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经典名著:弗洛斯河上的磨坊23
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  • The Family Council

    It was at eleven o’clock the next morning that the aunts and uncles came to hold their consultation1. The fire was lighted in the large parlour, and poor Mrs Tulliver, with a confused impression that it was a great occasion, like a funeral, unbagged the bell-rope tassels2, and unpinned the curtains, adjusting them in proper folds, looking round and shaking her head sadly at the polished tops and legs of the tables, which sister Pullet herself could not accuse of insufficient3 brightness.

    Mr Deane was not coming, he was away on business; but Mrs Deane appeared punctually in that handsome new gig with the head to it, and the livery-servant driving it, which had thrown so clear a light on several traits in her character to some of her female friends in St Ogg’s. Mr Deane had been advancing in the world as rapidly as Mr Tulliver had been going down in it; and in Mrs Deane’s house the Dodson linen4 and plate were beginning to hold quite a subordinate position, as a mere5 supplement to the handsomer articles of the same kind, purchased in recent years,—a change which had caused an occasional coolness in the sisterly intercourse6 between her and Mrs Glegg, who felt that Susan was getting “like the rest,” and there would soon be little of the true Dodson spirit surviving except in herself, and, it might be hoped, in those nephews who supported the Dodson name on the family land, far away in the Wolds.

    People who live at a distance are naturally less faulty than those immediately under our own eyes; and it seems superfluous7, when we consider the remote geographical8 position of the Ethiopians, and how very little the Greeks had to do with them, to inquire further why Homer calls them “blameless.”

    Mrs Deane was the first to arrive; and when she had taken her seat in the large parlour, Mrs Tulliver came down to her with her comely9 face a little distorted, nearly as it would have been if she had been crying. She was not a woman who could shed abundant tears, except in moments when the prospect10 of losing her furniture became unusually vivid, but she felt how unfitting it was to be quite calm under present circumstances.

    “Oh, sister, what a world this is!” she exclaimed as she entered; “what trouble, oh dear!”

    Mrs Deane was a thin-lipped woman, who made small well-considered speeches on peculiar11 occasions, repeating them afterward12 to her husband, and asking him if she had not spoken very properly.

    “Yes, sister,” she said deliberately14, “this is a changing world, and we don’t know to-day what may happen tomorrow. But it’s right to be prepared for all things, and if trouble’s sent, to remember as it isn’t sent without a cause. I’m very sorry for you as a sister, and if the doctor orders jelly for Mr Tulliver, I hope you’ll let me know. I’ll send it willingly; for it is but right he should have proper attendance while he’s ill.”

    “Thank you, Susan,” said Mrs Tulliver, rather faintly, withdrawing her fat hand from her sister’s thin one. “But there’s been no talk o’ jelly yet.” Then after a moment’s pause she added, “There’s a dozen o’ cut jelly-glasses upstairs—I shall never put jelly into ’em no more.”

    Her voice was rather agitated15 as she uttered the last words, but the sound of wheels diverted her thoughts. Mr and Mrs Glegg were come, and were almost immediately followed by Mr and Mrs Pullet.

    Mrs Pullet entered crying, as a compendious16 mode, at all times, of expressing what were her views of life in general, and what, in brief, were the opinions she held concerning the particular case before her.

    Mrs Glegg had on her fuzziest front, and garments which appeared to have had a recent resurrection from rather a creasy form of burial; a costume selected with the high moral purpose of instilling17 perfect humility18 into Bessy and her children.

    “Mrs G., won’t you come nearer the fire?” said her husband, unwilling19 to take the more comfortable seat without offering it to her.

    “You see I’ve seated myself here, Mr Glegg,” returned this superior woman; “you can roast yourself, if you like.”

    “Well,” said Mr Glegg, seating himself good-humouredly, “and how’s the poor man upstairs?”

    “Dr Turnbull thought him a deal better this morning,” said Mrs Tulliver; “he took more notice, and spoke13 to me; but he’s never known Tom yet,—looks at the poor lad as if he was a stranger, though he said something once about Tom and the pony20. The doctor says his memory’s gone a long way back, and he doesn’t know Tom because he’s thinking of him when he was little. Eh dear, eh dear!”

    “I doubt it’s the water got on his brain,” said aunt Pullet, turning round from adjusting her cap in a melancholy21 way at the pier-glass. “It’s much if he ever gets up again; and if he does, he’ll most like be childish, as Mr Carr was, poor man! They fed him with a spoon as if he’d been a babby for three year. He’d quite lost the use of his limbs; but then he’d got a Bath chair, and somebody to draw him; and that’s what you won’t have, I doubt, Bessy.”

    “Sister Pullet,” said Mrs Glegg, severely22, “if I understand right, we’ve come together this morning to advise and consult about what’s to be done in this disgrace as has fallen upon the family, and not to talk o’ people as don’t belong to us. Mr Carr was none of our blood, nor noways connected with us, as I’ve ever heared.”

    “Sister Glegg,” said Mrs Pullet, in a pleading tone, drawing on her gloves again, and stroking the fingers in an agitated manner, “if you’ve got anything disrespectful to say o’ Mr Carr, I do beg of you as you won’t say it to me. I know what he was,” she added, with a sigh; “his breath was short to that degree as you could hear him two rooms off.”

    “Sophy!” said Mrs Glegg, with indignant disgust, “you do talk o’ people’s complaints till it’s quite undecent. But I say again, as I said before, I didn’t come away from home to talk about acquaintances, whether they’d short breath or long. If we aren’t come together for one to hear what the other ’ull do to save a sister and her children from the parish, I shall go back. One can’t act without the other, I suppose; it isn’t to be expected as I should do everything.”

    “Well, Jane,” said Mrs Pullet, “I don’t see as you’ve been so very forrard at doing. So far as I know, this is the first time as here you’ve been, since it’s been known as the bailiff’s in the house; and I was here yesterday, and looked at all Bessy’s linen and things, and I told her I’d buy in the spotted23 tablecloths24. I couldn’t speak fairer; for as for the teapot as she doesn’t want to go out o’ the family, it stands to sense I can’t do with two silver teapots, not if it hadn’t a straight spout26, but the spotted damask I was allays27 fond on.”

    “I wish it could be managed so as my teapot and chany and the best castors needn’t be put up for sale,” said poor Mrs Tulliver, beseechingly28, “and the sugar-tongs the first things ever I bought.”

    “But that can’t be helped, you know,” said Mr Glegg. “If one o’ the family chooses to buy ’em in, they can, but one thing must be bid for as well as another.”

    “And it isn’t to be looked for,” said uncle Pullet, with unwonted independence of idea, “as your own family should pay more for things nor they’ll fetch. They may go for an old song by auction29.”

    “Oh dear, oh dear,” said Mrs Tulliver, “to think o’ my chany being sold i’ that way, and I bought it when I was married, just as you did yours, Jane and Sophy; and I know you didn’t like mine, because o’ the sprig, but I was fond of it; and there’s never been a bit broke, for I’ve washed it myself; and there’s the tulips on the cups, and the roses, as anybody might go and look at ’em for pleasure. You wouldn’t like your chany to go for an old song and be broke to pieces, though yours has got no colour in it, Jane,—it’s all white and fluted30, and didn’t cost so much as mine. And there’s the castors, sister Deane, I can’t think but you’d like to have the castors, for I’ve heard you say they’re pretty.”

    “Well, I’ve no objection to buy some of the best things,” said Mrs Deane, rather loftily; “we can do with extra things in our house.”

    “Best things!” exclaimed Mrs Glegg, with severity, which had gathered intensity31 from her long silence. “It drives me past patience to hear you all talking o’ best things, and buying in this, that, and the other, such as silver and chany. You must bring your mind to your circumstances, Bessy, and not be thinking o’ silver and chany; but whether you shall get so much as a flock-bed to lie on, and a blanket to cover you, and a stool to sit on. You must remember, if you get ’em, it’ll be because your friends have bought ’em for you, for you’re dependent upon them for everything; for your husband lies there helpless, and hasn’t got a penny i’ the world to call his own. And it’s for your own good I say this, for it’s right you should feel what your state is, and what disgrace your husband’s brought on your own family, as you’ve got to look to for everything, and be humble32 in your mind.”

    Mrs Glegg paused, for speaking with much energy for the good of others is naturally exhausting.

    Mrs Tulliver, always borne down by the family predominance of sister Jane, who had made her wear the yoke33 of a younger sister in very tender years, said pleadingly:

    “I’m sure, sister, I’ve never asked anybody to do anything, only buy things as it ’ud be a pleasure to ’em to have, so as they mightn’t go and be spoiled i’ strange houses. I never asked anybody to buy the things in for me and my children; though there’s the linen I spun34, and I thought when Tom was born,—I thought one o’ the first things when he was lying i’ the cradle, as all the things I’d bought wi’ my own money, and been so careful of, ’ud go to him. But I’ve said nothing as I wanted my sisters to pay their money for me. What my husband has done for his sister’s unknown, and we should ha’ been better off this day if it hadn’t been as he’s lent money and never asked for it again.”

    “Come, come,” said Mr Glegg, kindly35, “don’t let us make things too dark. What’s done can’t be undone36. We shall make a shift among us to buy what’s sufficient for you; though, as Mrs G. says, they must be useful, plain things. We mustn’t be thinking o’ what’s unnecessary. A table, and a chair or two, and kitchen things, and a good bed, and such-like. Why, I’ve seen the day when I shouldn’t ha’ known myself if I’d lain on sacking i’stead o’ the floor. We get a deal o’ useless things about us, only because we’ve got the money to spend.”

    “Mr Glegg,” said Mrs G., “if you’ll be kind enough to let me speak, i’stead o’ taking the words out o’ my mouth,—I was going to say, Bessy, as it’s fine talking for you to say as you’ve never asked us to buy anything for you; let me tell you, you ought to have asked us. Pray, how are you to be purvided for, if your own family don’t help you? You must go to the parish, if they didn’t. And you ought to know that, and keep it in mind, and ask us humble to do what we can for you, i’stead o’ saying, and making a boast, as you’ve never asked us for anything.”

    “You talked o’ the Mosses37, and what Mr Tulliver’s done for ’em,” said uncle Pullet, who became unusually suggestive where advances of money were concerned. “Haven’t they been anear you? They ought to do something as well as other folks; and if he’s lent ’em money, they ought to be made to pay it back.”

    “Yes, to be sure,” said Mrs Deane; “I’ve been thinking so. How is it Mr and Mrs Moss38 aren’t here to meet us? It is but right they should do their share.”

    “Oh, dear!” said Mrs Tulliver, “I never sent ’em word about Mr Tulliver, and they live so back’ard among the lanes at Basset, they niver hear anything only when Mr Moss comes to market. But I niver gave ’em a thought. I wonder Maggie didn’t, though, for she was allays so fond of her aunt Moss.”

    “Why don’t your children come in, Bessy?” said Mrs Pullet, at the mention of Maggie. “They should hear what their aunts and uncles have got to say; and Maggie,—when it’s me as have paid for half her schooling39, she ought to think more of her aunt Pullet than of aunt Moss. I may go off sudden when I get home to-day; there’s no telling.”

    “If I’d had my way,” said Mrs Glegg, “the children ’ud ha’ been in the room from the first. It’s time they knew who they’ve to look to, and it’s right as somebody should talk to ’em, and let ’em know their condition i’ life, and what they’re come down to, and make ’em feel as they’ve got to suffer for their father’s faults.”

    “Well, I’ll go and fetch ’em, sister,” said Mrs Tulliver, resignedly. She was quite crushed now, and thought of the treasures in the storeroom with no other feeling than blank despair.

    She went upstairs to fetch Tom and Maggie, who were both in their father’s room, and was on her way down again, when the sight of the storeroom door suggested a new thought to her. She went toward it, and left the children to go down by themselves.

    The aunts and uncles appeared to have been in warm discussion when the brother and sister entered,—both with shrinking reluctance40; for though Tom, with a practical sagacity which had been roused into activity by the strong stimulus41 of the new emotions he had undergone since yesterday, had been turning over in his mind a plan which he meant to propose to one of his aunts or uncles, he felt by no means amicably42 toward them, and dreaded43 meeting them all at once as he would have dreaded a large dose of concentrated physic, which was but just endurable in small draughts44. As for Maggie, she was peculiarly depressed45 this morning; she had been called up, after brief rest, at three o’clock, and had that strange dreamy weariness which comes from watching in a sick-room through the chill hours of early twilight46 and breaking day,—in which the outside day-light life seems to have no importance, and to be a mere margin47 to the hours in the darkened chamber48. Their entrance interrupted the conversation. The shaking of hands was a melancholy and silent ceremony, till uncle Pullet observed, as Tom approached him:

    “Well, young sir, we’ve been talking as we should want your pen and ink; you can write rarely now, after all your schooling, I should think.”

    “Ay, ay,” said uncle Glegg, with admonition which he meant to be kind, “we must look to see the good of all this schooling, as your father’s sunk so much money in, now,—

    ‘When land is gone and money’s spent,

    Then learning is most excellent.’

    Now’s the time, Tom, to let us see the good o’ your learning. Let us see whether you can do better than I can, as have made my fortin without it. But I began wi’ doing with little, you see; I could live on a basin o’ porridge and a crust o’ bread-and-cheese. But I doubt high living and high learning ’ull make it harder for you, young man, nor it was for me.”

    “But he must do it,” interposed aunt Glegg, energetically, “whether it’s hard or no. He hasn’t got to consider what’s hard; he must consider as he isn’t to trusten to his friends to keep him in idleness and luxury; he’s got to bear the fruits of his father’s misconduct, and bring his mind to fare hard and to work hard. And he must be humble and grateful to his aunts and uncles for what they’re doing for his mother and father, as must be turned out into the streets and go to the workhouse if they didn’t help ’em. And his sister, too,” continued Mrs Glegg, looking severely at Maggie, who had sat down on the sofa by her aunt Deane, drawn49 to her by the sense that she was Lucy’s mother, “she must make up her mind to be humble and work; for there’ll be no servants to wait on her any more,—she must remember that. She must do the work o’ the house, and she must respect and love her aunts as have done so much for her, and saved their money to leave to their nepheys and nieces.”

    Tom was still standing50 before the table in the centre of the group. There was a heightened colour in his face, and he was very far from looking humbled51, but he was preparing to say, in a respectful tone, something he had previously52 meditated53, when the door opened and his mother re-entered.

    Poor Mrs Tulliver had in her hands a small tray, on which she had placed her silver teapot, a specimen54 teacup and saucer, the castors, and sugar-tongs.

    “See here, sister,” she said, looking at Mrs Deane, as she set the tray on the table, “I thought, perhaps, if you looked at the teapot again,—it’s a good while since you saw it,—you might like the pattern better; it makes beautiful tea, and there’s a stand and everything; you might use it for every day, or else lay it by for Lucy when she goes to housekeeping. I should be so loath55 for ’em to buy it at the Golden Lion,” said the poor woman, her heart swelling56, and the tears coming,—“my teapot as I bought when I was married, and to think of its being scratched, and set before the travellers and folks, and my letters on it,—see here, E. D.,—and everybody to see ’em.”

    “Ah, dear, dear!” said aunt Pullet, shaking her head with deep sadness, “it’s very bad,—to think o’ the family initials going about everywhere—it niver was so before; you’re a very unlucky sister, Bessy. But what’s the use o’ buying the teapot, when there’s the linen and spoons and everything to go, and some of ’em with your full name,—and when it’s got that straight spout, too.”

    “As to disgrace o’ the family,” said Mrs Glegg, “that can’t be helped wi’ buying teapots. The disgrace is, for one o’ the family to ha’ married a man as has brought her to beggary. The disgrace is, as they’re to be sold up. We can’t hinder the country from knowing that.”

    Maggie had started up from the sofa at the allusion57 to her father, but Tom saw her action and flushed face in time to prevent her from speaking. “Be quiet, Maggie,” he said authoritatively58, pushing her aside. It was a remarkable59 manifestation60 of self-command and practical judgment61 in a lad of fifteen, that when his aunt Glegg ceased, he began to speak in a quiet and respectful manner, though with a good deal of trembling in his voice; for his mother’s words had cut him to the quick.

    “Then, aunt,” he said, looking straight at Mrs Glegg, “if you think it’s a disgrace to the family that we should be sold up, wouldn’t it be better to prevent it altogether? And if you and aunt Pullet,” he continued, looking at the latter, “think of leaving any money to me and Maggie, wouldn’t it be better to give it now, and pay the debt we’re going to be sold up for, and save my mother from parting with her furniture?”

    There was silence for a few moments, for every one, including Maggie, was astonished at Tom’s sudden manliness62 of tone. Uncle Glegg was the first to speak.

    “Ay, ay, young man, come now! You show some notion o’ things. But there’s the interest, you must remember; your aunts get five per cent on their money, and they’d lose that if they advanced it; you haven’t thought o’ that.”

    “I could work and pay that every year,” said Tom, promptly63. “I’d do anything to save my mother from parting with her things.”

    “Well done!” said uncle Glegg, admiringly. He had been drawing Tom out, rather than reflecting on the practicability of his proposal. But he had produced the unfortunate result of irritating his wife.

    “Yes, Mr Glegg!” said that lady, with angry sarcasm64. “It’s pleasant work for you to be giving my money away, as you’ve pretended to leave at my own disposal. And my money, as was my own father’s gift, and not yours, Mr Glegg; and I’ve saved it, and added to it myself, and had more to put out almost every year, and it’s to go and be sunk in other folks’ furniture, and encourage ’em in luxury and extravagance as they’ve no means of supporting; and I’m to alter my will, or have a codicil65 made, and leave two or three hundred less behind me when I die,—me as have allays done right and been careful, and the eldest66 o’ the family; and my money’s to go and be squandered67 on them as have had the same chance as me, only they’ve been wicked and wasteful68. Sister Pullet, you may do as you like, and you may let your husband rob you back again o’ the money he’s given you, but that isn’t my sperrit.”

    “La, Jane, how fiery69 you are!” said Mrs Pullet. “I’m sure you’ll have the blood in your head, and have to be cupped. I’m sorry for Bessy and her children,—I’m sure I think of ’em o’ nights dreadful, for I sleep very bad wi’ this new medicine,—but it’s no use for me to think o’ doing anything, if you won’t meet me half-way.”

    “Why, there’s this to be considered,” said Mr Glegg. “It’s no use to pay off this debt and save the furniture, when there’s all the law debts behind, as ’ud take every shilling, and more than could be made out o’ land and stock, for I’ve made that out from Lawyer Gore70. We’d need save our money to keep the poor man with, instead o’ spending it on furniture as he can neither eat nor drink. You will be so hasty, Jane, as if I didn’t know what was reasonable.”

    “Then speak accordingly, Mr Glegg!” said his wife, with slow, loud emphasis, bending her head toward him significantly.

    Tom’s countenance71 had fallen during this conversation, and his lip quivered; but he was determined72 not to give way. He would behave like a man. Maggie, on the contrary, after her momentary73 delight in Tom’s speech, had relapsed into her state of trembling indignation. Her mother had been standing close by Tom’s side, and had been clinging to his arm ever since he had last spoken; Maggie suddenly started up and stood in front of them, her eyes flashing like the eyes of a young lioness.

    “Why do you come, then,” she burst out, “talking and interfering74 with us and scolding us, if you don’t mean to do anything to help my poor mother—your own sister,—if you’ve no feeling for her when she’s in trouble, and won’t part with anything, though you would never miss it, to save her from pain? Keep away from us then, and don’t come to find fault with my father,—he was better than any of you; he was kind,—he would have helped you, if you had been in trouble. Tom and I don’t ever want to have any of your money, if you won’t help my mother. We’d rather not have it! We’ll do without you.”

    Maggie, having hurled75 her defiance76 at aunts and uncles in this way, stood still, with her large dark eyes glaring at them, as if she were ready to await all consequences.

    Mrs Tulliver was frightened; there was something portentous77 in this mad outbreak; she did not see how life could go on after it. Tom was vexed78; it was no use to talk so. The aunts were silent with surprise for some moments. At length, in a case of aberration79 such as this, comment presented itself as more expedient80 than any answer.

    “You haven’t seen the end o’ your trouble wi’ that child, Bessy,” said Mrs Pullet; “she’s beyond everything for boldness and unthankfulness. It’s dreadful. I might ha’ let alone paying for her schooling, for she’s worse nor ever.”

    “It’s no more than what I’ve allays said,” followed Mrs Glegg. “Other folks may be surprised, but I’m not. I’ve said over and over again,—years ago I’ve said,—‘Mark my words; that child ’ull come to no good; there isn’t a bit of our family in her.’ And as for her having so much schooling, I never thought well o’ that. I’d my reasons when I said I wouldn’t pay anything toward it.”

    “Come, come,” said Mr Glegg, “let’s waste no more time in talking,—let’s go to business. Tom, now, get the pen and ink——”

    While Mr Glegg was speaking, a tall dark figure was seen hurrying past the window.

    “Why, there’s Mrs Moss,” said Mrs Tulliver. “The bad news must ha’ reached her, then”; and she went out to open the door, Maggie eagerly following her.

    “That’s fortunate,” said Mrs Glegg. “She can agree to the list o’ things to be bought in. It’s but right she should do her share when it’s her own brother.”

    Mrs Moss was in too much agitation81 to resist Mrs Tulliver’s movement, as she drew her into the parlour automatically, without reflecting that it was hardly kind to take her among so many persons in the first painful moment of arrival. The tall, worn, dark-haired woman was a strong contrast to the Dodson sisters as she entered in her shabby dress, with her shawl and bonnet82 looking as if they had been hastily huddled83 on, and with that entire absence of self-consciousness which belongs to keenly felt trouble. Maggie was clinging to her arm; and Mrs Moss seemed to notice no one else except Tom, whom she went straight up to and took by the hand.

    “Oh, my dear children,” she burst out, “you’ve no call to think well o’ me; I’m a poor aunt to you, for I’m one o’ them as take all and give nothing. How’s my poor brother?”

    “Mr Turnbull thinks he’ll get better,” said Maggie. “Sit down, aunt Gritty. Don’t fret84.”

    “Oh, my sweet child, I feel torn i’ two,” said Mrs Moss, allowing Maggie to lead her to the sofa, but still not seeming to notice the presence of the rest. “We’ve three hundred pounds o’ my brother’s money, and now he wants it, and you all want it, poor things!—and yet we must be sold up to pay it, and there’s my poor children,—eight of ’em, and the little un of all can’t speak plain. And I feel as if I was a robber. But I’m sure I’d no thought as my brother——”

    The poor woman was interrupted by a rising sob85.

    “Three hundred pounds! oh dear, dear,” said Mrs Tulliver, who, when she had said that her husband had done “unknown” things for his sister, had not had any particular sum in her mind, and felt a wife’s irritation86 at having been kept in the dark.

    “What madness, to be sure!” said Mrs Glegg. “A man with a family! He’d no right to lend his money i’ that way; and without security, I’ll be bound, if the truth was known.”

    Mrs Glegg’s voice had arrested Mrs Moss’s attention, and looking up, she said:

    “Yes, there was security; my husband gave a note for it. We’re not that sort o’ people, neither of us, as ’ud rob my brother’s children; and we looked to paying back the money, when the times got a bit better.”

    “Well, but now,” said Mr Glegg, gently, “hasn’t your husband no way o’ raising this money? Because it ’ud be a little fortin, like, for these folks, if we can do without Tulliver’s being made a bankrupt. Your husband’s got stock; it is but right he should raise the money, as it seems to me,—not but what I’m sorry for you, Mrs Moss.”

    “Oh, sir, you don’t know what bad luck my husband’s had with his stock. The farm’s suffering so as never was for want o’ stock; and we’ve sold all the wheat, and we’re behind with our rent,—not but what we’d like to do what’s right, and I’d sit up and work half the night, if it ’ud be any good; but there’s them poor children,—four of ’em such little uns——”

    “Don’t cry so, aunt; don’t fret,” whispered Maggie, who had kept hold of Mrs Moss’s hand.

    “Did Mr Tulliver let you have the money all at once?” said Mrs Tulliver, still lost in the conception of things which had been “going on” without her knowledge.

    “No; at twice,” said Mrs Moss, rubbing her eyes and making an effort to restrain her tears. “The last was after my bad illness four years ago, as everything went wrong, and there was a new note made then. What with illness and bad luck, I’ve been nothing but cumber87 all my life.”

    “Yes, Mrs Moss,” said Mrs Glegg, with decision, “yours is a very unlucky family; the more’s the pity for my sister.”

    “I set off in the cart as soon as ever I heard o’ what had happened,” said Mrs Moss, looking at Mrs Tulliver. “I should never ha’ stayed away all this while, if you’d thought well to let me know. And it isn’t as I’m thinking all about ourselves, and nothing about my brother, only the money was so on my mind, I couldn’t help speaking about it. And my husband and me desire to do the right thing, sir,” she added, looking at Mr Glegg, “and we’ll make shift and pay the money, come what will, if that’s all my brother’s got to trust to. We’ve been used to trouble, and don’t look for much else. It’s only the thought o’ my poor children pulls me i’ two.”

    “Why, there’s this to be thought on, Mrs Moss,” said Mr Glegg, “and it’s right to warn you,—if Tulliver’s made a bankrupt, and he’s got a note-of-hand of your husband’s for three hundred pounds, you’ll be obliged to pay it; th’ assignees ’ull come on you for it.”

    “Oh dear, oh dear!” said Mrs Tulliver, thinking of the bankruptcy88, and not of Mrs Moss’s concern in it. Poor Mrs Moss herself listened in trembling submission89, while Maggie looked with bewildered distress90 at Tom to see if he showed any signs of understanding this trouble, and caring about poor aunt Moss. Tom was only looking thoughtful, with his eyes on the tablecloth25.

    “And if he isn’t made bankrupt,” continued Mr Glegg, “as I said before, three hundred pounds ’ud be a little fortin for him, poor man. We don’t know but what he may be partly helpless, if he ever gets up again. I’m very sorry if it goes hard with you, Mrs Moss, but my opinion is, looking at it one way, it’ll be right for you to raise the money; and looking at it th’ other way, you’ll be obliged to pay it. You won’t think ill o’ me for speaking the truth.”

    “Uncle,” said Tom, looking up suddenly from his meditative91 view of the tablecloth, “I don’t think it would be right for my aunt Moss to pay the money if it would be against my father’s will for her to pay it; would it?”

    Mr Glegg looked surprised for a moment or two before he said: “Why, no, perhaps not, Tom; but then he’d ha’ destroyed the note, you know. We must look for the note. What makes you think it ’ud be against his will?”

    “Why,” said Tom, colouring, but trying to speak firmly, in spite of a boyish tremor92, “I remember quite well, before I went to school to Mr Stelling, my father said to me one night, when we were sitting by the fire together, and no one else was in the room——”

    Tom hesitated a little, and then went on.

    “He said something to me about Maggie, and then he said: ‘I’ve always been good to my sister, though she married against my will, and I’ve lent Moss money; but I shall never think of distressing93 him to pay it; I’d rather lose it. My children must not mind being the poorer for that.’ And now my father’s ill, and not able to speak for himself, I shouldn’t like anything to be done contrary to what he said to me.”

    “Well, but then, my boy,” said Uncle Glegg, whose good feeling led him to enter into Tom’s wish, but who could not at once shake off his habitual94 abhorrence95 of such recklessness as destroying securities, or alienating96 anything important enough to make an appreciable97 difference in a man’s property, “we should have to make away wi’ the note, you know, if we’re to guard against what may happen, supposing your father’s made bankrupt——”

    “Mr Glegg,” interrupted his wife, severely, “mind what you’re saying. You’re putting yourself very forrard in other folks’s business. If you speak rash, don’t say it was my fault.”

    “That’s such a thing as I never heared of before,” said uncle Pullet, who had been making haste with his lozenge in order to express his amazement,—“making away with a note! I should think anybody could set the constable98 on you for it.”

    “Well, but,” said Mrs Tulliver, “if the note’s worth all that money, why can’t we pay it away, and save my things from going away? We’ve no call to meddle99 with your uncle and aunt Moss, Tom, if you think your father ’ud be angry when he gets well.”

    Mrs Tulliver had not studied the question of exchange, and was straining her mind after original ideas on the subject.

    “Pooh, pooh, pooh! you women don’t understand these things,” said uncle Glegg. “There’s no way o’ making it safe for Mr and Mrs Moss but destroying the note.”

    “Then I hope you’ll help me do it, uncle,” said Tom, earnestly. “If my father shouldn’t get well, I should be very unhappy to think anything had been done against his will that I could hinder. And I’m sure he meant me to remember what he said that evening. I ought to obey my father’s wish about his property.”

    Even Mrs Glegg could not withhold100 her approval from Tom’s words; she felt that the Dodson blood was certainly speaking in him, though, if his father had been a Dodson, there would never have been this wicked alienation101 of money. Maggie would hardly have restrained herself from leaping on Tom’s neck, if her aunt Moss had not prevented her by herself rising and taking Tom’s hand, while she said, with rather a choked voice:

    “You’ll never be the poorer for this, my dear boy, if there’s a God above; and if the money’s wanted for your father, Moss and me ’ull pay it, the same as if there was ever such security. We’ll do as we’d be done by; for if my children have got no other luck, they’ve got an honest father and mother.”

    “Well,” said Mr Glegg, who had been meditating102 after Tom’s words, “we shouldn’t be doing any wrong by the creditors103, supposing your father was bankrupt. I’ve been thinking o’ that, for I’ve been a creditor104 myself, and seen no end o’ cheating. If he meant to give your aunt the money before ever he got into this sad work o’ lawing, it’s the same as if he’d made away with the note himself; for he’d made up his mind to be that much poorer. But there’s a deal o’ things to be considered, young man,” Mr Glegg added, looking admonishingly at Tom, “when you come to money business, and you may be taking one man’s dinner away to make another man’s breakfast. You don’t understand that, I doubt?”

    “Yes, I do,” said Tom, decidedly. “I know if I owe money to one man, I’ve no right to give it to another. But if my father had made up his mind to give my aunt the money before he was in debt, he had a right to do it.”

    “Well done, young man! I didn’t think you’d been so sharp,” said uncle Glegg, with much candor105. “But perhaps your father did make away with the note. Let us go and see if we can find it in the chest.”

    “It’s in my father’s room. Let us go too, aunt Gritty,” whispered Maggie.



    点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

    1 consultation [ˌkɒnslˈteɪʃn] VZAyq   第9级
    n.咨询;商量;商议;会议
    参考例句:
    • The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans. 该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
    • The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community. 该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。
    2 tassels ['tæsəlz] a9e64ad39d545bfcfdae60b76be7b35f   第12级
    n.穗( tassel的名词复数 );流苏状物;(植物的)穗;玉蜀黍的穗状雄花v.抽穗, (玉米)长穗须( tassel的第三人称单数 );使抽穗, (为了使作物茁壮生长)摘去穗状雄花;用流苏装饰
    参考例句:
    • Tassels and Trimmings, Pillows, Wall Hangings, Table Runners, Bell. 采购产品垂饰,枕头,壁挂,表亚军,钟。 来自互联网
    • Cotton Fabrics, Embroidery and Embroiders, Silk, Silk Fabric, Pillows, Tassels and Trimmings. 采购产品棉花织物,刺绣品而且刺绣,丝,丝织物,枕头,流行和装饰品。 来自互联网
    3 insufficient [ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃnt] L5vxu   第7级
    adj.(for,of)不足的,不够的
    参考例句:
    • There was insufficient evidence to convict him. 没有足够证据给他定罪。
    • In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter. 在他们的时代,科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。
    4 linen [ˈlɪnɪn] W3LyK   第7级
    n.亚麻布,亚麻线,亚麻制品;adj.亚麻布制的,亚麻的
    参考例句:
    • The worker is starching the linen. 这名工人正在给亚麻布上浆。
    • Fine linen and cotton fabrics were known as well as wool. 精细的亚麻织品和棉织品像羊毛一样闻名遐迩。
    5 mere [mɪə(r)] rC1xE   第7级
    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。
    6 intercourse [ˈɪntəkɔ:s] NbMzU   第7级
    n.性交;交流,交往,交际
    参考例句:
    • The magazine becomes a cultural medium of intercourse between the two peoples. 该杂志成为两民族间文化交流的媒介。
    • There was close intercourse between them. 他们过往很密。
    7 superfluous [su:ˈpɜ:fluəs] EU6zf   第7级
    adj.过多的,过剩的,多余的
    参考例句:
    • She fined away superfluous matter in the design. 她删去了这图案中多余的东西。
    • That request seemed superfluous when I wrote it. 我这样写的时候觉得这个请求似乎是多此一举。
    8 geographical [ˌdʒi:ə'ɡræfɪkl] Cgjxb   第7级
    adj.地理的;地区(性)的
    参考例句:
    • The current survey will have a wider geographical spread. 当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
    • These birds have a wide geographical distribution. 这些鸟的地理分布很广。
    9 comely [ˈkʌmli] GWeyX   第11级
    adj.漂亮的,合宜的
    参考例句:
    • His wife is a comely young woman. 他的妻子是一个美丽的少妇。
    • A nervous, comely-dressed little girl stepped out. 一个紧张不安、衣着漂亮的小姑娘站了出来。
    10 prospect [ˈprɒspekt] P01zn   第7级
    n.前景,前途;景色,视野
    参考例句:
    • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect. 事态呈现出可喜的前景。
    • The prospect became more evident. 前景变得更加明朗了。
    11 peculiar [pɪˈkju:liə(r)] cinyo   第7级
    adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的
    参考例句:
    • He walks in a peculiar fashion. 他走路的样子很奇特。
    • He looked at me with a very peculiar expression. 他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。
    12 afterward ['ɑ:ftəwəd] fK6y3   第7级
    adv.后来;以后
    参考例句:
    • Let's go to the theatre first and eat afterward. 让我们先去看戏,然后吃饭。
    • Afterward, the boy became a very famous artist. 后来,这男孩成为一个很有名的艺术家。
    13 spoke [spəʊk] XryyC   第11级
    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。
    14 deliberately [dɪˈlɪbərətli] Gulzvq   第7级
    adv.审慎地;蓄意地;故意地
    参考例句:
    • The girl gave the show away deliberately. 女孩故意泄露秘密。
    • They deliberately shifted off the argument. 他们故意回避这个论点。
    15 agitated [ˈædʒɪteɪtɪd] dzgzc2   第11级
    adj.被鼓动的,不安的
    参考例句:
    • His answers were all mixed up, so agitated was he. 他是那样心神不定,回答全乱了。
    • She was agitated because her train was an hour late. 她乘坐的火车晚点一个小时,她十分焦虑。
    16 compendious [kəmˈpendiəs] 5X0y8   第12级
    adj.简要的,精简的
    参考例句:
    • At the end, a compendious sum-up and an expectation were brought out. 最后对全文进行了扼要的总结,并提出展望。
    • He made compendious introduction to the aluminum foil industry of Germany and France. 他对德国与法国的铝箔工业作了扼要的介绍。
    17 instilling [ɪns'tɪlɪŋ] 69e4adc6776941293f2cc5a38f66fa70   第11级
    v.逐渐使某人获得(某种可取的品质),逐步灌输( instil的现在分词 );逐渐使某人获得(某种可取的品质),逐步灌输( instill的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Make sure your subordinates understand your sense of urgency and work toward instilling this in allsubordinates. 确保你的下属同样具备判断紧急事件的意识,在工作中潜移默化地灌输给他们。 来自互联网
    18 humility [hju:ˈmɪləti] 8d6zX   第9级
    n.谦逊,谦恭
    参考例句:
    • Humility often gains more than pride. 谦逊往往比骄傲收益更多。
    • His voice was still soft and filled with specious humility. 他的声音还是那么温和,甚至有点谦卑。
    19 unwilling [ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ] CjpwB   第7级
    adj.不情愿的
    参考例句:
    • The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power. 土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
    • His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise. 他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。
    20 pony [ˈpəʊni] Au5yJ   第8级
    adj.小型的;n.小马
    参考例句:
    • His father gave him a pony as a Christmas present. 他父亲给了他一匹小马驹作为圣诞礼物。
    • They made him pony up the money he owed. 他们逼他还债。
    21 melancholy [ˈmelənkəli] t7rz8   第8级
    n.忧郁,愁思;adj.令人感伤(沮丧)的,忧郁的
    参考例句:
    • All at once he fell into a state of profound melancholy. 他立即陷入无尽的忧思之中。
    • He felt melancholy after he failed the exam. 这次考试没通过,他感到很郁闷。
    22 severely [sə'vɪrlɪ] SiCzmk   第7级
    adv.严格地;严厉地;非常恶劣地
    参考例句:
    • He was severely criticized and removed from his post. 他受到了严厉的批评并且被撤了职。
    • He is severely put down for his careless work. 他因工作上的粗心大意而受到了严厉的批评。
    23 spotted [ˈspɒtɪd] 7FEyj   第8级
    adj.有斑点的,斑纹的,弄污了的
    参考例句:
    • The milkman selected the spotted cows, from among a herd of two hundred. 牛奶商从一群200头牛中选出有斑点的牛。
    • Sam's shop stocks short spotted socks. 山姆的商店屯积了有斑点的短袜。
    24 tablecloths [ˈteɪbəlˌklɔ:θs] abb41060c43ebc073d86c1c49f8fb98f   第9级
    n.桌布,台布( tablecloth的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • Champagne corks popped, and on lace tablecloths seven-course dinners were laid. 桌上铺着带装饰图案的网织的桌布,上面是七道菜的晚餐。 来自飘(部分)
    • At the moment the cause of her concern was a pile of soiled tablecloths. 此刻她关心的事是一堆弄脏了的台布。 来自辞典例句
    25 tablecloth [ˈteɪblklɒθ] lqSwh   第9级
    n.桌布,台布
    参考例句:
    • He sat there ruminating and picking at the tablecloth. 他坐在那儿沉思,轻轻地抚弄着桌布。
    • She smoothed down a wrinkled tablecloth. 她把起皱的桌布熨平了。
    26 spout [spaʊt] uGmzx   第9级
    vt.&vi.喷出,涌出;滔滔不绝地讲;n.喷管;水柱
    参考例句:
    • Implication in folk wealth creativity and undertaking vigor spout. 蕴藏于民间的财富创造力和创业活力喷涌而出。
    • This acts as a spout to drain off water during a rainstorm. 在暴风雨季,这东西被用作喷管来排水。
    27 allays [əˈleɪz] f45fdd769a96a81776867dc31c85398d   第10级
    v.减轻,缓和( allay的第三人称单数 )
    参考例句:
    • This leads to better leak integrity and allays contamination concerns. 这导致了更好的泄露完整性,减少了对污染的担心。 来自互联网
    • And from a security standpoint the act raises as many fears as allays. 而从安全角度来说,该法案消除恐惧的同时也增加了担忧。 来自互联网
    28 beseechingly [bɪ'si:tʃɪŋlɪ] c092e88c28d2bb0ccde559d682617827   第11级
    adv. 恳求地
    参考例句:
    • She stood up, and almost beseechingly, asked her husband,'shall we go now?" 她站起身来,几乎是恳求似地问丈夫:“我们现在就走吧?”
    • Narcissa began to cry in earnest, gazing beseechingly all the while at Snape. 纳西莎伤心地哭了起来,乞求地盯着斯内普。
    29 auction [ˈɔ:kʃn] 3uVzy   第7级
    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。
    30 fluted ['flu:tid] ds9zqF   第7级
    a.有凹槽的
    参考例句:
    • The Taylor house is that white one with the tall fluted column on Polyock Street. 泰勒家的住宅在波洛克街上,就是那幢有高大的雕花柱子的白色屋子。
    • Single chimera light pink two-tone fluted star. Plain, pointed. Large. 单瓣深浅不一的亮粉红色星形缟花,花瓣端有凹痕。平坦尖型叶。大型。
    31 intensity [ɪnˈtensəti] 45Ixd   第7级
    n.强烈,剧烈;强度;烈度
    参考例句:
    • I didn't realize the intensity of people's feelings on this issue. 我没有意识到这一问题能引起群情激奋。
    • The strike is growing in intensity. 罢工日益加剧。
    32 humble [ˈhʌmbl] ddjzU   第7级
    adj.谦卑的,恭顺的;地位低下的;vt.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。
    33 yoke [jəʊk] oeTzRa   第9级
    n.轭;支配;vt.给...上轭,连接,使成配偶;vi.结合;匹配
    参考例句:
    • An ass and an ox, fastened to the same yoke, were drawing a wagon. 驴子和公牛一起套在轭上拉车。
    • The defeated army passed under the yoke. 败军在轭门下通过。
    34 spun [spʌn] kvjwT   第11级
    v.(spin的过去式)纺,杜撰,急转身
    参考例句:
    • His grandmother spun him a yarn at the fire. 他奶奶在火炉边给他讲故事。
    • Her skilful fingers spun the wool out to a fine thread. 她那灵巧的手指把羊毛纺成了细毛线。
    35 kindly [ˈkaɪndli] tpUzhQ   第8级
    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。
    36 undone [ˌʌn'dʌn] JfJz6l   第7级
    a.未做完的,未完成的
    参考例句:
    • He left nothing undone that needed attention.所有需要注意的事他都注意到了。
    37 mosses [mɒsɪs] c7366f977619e62b758615914b126fcb   第7级
    n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式
    参考例句:
    • Ferns, mosses and fungi spread by means of spores. 蕨类植物、苔藓和真菌通过孢子传播蔓生。
    • The only plants to be found in Antarctica are algae, mosses, and lichens. 在南极洲所发现的植物只有藻类、苔藓和地衣。
    38 moss [mɒs] X6QzA   第7级
    n.苔,藓,地衣
    参考例句:
    • Moss grows on a rock. 苔藓生在石头上。
    • He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss. 有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
    39 schooling [ˈsku:lɪŋ] AjAzM6   第7级
    n.教育;正规学校教育
    参考例句:
    • A child's access to schooling varies greatly from area to area. 孩子获得学校教育的机会因地区不同而大相径庭。
    • Backward children need a special kind of schooling. 天赋差的孩子需要特殊的教育。
    40 reluctance [rɪ'lʌktəns] 8VRx8   第7级
    n.厌恶,讨厌,勉强,不情愿
    参考例句:
    • The police released Andrew with reluctance. 警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
    • He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply. 他表示很不愿意答复。
    41 stimulus [ˈstɪmjələs] 3huyO   第8级
    n.刺激,刺激物,促进因素,引起兴奋的事物
    参考例句:
    • Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts. 把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
    • Light is a stimulus to growth in plants. 光是促进植物生长的一个因素。
    42 amicably ['æmɪkəblɪ] amicably   第9级
    adv.友善地
    参考例句:
    • Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵,口吻也马上变得温和了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    • The couple parted amicably. 这对夫妻客气地分手了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    43 dreaded [ˈdredɪd] XuNzI3   第7级
    adj.令人畏惧的;害怕的v.害怕,恐惧,担心( dread的过去式和过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • The dreaded moment had finally arrived. 可怕的时刻终于来到了。
    • He dreaded having to spend Christmas in hospital. 他害怕非得在医院过圣诞节不可。 来自《用法词典》
    44 draughts [dræfts] 154c3dda2291d52a1622995b252b5ac8   第10级
    n. <英>国际跳棋
    参考例句:
    • Seal (up) the window to prevent draughts. 把窗户封起来以防风。
    • I will play at draughts with him. 我跟他下一盘棋吧!
    45 depressed [dɪˈprest] xu8zp9   第8级
    adj.沮丧的,抑郁的,不景气的,萧条的
    参考例句:
    • When he was depressed, he felt utterly divorced from reality. 他心情沮丧时就感到完全脱离了现实。
    • His mother was depressed by the sad news. 这个坏消息使他的母亲意志消沉。
    46 twilight [ˈtwaɪlaɪt] gKizf   第7级
    n.暮光,黄昏;暮年,晚期,衰落时期
    参考例句:
    • Twilight merged into darkness. 夕阳的光辉融于黑暗中。
    • Twilight was sweet with the smell of lilac and freshly turned earth. 薄暮充满紫丁香和新翻耕的泥土的香味。
    47 margin [ˈmɑ:dʒɪn] 67Mzp   第7级
    n.页边空白;差额;余地,余裕;边,边缘
    参考例句:
    • We allowed a margin of 20 minutes in catching the train. 我们有20分钟的余地赶火车。
    • The village is situated at the margin of a forest. 村子位于森林的边缘。
    48 chamber [ˈtʃeɪmbə(r)] wnky9   第7级
    n.房间,寝室;会议厅;议院;会所
    参考例句:
    • For many, the dentist's surgery remains a torture chamber. 对许多人来说,牙医的治疗室一直是间受刑室。
    • The chamber was ablaze with light. 会议厅里灯火辉煌。
    49 drawn [drɔ:n] MuXzIi   第11级
    v.(draw的过去式)拖,拉,拔出;adj.憔悴的,紧张的
    参考例句:
    • All the characters in the story are drawn from life. 故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
    • Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside. 她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。
    50 standing [ˈstændɪŋ] 2hCzgo   第8级
    n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
    参考例句:
    • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing. 地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
    • They're standing out against any change in the law. 他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
    51 humbled [ˈhʌmbld] 601d364ccd70fb8e885e7d73c3873aca   第7级
    adj. 卑下的,谦逊的,粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下,贬低
    参考例句:
    • The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
    • I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。
    52 previously ['pri:vɪəslɪ] bkzzzC   第8级
    adv.以前,先前(地)
    参考例句:
    • The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point. 自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
    • Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously. 让我岔开一会儿,解释原先发生了什么。
    53 meditated [ˈmedɪˌteɪtid] b9ec4fbda181d662ff4d16ad25198422   第8级
    深思,沉思,冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 ); 内心策划,考虑
    参考例句:
    • He meditated for two days before giving his answer. 他在作出答复之前考虑了两天。
    • She meditated for 2 days before giving her answer. 她考虑了两天才答复。
    54 specimen [ˈspesɪmən] Xvtwm   第7级
    n.样本,标本
    参考例句:
    • You'll need tweezers to hold up the specimen. 你要用镊子来夹这标本。
    • This specimen is richly variegated in colour. 这件标本上有很多颜色。
    55 loath [ləʊθ, ləʊð] 9kmyP   第9级
    adj.不愿意的;勉强的
    参考例句:
    • The little girl was loath to leave her mother. 那小女孩不愿离开她的母亲。
    • They react on this one problem very slow and very loath. 他们在这一问题上反应很慢,很不情愿。
    56 swelling ['sweliŋ] OUzzd   第7级
    n.肿胀
    参考例句:
    • Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
    • There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。
    57 allusion [əˈlu:ʒn] CfnyW   第9级
    n.暗示,间接提示
    参考例句:
    • He made an allusion to a secret plan in his speech. 在讲话中他暗示有一项秘密计划。
    • She made no allusion to the incident. 她没有提及那个事件。
    58 authoritatively [ɔ:'θɒrətətɪvlɪ] 1e057dc7af003a31972dbde9874fe7ce   第7级
    命令式地,有权威地,可信地
    参考例句:
    • "If somebody'll come here and sit with him," he snapped authoritatively. “来个人到这儿陪他坐着。”他用发号施令的口吻说。
    • To decide or settle(a dispute, for example) conclusively and authoritatively. 判定结论性、权威性地决定或解决(纠纷等)
    59 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。
    60 manifestation [ˌmænɪfeˈsteɪʃn] 0RCz6   第9级
    n.表现形式;表明;现象
    参考例句:
    • Her smile is a manifestation of joy. 她的微笑是她快乐的表现。
    • What we call mass is only another manifestation of energy. 我们称之为质量的东西只是能量的另一种表现形态。
    61 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。
    62 manliness ['mænlɪnəs] 8212c0384b8e200519825a99755ad0bc   第8级
    刚毅
    参考例句:
    • She was really fond of his strength, his wholesome looks, his manliness. 她真喜欢他的坚强,他那健康的容貌,他的男子气概。
    • His confidence, his manliness and bravery, turn his wit into wisdom. 他的自信、男子气概和勇敢将他的风趣变为智慧。
    63 promptly [ˈprɒmptli] LRMxm   第8级
    adv.及时地,敏捷地
    参考例句:
    • He paid the money back promptly. 他立即还了钱。
    • She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her. 她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。
    64 sarcasm [ˈsɑ:kæzəm] 1CLzI   第8级
    n.讥讽,讽刺,嘲弄,反话 (adj.sarcastic)
    参考例句:
    • His sarcasm hurt her feelings. 他的讽刺伤害了她的感情。
    • She was given to using bitter sarcasm. 她惯于用尖酸刻薄语言挖苦人。
    65 codicil [ˈkəʊdɪsɪl] vWUyb   第11级
    n.遗嘱的附录
    参考例句:
    • She add a codicil to her will just before she die. 她临终前在遗嘱上加了附录。
    • In that codicil he acknowledges me。在那笔附录里,他承认了我。
    66 eldest [ˈeldɪst] bqkx6   第8级
    adj.最年长的,最年老的
    参考例句:
    • The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne. 国王的长子是王位的继承人。
    • The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son. 城堡和土地限定由长子继承。
    67 squandered [ˈskwɔndəd] 330b54102be0c8433b38bee15e77b58a   第9级
    v.(指钱,财产等)浪费,乱花( squander的过去式和过去分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He squandered all his money on gambling. 他把自己所有的钱都糟蹋在赌博上了。
    • She felt as indignant as if her own money had been squandered. 她心里十分生气,好像是她自己的钱给浪费掉了似的。 来自飘(部分)
    68 wasteful [ˈweɪstfl] ogdwu   第8级
    adj.(造成)浪费的,挥霍的
    参考例句:
    • It is a shame to be so wasteful. 这样浪费太可惜了。
    • Duties have been reassigned to avoid wasteful duplication of work. 为避免重复劳动浪费资源,任务已经重新分派。
    69 fiery [ˈfaɪəri] ElEye   第9级
    adj.燃烧着的,火红的;暴躁的;激烈的
    参考例句:
    • She has fiery red hair. 她有一头火红的头发。
    • His fiery speech agitated the crowd. 他热情洋溢的讲话激动了群众。
    70 gore [gɔ:(r)] gevzd   第12级
    n.凝血,血污;v.(动物)用角撞伤,用牙刺破;缝以补裆;顶
    参考例句:
    • The fox lay dying in a pool of gore. 狐狸倒在血泊中奄奄一息。
    • Carruthers had been gored by a rhinoceros. 卡拉瑟斯被犀牛顶伤了。
    71 countenance [ˈkaʊntənəns] iztxc   第9级
    n.脸色,面容;面部表情;vt.支持,赞同
    参考例句:
    • At the sight of this photograph he changed his countenance. 他一看见这张照片脸色就变了。
    • I made a fierce countenance as if I would eat him alive. 我脸色恶狠狠地,仿佛要把他活生生地吞下去。
    72 determined [dɪˈtɜ:mɪnd] duszmP   第7级
    adj.坚定的;有决心的;v.决定;断定(determine的过去分词)
    参考例句:
    • I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation. 我已决定毕业后去西藏。
    • He determined to view the rooms behind the office. 他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。
    73 momentary [ˈməʊməntri] hj3ya   第7级
    adj.片刻的,瞬息的;短暂的
    参考例句:
    • We are in momentary expectation of the arrival of you. 我们无时无刻不在盼望你的到来。
    • I caught a momentary glimpse of them. 我瞥了他们一眼。
    74 interfering [ˌɪntəˈfɪərɪŋ] interfering   第7级
    adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词
    参考例句:
    • He's an interfering old busybody! 他老爱管闲事!
    • I wish my mother would stop interfering and let me make my own decisions. 我希望我母亲不再干预,让我自己拿主意。
    75 hurled [hə:ld] 16e3a6ba35b6465e1376a4335ae25cd2   第8级
    v.猛投,用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 );大声叫骂
    参考例句:
    • He hurled a brick through the window. 他往窗户里扔了块砖。
    • The strong wind hurled down bits of the roof. 大风把屋顶的瓦片刮了下来。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    76 defiance [dɪˈfaɪəns] RmSzx   第8级
    n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗
    参考例句:
    • He climbed the ladder in defiance of the warning. 他无视警告爬上了那架梯子。
    • He slammed the door in a spirit of defiance. 他以挑衅性的态度把门砰地一下关上。
    77 portentous [pɔ:ˈtentəs] Wiey5   第11级
    adj.不祥的,可怕的,装腔作势的
    参考例句:
    • The present aspect of society is portentous of great change. 现在的社会预示着重大变革的发生。
    • There was nothing portentous or solemn about him. He was bubbling with humour. 他一点也不装腔作势或故作严肃,浑身散发着幽默。
    78 vexed [vekst] fd1a5654154eed3c0a0820ab54fb90a7   第8级
    adj.争论不休的;(指问题等)棘手的;争论不休的问题;烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 );使苦恼;使生气;详细讨论
    参考例句:
    • The conference spent days discussing the vexed question of border controls. 会议花了几天的时间讨论边境关卡这个难题。
    • He was vexed at his failure. 他因失败而懊恼。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
    79 aberration [ˌæbəˈreɪʃn] EVOzr   第11级
    n.离开正路,脱离常规,色差
    参考例句:
    • The removal of the chromatic aberration is then of primary importance. 这时消除色差具有头等重要性。
    • Owing to a strange mental aberration he forgot his own name. 由于一种莫名的精神错乱,他把自己的名字忘了。
    80 expedient [ɪkˈspi:diənt] 1hYzh   第9级
    adj.有用的,有利的;n.紧急的办法,权宜之计
    参考例句:
    • The government found it expedient to relax censorship a little. 政府发现略微放宽审查是可取的。
    • Every kind of expedient was devised by our friends. 我们的朋友想出了各种各样的应急办法。
    81 agitation [ˌædʒɪˈteɪʃn] TN0zi   第9级
    n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
    参考例句:
    • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores. 小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
    • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension. 这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
    82 bonnet [ˈbɒnɪt] AtSzQ   第10级
    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。
    83 huddled [] 39b87f9ca342d61fe478b5034beb4139   第7级
    挤在一起(huddle的过去式与过去分词形式)
    参考例句:
    • We huddled together for warmth. 我们挤在一块取暖。
    • We huddled together to keep warm. 我们挤在一起来保暖。
    84 fret [fret] wftzl   第9级
    vt.&vi.(使)烦恼;(使)焦急;(使)腐蚀,(使)磨损
    参考例句:
    • Don't fret. We'll get there on time. 别着急,我们能准时到那里。
    • She'll fret herself to death one of these days. 她总有一天会愁死的.
    85 sob [sɒb] HwMwx   第7级
    n.空间轨道的轰炸机;呜咽,哭泣;vi.啜泣,呜咽;(风等)发出呜咽声;vt.哭诉,啜泣
    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。她只顾趴在桌子上低声哭着。
    86 irritation [ˌɪrɪ'teɪʃn] la9zf   第9级
    n.激怒,恼怒,生气
    参考例句:
    • He could not hide his irritation that he had not been invited. 他无法掩饰因未被邀请而生的气恼。
    • Barbicane said nothing, but his silence covered serious irritation. 巴比康什么也不说,但是他的沉默里潜伏着阴郁的怒火。
    87 cumber ['kʌmbə] enozj   第12级
    vt.拖累,妨碍;n.妨害;拖累
    参考例句:
    • She was cumbered with house hold cares. 她被家务事拖累。
    • We shall not cumber our thought with his reproaches. 我们不应该因为他的责备而阻止我们的思想。
    88 bankruptcy [ˈbæŋkrʌptsi] fPoyJ   第9级
    n.破产;无偿付能力
    参考例句:
    • You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy. 如果你想避免破产,就必须节省开支。
    • His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy. 他的商号正面临破产的危险。
    89 submission [səbˈmɪʃn] lUVzr   第9级
    n.服从,投降;温顺,谦虚;提出
    参考例句:
    • The defeated general showed his submission by giving up his sword. 战败将军缴剑表示投降。
    • No enemy can frighten us into submission. 任何敌人的恐吓都不能使我们屈服。
    90 distress [dɪˈstres] 3llzX   第7级
    n.苦恼,痛苦,不舒适;不幸;vt.使悲痛
    参考例句:
    • Nothing could alleviate his distress. 什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
    • Please don't distress yourself. 请你不要忧愁了。
    91 meditative [ˈmedɪtətɪv] Djpyr   第12级
    adj.沉思的,冥想的
    参考例句:
    • A stupid fellow is talkative; a wise man is meditative. 蠢人饶舌,智者思虑。
    • Music can induce a meditative state in the listener. 音乐能够引导倾听者沉思。
    92 tremor [ˈtremə(r)] Tghy5   第9级
    n.震动,颤动,战栗,兴奋,地震
    参考例句:
    • There was a slight tremor in his voice. 他的声音有点颤抖。
    • A slight earth tremor was felt in California. 加利福尼亚发生了轻微的地震。
    93 distressing [dis'tresiŋ] cuTz30   第7级
    a.使人痛苦的
    参考例句:
    • All who saw the distressing scene revolted against it. 所有看到这种悲惨景象的人都对此感到难过。
    • It is distressing to see food being wasted like this. 这样浪费粮食令人痛心。
    94 habitual [həˈbɪtʃuəl] x5Pyp   第7级
    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。
    95 abhorrence [əbˈhɒrəns] Vyiz7   第11级
    n.憎恶;可憎恶的事
    参考例句:
    • This nation has an abhorrence of terrrorism. 这个民族憎恶恐怖主义。
    • It is an abhorrence to his feeling. 这是他深恶痛绝的事。
    96 alienating [ˈeiljəneitɪŋ] a75c0151022d87fba443c8b9713ff270   第9级
    v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 );使不友好;转让;让渡(财产等)
    参考例句:
    • The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在,体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
    • How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢? 来自互联网
    97 appreciable [əˈpri:ʃəbl] KNWz7   第8级
    adj.明显的,可见的,可估量的,可觉察的
    参考例句:
    • There is no appreciable distinction between the twins. 在这对孪生子之间看不出有什么明显的差别。
    • We bought an appreciable piece of property. 我们买下的资产有增值的潜力。
    98 constable [ˈkʌnstəbl] wppzG   第9级
    n.(英国)警察,警官
    参考例句:
    • The constable conducted the suspect to the police station. 警官把嫌疑犯带到派出所。
    • The constable kept his temper, and would not be provoked. 那警察压制着自己的怒气,不发火。
    99 meddle [ˈmedl] d7Xzb   第8级
    vi.干预,干涉,插手
    参考例句:
    • I hope he doesn't try to meddle in my affairs. 我希望他不来干预我的事情。
    • Do not meddle in things that do not concern you. 别参与和自己无关的事。
    100 withhold [wɪðˈhəʊld] KMEz1   第7级
    vt.拒绝,不给;使停止,阻挡;vi.忍住;克制
    参考例句:
    • It was unscrupulous of their lawyer to withhold evidence. 他们的律师隐瞒证据是不道德的。
    • I couldn't withhold giving some loose to my indignation. 我忍不住要发泄一点我的愤怒。
    101 alienation [ˌeɪlɪə'neɪʃn] JfYyS   第9级
    n.疏远;离间;异化
    参考例句:
    • The new policy resulted in the alienation of many voters. 新政策导致许多选民疏远了。
    • As almost every conceivable contact between human beings gets automated, the alienation index goes up. 随着人与人之间几乎一切能想到的接触方式的自动化,感情疏远指数在不断上升。
    102 meditating ['medɪteɪtɪŋ] hoKzDp   第8级
    a.沉思的,冥想的
    参考例句:
    • They were meditating revenge. 他们在谋划进行报复。
    • The congressman is meditating a reply to his critics. 这位国会议员正在考虑给他的批评者一个答复。
    103 creditors [k'redɪtəz] 6cb54c34971e9a505f7a0572f600684b   第8级
    n.债权人,债主( creditor的名词复数 )
    参考例句:
    • They agreed to repay their creditors over a period of three years. 他们同意3年内向债主还清欠款。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    104 creditor [ˈkredɪtə(r)] tOkzI   第8级
    n.债仅人,债主,贷方
    参考例句:
    • The boss assigned his car to his creditor. 那工头把自己的小汽车让与了债权人。
    • I had to run away from my creditor whom I made a usurious loan. 我借了高利贷不得不四处躲债。
    105 candor ['kændə] CN8zZ   第10级
    n.坦白,率真
    参考例句:
    • He covered a wide range of topics with unusual candor. 他极其坦率地谈了许多问题。
    • He and his wife had avoided candor, and they had drained their marriage. 他们夫妻间不坦率,已使婚姻奄奄一息。

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