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I.
One confidential2 evening, not three months ago, Lionel Wallace told me this story of the Door in the Wall. And at the time I thought that so far as he was concerned it was a true story.
He told it me with such a direct simplicity3 of conviction that I could not do otherwise than believe in him. But in the morning, in my own flat, I woke to a different atmosphere, and as I lay in bed and recalled the things he had told me, stripped of the glamour4 of his earnest slow voice, denuded5 of the focussed, shaded table light, the shadowy atmosphere that wrapped about him and me, and the pleasant bright things, the dessert and glasses and napery of the dinner we had shared, making them for the time a bright little world quite cut off from everyday realities, I saw it all as frankly6 incredible. “He was mystifying!” I said, and then: “How well he did it! . . . It isn’t quite the thing I should have expected him, of all people, to do well.”
Afterwards as I sat up in bed and sipped7 my morning tea, I found myself trying to account for the flavour of reality that perplexed8 me in his impossible reminiscences, by supposing they did in some way suggest, present, convey — I hardly know which word to use — experiences it was otherwise impossible to tell.
Well, I don’t resort to that explanation now. I have got over my intervening doubts. I believe now, as I believed at the moment of telling, that Wallace did to the very best of his ability strip the truth of his secret for me. But whether he himself saw, or only thought he saw, whether he himself was the possessor of an inestimable privilege or the victim of a fantastic dream, I cannot pretend to guess. Even the facts of his death, which ended my doubts for ever, throw no light on that.
That much the reader must judge for himself.
I forget now what chance comment or criticism of mine moved so
收听单词发音
1
confide
v.向某人吐露秘密
2
confidential
adj.秘(机)密的,表示信任的,担任机密工作的
3
simplicity
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯
4
glamour
n.魔力,魅力;vt.迷住
5
denuded
adj.[医]变光的,裸露的v.使赤裸( denude的过去式和过去分词 );剥光覆盖物
6
frankly
adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说
7
sipped
v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的过去式和过去分词 )
8
perplexed
adj.不知所措的
9
reticent
adj.沉默寡言的;言不如意的
10
imputation
n.归罪,责难
11
pointed
adj.尖的,直截了当的
12
plunged
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降
13
negligent
adj.疏忽的;玩忽的;粗心大意的
14
apparitions
n.特异景象( apparition的名词复数 );幽灵;鬼;(特异景象等的)出现
15
longings
渴望,盼望( longing的名词复数 )
16
irrelevant
adj.不恰当的,无关系的,不相干的
17
intensified
v.(使)增强, (使)加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )
18
contrive
vt.谋划,策划;设法做到;设计,想出
19
immortal
adj.不朽的;永生的,不死的;神的
20
confession
n.自白,供认,承认
21
crimson
n./adj.深(绯)红色(的);vi.脸变绯红色
22
amber
n.琥珀;琥珀色;adj.琥珀制的
23
chestnut
n.栗树,栗子
24
precocious
adj.早熟的;较早显出的
25
sane
adj.心智健全的,神志清醒的,明智的,稳健的
26
attain
vt.达到,获得,完成
27
vigilant
adj.警觉的,警戒的,警惕的
28
authoritative
adj.有权威的,可相信的;命令式的;官方的
29
preoccupied
adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)
30
incurable
adj.不能医治的,不能矫正的,无救的;n.不治的病人,无救的人
31
blurs
n.模糊( blur的名词复数 );模糊之物;(移动的)模糊形状;模糊的记忆v.(使)变模糊( blur的第三人称单数 );(使)难以区分
32
peculiar
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
33
liar
n.说谎的人
34
drawn
v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
35
repelled
v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 );使厌恶;排斥;推开
36
hesitation
n.犹豫,踌躇
37
plumber
n.(装修水管的)管子工
38
disorder
n.紊乱,混乱;骚动,骚乱;疾病,失调
39
earthenware
n.土器,陶器
40
enamel
n.珐琅,搪瓷,瓷釉;(牙齿的)珐琅质
41
coveting
v.贪求,觊觎( covet的现在分词 )
42
passionately
ad.热烈地,激烈地
43
gust
n.阵风,突然一阵(雨、烟等),(感情的)迸发
44
well-being
n.安康,安乐,幸福
45
luminous
adj.发光的,发亮的;光明的;明白易懂的;有启发的
46
exquisitely
adv.精致地;强烈地;剧烈地;异常地
47
joyful
adj.欢乐的,令人欢欣的
48
mused
v.沉思,冥想( muse的过去式和过去分词 );沉思自语说(某事)
49
spotted
adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
50
velvety
adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的
51
enchanted
adj. 被施魔法的,陶醉的,入迷的
动词enchant的过去式和过去分词
52
obedience
n.服从,顺从
53
hesitations
n.犹豫( hesitation的名词复数 );踌躇;犹豫(之事或行为);口吃
54
discretion
n.谨慎;随意处理
55
penetrating
adj.(声音)响亮的,尖锐的adj.(气味)刺激的adj.(思想)敏锐的,有洞察力的
56
mellower
成熟的( mellow的比较级 ); (水果)熟透的; (颜色或声音)柔和的; 高兴的
57
invitingly
adv. 动人地
58
caressed
爱抚或抚摸…( caress的过去式和过去分词 )
59
amazement
n.惊奇,惊讶
60
delightful
adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的
61
spikes
n.穗( spike的名词复数 );跑鞋;(防滑)鞋钉;尖状物v.加烈酒于( spike的第三人称单数 );偷偷地给某人的饮料加入(更多)酒精( 或药物);把尖状物钉入;打乱某人的计划
62
kindly
adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地
63
musing
n. 沉思,冥想
adj. 沉思的, 冥想的
动词muse的现在分词形式
64
laurels
n.桂冠,荣誉
65
colonnade
n.柱廊
66
spacious
adj.广阔的,宽敞的
67
beckoned
v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 )
68
heeded
v.听某人的劝告,听从( heed的过去式和过去分词 );变平,使(某物)变平( flatten的过去式和过去分词 )
69
marvelling
v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的现在分词 )
70
marvelled
v.惊奇,对…感到惊奇( marvel的过去式和过去分词 )
71
hovering
鸟( hover的现在分词 ); 靠近(某事物); (人)徘徊; 犹豫
72
bent
n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的
73
wretch
n.可怜的人,不幸的人;卑鄙的人
74
humiliation
n.羞辱
75
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
76
prodding
v.刺,戳( prod的现在分词 );刺激;促使;(用手指或尖物)戳
77
sobbing
<主方>Ⅰ adj.湿透的
78
conspicuous
adj.明眼的,惹人注目的;炫耀的,摆阔气的
79
translucent
adj.半透明的;透明的
80
persistence
n.坚持,持续,存留
81
fervent
adj.热的,热烈的,热情的
82
consecutive
adj.连续的,联贯的,始终一贯的
83
gulf
n.海湾;深渊,鸿沟;分歧,隔阂
84
entangled
adj.卷入的;陷入的;被缠住的;缠在一起的v.使某人(某物/自己)缠绕,纠缠于(某物中),使某人(自己)陷入(困难或复杂的环境中)( entangle的过去式和过去分词 )
85
tangle
n.纠缠;缠结;混乱;v.(使)缠绕;变乱
86
desperately
adv.极度渴望地,绝望地,孤注一掷地
87
inexplicably
adv.无法说明地,难以理解地,令人难以理解的是
88
behold
v.看,注视,看到
89
whacked
a.精疲力尽的
90
tugging
n.牵引感v.用力拉,使劲拉,猛扯( tug的现在分词 )
91
perspiration
n.汗水;出汗
92
awfully
adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地
93
strenuous
adj.奋发的,使劲的;紧张的;热烈的,狂热的
94
scholastic
adj.学校的,学院的,学术上的
95
margin
n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘
96
detour
n.绕行的路,迂回路;v.迂回,绕道
97
interval
n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息
98
outrageously
凶残地; 肆无忌惮地; 令人不能容忍地; 不寻常地
99
virtuous
adj.有品德的,善良的,贞洁的,有效力的
100
misery
n.痛苦,苦恼,苦难;悲惨的境遇,贫苦
101
sneaked
v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 );偷偷溜走;(儿童向成人)打小报告;告状
102
Oxford
n.牛津(英国城市)
103
momentary
adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
104
apron
n.围裙;工作裙
105
attainable
a.可达到的,可获得的
106
clattered
发出咔哒声(clatter的过去式与过去分词形式)
107
adolescence
n.青春期,青少年
108
muddled
adj.混乱的;糊涂的;头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱,弄糟( muddle的过去式);使糊涂;对付,混日子
109
flickering
adj.闪烁的,摇曳的,一闪一闪的
110
distinguished
adj.卓越的,杰出的,著名的
111
redeem
v.买回,赎回,挽回,恢复,履行(诺言等)
112
daydream
v.做白日梦,幻想
113
tarnish
n.晦暗,污点;vt.使失去光泽;玷污
114
collapsed
adj.倒塌的
115
imperative
n.命令,需要;规则;祈使语气;adj.强制的;紧急的
116
remorse
n.痛恨,悔恨,自责
117
ministry
n.(政府的)部;牧师
118
hampered
妨碍,束缚,限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )
119
justified
a.正当的,有理的
120
tilted
v. 倾斜的
121
disappearance
n.消失,消散,失踪
122
walnut
n.胡桃,胡桃木,胡桃色,茶色
123
lamenting
adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 )
124
pallid
adj.苍白的,呆板的
125
unfamiliar
adj.陌生的,不熟悉的
126
vividly
adv.清楚地,鲜明地,生动地
127
excavation
n.挖掘,发掘;被挖掘之地
128
shafts
n.轴( shaft的名词复数 );(箭、高尔夫球棒等的)杆;通风井;一阵(疼痛、害怕等)
129
hoarding
n.贮藏;积蓄;临时围墙;囤积v.积蓄并储藏(某物)( hoard的现在分词 )
130
doorway
n.门口,(喻)入门;门路,途径
131
riddles
n.谜(语)( riddle的名词复数 );猜不透的难题,难解之谜
132
semblance
n.外貌,外表
133
awaken
vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起
134
unprecedented
adj.无前例的,新奇的
135
superstitious
adj.迷信的
136
guise
n.外表,伪装的姿态
137
outlet
n.出口/路;销路;批发商店;通风口;发泄