Mud

Six days a week Lucy wakes first. It’s the hour of the mole¹, an absolute dark, as she slips past her sleeping family.
Sam in the loft² bed beside her, Ma and Ba on a mattress³ at the foot of the ladder—she circumvents⁴ them by memory as much as by sight, as she circumvents the heaped clothes, the bags of flour, the sheets, broom handles, trunks. The house has the close, stale musk⁶ of an animal’s burrow⁷. Last week a tub of creek⁸ water overturned, not improving the odor.
Once, Ma might have made it inviting⁹. A bunch of sweet grasses, a strategically spread cloth. Nowadays her sole occupation is sleep. Her cheeks look ever more gouged¹⁰ or bitten, as if something nibbles¹¹ her in the night. She hasn’t eaten a proper meal in weeks. Says she can stomach only meat, which they lack the coin to buy.
Ba promised meat when they got to this big new mine, and a garden, good clothes, proper horses, school. Too many men beat them here. Wages are lower than promised. With Ma sick, it’s Lucy who puts off school to accompany Ba to the mine, Lucy who wakes first, fixes breakfast.
She sets a pan on the stove. Too loud—Ma stirs at the clang. If woken, Ma argues endlessly with Ba. The girls are hungry./ I’d be earning more if we’d gotten here sooner. / But we didn’t. / Not on my account. / Say what you mean. / All I mean is this taking sick was awful inconvenient

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1 mole
n.胎块；痣；克分子
参考例句：
She had a tiny mole on her cheek.她的面颊上有一颗小黑痣。 The young girl felt very self- conscious about the large mole on her chin.那位年轻姑娘对自己下巴上的一颗大痣感到很不自在。

2 loft
n.阁楼，顶楼
参考例句：
We could see up into the loft from bottom of the stairs.我们能从楼梯脚边望到阁楼的内部。 By converting the loft,they were able to have two extra bedrooms.把阁楼改造一下，他们就可以多出两间卧室。

3 mattress
n.床垫，床褥
参考例句：
The straw mattress needs to be aired.草垫子该晾一晾了。 The new mattress I bought sags in the middle.我买的新床垫中间陷了下去。

4 circumvents
n.设法克服或避免（某事物），回避( circumvent的名词复数 )；绕过，绕行，绕道旅行v.设法克服或避免（某事物），回避( circumvent的第三人称单数 )；绕过，绕行，绕道旅行
参考例句：
It is a living, powerful river that easily circumvents all obstacles. 生活就是如此，强有力的激流才可以轻易的绕过所有的阻碍。 来自互联网

5 hem
n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制
参考例句：
The hem on her skirt needs sewing.她裙子上的褶边需要缝一缝。 The hem of your dress needs to be let down an inch.你衣服的折边有必要放长1英寸。

6 musk
n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫
参考例句：
Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。 She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

7 burrow
vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞
参考例句：
Earthworms burrow deep into the subsoil.蚯蚓深深地钻进底土。 The dog had chased a rabbit into its burrow.狗把兔子追进了洞穴。

8 creek
n.小溪，小河，小湾
参考例句：
He sprang through the creek.他跳过小河。 People sunbathe in the nude on the rocks above the creek.人们在露出小溪的岩石上裸体晒日光浴。

9 inviting
adj.诱人的，引人注目的
参考例句：
An inviting smell of coffee wafted into the room.一股诱人的咖啡香味飘进了房间。 The kitchen smelled warm and inviting and blessedly familiar.这间厨房的味道温暖诱人，使人感到亲切温馨。

10 gouged
v.凿( gouge的过去式和过去分词 )；乱要价；（在…中）抠出…；挖出…
参考例句：
The lion's claws had gouged a wound in the horse's side. 狮爪在马身一侧抓了一道深口。 The lovers gouged out their names on the tree. 情人们把他们的名字刻在树上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

11 nibbles
vt.& vi.啃，一点一点地咬（nibble的第三人称单数形式）
参考例句：
A fish nibbles at the bait. 一条鱼在轻轻地啃鱼饵。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Units of four bits are sometimes referred to as nibbles. 有时将四位数字组成的单元叫做半字节。 来自辞典例句

12 inconvenient
adj.不方便的，令人感到麻烦的
参考例句：
You have come at a very inconvenient time.你来得最不适时。 Will it be inconvenient for him to attend that meeting?他参加那次会议会不方便吗？

13 hiss
v.发出嘶嘶声；发嘘声表示不满
参考例句：
We can hear the hiss of air escaping from a tire.我们能听到一只轮胎的嘶嘶漏气声。 Don't hiss at the speaker.不要嘘演讲人。

14 shaft
n.(工具的)柄，杆状物
参考例句：
He was wounded by a shaft.他被箭击中受伤。 This is the shaft of a steam engine.这是一个蒸汽机主轴。

15 bruise
n.青肿，挫伤；伤痕；vt.打青；挫伤
参考例句：
The bruise was caused by a kick.这伤痕是脚踢的。 Jack fell down yesterday and got a big bruise on his face.杰克昨天摔了一跤，脸上摔出老大一块淤斑。

16 shack
adj.简陋的小屋，窝棚
参考例句：
He had to sit down five times before he reached his shack.在走到他的茅棚以前，他不得不坐在地上歇了五次。 The boys made a shack out of the old boards in the backyard.男孩们在后院用旧木板盖起一间小木屋。

17 dozes
n.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的名词复数 )v.打盹儿，打瞌睡( doze的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
It'scratches, licks or dozes off. 有搔痒、舐毛、打瞌睡等动作。 来自互联网

18 trickle
vi.淌，滴，流出，慢慢移动，逐渐消散
参考例句：
The stream has thinned down to a mere trickle.这条小河变成细流了。 The flood of cars has now slowed to a trickle.汹涌的车流现在已经变得稀稀拉拉。

19 savings
n.存款，储蓄
参考例句：
I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。 By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

20 congealed
v.使凝结，冻结( congeal的过去式和过去分词 )；（指血）凝结
参考例句：
The cold remains of supper had congealed on the plate. 晚餐剩下的冷饭菜已经凝结在盘子上了。 The oil at last is congealed into a white fat. 那油最终凝结成了一种白色的油脂。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 vomit
v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物
参考例句：
They gave her salty water to make her vomit.他们给她喝盐水好让她吐出来。 She was stricken by pain and began to vomit.她感到一阵疼痛，开始呕吐起来。

22 bonnet
n.无边女帽；童帽
参考例句：
The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。 She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。

23 fabric
n.织物，织品，布；构造，结构，组织
参考例句：
The fabric will spot easily.这种织品很容易玷污。 I don't like the pattern on the fabric.我不喜欢那块布料上的图案。

24 sniffing
n.探查法v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的现在分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说
参考例句：
We all had colds and couldn't stop sniffing and sneezing. 我们都感冒了，一个劲地抽鼻子，打喷嚏。 They all had colds and were sniffing and sneezing. 他们都伤风了，呼呼喘气而且打喷嚏。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

25 nagging
adj.唠叨的，挑剔的；使人不得安宁的v.不断地挑剔或批评（某人）( nag的现在分词 )；不断地烦扰或伤害（某人）；无休止地抱怨；不断指责
参考例句：
Stop nagging—I'll do it as soon as I can. 别唠叨了—我会尽快做的。 I've got a nagging pain in my lower back. 我后背下方老是疼。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 dodges
n.闪躲( dodge的名词复数 )；躲避；伎俩；妙计v.闪躲( dodge的第三人称单数 )；回避
参考例句：
He tried all sorts of dodges to avoid being called up. 他挖空心思，耍弄各种花招以逃避被征召入伍。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Those were the dodges he used to escape taxation. 那些是他用以逃税的诡计。 来自辞典例句

27 clattering
发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式）
参考例句：
Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。 The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。

28 hisses
嘶嘶声( hiss的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The speaker was received with a mixture of applause and hisses. 那演说者同时得到喝彩声和嘘声。 A fire hisses if water is thrown on it. 把水浇到火上，火就发出嘶嘶声。

29 liar
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。

30 erode
v.侵蚀，腐蚀，使...减少、减弱或消失
参考例句：
Once exposed,soil is quickly eroded by wind and rain.一旦暴露在外，土壤很快就会被风雨侵蚀。 Competition in the financial marketplace has eroded profits.金融市场的竞争降低了利润。

31 gritted
v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的过去式和过去分词 )；咬紧牙关
参考例句：
He gritted his teeth and plunged into the cold weather. 他咬咬牙，冲向寒冷的天气。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》 The young policeman gritted his teeth and walked slowly towards the armed criminal. 年轻警官强忍住怒火，朝武装歹徒慢慢走过去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

32 savors
v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的第三人称单数 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝
参考例句：
His talk savors, of self-conceit. 他的谈话给人以自负的感觉。 来自辞典例句 This sauce savors, of lemon. 这个调味酱有柠檬味。 来自辞典例句

33 grumbles
抱怨( grumble的第三人称单数 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声
参考例句：
He grumbles at his lot instead of resolutely facing his difficulties. 他不是果敢地去面对困难，而是抱怨自己运气不佳。 I'm sick of your unending grumbles. 我对你的不断埋怨感到厌烦。

34 axe
n.斧子；v.用斧头砍，削减
参考例句：
Be careful with that sharp axe.那把斧子很锋利，你要当心。 The edge of this axe has turned.这把斧子卷了刃了。

35 beckons
v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
He sent his ships wherever profit beckons. 他将船队派往赢利的那些地方。 来自辞典例句 I believe history beckons again. 我认为现在历史又在召唤了。 来自辞典例句

36 blur
n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚
参考例句：
The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。 If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了，图像就会变得模糊不清。

37 prick
v.刺伤，刺痛，刺孔；n.刺伤，刺痛
参考例句：
He felt a sharp prick when he stepped on an upturned nail.当他踩在一个尖朝上的钉子上时，他感到剧烈的疼痛。 He burst the balloon with a prick of the pin.他用针一戳，气球就爆了。

38 crouch
v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏
参考例句：
I crouched on the ground.我蹲在地上。 He crouched down beside him.他在他的旁边蹲下来。

39 joint
adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合
参考例句：
I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。 We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

40 crunching
v.嘎吱嘎吱地咬嚼( crunch的现在分词 )；嘎吱作响；（快速大量地）处理信息；数字捣弄
参考例句：
The horses were crunching their straw at their manger. 这些马在嘎吱嘎吱地吃槽里的草。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The dog was crunching a bone. 狗正嘎吱嘎吱地嚼骨头。 来自《简明英汉词典》

41 averts
防止，避免( avert的第三人称单数 )； 转移
参考例句：
Cautious speech averts eavesdropping. Cautious behavior arrests gossip. 若欲杜人之口，莫若自己谨言；若欲塞人之耳，莫若自己慎行。 A gift in secret averts anger; and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath. 暗中送的礼物，挽回怒气；怀中搋的贿赂，止息暴怒。

42 pebbles
[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。 Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

43 twigs
细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。 Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。

44 beetle
n.甲虫，近视眼的人
参考例句：
A firefly is a type of beetle.萤火虫是一种甲虫。 He saw a shiny green beetle on a leaf.我看见树叶上有一只闪闪发光的绿色甲虫。

45 wagon
n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车
参考例句：
We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。 The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

46 scout
n.童子军，侦察员；v.侦察，搜索
参考例句：
He was mistaken for an enemy scout and badly wounded.他被误认为是敌人的侦察兵，受了重伤。 The scout made a stealthy approach to the enemy position.侦察兵偷偷地靠近敌军阵地。

47 mule
n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人
参考例句：
A mule is a cross between a mare and a donkey.骡子是母马和公驴的杂交后代。 He is an old mule.他是个老顽固。

48 gilded
a.镀金的，富有的
参考例句：
The golden light gilded the sea. 金色的阳光使大海如金子般闪闪发光。 "Friends, they are only gilded disks of lead!" "朋友们，这只不过是些镀金的铅饼！ 来自英汉文学 - 败坏赫德莱堡

49 seeps
n.（液体）渗( seep的名词复数 )；渗透；渗出；漏出v.（液体）渗( seep的第三人称单数 )；渗透；渗出；漏出
参考例句：
Water seeps through sand. 水渗入沙中。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 Water seeps out of the wall. 水从墙里沁出。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

50 conspiratorial
adj.阴谋的，阴谋者的
参考例句：
She handed the note to me with a conspiratorial air. 她鬼鬼祟祟地把字条交给了我。 来自辞典例句 It was enough to win a gap-toothed, conspiratorial grin. 这赢得对方咧嘴一笑。 来自互联网

51 fragrant
adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的
参考例句：
The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。 The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

52 brews
n.（尤指某地酿造的）啤酒( brew的名词复数 )；酿造物的种类；（茶）一次的冲泡量；（不同思想、环境、事件的）交融v.调制( brew的第三人称单数 )；酝酿；沏（茶）；煮（咖啡）
参考例句：
He brews beer at home. 他在家里酿造啤酒。 来自《简明英汉词典》 They produce the country's best brews of beer. 他们生产该国的佳酿啤酒。 来自辞典例句

53 descending
n. 下行 adj. 下降的
参考例句：
The results are expressed in descending numerical order . 结果按数字降序列出。 The climbers stopped to orient themselves before descending the mountain. 登山者先停下来确定所在的位置，然后再下山。

54 wager
n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌
参考例句：
They laid a wager on the result of the race.他们以竞赛的结果打赌。 I made a wager that our team would win.我打赌我们的队会赢。

55 huddled
挤在一起（huddle的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。 We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。

56 spat
n.口角，掌击；v.发出呼噜呼噜声
参考例句：
Her parents always have spats.她的父母经常有些小的口角。 There is only a spat between the brother and sister.那只是兄妹间的小吵小闹。

57 gambling
n.赌博；投机
参考例句：
They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。 The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

58 filth
n.肮脏，污物，污秽；淫猥
参考例句：
I don't know how you can read such filth.我不明白你怎么会去读这种淫秽下流的东西。 The dialogue was all filth and innuendo.这段对话全是下流的言辞和影射。

59 tilts
（意欲赢得某物或战胜某人的）企图，尝试( tilt的名词复数 )
参考例句：
As the kitten touches it, it tilts at the floor. 它随着击碰倾侧，头不动，眼不动，还呆呆地注视着地上。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译 The two writers had a number of tilts in print. 这两位作家写过一些文章互相攻击。

60 slits
n.狭长的口子，裂缝( slit的名词复数 )v.切开，撕开( slit的第三人称单数 )；在…上开狭长口子
参考例句：
He appears to have two slits for eyes. 他眯着两眼。 "You go to--Halifax,'she said tensely, her green eyes slits of rage. "你给我滚----滚到远远的地方去！" 她恶狠狠地说，那双绿眼睛冒出了怒火。

61 shovel
n.铁锨，铲子，一铲之量；v.铲，铲出
参考例句：
He was working with a pick and shovel.他在用镐和铲干活。 He seized a shovel and set to.他拿起一把铲就干上了。

62 pries
v.打听，刺探（他人的私事）( pry的第三人称单数 )；撬开
参考例句：
He often pries into other people's affairs. 他常探问别人的事。 来自辞典例句 Seem the lock that someone pries me in the doorway. 好像是有人在门口撬我的锁。 来自互联网

63 swells
增强( swell的第三人称单数 )； 肿胀； （使）凸出； 充满（激情）
参考例句：
The waters were heaving up in great swells. 河水正在急剧上升。 A barrel swells in the middle. 水桶中部隆起。

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