Chapter 20 Lady Clarke
There was an air of deep and settled
melancholy1 over Combeside when we saw it again for the second time. This may, perhaps, have been partly due to the weather—it was a moist September day with a hint of autumn in the air, and partly, no doubt, it was the semi-shut-up state of the house. The downstairs rooms were closed and shuttered, and the small room into which we were shown
smelt2 damp and airless.
A capable-looking hospital nurse came to us there pulling down her
starched3 cuffs4.
‘M. Poirot?’ she said briskly. ‘I am Nurse Capstick. I got Mr Clarke’s letter saying you were coming.’
Poirot inquired after Lady Clarke’s health.
‘Not at all bad really, all things considered.’
‘All things considered,’ I presumed, meant considering she was under sentence of death.
‘One can’t hope for much improvement, of course,but some new treatment has made things a little easier for her. Dr Logan is quite pleased with her condition.’
‘But it is true, is it not, that she can never recover?’
‘Oh, we never actually saythat,’ said Nurse Capstick, a little shocked by this plain speaking.
‘I suppose her husband’s death was a terrible shock to her?’
‘Well, M. Poirot, if you understand what I mean, it wasn’t as much of a shock as it would have been to anyone in full possession of her health and
faculties5. Things are dimmedfor Lady Clarke in her condition.’
‘Pardon my asking, but was she deeply attached to her husband and he to her?’
‘Oh, yes, they were a very happy couple. He was very worried and upset about her, poor man. It’s always worse for a doctor, you know. They can’t
buoy6 themselves up with false hopes. I’m afraid it
preyed7 on his mind very much to begin with.’
‘To begin with? Not so much afterwards?’
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收听单词发音
1
melancholy
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n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的 |
参考例句: |
- All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy.他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
- He felt melancholy after he failed the exam.这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
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2
smelt
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v.熔解,熔炼;n.银白鱼,胡瓜鱼 |
参考例句: |
- Tin is a comparatively easy metal to smelt.锡是比较容易熔化的金属。
- Darby was looking for a way to improve iron when he hit upon the idea of smelting it with coke instead of charcoal.达比一直在寻找改善铁质的方法,他猛然想到可以不用木炭熔炼,而改用焦炭。
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3
starched
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adj.浆硬的,硬挺的,拘泥刻板的v.把(衣服、床单等)浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- My clothes are not starched enough. 我的衣服浆得不够硬。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- The ruffles on his white shirt were starched and clean. 白衬衫的褶边浆过了,很干净。 来自辞典例句
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4
cuffs
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n.袖口( cuff的名词复数 )v.掌打,拳打( cuff的第三人称单数 ) |
参考例句: |
- a collar and cuffs of white lace 带白色蕾丝花边的衣领和袖口
- The cuffs of his shirt were fraying. 他衬衣的袖口磨破了。
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5
faculties
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n.能力( faculty的名词复数 );全体教职员;技巧;院 |
参考例句: |
- Although he's ninety, his mental faculties remain unimpaired. 他虽年届九旬,但头脑仍然清晰。
- All your faculties have come into play in your work. 在你的工作中,你的全部才能已起到了作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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6
buoy
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n.浮标;救生圈;v.支持,鼓励 |
参考例句: |
- The party did little to buoy up her spirits.这次聚会并没有让她振作多少。
- The buoy floated back and forth in the shallow water.这个浮标在浅水里漂来漂去。
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7
preyed
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v.掠食( prey的过去式和过去分词 );掠食;折磨;(人)靠欺诈为生 |
参考例句: |
- Remorse preyed upon his mind. 悔恨使他内心痛苦。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- He had been unwise and it preyed on his conscience. 他做得不太明智,这一直让他良心不安。 来自辞典例句
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8
consolation
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n.安慰,慰问 |
参考例句: |
- The children were a great consolation to me at that time.那时孩子们成了我的莫大安慰。
- This news was of little consolation to us.这个消息对我们来说没有什么安慰。
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9
sitting-room
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n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 |
参考例句: |
- The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
- Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
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10
mere
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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。
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11
vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 |
参考例句: |
- He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
- He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
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12
lapsed
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adj.流失的,堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 );陷入;倒退;丧失 |
参考例句: |
- He had lapsed into unconsciousness. 他陷入了昏迷状态。
- He soon lapsed into his previous bad habits. 他很快陷入以前的恶习中去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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13
mused
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v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事) |
参考例句: |
- \"I wonder if I shall ever see them again, \"he mused. “我不知道是否还可以再见到他们,”他沉思自问。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- \"Where are we going from here?\" mused one of Rutherford's guests. 卢瑟福的一位客人忍不住说道:‘我们这是在干什么?” 来自英汉非文学 - 科学史
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14
impulsive
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adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的 |
参考例句: |
- She is impulsive in her actions.她的行为常出于冲动。
- He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man,but a very honest and sincere one.他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人,也不多愁善感.他为人十分正直、诚恳。
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15
chivalrous
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adj.武士精神的;对女人彬彬有礼的 |
参考例句: |
- Men are so little chivalrous now.现在的男人几乎没有什么骑士风度了。
- Toward women he was nobly restrained and chivalrous.对于妇女,他表现得高尚拘谨,尊敬三分。
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16
impatience
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n.不耐烦,急躁 |
参考例句: |
- He expressed impatience at the slow rate of progress.进展缓慢,他显得不耐烦。
- He gave a stamp of impatience.他不耐烦地跺脚。
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17
vigour
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(=vigor)n.智力,体力,精力 |
参考例句: |
- She is full of vigour and enthusiasm.她有热情,有朝气。
- At 40,he was in his prime and full of vigour.他40岁时正年富力强。
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liar
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n.说谎的人 |
参考例句: |
- I know you for a thief and a liar!我算认识你了,一个又偷又骗的家伙!
- She was wrongly labelled a liar.她被错误地扣上说谎者的帽子。
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19
feverishly
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adv. 兴奋地 |
参考例句: |
- Feverishly he collected his data. 他拼命收集资料。
- The company is having to cast around feverishly for ways to cut its costs. 公司迫切须要想出各种降低成本的办法。
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20
orphan
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n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 |
参考例句: |
- He brought up the orphan and passed onto him his knowledge of medicine.他把一个孤儿养大,并且把自己的医术传给了他。
- The orphan had been reared in a convent by some good sisters.这个孤儿在一所修道院里被几个好心的修女带大。
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21
blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 |
参考例句: |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
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22
martyr
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n.烈士,殉难者;vt.杀害,折磨,牺牲 |
参考例句: |
- The martyr laid down his life for the cause of national independence.这位烈士是为了民族独立的事业而献身的。
- The newspaper carried the martyr's photo framed in black.报上登载了框有黑边的烈士遗像。
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23
perfectly
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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。
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24
ingenuity
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n.别出心裁;善于发明创造 |
参考例句: |
- The boy showed ingenuity in making toys.那个小男孩做玩具很有创造力。
- I admire your ingenuity and perseverance.我钦佩你的别出心裁和毅力。
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perturb
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v.使不安,烦扰,扰乱,使紊乱 |
参考例句: |
- Stellar passings can perturb the orbits of comets.行星的运行会使彗星的轨道发生扰动。
- They perturb good social order with their lie and propaganda.他们以谎言和宣传扰乱良好的社会秩序。
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monstrous
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adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 |
参考例句: |
- The smoke began to whirl and grew into a monstrous column.浓烟开始盘旋上升,形成了一个巨大的烟柱。
- Your behaviour in class is monstrous!你在课堂上的行为真是丢人!
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tout
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v.推销,招徕;兜售;吹捧,劝诱 |
参考例句: |
- They say it will let them tout progress in the war.他们称这将有助于鼓吹他们在战争中的成果。
- If your case studies just tout results,don't bother requiring registration to view them.如果你的案例研究只是吹捧结果,就别烦扰别人来注册访问了。
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disabuse
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v.解惑;矫正 |
参考例句: |
- Let me disabuse of that foolish prejudices.让我消除那个愚蠢的偏见。
- If you think I'm going to lend you money,I must disabuse you of that wrong idea.你若认为我会借钱给你,我倒要劝你打消那念头。
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grudge
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n.不满,怨恨,妒嫉;vt.勉强给,不情愿做 |
参考例句: |
- I grudge paying so much for such inferior goods.我不愿花这么多钱买次品。
- I do not grudge him his success.我不嫉妒他的成功。
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tragic
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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。
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fluffy
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adj.有绒毛的,空洞的 |
参考例句: |
- Newly hatched chicks are like fluffy balls.刚孵出的小鸡像绒毛球。
- The steamed bread is very fluffy.馒头很暄。
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passionate
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adj.热情的,热烈的,激昂的,易动情的,易怒的,性情暴躁的 |
参考例句: |
- He is said to be the most passionate man.据说他是最有激情的人。
- He is very passionate about the project.他对那个项目非常热心。
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jealousy
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n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 |
参考例句: |
- Some women have a disposition to jealousy.有些女人生性爱妒忌。
- I can't support your jealousy any longer.我再也无法忍受你的嫉妒了。
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glamour
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n.魔力,魅力;vt.迷住 |
参考例句: |
- Foreign travel has lost its glamour for her.到国外旅行对她已失去吸引力了。
- The moonlight cast a glamour over the scene.月光给景色增添了魅力。
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35
pricked
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刺,扎,戳( prick的过去式和过去分词 ); 刺伤; 刺痛; 使剧痛 |
参考例句: |
- The cook pricked a few holes in the pastry. 厨师在馅饼上戳了几个洞。
- He was pricked by his conscience. 他受到良心的谴责。
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mansions
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n.宅第,公馆,大厦( mansion的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Fifth Avenue was boarded up where the rich had deserted their mansions. 第五大道上的富翁们已经出去避暑,空出的宅第都已锁好了门窗,钉上了木板。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
- Oh, the mansions, the lights, the perfume, the loaded boudoirs and tables! 啊,那些高楼大厦、华灯、香水、藏金收银的闺房还有摆满山珍海味的餐桌! 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 |
参考例句: |
- They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
- I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
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38
kindliness
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n.厚道,亲切,友好的行为 |
参考例句: |
- Martha looked up into a strange face and dark eyes alight with kindliness and concern. 马撒慢慢抬起头,映入眼帘的是张陌生的脸,脸上有一双充满慈爱和关注的眼睛。 来自辞典例句
- I think the chief thing that struck me about Burton was his kindliness. 我想,我对伯顿印象最深之处主要还是这个人的和善。 来自辞典例句
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invalid
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n.病人,伤残人;adj.有病的,伤残的;无效的 |
参考例句: |
- He will visit an invalid.他将要去看望一个病人。
- A passport that is out of date is invalid.护照过期是无效的。
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sipped
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v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He sipped his coffee pleasurably. 他怡然地品味着咖啡。
- I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. 我小口喝着她调制的巧克力热饮。 来自辞典例句
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nervously
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adv.神情激动地,不安地 |
参考例句: |
- He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
- He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
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obedience
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n.服从,顺从 |
参考例句: |
- Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
- Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。
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banished
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v.放逐,驱逐( banish的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He was banished to Australia, where he died five years later. 他被流放到澳大利亚,五年后在那里去世。
- He was banished to an uninhabited island for a year. 他被放逐到一个无人居住的荒岛一年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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slit
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n.狭长的切口;裂缝;vt.切开,撕裂 |
参考例句: |
- The coat has been slit in two places.这件外衣有两处裂开了。
- He began to slit open each envelope.他开始裁开每个信封。
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