Four CELIA
A tall girl was standing¹ on the mat outside. Just for a moment Mrs. Oliver was startled looking ather. So this was Celia. The impression of vitality² and of life was really very strong. Mrs. Oliverhad the feeling which one does not often get.
Here, she thought, was someone who meant something. Aggressive, perhaps, could be difficult,could be almost dangerous perhaps. One of those girls who had a mission in life, who wasdedicated to violence, perhaps, who went in for causes. But interesting. Definitely interesting.
“Come in, Celia,” she said. “It’s such a long time since I saw you. The last time, as far as Iremember, was at a wedding. You were a bridesmaid. You wore apricot chiffon, I remember, andlarge bunches of—I can’t remember what it was, something that looked like Golden Rod.”
“Probably was Golden Rod,” said Celia Ravenscroft. “We sneezed a lot—with hay fever. It wasa terrible wedding. I know. Martha Leghorn, wasn’t it? Ugliest bridesmaids’ dresses I’ve everseen. Certainly the ugliest I’ve ever worn!”
“Yes. They weren’t very becoming to anybody. You looked better than most, if I may say so.”
“Well, it’s nice of you to say that,” said Celia. “I didn’t feel my best.”
Mrs. Oliver indicated a chair and manipulated a couple of decanters.
“Like sherry or something else?”
“No. I’d like sherry.”
“There you are, then. I suppose it seems rather odd to you,” said Mrs. Oliver. “My ringing youup suddenly like this.”
“Oh no, I don’t know that it does particularly.”
“I’m not a very conscientious³ godmother, I’m afraid.”
“Why should you be, at my age?”
“You’re right there,” said Mrs. Oliver. “One’s duties, one feels, end at a certain time. Not that Iever really fulfilled mine. I don’t remember coming to your Confirmation⁴.”
“I believe the duty of a godmother is to make you learn your catechism and a few things likethat, isn’t it? Renounce5

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1 standing
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。

2 vitality
n.活力，生命力，效力
参考例句：
He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。 He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

3 conscientious
adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的
参考例句：
He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。 He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。

4 confirmation
n.证实，确认，批准
参考例句：
We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。 We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

5 renounce
v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系
参考例句：
She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。 It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

6 amiable
adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的
参考例句：
She was a very kind and amiable old woman.她是个善良和气的老太太。 We have a very amiable companionship.我们之间存在一种友好的关系。

7 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

8 intriguing
adj.有趣的；迷人的v.搞阴谋诡计(intrigue的现在分词)；激起…的好奇心
参考例句：
These discoveries raise intriguing questions. 这些发现带来了非常有趣的问题。 It all sounds very intriguing. 这些听起来都很有趣。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 sipped
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

10 spoke
n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

11 distinctive
adj.特别的，有特色的，与众不同的
参考例句：
She has a very distinctive way of walking.她走路的样子与别人很不相同。 This bird has several distinctive features.这个鸟具有几种突出的特征。

12 eyebrows
眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。 His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

13 spine
n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊
参考例句：
He broke his spine in a fall from a horse.他从马上跌下摔断了脊梁骨。 His spine developed a slight curve.他的脊柱有点弯曲。

14 odious
adj.可憎的，讨厌的
参考例句：
The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。 His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。

15 retired
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。

16 pact
n.合同，条约，公约，协定
参考例句：
The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。 The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

17 motive
n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的
参考例句：
The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。 He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

18 specially
adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地
参考例句：
They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。 The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

19 retailing
n.零售业v.零售(retail的现在分词)
参考例句：
career opportunities in retailing 零售业的职业机会 He is fond of retailing the news. 他喜欢传播消息。 来自《简明英汉词典》

20 deliberately
adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地
参考例句：
The girl gave the show away deliberately.女孩故意泄露秘密。 They deliberately shifted off the argument.他们故意回避这个论点。

21 housekeeper
n.管理家务的主妇，女管家
参考例句：
A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。 She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。

22 awfully
adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地
参考例句：
Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。 I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。

23 grudge
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。

24 distressed
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。

25 passionately
ad.热烈地，激烈地
参考例句：
She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿，也能爱得一往情深。 He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。

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