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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST A HYLO-IDEALISTIC ROMANCE CHAPTER I
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When Mr. Hiram B. Otis, the American Minister, bought Canterville Chase, every one told him he was doing a very foolish thing, as there was no doubt at all that the place was haunted. Indeed, Lord Canterville himself, who was a man of the most punctilious1 honour, had felt it his duty to mention the fact to Mr. Otis when they came to discuss terms.
‘We have not cared to live in the place ourselves,’ said Lord Canterville, ‘since my grandaunt, the Dowager Duchess of Bolton, was frightened into a fit, from which she never really recovered, by two skeleton hands being placed on her shoulders as she was dressing2 for dinner, and I feel bound to tell you, Mr. Otis, that the ghost has been seen by several living members of my family, as well as by the rector of the parish, the Rev3. Augustus Dampier, who is a Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge. After the unfortunate accident to the Duchess, none of our younger servants would stay with us, and Lady Canterville often got very little sleep at night, in consequence of the mysterious noises that came from the corridor and the library.’
‘My Lord,’ answered the Minister, ‘I will take the furniture and the ghost at a valuation. I come from a modern country, where we have everything that money can buy; and with all our spry young fellows painting the Old World red, and carrying off your best actresses and prima-donnas, I reckon that if there were such a thing as a ghost in Europe, we’d have it at home in a very short time in one of our public museums, or on the road as a show.’
‘I fear that the ghost exists,’ said Lord Canterville, smiling, ‘though it may have resisted the overtures4 of your enterprising impresarios5. It has been well known for three centuries, since 1584 in fact, and always makes its appearance before the death of any member of our family.’
‘Well, so does the family doctor for that matter, Lord Canterville. But there is no such thing, sir, as a ghost, and I guess the laws of Nature are not going to be suspended for the British aristocracy.’
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1
punctilious
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adj.谨慎的,谨小慎微的 | |
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2
dressing
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n.(食物)调料;包扎伤口的用品,敷料 | |
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3
rev
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v.发动机旋转,加快速度 | |
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4
overtures
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n.主动的表示,提议;(向某人做出的)友好表示、姿态或提议( overture的名词复数 );(歌剧、芭蕾舞、音乐剧等的)序曲,前奏曲 | |
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impresarios
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n.(演出的)主办人,经理( impresario的名词复数 ) | |
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6
celebrated
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adj.有名的,声誉卓著的 | |
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belle
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n.靓女 | |
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middle-aged
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adj.中年的 | |
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chronic
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adj.(疾病)长期未愈的,慢性的;极坏的 | |
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refinement
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n.文雅;高尚;精美;精制;精炼 | |
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eldest
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adj.最年长的,最年老的 | |
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12
patriotism
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n.爱国精神,爱国心,爱国主义 | |
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13
qualified
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adj.合格的,有资格的,胜任的,有限制的 | |
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diplomacy
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n.外交;外交手腕,交际手腕 | |
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lithe
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adj.(指人、身体)柔软的,易弯的 | |
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fawn
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n.未满周岁的小鹿;v.巴结,奉承 | |
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pony
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adj.小型的;n.小马 | |
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guardians
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监护人( guardian的名词复数 ); 保护者,维护者 | |
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delightful
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adj.令人高兴的,使人快乐的 | |
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worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
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scent
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n.气味,香味,香水,线索,嗅觉;v.嗅,发觉 | |
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22
rustling
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n. 瑟瑟声,沙沙声 adj. 发沙沙声的 | |
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burnished
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adj.抛光的,光亮的v.擦亮(金属等),磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 );被擦亮,磨光 | |
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scudded
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v.(尤指船、舰或云彩)笔直、高速而平稳地移动( scud的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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knolls
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n.小圆丘,小土墩( knoll的名词复数 ) | |
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overcast
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adj.阴天的,阴暗的,愁闷的;v.遮盖,(使)变暗,包边缝;n.覆盖,阴天 | |
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standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 | |
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neatly
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adv.整洁地,干净地,灵巧地,熟练地 | |
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apron
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n.围裙;工作裙 | |
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housekeeper
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n.管理家务的主妇,女管家 | |
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quaint
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adj.古雅的,离奇有趣的,奇怪的 | |
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sitting-room
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n.(BrE)客厅,起居室 | |
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paragon
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n.模范,典型 | |
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detergent
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n.洗涤剂;adj.有洗净力的 | |
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interfere
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v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
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scouring
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擦[洗]净,冲刷,洗涤 | |
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cosmetic
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n.化妆品;adj.化妆用的;装门面的;装饰性的 | |
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triumphantly
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ad.得意洋洋地;得胜地;成功地 | |
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peal
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n.钟声;v.鸣响 | |
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monstrous
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adj.巨大的;恐怖的;可耻的,丢脸的 | |
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invoking
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v.援引( invoke的现在分词 );行使(权利等);祈求救助;恳求 | |
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blessings
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n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福 | |
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providence
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n.深谋远虑,天道,天意;远见;节约;上帝 | |
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tottered
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v.走得或动得不稳( totter的过去式和过去分词 );踉跄;蹒跚;摇摇欲坠 | |
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上一章:
CHAPTER VI
下一章:
CHAPTER II
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