The mill of silence
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CHAPTER II. A NIXIE.

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 My brother tired of his fishing for the nonce, and for an hour we lay on our backs in the grass chatting desultorily1.
 
“Jason,” said I, suddenly, “what do we live on?”
 
“What we can get,” said my brother, sleepily.
 
“But I mean—where does it come from; who provides it?”
 
“Oh, don’t bother, Renny. We have enough to eat and drink and do as we like. What more do you want?”
 
“I don’t know. I want to know, that’s all. I can’t tell why. Where does the money come from?”
 
“Tom Tiddler. He was our grandfather.”
 
“Don’t be a fool. Dad never worked the mill that we remember.”
 
“But Tom Tiddler did before him.”
 
“Not to the tune2 that would keep four loafers in idleness for sixteen years.”
 
“Well, I don’t care. Perhaps dad’s a highwayman.”
 
I kicked at the grass impatiently.
 
“It must end some day, you know.”
 
Jason tilted3 his cap from his eyes and blinked at me.
 
“What d’ye mean, piggy?”
 
“Suppose dad died or went mad?”
 
“We’d sell the mill and have a rare time of it.”
 
“Oh, you great clown! Sell it for what? Driftwood? And how long would the rare time last?”
 
“You’re mighty4 particular to-day. I hate answering questions. Let me alone.”
 
“I won’t,” I said, viciously. “I want your opinion.”
 
“Well, it’s that you’re a precious fool!”
 
“What for?”
 
“To bother your head with what you can’t answer, when the sun’s shining.”
 
“I can’t help bothering my head,” I said. “I’ve been bothering it, I think, ever since dad gave old Crackenthorpe that medal last year.”

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1 desultorily c9ae3dbd0e359514b1a3f332b59f901d     
adv. 杂乱无章地, 散漫地
参考例句：
  • The man continued talking. She answered him desultorily. 那个男人继续说着。她随口应答。 来自柯林斯例句
2 tune NmnwW     
n.调子；和谐，协调；v.调音，调节，调整
参考例句：
  • He'd written a tune,and played it to us on the piano.他写了一段曲子，并在钢琴上弹给我们听。
  • The boy beat out a tune on a tin can.那男孩在易拉罐上敲出一首曲子。
3 tilted 3gtzE5     
v. 倾斜的
参考例句：
  • Suddenly the boat tilted to one side. 小船突然倾向一侧。
  • She tilted her chin at him defiantly. 她向他翘起下巴表示挑衅。
4 mighty YDWxl     
adj.强有力的；巨大的
参考例句：
  • A mighty force was about to break loose.一股巨大的力量即将迸发而出。
  • The mighty iceberg came into view.巨大的冰山出现在眼前。
5 plumb Y2szL     
adv.精确地，完全地；v.了解意义，测水深
参考例句：
  • No one could plumb the mystery.没人能看破这秘密。
  • It was unprofitable to plumb that sort of thing.这种事弄个水落石出没有什么好处。
6 desultory BvZxp     
adj.散漫的，无方法的
参考例句：
  • Do not let the discussion fragment into a desultory conversation with no clear direction.不要让讨论变得支离破碎，成为没有明确方向的漫谈。
  • The constables made a desultory attempt to keep them away from the barn.警察漫不经心地拦着不让他们靠近谷仓。
7 grunt eeazI     
v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝
参考例句：
  • He lifted the heavy suitcase with a grunt.他咕噜着把沉重的提箱拎了起来。
  • I ask him what he think,but he just grunt.我问他在想什麽，他只哼了一声。
8 shrill EEize     
adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫
参考例句：
  • Whistles began to shrill outside the barn.哨声开始在谷仓外面尖叫。
  • The shrill ringing of a bell broke up the card game on the cutter.刺耳的铃声打散了小汽艇的牌局。
9 screech uDkzc     
n./v.尖叫；(发出)刺耳的声音
参考例句：
  • He heard a screech of brakes and then fell down. 他听到汽车刹车发出的尖锐的声音,然后就摔倒了。
  • The screech of jet planes violated the peace of the afternoon. 喷射机的尖啸声侵犯了下午的平静。
10 apparently tMmyQ     
adv.显然地；表面上，似乎
参考例句：
  • An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
  • He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。
11 intervals f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef     
n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 )；间隔时间；[数学]区间；（戏剧、电影或音乐会的）幕间休息
参考例句：
  • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴，有阵雨。
  • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
12 caliber JsFzO     
n.能力；水准
参考例句：
  • They ought to win with players of such high caliber.他们选手的能力这样高,应该获胜。
  • We are always trying to improve the caliber of our schools.我们一直在想方设法提高我们学校的水平。
13 rim RXSxl     
n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界
参考例句：
  • The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。
  • She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。
14 trench VJHzP     
n./v.(挖)沟，(挖)战壕
参考例句：
  • The soldiers recaptured their trench.兵士夺回了战壕。
  • The troops received orders to trench the outpost.部队接到命令在前哨周围筑壕加强防卫。
15 frantic Jfyzr     
adj.狂乱的，错乱的，激昂的
参考例句：
  • I've had a frantic rush to get my work done.我急急忙忙地赶完工作。
  • He made frantic dash for the departing train.他发疯似地冲向正开出的火车。
16 exhausted 7taz4r     
adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的
参考例句：
  • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted.搬运回家的这段路程特别长，到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
  • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life.珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
17 beseeching 67f0362f7eb28291ad2968044eb2a985     
adj.恳求似的v.恳求，乞求（某事物）( beseech的现在分词 )
参考例句：
  • She clung to her father, beseeching him for consent. 她紧紧挨着父亲，恳求他答应。 来自辞典例句
  • He casts a beseeching glance at his son. 他用恳求的眼光望着儿子。 来自辞典例句
18 prostrate 7iSyH     
v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的
参考例句：
  • She was prostrate on the floor.她俯卧在地板上。
  • The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep It'so.北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。
19 dolt lmKy1     
n.傻瓜
参考例句：
  • He's a first-class dolt who insists on doing things his way.他一意孤行，真是蠢透了。
  • What a donke,dolt and dunce!真是个笨驴，呆子，兼傻瓜！
20 sodden FwPwm     
adj.浑身湿透的；v.使浸透；使呆头呆脑
参考例句：
  • We stripped off our sodden clothes.我们扒下了湿透的衣服。
  • The cardboard was sodden and fell apart in his hands.纸板潮得都发酥了，手一捏就碎。
21 transparent Smhwx     
adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的
参考例句：
  • The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
  • The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。
22 lashes e2e13f8d3a7c0021226bb2f94d6a15ec     
n.鞭挞( lash的名词复数 )；鞭子；突然猛烈的一击；急速挥动v.鞭打( lash的第三人称单数 )；煽动；紧系；怒斥
参考例句：
  • Mother always lashes out food for the children's party. 孩子们聚会时，母亲总是给他们许多吃的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Never walk behind a horse in case it lashes out. 绝对不要跟在马后面，以防它突然猛踢。 来自《简明英汉词典》
23 whoop qIhys     
n.大叫，呐喊，喘息声；v.叫喊，喘息
参考例句：
  • He gave a whoop of joy when he saw his new bicycle.他看到自己的新自行车时，高兴得叫了起来。
  • Everybody is planning to whoop it up this weekend.大家都打算在这个周末好好欢闹一番。
24 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
25 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。
26 posture q1gzk     
n.姿势，姿态，心态，态度；v.作出某种姿势
参考例句：
  • The government adopted an uncompromising posture on the issue of independence.政府在独立这一问题上采取了毫不妥协的态度。
  • He tore off his coat and assumed a fighting posture.他脱掉上衣，摆出一副打架的架势。
27 sopped 20458c4932d5eb91b50b019a901307b4     
adj.湿透的，浸透的v.将（面包等）在液体中蘸或浸泡( sop的过去式和过去分词 )；用海绵、布等吸起（液体等）
参考例句：
  • The servant sopped up the water with a towel. 佣人用毛巾揩去水。 来自辞典例句
  • She sopped up the spilt milk with a cloth. 她用一块布抹去溢出的牛奶。 来自辞典例句
28 grotesque O6ryZ     
adj.怪诞的，丑陋的；n.怪诞的图案，怪人（物）
参考例句：
  • His face has a grotesque appearance.他的面部表情十分怪。
  • Her account of the incident was a grotesque distortion of the truth.她对这件事的陈述是荒诞地歪曲了事实。
29 brute GSjya     
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。
30 mellow F2iyP     
adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟
参考例句：
  • These apples are mellow at this time of year.每年这时节，苹果就熟透了。
  • The colours become mellow as the sun went down.当太阳落山时，色彩变得柔和了。
31 shrugged 497904474a48f991a3d1961b0476ebce     
vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式）
参考例句：
  • Sam shrugged and said nothing. 萨姆耸耸肩膀，什么也没说。
  • She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. 她耸耸肩，装出一副无所谓的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
32 smack XEqzV     
vt.拍，打，掴；咂嘴；vi.含有…意味；n.拍
参考例句：
  • She gave him a smack on the face.她打了他一个嘴巴。
  • I gave the fly a smack with the magazine.我用杂志拍了一下苍蝇。
33 fuming 742478903447fcd48a40e62f9540a430     
愤怒( fume的现在分词 )； 大怒； 发怒； 冒烟
参考例句：
  • She sat in the car, silently fuming at the traffic jam. 她坐在汽车里，心中对交通堵塞感到十分恼火。
  • I was fuming at their inefficiency. 我正因为他们效率低而发火。
34 curiously 3v0zIc     
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。
35 doggerel t8Lyn     
n.拙劣的诗，打油诗
参考例句：
  • The doggerel doesn't filiate itself.这首打油诗没有标明作者是谁。
  • He styled his poem doggerel.他把他的这首诗歌叫做打油诗。
36 thither cgRz1o     
adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的
参考例句：
  • He wandered hither and thither looking for a playmate.他逛来逛去找玩伴。
  • He tramped hither and thither.他到处流浪。

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