The May moon shone bright upon the private boarding-house of Mrs. Murphy. By reference to the almanac a large amount of territory will be discovered upon which its rays also fell. Spring was in its heydey, with hay fever soon to follow. The parks were green with new leaves and buyers for the Western and Southern trade. Flowers and summer-resort agents were blowing; the air and answers to Lawson were growing milder; handorgans, fountains and pinochle were playing everywhere.

The windows of Mrs. Murphy's boarding-house were open. A group of boarders were seated on the high stoop upon round, flat mats like German pancakes.

In one of the second-floor front windows Mrs. McCaskey awaited her husband. Supper was cooling on the table. Its heat went into Mrs. McCaskey.

At nine Mr. McCaskey came. He carried his coat on his arm and his pipe in his teeth; and he apologised for disturbing the boarders on the steps as he selected spots of stone between them on which to set his size 9, width Ds.

As he opened the door of his room he received a surprise. Instead of the usual stove-lid or potato-masher for him to dodge¹, came only words.

Mr. McCaskey reckoned that the benign² May moon had softened³ the breast of his spouse⁴.

"I heard ye," came the oral substitutes for kitchenware. "Ye can apollygise to riff-raff of the streets for settin' yer unhandy feet on the tails of their frocks, but ye'd walk on the neck of yer wife the length of a clothes-line without so much as a 'Kiss me fut,' and I'm sure it's that long from rubberin' out the windy for ye and the victuals⁶ cold such as there's money to buy after drinkin' up yer wages at Gallegher's every Saturday evenin', and the gas man here twice to-day for his."

"Woman!" said Mr. McCaskey, dashing his coat and hat upon a chair, "the noise of ye is an insult to me appetite. When ye run down politeness ye take the mortar⁷ from between the bricks of the foundations of society. 'Tis no more than exercisin' the acrimony of a gentleman when ye ask the

点击收听单词发音  

1 dodge
v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计
参考例句：
A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。 The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

2 benign
adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的
参考例句：
The benign weather brought North America a bumper crop.温和的气候给北美带来大丰收。 Martha is a benign old lady.玛莎是个仁慈的老妇人。

3 softened
（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰
参考例句：
His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。 The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。

4 spouse
n.配偶(指夫或妻)
参考例句：
Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。 What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？

5 ware
n.(常用复数)商品，货物
参考例句：
The shop sells a great variety of porcelain ware.这家店铺出售品种繁多的瓷器。 Good ware will never want a chapman.好货不须叫卖。

6 victuals
n.食物；食品
参考例句：
A plateful of coarse broken victuals was set before him.一盘粗劣的剩余饭食放到了他的面前。 There are no more victuals for the pig.猪没有吃的啦。

7 mortar
n.灰浆，灰泥；迫击炮；v.把…用灰浆涂接合
参考例句：
The mason flushed the joint with mortar.泥工用灰浆把接缝处嵌平。 The sound of mortar fire seemed to be closing in.迫击炮的吼声似乎正在逼近。

8 dissent
n./v.不同意，持异议
参考例句：
It is too late now to make any dissent.现在提出异议太晚了。 He felt her shoulders gave a wriggle of dissent.他感到她的肩膀因为不同意而动了一下。

9 barometer
n.气压表，睛雨表，反应指标
参考例句：
The barometer marked a continuing fall in atmospheric pressure.气压表表明气压在继续下降。 The arrow on the barometer was pointing to"stormy".气压计上的箭头指向“有暴风雨”。

10 foretold
v.预言，预示( foretell的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She foretold that the man would die soon. 她预言那人快要死了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Must lose one joy, by his life's star foretold. 这样注定：他，为了信守一个盟誓／就非得拿牺牲一个喜悦作代价。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 文学

11 hurled
v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂
参考例句：
He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。 The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 turnips
芜青( turnip的名词复数 )； 芜菁块根； 芜菁甘蓝块根； 怀表
参考例句：
Well, I like turnips, tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflowers, onions and carrots. 噢，我喜欢大萝卜、西红柿、茄子、菜花、洋葱和胡萝卜。 来自魔法英语-口语突破（高中） This is turnip soup, made from real turnips. 这是大头菜汤，用真正的大头菜做的。

13 novice
adj.新手的，生手的
参考例句：
As a novice writer,this is something I'm interested in.作为初涉写作的人，我对此很感兴趣。 She realized that she was a novice.她知道自己初出茅庐。

14 repartee
n.机敏的应答
参考例句：
This diplomat possessed an excellent gift for repartee.这位外交官具有卓越的应对才能。 He was a brilliant debater and his gift of repartee was celebrated.他擅长辩论，以敏于应答著称。

15 entree
n.入场权，进入权
参考例句：
She made a graceful entree into the ballroom.她进入舞厅时显示非常优雅。 Her wealth and reputation gave her entree into upper-class circles.她的财富和声望使她得以进入上层社会。

16 garnished
v.给（上餐桌的食物）加装饰( garnish的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
Her robes were garnished with gems. 她的礼服上装饰着宝石。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Serve the dish garnished with wedges of lime. 给这道菜配上几角酸橙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

17 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。

18 triumphantly
ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地
参考例句：
The lion was roaring triumphantly. 狮子正在发出胜利的吼叫。 Robert was looking at me triumphantly. 罗伯特正得意扬扬地看着我。

19 adversary
adj.敌手，对手
参考例句：
He saw her as his main adversary within the company.他将她视为公司中主要的对手。 They will do anything to undermine their adversary's reputation.他们会不择手段地去损害对手的名誉。

20 dodged
v.闪躲( dodge的过去式和过去分词 )；回避
参考例句：
He dodged cleverly when she threw her sabot at him. 她用木底鞋砸向他时，他机敏地闪开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》 He dodged the book that I threw at him. 他躲开了我扔向他的书。 来自《简明英汉词典》

21 gastronomical
adj.美食法的，美食学的
参考例句：

22 duel
n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争
参考例句：
The two teams are locked in a duel for first place.两个队为争夺第一名打得难解难分。 Duroy was forced to challenge his disparager to duel.杜洛瓦不得不向诋毁他的人提出决斗。

23 wailing
v.哭叫，哀号( wail的现在分词 )；沱
参考例句：
A police car raced past with its siren wailing. 一辆警车鸣着警报器飞驰而过。 The little girl was wailing miserably. 那小女孩难过得号啕大哭。

24 armistice
n.休战，停战协定
参考例句：
The two nations signed an armistice.两国签署了停火协议。 The Italian armistice is nothing but a clumsy trap.意大利的停战不过是一个笨拙的陷阱。

25 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。

26 utensils
器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物
参考例句：
Formerly most of our household utensils were made of brass. 以前我们家庭用的器皿多数是用黄铜做的。 Some utensils were in a state of decay when they were unearthed. 有些器皿在出土时已经残破。

27 meditated
深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑
参考例句：
He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。 She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。

28 betokening
v.预示，表示( betoken的现在分词 )
参考例句：
a clear blue sky betokening a fine day 预示着好天气的晴朗蓝天

29 dire
adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的
参考例句：
There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。 We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

30 extremity
n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度
参考例句：
I hope you will help them in their extremity.我希望你能帮助在穷途末路的他们。 What shall we do in this extremity?在这种极其困难的情况下我们该怎么办呢？

31 solicitor
n.初级律师，事务律师
参考例句：
The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。 The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

32 investigator
n.研究者，调查者，审查者
参考例句：
He was a special investigator for the FBI.他是联邦调查局的特别调查员。 The investigator was able to deduce the crime and find the criminal.调查者能够推出犯罪过程并锁定罪犯。

33 freckles
n.雀斑，斑点( freckle的名词复数 )
参考例句：
She had a wonderful clear skin with an attractive sprinkling of freckles. 她光滑的皮肤上有几处可爱的小雀斑。 来自《简明英汉词典》 When she lies in the sun, her face gets covered in freckles. 她躺在阳光下时，脸上布满了斑点。 来自《简明英汉词典》

34 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。

35 scour
v.搜索；擦，洗，腹泻，冲刷
参考例句：
Mother made me scour the family silver.母亲让我擦洗家里的银器。 We scoured the telephone directory for clues.我们仔细查阅电话簿以寻找线索。

36 shrieked
v.尖叫( shriek的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She shrieked in fright. 她吓得尖叫起来。 Li Mei-t'ing gave a shout, and Lu Tzu-hsiao shrieked, "Tell what? 李梅亭大声叫，陆子潇尖声叫：“告诉什么？ 来自汉英文学 - 围城

37 wailed
v.哭叫，哀号( wail的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
She wailed over her father's remains. 她对着父亲的遗体嚎啕大哭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 The women of the town wailed over the war victims. 城里的妇女为战争的死难者们痛哭。 来自辞典例句

38 colossal
adj.异常的，庞大的
参考例句：
There has been a colossal waste of public money.一直存在巨大的公款浪费。 Some of the tall buildings in that city are colossal.那座城市里的一些高层建筑很庞大。

39 bosom
n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的
参考例句：
She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。 A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。

40 lava
n.熔岩，火山岩
参考例句：
The lava flowed down the sides of the volcano.熔岩沿火山坡面涌流而下。 His anger spilled out like lava.他的愤怒像火山爆发似的迸发出来。

41 lobster
n.龙虾，龙虾肉
参考例句：
The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。 I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾，但它不适宜于我的健康。

42 delectable
adj.使人愉快的；美味的
参考例句：
What delectable food you cook!你做的食品真好吃！ But today the delectable seafood is no longer available in abundance.但是今天这种可口的海味已不再大量存在。

43 luscious
adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的
参考例句：
The watermelon was very luscious.Everyone wanted another slice.西瓜很可口，每个人都想再来一片。 What I like most about Gabby is her luscious lips!我最喜欢的是盖比那性感饱满的双唇！

44 simile
n.直喻，明喻
参考例句：
I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.我相信这种比拟在很大程度上道出了真实。 It is a trite simile to compare her teeth to pearls.把她的牙齿比做珍珠是陈腐的比喻。

45 calamity
n.灾害，祸患，不幸事件
参考例句：
Even a greater natural calamity cannot daunt us. 再大的自然灾害也压不垮我们。 The attack on Pearl Harbor was a crushing calamity.偷袭珍珠港(对美军来说)是一场毁灭性的灾难。

46 hoofs
n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 )
参考例句：
The stamp of the horse's hoofs on the wooden floor was loud. 马蹄踏在木头地板上的声音很响。 来自辞典例句 The noise of hoofs called him back to the other window. 马蹄声把他又唤回那扇窗子口。 来自辞典例句

47 galloping
adj. 飞驰的, 急性的 动词gallop的现在分词形式
参考例句：
The horse started galloping the moment I gave it a good dig. 我猛戳了马一下，它就奔驰起来了。 Japan is galloping ahead in the race to develop new technology. 日本在发展新技术的竞争中进展迅速，日新月异。

48 arbitration
n.调停，仲裁
参考例句：
The wage disagreement is under arbitration.工资纠纷正在仲裁中。 Both sides have agreed that the arbitration will be binding.双方都赞同仲裁具有约束力。

49 scooping
n.捞球v.抢先报道( scoop的现在分词 )；（敏捷地）抱起；抢先获得；用铲[勺]等挖（洞等）
参考例句：
Heated ice cream scoop is used for scooping really cold ice cream. 加热的冰淇淋勺是用来舀非常凉的冰淇淋的。 来自互联网 The scoop-up was the key phase during a scooping cycle. 3个区间中，铲取区间是整个作业循环的关键。 来自互联网

50 crooked
adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的
参考例句：
He crooked a finger to tell us to go over to him.他弯了弯手指，示意我们到他那儿去。 You have to drive slowly on these crooked country roads.在这些弯弯曲曲的乡间小路上你得慢慢开车。

51 forefinger
n.食指
参考例句：
He pinched the leaf between his thumb and forefinger.他将叶子捏在拇指和食指之间。 He held it between the tips of his thumb and forefinger.他用他大拇指和食指尖拿着它。

52 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。

53 sentimentally
adv.富情感地
参考例句：
I miss the good old days, ' she added sentimentally. ‘我怀念过去那些美好的日子，’她动情地补充道。 来自互联网 I have an emotional heart, it is sentimentally attached to you unforgettable. 我心中有一份情感，那是对你刻骨铭心的眷恋。 来自互联网

54 bustle
v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹
参考例句：
The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。 There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。

55 rumours
n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传
参考例句：
The rumours were completely baseless. 那些谣传毫无根据。 Rumours of job losses were later confirmed. 裁员的传言后来得到了证实。

56 surmises
v.臆测，推断( surmise的第三人称单数 )；揣测；猜想
参考例句：
The detective is completely correct in his surmises. 这个侦探所推测的完全正确。 来自《简明英汉词典》 As the reader probably surmises, a variety of interest tables exists. 正如读者可能推测的那样，存在着各种各样的利息表。 来自辞典例句

57 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。

58 plunged
v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降
参考例句：
The train derailed and plunged into the river. 火车脱轨栽进了河里。 She lost her balance and plunged 100 feet to her death. 她没有站稳，从100英尺的高处跌下摔死了。

59 cataract
n.大瀑布，奔流，洪水，白内障
参考例句：
He is an elderly gentleman who had had a cataract operation.他是一位曾经动过白内障手术的老人。 The way is blocked by the tall cataract.高悬的大瀑布挡住了去路。

60 uproar
n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸
参考例句：
She could hear the uproar in the room.她能听见房间里的吵闹声。 His remarks threw the audience into an uproar.他的讲话使听众沸腾起来。

61 linoleum
n.油布，油毯
参考例句：
They mislaid the linoleum.他们把油毡放错了地方。 Who will lay the linoleum?谁将铺设地板油毡？

62 sardonically
adv.讽刺地，冷嘲地
参考例句：
Some say sardonically that combat pay is good and that one can do quite well out of this war. 有些人讽刺地说战地的薪饷很不错，人们可借这次战争赚到很多钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》 Tu Wei-yueh merely drew himself up and smiled sardonically. 屠维岳把胸脯更挺得直些，微微冷笑。 来自子夜部分

63 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。

64 dispersed
adj. 被驱散的, 被分散的, 散布的
参考例句：
The clouds dispersed themselves. 云散了。 After school the children dispersed to their homes. 放学后，孩子们四散回家了。

65 deported
v.将…驱逐出境( deport的过去式和过去分词 )；举止
参考例句：
They stripped me of my citizenship and deported me. 他们剥夺我的公民资格，将我驱逐出境。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The convicts were deported to a deserted island. 罪犯们被流放到一个荒岛。 来自《简明英汉词典》