A slow nature such as Maurice's appears insensitive, for it needs time even to feel. Its instinct is to assume that nothing either for good or evil has happened, and to resist the invader¹. Once gripped, it feels acutely, and its sensations in love are particularly profound. Given time, it can know and im-part ecstasy²; given time, it can sink to the heart of Hell. Thus it was that his agony began as a slight regret; sleepless³ nights and lonely days must intensify⁴ it into a frenzy⁵ that consumed him. It worked inwards, till it touched the root whence body and soul both spring, the"I"that he had been trained to obscure, and, realized at last, doubled its power and grew superhuman. For it might have been joy. New worlds broke loose in him at this, and he saw from the vastness of the ruin what ecstasy he had lost, what a communion.

They did not speak again for two days. Durham would have made it longer, but most of their friends were now in common, and they were bound to meet. Realizing this, he wrote Maurice an icy note suggesting that it would be a public convenience if they behaved as if nothing had happened. He added, "I shall be obliged if you will not mention my criminal morbidity⁶ to any-one. I am sure you will do this from the sensible way in which you took the news." Maurice did not reply, but first put the note with the letters he had received during the vac and afterwards burnt them all.

He supposed the climax⁷ of agony had come. But he was fresh to real suffering as to reality of any kind. They had yet to meet. On the second afternoon they found themselves in the same four at tennis and the pain grew excruciating. He could scarcely stand or see; if he returned Durham's service the ball sent a throb⁸ up his arm. Then they were made to be partners; once they jostled, Durham

点击收听单词发音  

1 invader
n.侵略者，侵犯者，入侵者
参考例句：
They suffered a lot under the invader's heel.在侵略者的铁蹄下，他们受尽了奴役。 A country must have the will to repel any invader.一个国家得有决心击退任何入侵者。

2 ecstasy
n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷
参考例句：
He listened to the music with ecstasy.他听音乐听得入了神。 Speechless with ecstasy,the little boys gazed at the toys.小孩注视着那些玩具，高兴得说不出话来。

3 sleepless
adj.不睡眠的，睡不著的，不休息的
参考例句：
The situation gave her many sleepless nights.这种情况害她一连好多天睡不好觉。 One evening I heard a tale that rendered me sleepless for nights.一天晚上，我听说了一个传闻，把我搞得一连几夜都不能入睡。

4 intensify
vt.加强；变强；加剧
参考例句：
We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。 They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

5 frenzy
n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动
参考例句：
He was able to work the young students up into a frenzy.他能激起青年学生的狂热。 They were singing in a frenzy of joy.他们欣喜若狂地高声歌唱。

6 morbidity
n.病态；不健全；发病；发病率
参考例句：
MC's also significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality induced by honeybee venom. 肥大细胞同样也能显著降低蜜蜂毒液诱发疾病的发病率和死亡率。 来自互联网 The result shows that incidence of myopia morbidity is 44.84%. 结果表明：近视眼的发病率为44.84%。 来自互联网

7 climax
n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点
参考例句：
The fifth scene was the climax of the play.第五场是全剧的高潮。 His quarrel with his father brought matters to a climax.他与他父亲的争吵使得事态发展到了顶点。

8 throb
v.震颤，颤动；(急速强烈地)跳动，搏动
参考例句：
She felt her heart give a great throb.她感到自己的心怦地跳了一下。 The drums seemed to throb in his ears.阵阵鼓声彷佛在他耳边震响。

9 winced
赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。 He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。

10 demur
v．表示异议，反对
参考例句：
Without demur, they joined the party in my rooms. 他们没有推辞就到我的屋里一起聚餐了。 He accepted the criticism without demur. 他毫无异议地接受了批评。

11 wagon
n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车
参考例句：
We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。 The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

12 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。

13 oozed
v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出
参考例句：
Blood oozed out of the wound. 血从伤口慢慢流出来。 Mud oozed from underground. 泥浆从地下冒出来。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

14 stifled
（使）窒息， （使）窒闷( stifle的过去式和过去分词 )； 镇压，遏制； 堵
参考例句：
The gas stifled them. 煤气使他们窒息。 The rebellion was stifled. 叛乱被镇压了。

15 lighting
n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光
参考例句：
The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。 The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

16 pyjamas
n.（宽大的）睡衣裤
参考例句：
This pyjamas has many repairs.这件睡衣有许多修补过的地方。 Martin was in his pyjamas.马丁穿着睡衣。

17 dispels
v.驱散，赶跑( dispel的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
This landmark case dispels the absolute finality of this dreaded disease. 这个划时代的病例终于改观了这可怕疾病的绝对结局。 来自辞典例句 Charles's experience--and that of all other researchers I have met--dispels many myths about water buffaloes. 查尔斯以及我所见到的其他研究人员的经验破除了关于水牛的许多奇谈。 来自辞典例句

18 brewed
调制( brew的过去式和过去分词 )； 酝酿； 沏（茶）； 煮（咖啡）
参考例句：
The beer is brewed in the Czech Republic. 这种啤酒是在捷克共和国酿造的。 The boy brewed a cup of coffee for his mother. 这男孩给他妈妈冲了一杯咖啡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 mingle
vt.使混合，使相混；vi.混合起来；相交往
参考例句：
If we mingle with the crowd,we should not be noticed.如果我们混在人群中，就不会被注意到。 Oil will not mingle with water.油和水不相融。