Fourteen THE CLERGYMAN’S DAUGHTER

“I wish,” said Tuppence, roaming moodily¹ round the office, “that we couldbefriend a clergyman’s daughter.”
“Why?” asked Tommy.
“You may have forgotten the fact, but I was once a clergyman’s daughtermyself. I remember what it was like. Hence this altruistic² urge—this spiritof thoughtful consideration for others—this—”
“You are getting ready to be Roger Sheringham, I see,” said Tommy. “Ifyou will allow me to make a criticism, you talk quite as much as he does,but not nearly so well.”
“On the contrary,” said Tuppence. “There is a feminine subtlety³ aboutmy conversation, a je ne sais quoi that no gross male could ever attain⁴ to. Ihave, moreover, powers unknown to my prototype—do I mean prototype?
Words are such uncertain things, they so often sound well, but mean theopposite of what one thinks they do.”
“Go on,” said Tommy kindly⁵.
“I was. I was only pausing to take breath. Touching⁶ these powers, it ismy wish today to assist a clergyman’s daughter. You will see, Tommy, thefirst person to enlist⁷ the aid of Blunt’s Brilliant Detectives will be a clergy-man’s daughter.”
“I’ll bet you it isn’t,” said Tommy.
“Done,” said Tuppence. “Hist! To your typewriters, Oh! Israel. Onecomes.”
Mr. Blunt’s office was humming with industry as Albert opened the doorand announced:
“Miss Monica Deane.”
A slender, brown-haired girl, rather shabbily dressed, entered and stoodhesitating. Tommy came forward.
“Good morning, Miss Deane. Won’t you sit down and tell us what we cando for you? By the way, let me introduce my confidential

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1 moodily
adv.喜怒无常地；情绪多变地；心情不稳地；易生气地
参考例句：
Pork slipped from the room as she remained staring moodily into the distance. 阿宝从房间里溜了出来，留她独个人站在那里瞪着眼睛忧郁地望着远处。 来自辞典例句 He climbed moodily into the cab, relieved and distressed. 他忧郁地上了马车，既松了一口气，又忧心忡忡。 来自互联网

2 altruistic
adj.无私的，为他人着想的
参考例句：
It is superficial to be altruistic without feeling compassion.无慈悲之心却说利他，是为表面。 Altruistic spirit should be cultivated by us vigorously.利他的精神是我们应该努力培养的。

3 subtlety
n.微妙，敏锐，精巧；微妙之处，细微的区别
参考例句：
He has shown enormous strength,great intelligence and great subtlety.他表现出充沛的精力、极大的智慧和高度的灵活性。 The subtlety of his remarks was unnoticed by most of his audience.大多数听众都没有觉察到他讲话的微妙之处。

4 attain
vt.达到，获得，完成
参考例句：
I used the scientific method to attain this end. 我用科学的方法来达到这一目的。 His painstaking to attain his goal in life is praiseworthy. 他为实现人生目标所下的苦功是值得称赞的。

5 kindly
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。 A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

6 touching
adj.动人的，使人感伤的
参考例句：
It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。 His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

7 enlist
vt.谋取(支持等)，赢得；征募；vi.入伍
参考例句：
They come here to enlist men for the army.他们来这儿是为了召兵。 The conference will make further efforts to enlist the support of the international community for their just struggle. 会议必将进一步动员国际社会，支持他们的正义斗争。

8 confidential
adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的
参考例句：
He refused to allow his secretary to handle confidential letters.他不让秘书处理机密文件。 We have a confidential exchange of views.我们推心置腹地交换意见。

9 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。

10 rambling
adj.[建]凌乱的，杂乱的
参考例句：
We spent the summer rambling in Ireland. 我们花了一个夏天漫游爱尔兰。 It was easy to get lost in the rambling house. 在布局凌乱的大房子里容易迷路。

11 invalid
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。

12 desperately
adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地
参考例句：
He was desperately seeking a way to see her again.他正拼命想办法再见她一面。 He longed desperately to be back at home.他非常渴望回家。

13 legacies
n.遗产( legacy的名词复数 )；遗留之物；遗留问题；后遗症
参考例句：
Books are the legacies that a great genius leaves to mankind. 书是伟大的天才留给人类的精神财富。 来自辞典例句 General legacies are subject to the same principles as demonstrative legacies. 一般的遗赠要与指定数目的遗赠遵循同样的原则。 来自辞典例句

14 advantageous
adj.有利的；有帮助的
参考例句：
Injections of vitamin C are obviously advantageous.注射维生素C显然是有利的。 You're in a very advantageous position.你处于非常有利的地位。

15 lodgings
n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍
参考例句：
When he reached his lodgings the sun had set. 他到达公寓房间时，太阳已下山了。 I'm on the hunt for lodgings. 我正在寻找住所。

16 tempting
a.诱人的, 吸引人的
参考例句：
It is tempting to idealize the past. 人都爱把过去的日子说得那么美好。 It was a tempting offer. 这是个诱人的提议。

17 disastrous
adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的
参考例句：
The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。 Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

18 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。

19 vigour
（=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。

20 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

21 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。