“DING-DONG！Ding-Dong！”It sounds up from the “bell-deep”in the Odense River．What river is that？ Every child in the town of Odense knows that it runs at the bottom of the gardens and flows on under the wooden bridges from the dam to the water－mill．In the river grow the yellow water－lilies and brown feathery reeds； the dark velvety¹ reed－mace grows there， high and thick；old and decayed willows， slanting² and tottering，hang far out over the stream beside the monks’ meadow and by the bleach-in ground；but opposite there are gardens upon gardens，each different from the rest， some with pretty flowers and bowers⁴ like little dolls’ pleasure grounds，others display－in only cabbage and other kitchen plants； and here and there the gardens cannot be seen at all， for the great elder trees that spread themselves out by the bank， and hang far out over the streaming waters， which are deeper here and there than an oar⁵ can fathom．Opposite the old nunnery is the deepest place， which is called the“bell－deep”，and there dwellls the “River－man”．He sleeps through the day while the sun shines down upon the water；but in starry⁷ and moonlit nights he shows himself．He is very old：grandmother says that she has heard her own grandmother tell of him； he is said to lead a solitary⁸ life，and to have nobody with whom he can converse⁹ save the great old church Bell． Once the Bell hung in the church tower；but now there is no trace left of the tower or of the church，which was called St．Alban's．

“Ding-dong！ Ding－dong！”sounded the Bell， when the tower still stood there；and one evening，while the sun was setting，and the Bell was swinging away bravely，it broke loose and came flying down through the air，the brilliant metal shining in the ruddy beam．

“Ding－dong！Ding-dong！ Now I'm going to bed！”sang the Bell，and flew down into the Odense River where it is deepest；and that is why the place is called the “bell－deep”．

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1 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。

2 slanting
倾斜的，歪斜的
参考例句：
The rain is driving [slanting] in from the south. 南边潲雨。 The line is slanting to the left. 这根线向左斜了。

3 monk
n.和尚，僧侣，修道士
参考例句：
The man was a monk from Emei Mountain.那人是峨眉山下来的和尚。 Buddhist monk sat with folded palms.和尚合掌打坐。

4 bowers
n.（女子的）卧室( bower的名词复数 )；船首锚；阴凉处；鞠躬的人
参考例句：
If Mr Bowers is right, low government-bond yields could lose their appeal and equities could rebound. 如果鲍尔斯先生的预计是对的，那么低收益的国债将会失去吸引力同时股价将会反弹。 来自互联网

5 oar
n.桨，橹，划手；v.划行
参考例句：
The sailors oar slowly across the river.水手们慢慢地划过河去。 The blade of the oar was bitten off by a shark.浆叶被一条鲨鱼咬掉了。

6 nun
n.修女，尼姑
参考例句：
I can't believe that the famous singer has become a nun.我无法相信那个著名的歌星已做了修女。 She shaved her head and became a nun.她削发为尼。

7 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。

8 solitary
adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士
参考例句：
I am rather fond of a solitary stroll in the country.我颇喜欢在乡间独自徜徉。 The castle rises in solitary splendour on the fringe of the desert.这座城堡巍然耸立在沙漠的边际，显得十分壮美。

9 converse
vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反
参考例句：
He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。 I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

10 scaly
adj.鱼鳞状的；干燥粗糙的
参考例句：
Reptiles possess a scaly,dry skin.爬行类具有覆盖着鳞片的干燥皮肤。 The iron pipe is scaly with rust.铁管子因为生锈一片片剥落了。

11 forth
adv.向前；向外，往外
参考例句：
The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。 He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

12 bishop
n.主教，（国际象棋）象
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。 Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。

13 concealed
a.隐藏的，隐蔽的
参考例句：
The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。 I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。

14 magpies
喜鹊（magpie的复数形式）
参考例句：
They set forth chattering like magpies. 他们叽叽喳喳地出发了。 James: besides, we can take some pied magpies home, for BBQ. 此外，我们还可以打些喜鹊回家，用来烧烤。

15 throng
n.人群，群众；v.拥挤，群集
参考例句：
A patient throng was waiting in silence.一大群耐心的人在静静地等着。 The crowds thronged into the mall.人群涌进大厅。

16 drawn
v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的
参考例句：
All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。 Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

17 treacherous
adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的
参考例句：
The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers.路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。 The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on.在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。

18 pane
n.窗格玻璃，长方块
参考例句：
He broke this pane of glass.他打破了这块窗玻璃。 Their breath bloomed the frosty pane.他们呼出的水气，在冰冷的窗玻璃上形成一层雾。

19 horde
n.群众，一大群
参考例句：
A horde of children ran over the office building.一大群孩子在办公大楼里到处奔跑。 Two women were quarrelling on the street,surrounded by horde of people.有两个妇人在街上争吵，被一大群人围住了。

20 utterance
n.用言语表达，话语，言语
参考例句：
This utterance of his was greeted with bursts of uproarious laughter.他的讲话引起阵阵哄然大笑。 My voice cleaves to my throat,and sob chokes my utterance.我的噪子哽咽，泣不成声。

21 heed
v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心
参考例句：
You must take heed of what he has told.你要注意他所告诉的事。 For the first time he had to pay heed to his appearance.这是他第一次非得注意自己的外表不可了。

22 vault
n.拱形圆顶，地窖，地下室
参考例句：
The vault of this cathedral is very high.这座天主教堂的拱顶非常高。 The old patrician was buried in the family vault.这位老贵族埋在家族的墓地里。