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CHAPTER IV

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 To return now to the moment at which Anna, at Melchester, had received Raye’s letter.
 
It had been put into her own hand by the postman on his morning rounds.  She flushed down to her neck on receipt of it, and turned it over and over.  ‘It is mine?’ she said.
 
‘Why, yes, can’t you see it is?’ said the postman, smiling as he guessed the nature of the document and the cause of the confusion.
 
‘O yes, of course!’ replied Anna, looking at the letter, forcedly tittering, and blushing still more.
 
Her look of embarrassment1 did not leave her with the postman’s departure.  She opened the envelope, kissed its contents, put away the letter in her pocket, and remained musing2 till her eyes filled with tears.
 
A few minutes later she carried up a cup of tea to Mrs. Harnham in her bed-chamber.  Anna’s mistress looked at her, and said: ‘How dismal3 you seem this morning, Anna.  What’s the matter?’
 
‘I’m not dismal, I’m glad; only I—’  She stopped to stifle4 a sob5.
 
‘Well?’
 
‘I’ve got a letter—and what good is it to me, if I can’t read a word in it!’
 
‘Why, I’ll read it, child, if necessary.’
 
‘But this is from somebody—I don’t want anybody to read it but myself!’ Anna murmured.
 
‘I shall not tell anybody.  Is it from that young man?’
 
‘I think so.’ Anna slowly produced the letter, saying: ‘Then will you read it to me, ma’am?’
 
This was the secret of Anna’s embarrassment and flutterings.  She could neither read nor write.  She had grown up under the care of an aunt by marriage, at one of the lonely hamlets on the Great Mid-Wessex Plain where, even in days of national education, there had been no school within a distance of two miles.  Her aunt was an ignorant woman; there had been nobody to investigate Anna’s circumstances, nobody to care about her learning the

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1 embarrassment fj9z8     
n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫
参考例句：
  • She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
  • Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。
2 musing 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：
  • "At Tellson's banking-house at nine," he said, with a musing face. “九点在台尔森银行大厦见面，”他想道。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
  • She put the jacket away, and stood by musing a minute. 她把那件上衣放到一边，站着沉思了一会儿。
3 dismal wtwxa     
adj.阴沉的，凄凉的，令人忧郁的，差劲的
参考例句：
  • That is a rather dismal melody.那是一支相当忧郁的歌曲。
  • My prospects of returning to a suitable job are dismal.我重新找到一个合适的工作岗位的希望很渺茫。
4 stifle cF4y5     
vt.使窒息；闷死；扼杀；抑止，阻止
参考例句：
  • She tried hard to stifle her laughter.她强忍住笑。
  • It was an uninteresting conversation and I had to stifle a yawn.那是一次枯燥无味的交谈，我不得不强忍住自己的呵欠。
5 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣
参考例句：
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
6 rudiments GjBzbg     
n.基础知识，入门
参考例句：
  • He has just learned the rudiments of Chinese. 他学汉语刚刚入门。
  • You do not seem to know the first rudiments of agriculture. 你似乎连农业上的一点最起码的常识也没有。
7 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
8 accomplishment 2Jkyo     
n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能
参考例句：
  • The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
  • Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。
9 illiterate Bc6z5     
adj.文盲的；无知的；n.文盲
参考例句：
  • There are still many illiterate people in our country.在我国还有许多文盲。
  • I was an illiterate in the old society,but now I can read.我这个旧社会的文盲，今天也认字了。
10 mere rC1xE     
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
  • That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
  • It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
11 attachment POpy1     
n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附
参考例句：
  • She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
  • She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。
12 interfering interfering     
adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词
参考例句：
  • He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事！
  • I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预，让我自己拿主意。
13 flirtation 2164535d978e5272e6ed1b033acfb7d9     
n.调情，调戏，挑逗
参考例句：
  • a brief and unsuccessful flirtation with the property market 对房地产市场一时兴起、并不成功的介入
  • At recess Tom continued his flirtation with Amy with jubilant self-satisfaction. 课间休息的时候，汤姆继续和艾美逗乐，一副得意洋洋、心满意足的样子。 来自英汉文学 - 汤姆历险
14 undone JfJz6l     
a.未做完的，未完成的
参考例句：
  • He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。
15 accede Gf8yd     
v.应允，同意
参考例句：
  • They are ready to accede to our request for further information.我们要是还需要资料，他们乐于随时提供。
  • In a word,he will not accede to your proposal in the meeting.总而言之，他不会在会中赞成你的提议。
16 concocted 35ea2e5fba55c150ec3250ef12828dd2     
v.将（尤指通常不相配合的）成分混合成某物( concoct的过去式和过去分词 )；调制；编造；捏造
参考例句：
  • The soup was concocted from up to a dozen different kinds of fish. 这种汤是用多达十几种不同的鱼熬制而成的。
  • Between them they concocted a letter. 他们共同策划写了一封信。 来自《简明英汉词典》
17 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
18 indited 4abebbe1f2826ee347006afa15018eb9     
v.写（文章，信等）创作，赋诗，创作( indite的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
19 prettily xQAxh     
adv.优美地；可爱地
参考例句：
  • It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back.此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。
  • She pouted prettily at him.她冲他撅着嘴，样子很可爱。
20 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
21 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。
22 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
23 collaboration bW7yD     
n.合作，协作；勾结
参考例句：
  • The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
  • He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。
24 possessed xuyyQ     
adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的
参考例句：
  • He flew out of the room like a man possessed.他像着了魔似地猛然冲出房门。
  • He behaved like someone possessed.他行为举止像是魔怔了。
25 generators 49511c3cf5edacaa03c4198875f15e4e     
n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司
参考例句：
  • The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
  • Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 seduce ST0zh     
vt.勾引，诱奸，诱惑，引诱
参考例句：
  • She has set out to seduce Stephen.她已经开始勾引斯蒂芬了。
  • Clever advertising would seduce more people into smoking.巧妙策划的广告会引诱更多的人吸烟。
27 fascination FlHxO     
n.令人着迷的事物，魅力，迷恋
参考例句：
  • He had a deep fascination with all forms of transport.他对所有的运输工具都很着迷。
  • His letters have been a source of fascination to a wide audience.广大观众一直迷恋于他的来信。
28 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
29 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白，供认，承认
参考例句：
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
30 previously bkzzzC     
adv.以前，先前（地）
参考例句：
  • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
  • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。
31 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的，假装的
参考例句：
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
32 strictly GtNwe     
adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地
参考例句：
  • His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
  • The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。
33 hurling bd3cda2040d4df0d320fd392f72b7dc3     
n.爱尔兰式曲棍球v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的现在分词 )；大声叫骂
参考例句：
  • The boat rocked wildly, hurling him into the water. 这艘船剧烈地晃动，把他甩到水中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Fancy hurling away a good chance like that, the silly girl! 想想她竟然把这样一个好机会白白丢掉了，真是个傻姑娘！ 来自《简明英汉词典》
34 situated JiYzBH     
adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的
参考例句：
  • The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
  • She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。
35 imperative BcdzC     
n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的
参考例句：
  • He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
  • The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。
36 distressed du1z3y     
痛苦的
参考例句：
  • He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
  • The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
37 looming 1060bc05c0969cf209c57545a22ee156     
n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近
参考例句：
  • The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望
38 clog 6qzz8     
vt.塞满，阻塞；n.[常pl.]木屐
参考例句：
  • In cotton and wool processing,short length fibers may clog sewers.在棉毛生产中，短纤维可能堵塞下水管道。
  • These streets often clog during the rush hour.这几条大街在交通高峰时间常常发生交通堵塞。
39 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
40 acquiesced 03acb9bc789f7d2955424223e0a45f1b     
v.默认，默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Senior government figures must have acquiesced in the cover-up. 政府高级官员必然已经默许掩盖真相。
  • After a lot of persuasion,he finally acquiesced. 经过多次劝说，他最终默许了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

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