The Monday was devoted¹ to hunting. I am not at all sure that riding about the country with a pack of hounds is an amusement specially² compatible with that assured love entertainment which was now within the reach of Ayala and her Angel. For the rudiments³ of love-making, for little endearing attentions, for a few sweet words to be whispered with shortened breath as one horse gallops⁴ beside another, perhaps for a lengthened⁵ half hour together, amidst the mazes⁶ of a large wood when opportunities are no doubt given for private conversation, hunting may be very well. But for two persons who are engaged, with the mutual⁷ consent of all their friends, a comfortable sofa is perhaps preferable. Ayala had heard as yet but very little of her lover’s intentions — was acquainted only with that one single intention which he had declared in asking her to be his wife. There were a thousand things to be told — the how, the where, and the when. She knew hitherto the why, and that was all. Nothing could be told her while she was galloping⁸ about a big wood on Croppy’s back. “I am delighted to see you again in these parts, Miss,” said Larry Twentyman, suddenly.

“Oh, Mr Twentyman; how is the baby?”

“The baby is quite well, Miss. His mamma has been out ever so many times.”

“I ought to have asked for her first. Does baby come out too?”

“Not quite. But when the hounds are near mamma comes for an hour or so. We have had a wonderful season — quite wonderful. You have heard, perhaps, of our great run from Dillsborough Wood. We found him there, close to my place, you know, and run him down in the Brake country after an hour and forty minutes. There were only five or six of them. You’d have been one, Miss, to a moral, if you’d have been here on the

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1 devoted
adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的
参考例句：
He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。 We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。

2 specially
adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地
参考例句：
They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。 The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

3 rudiments
n.基础知识，入门
参考例句：
He has just learned the rudiments of Chinese. 他学汉语刚刚入门。 You do not seem to know the first rudiments of agriculture. 你似乎连农业上的一点最起码的常识也没有。

4 gallops
（马等）奔驰，骑马奔驰( gallop的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Let me turn the beautiful steed, gallops with you in the horizon. 让我变成美丽的骏马，和你驰骋在天涯。 When Tao gallops through and Yang, all things come into and thrive. 当道驰骋在阴阳之中时，则万物生焉，万物兴焉。

5 lengthened
（时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。 He wanted to have his coat lengthened a bit. 他要把上衣放长一些。

6 mazes
迷宫( maze的名词复数 )； 纷繁复杂的规则； 复杂难懂的细节； 迷宫图
参考例句：
The mazes of the dance were ecstatic. 跳舞那种错综曲折，叫人快乐得如登九天。 For two hours did this singlehearted and simpleminded girl toil through the mazes of the forest. 这位心地单纯的傻姑娘在林间曲径中艰难地走了两个来小时。

7 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

8 galloping
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。 Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

9 pony
adj.小型的；n.小马
参考例句：
His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present.他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。 They made him pony up the money he owed.他们逼他还债。

10 bliss
n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福
参考例句：
It's sheer bliss to be able to spend the day in bed.整天都可以躺在床上真是幸福。 He's in bliss that he's won the Nobel Prize.他非常高兴，因为获得了诺贝尔奖金。

11 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
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

12 narrative
n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的
参考例句：
He was a writer of great narrative power.他是一位颇有记述能力的作家。 Neither author was very strong on narrative.两个作者都不是很善于讲故事。

13 killing
n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财
参考例句：
Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。 Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

14 harry
vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼
参考例句：
Today,people feel more hurried and harried.今天，人们感到更加忙碌和苦恼。 Obama harried business by Healthcare Reform plan.奥巴马用医改掠夺了商界。

15 assented
同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。 "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！

16 trudged
vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
He trudged the last two miles to the town. 他步履艰难地走完最后两英里到了城里。 He trudged wearily along the path. 他沿着小路疲惫地走去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 perturbed
adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
I am deeply perturbed by the alarming way the situation developing. 我对形势令人忧虑的发展深感不安。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Mother was much perturbed by my illness. 母亲为我的病甚感烦恼不安。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

18 knight
n.骑士，武士；爵士
参考例句：
He was made an honourary knight.他被授予荣誉爵士称号。 A knight rode on his richly caparisoned steed.一个骑士骑在装饰华丽的马上。

19 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

20 acceded
v.（正式）加入( accede的过去式和过去分词 )；答应；（通过财产的添附而）增加；开始任职
参考例句：
He acceded to demands for his resignation. 他同意要他辞职的要求。 They have acceded to the treaty. 他们已经加入了那个条约。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 miserable
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。 Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

22 overflowing
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。 The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。

23 proceeding
n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报
参考例句：
This train is now proceeding from Paris to London.这次列车从巴黎开往伦敦。 The work is proceeding briskly.工作很有生气地进展着。

24 stark
adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地
参考例句：
The young man is faced with a stark choice.这位年轻人面临严峻的抉择。 He gave a stark denial to the rumor.他对谣言加以完全的否认。

25 perverse
adj.刚愎的；坚持错误的，行为反常的
参考例句：
It would be perverse to stop this healthy trend.阻止这种健康发展的趋势是没有道理的。 She gets a perverse satisfaction from making other people embarrassed.她有一种不正常的心态，以使别人难堪来取乐。

26 liberated
a.无拘束的，放纵的
参考例句：
The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。 The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。

27 descend
vt./vi.传下来，下来，下降
参考例句：
I hope the grace of God would descend on me.我期望上帝的恩惠。 We're not going to descend to such methods.我们不会沦落到使用这种手段。

28 sitting-room
n.（BrE）客厅，起居室
参考例句：
The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。 Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

29 peculiar
adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的
参考例句：
He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。 He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。

30 displeased
a.不快的
参考例句：
The old man was displeased and darted an angry look at me. 老人不高兴了，瞪了我一眼。 He was displeased about the whole affair. 他对整个事情感到很不高兴。

31 attachment
n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附
参考例句：
She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。 She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

32 outraged
a.震惊的，义愤填膺的
参考例句：
Members of Parliament were outraged by the news of the assassination. 议会议员们被这暗杀的消息激怒了。 He was outraged by their behavior. 他们的行为使他感到愤慨。

33 inflicted
把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
They inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team. 他们使主队吃了一场很没面子的败仗。 Zoya heroically bore the torture that the Fascists inflicted upon her. 卓娅英勇地承受法西斯匪徒加在她身上的酷刑。