Clara Amedroz had made one great mistake about her cousin, Will Belton, when she came to the conclusion that she might accept his proffered¹ friendship without any apprehension² that the friend would become a lover; and she made another, equally great, when she convinced herself that his love had been as short-lived as it had been eager. Throughout his journey back to Plaistow, he bad thought of nothing else but his love, and had resolved to persevere³, telling himself sometimes that he might perhaps be successful, and feeling sure at other times that he would encounter renewed sorrow and permanent disappointment but equally resolved in either mood that he would persevere. Not to persevere in pursuit of any desired object let the object be what it might was, to his thinking, unmanly, weak, and destructive of self-respect. He would sometimes say of himself, joking with other men, that if he did not succeed in this or that thing, he could never speak to himself again. To no man did he talk of his love in such a strain as this; but there was a woman to whom he spoke⁴ of it; and though he could not joke on such a matter, the purport⁵ of what he said showed the same feeling. To be finally rejected, and to put up with such rejection⁶, would make him almost contemptible⁷ in his own eyes.

This woman was his sister, Mary Belton. Something has been already said of this lady, which the reader may perhaps remember. She was a year or two older than her brother, with whom she always lived, but she had none of those properties of youth which belonged to him in such abundance. She was, indeed, a poor cripple, unable to walk beyond the limits of her own garden, feeble in health, dwarfed⁸ in stature⁹, robbed of all the ordinary

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1 proffered
v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句

2 apprehension
n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑
参考例句：
There were still areas of doubt and her apprehension grew.有些地方仍然存疑，于是她越来越担心。 She is a girl of weak apprehension.她是一个理解力很差的女孩。

3 persevere
v.坚持，坚忍，不屈不挠
参考例句：
They are determined to persevere in the fight.他们决心坚持战斗。 It is strength of character enabled him to persevere.他那坚强的性格使他能够坚持不懈。

4 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。

5 purport
n.意义，要旨，大要；v.意味著，做为...要旨，要领是...
参考例句：
Many theories purport to explain growth in terms of a single cause.许多理论都标榜以单一的原因解释生长。 Her letter may purport her forthcoming arrival.她的来信可能意味着她快要到了。

6 rejection
n.拒绝，被拒，抛弃，被弃
参考例句：
He decided not to approach her for fear of rejection.他因怕遭拒绝决定不再去找她。 The rejection plunged her into the dark depths of despair.遭到拒绝使她陷入了绝望的深渊。

7 contemptible
adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的
参考例句：
His personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible.他气貌不扬，言语粗俗。 That was a contemptible trick to play on a friend.那是对朋友玩弄的一出可鄙的把戏。

8 dwarfed
vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
The old houses were dwarfed by the huge new tower blocks. 这些旧房子在新建的高楼大厦的映衬下显得十分矮小。 The elephant dwarfed the tortoise. 那只乌龟跟那头象相比就显得很小。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 stature
n.（高度）水平，（高度）境界，身高，身材
参考例句：
He is five feet five inches in stature.他身高5英尺5英寸。 The dress models are tall of stature.时装模特儿的身材都较高。

10 enjoyments
愉快( enjoyment的名词复数 )； 令人愉快的事物； 享有； 享受
参考例句：
He is fond of worldly enjoyments. 他喜爱世俗的享乐。 The humanities and amenities of life had no attraction for him--its peaceful enjoyments no charm. 对他来说，生活中的人情和乐趣并没有吸引力——生活中的恬静的享受也没有魅力。

11 marvel
vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事
参考例句：
The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。 The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

12 curiously
adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地
参考例句：
He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。 He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

13 veneration
n.尊敬，崇拜
参考例句：
I acquired lasting respect for tradition and veneration for the past.我开始对传统和历史产生了持久的敬慕。 My father venerated General Eisenhower.我父亲十分敬仰艾森豪威尔将军。

14 embargo
n.禁运（令）；vt.对...实行禁运，禁止（通商）
参考例句：
This country put an oil embargo on an enemy country.该国对敌国实行石油禁运。 During the war,they laid an embargo on commerce with enemy countries.在战争期间，他们禁止与敌国通商。

15 implicit
a.暗示的，含蓄的，不明晰的，绝对的
参考例句：
A soldier must give implicit obedience to his officers. 士兵必须绝对服从他的长官。 Her silence gave implicit consent. 她的沉默表示默许。

16 mansion
n.大厦，大楼；宅第
参考例句：
The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。 The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。

17 countless
adj.无数的，多得不计其数的
参考例句：
In the war countless innocent people lost their lives.在这场战争中无数无辜的人丧失了性命。 I've told you countless times.我已经告诉你无数遍了。

18 picturesque
adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的
参考例句：
You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。 That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。

19 justified
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。 The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

20 longing
n.（for）渴望
参考例句：
Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。 His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。

21 vestige
n.痕迹，遗迹，残余
参考例句：
Some upright stones in wild places are the vestige of ancient religions.荒原上一些直立的石块是古老宗教的遗迹。 Every vestige has been swept away.一切痕迹都被一扫而光。

22 repugnance
n.嫌恶
参考例句：
He fought down a feelings of repugnance.他抑制住了厌恶感。 She had a repugnance to the person with whom she spoke.她看不惯这个和她谈话的人。

23 feigned
a.假装的，不真诚的
参考例句：
He feigned indifference to criticism of his work. 他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。 He accepted the invitation with feigned enthusiasm. 他假装热情地接受了邀请。

24 unwilling
adj.不情愿的
参考例句：
The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。 His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

25 graphic
adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的
参考例句：
The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。 Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

26 arid
adj.干旱的；(土地)贫瘠的
参考例句：
These trees will shield off arid winds and protect the fields.这些树能挡住旱风,保护农田。 There are serious problems of land degradation in some arid zones.在一些干旱地带存在严重的土地退化问题。

27 pretence
n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰
参考例句：
The government abandoned any pretence of reform. 政府不再装模作样地进行改革。 He made a pretence of being happy at the party.晚会上他假装很高兴。

28 watchfulness
警惕，留心； 警觉（性）
参考例句：
The escort and the universal watchfulness had completely isolated him. 护送和普遍一致的监视曾经使他完全孤立。 A due watchfulness on the movements of the enemy was maintained. 他们对敌人的行动还是相当警惕的。

29 covetousness
参考例句：
As covetousness is the root of all evil, so poverty is the worst of all snares. 正如贪婪是万恶之源一样，贫穷是最坏的陷阱。 来自辞典例句 Poverty want many thing, but covetousness all. 贫穷可满足；欲望却难填。 来自互联网

30 coveted
adj.令人垂涎的；垂涎的，梦寐以求的v.贪求，觊觎(covet的过去分词)；垂涎；贪图
参考例句：
He had long coveted the chance to work with a famous musician. 他一直渴望有机会与著名音乐家一起工作。 Ther other boys coveted his new bat. 其他的男孩都想得到他的新球棒。 来自《简明英汉词典》

31 misery
n.痛苦，苦恼，苦难；悲惨的境遇，贫苦
参考例句：
Business depression usually causes misery among the working class.商业不景气常使工薪阶层受苦。 He has rescued me from the mire of misery.他把我从苦海里救了出来。

32 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。

33 hearth
n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面
参考例句：
She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来，在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。 She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里，打开电灯。

34 lighting
n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光
参考例句：
The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。 The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

35 vehemence
n.热切；激烈；愤怒
参考例句：
The attack increased in vehemence.进攻越来越猛烈。 She was astonished at his vehemence.她对他的激昂感到惊讶。

36 odious
adj.可憎的，讨厌的
参考例句：
The judge described the crime as odious.法官称这一罪行令人发指。 His character could best be described as odious.他的人格用可憎来形容最贴切。

37 softened
（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰
参考例句：
His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。 The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

38 motives
n.动机，目的( motive的名词复数 )
参考例句：
to impeach sb's motives 怀疑某人的动机 His motives are unclear. 他的用意不明。

39 reapers
n.收割者，收获者( reaper的名词复数 )；收割机
参考例句：
Ripe white wheat reapers reap ripe white wheat right. 成熟的白色小麦收割者最懂得收获成熟的白色小麦。 来自互联网 A pair of reapers help fend off the attack. 几个收割者辅助攻击这些小狗。 来自互联网

40 abstain
v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免
参考例句：
His doctor ordered him to abstain from beer and wine.他的医生嘱咐他戒酒。 Three Conservative MPs abstained in the vote.三位保守党下院议员投了弃权票。

41 indifference
n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎
参考例句：
I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。 He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。

42 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。

43 pry
vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起)
参考例句：
He's always ready to pry into other people's business.他总爱探听别人的事。 We use an iron bar to pry open the box.我们用铁棍撬开箱子。

44 tempted
v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）
参考例句：
I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。 I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

45 sluice
n.水闸
参考例句：
We opened the sluice and the water poured in.我们打开闸门，水就涌了进来。 They regulate the flow of water by the sluice gate.他们用水闸门控制水的流量。

46 hack
n.劈，砍，出租马车；v.劈，砍，干咳
参考例句：
He made a hack at the log.他朝圆木上砍了一下。 Early settlers had to hack out a clearing in the forest where they could grow crops.早期移民不得不在森林里劈出空地种庄稼。

47 broiling
adj.酷热的，炽热的，似烧的v.（用火）烤（焙、炙等）( broil的现在分词 )；使卷入争吵；使混乱；被烤（或炙）
参考例句：
They lay broiling in the sun. 他们躺在太阳底下几乎要晒熟了。 I'm broiling in this hot sun. 在太阳底下，我感到热极了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

48 perfectly
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。 Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。

49 dike
n.堤，沟；v.开沟排水
参考例句：
They dug a dike along walls of the school.他们沿校墙挖沟。 Fortunately,the flood did not break the dike.还好，这场大水没有把堤坝冲坏。

50 persevered
v.坚忍，坚持( persevere的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She persevered with her violin lessons. 她孜孜不倦地学习小提琴。 Hard as the conditions were, he persevered in his studies. 虽然条件艰苦，但他仍坚持学习。 来自辞典例句

51 draught
n.拉，牵引，拖；一网（饮，吸，阵)；顿服药量，通风；v.起草，设计
参考例句：
He emptied his glass at one draught.他将杯中物一饮而尽。 It's a pity the room has no north window and you don't get a draught.可惜这房间没北窗，没有过堂风。

52 milestone
n.里程碑；划时代的事件
参考例句：
The film proved to be a milestone in the history of cinema.事实证明这部影片是电影史上的一个里程碑。 I think this is a very important milestone in the relations between our two countries.我认为这是我们两国关系中一个十分重要的里程碑。

53 backwards
adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地
参考例句：
He turned on the light and began to pace backwards and forwards.他打开电灯并开始走来走去。 All the girls fell over backwards to get the party ready.姑娘们迫不及待地为聚会做准备。

54 plunge
v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲
参考例句：
Test pool's water temperature before you plunge in.在你跳入之前你应该测试水温。 That would plunge them in the broil of the two countries.那将会使他们陷入这两国的争斗之中。

55 brute
n.野兽，兽性
参考例句：
The aggressor troops are not many degrees removed from the brute.侵略军简直象一群野兽。 That dog is a dangerous brute.It bites people.那条狗是危险的畜牲，它咬人。

56 contingency
n.意外事件，可能性
参考例句：
We should be prepared for any contingency.我们应该对任何应急情况有所准备。 A fire in our warehouse was a contingency that we had not expected.库房的一场大火是我们始料未及的。

57 postscript
n.附言，又及；(正文后的)补充说明
参考例句：
There was the usual romantic postscript at the end of his letter.他的信末又是一贯的浪漫附言。 She mentioned in a postscript to her letter that the parcel had arrived.她在信末附笔中说包裹已寄到。