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当前位置:首页 -> 11级英语阅读 - > 经典名著:弗洛斯河上的磨坊24
经典名著:弗洛斯河上的磨坊24
添加时间:2024-05-07 15:34:38 浏览次数: 作者:未知
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  • A Vanishing Gleam

    Mr Tulliver, even between the fits of spasmodic rigidity2 which had recurred3 at intervals4 ever since he had been found fallen from his horse, was usually in so apathetic5 a condition that the exits and entrances into his room were not felt to be of great importance. He had lain so still, with his eyes closed, all this morning, that Maggie told her aunt Moss6 she must not expect her father to take any notice of them.

    They entered very quietly, and Mrs Moss took her seat near the head of the bed, while Maggie sat in her old place on the bed, and put her hand on her father’s without causing any change in his face.

    Mr Glegg and Tom had also entered, treading softly, and were busy selecting the key of the old oak chest from the bunch which Tom had brought from his father’s bureau. They succeeded in opening the chest,—which stood opposite the foot of Mr Tulliver’s bed,—and propping7 the lid with the iron holder8, without much noise.

    “There’s a tin box,” whispered Mr Glegg; “he’d most like put a small thing like a note in there. Lift it out, Tom; but I’ll just lift up these deeds,—they’re the deeds o’ the house and mill, I suppose,—and see what there is under ’em.”

    Mr Glegg had lifted out the parchments, and had fortunately drawn9 back a little, when the iron holder gave way, and the heavy lid fell with a loud bang that resounded10 over the house.

    Perhaps there was something in that sound more than the mere11 fact of the strong vibration12 that produced the instantaneous effect on the frame of the prostrate13 man, and for the time completely shook off the obstruction14 of paralysis15. The chest had belonged to his father and his father’s father, and it had always been rather a solemn business to visit it. All long-known objects, even a mere window fastening or a particular door-latch, have sounds which are a sort of recognised voice to us,—a voice that will thrill and awaken16, when it has been used to touch deep-lying fibres. In the same moment, when all the eyes in the room were turned upon him, he started up and looked at the chest, the parchments in Mr Glegg’s hand, and Tom holding the tin box, with a glance of perfect consciousness and recognition.

    “What are you going to do with those deeds?” he said, in his ordinary tone of sharp questioning whenever he was irritated. “Come here, Tom. What do you do, going to my chest?”

    Tom obeyed, with some trembling; it was the first time his father had recognised him. But instead of saying anything more to him, his father continued to look with a growing distinctness of suspicion at Mr Glegg and the deeds.

    “What’s been happening, then?” he said sharply. “What are you meddling17 with my deeds for? Is Wakem laying hold of everything? Why don’t you tell me what you’ve been a-doing?” he added impatiently, as Mr Glegg advanced to the foot of the bed before speaking.

    “No, no, friend Tulliver,” said Mr Glegg, in a soothing18 tone. “Nobody’s getting hold of anything as yet. We only came to look and see what was in the chest. You’ve been ill, you know, and we’ve had to look after things a bit. But let’s hope you’ll soon be well enough to attend to everything yourself.”

    Mr Tulliver looked around him meditatively19, at Tom, at Mr Glegg, and at Maggie; then suddenly appearing aware that some one was seated by his side at the head of the bed he turned sharply round and saw his sister.

    “Eh, Gritty!” he said, in the half-sad, affectionate tone in which he had been wont20 to speak to her. “What! you’re there, are you? How could you manage to leave the children?”

    “Oh, brother!” said good Mrs Moss, too impulsive21 to be prudent22, “I’m thankful I’m come now to see you yourself again; I thought you’d never know us any more.”

    “What! have I had a stroke?” said Mr Tulliver, anxiously, looking at Mr Glegg.

    “A fall from your horse—shook you a bit,—that’s all, I think,” said Mr Glegg. “But you’ll soon get over it, let’s hope.”

    Mr Tulliver fixed23 his eyes on the bed-clothes, and remained silent for two or three minutes. A new shadow came over his face. He looked up at Maggie first, and said in a lower tone, “You got the letter, then, my wench?”

    “Yes, father,” she said, kissing him with a full heart. She felt as if her father were come back to her from the dead, and her yearning24 to show him how she had always loved him could be fulfilled.

    “Where’s your mother?” he said, so preoccupied25 that he received the kiss as passively as some quiet animal might have received it.

    “She’s downstairs with my aunts, father. Shall I fetch her?”

    “Ay, ay; poor Bessy!” and his eyes turned toward Tom as Maggie left the room.

    “You’ll have to take care of ’em both if I die, you know, Tom. You’ll be badly off, I doubt. But you must see and pay everybody. And mind,—there’s fifty pound o’ Luke’s as I put into the business,—he gave me a bit at a time, and he’s got nothing to show for it. You must pay him first thing.”

    Uncle Glegg involuntarily shook his head, and looked more concerned than ever, but Tom said firmly:

    “Yes, father. And haven’t you a note from my uncle Moss for three hundred pounds? We came to look for that. What do you wish to be done about it, father?”

    “Ah! I’m glad you thought o’ that, my lad,” said Mr Tulliver. “I allays26 meant to be easy about that money, because o’ your aunt. You mustn’t mind losing the money, if they can’t pay it,—and it’s like enough they can’t. The note’s in that box, mind! I allays meant to be good to you, Gritty,” said Mr Tulliver, turning to his sister; “but you know you aggravated27 me when you would have Moss.”

    At this moment Maggie re-entered with her mother, who came in much agitated28 by the news that her husband was quite himself again.

    “Well, Bessy,” he said, as she kissed him, “you must forgive me if you’re worse off than you ever expected to be.

    But it’s the fault o’ the law,—it’s none o’ mine,” he added angrily. “It’s the fault o’ raskills. Tom, you mind this: if ever you’ve got the chance, you make Wakem smart. If you don’t, you’re a good-for-nothing son. You might horse-whip him, but he’d set the law on you,—the law’s made to take care o’ raskills.”

    Mr Tulliver was getting excited, and an alarming flush was on his face. Mr Glegg wanted to say something soothing, but he was prevented by Mr Tulliver’s speaking again to his wife. “They’ll make a shift to pay everything, Bessy,” he said, “and yet leave you your furniture; and your sisters’ll do something for you—and Tom’ll grow up—though what he’s to be I don’t know—I’ve done what I could—I’ve given him a eddication—and there’s the little wench, she’ll get married—but it’s a poor tale——”

    The sanative effect of the strong vibration was exhausted29, and with the last words the poor man fell again, rigid1 and insensible. Though this was only a recurrence30 of what had happened before, it struck all present as if it had been death, not only from its contrast with the completeness of the revival31, but because his words had all had reference to the possibility that his death was near. But with poor Tulliver death was not to be a leap; it was to be a long descent under thickening shadows.

    Mr Turnbull was sent for; but when he heard what had passed, he said this complete restoration, though only temporary, was a hopeful sign, proving that there was no permanent lesion to prevent ultimate recovery.

    Among the threads of the past which the stricken man had gathered up, he had omitted the bill of sale; the flash of memory had only lit up prominent ideas, and he sank into forgetfulness again with half his humiliation32 unlearned.

    But Tom was clear upon two points,—that his uncle Moss’s note must be destroyed; and that Luke’s money must be paid, if in no other way, out of his own and Maggie’s money now in the savings33 bank. There were subjects, you perceive, on which Tom was much quicker than on the niceties of classical construction, or the relations of a mathematical demonstration34.



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    1 rigid [ˈrɪdʒɪd] jDPyf   第7级
    adj.严格的,死板的;刚硬的,僵硬的
    参考例句:
    • She became as rigid as adamant. 她变得如顽石般的固执。
    • The examination was so rigid that nearly all aspirants were ruled out. 考试很严,几乎所有的考生都被淘汰了。
    2 rigidity [rɪ'dʒɪdətɪ] HDgyg   第7级
    adj.钢性,坚硬
    参考例句:
    • The rigidity of the metal caused it to crack.这金属因刚度强而产生裂纹。
    • He deplored the rigidity of her views.他痛感她的观点僵化。
    3 recurred [riˈkə:d] c940028155f925521a46b08674bc2f8a   第7级
    再发生,复发( recur的过去式和过去分词 ); 治愈
    参考例句:
    • Old memories constantly recurred to him. 往事经常浮现在他的脑海里。
    • She always winced when he recurred to the subject of his poems. 每逢他一提到他的诗作的时候,她总是有点畏缩。
    4 intervals ['ɪntevl] f46c9d8b430e8c86dea610ec56b7cbef   第7级
    n.[军事]间隔( interval的名词复数 );间隔时间;[数学]区间;(戏剧、电影或音乐会的)幕间休息
    参考例句:
    • The forecast said there would be sunny intervals and showers. 预报间晴,有阵雨。
    • Meetings take place at fortnightly intervals. 每两周开一次会。
    5 apathetic [ˌæpəˈθetɪk] 4M1y0   第10级
    adj.冷漠的,无动于衷的
    参考例句:
    • I realised I was becoming increasingly depressed and apathetic. 我意识到自己越来越消沉,越来越冷漠了。
    • You won't succeed if you are apathetic. 要是你冷淡,你就不能成功。
    6 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。
    7 propping ['prɒpɪŋ] 548f07f69caff3c98b65a959401073ee   第7级
    支撑
    参考例句:
    • You can usually find Jack propping up the bar at his local. 你常常可以看见杰克频繁出没于他居住的那家酒店。
    • The government was accused of propping up declining industries. 政府被指责支持日益衰败的产业。
    8 holder [ˈhəʊldə(r)] wc4xq   第7级
    n.持有者,占有者;(台,架等)支持物
    参考例句:
    • The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings. 担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
    • That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash. 那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。
    9 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。
    10 resounded [rɪˈzaʊndid] 063087faa0e6dc89fa87a51a1aafc1f9   第12级
    v.(指声音等)回荡于某处( resound的过去式和过去分词 );产生回响;(指某处)回荡着声音
    参考例句:
    • Laughter resounded through the house. 笑声在屋里回荡。
    • The echo resounded back to us. 回声传回到我们的耳中。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    11 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。
    12 vibration [vaɪˈbreɪʃn] nLDza   第7级
    n.颤动,振动;摆动
    参考例句:
    • There is so much vibration on a ship that one cannot write. 船上的震动大得使人无法书写。
    • The vibration of the window woke me up. 窗子的震动把我惊醒了。
    13 prostrate [ˈprɒstreɪt] 7iSyH   第11级
    vt.拜倒,平卧,衰竭;adj.拜倒的,平卧的,衰竭的
    参考例句:
    • She was prostrate on the floor. 她俯卧在地板上。
    • The Yankees had the South prostrate and they intended to keep it so. 北方佬已经使南方屈服了,他们还打算继续下去。
    14 obstruction [əbˈstrʌkʃn] HRrzR   第7级
    n.阻塞,堵塞;障碍物
    参考例句:
    • She was charged with obstruction of a police officer in the execution of his duty. 她被指控妨碍警察执行任务。
    • The road was cleared from obstruction. 那条路已被清除了障碍。
    15 paralysis [pəˈræləsɪs] pKMxY   第7级
    n.麻痹(症);瘫痪(症)
    参考例句:
    • The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty. 他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
    • An attack of paralysis seized him. 他突然瘫痪了。
    16 awaken [əˈweɪkən] byMzdD   第8级
    vi.醒,觉醒;vt.唤醒,使觉醒,唤起,激起
    参考例句:
    • Old people awaken early in the morning. 老年人早晨醒得早。
    • Please awaken me at six. 请于六点叫醒我。
    17 meddling [ˈmedlɪŋ] meddling   第8级
    v.干涉,干预(他人事务)( meddle的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • He denounced all "meddling" attempts to promote a negotiation. 他斥责了一切“干预”促成谈判的企图。 来自辞典例句
    • They liked this field because it was never visited by meddling strangers. 她们喜欢这块田野,因为好事的陌生人从来不到那里去。 来自辞典例句
    18 soothing [su:ðɪŋ] soothing   第12级
    adj.慰藉的;使人宽心的;镇静的
    参考例句:
    • Put on some nice soothing music. 播放一些柔和舒缓的音乐。
    • His casual, relaxed manner was very soothing. 他随意而放松的举动让人很快便平静下来。
    19 meditatively ['medɪtətɪvlɪ] 1840c96c2541871bf074763dc24f786a   第12级
    adv.冥想地
    参考例句:
    • The old man looked meditatively at the darts board. 老头儿沉思不语,看着那投镖板。 来自英汉文学
    • "Well,'said the foreman, scratching his ear meditatively, "we do need a stitcher. “这--"工头沉思地搔了搔耳朵。 "我们确实需要一个缝纫工。 来自英汉文学 - 嘉莉妹妹
    20 wont [wəʊnt] peXzFP   第11级
    adj.习惯于;vi.习惯;vt.使习惯于;n.习惯
    参考例句:
    • He was wont to say that children are lazy. 他常常说小孩子们懒惰。
    • It is his wont to get up early. 早起是他的习惯。
    21 impulsive [ɪmˈpʌlsɪv] M9zxc   第9级
    adj.冲动的,刺激的;有推动力的
    参考例句:
    • She is impulsive in her actions. 她的行为常出于冲动。
    • He was neither an impulsive nor an emotional man, but a very honest and sincere one. 他不是个一冲动就鲁莽行事的人,也不多愁善感, 他为人十分正直、诚恳。
    22 prudent [ˈpru:dnt] M0Yzg   第7级
    adj.谨慎的,有远见的,精打细算的
    参考例句:
    • A prudent traveller never disparages his own country. 聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
    • You must school yourself to be modest and prudent. 你要学会谦虚谨慎。
    23 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。
    24 yearning ['jə:niŋ] hezzPJ   第9级
    a.渴望的;向往的;怀念的
    参考例句:
    • a yearning for a quiet life 对宁静生活的向往
    • He felt a great yearning after his old job. 他对过去的工作有一种强烈的渴想。
    25 preoccupied [priˈɒkjupaɪd] TPBxZ   第10级
    adj.全神贯注的,入神的;被抢先占有的;心事重重的v.占据(某人)思想,使对…全神贯注,使专心于( preoccupy的过去式)
    参考例句:
    • He was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice anything wrong. 他只顾想着心事,没注意到有什么不对。
    • The question of going to the Mount Tai preoccupied his mind. 去游泰山的问题盘踞在他心头。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    26 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
    27 aggravated [ˈægrəveɪtɪd] d0aec1b8bb810b0e260cb2aa0ff9c2ed   第7级
    使恶化( aggravate的过去式和过去分词 ); 使更严重; 激怒; 使恼火
    参考例句:
    • If he aggravated me any more I shall hit him. 假如他再激怒我,我就要揍他。
    • Far from relieving my cough, the medicine aggravated it. 这药非但不镇咳,反而使我咳嗽得更厉害。
    28 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。
    29 exhausted [ɪgˈzɔ:stɪd] 7taz4r   第8级
    adj.极其疲惫的,精疲力尽的
    参考例句:
    • It was a long haul home and we arrived exhausted. 搬运回家的这段路程特别长,到家时我们已筋疲力尽。
    • Jenny was exhausted by the hustle of city life. 珍妮被城市生活的忙乱弄得筋疲力尽。
    30 recurrence [rɪˈkʌrəns] ckazKP   第9级
    n.复发,反复,重现
    参考例句:
    • More care in the future will prevent recurrence of the mistake. 将来的小心可防止错误的重现。
    • He was aware of the possibility of a recurrence of his illness. 他知道他的病有可能复发。
    31 revival [rɪˈvaɪvl] UWixU   第8级
    n.复兴,复苏,(精力、活力等的)重振
    参考例句:
    • The period saw a great revival in the wine trade. 这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
    • He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival. 他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。
    32 humiliation [hju:ˌmɪlɪ'eɪʃn] Jd3zW   第7级
    n.羞辱
    参考例句:
    • He suffered the humiliation of being forced to ask for his cards.他蒙受了被迫要求辞职的羞辱。
    • He will wish to revenge his humiliation in last Season's Final.他会为在上个季度的决赛中所受的耻辱而报复的。
    33 savings ['seɪvɪŋz] ZjbzGu   第8级
    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。
    34 demonstration [ˌdemənˈstreɪʃn] 9waxo   第8级
    n.表明,示范,论证,示威
    参考例句:
    • His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism. 他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
    • He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there. 他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

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