Why did not Aaron Wolverton burn the receipt, and get rid once for all of the only proof that the interest had been paid? It would have been the most
politic1 thing to do, inasmuch as he had made up his mind to be dishonest. But, though unprincipled, he was not a bold man. The thought did certainly occur to him, and he even went so far as to light a match. But more timid counsel prevailed, and he
concealed2 it in his desk, carefully locking the desk afterwards.
It is unnecessary to describe the grief of the little family at Burton's
Ranch3 when the body of the master was brought home. No one had dreamed of speedy death for Richard Burton. He seemed so strong and vigorous that it would have seemed safe to predict for him a long life—long beyond the average; yet[Pg 43] here, in middle life, in the fullness of health and
vigor4, the summons had come.
To Mrs. Burton, who was a most
devoted5 wife, it was a crushing blow. It seemed at first as if it would be happiness to lie down beside her dead husband, and leave the world for him.
"What have I to live for now?" she asked, mournfully.
"You have me, mother," answered Bob, gently. "I have lost my father. What would become of me if I should lose my mother also?"
"You are right, Robert," said Mrs. Burton. "I was wrong to give way; but it is a very hard trial."
"Indeed it is, mother," said Robert, kissing her affectionately. "But we must try to bear up."
Mrs. Burton felt that this was her plain duty, and henceforth strove to control her emotions. She ceased to
sob6, but her face showed the grief she suffered.
The funeral took place, and the little family held a council to decide what was to be done.[Pg 44]
"Can we carry on the ranch now that your father is gone?" asked Mrs. Burton, anxiously. "Would it not be better to sell it?"
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收听单词发音
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1
politic
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| adj.有智虑的；精明的；v.从政 |
参考例句： |
- He was too politic to quarrel with so important a personage.他很聪明，不会与这么重要的人争吵。
- The politic man tried not to offend people.那个精明的人尽量不得罪人。
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2
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 |
参考例句： |
- The paintings were concealed beneath a thick layer of plaster. 那些画被隐藏在厚厚的灰泥层下面。
- I think he had a gun concealed about his person. 我认为他当时身上藏有一支枪。
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3
ranch
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| n.大牧场，大农场 |
参考例句： |
- He went to work on a ranch.他去一个大农场干活。
- The ranch is in the middle of a large plateau.该牧场位于一个辽阔高原的中部。
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4
vigor
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| n.活力，精力，元气 |
参考例句： |
- The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
- She didn't want to be reminded of her beauty or her former vigor.现在，她不愿人们提起她昔日的美丽和以前的精力充沛。
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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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sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 |
参考例句： |
- The child started to sob when he couldn't find his mother.孩子因找不到他妈妈哭了起来。
- The girl didn't answer,but continued to sob with her head on the table.那个女孩不回答，也不抬起头来。她只顾低声哭着。
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7
presumptuous
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| adj.胆大妄为的，放肆的，冒昧的，冒失的 |
参考例句： |
- It would be presumptuous for anybody to offer such a view.任何人提出这种观点都是太放肆了。
- It was presumptuous of him to take charge.他自拿主张，太放肆了。
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8
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 |
参考例句： |
- Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
- He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。
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adviser
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| n.劝告者，顾问 |
参考例句： |
- They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
- Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。
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10
withheld
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| withhold过去式及过去分词 |
参考例句： |
- I withheld payment until they had fulfilled the contract. 他们履行合同后，我才付款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- There was no school play because the principal withheld his consent. 由于校长没同意，学校里没有举行比赛。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句： |
- The secretary ushered me into his office. 秘书把我领进他的办公室。
- A round of parties ushered in the New Year. 一系列的晚会迎来了新年。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 |
参考例句： |
- The sitting-room is clean.起居室很清洁。
- Each villa has a separate sitting-room.每栋别墅都有一间独立的起居室。
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scripture
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| n.经文，圣书，手稿；Scripture:(常用复数)《圣经》，《圣经》中的一段 |
参考例句： |
- The scripture states that God did not want us to be alone.圣经指出上帝并不是想让我们独身一人生活。
- They invoked Hindu scripture to justify their position.他们援引印度教的经文为他们的立场辩护。
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14
squinted
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| 斜视( squint的过去式和过去分词 )； 眯着眼睛； 瞟； 从小孔或缝隙里看 |
参考例句： |
- Pulling his rifle to his shoulder he squinted along the barrel. 他把枪顶肩，眯起眼睛瞄准。
- I squinted through the keyhole. 我从锁眼窥看。
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15
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) |
参考例句： |
- Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
- His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 |
参考例句： |
- When Jenney had stopped crying she sniffed and dried her eyes. 珍妮停止了哭泣，吸了吸鼻子，擦干了眼泪。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The dog sniffed suspiciously at the stranger. 狗疑惑地嗅着那个陌生人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 |
参考例句： |
- That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
- It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 |
参考例句： |
- I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
- He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
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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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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 |
参考例句： |
- All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
- He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。
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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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