Rose accepted her uncle's offer, as Aunt Myra discovered two orthree days later. Coming in for an early call, and hearing voices inthe study, she opened the door, gave a cry and shut it quickly,looking a good deal startled. The Doctor appeared in a moment,and begged to know what the matter was.

　　"How can you ask when that long box looks so like a coffin¹ Ithought it was one, and that dreadful thing stared me in the face asI opened the door," answered Mrs. Myra, pointing to the skeletonthat hung from the chandelier cheerfully grinning at all beholders.

　　"This is a medical college where women are freely admitted, sowalk in, madam, and join the class if you'll do me the honour,"said the Doctor, waving her forward with his politest bow.

　　"Do, auntie, it's perfectly² splendid," cried Rose's voice, and Rose'sblooming face was seen behind the ribs³ of the skeleton, smilingand nodding in the gayest possible manner.

　　"What are you doing, child?" demanded Aunt Myra, dropping intoa chair and staring about her.

　　"Oh, I'm learning bones to-day, and I like it so much. There aretwelve ribs, you know, and the two lower ones are called floatingribs, because they are not fastened to the breastbone. That's whythey go in so easily if you lace tight and squeeze the lungs andheart in the let me see, what was that big word oh, I know thoraciccavity," and Rose beamed with pride as she aired her little bit ofknowledge.

　　"Do you think that is a good sort of thing for her to be pokingover? She is a nervous child, and I'm afraid it will be bad for her,"said Aunt Myra, watching Rose as she counted vertebr‘, andwaggled a hip-joint in its socket⁴ with an inquiring expression.

　　"An excellent study, for she enjoys it, and I mean to teach her howto manage her nerves so that they won't be a curse to her, as manya woman's become through ignorance or want of thought. To makea mystery or terror of these things is a mistake, and I mean Roseshall understand and respect her body so well that she won't dareto trifle with it as most women do.""And she really likes it?""Very much, auntie! It's all so wonderful, and so nicely planned,you can hardly believe what you see. Just think, there are600,000,000 air cells in one pair of lungs, and 2,000 pores to asquare inch of surface; so you see what quantities of air we musthave, and what care we should take of our skin so all the littledoors will open and shut right. And brains, auntie, you've no ideahow curious they are; I haven't got to them yet, but I long to, anduncle is going to show me a manikin that you can take to pieces.

点击收听单词发音  

1 coffin
n.棺材，灵柩
参考例句：
When one's coffin is covered,all discussion about him can be settled.盖棺论定。 The coffin was placed in the grave.那口棺材已安放到坟墓里去了。

2 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。

3 ribs
n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹
参考例句：
He suffered cracked ribs and bruising. 他断了肋骨还有挫伤。 Make a small incision below the ribs. 在肋骨下方切开一个小口。

4 socket
n.窝，穴，孔，插座，插口
参考例句：
He put the electric plug into the socket.他把电插头插入插座。 The battery charger plugs into any mains socket.这个电池充电器可以插入任何类型的电源插座。

5 promenade
n./v.散步
参考例句：
People came out in smarter clothes to promenade along the front.人们穿上更加时髦漂亮的衣服，沿着海滨散步。 We took a promenade along the canal after Sunday dinner.星期天晚饭后我们沿着运河散步。

6 ardent
adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的
参考例句：
He's an ardent supporter of the local football team.他是本地足球队的热情支持者。 Ardent expectations were held by his parents for his college career.他父母对他的大学学习抱着殷切的期望。

7 goggles
n.护目镜
参考例句：
Skiers wear goggles to protect their eyes from the sun.滑雪者都戴上护目镜使眼睛不受阳光伤害。 My swimming goggles keep steaming up so I can't see.我的护目镜一直有水雾，所以我看不见。

8 kindly
adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地
参考例句：
Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。 A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

9 mechanism
n.机械装置；机构，结构
参考例句：
The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。 The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

10 illustrated
adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词
参考例句：
His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition. 他在讲演中使用了探险时拍摄到的幻灯片。 The manufacturing Methods: Will be illustrated in the next chapter. 制作方法将在下一章说明。

11 mischief
n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹
参考例句：
Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。 He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

12 mutual
adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的
参考例句：
We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。 Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

13 virtues
美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处
参考例句：
Doctors often extol the virtues of eating less fat. 医生常常宣扬少吃脂肪的好处。 She delivered a homily on the virtues of family life. 她进行了一场家庭生活美德方面的说教。

14 longing
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。

15 maiden
n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的
参考例句：
The prince fell in love with a fair young maiden.王子爱上了一位年轻美丽的少女。 The aircraft makes its maiden flight tomorrow.这架飞机明天首航。

16 worthy
adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的
参考例句：
I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。 There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

17 orphaned
[计][修]孤立
参考例句：
Orphaned children were consigned to institutions. 孤儿都打发到了福利院。 He was orphaned at an early age. 他幼年时便成了孤儿。

18 afflicted
使受痛苦，折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。 A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。

19 yearned
渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The people yearned for peace. 人民渴望和平。 She yearned to go back to the south. 她渴望回到南方去。

20 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。

21 physiology
n.生理学，生理机能
参考例句：
He bought a book about physiology.他买了一本生理学方面的书。 He was awarded the Nobel Prize for achievements in physiology.他因生理学方面的建树而被授予诺贝尔奖。

22 niche
n.壁龛；合适的职务(环境、位置等)
参考例句：
Madeleine placed it carefully in the rocky niche. 玛德琳小心翼翼地把它放在岩石壁龛里。 The really talented among women would always make their own niche.妇女中真正有才能的人总是各得其所。

23 beckon
v.(以点头或打手势)向...示意，召唤
参考例句：
She crooked her finger to beckon him.她勾勾手指向他示意。 The wave for Hawaii beckon surfers from all around the world.夏威夷的海浪吸引着世界各地的冲浪者前来。

24 giggle
n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说
参考例句：
Both girls began to giggle.两个女孩都咯咯地笑了起来。 All that giggle and whisper is too much for me.我受不了那些咯咯的笑声和交头接耳的样子。

25 rattle
v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓
参考例句：
The baby only shook the rattle and laughed and crowed.孩子只是摇着拨浪鼓，笑着叫着。 She could hear the rattle of the teacups.她听见茶具叮当响。

26 tickle
v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒
参考例句：
Wilson was feeling restless. There was a tickle in his throat.威尔逊只觉得心神不定。嗓子眼里有些发痒。 I am tickle pink at the news.听到这消息我高兴得要命。

27 promiscuous
adj.杂乱的，随便的
参考例句：
They were taking a promiscuous stroll when it began to rain.他们正在那漫无目的地散步，突然下起雨来。 Alec know that she was promiscuous and superficial.亚历克知道她是乱七八糟和浅薄的。

28 pranks
n.玩笑，恶作剧( prank的名词复数 )
参考例句：
Frank's errancy consisted mostly of pranks. 法兰克错在老喜欢恶作剧。 来自辞典例句 He always leads in pranks and capers. 他老是带头胡闹和开玩笑。 来自辞典例句

29 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。

30 gratitude
adj.感激，感谢
参考例句：
I have expressed the depth of my gratitude to him.我向他表示了深切的谢意。 She could not help her tears of gratitude rolling down her face.她感激的泪珠禁不住沿着面颊流了下来。

31 pensively
adv.沉思地，焦虑地
参考例句：
Garton pensively stirred the hotchpotch of his hair. 加顿沉思着搅动自己的乱发。 来自辞典例句 "Oh, me,'said Carrie, pensively. "I wish I could live in such a place." “唉，真的，"嘉莉幽幽地说，"我真想住在那种房子里。” 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹