The Little Minister
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Chapter Twelve. TRAGEDY OF A MUD HOUSE.

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 The dogcart bumped between the trees of Caddam, flinging Gavin and the doctor at each other as a wheel rose on some beech-root or sank for a moment in a pool. I suppose the wood was a pretty sight that day, the pines only white where they had met the snow, as if the numbed1 painter had left his work unfinished, the brittle2 twigs3 snapping overhead, the water as black as tar4. But it matters little what the wood was like. Within a squirrel’s leap of it an old woman was standing5 at the door of a mud house listening for the approach of the trap that was to take her to the poorhouse. Can you think of the beauty of the day now?
 
Nanny was not crying. She had redd up her house for the last time and put on her black merino. Her mouth was wide open while she listened. If you had addressed her you would have thought her polite and stupid. Look at her. A flabby-faced woman she is now, with a swollen6 body, and no one has heeded7 her much these thirty years. I can tell you something; it is almost droll8. Nanny Webster was once a gay flirt9, and in Airlie Square there is a weaver10 with an unsteady head who thought all the earth of her. His loom11 has taken a foot from his stature13, and gone are Nanny’s raven

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1 numbed f49681fad452b31c559c5f54ee8220f4     
v.使麻木，使麻痹( numb的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • His mind has been numbed. 他已麻木不仁。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He was numbed with grief. 他因悲伤而昏迷了。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
2 brittle IWizN     
adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的
参考例句：
  • The pond was covered in a brittle layer of ice.池塘覆盖了一层易碎的冰。
  • She gave a brittle laugh.她冷淡地笑了笑。
3 twigs 17ff1ed5da672aa443a4f6befce8e2cb     
细枝，嫩枝( twig的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • Some birds build nests of twigs. 一些鸟用树枝筑巢。
  • Willow twigs are pliable. 柳条很软。
4 tar 1qOwD     
n.柏油，焦油；vt.涂或浇柏油/焦油于
参考例句：
  • The roof was covered with tar.屋顶涂抹了一层沥青。
  • We use tar to make roads.我们用沥青铺路。
5 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
6 swollen DrcwL     
adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀
参考例句：
  • Her legs had got swollen from standing up all day.因为整天站着，她的双腿已经肿了。
  • A mosquito had bitten her and her arm had swollen up.蚊子叮了她，她的手臂肿起来了。
7 heeded 718cd60e0e96997caf544d951e35597a     
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 )
参考例句：
  • She countered that her advice had not been heeded. 她反驳说她的建议未被重视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I heeded my doctor's advice and stopped smoking. 我听从医生的劝告，把烟戒了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
8 droll J8Tye     
adj.古怪的，好笑的
参考例句：
  • The band have a droll sense of humour.这个乐队有一种滑稽古怪的幽默感。
  • He looked at her with a droll sort of awakening.他用一种古怪的如梦方醒的神情看着她.
9 flirt zgwzA     
v.调情，挑逗，调戏；n.调情者，卖俏者
参考例句：
  • He used to flirt with every girl he met.过去他总是看到一个姑娘便跟她调情。
  • He watched the stranger flirt with his girlfriend and got fighting mad.看着那个陌生人和他女朋友调情，他都要抓狂了。
10 weaver LgWwd     
n.织布工；编织者
参考例句：
  • She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
  • The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。
11 loom T8pzd     
n.织布机，织机；v.隐现，(危险、忧虑等)迫近
参考例句：
  • The old woman was weaving on her loom.那位老太太正在织布机上织布。
  • The shuttle flies back and forth on the loom.织布机上梭子来回飞动。
12 ken k3WxV     
n.视野，知识领域
参考例句：
  • Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
  • Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.
13 stature ruLw8     
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。
14 raven jAUz8     
n.渡鸟，乌鸦；adj.乌亮的
参考例句：
  • We know the raven will never leave the man's room.我们知道了乌鸦再也不会离开那个男人的房间。
  • Her charming face was framed with raven hair.她迷人的脸上垂落着乌亮的黑发。
15 delicacy mxuxS     
n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴
参考例句：
  • We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
  • He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。
16 hideous 65KyC     
adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的
参考例句：
  • The whole experience had been like some hideous nightmare.整个经历就像一场可怕的噩梦。
  • They're not like dogs,they're hideous brutes.它们不像狗，是丑陋的畜牲。
17 glumly glumly     
adv.忧郁地，闷闷不乐地；阴郁地
参考例句：
  • He stared at it glumly, and soon became lost in thought. 他惘然沉入了瞑想。 来自子夜部分
  • The President sat glumly rubbing his upper molar, saying nothing. 总统愁眉苦脸地坐在那里，磨着他的上牙，一句话也没有说。 来自辞典例句
18 crouching crouching     
v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • a hulking figure crouching in the darkness 黑暗中蹲伏着的一个庞大身影
  • A young man was crouching by the table, busily searching for something. 一个年轻人正蹲在桌边翻看什么。 来自汉英文学 - 散文英译
19 bluster mRDy4     
v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声
参考例句：
  • We could hear the bluster of the wind and rain.我们能听到狂风暴雨的吹打声。
  • He was inclined to bluster at first,but he soon dropped.起初他老爱吵闹一阵，可是不久就不做声了。
20 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的，陈年的
参考例句：
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。
21 kindly tpUzhQ     
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
  • Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
  • A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
22 sob HwMwx     
n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣
参考例句：
  • The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
  • The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
23 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃
参考例句：
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”
24 broth acsyx     
n.原(汁)汤(鱼汤、肉汤、菜汤等)
参考例句：
  • Every cook praises his own broth.厨子总是称赞自己做的汤。
  • Just a bit of a mouse's dropping will spoil a whole saucepan of broth.一粒老鼠屎败坏一锅汤。
25 humbly humbly     
adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地
参考例句：
  • We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
  • "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。
26 bide VWTzo     
v.忍耐；等候；住
参考例句：
  • We'll have to bide our time until the rain stops.我们必须等到雨停。
  • Bide here for a while. 请在这儿等一会儿。
27 auld Fuxzt     
adj.老的，旧的
参考例句：
  • Should auld acquaintance be forgot,and never brought to mind?怎能忘记旧日朋友，心中能不怀念？
  • The party ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Sync.宴会以《友谊地久天长》的歌声而告终。
28 bonnet AtSzQ     
n.无边女帽；童帽
参考例句：
  • The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
  • She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
29 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
30 awed a0ab9008d911a954b6ce264ddc63f5c8     
adj.充满敬畏的，表示敬畏的v.使敬畏，使惊惧( awe的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The audience was awed into silence by her stunning performance. 观众席上鸦雀无声，人们对他出色的表演感到惊叹。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • I was awed by the huge gorilla. 那只大猩猩使我惊惧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
31 squeal 3Foyg     
v.发出长而尖的声音；n.长而尖的声音
参考例句：
  • The children gave a squeal of fright.孩子们发出惊吓的尖叫声。
  • There was a squeal of brakes as the car suddenly stopped.小汽车突然停下来时，车闸发出尖叫声。
32 gracefully KfYxd     
ad.大大方方地；优美地
参考例句：
  • She sank gracefully down onto a cushion at his feet. 她优雅地坐到他脚旁的垫子上。
  • The new coats blouse gracefully above the hip line. 新外套在臀围线上优美地打着褶皱。
33 puffed 72b91de7f5a5b3f6bdcac0d30e24f8ca     
adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧
参考例句：
  • He lit a cigarette and puffed at it furiously. 他点燃了一支香烟，狂吸了几口。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He felt grown-up, puffed up with self-importance. 他觉得长大了，便自以为了不起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
34 syne wFRyY     
adv.自彼时至此时，曾经
参考例句：
  • The meeting ended up with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.大会以唱《友谊地久天长》结束。
  • We will take a cup of kindness yet for auld lang syne.让我们为了过去的好时光干一杯友谊的酒。
35 presumptuousness 908273c22b17505a8acbd26bee0a6e4f     
n.自以为是，专横，冒失
参考例句：
  • He despised them for their presumptuousness. 他蔑视他们的自以为是。 来自互联网

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