Elmwood, June 15, 18—.
I have been out among my flowers all the morning, digging, weeding, and transplanting, and then stopping a little to rest. Such perfect successes as my roses are this year, while my white lilies are the wonder of the town, and yet my heart was not with them to-day, and it was nothing to me that those fine people staying at the Towers came into the grounds while I was at work, "just to see and admire," they said, adding that there was no place like Elmwood in all the town of Cuylerville. I know that, and Guy and I have been so happy here, and I loved him so much, and never dreamed what was in store for me until it came so suddenly and seemed like a heavy blow.
Why did he want to get married, when he has lived to be thirty years old, without a care of any kind, and with money enough to allow him to indulge his taste for books, and pictures, and travel, and is respected by everybody, looked up to as the first man in town, and petted and cared for by me as few brothers have ever been petted and cared for; why, I say, did he want a change, and, if he must be married, why need he take a child of sixteen, whom he has only known since Christmas, and whose sole recommendation, so far as I can learn, is her pretty face?
Daisy McDonald is her name, and she lives in Indianapolis, where her father is a poor lawyer, and Guy met her last winter in Chicago and fell in love at once, and made two or three journeys West on "important business," he said, and then, some time in May, told me he was going to bring me a sister, the sweetest little creature, with such beautiful blue eyes and wonderful hair. I was sure to love her, he said, and when I suggested that she was very young, he replied that her youth was in her favor, as he could more easily mold her to the Thornton pattern.
Little he knows about girls, but then he was
perfectly1 infatuated and blind to everything but Daisy's eyes, and hair, and voice, which is so sweet and winning that it will speak for her at once; and he asked me to see to the furnishing of the rooms on the west side of the house, two which communicate with his own private library, where he spends a great deal of time with his books and writing. The room adjoining this he would have for Daisy's boudoir or
parlor2, where she could sit when he was occupied and she wished to be near him. This he would have fitted up in blue, as she had expressed a wish to that effect, and he said no expense must be spared to make it as pretty and attractive as possible. So the walls were
点击
收听单词发音
1
perfectly
|
|
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。
|
2
parlor
|
|
n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅 |
参考例句: |
- She was lying on a small settee in the parlor.她躺在客厅的一张小长椅上。
- Is there a pizza parlor in the neighborhood?附近有没有比萨店?
|
3
frescoed
|
|
壁画( fresco的名词复数 ); 温壁画技法,湿壁画 |
参考例句: |
- The Dunhuang frescoes are gems of ancient Chinese art. 敦煌壁画是我国古代艺术中的瑰宝。
- The frescoes in these churches are magnificent. 这些教堂里的壁画富丽堂皇。
|
4
tinted
|
|
adj. 带色彩的
动词tint的过去式和过去分词 |
参考例句: |
- a pair of glasses with tinted lenses 一副有色镜片眼镜
- a rose-tinted vision of the world 对世界的理想化看法
|
5
tint
|
|
n.淡色,浅色;染发剂;vt.着以淡淡的颜色 |
参考例句: |
- You can't get up that naturalness and artless rosy tint in after days.你今后不再会有这种自然和朴实无华的红润脸色。
- She gave me instructions on how to apply the tint.她告诉我如何使用染发剂。
|
6
texture
|
|
n.(织物)质地;(材料)构造;结构;肌理 |
参考例句: |
- We could feel the smooth texture of silk.我们能感觉出丝绸的光滑质地。
- Her skin has a fine texture.她的皮肤细腻。
|
7
proclivity
|
|
n.倾向,癖性 |
参考例句: |
- He has a proclivity toward violence.他有暴力的倾向。
- He has a proclivity for exaggeration.他总爱夸夸其谈。
|
8
unlimited
|
|
adj.无限的,不受控制的,无条件的 |
参考例句: |
- They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
- There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。
|
9
fickle
|
|
adj.(爱情或友谊上)易变的,不坚定的 |
参考例句: |
- Fluctuating prices usually base on a fickle public's demand.物价的波动往往是由于群众需求的不稳定而引起的。
- The weather is so fickle in summer.夏日的天气如此多变。
|
10
decided
|
|
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 |
参考例句: |
- This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
- There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
|
11
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。
|
12
countenance
|
|
n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 |
参考例句: |
- At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
- I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
|
13
complexion
|
|
n.肤色;情况,局面;气质,性格 |
参考例句: |
- Red does not suit with her complexion.红色与她的肤色不协调。
- Her resignation puts a different complexion on things.她一辞职局面就全变了。
|
14
gem
|
|
n.宝石,珠宝;受爱戴的人 [同]jewel |
参考例句: |
- The gem is beyond my pocket.这颗宝石我可买不起。
- The little gem is worth two thousand dollars.这块小宝石价值两千美元。
|
15
misgivings
|
|
n.疑虑,担忧,害怕;疑虑,担心,恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 );疑惧 |
参考例句: |
- I had grave misgivings about making the trip. 对于这次旅行我有过极大的顾虑。
- Don't be overtaken by misgivings and fear. Just go full stream ahead! 不要瞻前顾后, 畏首畏尾。甩开膀子干吧! 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
16
dread
|
|
vt.担忧,忧虑;惧怕,不敢;n.担忧,畏惧 |
参考例句: |
- We all dread to think what will happen if the company closes.我们都不敢去想一旦公司关门我们该怎么办。
- Her heart was relieved of its blankest dread.她极度恐惧的心理消除了。
|
17
subside
|
|
vi.平静,平息;下沉,塌陷,沉降 |
参考例句: |
- The emotional reaction which results from a serious accident takes time to subside.严重事故所引起的情绪化的反应需要时间来平息。
- The controversies surrounding population growth are unlikely to subside soon.围绕着人口增长问题的争论看来不会很快平息。
|
18
inclination
|
|
n.倾斜;点头;弯腰;斜坡;倾度;倾向;爱好 |
参考例句: |
- She greeted us with a slight inclination of the head.她微微点头向我们致意。
- I did not feel the slightest inclination to hurry.我没有丝毫着急的意思。
|
19
antediluvian
|
|
adj.史前的,陈旧的 |
参考例句: |
- His ideas are positively antediluvian!他的思想是纯粹的老古董。
- This antediluvian monetary system has now been replaced by the up-to-date monetary system of Japan.这种旧式的金融体系也已经被现代化的日本系统所取代。
|
20
hop
|
|
n.单脚跳,跳跃;vi.单脚跳,跳跃;着手做某事;vt.跳跃,跃过 |
参考例句: |
- The children had a competition to see who could hop the fastest.孩子们举行比赛,看谁单足跳跃最快。
- How long can you hop on your right foot?你用右脚能跳多远?
|
21
bouquets
|
|
n.花束( bouquet的名词复数 );(酒的)芳香 |
参考例句: |
- The welcoming crowd waved their bouquets. 欢迎的群众摇动着花束。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- As the hero stepped off the platform, he was surrounded by several children with bouquets. 当英雄走下讲台时,已被几名手持花束的儿童围住了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
22
ascertained
|
|
v.弄清,确定,查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The previously unidentified objects have now been definitely ascertained as being satellites. 原来所说的不明飞行物现在已证实是卫星。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- I ascertained that she was dead. 我断定她已经死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
|
23
disciple
|
|
n.信徒,门徒,追随者 |
参考例句: |
- Your disciple failed to welcome you.你的徒弟没能迎接你。
- He was an ardent disciple of Gandhi.他是甘地的忠实信徒。
|
24
shrubs
|
|
灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- The gardener spent a complete morning in trimming those two shrubs. 园丁花了整个上午的时间修剪那两处灌木林。
- These shrubs will need more light to produce flowering shoots. 这些灌木需要更多的光照才能抽出开花的新枝。
|
25
velvet
|
|
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。
|
26
literally
|
|
adv.照字面意义,逐字地;确实 |
参考例句: |
- He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
- Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候,她不走到真正要昏厥了,决不肯坐下来。
|
27
vessel
|
|
n.船舶;容器,器皿;管,导管,血管 |
参考例句: |
- The vessel is fully loaded with cargo for Shanghai.这艘船满载货物驶往上海。
- You should put the water into a vessel.你应该把水装入容器中。
|
28
tout
|
|
v.推销,招徕;兜售;吹捧,劝诱 |
参考例句: |
- They say it will let them tout progress in the war.他们称这将有助于鼓吹他们在战争中的成果。
- If your case studies just tout results,don't bother requiring registration to view them.如果你的案例研究只是吹捧结果,就别烦扰别人来注册访问了。
|
29
ensemble
|
|
n.合奏(唱)组;全套服装;整体,总效果 |
参考例句: |
- We should consider the buildings as an ensemble.我们应把那些建筑物视作一个整体。
- It is ensemble music for up to about ten players,with one player to a part.它是最多十人演奏的合奏音乐,每人担任一部分。
|
30
curiously
|
|
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。
|
31
criticise
|
|
v.批评,评论;非难 |
参考例句: |
- Right and left have much cause to criticise government.左翼和右翼有很多理由批评政府。
- It is not your place to criticise or suggest improvements!提出批评或给予改进建议并不是你的责任!
|
32
snarly
|
|
adj.善于嚣叫的;脾气坏的;爱谩骂的;纠缠在一起的 |
参考例句: |
- It was fought in East Main Street in Columbus with a large, snarly nondescript. 这一架是在哥伦布东大街打的,对手是个大膘肥,呲牙咧嘴,是个不伦不类的杂种。 来自辞典例句
|
33
vent
|
|
n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 |
参考例句: |
- He gave vent to his anger by swearing loudly.他高声咒骂以发泄他的愤怒。
- When the vent became plugged,the engine would stop.当通风口被堵塞时,发动机就会停转。
|
34
sundry
|
|
adj.各式各样的,种种的 |
参考例句: |
- This cream can be used to treat sundry minor injuries.这种药膏可用来治各种轻伤。
- We can see the rich man on sundry occasions.我们能在各种场合见到那个富豪。
|
35
exclamations
|
|
n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 );感叹;感叹语;感叹词 |
参考例句: |
- The visitors broke into exclamations of wonder when they saw the magnificent Great Wall. 看到雄伟的长城,游客们惊叹不已。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- After the will has been read out, angry exclamations aroused. 遗嘱宣读完之后,激起一片愤怒的喊声。 来自辞典例句
|
36
grandeur
|
|
n.伟大,崇高,宏伟,庄严,豪华 |
参考例句: |
- The grandeur of the Great Wall is unmatched.长城的壮观是独一无二的。
- These ruins sufficiently attest the former grandeur of the place.这些遗迹充分证明此处昔日的宏伟。
|
37
helping
|
|
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的 |
参考例句: |
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
|
38
ruffles
|
|
褶裥花边( ruffle的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- You will need 12 yards of ribbon facing for the ruffles. 你将需要12码丝带为衣服镶边之用。
- It is impossible to live without some daily ruffles to our composure. 我们日常的平静生活免不了会遇到一些波折。
|
39
caress
|
|
vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 |
参考例句: |
- She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
- She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。
|
40
dawdling
|
|
adj.闲逛的,懒散的v.混(时间)( dawdle的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Stop dawdling! We're going to be late! 别磨蹭了,咱们快迟到了!
- It was all because of your dawdling that we were late. 都是你老磨蹭,害得我们迟到了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
|
41
regularity
|
|
n.规律性,规则性;匀称,整齐 |
参考例句: |
- The idea is to maintain the regularity of the heartbeat.问题就是要维持心跳的规律性。
- He exercised with a regularity that amazed us.他锻炼的规律程度令我们非常惊讶。
|
42
dawdle
|
|
vi.浪费时间;闲荡 |
参考例句: |
- Don't dawdle over your clothing.You're so beautiful already.不要再在衣着上花费时间了,你已经够漂亮的了。
- The teacher told the students not to dawdle away their time.老师告诉学生们别混日子。
|
43
daggers
|
|
匕首,短剑( dagger的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- I will speak daggers to her, but use none. 我要用利剑一样的话刺痛她的心,但绝不是真用利剑。
- The world lives at daggers drawn in a cold war. 世界在冷战中剑拨弩张。
|
44
wondrously
|
|
adv.惊奇地,非常,极其 |
参考例句: |
- She grow wondrously fond of stealing off to corners by herself. 她变得出奇地喜欢独自躲在角落里。 来自辞典例句
- If you but smile, spring zephyrs blow through my spirits, wondrously. 假使你只是仅仅对我微笑,春天的和风就会惊奇的吹过我的心灵间。 来自互联网
|
45
pricks
|
|
刺痛( prick的名词复数 ); 刺孔; 刺痕; 植物的刺 |
参考例句: |
- My skin pricks sometimes. 我的皮肤有时感到刺痛。
- You must obey the rule. It is useless for you to kick against the pricks. 你必须遵守规定,对抗对你是无益的。
|