The Landlady¹
BILLY WEAVER² HAD TRAVELLED down from London on the slow afternoon train, with a
change at Swindon on the way, and by the time he got to Bath it was about nine o’clock in the
evening and the moon was coming up out of a clear starry³ sky over the houses opposite the station
entrance. But the air was deadly cold and the wind was like a flat blade of ice on his cheeks.
‘Excuse me,’ he said, ‘but is there a fairly cheap hotel not too far away from here?’
‘Try The Bell and Dragon,’ the porter answered, pointing down the road. ‘They might take you
in. It’s about a quarter of a mile along on the other side.’
Billy thanked him and picked up his suitcase and set out to walk the quarter-mile to The Bell
and Dragon. He had never been to Bath before. He didn’t know anyone who lived there. But Mr
Greenslade at the Head Office in London had told him it was a splendid city. ‘Find your own
lodgings,’ he had said, ‘and then go along and report to the Branch Manager as soon as you’ve got
yourself settled.’
Billy was seventeen years old. He was wearing a new navy-blue overcoat, a new brown trilby
hat, and a new brown suit, and he was feeling fine. He walked briskly down the street. He was
trying to do everything briskly these days. Briskness⁴, he had decided⁵, was the one common
characteristic of all successful businessmen. The big shots up at Head Office were absolutely
fantastically brisk all the time. They were amazing.
There were no shops in this wide street that he was walking along, only a line of tall houses on
each side, all of them identical. They had porches and pillars and four or five steps going up to
their front doors, and it was obvious that once upon a time they had been very swanky residences.
But now, even in the darkness, he could see that the paint was peeling from the woodwork on their
doors and windows, and that the handsome white façades were cracked and blotchy

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1 landlady
n.女房东，女地主
参考例句：
I heard my landlady creeping stealthily up to my door.我听到我的女房东偷偷地来到我的门前。 The landlady came over to serve me.女店主过来接待我。

2 weaver
n.织布工；编织者
参考例句：
She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。 The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。

3 starry
adj.星光照耀的, 闪亮的
参考例句：
He looked at the starry heavens.他瞧着布满星星的天空。 I like the starry winter sky.我喜欢这满天星斗的冬夜。

4 briskness
n.敏捷，活泼
参考例句：
A child who was flying a kite sensed it in terms of briskness.一个孩子在放风筝时猛然感到的飞腾。 Father open the window to let in the briskness of the morning air.父亲打开窗户让早晨的清新空气进来。

5 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。

6 blotchy
adj.有斑点的，有污渍的；斑污
参考例句：
her blotchy and swollen face 她的布满斑点的浮肿的脸 Blotchy skin is a symptom of many skin diseases. 皮肤上出现污斑是许多皮肤病的症状。 来自互联网

7 illuminated
adj.被照明的；受启迪的
参考例句：
Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。 the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市

8 propped
支撑，支持，维持( prop的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He sat propped up in the bed by pillows. 他靠着枕头坐在床上。 This fence should be propped up. 这栅栏该用东西支一支。

9 panes
窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The sun caught the panes and flashed back at him. 阳光照到窗玻璃上，又反射到他身上。 The window-panes are dim with steam. 玻璃窗上蒙上了一层蒸汽。

10 standing
n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的
参考例句：
After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。 They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 underneath
adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面
参考例句：
Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。 She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

12 velvety
adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的
参考例句：
a velvety red wine 醇厚的红葡萄酒 Her skin was admired for its velvety softness. 她的皮肤如天鹅绒般柔软，令人赞叹。

13 hearth
n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面
参考例句：
She came and sat in a chair before the hearth.她走过来，在炉子前面的椅子上坐下。 She comes to the hearth,and switches on the electric light there.她走到壁炉那里，打开电灯。

14 belly
n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛
参考例句：
The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。 His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。

15 spotted
adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的
参考例句：
The milkman selected the spotted cows,from among a herd of two hundred.牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。 Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks.山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。

16 darts
n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔
参考例句：
His darts trophy takes pride of place on the mantelpiece. 他将掷镖奖杯放在壁炉顶上最显著的地方。 来自《简明英汉词典》 I never saw so many darts in a bodice! 我从没见过紧身胸衣上纳了这么多的缝褶！ 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 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。

18 conjured
用魔术变出( conjure的过去式和过去分词 )； 祈求，恳求； 变戏法； （变魔术般地） 使…出现
参考例句：
He conjured them with his dying breath to look after his children. 他临终时恳求他们照顾他的孩子。 His very funny joke soon conjured my anger away. 他讲了个十分有趣的笑话，使得我的怒气顿消。

19 watery
adj.有水的，水汪汪的；湿的，湿润的
参考例句：
In his watery eyes there is an expression of distrust.他那含泪的眼睛流露出惊惶失措的神情。 Her eyes became watery because of the smoke.因为烟熏，她的双眼变得泪汪汪的。

20 rapacious
adj.贪婪的，强夺的
参考例句：
He had a rapacious appetite for bird's nest soup.他吃燕窝汤吃个没够。 Rapacious soldiers looted the houses in the defeated city.贪婪的士兵洗劫了被打败的城市。

21 landladies
n.女房东，女店主，女地主( landlady的名词复数 )
参考例句：
The landladies paid court to her, in the obsequious way landladies have. 女店主们以她们特有的谄媚方式向她献殷勤。 来自辞典例句

22 peculiar
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。

23 dame
n.女士
参考例句：
The dame tell of her experience as a wife and mother.这位年长妇女讲了她作妻子和母亲的经验。 If you stick around,you'll have to marry that dame.如果再逗留多一会，你就要跟那个夫人结婚。

24 accurately
adv.准确地，精确地
参考例句：
It is hard to hit the ball accurately.准确地击中球很难。 Now scientists can forecast the weather accurately.现在科学家们能准确地预报天气。

25 extraordinarily
adv.格外地；极端地
参考例句：
She is an extraordinarily beautiful girl.她是个美丽非凡的姑娘。 The sea was extraordinarily calm that morning.那天清晨，大海出奇地宁静。

26 chilly
adj.凉快的，寒冷的
参考例句：
I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。 I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

27 neatly
adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地
参考例句：
Sailors know how to wind up a long rope neatly.水手们知道怎样把一条大绳利落地缠好。 The child's dress is neatly gathered at the neck.那孩子的衣服在领口处打着整齐的皱褶。

28 unpack
vt.打开包裹（或行李），卸货
参考例句：
I must unpack before dinner.我得在饭前把行李打开。 She said she would unpack the items later.她说以后再把箱子里的东西拿出来。

29 sitting-room
n.（BrE）客厅，起居室
参考例句：
The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。 Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。

30 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

31 unpacking
n.取出货物，拆包[箱]v.从（包裹等）中取出（所装的东西），打开行李取出( unpack的现在分词 )；拆包；解除…的负担；吐露（心事等）
参考例句：
Joe sat on the bed while Martin was unpacking. 马丁打开箱子取东西的时候，乔坐在床上。 来自《简明英汉词典》 They are unpacking a trunk. 他们正在打开衣箱。 来自《简明英汉词典》

32 trotted
小跑，急走( trot的过去分词 )； 匆匆忙忙地走
参考例句：
She trotted her pony around the field. 她骑着小马绕场慢跑。 Anne trotted obediently beside her mother. 安妮听话地跟在妈妈身边走。

33 cosy
adj.温暖而舒适的，安逸的
参考例句：
We spent a cosy evening chatting by the fire.我们在炉火旁聊天度过了一个舒适的晚上。 It was so warm and cosy in bed that Simon didn't want to get out.床上温暖而又舒适，西蒙简直不想下床了。

34 reins
感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带
参考例句：
She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。 The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。

35 frisky
adj.活泼的，欢闹的；n.活泼，闹着玩；adv.活泼地，闹着玩地
参考例句：
I felt frisky,as if I might break into a dance.我感到很欢快，似乎要跳起舞来。 His horse was feeling frisky,and he had to hold the reins tightly.马儿欢蹦乱跳，他不得不紧勒缰绳。

36 ginger
n.姜，精力，淡赤黄色；adj.淡赤黄色的；vt.使活泼，使有生气
参考例句：
There is no ginger in the young man.这个年轻人没有精神。 Ginger shall be hot in the mouth.生姜吃到嘴里总是辣的。

37 tantalizing
adj.逗人的；惹弄人的；撩人的；煽情的v.逗弄，引诱，折磨( tantalize的现在分词 )
参考例句：
This was my first tantalizing glimpse of the islands. 这是我第一眼看见的这些岛屿的动人美景。 来自《简明英汉词典》 We have only vague and tantalizing glimpses of his power. 我们只能隐隐约约地领略他的威力，的确有一种可望不可及的感觉。 来自英汉非文学 - 历史

38 sipping
v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 )
参考例句：
She sat in the sun, idly sipping a cool drink. 她坐在阳光下懒洋洋地抿着冷饮。 She sat there, sipping at her tea. 她坐在那儿抿着茶。

39 sip
v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量
参考例句：
She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。 Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

40 spoke
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
参考例句：
They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。 The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

41 rim
n.(圆物的)边，轮缘；边界
参考例句：
The water was even with the rim of the basin.盆里的水与盆边平齐了。 She looked at him over the rim of her glass.她的目光越过玻璃杯的边沿看着他。

42 emanate
v.发自，来自，出自
参考例句：
Waves emanate from the same atom source.波是由同一原子辐射的。 These chemicals can emanate certain poisonous gases.这些化学药品会散发出某些有毒的气味。

43 walnuts
胡桃（树）( walnut的名词复数 )； 胡桃木
参考例句：
Are there walnuts in this sauce? 这沙司里面有核桃吗？ We ate eggs and bacon, pickled walnuts and cheese. 我们吃鸡蛋，火腿，腌胡桃仁和干酪。

44 blemish
v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点
参考例句：
The slightest blemish can reduce market value.只要有一点最小的损害都会降低市场价值。 He wasn't about to blemish that pristine record.他本不想去玷污那清白的过去。

45 lapsed
adj.流失的，堕落的v.退步( lapse的过去式和过去分词 )；陷入；倒退；丧失
参考例句：
He had lapsed into unconsciousness. 他陷入了昏迷状态。 He soon lapsed into his previous bad habits. 他很快陷入以前的恶习中去。 来自《简明英汉词典》

46 admiration
n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕
参考例句：
He was lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene.他对风景之美赞不绝口。 We have a great admiration for the gold medalists.我们对金牌获得者极为敬佩。

47 awfully
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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