Two months later Gabriel went to the great fair at Casterbridge，hoping to find a job as farm manager. But when he realized by late afternoon that none of the farmers at Casterbridge wanted a farm manager，or even a shepherd¹，he decided² to try his luck at another fair the next day. It was fifteen miles further away，in a village the other side of Weatherbury. The name Weatherbury reminded him of Bathsheba，and he wondered if she still lived there. He set out on foot as it was getting dark，and had already walked three or four miles when he saw a cart³，half-full of hay，by the side of the road. ‘That's a comfortable place to sleep，’he thought，and he was so tired after his long，disappointing day at the fair that when he climbed into the cart，he fell asleep immediately.

A couple of hours later，however，he was woken by the movement of the cart. It was being driven towards Weather－bury by two farm workers，who had not noticed Gabriel. He listened to their conversation.

‘She's a handsome woman，that's true，’said one，‘but proud too！And very vain，that's what people say！’

‘Oh，if she's vain，Billy Smallbury，I'll never be able to look at her！I'm such a shy man，as you know！’said the other. ‘A single woman，and vain！And does she pay her farm workers well？’

‘I don't know about that，Joseph Poorgrass. ’

Gabriel thought they could be talking about Bathsheba，except that the woman they were discussing seemed to be the mistress⁴ of a farm. As the cart was now quite near Weather－bury，Gabriel jumped out，unseen by the two men. He climbed a gate into a field，intending to sleep for the rest of the night under a hay－rick，but then he noticed an unusual light in the darkness，about half a mile away. Something was on fire.

He hurried across the fields towards the fire. Soon，in the rich orange light of the flames，he could see a hay－rick burning fiercely⁵. It was too late to save the rick，so for a few minutes he stood and stared at the flames. But when the smoke cleared for a moment，he was horrified

首页  上一页 [1] [2]  [3]  下一页  尾页

点击收听单词发音  

1 shepherd
n.牧羊者，牧师，指导者；v.看守，领导，指导
参考例句：
The shepherd boy waited for his sheep to drink.牧童等羊喝水。 The shepherd and his dog gathered in the sheep.牧羊人和牧羊狗把羊群赶到一块。

2 decided
adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的
参考例句：
This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。 There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 cart
n.（二轮或四轮）运货马车，手推车；vt.用马车装载，用手提（笨重物品），强行带走
参考例句：
We use this to cart the goods.我们用这个来拉运货物。 Let's go over and help them pull the cart.咱们过去帮他们拉车。

4 mistress
n.（文学用语）使男子为之倾倒的女人，女主人
参考例句：
Does his wife know he has a mistress?他的妻子知道他有一个情妇吗？ Is your mistress at home?你家女主人在家吗？

5 fiercely
adv.猛烈地，厉害地
参考例句：
He knocked the tiger about fiercely until it lay dead.他挥拳痛击老虎，直到把它打死在地。 They brushed aside every difficulty and pushed on fiercely.他们不顾一切困难，向前推进。

6 horrified
a.(表现出)恐惧的
参考例句：
The whole country was horrified by the killings. 全国都对这些凶杀案感到大为震惊。 We were horrified at the conditions prevailing in local prisons. 地方监狱的普遍状况让我们震惊。

7 confused
adj.困惑的，烦恼的
参考例句：
They asked so many questions that they confused me.他们问了许多问题，都把我弄糊涂了。 A wise man is never confused.智者不惑。

8 bucket
n.水桶，一桶之量，吊桶
参考例句：
The bottom of the bucket has worn through after all this time.经过这么长时间，这只桶的底部终于磨穿了。 Can you fill me a bucket of water,please?请给我打一桶水好吗？

9 maid
n.少女，未婚女子，女仆
参考例句：
I have sent my maid away.我已把我的女仆解雇了。 A maid in white is walking along the boardwalk.一位白衣少女漫步于海边的木板路上。

10 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。

11 inherited
adj.通过继承得到的，遗传的；继承权的v.继承( inherit的过去式和过去分词 )；经遗传获得（品质、身体特征等）接替（责任等），继任
参考例句：
She had not inherited her mother's forgiving nature. 她没有承袭她母亲的宽厚天性。 She inherited a fortune from her father. 她从她父亲那里继承了一大笔财富。

12 cloak
n.斗蓬，披风，掩饰，幌子；vt.掩盖，掩饰
参考例句：
The snow covered up the fields with a white cloak.积雪给田野盖上了一件白色的外衣。 She threw a heavy woollen cloak over her shoulders.她把一件厚重的羊毛斗篷披在肩上。

13 arranged
adj.安排的v.安排，准备( arrange的过去式和过去分词 )；把…（系统地）分类；整理；改编（剧本等）
参考例句：
The party was arranged quickly. 聚会很快就安排好了。 Chairs in rows are not as conducive to discussion as chairs arranged in a circle. 椅子成排摆放不如成圈摆放便于讨论。

14 employment
n.雇用；使用；工作，职业
参考例句：
A large office requires the employment of many people.一个大办事处需要雇用好多人员。 The state of employment in this city is improving.这个城市就业状况正在改善。

15 capable
adj.有能力的，有才能的
参考例句：
The new woman secretary was extremely clever and capable.这位新来的女秘书很是精明强干。 Jim is capable at sports.吉姆擅长运动。

16 pause
vi.暂停，中止，停顿；n.中止，停顿，踌躇，休止符
参考例句：
After a little pause, he went on with his speech.稍停一会儿后，他又继续讲演。 He made a pause and then went on reading.他停顿了一下，然后又读下去。

17 trembled
v.发抖( tremble的过去式和过去分词 )；焦虑；颤动；轻轻摇晃
参考例句：
They all trembled at the prospect of an enemy invasion. 他们想到敌人可能入侵都不寒而栗。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The whole house trembled as the train went by. 火车开过时，整座房子都颤动了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

18 hesitated
v.犹豫( hesitate的过去式和过去分词 )；吞吞吐吐；顾虑；停顿
参考例句：
She hesitated before replying. 她犹豫了一下才回答。 I hesitated a millisecond too long. 我几乎没犹豫。

19 wrist
n.手腕，腕关节
参考例句：
They took her by the wrist.他们握住她的手腕。 He received a bullet in the wrist.他手腕上中了一弹。