VI A LITTLE SURPRISE
"Sir," said little Mr. Selwyn, bringing his sharp black eyes to bear upon old Mr. King, "you've
been very good to me, and I've not been always pleasant. But it's my way, sir; it's my way."
Mr. King nodded pleasantly, although deep in his heart he agreed with the
choleric1 old gentleman.
"But as for Polly, why, she's good--good as gold, sir." There was no mistaking Mr. Selwyn's
sentiments there, and his old cheek glowed while giving what to him meant the most wonderful
praise to be paid to a person.
Old Mr. King straightened up. "You've said the right thing now," he declared.
"And I wish I could see that girl when she's grown up," added the little old gentleman. "I want
really to know what sort of a woman she'll make. I do, indeed, sir."
"It isn't necessary to speculate much on it," answered Mr. King, confidently, "when you look at her
mother and remember the bringing up that Polly Pepper has had."
The little old gentleman
squinted2 hard at the clouds
scudding3 across the blue sky. "That's so," he
said at last. "Well, I'm sorry we are to part," he added. "And, sir, I really wish you would come
down to my place with your party and give me a fortnight during your stay in England. I really do,
sir, upon me word." There was no mistaking his earnestness as he thrust out one thin, long-
fingered hand. With the other, he set a card within Mr. King's fingers.
"Arthur Selwyn, The Earl of Cavendish," met Mr. King's eyes.
"I had a fancy to do this thing," said the little old gentleman, "to run across from America in
simple fashion, and it pleased the boy, who hates a fuss. And we've gotten rid of all sorts of
nuisances by it; interviews, and
tiresome4 people. And I've enjoyed it
mightily5." He
chuckled6 away
till it seemed as if he were never going to stop. Old Mr. King burst out laughing, too; and the pair
点击
收听单词发音
1
choleric
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adj.易怒的,性情暴躁的 |
参考例句: |
- His pride and choleric temper were to ruin him.他生性高傲自恃而又易于发怒,这会毁了他的。
- He was affable at one moment,choleric the next.他一会儿还和蔼可亲,可一转眼就火冒三丈。
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2
squinted
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斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 ); 眯着眼睛; 瞟; 从小孔或缝隙里看 |
参考例句: |
- Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩,眯起眼睛瞄准。
- I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。
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3
scudding
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n.刮面v.(尤指船、舰或云彩)笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- Clouds were scudding across the sky. 云飞越天空。 来自辞典例句
- China Advertising Photo Market-Like a Rising Wind and Scudding Clouds. 中国广告图片市场:风起云涌。 来自互联网
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4
tiresome
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adj.令人疲劳的,令人厌倦的 |
参考例句: |
- His doubts and hesitations were tiresome.他的疑惑和犹豫令人厌烦。
- He was tiresome in contending for the value of his own labors.他老为他自己劳动的价值而争强斗胜,令人生厌。
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5
mightily
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ad.强烈地;非常地 |
参考例句: |
- He hit the peg mightily on the top with a mallet. 他用木槌猛敲木栓顶。
- This seemed mightily to relieve him. 干完这件事后,他似乎轻松了许多。
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6
chuckled
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轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She chuckled at the memory. 想起这件事她就暗自发笑。
- She chuckled softly to herself as she remembered his astonished look. 想起他那惊讶的表情,她就轻轻地暗自发笑。
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7
awfully
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adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地 |
参考例句: |
- Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
- I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
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8
fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 |
参考例句: |
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
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9
grumbled
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抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 ); 发牢骚; 咕哝; 发哼声 |
参考例句: |
- He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
- The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏,水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
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10
loathe
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v.厌恶,嫌恶 |
参考例句: |
- I loathe the smell of burning rubber.我厌恶燃着的橡胶散发的气味。
- You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时,你会厌恶油腻的气味。
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11
complacently
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adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 |
参考例句: |
- He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
- "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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12
bonnet
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n.无边女帽;童帽 |
参考例句: |
- The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光,使之不刺眼。
- She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽,帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
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13
whined
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v.哀号( whine的过去式和过去分词 );哀诉,诉怨 |
参考例句: |
- The dog whined at the door, asking to be let out. 狗在门前嚎叫着要出去。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- He whined and pouted when he did not get what he wanted. 他要是没得到想要的东西就会发牢骚、撅嘴。 来自辞典例句
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14
envious
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adj.嫉妒的,羡慕的 |
参考例句: |
- I don't think I'm envious of your success.我想我并不嫉妒你的成功。
- She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
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15
vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 |
参考例句: |
- He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
- He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
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16
impulsively
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adv.冲动地 |
参考例句: |
- She leant forward and kissed him impulsively. 她倾身向前,感情冲动地吻了他。
- Every good, true, vigorous feeling I had gathered came impulsively round him. 我的一切良好、真诚而又强烈的感情都紧紧围绕着他涌现出来。
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17
dyke
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n.堤,水坝,排水沟 |
参考例句: |
- If one sheep leap over the dyke,all the rest will follow.一只羊跳过沟,其余的羊也跟着跳。
- One ant-hole may cause the collapse of a thousand-li dyke.千里长堤,溃于蚁穴。
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18
dykes
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abbr.diagonal wire cutters 斜线切割机n.堤( dyke的名词复数 );坝;堰;沟 |
参考例句: |
- They built dykes and dam to hold back the rising flood waters. 他们修筑了堤坝来阻挡上涨的洪水。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The dykes were built as a protection against the sea. 建筑堤坝是为了防止海水泛滥。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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19
implored
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恳求或乞求(某人)( implore的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- She implored him to stay. 她恳求他留下。
- She implored him with tears in her eyes to forgive her. 她含泪哀求他原谅她。
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20
passionately
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ad.热烈地,激烈地 |
参考例句: |
- She could hate as passionately as she could love. 她能恨得咬牙切齿,也能爱得一往情深。
- He was passionately addicted to pop music. 他酷爱流行音乐。
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21
obstinate
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adj.顽固的,倔强的,不易屈服的,较难治愈的 |
参考例句: |
- She's too obstinate to let anyone help her.她太倔强了,不会让任何人帮她的。
- The trader was obstinate in the negotiation.这个商人在谈判中拗强固执。
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22
wrung
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绞( wring的过去式和过去分词 ); 握紧(尤指别人的手); 把(湿衣服)拧干; 绞掉(水) |
参考例句: |
- He has wrung the words from their true meaning. 他曲解这些字的真正意义。
- He wrung my hand warmly. 他热情地紧握我的手。
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23
heartily
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adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 |
参考例句: |
- He ate heartily and went out to look for his horse.他痛快地吃了一顿,就出去找他的马。
- The host seized my hand and shook it heartily.主人抓住我的手,热情地和我握手。
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24
amazement
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n.惊奇,惊讶 |
参考例句: |
- All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
- He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
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25
esteem
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n.尊敬,尊重;vt.尊重,敬重;把…看作 |
参考例句: |
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- The veteran worker ranks high in public love and esteem.那位老工人深受大伙的爱戴。
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26
beseeching
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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
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merging
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合并(分类) |
参考例句: |
- Many companies continued to grow by merging with or buying competing firms. 许多公司通过合并或收买竞争对手的公司而不断扩大。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
- To sequence by repeated splitting and merging. 用反复分开和合并的方法进行的排序。
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28
determined
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adj.坚定的;有决心的 |
参考例句: |
- I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
- He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
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wharf
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n.码头,停泊处 |
参考例句: |
- We fetch up at the wharf exactly on time.我们准时到达码头。
- We reached the wharf gasping for breath.我们气喘吁吁地抵达了码头。
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30
engrossed
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adj.全神贯注的 |
参考例句: |
- The student is engrossed in his book.这名学生正在专心致志地看书。
- No one had ever been quite so engrossed in an evening paper.没人会对一份晚报如此全神贯注。
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31
hop
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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?
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32
delightful
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adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 |
参考例句: |
- We had a delightful time by the seashore last Sunday.上星期天我们在海滨玩得真痛快。
- Peter played a delightful melody on his flute.彼得用笛子吹奏了一支欢快的曲子。
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33
peculiar
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adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 |
参考例句: |
- He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
- He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
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34
specimens
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n.样品( specimen的名词复数 );范例;(化验的)抽样;某种类型的人 |
参考例句: |
- Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
- The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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35
steered
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v.驾驶( steer的过去式和过去分词 );操纵;控制;引导 |
参考例句: |
- He steered the boat into the harbour. 他把船开进港。
- The freighter steered out of Santiago Bay that evening. 那天晚上货轮驶出了圣地亚哥湾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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36
plunging
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adj.跳进的,突进的v.颠簸( plunge的现在分词 );暴跌;骤降;突降 |
参考例句: |
- War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发,生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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37
longing
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n.(for)渴望 |
参考例句: |
- Hearing the tune again sent waves of longing through her.再次听到那首曲子使她胸中充满了渴望。
- His heart burned with longing for revenge.他心中燃烧着急欲复仇的怒火。
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38
imploringly
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adv. 恳求地, 哀求地 |
参考例句: |
- He moved his lips and looked at her imploringly. 他嘴唇动着,哀求地看着她。
- He broke in imploringly. 他用恳求的口吻插了话。
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39
beckoning
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adj.引诱人的,令人心动的v.(用头或手的动作)示意,召唤( beckon的现在分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- An even more beautiful future is beckoning us on. 一个更加美好的未来在召唤我们继续前进。 来自辞典例句
- He saw a youth of great radiance beckoning to him. 他看见一个丰神飘逸的少年向他招手。 来自辞典例句
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40
marvel
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vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异;n.令人惊异的事 |
参考例句: |
- The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
- The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。
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41
dreary
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adj.令人沮丧的,沉闷的,单调乏味的 |
参考例句: |
- They live such dreary lives.他们的生活如此乏味。
- She was tired of hearing the same dreary tale of drunkenness and violence.她听够了那些关于酗酒和暴力的乏味故事。
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42
poking
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n. 刺,戳,袋
vt. 拨开,刺,戳
vi. 戳,刺,捅,搜索,伸出,行动散慢 |
参考例句: |
- He was poking at the rubbish with his stick. 他正用手杖拨动垃圾。
- He spent his weekends poking around dusty old bookshops. 他周末都泡在布满尘埃的旧书店里。
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43
berth
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n.卧铺,停泊地,锚位;v.使停泊 |
参考例句: |
- She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
- They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。
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44
stuffy
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adj.不透气的,闷热的 |
参考例句: |
- It's really hot and stuffy in here.这里实在太热太闷了。
- It was so stuffy in the tent that we could sense the air was heavy with moisture.帐篷里很闷热,我们感到空气都是潮的。
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45
wriggling
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v.扭动,蠕动,蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 );(使身体某一部位)扭动;耍滑不做,逃避(应做的事等);蠕蠕 |
参考例句: |
- The baby was wriggling around on my lap. 婴儿在我大腿上扭来扭去。
- Something that looks like a gray snake is wriggling out. 有一种看来象是灰蛇的东西蠕动着出来了。 来自辞典例句
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