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III
The social club he had been interested in in the East End of London … Itwas there that he had first met Rachel Konstam. He could see her nowclearly in his mind’s eye. A girl of medium height, stocky in build, wearingwhat he had not appreciated at the time were very expensive clothes, butwearing them with a dowdy1 air. A round- faced girl, serious, warm-hearted, with an eagerness and a na?vety which had appealed to him. Somuch that needed doing, so much that was worth doing! She had pouredout words eagerly, rather incoherently, and his heart had warmed to her.
For he, too, had felt that there was much that needed doing, much thatwas worth doing; though he himself had a gift of natural irony2 that madehim doubtful whether work worth doing was always as successful as itought to be. But Rachel had had no doubts. If you did this, if you did that,if such and such an institution were endowed, the beneficial results wouldfollow automatically.
She had never allowed, he saw now, for human nature. She had seenpeople always as cases, as problems to be dealt with. She had never seenthat each human being was different, would react differently, had its ownpeculiar idiosyncrasies. He had said to her then, he remembered, not toexpect too much. But she had always expected too much, although she hadimmediately disclaimed3 his accusation4. She had always expected toomuch, and so always she had been disappointed. He had fallen in lovewith her quite quickly, and had been agreeably surprised to find out thatshe was the daughter of wealthy parents.
They had planned their life together on a basis of high thinking and notprecisely plain living. But he could see now clearly what it was that hadprincipally attracted him to her. It was her warmth of heart. Only, andthere was the tragedy, that warmth of heart had not really been for him.
She had been in love with him, yes. But what she had really wanted fromhim and from life was children. And the children had not come.
They had visited doctors, reputable doctors, disreputable doctors, evenquacks, and the verdict in the end had been one she was forced to accept.
She would never have children of her own. He had been sorry for her,very sorry, and he had acquiesced5 quite willingly in her suggestion thatthey should adopt a child. They were already in touch with
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收听单词发音

1
dowdy
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adj.不整洁的;过旧的 | |
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2
irony
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n.反语,冷嘲;具有讽刺意味的事,嘲弄 | |
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3
disclaimed
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v.否认( disclaim的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accusation
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n.控告,指责,谴责 | |
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5
acquiesced
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v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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6
adoption
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n.采用,采纳,通过;收养 | |
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7
tenement
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n.公寓;房屋 | |
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bruised
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[医]青肿的,瘀紫的 | |
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9
alacrity
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n.敏捷,轻快,乐意 | |
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10
suite
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n.一套(家具);套房;随从人员 | |
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luxurious
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adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的 | |
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12
feverish
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adj.发烧的,狂热的,兴奋的 | |
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doting
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adj.溺爱的,宠爱的 | |
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placidly
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adv.平稳地,平静地 | |
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acquiescence
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n.默许;顺从 | |
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enjoyment
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n.乐趣;享有;享用 | |
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maternal
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adj.母亲的,母亲般的,母系的,母方的 | |
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longing
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n.(for)渴望 | |
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longings
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渴望,盼望( longing的名词复数 ) | |
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20
orphanages
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孤儿院( orphanage的名词复数 ) | |
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21
courteous
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adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 | |
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22
acquiescent
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adj.默许的,默认的 | |
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thoroughly
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adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地 | |
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authoritarian
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n./adj.专制(的),专制主义者,独裁主义者 | |
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courteously
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adv.有礼貌地,亲切地 | |
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perilous
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adj.危险的,冒险的 | |
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ministry
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n.(政府的)部;牧师 | |
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orphans
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孤儿( orphan的名词复数 ) | |
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legitimate
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adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法 | |
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evacuated
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撤退者的 | |
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fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 | |
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remonstrated
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v.抗议( remonstrate的过去式和过去分词 );告诫 | |
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mites
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n.(尤指令人怜悯的)小孩( mite的名词复数 );一点点;一文钱;螨 | |
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exigencies
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n.急切需要 | |
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perfectly
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adv.完美地,无可非议地,彻底地 | |
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sobbing
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<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的 | |
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instinctively
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adv.本能地 | |
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aloof
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adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 | |
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misty
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adj.雾蒙蒙的,有雾的 | |
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solicitors
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初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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eldest
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adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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negligent
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adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的 | |
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bad-tempered
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adj.脾气坏的 | |
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graceful
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adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 | |
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seaman
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n.海员,水手,水兵 | |
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triumphant
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adj.胜利的,成功的;狂欢的,喜悦的 | |
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thrifty
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adj.节俭的;兴旺的;健壮的 | |
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brilliance
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n.光辉,辉煌,壮丽,(卓越的)才华,才智 | |
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agile
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adj.敏捷的,灵活的 | |
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delinquent
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adj.犯法的,有过失的;n.违法者 | |
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applied
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adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
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robust
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adj.强壮的,强健的,粗野的,需要体力的,浓的 | |
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proffered
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v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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