Apparently the deceased had but few relatives. But six persons were in a small room appropriated to the mourners when our hero and his new acquaintance entered. One of these, and far the most
imposing1 in appearance, was a
stout2 lady, who quite filled up the only armchair in the room. In a plain chair close by was a
meek3 little man, three inches shorter, and probably not more than half her weight. A boy and girl, the children of the ill-matched pair, the former resembling the father, the latter the mother, were ranged alongside. Permit me to introduce Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Pinkerton, of Castleton, an adjoining town. Master Albert and Miss Nancy Pinkerton.
Mrs. Pinkerton is a milliner, and her husband is her clerk and errand boy. She has considerable business capacity, and makes enough to support the family comfortably, besides adding something
annually4 to the fund in the
savings5 bank. The relationship to the deceased is on the side of the husband, who is a cousin. This relationship has given rise to great expectations on the part of Mrs. Pinkerton, who
fully6 expects to inherit half the estate of Mr. Carter.
“If we get it, Josiah,” she has promised magnificently, “I'll buy you a new suit of clothes.”
“But, Maria,” expostulated the meek husband, “it will be left to me, not to you.”
“Why so?” demanded she, frowning.
“Because he is my cousin, not yours.”
“You indeed!” retorted the wife, angrily; “and what do you know about the use of money? Who supports the family, I should like to know?”
“I help,” answered Josiah,
meekly7.
“And precious little you help,” returned his wife,
sarcastically8. “So far as you are concerned, we should all be in the poor house long before this. No, Josiah, the money must come into my hands. I'll give you a good allowance, and hire an errand boy so that you needn't have to carry round bundles. You ought to be
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收听单词发音
1
imposing
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adj.使人难忘的,壮丽的,堂皇的,雄伟的 |
参考例句: |
- The fortress is an imposing building.这座城堡是一座宏伟的建筑。
- He has lost his imposing appearance.他已失去堂堂仪表。
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3
meek
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adj.温顺的,逆来顺受的 |
参考例句: |
- He expects his wife to be meek and submissive.他期望妻子温顺而且听他摆布。
- The little girl is as meek as a lamb.那个小姑娘像羔羊一般温顺。
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4
annually
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adv.一年一次,每年 |
参考例句: |
- Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
- They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。
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5
savings
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n.存款,储蓄 |
参考例句: |
- I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
- By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
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6
fully
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adv.完全地,全部地,彻底地;充分地 |
参考例句: |
- The doctor asked me to breathe in,then to breathe out fully.医生让我先吸气,然后全部呼出。
- They soon became fully integrated into the local community.他们很快就完全融入了当地人的圈子。
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7
meekly
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adv.温顺地,逆来顺受地 |
参考例句: |
- He stood aside meekly when the new policy was proposed. 当有人提出新政策时,他唯唯诺诺地站 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He meekly accepted the rebuke. 他顺从地接受了批评。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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8
sarcastically
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adv.挖苦地,讽刺地 |
参考例句: |
- 'What a surprise!' Caroline murmured sarcastically.“太神奇了!”卡罗琳轻声挖苦道。
- Pierce mocked her and bowed sarcastically. 皮尔斯嘲笑她,讽刺地鞠了一躬。
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9
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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10
legacy
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n.遗产,遗赠;先人(或过去)留下的东西 |
参考例句: |
- They are the most precious cultural legacy our forefathers left.它们是我们祖先留下来的最宝贵的文化遗产。
- He thinks the legacy is a gift from the Gods.他认为这笔遗产是天赐之物。
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11
reins
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感情,激情; 缰( rein的名词复数 ); 控制手段; 掌管; (成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的)保护带 |
参考例句: |
- She pulled gently on the reins. 她轻轻地拉着缰绳。
- The government has imposed strict reins on the import of luxury goods. 政府对奢侈品的进口有严格的控制手段。
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12
rites
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仪式,典礼( rite的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- to administer the last rites to sb 给某人举行临终圣事
- He is interested in mystic rites and ceremonies. 他对神秘的仪式感兴趣。
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13
bosom
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n.胸,胸部;胸怀;内心;adj.亲密的 |
参考例句: |
- She drew a little book from her bosom.她从怀里取出一本小册子。
- A dark jealousy stirred in his bosom.他内心生出一阵恶毒的嫉妒。
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14
scowled
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怒视,生气地皱眉( scowl的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- He scowled his displeasure. 他满脸嗔色。
- The teacher scowled at his noisy class. 老师对他那喧闹的课堂板着脸。
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15
lengthened
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(时间或空间)延长,伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- The afternoon shadows lengthened. 下午影子渐渐变长了。
- He wanted to have his coat lengthened a bit. 他要把上衣放长一些。
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16
savagely
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adv. 野蛮地,残酷地 |
参考例句: |
- The roses had been pruned back savagely. 玫瑰被狠狠地修剪了一番。
- He snarled savagely at her. 他向她狂吼起来。
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17
discomfiture
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n.崩溃;大败;挫败;困惑 |
参考例句: |
- I laughed my head off when I heard of his discomfiture. 听到别人说起他的狼狈相,我放声大笑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Without experiencing discomfiture and setbacks,one can never find truth. 不经过失败和挫折,便找不到真理。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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18
restive
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adj.不安宁的,不安静的 |
参考例句: |
- The government has done nothing to ease restrictions and manufacturers are growing restive.政府未采取任何措施放松出口限制,因此国内制造商变得焦虑不安。
- The audience grew restive.观众变得不耐烦了。
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19
residue
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n.残余,剩余,残渣 |
参考例句: |
- Mary scraped the residue of food from the plates before putting them under water.玛丽在把盘子放入水之前先刮去上面的食物残渣。
- Pesticide persistence beyond the critical period for control leads to residue problems.农药一旦超过控制的临界期,就会导致残留问题。
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20
expended
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v.花费( expend的过去式和过去分词 );使用(钱等)做某事;用光;耗尽 |
参考例句: |
- She expended all her efforts on the care of home and children. 她把所有精力都花在料理家务和照顾孩子上。
- The enemy had expended all their ammunition. 敌人已耗尽所有的弹药。 来自《简明英汉词典》
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21
blessing
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n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 |
参考例句: |
- The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
- A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。
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