Several days passed, and Nat's uncle did all in his power to please his new wife. He found her very
tart1 at times, and inclined to have her own way, but she was a good cook and general
housekeeper2, and that counted for a great deal.
"It won't do to cross her," he told himself. "I've got to find out about thet gold first."
At last he could stand the
suspense3 no longer and so, one day, while at the dinner table, he told the story of a rich find of money by a lady in Philadelphia.
"It was in the weekly paper," said he, "and by the way," he went on, "what about the pot of gold you found?"
"The pot of gold I found?" she repeated, blankly.
"Yes, the one you found in the well. What did you do with it?"
"Why, I never found any pot of gold in a well, Abner! What put that in your head?"
He shoved back his chair in horror, and gazed at her blankly.
"Didn't you tell me you had found a pot of gold in a well, Lucy?" he demanded.
"Never!"
"Certainly, you did. You asked me if you could keep it or if the law could take it from you. I told you the law couldn't touch it."
"Oh, I remember now!" she answered, sweetly. "I read about such a find in a story magazine, and I was wondering if the finder could keep it, or if it would have to be turned over to the person who owned the property on which the well was located. But I certainly never said anything about my finding a pot of gold."
"Well, I'll be jiggered! Didn't you go to the bank an' ask 'em if they would take five thousand dollars?"
"Oh, I was only curious to know how much they would take, that was all, Abner." And she smiled again.
Abner could not endure that smile, and pushing back his chair still further, he arose and left the house. Once in the barn he shook his fist viciously at an imaginary enemy.
"Of all the fools!" he muttered. "I've been tuk in clean an' clear! She ain't got no pot o' gold, an' never did have! If this ain't jest the worst yet. Abner Balberry, you ought to be kicked full o' holes, and ducked in the pond besides!"
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收听单词发音
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1
tart
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| adj.酸的；尖酸的，刻薄的；n.果馅饼；淫妇 |
参考例句： |
- She was learning how to make a fruit tart in class.她正在课上学习如何制作水果馅饼。
- She replied in her usual tart and offhand way.她开口回答了，用她平常那种尖酸刻薄的声调随口说道。
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2
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 |
参考例句： |
- A spotless stove told us that his mother is a diligent housekeeper.炉子清洁无瑕就表明他母亲是个勤劳的主妇。
- She is an economical housekeeper and feeds her family cheaply.她节约持家，一家人吃得很省。
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3
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 |
参考例句： |
- The suspense was unbearable.这样提心吊胆的状况实在叫人受不了。
- The director used ingenious devices to keep the audience in suspense.导演用巧妙手法引起观众的悬念。
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4
kin
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| n.家族，亲属，血缘关系；adj.亲属关系的，同类的 |
参考例句： |
- He comes of good kin.他出身好。
- She has gone to live with her husband's kin.她住到丈夫的亲戚家里去了。
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5
hips
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| abbr.high impact polystyrene 高冲击强度聚苯乙烯，耐冲性聚苯乙烯n.臀部( hip的名词复数 )；[建筑学]屋脊；臀围（尺寸）；臀部…的 |
参考例句： |
- She stood with her hands on her hips. 她双手叉腰站着。
- They wiggled their hips to the sound of pop music. 他们随着流行音乐的声音摇晃着臀部。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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6
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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7
tartly
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| adv.辛辣地，刻薄地 |
参考例句： |
- She finished by tartly pointing out that he owed her some money. 她最后刻薄地指出他欠她一些钱。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Kay said tartly, "And you're more Yankee than Italian. 恺酸溜溜他说：“可你哪，与其说是意大利人，还不如说是新英格兰人。 来自教父部分
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8
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 |
参考例句： |
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
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9
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 |
参考例句： |
- The baby's bonnet keeps the sun out of her eyes.婴孩的帽子遮住阳光，使之不刺眼。
- She wore a faded black bonnet garnished with faded artificial flowers.她戴着一顶褪了色的黑色无边帽，帽上缀着褪了色的假花。
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10
spoke
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| 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 |
参考例句： |
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
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11
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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12
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 |
参考例句： |
- The wounded man uttered a groan.那个受伤的人发出呻吟。
- The people groan under the burden of taxes.人民在重税下痛苦呻吟。
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13
humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 |
参考例句： |
- We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
- "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。
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14
buffalo
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| n.(北美)野牛；(亚洲)水牛 |
参考例句： |
- Asian buffalo isn't as wild as that of America's. 亚洲水牛比美洲水牛温顺些。
- The boots are made of buffalo hide. 这双靴子是由水牛皮制成的。
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15
metropolis
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| n.首府；大城市 |
参考例句： |
- Shanghai is a metropolis in China.上海是中国的大都市。
- He was dazzled by the gaiety and splendour of the metropolis.大都市的花花世界使他感到眼花缭乱。
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16
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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17
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 |
参考例句： |
- I put a few personal belongings in a bag.我把几件私人物品装进包中。
- Your personal belongings are not dutiable.个人物品不用纳税。
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18
spouse
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| n.配偶(指夫或妻) |
参考例句： |
- Her spouse will come to see her on Sunday.她的丈夫星期天要来看她。
- What is the best way to keep your spouse happy in the marriage?在婚姻中保持配偶幸福的最好方法是什么？
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19
berth
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| n.卧铺，停泊地，锚位；v.使停泊 |
参考例句： |
- She booked a berth on the train from London to Aberdeen.她订了一张由伦敦开往阿伯丁的火车卧铺票。
- They took up a berth near the harbor.他们在港口附近找了个位置下锚。
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20
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 |
参考例句： |
- He grumbled at the low pay offered to him. 他抱怨给他的工资低。
- The heat was sweltering, and the men grumbled fiercely over their work. 天热得让人发昏，水手们边干活边发着牢骚。
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21
provocation
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| n.激怒，刺激，挑拨，挑衅的事物，激怒的原因 |
参考例句： |
- He's got a fiery temper and flares up at the slightest provocation.他是火爆性子，一点就着。
- They did not react to this provocation.他们对这一挑衅未作反应。
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22
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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23
depot
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| n.仓库，储藏处；公共汽车站；火车站 |
参考例句： |
- The depot is only a few blocks from here.公共汽车站离这儿只有几个街区。
- They leased the building as a depot.他们租用这栋大楼作仓库。
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24
bustle
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| v.喧扰地忙乱，匆忙，奔忙；n.忙碌；喧闹 |
参考例句： |
- The bustle and din gradually faded to silence as night advanced.随着夜越来越深，喧闹声逐渐沉寂。
- There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the railway station.火车站里非常拥挤。
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25
urchin
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| n.顽童；海胆 |
参考例句： |
- You should sheer off the urchin.你应该躲避这顽童。
- He is a most wicked urchin.他是个非常调皮的顽童。
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