For a full minute Paul and the burglar faced each other without either moving. The telegraph boy of course waited for some aggressive movement on the part of his opponent. In that case he would not hesitate to fire. He felt the
reluctance1 natural to any boy of
humane2 instincts to take human life, and resolved, if possible, only to disable the ruffian. His heart quickened its pulsations, but in manner he was cool, cautious and collected. If the burglar had seen any symptoms of timidity or wavering, he would have sprung upon Paul. As it was, he was afraid to do so, and was
enraged3 at himself because he felt cowed and
intimidated4 by a boy. He resolved to inspire fear in Paul if he could.
“I have a great mind to kill you,” he
growled5.
“Two can play at that game,” said Paul, undaunted.
“Look here! You are making a fool of yourself. You are risking your life for nothing.”
“I am only doing my duty,” said Paul, firmly.
“The kid’s in earnest,” thought the burglar. “I must try him on another
tack6.
“Look here,” he said, changing his tone. “You are a poor boy, ain’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Just you lower that weapon, and don’t
interfere7 with me, and I will make it worth your while.”
[29]
“What do you mean?” asked Paul, who, however, suspected the burglar’s meaning.
“I mean this,” said the intruder, in an
insinuating8 tone. “Let me open the safe and make off with the contents, and I’ll give you a liberal share of it.”
“What do you take me for?” demanded Paul, indignantly.
“For a boy, of course. What do you care for the people in the house? They are rich and can afford to lose what will make us rich. Let me know where you live, and I’ll deal squarely with you. I mean it. All you’ve got to do is to go back to bed, and they’ll think you slept through and didn’t see me at all. What do you say?”
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收听单词发音
1
reluctance
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n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿 |
参考例句: |
- The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
- He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。
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2
humane
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adj.人道的,富有同情心的 |
参考例句: |
- Is it humane to kill animals for food?宰杀牲畜来吃合乎人道吗?
- Their aim is for a more just and humane society.他们的目标是建立一个更加公正、博爱的社会。
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3
enraged
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使暴怒( enrage的过去式和过去分词 ); 歜; 激愤 |
参考例句: |
- I was enraged to find they had disobeyed my orders. 发现他们违抗了我的命令,我极为恼火。
- The judge was enraged and stroke the table for several times. 大法官被气得连连拍案。
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4
intimidated
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v.恐吓;威胁adj.害怕的;受到威胁的 |
参考例句: |
- We try to make sure children don't feel intimidated on their first day at school. 我们努力确保孩子们在上学的第一天不胆怯。
- The thief intimidated the boy into not telling the police. 这个贼恫吓那男孩使他不敢向警察报告。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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5
growled
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v.(动物)发狺狺声, (雷)作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 );低声咆哮着说 |
参考例句: |
- \"They ought to be birched, \" growled the old man. 老人咆哮道:“他们应受到鞭打。” 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He growled out an answer. 他低声威胁着回答。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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6
tack
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n.大头钉;假缝,粗缝 |
参考例句: |
- He is hammering a tack into the wall to hang a picture.他正往墙上钉一枚平头钉用来挂画。
- We are going to tack the map on the wall.我们打算把这张地图钉在墙上。
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7
interfere
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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。
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8
insinuating
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adj.曲意巴结的,暗示的v.暗示( insinuate的现在分词 );巧妙或迂回地潜入;(使)缓慢进入;慢慢伸入 |
参考例句: |
- Are you insinuating that I' m telling a lie ? 你这是意味着我是在说谎吗? 来自辞典例句
- He is extremely insinuating, but it's a vulgar nature. 他好奉承拍马,那是种庸俗的品格。 来自辞典例句
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9
resolute
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adj.坚决的,果敢的 |
参考例句: |
- He was resolute in carrying out his plan.他坚决地实行他的计划。
- The Egyptians offered resolute resistance to the aggressors.埃及人对侵略者作出坚决的反抗。
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10
mien
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n.风采;态度 |
参考例句: |
- He was a Vietnam veteran with a haunted mien.他是个越战老兵,举止总有些惶然。
- It was impossible to tell from his mien whether he was offended.从他的神态中难以看出他是否生气了。
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11
sullenly
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不高兴地,绷着脸,忧郁地 |
参考例句: |
- 'so what?" Tom said sullenly. “那又怎么样呢?”汤姆绷着脸说。
- Emptiness after the paper, I sIt'sullenly in front of the stove. 报看完,想不出能找点什么事做,只好一人坐在火炉旁生气。
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12
positively
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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。
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13
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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14
rogue
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n.流氓;v.游手好闲 |
参考例句: |
- The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
- They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。
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15
nervously
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adv.神情激动地,不安地 |
参考例句: |
- He bit his lip nervously,trying not to cry.他紧张地咬着唇,努力忍着不哭出来。
- He paced nervously up and down on the platform.他在站台上情绪不安地走来走去。
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16
standing
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n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的 |
参考例句: |
- After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
- They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
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17
briefly
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adv.简单地,简短地 |
参考例句: |
- I want to touch briefly on another aspect of the problem.我想简单地谈一下这个问题的另一方面。
- He was kidnapped and briefly detained by a terrorist group.他被一个恐怖组织绑架并短暂拘禁。
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18
remarkable
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adj.显著的,异常的,非凡的,值得注意的 |
参考例句: |
- She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
- These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。
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19
discretion
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n.谨慎;随意处理 |
参考例句: |
- You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
- Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。
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20
awfully
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adv.可怕地,非常地,极端地 |
参考例句: |
- Agriculture was awfully neglected in the past.过去农业遭到严重忽视。
- I've been feeling awfully bad about it.对这我一直感到很难受。
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