Désirée clapped her hands. She was fourteen years old and big and strong for her age, but she laughed like a little girl of five.
'Mother! mother!' she cried, 'look at my doll!'
She showed her mother a strip of rag out of which she had been trying for the last quarter of an hour to manufacture a doll by rolling it and tying it at one end with a piece of string. Marthe raised her eyes from the stockings that she was darning with as much
delicacy1 of work as though she were
embroidering2, and smiled at Désirée.
'Oh! but that's only a baby,' she said; 'you must make a grown-up doll and it must have a dress, you know, like a lady.'
She gave the child some clippings of print stuff which she found in her work-table, and then again
devoted3 all her attention to her stockings. They were both sitting at one end of the narrow terrace, the girl on a stool at her mother's feet. The setting sun of a still warm September evening cast its calm peaceful rays around them; and the garden below, which was already growing grey and shadowy, was wrapped in perfect silence. Outside, not a sound could be heard in that quiet corner of the town.
They both worked on for ten long minutes without speaking. Désirée was taking immense pains to make a dress for her doll. Every few moments Marthe raised her head and glanced at the child with an expression in which sadness was
mingled4 with affection. Seeing that the girl's task seemed too much for her, she at last said:
[Pg 2]
'Give it to me. I will put in the sleeves for you.'
As she took up the doll, two big lads of seventeen and eighteen came down the steps. They ran to Marthe and kissed her.
'Don't scold us, mother!' cried Octave
gaily5. 'I took Serge to listen to the band. There was such a crowd on the Cours Sauvaire!'
'I thought you had been kept in at college,' his mother said, 'or I should have felt very uneasy.'
Désirée, now altogether indifferent to her doll, had thrown her arms round Serge's neck, saying to him:
'One of my birds has flown away! The blue one, the one you gave me!'
She was on the point of crying. Her mother, who had imagined this trouble to be forgotten, vainly tried to divert her thoughts by showing her the doll. The girl still clung to her brother's arm and dragged him away with her, while repeating:
点击
收听单词发音
1
delicacy
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n.精致,细微,微妙,精良;美味,佳肴 |
参考例句: |
- We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
- He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。
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2
embroidering
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v.(在织物上)绣花( embroider的现在分词 );刺绣;对…加以渲染(或修饰);给…添枝加叶 |
参考例句: |
- He always had a way of embroidering. 他总爱添油加醋。 来自辞典例句
- Zhao Junxin learned the craft of embroidering from his grandmother. 赵俊信从奶奶那里学到了刺绣的手艺。 来自互联网
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3
devoted
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adj.忠诚的,忠实的,热心的,献身于...的 |
参考例句: |
- He devoted his life to the educational cause of the motherland.他为祖国的教育事业贡献了一生。
- We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
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4
mingled
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混合,混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 ); 混进,与…交往[联系] |
参考例句: |
- The sounds of laughter and singing mingled in the evening air. 笑声和歌声交织在夜空中。
- The man and the woman mingled as everyone started to relax. 当大家开始放松的时候,这一男一女就开始交往了。
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5
gaily
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adv.欢乐地,高兴地 |
参考例句: |
- The children sing gaily.孩子们欢唱着。
- She waved goodbye very gaily.她欢快地挥手告别。
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6
kindly
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adj.和蔼的,温和的,爽快的;adv.温和地,亲切地 |
参考例句: |
- Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
- A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。
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7
complaisance
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n.彬彬有礼,殷勤,柔顺 |
参考例句: |
- She speaks with complaisance.她说话彬彬有礼。
- His complaisance leaves a good impression on her.他的彬彬有礼给她留下了深刻的印象。
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8
conservatory
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n.温室,音乐学院;adj.保存性的,有保存力的 |
参考例句: |
- At the conservatory,he learned how to score a musical composition.在音乐学校里,他学会了怎样谱曲。
- The modern conservatory is not an environment for nurturing plants.这个现代化温室的环境不适合培育植物。
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9
interfering
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adj. 妨碍的
动词interfere的现在分词 |
参考例句: |
- He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事!
- I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预,让我自己拿主意。
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10
contented
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adj.满意的,安心的,知足的 |
参考例句: |
- He won't be contented until he's upset everyone in the office.不把办公室里的每个人弄得心烦意乱他就不会满足。
- The people are making a good living and are contented,each in his station.人民安居乐业。
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11
attentively
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adv.聚精会神地;周到地;谛;凝神 |
参考例句: |
- She listened attentively while I poured out my problems. 我倾吐心中的烦恼时,她一直在注意听。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She listened attentively and set down every word he said. 她专心听着,把他说的话一字不漏地记下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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12
interval
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n.间隔,间距;幕间休息,中场休息 |
参考例句: |
- The interval between the two trees measures 40 feet.这两棵树的间隔是40英尺。
- There was a long interval before he anwsered the telephone.隔了好久他才回了电话。
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13
clattering
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发出咔哒声(clatter的现在分词形式) |
参考例句: |
- Typewriters keep clattering away. 打字机在不停地嗒嗒作响。
- The typewriter was clattering away. 打字机啪嗒啪嗒地响着。
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14
grumbling
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adj. 喃喃鸣不平的, 出怨言的 |
参考例句: |
- She's always grumbling to me about how badly she's treated at work. 她总是向我抱怨她在工作中如何受亏待。
- We didn't hear any grumbling about the food. 我们没听到过对食物的抱怨。
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15
growling
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n.吠声, 咆哮声
v.怒吠, 咆哮, 吼 |
参考例句: |
- We heard thunder growling in the distance. 我们听见远处有隆隆雷声。
- The lay about the deck growling together in talk. 他们在甲板上到处游荡,聚集在一起发牢骚。
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16
cinders
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n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 );炭渣;煤渣路;煤渣跑道 |
参考例句: |
- This material is variously termed ash, clinker, cinders or slag. 这种材料有不同的名称,如灰、炉渣、煤渣或矿渣。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Rake out the cinders before you start a new fire. 在重新点火前先把煤渣耙出来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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17
exclamation
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n.感叹号,惊呼,惊叹词 |
参考例句: |
- He could not restrain an exclamation of approval.他禁不住喝一声采。
- The author used three exclamation marks at the end of the last sentence to wake up the readers.作者在文章的最后一句连用了三个惊叹号,以引起读者的注意。
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18
countenance
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n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同 |
参考例句: |
- At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance.他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
- I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive.我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
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19
banter
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n.嘲弄,戏谑;v.取笑,逗弄,开玩笑 |
参考例句: |
- The actress exchanged banter with reporters.女演员与记者相互开玩笑。
- She engages in friendly banter with her customers.她常和顾客逗乐。
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20
retired
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adj.隐退的,退休的,退役的 |
参考例句: |
- The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
- Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。
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21
rusted
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v.(使)生锈( rust的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- I can't get these screws out; they've rusted in. 我无法取出这些螺丝,它们都锈住了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- My bike has rusted and needs oil. 我的自行车生锈了,需要上油。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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22
winked
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v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 );递眼色(表示友好或高兴等);(指光)闪烁;闪亮 |
参考例句: |
- He winked at her and she knew he was thinking the same thing that she was. 他冲她眨了眨眼,她便知道他的想法和她一样。
- He winked his eyes at her and left the classroom. 他向她眨巴一下眼睛走出了教室。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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23
tenant
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n.承租人;房客;佃户;v.租借,租用 |
参考例句: |
- The tenant was dispossessed for not paying his rent.那名房客因未付房租而被赶走。
- The tenant is responsible for all repairs to the building.租户负责对房屋的所有修理。
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24
decided
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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。
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25
distressed
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痛苦的 |
参考例句: |
- He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑,无法回答他们的问题。
- The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。
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26
basking
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v.晒太阳,取暖( bask的现在分词 );对…感到乐趣;因他人的功绩而出名;仰仗…的余泽 |
参考例句: |
- We sat basking in the warm sunshine. 我们坐着享受温暖的阳光。
- A colony of seals lay basking in the sun. 一群海豹躺着晒太阳。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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27
honourable
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adj.可敬的;荣誉的,光荣的 |
参考例句: |
- I don't think I am worthy of such an honourable title.这样的光荣称号,我可担当不起。
- I hope to find an honourable way of settling difficulties.我希望设法找到一个体面的办法以摆脱困境。
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28
bishop
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n.主教,(国际象棋)象 |
参考例句: |
- He was a bishop who was held in reverence by all.他是一位被大家都尊敬的主教。
- Two years after his death the bishop was canonised.主教逝世两年后被正式封为圣者。
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29
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 |
参考例句: |
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
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30
recollect
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v.回忆,想起,记起,忆起,记得 |
参考例句: |
- He tried to recollect things and drown himself in them.他极力回想过去的事情而沉浸于回忆之中。
- She could not recollect being there.她回想不起曾经到过那儿。
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31
inquiries
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n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 );疑问;探究;打听 |
参考例句: |
- He was released on bail pending further inquiries. 他获得保释,等候进一步调查。
- I have failed to reach them by postal inquiries. 我未能通过邮政查询与他们取得联系。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
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32
complacently
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adv. 满足地, 自满地, 沾沾自喜地 |
参考例句: |
- He complacently lived out his life as a village school teacher. 他满足于一个乡村教师的生活。
- "That was just something for evening wear," returned his wife complacently. “那套衣服是晚装,"他妻子心安理得地说道。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
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33
superstitious
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adj.迷信的 |
参考例句: |
- They aim to deliver the people who are in bondage to superstitious belief.他们的目的在于解脱那些受迷信束缚的人。
- These superstitious practices should be abolished as soon as possible.这些迷信做法应尽早取消。
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34
bantering
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adj.嘲弄的v.开玩笑,说笑,逗乐( banter的现在分词 );(善意地)取笑,逗弄 |
参考例句: |
- There was a friendly, bantering tone in his voice. 他的声音里流露着友好诙谐的语调。
- The students enjoyed their teacher's bantering them about their mistakes. 同学们对老师用风趣的方式讲解他们的错误很感兴趣。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
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35
bourgeois
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adj./n.追求物质享受的(人);中产阶级分子 |
参考例句: |
- He's accusing them of having a bourgeois and limited vision.他指责他们像中产阶级一样目光狭隘。
- The French Revolution was inspired by the bourgeois.法国革命受到中产阶级的鼓励。
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36
bent
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n.爱好,癖好;adj.弯的;决心的,一心的 |
参考例句: |
- He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
- We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
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37
vaguely
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adv.含糊地,暖昧地 |
参考例句: |
- He had talked vaguely of going to work abroad.他含糊其词地说了到国外工作的事。
- He looked vaguely before him with unseeing eyes.他迷迷糊糊的望着前面,对一切都视而不见。
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38
swelling
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n.肿胀 |
参考例句: |
- Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
- There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。
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39
eyelids
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n.眼睑( eyelid的名词复数 );眼睛也不眨一下;不露声色;面不改色 |
参考例句: |
- She was so tired, her eyelids were beginning to droop. 她太疲倦了,眼睑开始往下垂。
- Her eyelids drooped as if she were on the verge of sleep. 她眼睑低垂好像快要睡着的样子。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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40
furtive
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adj.鬼鬼崇崇的,偷偷摸摸的 |
参考例句: |
- The teacher was suspicious of the student's furtive behaviour during the exam.老师怀疑这个学生在考试时有偷偷摸摸的行为。
- His furtive behaviour aroused our suspicion.他鬼鬼祟祟的行为引起了我们的怀疑。
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41
stammered
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v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He stammered most when he was nervous. 他一紧张往往口吃。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- Barsad leaned back in his chair, and stammered, \"What do you mean?\" 巴萨往椅背上一靠,结结巴巴地说,“你是什么意思?” 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
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42
caress
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vt./n.爱抚,抚摸 |
参考例句: |
- She gave the child a loving caress.她疼爱地抚摸着孩子。
- She feasted on the caress of the hot spring.她尽情享受着温泉的抚爱。
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43
porcelain
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n.瓷;adj.瓷的,瓷制的 |
参考例句: |
- These porcelain plates have rather original designs on them.这些瓷盘的花纹很别致。
- The porcelain vase is enveloped in cotton.瓷花瓶用棉花裹着。
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44
tranquillity
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n. 平静, 安静 |
参考例句: |
- The phenomenon was so striking and disturbing that his philosophical tranquillity vanished. 这个令人惶惑不安的现象,扰乱了他的旷达宁静的心境。
- My value for domestic tranquillity should much exceed theirs. 我应该远比他们重视家庭的平静生活。
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45
soothing
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adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的 |
参考例句: |
- Put on some nice soothing music.播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
- His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing.他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
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