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欧·亨利:MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN
添加时间:2023-12-11 11:00:00 浏览次数: 作者:未知
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  • The burglar stepped inside the window quickly, and then he took his time. A burglar who respects his art always takes his time before taking anything else.

    The house was a private residence. By its boarded front door and untrimmed Boston ivy1 the burglar knew that the mistress of it was sitting on some oceanside piazza2 telling a sympathetic man in a yachting cap that no one had ever understood her sensitive, lonely heart. He knew by the light in the third-story front windows, and by the lateness of the season, that the master of the house had come home, and would soon extinguish his light and retire. For it was September of the year and of the soul, in which season the house’s good man comes to consider roof gardens and stenographers as vanities, and to desire the return of his mate and the more durable3 blessings4 of decorum and the moral excellencies.

    The burglar lighted a cigarette. The guarded glow of the match illuminated5 his salient points for a moment. He belonged to the third type of burglars.

    This third type has not yet been recognized and accepted. The police have made us familiar with the first and second. Their classification is simple. The collar is the distinguishing mark.

    When a burglar is caught who does not wear a collar he is described as a degenerate6 of the lowest type, singularly vicious and depraved, and is suspected of being the desperate criminal who stole the handcuffs out of Patrolman Hennessy’s pocket in 1878 and walked away to escape arrest.

    The other well-known type is the burglar who wears a collar. He is always referred to as a Raffles7 in real life. He is invariably a gentleman by daylight, breakfasting in a dress suit, and posing as a paperhanger, while after dark he plies8 his nefarious9 occupation of burglary. His mother is an extremely wealthy and respected resident of Ocean Grove10, and when he is conducted to his cell he asks at once for a nail file and the Police Gazette. He always has a wife in every State in the Union and fiancées in all the Territories, and the newspapers print his matrimonial gallery out of their stock of cuts of the ladies who were cured by only one bottle after having been given up by five doctors, experiencing great relief after the first dose.

    The burglar wore a blue sweater. He was neither a Raffles nor one of the chefs from Hell’s Kitchen. The police would have been baffled had they attempted to classify him. They have not yet heard of the respectable, unassuming burglar who is neither above nor below his station.

    This burglar of the third class began to prowl. He wore no masks, dark lanterns, or gum shoes. He carried a 38-calibre revolver in his pocket, and he chewed peppermint11 gum thoughtfully.

    The furniture of the house was swathed in its summer dust protectors. The silver was far away in safe-deposit vaults12. The burglar expected no remarkable13 “haul.” His objective point was that dimly lighted room where the master of the house should be sleeping heavily after whatever solace14 he had sought to lighten the burden of his loneliness. A “touch” might be made there to the extent of legitimate15, fair professional profits—loose money, a watch, a jewelled stick-pin—nothing exorbitant16 or beyond reason. He had seen the window left open and had taken the chance.

    The burglar softly opened the door of the lighted room. The gas was turned low. A man lay in the bed asleep. On the dresser lay many things in confusion—a crumpled17 roll of bills, a watch, keys, three poker18 chips, crushed cigars, a pink silk hair bow, and an unopened bottle of bromo-seltzer for a bulwark19 in the morning.

    The burglar took three steps toward the dresser. The man in the bed suddenly uttered a squeaky groan20 and opened his eyes. His right hand slid under his pillow, but remained there.

    “Lay still,” said the burglar in conversational21 tone. Burglars of the third type do not hiss22. The citizen in the bed looked at the round end of the burglar’s pistol and lay still.

    “Now hold up both your hands,” commanded the burglar.

    The citizen had a little, pointed23, brown-and-gray beard, like that of a painless dentist. He looked solid, esteemed24, irritable25, and disgusted. He sat up in bed and raised his right hand above his head.

    “Up with the other one,” ordered the burglar. “You might be amphibious and shoot with your left. You can count two, can’t you? Hurry up, now.”

    “Can’t raise the other one,” said the citizen, with a contortion26 of his lineaments.

    “What’s the matter with it?”

    Rheumatism27 in the shoulder.”

    “Inflammatory?”

    “Was. The inflammation has gone down.” The burglar stood for a moment or two, holding his gun on the afflicted28 one. He glanced at the plunder29 on the dresser and then, with a half-embarrassed air, back at the man in the bed. Then he, too, made a sudden grimace30.

    “Don’t stand there making faces,” snapped the citizen, bad-humouredly. “If you’ve come to burgle why don’t you do it? There’s some stuff lying around.”

    “’Scuse me,” said the burglar, with a grin; “but it just socked me one, too. It’s good for you that rheumatism and me happens to be old pals31. I got it in my left arm, too. Most anybody but me would have popped you when you wouldn’t hoist32 that left claw of yours.”

    “How long have you had it?” inquired the citizen.

    “Four years. I guess that ain’t all. Once you’ve got it, it’s you for a rheumatic life—that’s my judgment33.”

    “Ever try rattlesnake oil?” asked the citizen, interestedly.

    “Gallons,” said the burglar. “If all the snakes I’ve used the oil of was strung out in a row they’d reach eight times as far as Saturn35, and the rattles34 could be heard at Valparaiso, Indiana, and back.”

    “Some use Chiselum’s Pills,” remarked the citizen.

    “Fudge!” said the burglar. “Took ’em five months. No good. I had some relief the year I tried Finkelham’s Extract, Balm of Gilead poultices and Potts’s Pain Pulverizer36; but I think it was the buckeye I carried in my pocket what done the trick.”

    “Is yours worse in the morning or at night?” asked the citizen.

    “Night,” said the burglar; “just when I’m busiest. Say, take down that arm of yours—I guess you won’t—Say! did you ever try Blickerstaff’s Blood Builder?”

    “I never did. Does yours come in paroxysms or is it a steady pain?”

    The burglar sat down on the foot of the bed and rested his gun on his crossed knee.

    “It jumps,” said he. “It strikes me when I ain’t looking for it. I had to give up second-story work because I got stuck sometimes half-way up. Tell you what—I don’t believe the bloomin’ doctors know what is good for it.”

    “Same here. I’ve spent a thousand dollars without getting any relief. Yours swell37 any?”

    “Of mornings. And when it’s goin’ to rain—great Christopher!”

    “Me, too,” said the citizen. “I can tell when a streak38 of humidity the size of a table-cloth starts from Florida on its way to New York. And if I pass a theatre where there’s an ‘East Lynne’ matinee going on, the moisture starts my left arm jumping like a toothache.”

    “It’s undiluted—hades!” said the burglar.

    “You’re dead right,” said the citizen.

    The burglar looked down at his pistol and thrust it into his pocket with an awkward attempt at ease.

    “Say, old man,” he said, constrainedly39, “ever try opodeldoc?”

    “Slop!” said the citizen angrily. “Might as well rub on restaurant butter.”

    “Sure,” concurred40 the burglar. “It’s a salve suitable for little Minnie when the kitty scratches her finger. I’ll tell you what! We’re up against it. I only find one thing that eases her up. Hey? Little old sanitary41, ameliorating, lest-we-forget Booze. Say—this job’s off—’scuse me—get on your clothes and let’s go out and have some. ’Scuse the liberty, but—ouch! There she goes again!”

    “For a week,” said the citizen. “I haven’t been able to dress myself without help. I’m afraid Thomas is in bed, and—”

    “Climb out,” said the burglar, “I’ll help you get into your duds.”

    The conventional returned as a tidal wave and flooded the citizen. He stroked his brown-and-gray beard.

    “It’s very unusual—” he began.

    “Here’s your shirt,” said the burglar, “fall out. I knew a man who said Omberry’s Ointment42 fixed43 him in two weeks so he could use both hands in tying his four-in-hand.”

    As they were going out the door the citizen turned and started back.

    “‘Liked to forgot my money,” he explained; “laid it on the dresser last night.”

    The burglar caught him by the right sleeve.

    “Come on,” he said bluffly44. “I ask you. Leave it alone. I’ve got the price. Ever try witch hazel and oil of wintergreen?”

     12级   


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    1 ivy [ˈaɪvi] x31ys   第10级
    n.常青藤,常春藤
    参考例句:
    • Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy. 她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
    • The wall is covered all over with ivy. 墙上爬满了常春藤。
    2 piazza [piˈætsə] UNVx1   第12级
    n.广场;走廊
    参考例句:
    • Siena's main piazza was one of the sights of Italy. 锡耶纳的主要广场是意大利的名胜之一。
    • They walked out of the cafeteria, and across the piazza. 他们走出自助餐厅,穿过广场。
    3 durable [ˈdjʊərəbl] frox4   第7级
    adj.持久的,耐久的
    参考例句:
    • This raincoat is made of very durable material. 这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
    • They frequently require more major durable purchases. 他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。
    4 blessings [ˈblesɪŋz] 52a399b218b9208cade790a26255db6b   第7级
    n.(上帝的)祝福( blessing的名词复数 );好事;福分;因祸得福
    参考例句:
    • Afflictions are sometimes blessings in disguise. 塞翁失马,焉知非福。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • We don't rely on blessings from Heaven. 我们不靠老天保佑。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    5 illuminated [i'lju:mineitid] 98b351e9bc282af85e83e767e5ec76b8   第7级
    adj.被照明的;受启迪的
    参考例句:
    • Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。
    • the illuminated city at night 夜幕中万家灯火的城市
    6 degenerate [dɪˈdʒenəreɪt] 795ym   第7级
    vi.退步,堕落;vt.使退化;恶化;adj.退步的,堕落的;n.堕落者
    参考例句:
    • He didn't let riches and luxury make him degenerate. 他不因财富和奢华而自甘堕落。
    • Will too much freedom make them degenerate? 太多的自由会令他们堕落吗?
    7 raffles [ˈræflz] 6c7d0b0857b474f06d345aeb445411eb   第10级
    n.抽彩售物( raffle的名词复数 )v.以抽彩方式售(物)( raffle的第三人称单数 )
    参考例句:
    • Elsa and I will buzz on to the Raffles bar. 埃尔莎和我继续往前去,到拉福尔旅馆的酒巴。 来自辞典例句
    • Tudsbury rushed to the Raffles and dictated this hot story to Pamela. 塔茨伯利冲到拉福尔旅馆,对帕米拉口述了这个最新消息。 来自辞典例句
    8 plies [plaɪz] 395e5dc06de3dad858358838657ef3ca   第10级
    v.使用(工具)( ply的第三人称单数 );经常供应(食物、饮料);固定往来;经营生意
    参考例句:
    • The ship plies between London and Sydney. 这船常航行于伦敦与悉尼之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • The bus plies from the station to the hotel. 这辆公共汽车往来于车站和旅馆之间。 来自辞典例句
    9 nefarious [nɪˈfeəriəs] 1jsyH   第11级
    adj.恶毒的,极坏的
    参考例句:
    • My father believes you all have a nefarious purpose here. 我父亲认为你们都有邪恶的目的。
    • He was universally feared because of his many nefarious deeds. 因为他干了许多罪恶的勾当,所以人人都惧怕他。
    10 grove [grəʊv] v5wyy   第7级
    n.林子,小树林,园林
    参考例句:
    • On top of the hill was a grove of tall trees. 山顶上一片高大的树林。
    • The scent of lemons filled the grove. 柠檬香味充满了小树林。
    11 peppermint [ˈpepəmɪnt] slNzxg   第11级
    n.薄荷,薄荷油,薄荷糖
    参考例句:
    • Peppermint oil is very good for regulating digestive disorders. 薄荷油能很有效地调节消化系统失调。
    • He sat down, popped in a peppermint and promptly choked to death. 他坐下来,突然往嘴里放了一颗薄荷糖,当即被噎死。
    12 vaults [vɔ:lts] fe73e05e3f986ae1bbd4c517620ea8e6   第8级
    n.拱顶( vault的名词复数 );地下室;撑物跳高;墓穴
    参考例句:
    • It was deposited in the vaults of a bank. 它存在一家银行的保险库里。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • They think of viruses that infect an organization from the outside.They envision hackers breaking into their information vaults. 他们考虑来自外部的感染公司的病毒,他们设想黑客侵入到信息宝库中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    13 remarkable [rɪˈmɑ:kəbl] 8Vbx6   第7级
    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。
    14 solace [ˈsɒləs] uFFzc   第9级
    n.安慰;vt.使快乐;安慰(物),缓和
    参考例句:
    • They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives. 他们日常生活很艰难,就在宗教中寻求安慰。
    • His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace. 演艺事业突然一落千丈,他便借酒浇愁。
    15 legitimate [lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət] L9ZzJ   第8级
    adj.合法的,合理的,合乎逻辑的;v.使合法
    参考例句:
    • Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave. 生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
    • That's a perfectly legitimate fear. 怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。
    16 exorbitant [ɪgˈzɔ:bɪtənt] G7iyh   第9级
    adj.过分的;过度的
    参考例句:
    • More competition should help to drive down exorbitant phone charges. 更多的竞争有助于降低目前畸高的电话收费。
    • The price of food here is exorbitant. 这儿的食物价格太高。
    17 crumpled [ˈkrʌmpld] crumpled   第8级
    adj. 弯扭的, 变皱的 动词crumple的过去式和过去分词形式
    参考例句:
    • She crumpled the letter up into a ball and threw it on the fire. 她把那封信揉成一团扔进了火里。
    • She flattened out the crumpled letter on the desk. 她在写字台上把皱巴巴的信展平。
    18 poker [ˈpəʊkə(r)] ilozCG   第10级
    n.扑克;vt.烙制
    参考例句:
    • He was cleared out in the poker game. 他打扑克牌,把钱都输光了。
    • I'm old enough to play poker and do something with it. 我打扑克是老手了,可以玩些花样。
    19 bulwark [ˈbʊlwək] qstzb   第10级
    n.堡垒,保障,防御
    参考例句:
    • That country is a bulwark of freedom. 那个国家是自由的堡垒。
    • Law and morality are the bulwark of society. 法律和道德是社会的防御工具。
    20 groan [grəʊn] LfXxU   第7级
    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。
    21 conversational [ˌkɒnvəˈseɪʃənl] SZ2yH   第7级
    adj.对话的,会话的
    参考例句:
    • The article is written in a conversational style. 该文是以对话的形式写成的。
    • She values herself on her conversational powers. 她常夸耀自己的能言善辩。
    22 hiss [hɪs] 2yJy9   第10级
    vi.发出嘶嘶声;发嘘声表示不满
    参考例句:
    • We can hear the hiss of air escaping from a tire. 我们能听到一只轮胎的嘶嘶漏气声。
    • Don't hiss at the speaker. 不要嘘演讲人。
    23 pointed [ˈpɔɪntɪd] Il8zB4   第7级
    adj.尖的,直截了当的
    参考例句:
    • He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil. 他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
    • A safety pin has a metal covering over the pointed end. 安全别针在尖端有一个金属套。
    24 esteemed [ɪs'ti:md] ftyzcF   第7级
    adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 );敬重;认为;以为
    参考例句:
    • The art of conversation is highly esteemed in France. 在法国十分尊重谈话技巧。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • He esteemed that he understood what I had said. 他认为已经听懂我说的意思了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    25 irritable [ˈɪrɪtəbl] LRuzn   第9级
    adj.急躁的;过敏的;易怒的
    参考例句:
    • He gets irritable when he's got toothache. 他牙一疼就很容易发脾气。
    • Our teacher is an irritable old lady. She gets angry easily. 我们的老师是位脾气急躁的老太太。她很容易生气。
    26 contortion [kənˈtɔ:ʃn] nZjy9   第12级
    n.扭弯,扭歪,曲解
    参考例句:
    • I had to admire the contortions of the gymnasts. 我不得不为这些体操运动员们高难度的扭体动作而赞叹。
    • This sentence was spoken with the bitterness of self-upbraiding, and a contortion of visage absolutely demoniacal. 这话是用辛辣的自我谴责的口吻说出来的,说话时他的面孔也歪扭得象个地道的魔鬼。
    27 rheumatism [ˈru:mətɪzəm] hDnyl   第9级
    n.风湿病
    参考例句:
    • The damp weather plays the very devil with my rheumatism. 潮湿的天气加重了我的风湿病。
    • The hot weather gave the old man a truce from rheumatism. 热天使这位老人暂时免受风湿病之苦。
    28 afflicted [əˈfliktid] aaf4adfe86f9ab55b4275dae2a2e305a   第7级
    使受痛苦,折磨( afflict的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • About 40% of the country's population is afflicted with the disease. 全国40%左右的人口患有这种疾病。
    • A terrible restlessness that was like to hunger afflicted Martin Eden. 一阵可怕的、跟饥饿差不多的不安情绪折磨着马丁·伊登。
    29 plunder [ˈplʌndə(r)] q2IzO   第9级
    vt.劫掠财物,掠夺;n.劫掠物,赃物;劫掠
    参考例句:
    • The thieves hid their plunder in the cave. 贼把赃物藏在山洞里。
    • Trade should not serve as a means of economic plunder. 贸易不应当成为经济掠夺的手段。
    30 grimace [grɪˈmeɪs] XQVza   第10级
    vi. 扮鬼脸;作怪相;作苦相 n. 鬼脸;怪相;痛苦的表情
    参考例句:
    • The boy stole a look at his father with grimace. 那男孩扮着鬼脸偷看了他父亲一眼。
    • Thomas made a grimace after he had tasted the wine. 托马斯尝了那葡萄酒后做了个鬼脸。
    31 pals [pælz] 51a8824fc053bfaf8746439dc2b2d6d0   第8级
    n.朋友( pal的名词复数 );老兄;小子;(对男子的不友好的称呼)家伙
    参考例句:
    • We've been pals for years. 我们是多年的哥们儿了。
    • CD 8 positive cells remarkably increased in PALS and RP(P CD8+细胞在再生脾PALS和RP内均明显增加(P 来自互联网
    32 hoist [hɔɪst] rdizD   第7级
    n.升高,起重机,推动;v.升起,升高,举起
    参考例句:
    • By using a hoist the movers were able to sling the piano to the third floor. 搬运工人用吊车才把钢琴吊到3楼。
    • Hoist the Chinese flag on the flagpole, please! 请在旗杆上升起中国国旗!
    33 judgment ['dʒʌdʒmənt] e3xxC   第7级
    n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见
    参考例句:
    • The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people. 主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
    • He's a man of excellent judgment. 他眼力过人。
    34 rattles [ˈrætlz] 0cd5b6f81d3b50c9ffb3ddb2eaaa027b   第7级
    (使)发出格格的响声, (使)作嘎嘎声( rattle的第三人称单数 ); 喋喋不休地说话; 迅速而嘎嘎作响地移动,堕下或走动; 使紧张,使恐惧
    参考例句:
    • It rattles the windowpane and sends the dog scratching to get under the bed. 它把窗玻璃震得格格作响,把狗吓得往床底下钻。
    • How thin it is, and how dainty and frail; and how it rattles. 你看它够多么薄,多么精致,多么不结实;还老那么哗楞哗楞地响。
    35 Saturn [ˈsætɜ:n] tsZy1   第8级
    n.农神,土星
    参考例句:
    • Astronomers used to ask why only Saturn has rings. 天文学家们过去一直感到奇怪,为什么只有土星有光环。
    • These comparisons suggested that Saturn is made of lighter materials. 这些比较告诉我们,土星由较轻的物质构成。
    36 pulverizer ['pʌlvəraɪzə] 9a350e99a4a306b59d407ab6927a258a   第12级
    n.粉碎机
    参考例句:
    • Mixer, extruding machine, double screw rod extruding machine, breaker, sheeting breaker, pulverizer. 混合机,挤出机,双螺杆挤出机,破碎机,压片破碎机,磨粉机,制粉设备。 来自互联网
    • For pellet mill, extruder, hammer mill, pulverizer, crumbler, rotary screener. 制粒机、膨化机、粉碎机、微粉碎机、破碎机、分级筛等设备配件、易损件。 来自互联网
    37 swell [swel] IHnzB   第7级
    vi.膨胀,肿胀;增长,增强
    参考例句:
    • The waves had taken on a deep swell. 海浪汹涌。
    • His injured wrist began to swell. 他那受伤的手腕开始肿了。
    38 streak [stri:k] UGgzL   第7级
    n.条理,斑纹,倾向,少许,痕迹;v.加条纹,变成条纹,奔驰,快速移动
    参考例句:
    • The Indians used to streak their faces with paint. 印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
    • Why did you streak the tree? 你为什么在树上刻条纹?
    39 constrainedly [kənst'reɪnədlɪ] 220a2217525a7046cb862860e4febdea   第7级
    不自然地,勉强地,强制地
    参考例句:
    • Very constrainedly,she agreed a young doctor to operate on her. 她非常勉强地同意让一位年轻的医生为她做手术。
    40 concurred [] 1830b9fe9fc3a55d928418c131a295bd   第8级
    同意(concur的过去式与过去分词形式)
    参考例句:
    • Historians have concurred with each other in this view. 历史学家在这个观点上已取得一致意见。
    • So many things concurred to give rise to the problem. 许多事情同时发生而导致了这一问题。
    41 sanitary [ˈsænətri] SCXzF   第8级
    adj.卫生方面的,卫生的,清洁的,卫生的
    参考例句:
    • It's not sanitary to let flies come near food. 让苍蝇接近食物是不卫生的。
    • The sanitary conditions in this restaurant are abominable. 这家饭馆的卫生状况糟透了。
    42 ointment [ˈɔɪntmənt] 6vzy5   第9级
    n.药膏,油膏,软膏
    参考例句:
    • Your foot will feel better after the application of this ointment. 敷用这药膏后,你的脚会感到舒服些。
    • This herbal ointment will help to close up your wound quickly. 这种中草药膏会帮助你的伤口很快愈合。
    43 fixed [fɪkst] JsKzzj   第8级
    adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
    参考例句:
    • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet? 你们俩选定婚期了吗?
    • Once the aim is fixed, we should not change it arbitrarily. 目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
    44 bluffly ['blʌflɪ] db368d66a3c2e9f34a8a612ab203d2d6   第9级
    率直地,粗率地
    参考例句:

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