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Why Not Ask Miss Price?
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Frances Allen came in from the post office and laid an open letter on the table beside her mother, who was making mincemeat. Alma Allen looked up from the cake she was frosting to ask, "What is the matter? You look as if your letter contained unwelcome news, Fan."
"So it does. It is from Aunt Clara, to say she cannot come. She has received a telegram that her sister-in-law is very ill and she must go to her at once."
"That is too bad. I feel as if our celebration were spoiled. But I suppose it can't be helped."
"No," agreed Frances, sitting down and beginning to peel apples. "So there is no use in lamenting2, or I would certainly sit down and cry, I feel so disappointed."
"Is Uncle Frank coming?"
"Yes, Aunt Clara says he will come down from Stellarton if Mrs. King does not get worse. So that will leave just one vacant place. We must invite someone to fill it up. Who shall it be?"
Both girls looked rather puzzled. Mrs. Allen smiled a quiet little smile all to herself and went on chopping suet. She had handed the Thanksgiving dinner over to Frances and Alma this year. They were to attend to all the preparations and invite all the guests. But although they had made or planned several innovations in the dinner itself, they had made no change in the usual list of guests.
"It must just be the time-honoured family affair," Frances had declared. "If we begin inviting4 other folks, there is no knowing when to draw the line. We can't have more than fourteen, and some of our friends would be sure to feel slighted."
So the same old list it was. But now Aunt Clara—dear, jolly Aunt Clara, whom everybody in the connection loved and admired—could not come, and her place must be filled.
"We can't invite the new minister, because we would have to have his sister, too," said Frances. "And there is no reason for asking any one of our girl chums more than another."
"Mother, you will have to help us out," said Alma. "Can't you suggest a substitute guest?"
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1
tragic
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adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 | |
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2
lamenting
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adj.悲伤的,悲哀的v.(为…)哀悼,痛哭,悲伤( lament的现在分词 ) | |
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3
pointed
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adj.尖的,直截了当的 | |
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4
inviting
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adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
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5
wards
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区( ward的名词复数 ); 病房; 受监护的未成年者; 被人照顾或控制的状态 | |
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6
spoke
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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 | |
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7
twilight
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n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 | |
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8
chilly
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adj.凉快的,寒冷的 | |
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9
rebelliously
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adv.造反地,难以控制地 | |
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10
landlady
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n.女房东,女地主 | |
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11
vivacious
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adj.活泼的,快活的 | |
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positively
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adv.明确地,断然,坚决地;实在,确实 | |
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13
bustled
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闹哄哄地忙乱,奔忙( bustle的过去式和过去分词 ); 催促 | |
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14
chattering
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n. (机器振动发出的)咔嗒声,(鸟等)鸣,啁啾 adj. 喋喋不休的,啾啾声的 动词chatter的现在分词形式 | |
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frankly
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adv.坦白地,直率地;坦率地说 | |
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orphan
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n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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17
asylum
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n.避难所,庇护所,避难 | |
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18
monogram
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n.字母组合 | |
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19
exclamation
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n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 | |
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20
daguerreotype
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n.银板照相 | |
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21
tableau
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n.画面,活人画(舞台上活人扮的静态画面) | |
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22
astonishment
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n.惊奇,惊异 | |
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23
imminent
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adj.即将发生的,临近的,逼近的 | |
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devoutly
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adv.虔诚地,虔敬地,衷心地 | |
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