!
"她低声耳语道,一面抓住克莱德外套的一只口袋,把钱掖了进去。"嘘!
得了,一句话也别说!
快走!
万一我们输了,就付饭钱,还可以派别的用场。回头我再跟你说。啊,我可真疼你,小宝贝!
"她那热情的褐色眼睛深深爱慕地盯住了他一会儿,又冲上了楼梯,到了楼上还在大声嚷嚷:
"别站在那儿呀,小傻瓜!
去拿高尔夫球棍!
高尔夫球棍!
"说罢,她就倏然不见了。
克莱德摸摸自己口袋,知道她给了他很多钱……多得很,毫无疑问,够他支付在这里所有开销了;万一他出逃的话,也够用了。他不禁暗自喊道:
"亲爱的!
""小姑娘!
"他那美丽。热情。大方的桑德拉呀!
她是那么爱他……真心地爱他。可是,万一她知道了!
哦,老天哪!
不过,万一她知道,这一切本来都是为了她呀。
一切都是为了她呀!
随后,他找到了安德鲁,又跟着手提袋子的安德鲁一块回来了。
这时,桑德拉又露面了,她穿着一套漂亮的绿色运动衣,蹦蹦跳跳下来。
还有杰尔头戴一顶崭新鸭舌帽,一身工装打扮,活象一位职业赛马骑师,对着驾驶汽艇的伯查德格格大笑。桑德拉走过时,还向躺在大帐篷底下的伯蒂娜和哈利。巴戈特招呼道:
"喂,你们二位呀!
你们还不跟我们一块走,嗯?
""上哪儿去?
""夜总会高尔夫球俱乐部。""哦,太远了。反正午饭后湖边见面吧。"于是,伯查德把马达一发动,汽艇猛地向湖中飞也似的冲去,活象一头海豚,跳跃式前进……克莱德两眼直勾勾地凝望前方,一会儿如同在梦中,兴高采烈。充满希望,一会儿却又置身在大群幽灵与恐怖之中,说不定紧紧地跟在后头的,就是……逮捕和死呀。尽管他事前对一切都作好了准备,可他现在却开始觉得,今早不隐蔽起来,反而从树林子里走出来,确实是犯了错误。不过,话又说回来,眼前这办法恐怕不见得不是上策吧,因为要不然只有一条路,就是白天躲在树林子里,到天黑才上路,沿着湖边那条路步行到沙隆去。那就得走上两三天光景。而且,桑德拉见他迟迟不来,心里既焦急而又奇怪,说不定会给莱柯格斯打电话,查问他的下落,其后果也许更危险,可不是吗?
不过此时此地,在这晴朗的日子里,好象无忧无虑似的,至少人家都是这样……可他内心深处,也许是一片苍凉。黑暗。桑德拉因为跟他在一起,简直心花怒放,突然跳了起来,一手高高地扯起她那条鲜艳的围巾,如同一面旗似的,傻乎乎。乐呵呵地大声嚷嚷说:
"克莉奥佩特拉(克莉奥佩特拉(公元前69—公元30年):
古埃及一末代女王,以艳丽闻名,有权势欲,先为恺撒情妇,后与罗马执政安东尼结婚。安东尼溃败后又欲勾引渥大维,未遂,以毒蛇自杀。莎士比亚据此著有名剧《安东尼和克莉奥佩特拉》。)启航去会见……会见……哦,她到底是去会见谁呀?
""查利。卓别麟(卓别麟(1889—1977):
英国著名电影艺术家。喜剧大师,1913年移居美国,集编。导。演于一身,在无声片中创造了一个个可笑而又令人同情的小人物形象,因而举世闻名。),"泰勒马上抢白了一句,还一个劲儿使汽艇颠簸得够呛,让桑德拉站也站不稳。
"哦,你这傻瓜!
"桑德拉回话说。她一面叉开两脚,好让身子保持平稳,一面对伯查德说:
"不,你也不知道,伯奇。"接下来又补充说:
"克莉奥佩特拉登上了,哎哟哟,我知道了……快艇牵行的滑水板。"她把脑袋往后一仰,两臂敞开,汽艇象一匹受惊的马继续在狂奔乱跳。
"瞧吧,你现在能把我摔倒吗,伯奇?
"她大声喊道。
伯查德很快使汽艇时而侧向这一边,时而又侧向另一边。杰尔。特朗布尔替她自己的安全着急,便高声喊道:
"啊,怎么啦,你们想干什么?
非把我们通通淹死不成?
"克莱德马上往后一退缩,面色煞白,就象挨了雷击似的。
他猛地感到恶心,浑身无力,他从没有想到过自己会象此刻这样非得受罪不可。原来他以为这儿一切几乎不会是这样的。可是,在这里一听到别人偶然无心说出"淹死"这个词儿,他的脸就发白了!
啊,要是他真的受到严峻考验……一名警官突然来找他,讯问他昨天是在什么地方,对于罗伯达的死他知道哪些情况……啊,他包管支支吾吾说不清,浑身上下发抖,也许连话儿都说不出来……不用说,他也就彻底暴露出来了,可不是吗!
不,他必须精神振作起来,尽量装得自然。乐乐呵呵,可不是吗……至少头一天就应该这样。
多亏汽艇开得飞快,大家玩得也挺痛快,好象并没有注意到刚才杰尔那句适竟使克莱德吓了一大跳,因此,他才得以逐渐恢复镇静的样子。这时,汽艇已开到了夜总会。最后,桑德拉很想露一手,出出风头,便纵身往码头一跳,随手抓住码头铁栏杆,好不容易才算攀登上去。这时,汽艇摇摇晃晃撞了一下码头,反而往后退去了。就是因为桑德拉向他粲然一笑,克莱德怎么也控制不住自己迷恋于她。她的爱。她的同情。她的大方和她的勇气。为了响应她那一笑,他就纵身往上一跳,帮助杰尔登上码头石阶,自己很快跟在她后头拾阶而上,装出一副兴高采烈的样子……这从外表上看,尽管装得维妙维肖,内心深处可虚伪透顶。
"啊!
你真是个顶呱呱的运动员!
"稍后,克莱德跟她一起来到了高尔夫球场上。本来对此他毫无经验,此刻又心乱如麻,但在她的点拨下打得还算过得去。而她因为现在打球时可以独自来到隐蔽的地方,跟他接吻。拥抱,真是乐不可支,就开始把拟议中的露营一事告诉了他,原来她和弗兰克。哈里特。威南特。范特。伯查德。泰勒。她弟弟斯图尔特。格兰特。克兰斯顿。伯蒂娜,以及哈利。巴戈特。珀利。海恩斯。
杰尔。特朗布尔和维奥莱特。泰勒已筹备了一星期,明天下午动身,坐汽艇沿湖而上,行程三十英里,然后往东再走四十英里,到达一个名叫熊湖的湖。他们随身带上帐篷和其他设施,还要坐上小划子环湖一周,到达只有哈利和弗兰克才知道的一些风景独好的湖边景点去。打算每天换个新的湖湾玩儿。小伙子们可以打松鼠。捉鱼佐餐。还打算踏着月光夜游呢,那儿有一家小旅馆,他们说不妨坐船去。每家派一个或两三个仆人陪着他们一起去,出于体面起见,还可以捎上一两个年纪稍大些的女伴。啊,漫步在树林子里的小路上!
谈情说爱的大好机会……在湖上悠然划着小划子……至少一星期里,他们俩可以情意缱绻,难解难分!
尽管最近那些事不免让他有些迟疑不定,可他还是不由得想到:
不管出了什么事,跟他们一块去那里,岂不是上策吗?
桑德拉那么爱他,该有多美!
而且在这里,他不这样还能有什么别的办法呢?
好让他离开那一切,可不是吗……远远地离开那个……那个……出事地点。而且,比方说,万一有人在寻找外貌跟他相象的人……得了,反正他本人不在场,可以避免被人家看到和议论。可是他在路上遇到的那三个人啊。
不过,他又马上想到:
在没有确切了解清楚人们有没有还在怀疑谁之前,他无论如何不能从这里出走。因此,他一到夜总会,趁他独自一人之际向报摊打听后,知道在七点钟或是七点半钟以前,奥尔巴尼的报纸。尤蒂卡的报纸,或是本地任何一家午后报,都还没有到。他必须等到那时候,才能得到确切消息。
午饭后,虽然大家去游泳。跳舞,还跟哈利。巴戈特。伯蒂娜回到克兰斯顿家去……桑德拉则去松树岬,跟他约定在哈里特家见面吃晚饭……可他心里还是老惦着尽早把那些报纸弄到手。不过,他也明白,除非他运气那么好,在从克兰斯顿家去哈里特家的路上顺便能把所有报纸都弄到,哪怕是一份也好,不然的话,明天动身去熊湖以前,他还得设法一清早上这个夜总会去一趟。他非得把这些报纸弄到手不可。他还得了解清楚,特别是有关一对恋人双双溺死一事,至今人们怎么议论,或是开始了缉查没有。
可他在去哈里特家的路上并没有买到报纸。报纸还没有到。他头一个到哈里特家,那儿也一样,一份报纸都还没有。不过过了半个钟头光景,他正坐在游廊里跟别人聊天,心里却在默想着那些事,这时桑德拉先声夺人说:
"喂,各位听我说!
我向你们报告一条最新消息。今天凌晨,也许是在昨天,有两个人在大比腾湖给淹死了。这是布兰奇。洛克刚才在电话里告诉我的。她今天正好在三英里湾。她说,那位女郎的尸体已找到了,可是那具男尸还没有下落。据她说,这一对男女是在湖的南面某某地方淹死的。"克莱德顿时为之惊呆,脸色煞白,嘴唇上一点儿血色都没有,两眼直勾勾地望着的不是他眼前的景物,而是相当遥远的大比腾湖的肇事地点……那些参天的松树。那吞没了罗伯达的黑糊糊的湖水。那就是说,她的尸体已找到了。
现在,人们会不会相信他的尸体,如同他设想过那样,也已沉入湖底呢?
可是,还得仔细听呀!
尽管他已头晕目眩了,但他还是非得听仔细不可。
"唉,这可太惨了!
"伯查德。泰勒说,曼陀林也停下来不弹了。"不会是我们的什么熟人吧?
""布兰奇说,详情她还没有听到哩。""那个湖我压根儿就不喜欢,"弗兰克。哈里特插嘴说。"太荒凉了。去年夏天,爸爸跟我和兰德尔先生在那儿钓过鱼,不过一忽儿我们就走了。那儿太阴森森了。""三星期以前,我们还去过呢……您还记得吧,桑德拉?
"哈利。巴戈特找补着说。"您不喜欢那个地方。""是啊,我记得,"桑德拉回答说。"那地方荒凉得真叫人骇怕。我可想象不到居然会有人上那儿去干啥呀。""得了,但愿不是我们认识的某某人,"伯查德若有所思地补充说。"不过,一时间不免让我们大家有点儿扫兴罢了。"克莱德无意识地用舌头舔舔自己发干了的嘴唇,咽下了一口水,润了润他那早已发干了的嗓子眼。
"我说,今天各家报纸恐怕还来不及报道这件事吧。有哪一位看过报了没有?
"没听到桑德拉开头那些话的威南特。范特问道。
"报纸还没有到,"伯查德。泰勒发表意见说。"再说,大约还来不及报道。
桑德拉不是说过,自己刚从布兰奇。洛克电话里听到吗?
布兰奇此刻正在那儿附近。""哦,是的,这就说对了。"不过,沙隆下午出版的小报……《旗帜报》可不是吗……会不会有所报道呢?
只要今天晚上他能看见就好了!
不料突然又萌生一个念头!
老天哪!
现在他才头一次想到:
他的脚印!
岸边烂泥地里,有没有留下他的脚印呢?
当时他那么心急火燎的爬上来,连停下来回头看一看都没有。不是有可能留下脚印吗?
于是,人们就会循着脚印追寻他……追寻那三个人撞见过的那一个人吗?
克利福德。戈尔登!
今天早上坐船上这儿来了!
还坐上克兰斯顿家的车接去他们别墅!
还有留在克兰斯顿家客房里的那套湿衣服!
有没有人趁他不在时到他客房里去察看。检查。讯问……说不定还把他的手提箱打开过?
一名警官?
老天哪!
那套湿衣服,就在他手提箱里。不过,干吗至今还放在他手提箱里或是他自己身边呢?
他干吗不早点把它藏起来……也许干脆裹上一块石头,扔到湖里去呢?
那也就早已沉入湖底。老天哪!
他置身于如此绝境,还在想些什么呀?
莫非他还舍不得那套湿衣服?
他站了起来,伫立在那里……说真的,心理上。生理上都冻僵了……他的眼睛一下子惊呆了。他必须离开这里。他还得马上回到那里去,把那套衣服处理掉……扔到湖里去……藏到屋外树林子里某个地方!
可是……他断断乎不能仓卒行事,也不能在大家随便谈起有一对恋人双双溺死以后马上就走呀。这象什么样子?
他立时又转念一想……不能这样……要沉着……不露出一点儿激动的迹象……要表示冷淡……不妨还可以说一些无关痛痒的话。
这时,他鼓足了仅有的一点儿勇气,走到桑德拉身旁说:
"太惨了,嗯?
"他的声音听起来尽管跟平常差不离,可是如同他的膝盖和双手一样,几乎快要发抖了。
"是啊,当然罗,"桑德拉转过身来冲着他回答说。"我最不喜欢听人谈到这类事,那你呢?
斯图尔特跟我常到这些湖上闲游,妈妈真的老是担心呢。""是的,我可知道,"他的话音已变得深沉听不清了。他几乎连话儿都说不清了。蓦然间,他语塞了。他的嘴唇紧紧地闭成了一条比过去更细的线,越发显得毫无血色。他的脸色也越发惨白了。
"你怎么啦,这是怎么回事,克莱德?
"桑德拉突然问道,一面更加仔细地端详着他。"你脸色这样惨白!
还有,你的眼睛也是这样。怎么回事?
是你今天晚上不舒服呢,还是得怪这儿的灯光不好?
"为了小心起见,她回过头来,先看看别人,然后再看看他。他这才意识到自己切不可象她所说的那副神态,便尽量昂首挺胸,回答说:
"哦,没什么。我说那一定是灯光的问题。当然罗,就是灯光问题。昨天,一……一整天,我可太累了,就是这么回事。我说,今天晚上也许我就不应该上这儿来的。"接着,他非常勉强地露出一丝怪笑。桑德拉却非常同情地直瞅着他,喃喃自语说:
"他累成这样了吗?
我的克莱迪(克莱迪:
桑德拉对克莱德的昵称。),我的小宝贝,昨天他工作了一整天。我的小宝贝干吗早上不跟我说,可今天又跟我们一块玩了一整天?
要我通知弗兰克现在马上送你回克兰斯顿家吗?
还是也许让你到他房间里躺一会儿?
他是不会有意见的,我知道。要我问问他吗?
"她侧过脸来,仿佛要跟弗兰克说话,可是克莱德给她最后的主意吓呆了。
这时他正打算找个借口离开这儿,便恳切而又颤抖地大声嚷道:
"不,不,亲爱的。
我……我……求求您千万不要这样。一会儿我就好了。要是我真的想去,等一会儿我就上楼去,或者说,也许早一点回去,要是您等一会儿也走,不过只要不是现在就得了。眼前我有点儿不舒服,不过马上就会好的。"桑德拉觉得他说话时语调很不自然,而且几乎有些恼怒,也就只好这样说:
"好的,亲爱的。反正随你高兴吧。不过既然你不舒服,最好还是让我关照弗兰克送你回去,或是到楼上去。反正他不会有意见的。随后,再等一会儿……大约在十点半左右……我也告辞了。你可以跟我一块去克兰斯顿家。反正我回家以前,先把你还有其他想走的人送回去。这么安排难道说我的小宝贝觉得不好吗?
"克莱德回答说:
"得了,我现在上楼去喝点儿水。"于是,他走进哈里特家许多宽敞的盥洗室里的一间,把门锁上,坐下来,反复思考……罗伯达的尸体已找到,她脸上可能留下一些伤痕,岸边烂泥地里。沙滩上,也许会有他的脚印;他在克兰斯顿家的那套湿衣服,树林子里那几个人,罗伯达的手提箱。帽子。
外套,自己掉在湖面上那顶没有商标的帽子……他又暗自纳闷,真不知道下一步怎么办。该怎么办呢!
该怎么说呢!
现在就下楼去找桑德拉,劝她马上走,还是留下来受新的折磨?
明天各报会披露些什么?
什么呀?
什么呀?
要是报上有什么消息,表明最终有人会被派来抓他,或是表明他跟这件事有牵连,那末,明天还去参加拟议中的露营旅游,是不是明智?
还是索性从这里逃跑更加高明些?
反正现在他手头有些钱了。他可以到纽约。波士顿,或是新奥尔良去(拉特勒就在那里)……可是,啊,不行……凡是有熟人的地方都去不得。
啊,老天哪!
迄至今日,他对这件事所作出的全盘计划,该有多蠢!
纰漏百出!
他一开始就真的好好地盘算过了吗?
比方说,他有没有真正想到过,在那么深的湖水里罗伯达的尸体会被找到?
可是,事实上,它硬是……那么快就浮起来了……在头一天……足以证明跟他原来设想完全适得其反!
尽管他在那些旅馆登记时写上别人名字,但由于那三个人和汽船上的那个姑娘告发,会不会现在就追查到他头上呢?
他就得想呀,想呀,想呀!
而且,赶快离开这里,趁现在还没有由于那套湿衣服惹起什么真正性命交关的事情来以前。
他越发感到浑身无力,惊恐万状,就决定回到楼下桑德拉那里去,向她说明他真的很不舒服,要是她不反对,而又可以安排的话,他自然乐意跟她一块回去。因此,在十点半钟,离晚会结束还有好几个钟头,桑德拉便向伯查德说她觉得不大舒服,请他送她。克莱德和杰尔回家去;不过,明天早上她照样会准时跟他们碰头,一块去熊湖的。
克莱德虽然在郁闷地思索:
他这次早走,会不会是又走错了,如同这次孤注一掷的行凶计谋,迄今表明似乎每一步都是倒霉透顶,走错了。最后,他还是登上那艘汽艇,一眨眼就到了克兰斯顿家别墅。他一到那里,就尽量装得若无其事地。颇感歉仄地向伯查德和桑德拉告辞,随后急忙奔进自己房间,发现那套衣服依然跟他放在那里时一样……没有一点儿迹象说明有人进来惊动过他房间里的宁静气氛。尽管这样,他还是心怀疑虑,惴惴不安,把那套衣服取了出来,束成一捆,接着默不出声地侧耳谛听和稍等片刻,趁没有人看见的时候,便从那幢别墅里溜了出去……最后,他笃悠悠地踱着方步,就象只是出去溜达一会儿似的。接着,他来到湖边……离那幢别墅大约有四分之一英里……找到一块沉甸甸的石头,跟衣服捆在一起,就使出浑身力气,尽量往远处湖中扔去。
随后,他跟刚才出来时一样,默不出声,沮丧不安地又走了回来,郁闷地在反复思索着:
说不定明天又有什么揭发呢;要是有人来问他,那他又该说些什么呢?
1 previously | |
adv.以前,先前(地) | |
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2 enthralled | |
迷住,吸引住( enthrall的过去式和过去分词 ); 使感到非常愉快 | |
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3 frightful | |
adj.可怕的;讨厌的 | |
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4 dreads | |
n.恐惧,畏惧( dread的名词复数 );令人恐惧的事物v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的第三人称单数 ) | |
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5 lodge | |
v.临时住宿,寄宿,寄存,容纳;n.传达室,小旅馆 | |
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6 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
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7 poutingly | |
adv.撅嘴 | |
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8 spanking | |
adj.强烈的,疾行的;n.打屁股 | |
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9 dwindle | |
v.逐渐变小(或减少) | |
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10 ushered | |
v.引,领,陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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11 laundered | |
v.洗(衣服等),洗烫(衣服等)( launder的过去式和过去分词 );洗(黑钱)(把非法收入改头换面,变为貌似合法的收入) | |
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12 odds | |
n.让步,机率,可能性,比率;胜败优劣之别 | |
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13 pathos | |
n.哀婉,悲怆 | |
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14 spaciousness | |
n.宽敞 | |
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15 grandeur | |
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 | |
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16 rambling | |
adj.[建]凌乱的,杂乱的 | |
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17 veranda | |
n.走廊;阳台 | |
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18 awnings | |
篷帐布 | |
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19 tolled | |
鸣钟(toll的过去式与过去分词形式) | |
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20 dressing | |
n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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21 apprehensive | |
adj.担心的,恐惧的,善于领会的 | |
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22 descending | |
n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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23 craving | |
n.渴望,热望 | |
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24 smoothly | |
adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 | |
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25 desperately | |
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地 | |
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26 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
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27 expenditures | |
n.花费( expenditure的名词复数 );使用;(尤指金钱的)支出额;(精力、时间、材料等的)耗费 | |
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28 concealing | |
v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 ) | |
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29 brace | |
n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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30 wincing | |
赶紧避开,畏缩( wince的现在分词 ) | |
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31 miserable | |
adj.悲惨的,痛苦的;可怜的,糟糕的 | |
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32 fixed | |
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的 | |
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33 admiration | |
n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 | |
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34 thereby | |
adv.因此,从而 | |
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35 pennant | |
n.三角旗;锦标旗 | |
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36 proceeding | |
n.行动,进行,(pl.)会议录,学报 | |
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37 sufficiently | |
adv.足够地,充分地 | |
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38 equilibrium | |
n.平衡,均衡,相称,均势,平静 | |
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39 lurch | |
n.突然向前或旁边倒;v.蹒跚而行 | |
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40 winced | |
赶紧避开,畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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41 blanched | |
v.使变白( blanch的过去式 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
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42 blanching | |
adj.漂白的n.热烫v.使变白( blanch的现在分词 );使(植物)不见阳光而变白;酸洗(金属)使有光泽;用沸水烫(杏仁等)以便去皮 | |
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43 mumble | |
n./v.喃喃而语,咕哝 | |
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44 stunt | |
n.惊人表演,绝技,特技;vt.阻碍...发育,妨碍...生长 | |
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45 catching | |
adj.易传染的,有魅力的,迷人的,接住 | |
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46 generosity | |
n.大度,慷慨,慷慨的行为 | |
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47 rigid | |
adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的 | |
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48 physically | |
adj.物质上,体格上,身体上,按自然规律 | |
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49 stony | |
adj.石头的,多石头的,冷酷的,无情的 | |
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50 glaze | |
v.因疲倦、疲劳等指眼睛变得呆滞,毫无表情 | |
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51 mustering | |
v.集合,召集,集结(尤指部队)( muster的现在分词 );(自他人处)搜集某事物;聚集;激发 | |
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52 smothered | |
(使)窒息, (使)透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 ); 覆盖; 忍住; 抑制 | |
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53 tightened | |
收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)变紧; (使)绷紧; 加紧 | |
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54 weirdest | |
怪诞的( weird的最高级 ); 神秘而可怕的; 超然的; 古怪的 | |
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55 peevish | |
adj.易怒的,坏脾气的 | |
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56 bruise | |
n.青肿,挫伤;伤痕;vt.打青;挫伤 | |
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57 loam | |
n.沃土 | |
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58 agonize | |
v.使受苦,使苦闷 | |
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59 folly | |
n.愚笨,愚蠢,蠢事,蠢行,傻话 | |
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60 decided | |
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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61 serenity | |
n.宁静,沉着,晴朗 | |
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62 chamber | |
n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所 | |
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63 nervously | |
adv.神情激动地,不安地 | |
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64 ambled | |
v.(马)缓行( amble的过去式和过去分词 );从容地走,漫步 | |
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