The Blue Castle蓝色城堡
 小说分类
选择字号：【大】【中】【小】
关灯
护眼
CHAPTER X

关注小说网官方公众号（noveltingroom），原版名著免费领。


“Bless this food to our use and consecrate1 our lives to Thy service,” said Uncle Herbert briskly.
 
Aunt Wellington frowned. She always considered Herbert’s graces entirely2 too short and “flippant.” A grace, to be a grace in Aunt Wellington’s eyes, had to be at least three minutes long and uttered in an unearthly tone, between a groan3 and a chant. As a protest she kept her head bent4 a perceptible time after all the rest had been lifted. When she permitted herself to sit upright she found Valancy looking at her. Ever afterwards Aunt Wellington averred5 that she had known from that moment that there was something wrong with Valancy. In those queer, slanted6 eyes of hers—“we should always have known she was not entirely right with eyes like that”—there was an odd gleam of mockery and amusement—as if Valancy were laughing at her. Such a thing was unthinkable, of course. Aunt Wellington at once ceased to think it.
 
Valancy was enjoying herself. She had never enjoyed herself at a “family reunion” before. In social function, as in childish games, she had only “filled in.” Her clan7 had always considered her very dull. She had no parlour tricks. And she had been in the habit of taking refuge from the boredom8 of family parties in her Blue Castle, which resulted in an absent-mindedness that increased her reputation for dulness and vacuity9.
 
“She has no social presence whatever,” Aunt Wellington had decreed once and for all. Nobody dreamed that Valancy was dumb in their presence merely because she was afraid of them. Now she was no longer afraid of them. The

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 consecrate 6Yzzq     
v.使圣化，奉…为神圣；尊崇；奉献
参考例句：
  • Consecrate your life to the church.把你的生命奉献给教堂吧。
  • The priest promised God he would consecrate his life to helping the poor.牧师对上帝允诺他将献身帮助穷人。
2 entirely entirely     
ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
  • His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。
3 groan LfXxU     
vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音
参考例句：
  • The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
  • The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。
4 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。
5 averred 4a3546c562d3f5b618f0024b711ffe27     
v.断言( aver的过去式和过去分词 )；证实；证明…属实；作为事实提出
参考例句：
  • She averred that she had never seen the man before. 她斩钉截铁地说以前从未见过这个男人。
  • The prosecutor averred that the prisoner killed Lois. 检察官称被拘犯杀害洛伊丝属实。 来自互联网
6 slanted 628a904d3b8214f5fc02822d64c58492     
有偏见的； 倾斜的
参考例句：
  • The sun slanted through the window. 太阳斜照进窗户。
  • She had slanted brown eyes. 她有一双棕色的丹凤眼。
7 clan Dq5zi     
n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派
参考例句：
  • She ranks as my junior in the clan.她的辈分比我小。
  • The Chinese Christians,therefore,practically excommunicate themselves from their own clan.所以，中国的基督徒简直是被逐出了自己的家族了。
8 boredom ynByy     
n.厌烦，厌倦，乏味，无聊
参考例句：
  • Unemployment can drive you mad with boredom.失业会让你无聊得发疯。
  • A walkman can relieve the boredom of running.跑步时带着随身听就不那么乏味了。
9 vacuity PfWzNG     
n.(想象力等)贫乏，无聊，空白
参考例句：
  • Bertha thought it disconcerted him by rendering evident even to himself the vacuity of his mind. 伯莎认为这对他不利，这种情况甚至清楚地向他自己证明了他心灵的空虚。
  • Temperature and vacuity rising can enhance osmotic flux visibly. 升高温度和降低膜下游压力可明显提高膜的渗透通量。
10 shackles 91740de5ccb43237ed452a2a2676e023     
手铐( shackle的名词复数 )； 脚镣； 束缚； 羁绊
参考例句：
  • a country struggling to free itself from the shackles of colonialism 为摆脱殖民主义的枷锁而斗争的国家
  • The cars of the train are coupled together by shackles. 火车的车厢是用钩链连接起来的。
11 exultation wzeyn     
n.狂喜，得意
参考例句：
  • It made him catch his breath, it lit his face with exultation. 听了这个名字，他屏住呼吸，乐得脸上放光。
  • He could get up no exultation that was really worthy the name. 他一点都激动不起来。
12 propounded 3fbf8014080aca42e6c965ec77e23826     
v.提出（问题、计划等）供考虑[讨论]，提议( propound的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • the theory of natural selection, first propounded by Charles Darwin 查尔斯∙达尔文首先提出的物竞天择理论
  • Indeed it was first propounded by the ubiquitous Thomas Young. 实际上，它是由尽人皆知的杨氏首先提出来的。 来自辞典例句
13 riddle WCfzw     
n.谜，谜语，粗筛；vt.解谜，给…出谜，筛，检查，鉴定，非难，充满于；vi.出谜
参考例句：
  • The riddle couldn't be solved by the child.这个谜语孩子猜不出来。
  • Her disappearance is a complete riddle.她的失踪完全是一个谜。
14 relentlessly Rk4zSD     
adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断
参考例句：
  • The African sun beat relentlessly down on his aching head. 非洲的太阳无情地照射在他那发痛的头上。
  • He pursued her relentlessly, refusing to take 'no' for an answer. 他锲而不舍地追求她，拒不接受“不”的回答。
15 reverence BByzT     
n.敬畏，尊敬，尊严；Reverence:对某些基督教神职人员的尊称；v.尊敬，敬畏，崇敬
参考例句：
  • He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
  • We reverence tradition but will not be fettered by it.我们尊重传统，但不被传统所束缚。
16 moles 2e1eeabf4f0f1abdaca739a4be445d16     
防波堤( mole的名词复数 )； 鼹鼠； 痣； 间谍
参考例句：
  • Unsightly moles can be removed surgically. 不雅观的痣可以手术去除。
  • Two moles of epoxy react with one mole of A-1100. 两个克分子环氧与一个克分子A－1100反应。
17 humbug ld8zV     
n.花招，谎话，欺骗
参考例句：
  • I know my words can seem to him nothing but utter humbug.我知道，我说的话在他看来不过是彻头彻尾的慌言。
  • All their fine words are nothing but humbug.他们的一切花言巧语都是骗人的。
18 noted 5n4zXc     
adj.著名的，知名的
参考例句：
  • The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
  • Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
19 pickle mSszf     
n.腌汁，泡菜；v.腌，泡
参考例句：
  • Mother used to pickle onions.妈妈过去常腌制洋葱。
  • Meat can be preserved in pickle.肉可以保存在卤水里。
20 starched 1adcdf50723145c17c3fb6015bbe818c     
adj.浆硬的，硬挺的，拘泥刻板的v.把（衣服、床单等）浆一浆( starch的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • My clothes are not starched enough. 我的衣服浆得不够硬。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • The ruffles on his white shirt were starched and clean. 白衬衫的褶边浆过了，很干净。 来自辞典例句
21 corpse JYiz4     
n.尸体，死尸
参考例句：
  • What she saw was just an unfeeling corpse.她见到的只是一具全无感觉的尸体。
  • The corpse was preserved from decay by embalming.尸体用香料涂抹以防腐烂。
22 sarcastic jCIzJ     
adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的
参考例句：
  • I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
  • She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。
23 Christian KVByl     
adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒
参考例句：
  • They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
  • His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
24 smothered b9bebf478c8f7045d977e80734a8ed1d     
（使）窒息， （使）透不过气( smother的过去式和过去分词 )； 覆盖； 忍住； 抑制
参考例句：
  • He smothered the baby with a pillow. 他用枕头把婴儿闷死了。
  • The fire is smothered by ashes. 火被灰闷熄了。
25 pouches 952990a5cdea03f7970c486d570c7d8e     
n.（放在衣袋里或连在腰带上的）小袋( pouch的名词复数 )；（袋鼠等的）育儿袋；邮袋；（某些动物贮存食物的）颊袋
参考例句：
  • Pouches are a peculiarity of marsupials. 腹袋是有袋动物的特色。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Under my eyes the pouches were heavy. 我眼睛下的眼袋很深。 来自《简明英汉词典》
26 pallid qSFzw     
adj.苍白的，呆板的
参考例句：
  • The moon drifted from behind the clouds and exposed the pallid face.月亮从云朵后面钻出来，照着尸体那张苍白的脸。
  • His dry pallid face often looked gaunt.他那张干瘪苍白的脸常常显得憔悴。
27 abominably 71996a6a63478f424db0cdd3fd078878     
adv. 可恶地，可恨地，恶劣地
参考例句：
  • From her own point of view Barbara had behaved abominably. 在她看来，芭芭拉的表现是恶劣的。
  • He wanted to know how abominably they could behave towards him. 他希望能知道他们能用什么样的卑鄙手段来对付他。
28 dignified NuZzfb     
a.可敬的，高贵的
参考例句：
  • Throughout his trial he maintained a dignified silence. 在整个审讯过程中，他始终沉默以保持尊严。
  • He always strikes such a dignified pose before his girlfriend. 他总是在女友面前摆出这种庄严的姿态。
29 evasion 9nbxb     
n.逃避，偷漏(税)
参考例句：
  • The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。
  • The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。
30 spiky hhczrZ     
adj.长而尖的，大钉似的
参考例句：
  • Your hairbrush is too spiky for me.你的发刷，我觉得太尖了。
  • The spiky handwriting on the airmail envelope from London was obviously hers.发自伦敦的航空信封上的尖长字迹分明是她的。
31 judgment e3xxC     
n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见
参考例句：
  • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
  • He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。
32 expressive shwz4     
adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的
参考例句：
  • Black English can be more expressive than standard English.黑人所使用的英语可能比正式英语更有表现力。
  • He had a mobile,expressive,animated face.他有一张多变的，富于表情的，生动活泼的脸。
33 velvet 5gqyO     
n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的
参考例句：
  • This material feels like velvet.这料子摸起来像丝绒。
  • The new settlers wore the finest silk and velvet clothing.新来的移民穿着最华丽的丝绸和天鹅绒衣服。
34 chubby wrwzZ     
adj.丰满的，圆胖的
参考例句：
  • He is stocky though not chubby.他长得敦实，可并不发胖。
  • The short and chubby gentleman over there is our new director.那个既矮又胖的绅士是我们的新主任。
35 paragon 1KexV     
n.模范，典型
参考例句：
  • He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
  • Man is the paragon of animals.人是万物之灵。
36 prettily xQAxh     
adv.优美地；可爱地
参考例句：
  • It was prettily engraved with flowers on the back.此件雕刻精美，背面有花饰图案。
  • She pouted prettily at him.她冲他撅着嘴，样子很可爱。
37 pensive 2uTys     
a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的
参考例句：
  • He looked suddenly sombre,pensive.他突然看起来很阴郁，一副忧虑的样子。
  • He became so pensive that she didn't like to break into his thought.他陷入沉思之中,她不想打断他的思路。
38 disdain KltzA     
n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑
参考例句：
  • Some people disdain labour.有些人轻视劳动。
  • A great man should disdain flatterers.伟大的人物应鄙视献媚者。
39 lavishly VpqzBo     
adv.慷慨地，大方地
参考例句：
  • His house was lavishly adorned.他的屋子装饰得很华丽。
  • The book is lavishly illustrated in full colour.这本书里有大量全彩插图。
40 justified 7pSzrk     
a.正当的，有理的
参考例句：
  • She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
  • The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。
41 stunning NhGzDh     
adj.极好的；使人晕倒的
参考例句：
  • His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
  • The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。
42 glossy nfvxx     
adj.平滑的；有光泽的
参考例句：
  • I like these glossy spots.我喜欢这些闪闪发光的花点。
  • She had glossy black hair.她长着乌黑发亮的头发。
43 puffs cb3699ccb6e175dfc305ea6255d392d6     
n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧
参考例句：
  • We sat exchanging puffs from that wild pipe of his. 我们坐在那里，轮番抽着他那支野里野气的烟斗。 来自辞典例句
  • Puffs of steam and smoke came from the engine. 一股股蒸汽和烟雾从那火车头里冒出来。 来自辞典例句
44 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》
45 rosy kDAy9     
adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的
参考例句：
  • She got a new job and her life looks rosy.她找到一份新工作，生活看上去很美好。
  • She always takes a rosy view of life.她总是对生活持乐观态度。
46 pointed Il8zB4     
adj.尖的，直截了当的
参考例句：
  • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
  • She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。
47 tabulation c68ed45e9d5493a1229fb479f01b04fd     
作表，表格； 表列结果； 列表； 造表
参考例句：
  • A tabulation of a function of two variables is cumbersome, but possible. 二元函数的列表法是不方便的，然而是可能的。
  • Such a tabulation cannot represent adequately the complex gradation relationships between the types. 这样的图表不能充分代表各类型之间的复杂级配关系。
48 recurring 8kLzK8     
adj.往复的，再次发生的
参考例句：
  • This kind of problem is recurring often. 这类问题经常发生。
  • For our own country, it has been a time for recurring trial. 就我们国家而言，它经过了一个反复考验的时期。
49 spasm dFJzH     
n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作
参考例句：
  • When the spasm passed,it left him weak and sweating.一阵痉挛之后，他虚弱无力，一直冒汗。
  • He kicked the chair in a spasm of impatience.他突然变得不耐烦，一脚踢向椅子。
50 dreaded XuNzI3     
adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
参考例句：
  • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
  • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
51 maidenhood maidenhood     
n. 处女性, 处女时代
参考例句：
52 embryo upAxt     
n.胚胎，萌芽的事物
参考例句：
  • They are engaging in an embryo research.他们正在进行一项胚胎研究。
  • The project was barely in embryo.该计划只是个雏形。
53 hectic jdZzk     
adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的
参考例句：
  • I spent a very hectic Sunday.我度过了一个忙乱的星期天。
  • The two days we spent there were enjoyable but hectic.我们在那里度过的两天愉快但闹哄哄的。
54 disapproved 3ee9b7bf3f16130a59cb22aafdea92d0     
v.不赞成( disapprove的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • My parents disapproved of my marriage. 我父母不赞成我的婚事。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • She disapproved of her son's indiscriminate television viewing. 她不赞成儿子不加选择地收看电视。 来自《简明英汉词典》
55 overflowing df84dc195bce4a8f55eb873daf61b924     
n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式
参考例句：
  • The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。
  • The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。
56 exquisite zhez1     
adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的
参考例句：
  • I was admiring the exquisite workmanship in the mosaic.我当时正在欣赏镶嵌画的精致做工。
  • I still remember the exquisite pleasure I experienced in Bali.我依然记得在巴厘岛所经历的那种剧烈的快感。
57 confided 724f3f12e93e38bec4dda1e47c06c3b1     
v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的过去式和过去分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）
参考例句：
  • She confided all her secrets to her best friend. 她向她最要好的朋友倾吐了自己所有的秘密。
  • He confided to me that he had spent five years in prison. 他私下向我透露，他蹲过五年监狱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
58 mythical 4FrxJ     
adj.神话的；虚构的；想像的
参考例句：
  • Undeniably,he is a man of mythical status.不可否认，他是一个神话般的人物。
  • Their wealth is merely mythical.他们的财富完全是虚构的。
59 wont peXzFP     
adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯
参考例句：
  • He was wont to say that children are lazy.他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
  • It is his wont to get up early.早起是他的习惯。
60 diplomacy gu9xk     
n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕
参考例句：
  • The talks have now gone into a stage of quiet diplomacy.会谈现在已经进入了“温和外交”阶段。
  • This was done through the skill in diplomacy. 这是通过外交手腕才做到的。
61 perfectly 8Mzxb     
adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地
参考例句：
  • The witnesses were each perfectly certain of what they said.证人们个个对自己所说的话十分肯定。
  • Everything that we're doing is all perfectly above board.我们做的每件事情都是光明正大的。
62 conclusiveness 6b7377f978227ddffb30166b92f0307f     
n.最后； 释疑； 确定性； 结论性
参考例句：

分享到：


返回目录
上一章: CHAPTER IX
下一章: CHAPTER XI

英语听力 |  手机版  |  网页版
©英文小说网 2005-2010