Sept. 28.

My Dear Colvin, — Since I last laid down my pen, I have written and rewritten The Beach of Falesa; something like sixty thousand words of sterling¹ domestic fiction (the story, you will understand, is only half that length); and now I don’t want to write any more again for ever, or feel so; and I’ve got to overhaul² it once again to my sorrow. I was all yesterday revising, and found a lot of slacknesses and (what is worse in this kind of thing) some literaryisms. One of the puzzles is this: It is a first person story — a trader telling his own adventure in an island. When I began I allowed myself a few liberties, because I was afraid of the end; now the end proved quite easy, and could be done in the pace; so the beginning remains³ about a quarter tone out (in places); but I have rather decided⁴ to let it stay so. The problem is always delicate; it is the only thing that worries me in first person tales, which otherwise (quo’ Alan) ‘set better wi’ my genius.’ There is a vast deal of fact in the story, and some pretty good comedy. It is the first realistic South Sea story; I mean with real South Sea character and details of life. Everybody else who has tried, that I have seen, got carried away by the romance, and ended in a kind of sugar-candy sham⁵ epic⁶, and the whole effect was lost — there was no etching, no human grin, consequently no conviction. Now I have got the smell and look of the thing a good deal. You will know more about the South Seas after you have read my little tale than if you had read a library. As to whether any one else will read it, I have no guess. I am in an off time, but there is just the possibility it might make a hit; for the yarn⁷ is good and melodramatic, and there is quite a love affair — for me; and Mr. Wiltshire (the narrator) is a huge lark8

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1 sterling
adj.英币的(纯粹的，货真价实的)；n.英国货币(英镑)
参考例句：
Could you tell me the current rate for sterling, please?能否请您告诉我现行英国货币的兑换率？ Sterling has recently been strong,which will help to abate inflationary pressures.英国货币最近非常坚挺，这有助于减轻通胀压力。

2 overhaul
v./n.大修，仔细检查
参考例句：
Master Worker Wang is responsible for the overhaul of this grinder.王师傅主修这台磨床。 It is generally appreciated that the rail network needs a complete overhaul.众所周知，铁路系统需要大检修。

3 remains
n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹
参考例句：
He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。 The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

4 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。

5 sham
n./adj.假冒(的)，虚伪(的)
参考例句：
They cunningly played the game of sham peace.他们狡滑地玩弄假和平的把戏。 His love was a mere sham.他的爱情是虚假的。

6 epic
n.史诗，叙事诗；adj.史诗般的，壮丽的
参考例句：
I gave up my epic and wrote this little tale instead.我放弃了写叙事诗，而写了这个小故事。 They held a banquet of epic proportions.他们举行了盛大的宴会。

7 yarn
n.纱，纱线，纺线；奇闻漫谈，旅行轶事
参考例句：
I stopped to have a yarn with him.我停下来跟他聊天。 The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。

8 lark
n.云雀，百灵鸟；n.嬉戏，玩笑；vi.嬉戏
参考例句：
He thinks it cruel to confine a lark in a cage.他认为把云雀关在笼子里太残忍了。 She lived in the village with her grandparents as cheerful as a lark.她同祖父母一起住在乡间非常快活。

9 conglomerate
n.综合商社，多元化集团公司
参考例句：
The firm has been taken over by an American conglomerate.该公司已被美国一企业集团接管。 An American conglomerate holds a major share in the company.一家美国的大联合企业持有该公司的大部分股份。

10 mar
vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟
参考例句：
It was not the custom for elderly people to mar the picnics with their presence.大人们照例不参加这样的野餐以免扫兴。 Such a marriage might mar your career.这样的婚姻说不定会毁了你的一生。

11 dynamite
n./vt.(用)炸药(爆破)
参考例句：
The workmen detonated the dynamite.工人们把炸药引爆了。 The philosopher was still political dynamite.那位哲学家仍旧是政治上的爆炸性人物。

12 evasion
n.逃避，偷漏(税)
参考例句：
The movie star is in prison for tax evasion.那位影星因为逃税而坐牢。 The act was passed as a safeguard against tax evasion.这项法案旨在防止逃税行为。

13 insolence
n.傲慢；无礼；厚颜；傲慢的态度
参考例句：
I've had enough of your insolence, and I'm having no more. 我受够了你的侮辱，不能再容忍了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》 How can you suffer such insolence? 你怎么能容忍这种蛮横的态度？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

14 muddled
adj.混乱的；糊涂的；头脑昏昏然的v.弄乱，弄糟( muddle的过去式)；使糊涂；对付，混日子
参考例句：
He gets muddled when the teacher starts shouting. 老师一喊叫他就心烦意乱。 I got muddled up and took the wrong turning. 我稀里糊涂地拐错了弯。 来自《简明英汉词典》

15 loathe
v.厌恶，嫌恶
参考例句：
I loathe the smell of burning rubber.我厌恶燃着的橡胶散发的气味。 You loathe the smell of greasy food when you are seasick.当你晕船时，你会厌恶油腻的气味。

16 treacherously
背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地
参考例句：
The mountain road treacherously. 山路蜿蜒曲折。 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. 他们却如亚当背约，在境内向我行事诡诈。

17 mere
adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过
参考例句：
That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。 It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

18 prescription
n.处方，开药；指示，规定
参考例句：
The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。 The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

19 veracious
adj.诚实可靠的
参考例句：
Miss Stackpole was a strictly veracious reporter.斯坦克波尔小姐是一丝不苟、实事求是的记者。 We need to make a veracious evaluation.我们需要事先作出准确的估计。

20 irritation
n.激怒，恼怒，生气
参考例句：
He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited.他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。 Barbicane said nothing,but his silence covered serious irritation.巴比康什么也不说，但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。

21 dynamiting
v.（尤指用于采矿的）甘油炸药( dynamite的现在分词 )；会引起轰动的人[事物]；增重
参考例句：
Somebody wildly suggested dynamiting it. 有人竟然轻率地主张炸开它。 来自辞典例句 Hidden boulders have been removed by dynamiting. 暗礁都用炸药炸掉了。 来自辞典例句

22 soda
n.苏打水；汽水
参考例句：
She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。 I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

23 farce
n.闹剧，笑剧，滑稽戏；胡闹
参考例句：
They played a shameful role in this farce.他们在这场闹剧中扮演了可耻的角色。 The audience roared at the farce.闹剧使观众哄堂大笑。

24 divulged
v.吐露，泄露( divulge的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
He divulged nothing to him save the terrible handicap of being young. 他想不出个所以然来，只是想到自己年纪尚幼，极端不利。 来自辞典例句 The spy divulged the secret plans to the enemy. 那名间谍把秘密计划泄漏给敌人。 来自辞典例句

25 tattooed
v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击
参考例句：
He had tattooed his wife's name on his upper arm. 他把妻子的名字刺在上臂上。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The sailor had a heart tattooed on his arm. 那水兵在手臂上刺上一颗心。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

26 stolid
adj.无动于衷的，感情麻木的
参考例句：
Her face showed nothing but stolid indifference.她的脸上毫无表情，只有麻木的无动于衷。 He conceals his feelings behind a rather stolid manner.他装作无动于衷的样子以掩盖自己的感情。

27 belle
n.靓女
参考例句：
She was the belle of her Sunday School class.在主日学校她是她们班的班花。 She was the belle of the ball.她是那个舞会中的美女。

28 highland
n.(pl.)高地，山地
参考例句：
The highland game is part of Scotland's cultural heritage.苏格兰高地游戏是苏格兰文化遗产的一部分。 The highland forests where few hunters venture have long been the bear's sanctuary.这片只有少数猎人涉险的高山森林，一直都是黑熊的避难所。

29 embittered
v.使怨恨，激怒( embitter的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
These injustices embittered her even more. 不公平使她更加受苦。 来自《简明英汉词典》 The artist was embittered by public neglect. 大众的忽视于那位艺术家更加难受。 来自《简明英汉词典》

30 presidency
n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)
参考例句：
Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。 Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

31 disposition
n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署
参考例句：
He has made a good disposition of his property.他已对财产作了妥善处理。 He has a cheerful disposition.他性情开朗。

32 consultation
n.咨询；商量；商议；会议
参考例句：
The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。 The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

33 sketch
n.草图；梗概；素描；v.素描；概述
参考例句：
My sister often goes into the country to sketch. 我姐姐常到乡间去写生。 I will send you a slight sketch of the house.我将给你寄去房屋的草图。

34 miserable
adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的
参考例句：
It was miserable of you to make fun of him.你取笑他，这是可耻的。 Her past life was miserable.她过去的生活很苦。

35 hampered
妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。 So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

36 harangue
n.慷慨冗长的训话，言辞激烈的讲话
参考例句：
We had to listen to a long harangue about our own shortcomings.我们必须去听一有关我们缺点的长篇大论。 The minister of propaganda delivered his usual harangue.宣传部长一如既往发表了他的长篇大论。

37 majesty
n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权
参考例句：
The king had unspeakable majesty.国王有无法形容的威严。 Your Majesty must make up your mind quickly!尊贵的陛下，您必须赶快做出决定！

38 intervention
n.介入，干涉，干预
参考例句：
The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。 Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

39 deportable
adj.可（或应）驱逐出境的，可（或应）流放的
参考例句：
Mr. Chertoff argues that China's reluctance to take back deportable immigrants only encourages asylum seekers. 切特夫称，中国不愿接受非法移民只会鼓励更多的人寻求政治庇护。 来自互联网

40 interfere
v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰
参考例句：
If we interfere, it may do more harm than good.如果我们干预的话，可能弊多利少。 When others interfere in the affair,it always makes troubles. 别人一卷入这一事件，棘手的事情就来了。

41 meridian
adj.子午线的；全盛期的
参考例句：
All places on the same meridian have the same longitude.在同一子午线上的地方都有相同的经度。 He is now at the meridian of his intellectual power.他现在正值智力全盛期。

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