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CHAPTER VIII
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Valancy did not sleep that night. She lay awake all through the long dark hours—thinking—thinking. She made a discovery that surprised her: she, who had been afraid of almost everything in life, was not afraid of death. It did not seem in the least terrible to her. And she need not now be afraid of anything else. Why had she been afraid of things? Because of life. Afraid of Uncle Benjamin because of the menace of poverty in old age. But now she would never be old—neglected—tolerated. Afraid of being an old maid all her life. But now she would not be an old maid very long. Afraid of offending her mother and her clan1 because she had to live with and among them and couldn’t live peaceably if she didn’t give in to them. But now she hadn’t. Valancy felt a curious freedom.
But she was still horribly afraid of one thing—the fuss the whole jamfry of them would make when she told them. Valancy shuddered2 at the thought of it. She couldn’t endure it. Oh, she knew so well how it would be. First there would be indignation—yes, indignation on the part of Uncle James because she had gone to a doctor—any doctor—without consulting HIM. Indignation on the part of her mother for being so sly and deceitful—“to your own mother, Doss.” Indignation on the part of the whole clan because she had not gone to Dr. Marsh3.
Then would come the solicitude4. She would be taken to Dr. Marsh, and when Dr. Marsh confirmed Dr. Trent’s diagnosis5 she would be taken to specialists in Toronto and Montreal. Uncle Benjamin would foot the bill with a splendid gesture of munificence6 in thus assisting the widow and orphan7, and talk forever after of the shocking fees specialists charged for looking wise and saying they couldn’t do anything. And when the specialists could do nothing for her Uncle James would insist on her taking Purple Pills—“I’ve known them to effect a cure when all the doctors had given up”—and her mother would insist on Redfern’s Blood Bitters, and Cousin Stickles would insist on rubbing her over the heart every night with Redfern’s Liniment on the grounds that it might do good and couldn’t do harm; and everybody else would have some pet dope for her to take. Dr. Stalling would come to her and say solemnly, “You are very ill. Are you prepared for what may be before you?”—almost as if he were going to shake his
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1
clan
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n.氏族,部落,宗族,家族,宗派 | |
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2
shuddered
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v.战栗( shudder的过去式和过去分词 );发抖;(机器、车辆等)突然震动;颤动 | |
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3
marsh
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n.沼泽,湿地 | |
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solicitude
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n.焦虑 | |
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5
diagnosis
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n.诊断,诊断结果,调查分析,判断 | |
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munificence
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n.宽宏大量,慷慨给与 | |
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7
orphan
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n.孤儿;adj.无父母的 | |
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forefinger
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n.食指 | |
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undoubtedly
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adv.确实地,无疑地 | |
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decided
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adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 | |
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disapprovingly
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adv.不以为然地,不赞成地,非难地 | |
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vengeance
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n.报复,报仇,复仇 | |
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obituary
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n.讣告,死亡公告;adj.死亡的 | |
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loomed
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v.隐约出现,阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 );隐约出现,阴森地逼近 | |
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nonentity
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n.无足轻重的人 | |
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gathering
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n.集会,聚会,聚集 | |
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streaked
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adj.有条斑纹的,不安的v.快速移动( streak的过去式和过去分词 );使布满条纹 | |
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harping
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n.反复述说 | |
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glamour
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n.魔力,魅力;vt.迷住 | |
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recess
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n.短期休息,壁凹(墙上装架子,柜子等凹处) | |
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jealousy
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n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 | |
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frenzy
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n.疯狂,狂热,极度的激动 | |
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swooped
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俯冲,猛冲( swoop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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shovels
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n.铲子( shovel的名词复数 );锹;推土机、挖土机等的)铲;铲形部份v.铲子( shovel的第三人称单数 );锹;推土机、挖土机等的)铲;铲形部份 | |
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scooped
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v.抢先报道( scoop的过去式和过去分词 );(敏捷地)抱起;抢先获得;用铲[勺]等挖(洞等) | |
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resolutely
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adj.坚决地,果断地 | |
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pounced
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v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 );猛扑;一眼看出;抓住机会(进行抨击) | |
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swelling
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n.肿胀 | |
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scattered
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adj.分散的,稀疏的;散步的;疏疏落落的 | |
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symbolical
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a.象征性的 | |
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evaded
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逃避( evade的过去式和过去分词 ); 避开; 回避; 想不出 | |
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injustice
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n.非正义,不公正,不公平,侵犯(别人的)权利 | |
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horrid
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adj.可怕的;令人惊恐的;恐怖的;极讨厌的 | |
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elastic
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n.橡皮圈,松紧带;adj.有弹性的;灵活的 | |
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conceited
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adj.自负的,骄傲自满的 | |
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savage
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adj.野蛮的;凶恶的,残暴的;n.未开化的人 | |
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judgment
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n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
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delightful
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adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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consultation
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n.咨询;商量;商议;会议 | |
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severely
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adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地 | |
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amiably
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adv.和蔼可亲地,亲切地 | |
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inviting
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adj.诱人的,引人注目的 | |
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humiliation
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n.羞辱 | |
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rouged
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胭脂,口红( rouge的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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wreck
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n.失事,遇难;沉船;vt.(船等)失事,遇难 | |
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second-hand
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adj.用过的,旧的,二手的 | |
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passionately
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ad.热烈地,激烈地 | |
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culmination
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n.顶点;最高潮 | |
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pretences
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n.假装( pretence的名词复数 );作假;自命;自称 | |
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evasions
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逃避( evasion的名词复数 ); 回避; 遁辞; 借口 | |
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pout
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v.撅嘴;绷脸;n.撅嘴;生气,不高兴 | |
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hurled
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v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂 | |
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potpourri
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n.混合之事物;百花香 | |
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complexion
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n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 | |
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fragrance
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n.芬芳,香味,香气 | |
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CHAPTER VII
下一章:
CHAPTER IX
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