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Chapter 4 Unpleasant Business

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 It was now nine o'clock, rather a late hour for callers in the country, and Mrs. Barclay waited not without curiosity to hear the nature of the business which had brought her two visitors at that time.

 
"Take seats, gentlemen," she said, with the courtesy habitual1 to her.
 
Squire2 Davenport, who was disposed to consider that he had a right to the best of everything, seated himself in the rocking-chair, and signed his companion to a cane3 chair beside him.
 
"Mr. Kirk," he commenced, "is thinking of coming to Pentonville to live."
 
"I am glad to hear it," said Mrs. Barclay politely. Perhaps she would not have said this if she had known what was coming next.
 
"He is a carpenter," continued the squire, "and, as we have none in the village except old Mr. Wade4, who is superannuated5, I think he will find enough to do to keep him busy."
 
"I should think so," assented6 the widow.
 
"If he does not, I can employ him a part of the time on my land."
 
"What has all this to do with me?" thought Mrs. Barclay.
 
She soon learned.
 
"Of course he will need a house," pursued the squire, "and as his family is small, he thinks this house will just suit him."
 
"But I don't wish to sell," said the widow hurriedly. "I need this house for Ben and myself."
 
"You could doubtless find other accommodations. I dare say you could hire a couple of rooms from Elnathan Perkins."
 
"I wouldn't live in that old shell," said Mrs. Barclay rather indignantly, "and I am sure Ben wouldn't."
 
"I apprehend

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1 habitual x5Pyp     
adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的
参考例句：
  • He is a habitual criminal.他是一个惯犯。
  • They are habitual visitors to our house.他们是我家的常客。
2 squire 0htzjV     
n.护卫, 侍从, 乡绅
参考例句：
  • I told him the squire was the most liberal of men.我告诉他乡绅是世界上最宽宏大量的人。
  • The squire was hard at work at Bristol.乡绅在布里斯托尔热衷于他的工作。
3 cane RsNzT     
n.手杖，细长的茎，藤条；v.以杖击，以藤编制的
参考例句：
  • This sugar cane is quite a sweet and juicy.这甘蔗既甜又多汁。
  • English schoolmasters used to cane the boys as a punishment.英国小学老师过去常用教鞭打男学生作为惩罚。
4 wade nMgzu     
v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉
参考例句：
  • We had to wade through the river to the opposite bank.我们只好涉水过河到对岸。
  • We cannot but wade across the river.我们只好趟水过去。
5 superannuated YhOzQq     
adj.老朽的，退休的；v.因落后于时代而废除，勒令退学
参考例句：
  • Are you still riding that superannuated old bike?你还骑那辆老掉牙的自行车吗？
  • No one supports these superannuated policies.没人支持这些过时的政策。
6 assented 4cee1313bb256a1f69bcc83867e78727     
同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • The judge assented to allow the prisoner to speak. 法官同意允许犯人申辩。
  • "No," assented Tom, "they don't kill the women -- they're too noble. “对，”汤姆表示赞同地说，“他们不杀女人——真伟大！
7 apprehend zvqzq     
vt.理解，领悟，逮捕，拘捕，忧虑
参考例句：
  • I apprehend no worsening of the situation.我不担心局势会恶化。
  • Police have not apprehended her killer.警察还未抓获谋杀她的凶手。
8 apprehensively lzKzYF     
adv.担心地
参考例句：
  • He glanced a trifle apprehensively towards the crowded ballroom. 他敏捷地朝挤满了人的舞厅瞟了一眼。 来自辞典例句
  • Then it passed, leaving everything in a state of suspense, even the willow branches waiting apprehensively. 一阵这样的风过去，一切都不知怎好似的，连柳树都惊疑不定的等着点什么。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
9 faltered d034d50ce5a8004ff403ab402f79ec8d     
（嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃
参考例句：
  • He faltered out a few words. 他支吾地说出了几句。
  • "Er - but he has such a longhead!" the man faltered. 他不好意思似的嚅嗫着：“这孩子脑袋真长。”
10 curtly 4vMzJh     
adv.简短地
参考例句：
  • He nodded curtly and walked away. 他匆忙点了一下头就走了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • The request was curtly refused. 这个请求被毫不客气地拒绝了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
11 softened 19151c4e3297eb1618bed6a05d92b4fe     
（使）变软( soften的过去式和过去分词 )； 缓解打击； 缓和； 安慰
参考例句：
  • His smile softened slightly. 他的微笑稍柔和了些。
  • The ice cream softened and began to melt. 冰淇淋开始变软并开始融化。
12 humble ddjzU     
adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低
参考例句：
  • In my humble opinion,he will win the election.依我拙见，他将在选举中获胜。
  • Defeat and failure make people humble.挫折与失败会使人谦卑。
13 dwelling auzzQk     
n.住宅，住所，寓所
参考例句：
  • Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
  • He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
14 sentimental dDuzS     
adj.多愁善感的，感伤的
参考例句：
  • She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
  • We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。
15 unreasonable tjLwm     
adj.不讲道理的，不合情理的，过度的
参考例句：
  • I know that they made the most unreasonable demands on you.我知道他们对你提出了最不合理的要求。
  • They spend an unreasonable amount of money on clothes.他们花在衣服上的钱太多了。
16 providence 8tdyh     
n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝
参考例句：
  • It is tempting Providence to go in that old boat.乘那艘旧船前往是冒大险。
  • To act as you have done is to fly in the face of Providence.照你的所作所为那样去行事，是违背上帝的意志的。
17 acting czRzoc     
n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的
参考例句：
  • Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
  • During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。
18 auction 3uVzy     
n.拍卖；拍卖会；vt.拍卖
参考例句：
  • They've put the contents of their house up for auction.他们把房子里的东西全都拿去拍卖了。
  • They bought a new minibus with the proceeds from the auction.他们用拍卖得来的钱买了一辆新面包车。
19 lien 91lxQ     
n.扣押权，留置权
参考例句：
  • A lien is a type of security over property.留置是一种财产担保。
  • The court granted me a lien on my debtor's property.法庭授予我对我债务人财产的留置权。
20 fiber NzAye     
n.纤维，纤维质
参考例句：
  • The basic structural unit of yarn is the fiber.纤维是纱的基本结构单元。
  • The material must be free of fiber clumps.这种材料必须无纤维块。
21 mansion 8BYxn     
n.大厦，大楼；宅第
参考例句：
  • The old mansion was built in 1850.这座古宅建于1850年。
  • The mansion has extensive grounds.这大厦四周的庭园广阔。
22 covetous Ropz0     
adj.贪婪的，贪心的
参考例句：
  • She is envious of Jane's good looks and covetous of her car.她既忌妒简的美貌又垂涎她的汽车。
  • He raised his head,with a look of unrestrained greed in his covetous eyes.他抬起头来，贪婪的眼光露出馋涎欲滴的神情。

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