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Jo was alone in the twilight1, lying on the old sofa, looking at the fire, and thinking. It was her favorite way of spending the hour of dusk. No one disturbed her, and she used to lie there on Beth's little red pillow, planning stories, dreaming dreams, or thinking tender thoughts of the sister who never seemed far away. Her face looked tired, grave, and rather sad, for tomorrow was her birthday, and she was thinking how fast the years went by, how old she was getting, and how little she seemed to have accomplished2. Almost twenty-five, and nothing to show for it. Jo was mistaken in that. There was a good deal to show, and by-and-by she saw, and was grateful for it.
"An old maid, that's what I'm to be. A literary spinster, with a pen for a spouse3, a family of stories for children, and twenty years hence a morsel4 of fame, perhaps, when, like poor Johnson, I'm old and can't enjoy it, solitary5, and can't share it, independent, and don't need it. Well, I needn't be a sour saint nor a selfish sinner, and, I dare say, old maids are very comfortable when they get used to it, but . . ." and there Jo sighed, as if the prospect6 was not inviting7.
It seldom is, at first, and thirty seems the end of all things to five-and-twenty. But it's not as bad as it looks, and one can get on quite happily if one has something in one's self to fall back upon. At twenty-five, girls begin to talk about being old maids, but secretly resolve that they never will be. At thirty they say nothing about it, but quietly accept the fact, and if sensible, console themselves by remembering that they have twenty more useful, happy years, in which they may be learning to grow old gracefully9. Don't laugh at the spinsters, dear girls, for often very tender, tragic
    
收听单词发音  
  
     
  
     
    1
     twilight 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    2
     accomplished 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.有才艺的;有造诣的;达到了的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    3
     spouse 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.配偶(指夫或妻) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    4
     morsel 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.一口,一点点 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    5
     solitary 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.孤独的,独立的,荒凉的;n.隐士 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    6
     prospect 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.前景,前途;景色,视野 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    7
     inviting 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.诱人的,引人注目的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    8
     hem 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.贴边,镶边;vt.缝贴边;(in)包围,限制 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    9
     gracefully 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  ad.大大方方地;优美地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    10
     graceful 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.优美的,优雅的;得体的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    11
     tragic 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.悲剧的,悲剧性的,悲惨的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    12
     kindly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    13
     compassion 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.同情,怜悯 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    14
     rosy 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.美好的,乐观的,玫瑰色的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    15
     admiration 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.钦佩,赞美,羡慕 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    16
     courteous 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.彬彬有礼的,客气的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    17
     prim 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.拘泥形式的,一本正经的;n.循规蹈矩,整洁;adv.循规蹈矩地,整洁地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    18
     chivalry 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.骑士气概,侠义;(男人)对女人彬彬有礼,献殷勤 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    19
     deference 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.尊重,顺从;敬意 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    20
     recollect 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    21
     maternal 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.母亲的,母亲般的,母系的,母方的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    22
     ballad 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.歌谣,民谣,流行爱情歌曲 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    23
     tart 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.酸的;尖酸的,刻薄的;n.果馅饼;淫妇 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    24
     joyfully 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    25
     penitent 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.后悔的;n.后悔者;忏悔者 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    26
     mischief 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.损害,伤害,危害;恶作剧,捣蛋,胡闹 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    27
     gasp 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.喘息,气喘;v.喘息;气吁吁他说 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    28
     complimentary 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.赠送的,免费的,赞美的,恭维的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    29
     abject 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.极可怜的,卑屈的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    30
     barricade 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.路障,栅栏,障碍;vt.设路障挡住 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    31
     invitingly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv. 动人地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    32
     comelier 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.英俊的,好看的( comely的比较级 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
            
            
    
  
     
  
     
    33
     mere 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    34
     irresistibly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.无法抵抗地,不能自持地;极为诱惑人地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    35
     decided 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    36
     kindle 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.点燃,着火 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    37
     tragically 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv. 悲剧地,悲惨地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    38
     propriety 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.正当行为;正当;适当 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    39
     afterward 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.后来;以后 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    40
     honeymoon 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.蜜月(假期);vi.度蜜月 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    41
     manly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    42
     precocious 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.早熟的;较早显出的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    43
     remorseful 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.悔恨的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    44
     traitorous 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj. 叛国的, 不忠的, 背信弃义的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    45
     prettily 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.优美地;可爱地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    46
     mighty 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.强有力的;巨大的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    47
     mingled 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    48
     fable 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.寓言;童话;神话 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    49
     imposing 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    50
     exulted 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  狂喜,欢跃( exult的过去式和过去分词 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    51
     hearty 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.热情友好的;衷心的;尽情的,纵情的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    52
     revolve 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  vi.(使)旋转;循环出现 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    53
     entirely 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  ad.全部地,完整地;完全地,彻底地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    54
     torment 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.折磨;令人痛苦的东西(人);vt.折磨;纠缠 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    55
     betokens 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.预示,表示( betoken的第三人称单数 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    56
     marred 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj. 被损毁, 污损的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    57
     delightful 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    58
     bribe 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.贿赂;v.向…行贿,买通 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    59
     tempting 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  a.诱人的, 吸引人的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    60
     unconditional 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.无条件的,无限制的,绝对的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    61
     philosophical 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.哲学家的,哲学上的,达观的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    62
     fiddle 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.小提琴;vi.拉提琴;不停拨弄,乱动 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    63
     peeks 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.偷看,窥视( peek的名词复数 )v.很快地看( peek的第三人称单数 );偷看;窥视;微露出 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    64
     promiscuous 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.杂乱的,随便的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    65
     lull 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.使安静,使入睡,缓和,哄骗;n.暂停,间歇 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    66
     hoarse 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.嘶哑的,沙哑的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    67
     pranced 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.(马)腾跃( prance的过去式和过去分词 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    68
     millennium 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.一千年,千禧年;太平盛世 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    69
     revel 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  vi.狂欢作乐,陶醉;n.作乐,狂欢 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    70
     sips 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.小口喝,一小口的量( sip的名词复数 )v.小口喝,呷,抿( sip的第三人称单数 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    71
     trespass 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n./v.侵犯,闯入私人领地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    72
     crumble 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  vi.碎裂,崩溃;vt.弄碎,摧毁 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    73
     treacherously 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  背信弃义地; 背叛地; 靠不住地; 危险地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    74
     pastry 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.油酥面团,酥皮糕点 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    75
     frail 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.身体虚弱的;易损坏的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    76
     sequestered 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.扣押的;隐退的;幽静的;偏僻的v.使隔绝,使隔离( sequester的过去式和过去分词 );扣押 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    77
     tarts 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.果馅饼( tart的名词复数 );轻佻的女人;妓女;小妞 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    78
     refreshments 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.点心,便餐;(会议后的)简单茶点招 待 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    79
     parlor 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.店铺,营业室;会客室,客厅 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    80
     inquiry 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.打听,询问,调查,查问 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    81
     genial 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.亲切的,和蔼的,愉快的,脾气好的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    82
     toiled 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 ); 艰难缓慢地移动,跋涉 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    83
     deserted 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.荒芜的,荒废的,无人的,被遗弃的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    84
     dismal 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.阴沉的,凄凉的,令人忧郁的,差劲的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    85
     hospitable 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.好客的;宽容的;有利的,适宜的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    86
     bereft 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.被剥夺的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    87
     irresistible 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.非常诱人的,无法拒绝的,无法抗拒的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    88
     abruptly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.突然地,出其不意地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    89
     trumpet 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.喇叭,喇叭声;v.吹喇叭,吹嘘 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    90
     talisman 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.避邪物,护身符 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    91
     juvenile 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.青少年,少年读物;adj.青少年的,幼稚的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    92
     audacity 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.大胆,卤莽,无礼 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    93
     jealousy 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.妒忌,嫉妒,猜忌 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    94
     aloof 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.远离的;冷淡的,漠不关心的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    95
     circumspection 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.细心,慎重 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    96
     drawn 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    97
     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 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    98
     prudently 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv. 谨慎地,慎重地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    99
     maiden 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.少女,处女;adj.未婚的,纯洁的,无经验的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    100
     propitious 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.吉利的;顺利的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    101
     omens 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.前兆,预兆( omen的名词复数 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    102
     detriment 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.损害;损害物,造成损害的根源 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    103
     quenched 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  解(渴)( quench的过去式和过去分词 ); 终止(某事物); (用水)扑灭(火焰等); 将(热物体)放入水中急速冷却 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    104
     smoothly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.平滑地,顺利地,流利地,流畅地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    105
     rumpled 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.弄皱,使凌乱( rumple的过去式和过去分词 ) 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    106
     droll 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.古怪的,好笑的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    107
     rampantly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  粗暴地,猖獗的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    108
     erect 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n./v.树立,建立,使竖立;adj.直立的,垂直的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    109
     glorify 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  vt.颂扬,赞美,使增光,美化 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    110
     maneuver 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.策略[pl.]演习;v.(巧妙)控制;用策略 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    111
     metaphorically 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv. 用比喻地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    112
     utterly 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.完全地,绝对地 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    113
     lapse 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.过失,流逝,失效,抛弃信仰,间隔;vi.堕落,停止,失效,流逝;vt.使失效 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    114
     vent 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.通风口,排放口;开衩;vt.表达,发泄 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    115
     serene 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj. 安详的,宁静的,平静的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    116
     promising 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.有希望的,有前途的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    117
     hymn 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.赞美诗,圣歌,颂歌 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    118
     grasshopper 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.蚱蜢,蝗虫,蚂蚱 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    119
     tune 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.调子;和谐,协调;v.调音,调节,调整 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    120
     heartily 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.衷心地,诚恳地,十分,很 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    121
     subsided 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.(土地)下陷(因在地下采矿)( subside的过去式和过去分词 );减弱;下降至较低或正常水平;一下子坐在椅子等上 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    122
     subdued 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj. 屈服的,柔和的,减弱的
动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    123
     mellow 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.柔和的;熟透的;v.变柔和;(使)成熟 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    124
     peculiar 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    125
     thither 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adv.向那里;adj.在那边的,对岸的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    126
     retired 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    127
     laurels 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.桂冠,荣誉 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    128
     bonnet 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  n.无边女帽;童帽 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    129
     illuminated 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.被照明的;受启迪的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    130
     delightfully 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  大喜,欣然 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    131
     assent 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  v.批准,认可;n.批准,认可 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    132
     placid 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.安静的,平和的 
  
     
  
     
     
  
            
    
  
     
  
     
    133
     rigid 
     
    
 
        
  
     
  adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的