Vailima Letters
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Chapter XLIII

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Vailima, 1894.

My Dear Colvin, — This must be a very measly letter. I have been trying hard to get along with St. Ives. I should now lay it aside for a year and I daresay I should make something of it after all. Instead of that, I have to kick against the pricks1, and break myself, and spoil the book, if there were anything to spoil, which I am far from saying. I’m as sick of the thing as ever any one can be; it’s a rudderless hulk; it’s a pagoda2, and you can just feel — or I can feel — that it might have been a pleasant story, if it had been only blessed at baptism.

Our politics have gone on fairly well, but the result is still doubtful.

Sept. 10th.

I know I have something else to say to you, but unfortunately I awoke this morning with collywobbles, and had to take a small dose of laudanum with the usual consequences of dry throat, intoxicated3 legs, partial madness and total imbecility; and for the life of me I cannot remember what it is. I have likewise mislaid your letter amongst the accumulations on my table, not that there was anything in it. Altogether I am in a poor state. I forgot to tell Baxter that the dummy4 had turned up and is a fine, personable-looking volume and very good reading. Please communicate this to him.

I have just remembered an incident that I really must not let pass. You have heard a great deal more than you wanted about our political prisoners. Well, one day, about a fortnight ago, the last of them was set free — Old Poe, whom I think I must have mentioned to you, the father-inlaw of my cook, was one that I had had a great deal of trouble with. I had taken the doctor to see him, got him out on sick leave, and when he was put back again gave bail5 for him. I must not forget that my wife ran away with him out of the prison on the doctor’s orders and with the complicity of our friend the gaoler, who really and truly got the sack for the exploit. As soon as he was finally liberated6, Poe called a meeting of his fellow-prisoners. All Sunday they were debating what they were to do, and on Monday morning I got an obscure hint from Talolo that I must expect visitors during the day who were coming to consult me. These
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1 pricks 20f8a636f609ce805ce271cee734ba10     
刺痛( prick的名词复数 )； 刺孔； 刺痕； 植物的刺
参考例句：
  • My skin pricks sometimes. 我的皮肤有时感到刺痛。
  • You must obey the rule. It is useless for you to kick against the pricks. 你必须遵守规定，对抗对你是无益的。
2 pagoda dmtzDh     
n.宝塔（尤指印度和远东的多层宝塔），（印度教或佛教的）塔式庙宇
参考例句：
  • The ancient pagoda is undergoing repairs.那座古塔正在修缮中。
  • The pagoda is reflected upside down in the water.宝塔影子倒立在水里。
3 intoxicated 350bfb35af86e3867ed55bb2af85135f     
喝醉的，极其兴奋的
参考例句：
  • She was intoxicated with success. 她为成功所陶醉。
  • They became deeply intoxicated and totally disoriented. 他们酩酊大醉，东南西北全然不辨。
4 dummy Jrgx7     
n.假的东西；(哄婴儿的)橡皮奶头
参考例句：
  • The police suspect that the device is not a real bomb but a dummy.警方怀疑那个装置不是真炸弹，只是一个假货。
  • The boys played soldier with dummy swords made of wood.男孩们用木头做的假木剑玩打仗游戏。
5 bail Aupz4     
v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人
参考例句：
  • One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
  • She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。
6 liberated YpRzMi     
a.无拘束的，放纵的
参考例句：
  • The city was liberated by the advancing army. 军队向前挺进，解放了那座城市。
  • The heat brings about a chemical reaction, and oxygen is liberated. 热量引起化学反应，释放出氧气。
7 consultation VZAyq     
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。
8 consultations bc61566a804b15898d05aff1e97f0341     
n.磋商（会议）( consultation的名词复数 )；商讨会；协商会；查找
参考例句：
  • Consultations can be arranged at other times by appointment. 磋商可以通过预约安排在其他时间。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
  • Consultations are under way. 正在进行磋商。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
9 squatted 45deb990f8c5186c854d710c535327b0     
v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。
参考例句：
  • He squatted down beside the footprints and examined them closely. 他蹲在脚印旁仔细地观察。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • He squatted in the grass discussing with someone. 他蹲在草地上与一个人谈话。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 belle MQly5     
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。
11 gratitude p6wyS     
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。
12 guise JeizL     
n.外表，伪装的姿态
参考例句：
  • They got into the school in the guise of inspectors.他们假装成视察员进了学校。
  • The thief came into the house under the guise of a repairman.那小偷扮成个修理匠进了屋子。
13 ply DOqxa     
v.(搬运工等)等候顾客，弯曲
参考例句：
  • Taxis licensed to ply for hire at the railway station.许可计程车在火车站候客。
  • Ferryboats ply across the English Channel.渡船定期往返于英吉利海峡。
14 squad 4G1zq     
n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组
参考例句：
  • The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
  • A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。
15 positively vPTxw     
adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实
参考例句：
  • She was positively glowing with happiness.她满脸幸福。
  • The weather was positively poisonous.这天气着实讨厌。
16 rejuvenated eb579d2f15c855cfdcb0652d23a6aaca     
更生的
参考例句：
  • He was rejuvenated by new hope. 新的希望又使他充满了活力。
  • She looked rejuvenated after plastic surgery. 她做完整形手术后显得年轻了。
17 wiled 92d1ef847c63e44eb4321f58e0c696f9     
v.引诱( wile的过去式和过去分词 )；诱惑；消遣；消磨
参考例句：
  • The music wiled him from his study. 诱人的音乐使他无心学习下去。 来自辞典例句
  • The sunshine wiled me from my work. 阳光引诱我放下了工作。 来自辞典例句

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