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OLIVER, BEING OFFERED ANOTHER PLACE, MAKES HIS FIRST ENTRY INTO PUBLIC LIFE
In great families, when an advantageous1 place cannot be obtained, either in possession, reversion, remainder, or expectancy2, for the young man who is growing up, it is a very general custom to send him to sea. The board, in imitation of so wise and salutary an example, took counsel together on the expediency3 of shipping4 off Oliver Twist, in some small trading vessel5 bound to a good unhealthy port. This suggested itself as the very best thing that could possibly be done with him: the probability being, that the skipper would flog him to death, in a playful mood, some day after dinner, or would knock his brains out with an iron bar; both pastimes being, as is pretty generally known, very favourite and common recreations among gentleman of that class. The more the case presented itself to the board, in this point of view, the more manifold the advantages of the step appeared; so, they came to the conclusion that the only way of providing for Oliver effectually, was to send him to sea without delay.
Mr. Bumble had been despatched to make various preliminary inquiries6, with the view of finding out some captain or other who wanted a cabin-boy without any friends; and was returning to the workhouse to communicate the result of his mission; when he encountered at the gate, no less a person than Mr. Sowerberry, the parochial undertaker.
Mr. Sowerberry was a tall gaunt, large-jointed man, attired7 in a suit of threadbare black, with darned cotton stockings of the same colour, and shoes to answer. His features were not naturally intended to wear a smiling aspect, but he was in general rather given to professional jocosity8. His step was elastic
1
advantageous
adj.有利的;有帮助的
2
expectancy
n.期望,预期,(根据概率统计求得)预期数额
3
expediency
n.适宜;方便;合算;利己
4
shipping
n.船运(发货,运输,乘船)
5
vessel
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管
6
inquiries
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听
7
attired
adj.穿着整齐的v.使穿上衣服,使穿上盛装( attire的过去式和过去分词 )
8
jocosity
n.诙谐
9
elastic
n.橡皮圈,松紧带;adj.有弹性的;灵活的
10
betokened
v.预示,表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 )
11
forefinger
n.食指
12
proffered
v.提供,贡献,提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )
13
coffin
n.棺材,灵柩
14
cane
n.手杖,细长的茎,藤条;v.以杖击,以藤编制的
15
coffins
n.棺材( coffin的名词复数 );使某人早亡[死,完蛋,垮台等]之物
16
precisely
adv.恰好,正好,精确地,细致地
17
tickled
(使)发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 ); (使)愉快,逗乐
19
hem
n.贴边,镶边;vt.缝贴边;(in)包围,限制
20
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
21
downwards
adj./adv.向下的(地),下行的(地)
22
brass
n.黄铜;黄铜器,铜管乐器
23
embellished
v.美化( embellish的过去式和过去分词 );装饰;修饰;润色
24
bruised
[医]青肿的,瘀紫的
25
doorway
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
26
wont
adj.习惯于;v.习惯;n.习惯
27
grovelling
adj.卑下的,奴颜婢膝的v.卑躬屈节,奴颜婢膝( grovel的现在分词 );趴
28
wretches
n.不幸的人( wretch的名词复数 );可怜的人;恶棍;坏蛋
29
acquiesced
v.默认,默许( acquiesce的过去式和过去分词 )
30
wrath
n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
31
perspiration
n.汗水;出汗
32
engendered
v.产生(某形势或状况),造成,引起( engender的过去式和过去分词 )
33
fixed
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
34
apprentice
n.学徒,徒弟
35
rascal
n.流氓;不诚实的人
36
virtuous
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的
37
astonishment
n.惊奇,惊异
38
possessed
adj.疯狂的;拥有的,占有的
39
brutal
adj.残忍的,野蛮的,不讲理的
40
sullenness
n. 愠怒, 沉闷, 情绪消沉
41
cuff
n.袖口;手铐;护腕;vt.用手铐铐;上袖口
42
erect
n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的
43
expedient
adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计
44
inspection
n.检查,审查,检阅
45
patronage
n.赞助,支援,援助;光顾,捧场
46
darting
v.投掷,投射( dart的现在分词 );向前冲,飞奔
47
malignity
n.极度的恶意,恶毒;(病的)恶性
48
sobbed
哭泣,啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 ); 哭诉,呜咽地说
49
amazement
n.惊奇,惊讶
50
hemmed
缝…的褶边( hem的过去式和过去分词 ); 包围
51
shutters
百叶窗( shutter的名词复数 ); (照相机的)快门
52
dismal
adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的
53
countenance
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
54
deferentially
adv.表示敬意地,谦恭地
55
pettishly
56
victuals
n.食物;食品
57
glistened
v.湿物闪耀,闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 )
58
devour
v.吞没;贪婪地注视或谛听,贪读;使着迷
59
gall
v.使烦恼,使焦躁,难堪;n.磨难
60
viands
n.食品,食物
61
asunder
adj.分离的,化为碎片
62
relish
n.滋味,享受,爱好,调味品;vt.加调味料,享受,品味;vi.有滋味
63
auguries
n.(古罗马)占卜术,占卜仪式( augury的名词复数 );预兆
64
meekly
adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地