The fifth of June arriving, the Finchleys departed as Sondra had indicated, but not without a most urgent requestfrom her that he be prepared to come to the Cranstons' either the second or third week-end following--she toadvise him definitely later--a departure which so affected¹ Clyde that he could scarcely think what to do withhimself in her absence, depressed² as he was by the tangle³ which Roberta's condition presented. And exactly atthis time also, Roberta's fears and demands had become so urgent that it was really no longer possible for him toassure her that if she would but wait a little while longer, he would be prepared to act in her behalf. Plead as hemight, her case, as she saw it, was at last critical and no longer to be trifled with in any way. Her figure, as sheinsisted (although this was largely imaginative on her part), had altered to such an extent that it would not bepossible for her longer to conceal⁴ it, and all those who worked with her at the factory were soon bound to know.

　　She could no longer work or sleep with any comfort--she must not stay here any more. She was havingpreliminary pains--purely imaginary ones in her case. He must marry her now, as he had indicated he would, andleave with her at once--for some place--any place, really--near or far--so long as she was extricated⁵ from thispresent terrible danger. And she would agree, as she now all but pleaded, to let him go his way again as soon astheir child was born--truly--and would not ask any more of him ever--ever. But now, this very week--not laterthan the fifteenth at the latest--he must arrange to see her through with this as he had promised.

　　But this meant that he would be leaving with her before ever he should have visited Sondra at Twelfth Lake atall, and without ever seeing her any more really. And, besides, as he so well knew, he had not saved the sumnecessary to make possible the new venture on which she was insisting. In vain it was that Roberta nowexplained that she had saved over a hundred, and they could make use of that once they were married or to helpin connection with whatever expenses might be incurred⁶

点击收听单词发音  

1 affected
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。

2 depressed
adj.沮丧的，抑郁的，不景气的，萧条的
参考例句：
When he was depressed,he felt utterly divorced from reality.他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。 His mother was depressed by the sad news.这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。

3 tangle
n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱
参考例句：
I shouldn't tangle with Peter.He is bigger than me.我不应该与彼特吵架。他的块头比我大。 If I were you, I wouldn't tangle with them.我要是你，我就不跟他们争吵。

4 conceal
v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽
参考例句：
He had to conceal his identity to escape the police.为了躲避警方，他只好隐瞒身份。 He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure.他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。

5 extricated
v.使摆脱困难，脱身( extricate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The meeting seemed to be endless, but I extricated myself by saying I had to catch a plane. 会议好象没完没了，不过我说我得赶飞机，才得以脱身。 来自《简明英汉词典》 She extricated herself from her mingled impulse to deny and guestion. 她约束了自己想否认并追问的不可明状的冲动。 来自辞典例句

6 incurred
[医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式
参考例句：
She had incurred the wrath of her father by marrying without his consent 她未经父亲同意就结婚，使父亲震怒。 We will reimburse any expenses incurred. 我们将付还所有相关费用。

7 relatively
adv.比较...地，相对地
参考例句：
The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。 The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 misery
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。 He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

9 meditated
深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑
参考例句：
He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。 She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

10 interim
adj.暂时的，临时的；n.间歇，过渡期间
参考例句：
The government is taking interim measures to help those in immediate need.政府正在采取临时措施帮助那些有立即需要的人。 It may turn out to be an interim technology.这可能只是个过渡技术。

11 uncertainty
n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物
参考例句：
Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。 After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

12 chic
n./adj.别致(的)，时髦(的)，讲究的
参考例句：
She bought a chic little hat.她买了一顶别致的小帽子。 The chic restaurant is patronized by many celebrities.这家时髦的饭店常有名人光顾。

13 scarlet
n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的
参考例句：
The scarlet leaves of the maples contrast well with the dark green of the pines.深红的枫叶和暗绿的松树形成了明显的对比。 The glowing clouds are growing slowly pale,scarlet,bright red,and then light red.天空的霞光渐渐地淡下去了，深红的颜色变成了绯红，绯红又变为浅红。

14 tarnished
（通常指金属）（使）失去光泽，（使）变灰暗( tarnish的过去式和过去分词 )； 玷污，败坏
参考例句：
The mirrors had tarnished with age. 这些镜子因年深日久而照影不清楚。 His bad behaviour has tarnished the good name of the school. 他行为不轨，败坏了学校的声誉。

15 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

16 strictly
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。

17 misgivings
n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧
参考例句：
I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。 Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后， 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧！ 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18 impending
a.imminent, about to come or happen
参考例句：
Against a background of impending famine, heavy fighting took place. 即将发生饥荒之时，严重的战乱爆发了。 The king convoke parliament to cope with the impending danger. 国王召开国会以应付迫近眉睫的危险。

19 moody
adj.心情不稳的，易怒的，喜怒无常的
参考例句：
He relapsed into a moody silence.他又重新陷于忧郁的沉默中。 I'd never marry that girl.She's so moody.我决不会和那女孩结婚的。她太易怒了。

20 frantic
adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的
参考例句：
I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。 He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。