The communication sank deep into Gertrude's mind. Her nature wasrather a timid one; and probably of all remedies that the whitewizard could have suggested there was not one which would havefilled her with so much aversion as this, not to speak of theimmense obstacles in the way of its adoption¹.

　　Casterbridge, the county-town, was a dozen or fifteen miles off; andthough in those days, when men were executed for horse-stealing,arson², and burglary, an assize seldom passed without a hanging, itwas not likely that she could get access to the body of the criminalunaided. And the fear of her husband's anger made her reluctant tobreathe a word of Trendle's suggestion to him or to anybody abouthim.

　　She did nothing for months, and patiently bore her disfigurement asbefore. But her woman's nature, craving³ for renewed love, throughthe medium of renewed beauty (she was but twenty-five), was everstimulating her to try what, at any rate, could hardly do her anyharm. 'What came by a spell will go by a spell surely,' she wouldsay. Whenever her imagination pictured the act she shrank in terrorfrom the possibility of it: then the words of the conjuror⁴, 'Itwill turn your blood,' were seen to be capable of a scientific noless than a ghastly interpretation⁵; the mastering desire returned,and urged her on again.

　　There was at this time but one county paper, and that her husbandonly occasionally borrowed. But old-fashioned days had old-fashioned means, and news was extensively conveyed by word of mouthfrom market to market, or from fair to fair, so that, whenever suchan event as an execution was about to take place, few within aradius of twenty miles were ignorant of the coming sight; and, sofar as Holmstoke was concerned, some enthusiasts⁶ had been known towalk all the way to Casterbridge and back in one day, solely⁷ towitness the spectacle. The next assizes were in March; and whenGertrude Lodge

点击收听单词发音  

1 adoption
n.采用，采纳，通过；收养
参考例句：
An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。 The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

2 arson
n.纵火，放火
参考例句：
He was serving a ten spot for arson.他因纵火罪在服十年徒刑。 He was arraigned on a charge of arson.他因被指控犯纵火罪而被传讯。

3 craving
n.渴望,热望
参考例句：
a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力 She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。

4 conjuror
n.魔术师，变戏法者
参考例句：
The boys looked at the conjuror in silent wonder.孩子们目瞪口呆地看着那魔术师。 The conjuror's magic delighted the children.魔术师的戏法逗乐了孩子们。

5 interpretation
n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理
参考例句：
His statement admits of one interpretation only.他的话只有一种解释。 Analysis and interpretation is a very personal thing.分析与说明是个很主观的事情。

6 enthusiasts
n.热心人，热衷者( enthusiast的名词复数 )
参考例句：
A group of enthusiasts have undertaken the reconstruction of a steam locomotive. 一群火车迷已担负起重造蒸汽机车的任务。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Now a group of enthusiasts are going to have the plane restored. 一群热心人计划修复这架飞机。 来自新概念英语第二册

7 solely
adv.仅仅，唯一地
参考例句：
Success should not be measured solely by educational achievement.成功与否不应只用学业成绩来衡量。 The town depends almost solely on the tourist trade.这座城市几乎完全靠旅游业维持。

8 lodge
v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆
参考例句：
Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？ I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。

9 condemned
adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。 The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

10 clergy
n.[总称]牧师，神职人员
参考例句：
I could heartily wish that more of our country clergy would follow this example.我衷心希望，我国有更多的牧师效法这个榜样。 All the local clergy attended the ceremony.当地所有的牧师出席了仪式。

11 inquiries
n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释，等候进一步调查。 I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

13 formerly
adv.从前，以前
参考例句：
We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。 This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

14 desuetude
n.废止，不用
参考例句：
Many words once commonly used have fallen into desuetude.许多过去曾通用的词，今天已经废弃不用了。 These words have fallen into desuetude.这些词如今已经不用了。

15 contemplating
深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想
参考例句：
You're too young to be contemplating retirement. 你考虑退休还太年轻。 She stood contemplating the painting. 她站在那儿凝视那幅图画。

16 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。

17 obdurate
adj.固执的，顽固的
参考例句：
He is obdurate in his convictions.他执着于自己所坚信的事。 He remained obdurate,refusing to alter his decision.他依然固执己见，拒不改变决定。

18 fixed
adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的
参考例句：
Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？ Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

19 jaunt
v.短程旅游；n.游览
参考例句：
They are off for a day's jaunt to the beach.他们出去到海边玩一天。 They jaunt about quite a lot,especially during the summer.他们常常到处闲逛，夏天更是如此。

20 lapsed
adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失
参考例句：
He had lapsed into unconsciousness. 他陷入了昏迷状态。 He soon lapsed into his previous bad habits. 他很快陷入以前的恶习中去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 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。

22 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。

23 strapping
adj. 魁伟的, 身材高大健壮的 n. 皮绳或皮带的材料, 裹伤胶带, 皮鞭 动词strap的现在分词形式
参考例句：
He's a strapping lad—already bigger than his father. 他是一个魁梧的小伙子——已经比他父亲高了。 He was a tall strapping boy. 他是一个高大健壮的小伙子。

24 privately
adv.以私人的身份，悄悄地，私下地
参考例句：
Some ministers admit privately that unemployment could continue to rise.一些部长私下承认失业率可能继续升高。 The man privately admits that his motive is profits.那人私下承认他的动机是为了牟利。

25 accomplished
adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的
参考例句：
Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。 Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

26 thither
adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的
参考例句：
He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。 He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

27 precisely
adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地
参考例句：
It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。 The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。

28 cultivation
n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成
参考例句：
The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。 The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

29 intrude
vi.闯入；侵入；打扰，侵扰
参考例句：
I do not want to intrude if you are busy.如果你忙我就不打扰你了。 I don't want to intrude on your meeting.我不想打扰你们的会议。

30 ERECTED
adj. 直立的，竖立的，笔直的 vt. 使 ... 直立，建立
参考例句：
A monument to him was erected in St Paul's Cathedral. 在圣保罗大教堂为他修了一座纪念碑。 A monument was erected to the memory of that great scientist. 树立了一块纪念碑纪念那位伟大的科学家。

31 specks
n.眼镜；斑点，微粒，污点( speck的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Minutes later Brown spotted two specks in the ocean. 几分钟后布朗发现海洋中有两个小点。 来自英汉非文学 - 百科语料821 Do you ever seem to see specks in front of your eyes? 你眼睛前面曾似乎看见过小点吗？ 来自辞典例句

32 descended
a.为...后裔的，出身于...的
参考例句：
A mood of melancholy descended on us. 一种悲伤的情绪袭上我们的心头。 The path descended the hill in a series of zigzags. 小路呈连续的之字形顺着山坡蜿蜒而下。

33 throbbed
抽痛( throb的过去式和过去分词 )； （心脏、脉搏等）跳动
参考例句：
His head throbbed painfully. 他的头一抽一跳地痛。 The pulse throbbed steadily. 脉搏跳得平稳。

34 repudiated
v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务）
参考例句：
All slanders and libels should be repudiated. 一切诬蔑不实之词，应予推倒。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The Prime Minister has repudiated racist remarks made by a member of the Conservative Party. 首相已经驳斥了一个保守党成员的种族主义言论。 来自辞典例句

35 impaired
adj.受损的；出毛病的；有（身体或智力）缺陷的v.损害，削弱( impair的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Much reading has impaired his vision. 大量读书损害了他的视力。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 His hearing is somewhat impaired. 他的听觉已受到一定程度的损害。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

36 functionaries
n.公职人员，官员( functionary的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The Indian transmitters were court functionaries, not missionaries. 印度文化的传递者都是朝廷的官员而不是传教士。 来自辞典例句 All government institutions functionaries must implement state laws, decrees and policies. 所有政府机关极其工作人员都必须认真执行国家的法律，法规和政策。 来自互联网

37 determined
adj.坚定的；有决心的
参考例句：
I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。 He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。