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Chapter 32 MRS. BRAIDING

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 G.J. went home at once, partly so that Christine should not be disturbed, partly because he desired solitude1 in order to examine and compose his mind. Mrs. Braiding had left an agreeable modest fire—fit for cold April—in the drawing-room. He had just sat down in front of it and was tranquillising himself in the familiar harmonious2 beauty of the apartment (which, however, did seem rather insipid3 after the decorative4 excesses of Queen's room), when he heard footsteps on the little stairway from the upper floor. Mrs. Braiding entered the drawing-room.
 
This was a Mrs. Braiding very different from the Mrs. Braiding of 1914, a shameless creature of more rounded contours than of old, and not quite so spick and span as of old. She was carrying in her arms that which before the war she could not have conceived herself as carrying. The being was invisible in wraps, but it was there; and she seemed to have no shame for it, seemed indeed to be proud of it and defiant5 about it.
 
Braiding's military career had been full of surprises. He had expected within a few months of joining the colours to be dashing gloriously and homicidally at panic-stricken Germans across the plains of Flanders, to be, in fact, saving the Empire at the muzzle6 of rifle and the point of bayonet. In truth, he found that for interminable, innumerable weeks his job was to save the Empire by cleaning harness on the East Coast of England—for under advice he had transferred to the artillery7. Later, when his true qualifications were discovered, he had to save the Empire by polishing the buttons and serving the morning tea and buying the cigarettes of a major who in 1914 had been a lawyer by profession and a soldier only for fun. The major talked too much, and to the wrong people. He became lyric8 concerning the talents of Braiding to a dandiacal Divisional General at Colchester, and soon, by the actuating of mysterious forces and the filling up of many Army forms, Braiding was removed to Colchester, and had to save the Empire by valeting the Divisonal General. Foiled in one direction, Braiding advanced in another. By tradition, when a valet marries a lady's maid, the effect on the birth-rate is

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1 solitude xF9yw     
n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方
参考例句：
  • People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
  • They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。
2 harmonious EdWzx     
adj.和睦的，调和的，和谐的，协调的
参考例句：
  • Their harmonious relationship resulted in part from their similar goals.他们关系融洽的部分原因是他们有着相似的目标。
  • The room was painted in harmonious colors.房间油漆得色彩调和。
3 insipid TxZyh     
adj.无味的，枯燥乏味的，单调的
参考例句：
  • The food was rather insipid and needed gingering up.这食物缺少味道，需要加点作料。
  • She said she was a good cook,but the food she cooked is insipid.她说她是个好厨师，但她做的食物却是无味道的。
4 decorative bxtxc     
adj.装饰的，可作装饰的
参考例句：
  • This ware is suitable for decorative purpose but unsuitable for utility.这种器皿中看不中用。
  • The style is ornate and highly decorative.这种风格很华丽，而且装饰效果很好。
5 defiant 6muzw     
adj.无礼的，挑战的
参考例句：
  • With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
  • He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。
6 muzzle i11yN     
n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默
参考例句：
  • He placed the muzzle of the pistol between his teeth.他把手枪的枪口放在牙齿中间。
  • The President wanted to muzzle the press.总统企图遏制新闻自由。
7 artillery 5vmzA     
n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)
参考例句：
  • This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
  • The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。
8 lyric R8RzA     
n.抒情诗，歌词；adj.抒情的
参考例句：
  • This is a good example of Shelley's lyric poetry.这首诗是雪莱抒情诗的范例。
  • His earlier work announced a lyric talent of the first order.他的早期作品显露了一流的抒情才华。
9 naught wGLxx     
n.无，零 [=nought]
参考例句：
  • He sets at naught every convention of society.他轻视所有的社会习俗。
  • I hope that all your efforts won't go for naught.我希望你的努力不会毫无结果。
10 rumour 1SYzZ     
n.谣言，谣传，传闻
参考例句：
  • I should like to know who put that rumour about.我想知道是谁散布了那谣言。
  • There has been a rumour mill on him for years.几年来，一直有谣言产生，对他进行中伤。
11 stranded thfz18     
a.搁浅的，进退两难的
参考例句：
  • He was stranded in a strange city without money. 他流落在一个陌生的城市里， 身无分文，一筹莫展。
  • I was stranded in the strange town without money or friends. 我困在那陌生的城市，既没有钱，又没有朋友。
12 lodge q8nzj     
v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆
参考例句：
  • Is there anywhere that I can lodge in the village tonight?村里有我今晚过夜的地方吗？
  • I shall lodge at the inn for two nights.我要在这家小店住两个晚上。
13 virgin phPwj     
n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的
参考例句：
  • Have you ever been to a virgin forest?你去过原始森林吗？
  • There are vast expanses of virgin land in the remote regions.在边远地区有大片大片未开垦的土地。
14 remarkable 8Vbx6     
adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的
参考例句：
  • She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
  • These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
15 astounding QyKzns     
adj.使人震惊的vt.使震惊，使大吃一惊astound的现在分词)
参考例句：
  • There was an astounding 20% increase in sales. 销售量惊人地增加了20%。
  • The Chairman's remarks were so astounding that the audience listened to him with bated breath. 主席说的话令人吃惊，所以听众都屏息听他说。 来自《简明英汉词典》
16 sublime xhVyW     
adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的
参考例句：
  • We should take some time to enjoy the sublime beauty of nature.我们应该花些时间去欣赏大自然的壮丽景象。
  • Olympic games play as an important arena to exhibit the sublime idea.奥运会，就是展示此崇高理念的重要舞台。
17 lurch QR8z9     
n.突然向前或旁边倒；v.蹒跚而行
参考例句：
  • It has been suggested that the ground movements were a form of lurch movements.地震的地面运动曾被认为是一种突然倾斜的运动形式。
  • He walked with a lurch.他步履蹒跚。
18 pervaded cf99c400da205fe52f352ac5c1317c13     
v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • A retrospective influence pervaded the whole performance. 怀旧的影响弥漫了整个演出。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The air is pervaded by a smell [smoking]. 空气中弥散着一种气味[烟味]。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
19 immortal 7kOyr     
adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的
参考例句：
  • The wild cocoa tree is effectively immortal.野生可可树实际上是不会死的。
  • The heroes of the people are immortal!人民英雄永垂不朽！
20 disturbance BsNxk     
n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调
参考例句：
  • He is suffering an emotional disturbance.他的情绪受到了困扰。
  • You can work in here without any disturbance.在这儿你可不受任何干扰地工作。
21 repose KVGxQ     
v.(使)休息；n.安息
参考例句：
  • Don't disturb her repose.不要打扰她休息。
  • Her mouth seemed always to be smiling,even in repose.她的嘴角似乎总是挂着微笑，即使在睡眠时也是这样。
22 harassed 50b529f688471b862d0991a96b6a1e55     
adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
  • He has complained of being harassed by the police. 他投诉受到警方侵扰。
  • harassed mothers with their children 带着孩子的疲惫不堪的母亲们
23 conjecture 3p8z4     
n./v.推测，猜测
参考例句：
  • She felt it no use to conjecture his motives.她觉得猜想他的动机是没有用的。
  • This conjecture is not supported by any real evidence.这种推测未被任何确切的证据所证实。
24 conjectured c62e90c2992df1143af0d33094f0d580     
推测，猜测，猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The old peasant conjectured that it would be an unusually cold winter. 那老汉推测冬天将会异常地寒冷。
  • The general conjectured that the enemy only had about five days' supply of food left. 将军推测敌人只剩下五天的粮食给养。
25 whim 2gywE     
n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想
参考例句：
  • I bought the encyclopedia on a whim.我凭一时的兴致买了这本百科全书。
  • He had a sudden whim to go sailing today.今天他突然想要去航海。

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