Lady Tressilian received Mr. Treves with evident pleasure.
He and she were soon deep in an agreeable flood of reminiscences and a recalling of mutual1 acquaintances.
At the end of half an hour Lady Tressilian gave a deep sigh of satisfaction.
"Ah," she said, "I've enjoyed myself! There's nothing like exchanging gossip and remembering old scandals.""A little malice," agreed Mr. Treves, "adds a certain savour to life.""By the way," said Lady Tressilian, "what do you dunk of our example of the eternal triangle?"Mr. Treves looked discreetly2 blank. "Er - what triangle?""Don't tell me you haven't noticed it! Nevile and his wives.""Oh, that! The present Mrs. Strange is a singularly attractive young woman.""So is Audrey," said Lady Tressilian.
Mr. Treves admitted : "She has charm - yes."Lady Tressilian exclaimed: "Do you mean to tell me you can understand a man leaving Audrey, who is a - a person of rare quality, for - for a Kay?"Mr. Treves replied calmly: "Perfectly4. It happens frequently.""Disgusting. I should soon grow tired of Kay if I were a man and wish I had never made such a fool of myself!""That also happens frequently. These sudden passionate5 infatuations," said Mr. Treves, looking very passionless and precise himself, "are seldom of long duration.""And then what happens?" demanded Lady Tressilian.
"Usually," said Mr. Treves, "the - er - parties adjust themselves. Quite often there is a second divorce. The man then marries a third party - someone of a sympathetic nature.""Nonsense! Nevile isn't a Mormon - whatever some of your clients may be!""The remarriage of the original parties occasionally takes place."Lady Tressilian shook her head.
"That, no! Audrey has too much pride."
"You think so?"
"I am sure of it. Do not shake your head in that aggravating6 fashion!""It has been my experience," said Mr. Treves, "that women possess little or no pride where love affairs are concerned. Pride is a quality often on -their lips, but not apparent in their actions.""You don't understand Audrey. She was violently in love with Nevile. Too much so, perhaps. After he left her for this girl (though I don't blame him entirely7 - the girl pursued him everywhere, and you know what men are!) she never wanted to see him again."Mr. Treves coughed gently. "And yet," he said, "she is here!""Oh, well," said Lady Tressilian, annoyed. "I don't profess8 to understand these modern ideas. I imagine that Audrey is here just to show that she doesn't care, and that it doesn't matter!""Very likely." Mr. Treves stroked his jaw9. "She can put it to herself that way, certainly.""You mean," said Lady Tressilian, "that you think she is still hankering after Nevile and that - oh, no! I won't believe such a thing!""It could be," said Mr. Treves.
"I won't have it," said Lady Tressilian. "I won't have it in my house.""You are already disturbed, are you not?" asked Mr. Treves shrewdly. "There is tension. I have felt it in the atmosphere.""So you feel it, too?" said Lady Tressilian sharply.
"Yes, I am puzzled, I must confess. The true feelings of the parties remain obscure, but, in my opinion, there is gunpowder10 about. The explosion may come any minute.""Stop talking like Guy Fawkes and tell me what to do," said Lady Tressilian. Mr. Treves held up his hands.
"Really, I am at a loss to know what to suggest. There is, I feel sure, a focal-point. If we could isolate11 that - but there is so much that remains12 obscure.""I have no intention of asking Audrey to leave," said Lady Tressilian. "As far as my observation goes, she has behaved perfectly in a very difficult situation. She has been courteous13, but aloof14. I consider her conduct irreproachable15.""Oh, quite," said Mr. Treves. "Quite. But it's having a most marked effect on young Nevile Strange, all the same.""Nevile," said Lady Tressilian, "is not behaving well. I shall speak to him about it. But I couldn't turn him out of the house for a moment. Matthew regarded him as practically his adopted son.""I know."
Lady Tressilian sighed. She said in a lowered voice: "You know that Matthew was drowned here?""Yes."
"So many people have been surprised at my remaining here. Stupid of them. I have always felt Matthew near to me here. The whole house is full of him. Ishould feel lonely and strange anywhere else." She paused and went on. "I hoped at first that it might not be very long before I joined him. Especially when my health began to fail. But it seems I am one of these creaking gates - these perpetual invalids16 who never die." She thumped17 her pillow angrily.
"It doesn't please me, I can tell you! I always hoped that when my time came, it would come quickly - that I should meet Death face to face - not feel him gradually creeping along behind me, always at my shoulder - gradually forcing me to sink to one indignity18 after another of illness. Increasing helplessness -increasing dependence19 on other people!""But very devoted20 people, I am sure. You have a faithful maid?""Barrett? The one who brought you up. The comfort of my life! A grim old battle-axe, absolutely devoted. She's been with me for years."'"And you are lucky, I should say, in having Miss Aldin." "You are right. I am lucky in having Mary." "She is a relation?""A distant cousin. One of those selfless creatures whose lives are continually being sacrificed to those of other people. She looked after her father - a clever man - but terribly exacting21. When he died I begged her to make her home with me, and I have blessed the day she came to me. You've no idea what horrors most companions are. Futile23, boring creatures. Driving one mad with their inanity24. They are companions because they are fit for nothing better. To have Mary, who is a well-read, intelligent woman, is marvellous. She has really a first-class brain - a man's brain. She has read widely and deeply and there is nothing she cannot discuss. And she is as clever domestically as she is intellectually. She runs the house perfectly and keeps the servants happy - she eliminates all quarrels and jealousies25 -I don't know how she does it - just tact26, I suppose.""She has been with you long?"
"Twelve years - no, more than that. Thirteen - fourteen - something like that. She has been a great comfort."Mr. Treves nodded.
Lady Tressilian, watching him through half-closed lids, said suddenly: "What's the matter? You're worried about something?""A trifle," said Mr. Treves. "A mere27 trifle. Your eyes are sharp.""I like studying people," said Lady Tressilian. "I always knew at once if there was anything on Matthew's mind." She sighed and leaned back on her pillows. "I must say good night to you now" - it was a Queen's dismissal, nothing discourteous28 about it - "I am very tired. But it has been a great, great pleasure. Come and see me again soon.""You may depend upon my taking advantage of those kind words. I only hope I have not talked too long.""Oh, no. I always tire very suddenly. Ring my bell for me, will you, before you go?"Mr. Treves pulled gingerly at a large old-fashioned bell-pull that ended in a huge tassel29.
"Quite a survival," he remarked.
"My bell? Yes. No newfangled electric bells for me. Half of the time they're out of order and you go on pressing away! This thing never fails. It rings in Barrett's room upstairs - the bell hangs over her bed. So there's never any delay in answering it. If there is I pull it again pretty quickly."As Mr. Treves went out of the room he heard the bell pulled a second time and heard the tinkle30 of it somewhere above his head. He looked up and noticed the wires that ran along the ceiling. Barrett came hurriedly down a flight of stairs and passed him, going to her mistress.
Mr. Treves went slowly downstairs, not troubling with the little lift on the downward journey. His face was drawn32 into a frown of uncertainty33.
He found the whole party assembled in the drawing-room, and Mary Aldin at once suggested bridge, but Mr. Treves refused politely on the plea that he must very shortly be starting for home.
"My hotel," he said, "is old-fashioned. They do not expect anyone to be out after midnight.""It's a long time from that - only half-past ten," said Nevile. "They don't lock you out, I hope?""Oh, no. In fact, I doubt if the door is locked at all at night. It is shut at nine o'clock, but one has only to turn the handle and walk in. People seem very haphazard34 down here, but I suppose they are justified35 in trusting to the honesty of the local people.""Certainly no one locks their door in the day-time here," said Mary. "Ours stands wide open all day long - but we do lock it up at night.""What's the Balmoral Court like?" asked Ted3 Latimer. "It looks a queer, high Victorian atrocity36 of a building.""It lives up to its name," said Mr. Treves. "And has good solid Victorian comfort. Good beds, good cooking - roomy Victorian wardrobes. Immense baths with mahogany surrounds.""Weren't you saying you were annoyed about something at first?" asked Mary.
"Ah, yes. I had carefully reserved by letter two rooms on the ground floor. I have a weak heart, you know, and stairs are forbidden me. When I arrived I was vexed37 to find the rooms were not available. Instead, I was allotted38 two rooms (very pleasant rooms, I must admit) on the top floor. I protested, but it seems that an old resident who had been going to Scotland this month was ill, and had been unable to vacate the rooms.""Mr. Lucan, I expect?" said Mary.
"I believe that is the name. Under the circumstances, I had to make the best of things. Fortunately, there is a good automatic lift - so that I have really suffered no inconvenience."Kay said: "Ted, why don't you come and stay at the Balmoral Court? You'd be much more accessible.""Oh, I don't think it looks my kind of place.""Quite right, Mr. Latimer," said Mr. Treves. "It would not be at all in your line of country."For some reason or other Ted Latimer flushed. "I don't know what you mean by that," he said.
Mary Aldin, sensing constraint39, hurriedly made a remark about a newspaper sensation of the moment.
"I see they've detained a man in the Kentish Town trunk case - " she said.
"It's the second man they've detained," said Nevile. "I hope they've got the right one this time.""They may not be able to hold him even if he is," said Mr. Treves.
"Insufficient evidence?" asked Royde.
"Yes," said Kay, "I suppose they always get the evidence in the end.""Not always, Mrs. Strange. You'd be surprised if you knew how many of the people who have committed crimes are walking about the country free and unmolested.""'Because they've never been found out, you mean?""Not that only. There is a man" - he mentioned a celebrated40 case of two years back - "the police know who committed those child murders - know it without a shadow of doubt - but they are powerless. That man has been given an alibi41 by two people, and though that alibi is false there is no proving it to be so. Therefore the murderer goes free.""How dreadful," said Mary.
Thomas Royde knocked out his pipe and said in his quiet reflective voice: "That confirms what I have always thought - that there are times when one is justified in taking the law into one's own hands.""What do you mean, Mr. Royde?"
Thomas began to refill his pipe. He looked thoughtfully down at his hands as he spoke43 in jerky, disconnected sentences.
"Suppose you knew - of a dirty piece of work - knew that the man who did it isn't accountable to existing laws - that he's immune from punishment. Then I hold -that one is justified in executing sentence oneself."Mr. Treves said warmly: "A most pernicious doctrine44, Mr. Royde! Such an action would be quite unjustifiable!"‘‘Don't see it. I'm assuming, you know, that the facts are proved - it's just that the law is powerless!""Private action is still not to be excused." Thomas smiled - a very gentle smile.
"I don't agree," he said. "If a man ought to have his neck wrung45, I wouldn't mind taking the responsibility of wringing46 it for him!""And in turn would render yourself liable to the law's penalties!"Still smiling, Thomas said: "I'd have to be careful, of course ... In fact, one would have to go in for a certain amount of low cunning ..."Audrey said in her clear voice: "You'd be found out, Thomas." "Matter of fact," said Thomas, "I don't think I should.""I knew a case once," began Mr. Treves, and stopped. He said apologetically: "Criminology is rather a hobby of mine, you know.""Please go on," said Kay.
"I have had a fairly wide experience of criminal cases," said Mr. Treves. "Only a few of them have held any real interest. Most murderers have been lamentably47 uninteresting and very short-sighted. However, I could tell you of one interesting example.""Oh, do," said Kay - "I like murders."
Mr. Treves spoke slowly, apparently48 choosing his words with great deliberation and care.
"The case concerned a child. I will not mention that child's age or sex. The facts were as follows: Two children were playing with bows and arrows. One child sent an arrow through the other child in a vital spot and death resulted. There was an inquest, the surviving child was completely distraught and the accident was commiserated49 and sympathy expressed for the unhappy author of the deed." He paused.
"Was that all?" asked Ted Latimer.
"That was all. A regrettable accident. But there is, you see, another side to the story. A farmer, some time previously50, happened to have passed up a certain path in a wood nearby. There, in a little clearing, be had noticed a child practising with a bow and arrow."He paused - to let his meaning sink in.
"You mean," said Mary Aldin incredulously, "that it was not an accident - that it was intentional51?""I don't know," said Mr. Treves. "I have never known. It was stated at the inquest that the children were unused to bows and arrows and in consequence shot wildly and ignorantly.""And that was not so?"
"That, in the case of one of the children, was certainly not so!" "What did the farmer do?" said Audrey breathlessly.
"He did nothing. Whether he acted rightly or not, I have never been sure. It was the future of a child that was at stake. A child, he felt, ought to be given the benefit of a doubt."Audrey said: "But you yourself have no doubt about what really happened?"Mr. Treves said gravely: "Personally, I am of opinion that it was a particularly ingenious murder - a murder committed by a child and planned down to every detail beforehand."Ted Latimer asked: "Was there a reason?"
"Oh, yes, there was a motive52. Childish teasings, unkind words - enough to foment53 hatred54. Children hate easily -"Mary exclaimed: "But the deliberation of it!" Mr. Treves nodded.
"Yes, the deliberation of it was bad. A child, keeping that murderous intention in its heart, quietly practising day after day and then the final piece of acting22, the awkward shooting - the catastrophe55, the pretence56 of grief and despair. It was all incredible - so incredible that probably it would not have been believed in court.""What happened to - to the child?" asked Kay curiously57. "Its name was changed, I believe," said Mr. Treves.
"After the publicity58 of the inquest that was deemed advisable. That child is a grown-up person to-day - somewhere in the world. The question is, has it still got a murderer's heart?"He added thoughtfully: "It is a long time ago, but I would recognise my little murderer anywhere.""Surely not," objected Royde.
"Oh, yes, there was a certain physical peculiarity59 - well, I will not dwell on the subject. It is not a very pleasant one. I must really be on my way home."He rose.
Mary said: "You will have a drink first?"The drinks were on a table at the other end of the room. Thomas Royde, who was near them, stepped forward and took the stopper out of the whisky decanter.
"A whisky and soda60, Mr. Treves? Latimer, what about you?"Nevile said to Audrey in a low voice: "It's a lovely evening. Come out for a little."She had been standing61 by the window looking out at the moonlit terrace. He stepped past her and stood outside, waiting. She turned back into the room, shaking her head quickly.
"No, I'm tired. I -I think I'll go to bed."She crossed the room and went out. Kay gave a wide yawn.
"I'm sleepy, too. What about you, Mary?"
"Yes, I think so. Good night, Mr. Treves. Look after Mr. Treves, Thomas.""Good night. Miss Aldin. Good night, Mrs. Strange.""We'll be over for lunch to-morrow, Ted," said Kay. "We could bathe if it's still like this.""Right. I'll be looking for you. Good night. Miss Aldin."The two women left the room.
Ted Latimer said agreeably to Mr. Treves: "I'm coming your way, sir. Down to the ferry, so I, pass the hotel.""Thank you, Mr. Latimer. I shall be glad of your escort."Mr. Treves, although he had declared his intention of departing, seemed in no hurry. He sipped62 his drink with pleasant deliberation and devoted himself to the task of extracting information from Thomas Royde as to the conditions of life in Malaya.
Royde was monosyllabic in his answers. The everyday details of existence might have been secrets of national importance from the difficulty with which they were dragged from him. He seemed to be lost in some abstraction of his own, out of which he roused himself with difficulty to reply to his questioner.
Ted Latimer fidgeted. He looked bored, impatient, anxious to be gone.
Suddenly interrupting, he exclaimed: "I nearly forgot. I brought Kay over some gramophone records she wanted. They're in the hall. I'll get them. Will you tell her about them to-morrow, Royde?"The other man nodded. Ted left the room.
"That young man has a restless nature," murmured Mr. Treves.
Royde grunted63 without replying.
"A friend, I think, of Mrs. Strange's?" pursued the old lawyer.
"Of Kay Strange's," said Thomas.
Mr. Treves smiled.
"Yes," he said. "I meant that. He would be a friend of the first Mrs. Strange."Royde said emphatically: "No, he wouldn't."Then, catching64 the other's quizzical eye, he said, flushing a little, "What I mean is"Oh, I quite understand what you meant, Mr. Royde. You yourself are a friend of Mrs. Audrey Strange, are you not?"Thomas Royde slowly filled his pipe from his tobacco pouch65. His eyes bent66 to his task, he said, or rather mumbled67: "M - yes. More or less brought up together.""She must have been a very charming young girl?"Thomas Royde said something that sounded like "Um - yum.""A little awkward having two Mrs. Stranges in the house?""Oh, yes - yes, rather."
"A difficult position for the original Mrs. Strange."Thomas Royde's face flushed.
"Extremely difficult."
Mr. Treves leaned forward. His question popped out sharply.
"Why did she come, Mr. Royde?"
"Well -I suppose -" the other's voice was indistinct "she - didn't like to refuse.""To refuse whom?"
Royde shifted awkwardly.
"Well, as a matter of fact, I believe she always comes this time of year -beginning of September.""And Lady Tressilian asked Nevile Strange and his new wife at the same time?" The old gentleman's voice held a nice note of polite incredulity.
"As to that, I believe Nevile asked himself.""He was anxious, then, for this - reunion?"Royde shifted uneasily. He replied, avoiding the other's eye: "I suppose so.""Curious," said Mr. Treves.
"Stupid sort of thing to do," said Thomas Royde, goaded68 into longer speech.
"Somewhat embarrassing, one would have thought," said Mr. Treves.
"Oh, well - people do that sort of thing nowadays," said Thomas Royde vaguely69.
"I wondered," said Mr. Treves, "if it had been anybody else's idea?"Royde stared. "Who else's could it have been?"Mr. Treves sighed.
"There are so many kind friends about in the world - always anxious to arrange other people's lives for them - to suggest courses of action that are not in harmony - " He broke off as Nevile Strange strolled back through the French windows. At the same moment Ted Latimer entered by the door from the hall.
"Hullo, Ted, what have you got there?" asked Nevile. "Gramophone records for Kay. She asked me to bring them over.""Oh, did she? She didn't tell me." There was just a moment of constraint between the two, then Nevile strolled over to the drink tray and helped himself to a whisky and soda. His face looked excited and unhappy and he was breathing deeply.
Someone in Mr. Treves' hearing had referred to Nevile as "that lucky beggar Strange - got everything in the world anyone could wish for." Yet he did not look, at this moment, at all a happy man.
Thomas Royde, with Nevile's re-entry, seemed to feel that his duties as host were over. He left the room without attempting to say good night, and his walk was slightly more hurried than usual. It was almost an escape.
"A delightful70 evening," said Mr. Treves politely as he set down his glass. "Most -er - instructive.""Instructive?" Nevile raised his eyebrows71 slightly.
"Information re the Malay States," suggested Ted, smiling broadly. "Hard work dragging answers out of Taciturn Thomas.""Extraordinary fellow, Royde," said Nevile. "I believe he's always been the same. Just smokes that awful old pipe of his and listens and says 'Um' and 'Ah' occasionally and looks wise like an owl31.""Perhaps he thinks the more," said Mr. Treves. "And now I really must take my leave.""Come and see Lady Tressilian again soon," said Nevile as he accompanied the two men to the hall. "You cheer her up enormously. She has so few contacts now with the outside world. She's wonderful, isn't she?""Yes, indeed. A most stimulating72 conversationalist."Mr. Treves dressed himself carefully with overcoat and muffler, and after renewed good nights he and Ted Latimer set out together.
The Balmoral Court was actually only about a hundred yards away, around one curve of the road. It loomed73 up grim and forbidding, the first outpost of the straggling country street.
The ferry, where Ted Latimer was bound, was two or three hundred yards farther down, at a point where the river was at its narrowest.
Mr. Treves stopped at the door of the Balmoral Court and held out his hand. "Good night, Mr. Latimer. You are staying down here much longer?"Ted smiled with a flash of white teeth. "That depends, Mr. Treves. I haven't had time to be bored - yet.""No - no, so I should imagine. I suppose, like most young people nowadays, boredom74 is what you dread42 most in the world, and yet, I can assure you, there are worse things.""Such as?"
Ted Latimer's voice was soft and pleasant, but it held an undercurrent of something else - something not quite so easy to define.
"Oh, I leave it to your imagination, Mr. Latimer. I would not presume to give you advice, you know. The advice of such elderly fogeys as myself is invariably treated with scorn. Rightly so, perhaps, who knows? But we old buffers75 like to think that experience has taught us something. We have noticed a good deal, you know, in the course of a lifetime."A cloud, had come over the face of the moon. The street was very dark. Out of the darkness a man's figure came towards them walking up the hill.
It was Thomas Royde.
"Just been down to the ferry for a bit of a walk," he said indistinctly because of the pipe clenched76 between his teeth.
"This your pub?" he asked Mr. Treves. "Looks as though you were locked out.""Oh, I don't think so," said Mr. Treves.
He turned the big brass77 door-knob and the door swung back.
"We'll see you safely in," said Royde.
The three of them entered the hall. It was dimly lit with only one electric light. There was no one to be seen, and an odour of bygone dinner, rather dusty velvet78, and good furniture met their nostrils79.
Suddenly Mr. Treves gave an exclamation80 of annoyance81. On the lift in front of them was a notice: LIFT OUT OF ORDER"Dear me," said Mr. Treves. "How extremely vexing82! I shall have to walk up all those stairs.""Too bad," said Royde. "Isn't there a service lift - luggage - all that?""I'm afraid not. This one is used for all purposes. Well, I must take it slowly, that is all. Good night to you both."He started slowly up the wide staircase. Royde and Latimer wished him good night, then let themselves out into the dark street.
There was a moment's pause, then Royde said abruptly83: "Well, good night.""Good night. See you to-morrow."
"Yes."
Ted Latimer strode lightly down the hill towards the ferry. Thomas Royde stood looking after him for a moment, then he walked slowly in the opposite direction towards Gull's Point.
The moon came out from behind the cloud and Saltcreek was once more bathed in silvery radiance.
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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discreetly
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| ad.(言行)审慎地，慎重地 | |
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ted
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| vt.翻晒，撒，撒开 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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aggravating
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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gunpowder
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| n.火药 | |
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isolate
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| vt.使孤立，隔离 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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aloof
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| adj.远离的；冷淡的，漠不关心的 | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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indignity
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| n.侮辱，伤害尊严，轻蔑 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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devoted
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exacting
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acting
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futile
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inanity
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jealousies
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tact
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mere
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discourteous
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tassel
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| n.流苏，穗；v.抽穗， （玉米）长穗须 | |
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tinkle
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owl
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drawn
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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atrocity
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| n.残暴，暴行 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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alibi
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| n.某人当时不在犯罪现场的申辩或证明；借口 | |
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dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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spoke
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| 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 | |
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doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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wrung
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| 绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 )； 握紧（尤指别人的手）； 把（湿衣服）拧干； 绞掉（水） | |
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wringing
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| 淋湿的，湿透的 | |
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lamentably
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| adv.哀伤地，拙劣地 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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commiserated
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| v.怜悯，同情( commiserate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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intentional
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| adj.故意的，有意（识）的 | |
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motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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foment
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| v.煽动，助长 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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catastrophe
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| n.大灾难，大祸 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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publicity
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| n.众所周知，闻名；宣传，广告 | |
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peculiarity
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| n.独特性，特色；特殊的东西；怪癖 | |
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soda
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| n.苏打水；汽水 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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sipped
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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pouch
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| n.小袋，小包，囊状袋；vt.装...入袋中，用袋运输；vi.用袋送信件 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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mumbled
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| 含糊地说某事，叽咕，咕哝( mumble的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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goaded
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| v.刺激( goad的过去式和过去分词 )；激励；（用尖棒）驱赶；驱使（或怂恿、刺激）某人 | |
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vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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stimulating
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| adj.有启发性的，能激发人思考的 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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boredom
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| n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊 | |
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buffers
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| 起缓冲作用的人（或物）( buffer的名词复数 )； 缓冲器； 减震器； 愚蠢老头 | |
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clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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nostrils
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| 鼻孔( nostril的名词复数 ) | |
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exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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annoyance
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| n.恼怒，生气，烦恼 | |
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82
vexing
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| adj.使人烦恼的，使人恼火的v.使烦恼( vex的现在分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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