Chapter 2 Introduction to Mathilde, Truelove and KK

Tuppence, on the following morning, went in search of that well-knownpublic character in the village known usually as Old Isaac, or, on formaloccasions if one could remember, Mr Bodlicott. Isaac Bodlicott was one ofthe local ‘characters’. He was a character because of his age–he claimed tobe ninety (not generally believed)–and he was able to do repairs of manycurious kinds. If your efforts to ring up the plumber¹ met with no response,you went to old Isaac Bodlicott. Mr Bodlicott, whether or not he was in anyway qualified² for the repairs he did, had been well acquainted for many ofthe years of his long life with every type of sanitation³ problem, bath-waterproblems, difficulties with geysers, and sundry⁴ electrical problems on theside. His charges compared favourably⁵ with a real live qualified plumber,and his repairs were often surprisingly successful. He could do carpenter-ing, he could attend to locks, he could hang pictures– rather crookedlysometimes– he understood about the springs of derelict armchairs. Themain disadvantage of Mr Bodlicott’s attentions was his garrulous⁶ habit ofincessant conversation slightly hampered⁷ by a difficulty in adjusting hisfalse teeth in such a way as to make what he said intelligible⁸ in his pro-nunciation. His memories of past inhabitants of the neighbourhoodseemed to be unlimited⁹. It was difficult, on the whole, to know how reli-able they might be. Mr Bodlicott was not one to shirk giving himself thepleasure of retailing10

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1 plumber
n.(装修水管的)管子工
参考例句：
Have you asked the plumber to come and look at the leaking pipe?你叫管道工来检查漏水的管子了吗？ The plumber screwed up the tap by means of a spanner.管子工用板手把龙头旋紧。

2 qualified
adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的
参考例句：
He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。 We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

3 sanitation
n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备
参考例句：
The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。 Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

4 sundry
adj.各式各样的，种种的
参考例句：
This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。 We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。

5 favourably
adv. 善意地，赞成地 =favorably
参考例句：
The play has been favourably commented by the audience. 本剧得到了观众的好评。 The open approach contrasts favourably with the exclusivity of some universities. 这种开放式的方法与一些大学的封闭排外形成了有利的对比。

6 garrulous
adj.唠叨的，多话的
参考例句：
He became positively garrulous after a few glasses of wine.他几杯葡萄酒下肚之后便唠唠叨叨说个没完。 My garrulous neighbour had given away the secret.我那爱唠叨的邻居已把秘密泄露了。

7 hampered
妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。 So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

8 intelligible
adj.可理解的，明白易懂的，清楚的
参考例句：
This report would be intelligible only to an expert in computing.只有计算机运算专家才能看懂这份报告。 His argument was barely intelligible.他的论点不易理解。

9 unlimited
adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的
参考例句：
They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。 There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

10 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》

11 ushered
v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。 A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 concealment
n.隐藏, 掩盖，隐瞒
参考例句：
the concealment of crime 对罪行的隐瞒 Stay in concealment until the danger has passed. 把自己藏起来，待危险过去后再出来。

13 tenants
n.房客( tenant的名词复数 )；佃户；占用者；占有者
参考例句：
A number of tenants have been evicted for not paying the rent. 许多房客因不付房租被赶了出来。 Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。

14 sweeping
adj.范围广大的，一扫无遗的
参考例句：
The citizens voted for sweeping reforms.公民投票支持全面的改革。 Can you hear the wind sweeping through the branches?你能听到风掠过树枝的声音吗？

15 vessel
n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管
参考例句：
The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。 You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。

16 tempted
v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）
参考例句：
I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。 I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

17 apparently
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。 He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

18 accounting
n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表
参考例句：
A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。 There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

19 bent
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。 We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。

20 outlay
n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费
参考例句：
There was very little outlay on new machinery.添置新机器的开支微乎其微。 The outlay seems to bear no relation to the object aimed at.这费用似乎和预期目的完全不相称。

21 pane
n.窗格玻璃，长方块
参考例句：
He broke this pane of glass.他打破了这块窗玻璃。 Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.他们呼出的水气，在冰冷的窗玻璃上形成一层雾。

22 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。

23 rusty
adj.生锈的；锈色的；荒废了的
参考例句：
The lock on the door is rusty and won't open.门上的锁锈住了。 I haven't practiced my French for months and it's getting rusty.几个月不用，我的法语又荒疏了。

24 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。

25 rustiest
生锈的( rusty的最高级 )； 荒疏的
参考例句：

26 rusted
v.（使）生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
I can't get these screws out; they've rusted in. 我无法取出这些螺丝，它们都锈住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 My bike has rusted and needs oil. 我的自行车生锈了，需要上油。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 mare
n.母马，母驴
参考例句：
The mare has just thrown a foal in the stable.那匹母马刚刚在马厩里产下了一只小马驹。 The mare foundered under the heavy load and collapsed in the road.那母马因负载过重而倒在路上。

28 prolific
adj.丰富的，大量的；多产的，富有创造力的
参考例句：
She is a prolific writer of novels and short stories.她是一位多产的作家，写了很多小说和短篇故事。 The last few pages of the document are prolific of mistakes.这个文件的最后几页错误很多。

29 wispy
adj.模糊的；纤细的
参考例句：
Grey wispy hair straggled down to her shoulders.稀疏的灰白头发披散在她肩头。 The half moon is hidden behind some wispy clouds.半轮月亮躲在淡淡的云彩之后。

30 backwards
adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地
参考例句：
He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。 All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

31 eldest
adj.最年长的，最年老的
参考例句：
The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。 The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

32 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。

33 lettuce
n.莴苣；生菜
参考例句：
Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。 The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

34 hearsay
n.谣传，风闻
参考例句：
They started to piece the story together from hearsay.他们开始根据传闻把事情的经过一点点拼湊起来。 You are only supposing this on hearsay.You have no proof.你只是根据传闻想像而已，并没有证据。

35 pal
n.朋友，伙伴，同志；vi.结为友
参考例句：
He is a pal of mine.他是我的一个朋友。 Listen,pal,I don't want you talking to my sister any more.听着，小子，我不让你再和我妹妹说话了。

36 spinach
n.菠菜
参考例句：
Eating spinach is supposed to make you strong.据说吃菠菜能使人强壮。 You should eat such vegetables as carrot,celery and spinach.你应该吃胡萝卜、芹菜和菠菜这类的蔬菜。

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