The Battery and the Boiler
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Chapter Eleven.

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 Home!
 
“At last!” exclaimed Robin1, bursting into his old home and seizing his mother in his arms.
 
Robin had just returned home after the laying of the 1866 Atlantic Cable, as briefly2 narrated3 in the last chapter.
 
It may be said with some truth that the old home became, during the next few days, a private lunatic asylum4, for its inmates5 went mildly mad with joy.
 
Chief among the lunatics was uncle Rik, the retired6 sea-captain. That madman’s case, however, was not temporary derangement7, like the others’. It was confirmed insanity8, somewhat intensified9 just then by the nephew’s return.
 
“So, young man,” he said, one evening at supper, when the family traveller was dilating10 to open-eyed-and-mouthed listeners, “you actually believe that these cables are goin’ to work?”
 
“Of course I do, uncle. They are working now, and have been working for many years.”
 
“Well, now, the gullibility11 o’ some people is stupendous!” returned Rik. “Don’t you know, Robin, that everything a’most works for a time, and then, sooner or later—usually sooner—the ridiculous thing bursts up?”
 

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1 robin Oj7zme     
n.知更鸟，红襟鸟
参考例句：
  • The robin is the messenger of spring.知更鸟是报春的使者。
  • We knew spring was coming as we had seen a robin.我们看见了一只知更鸟，知道春天要到了。
2 briefly 9Styo     
adv.简单地，简短地
参考例句：
  • I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
  • He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
3 narrated 41d1c5fe7dace3e43c38e40bfeb85fe5     
v.故事( narrate的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Some of the story was narrated in the film. 该电影叙述了这个故事的部分情节。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Defoe skilfully narrated the adventures of Robinson Crusoe on his desert island. 笛福生动地叙述了鲁滨逊·克鲁索在荒岛上的冒险故事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
4 asylum DobyD     
n.避难所，庇护所，避难
参考例句：
  • The people ask for political asylum.人们请求政治避难。
  • Having sought asylum in the West for many years,they were eventually granted it.他们最终获得了在西方寻求多年的避难权。
5 inmates 9f4380ba14152f3e12fbdf1595415606     
n.囚犯( inmate的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • One of the inmates has escaped. 被收容的人中有一个逃跑了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The inmates were moved to an undisclosed location. 监狱里的囚犯被转移到一个秘密处所。 来自《简明英汉词典》
6 retired Njhzyv     
adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的
参考例句：
  • The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
  • Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
7 derangement jwJxG     
n.精神错乱
参考例句：
  • She began to think he was in mental derangement. 她开始想这个人一定是精神错乱了。
  • Such a permutation is called a derangement. 这样的一个排列称为错位排列。
8 insanity H6xxf     
n.疯狂，精神错乱；极端的愚蠢，荒唐
参考例句：
  • In his defense he alleged temporary insanity.他伪称一时精神错乱，为自己辩解。
  • He remained in his cell,and this visit only increased the belief in his insanity.他依旧还是住在他的地牢里，这次视察只是更加使人相信他是个疯子了。
9 intensified 4b3b31dab91d010ec3f02bff8b189d1a     
v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
  • The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 dilating 650b63aa5fe0e80f6e53759e79ee96ff     
v.（使某物）扩大，膨胀，张大( dilate的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • Compliance is the dilating extent of elastic tissue below pressure. 顺应性是指外力作用下弹性组织的可扩张性。 来自互联网
  • For dilating the bearing life, bearing should keep lubricative well. 为延长轴承寿命，轴承应保持良好的润滑状态。 来自互联网
11 gullibility d0ef503e836c9633589c46a405bee9ec     
n.易受骗，易上当，轻信
参考例句：
  • Gullibility: Measure of speed of paper adhesive bonding and its strength. 胶粘性能：胶粘剂对纸品的粘合速度和强度的能力。 来自互联网
  • Open-mindedness can often be treated as gullibility and therefore as a tool to manipulate people's beliefs. 思想开明容易像轻信一样被对待，因此会被用作一种操纵人们观念的工具。 来自互联网
12 suspense 9rJw3     
n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑
参考例句：
  • The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
  • The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
13 prospect P01zn     
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
14 stammered 76088bc9384c91d5745fd550a9d81721     
v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠，结结巴巴地说，“你是什么意思？” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
15 loathsome Vx5yX     
adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的
参考例句：
  • The witch hid her loathsome face with her hands.巫婆用手掩住她那张令人恶心的脸。
  • Some people think that snakes are loathsome creatures.有些人觉得蛇是令人憎恶的动物。
16 reptile xBiz7     
n.爬行动物；两栖动物
参考例句：
  • The frog is not a true reptile.青蛙并非真正的爬行动物。
  • So you should not be surprised to see someone keep a reptile as a pet.所以，你不必惊奇有人养了一只爬行动物作为宠物。
17 viands viands     
n.食品，食物
参考例句：
  • Greek slaves supplied them with exquisite viands at the slightest nod.只要他们轻轻点点头希腊奴隶就会供奉给他们精美的食品。
  • The family sat down to table,and a frugal meal of cold viands was deposited beforethem.一家老少，都围着桌子坐下，几样简单的冷食，摆在他们面前。
18 zest vMizT     
n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣
参考例句：
  • He dived into his new job with great zest.他充满热情地投入了新的工作。
  • He wrote his novel about his trip to Asia with zest.他兴趣浓厚的写了一本关于他亚洲之行的小说。
19 blessing UxDztJ     
n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿
参考例句：
  • The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
  • A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
20 oyster w44z6     
n.牡蛎；沉默寡言的人
参考例句：
  • I enjoy eating oyster; it's really delicious.我喜欢吃牡蛎，它味道真美。
  • I find I fairly like eating when he finally persuades me to taste the oyster.当他最后说服我尝尝牡蛎时，我发现我相当喜欢吃。
21 conscientious mYmzr     
adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的
参考例句：
  • He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
  • He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。
22 wrench FMvzF     
v.猛拧；挣脱；使扭伤；n.扳手；痛苦，难受
参考例句：
  • He gave a wrench to his ankle when he jumped down.他跳下去的时候扭伤了足踝。
  • It was a wrench to leave the old home.离开这个老家非常痛苦。
23 gratis yfWxJ     
adj.免费的
参考例句：
  • David gives the first consultation gratis.戴维免费提供初次咨询。
  • The service was gratis to graduates.这项服务对毕业生是免费的。
24 strings nh0zBe     
n.弦
参考例句：
  • He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上，随意地拨着吉他的弦。
  • She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
25 blandly f411bffb7a3b98af8224e543d5078eb9     
adv.温和地，殷勤地
参考例句：
  • There is a class of men in Bristol monstrously prejudiced against Blandly. 布里斯托尔有那么一帮人为此恨透了布兰德利。 来自英汉文学 - 金银岛
  • \"Maybe you could get something in the stage line?\" he blandly suggested. “也许你能在戏剧这一行里找些事做，\"他和蔼地提议道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
26 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
（使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制
参考例句：
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
27 prophesying bbadbfaf04e1e9235da3433ed9881b86     
v.预告，预言( prophesy的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 凡男人祷告或是讲道（道或作说预言下同）若蒙着头，就是羞辱自己的头。 来自互联网
  • Prophesying was the only human art that couldn't be improved by practice. 预言是唯一的一项无法经由练习而改善的人类技术。 来自互联网
28 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫，踌躇
参考例句：
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天，他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
29 remains 1kMzTy     
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
  • He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
  • The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

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