顺水推舟22

时间：2025-01-30 17:25:23

（单词翻译:单击）

Twelve
When Rowley left the Stag his steps turned automatically in the direction of home, but after
walking a few hundred yards, he pulled up short and retraced1 his steps.
His mind took things in slowly and his first astonishment2 over Beatrice’s revelations was only
now beginning to give way to a true appreciation3 of the significance. If her version of what she
had overheard was correct, and he had no doubt that in substance it was so, then a situation had
arisen which concerned every member of the Cloade family closely. The person most fitted to deal
with this was clearly Rowley’s Uncle Jeremy. As a solicitor4, Jeremy Cloade would know what
use could best be made of this surprising information, and exactly what steps to take.
Though Rowley would have liked to take action himself, he realized rather grudgingly5 that it
would be far better to lay the matter before a shrewd and experienced lawyer. The sooner Jeremy
was in possession of this information the better, and accordingly Rowley bent6 his footsteps
straight to Jeremy’s house in the High Street.
The little maid who opened the door informed him that Mr. and Mrs. Cloade were still at the
dinner table. She would have shown him in there, but Rowley negatived this and said he would
wait in Jeremy’s study till they had finished. He did not particularly want to include Frances in
the colloquy7. Indeed the fewer people who knew about it the better, until they should have
determined8 on a definite course of action.
He wandered restlessly up and down Jeremy’s study. On the flat- topped desk was a tin
dispatch box labelled Sir William Jessamy Deceased. The shelves held a collection of legal tomes.
There was an old photograph of Frances in evening dress and one of her father, Lord Edward
Trenton, in riding kit9. On the desk was the picture of a young man in uniform—Jeremy’s son
Antony, killed in the war.
Rowley winced10 and turned away. He sat down in a chair and stared at Lord Edward Trenton
instead.
In the dining room Frances said to her husband:
“I wonder what Rowley wants?”
Jeremy said wearily:
“Probably fallen foul11 of some Government regulation. No farmer understands more than a
quarter of these forms they have to fill up. Rowley’s a conscientious12 fellow. He gets worried.”
“He’s nice,” said Frances, “but terribly slow. I have a feeling, you know, that things
aren’t going too well between him and Lynn.”
Jeremy murmured vacantly:
“Lynn—oh, yes, of course. Forgive me, I—I don’t seem able to concentrate. The strain—”
Frances said swiftly:
“Don’t think about it. It’s going to be all right, I tell you.”
“You frighten me sometimes, Frances. You’re so terribly reckless. You don’t realize—”
“I realize everything. I’m not afraid. Really, you know, Jeremy, I’m rather enjoying myself
—”
“That, my dear,” said Jeremy, “is just what causes me such anxiety.”
She smiled.
“Come,” she said. “You mustn’t keep that bucolic13 young man waiting too long. Go and
help him to fill up form eleven hundred and ninety-nine, or whatever it is.”
But as they came out of the dining room the front door banged shut. Edna came to tell them that
Mr. Rowley had said he wouldn’t wait and that it was nothing that really mattered.

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1 retraced 321f3e113f2767b1b567ca8360d9c6b9     
v.折回( retrace的过去式和过去分词 )；回忆；回顾；追溯
参考例句：
  • We retraced our steps to where we started. 我们折回我们出发的地方。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
  • We retraced our route in an attempt to get back on the right path. 我们折返，想回到正确的路上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
2 astonishment VvjzR     
n.惊奇，惊异
参考例句：
  • They heard him give a loud shout of astonishment.他们听见他惊奇地大叫一声。
  • I was filled with astonishment at her strange action.我对她的奇怪举动不胜惊异。
3 appreciation Pv9zs     
n.评价；欣赏；感谢；领会，理解；价格上涨
参考例句：
  • I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to you all.我想对你们所有人表达我的感激和谢意。
  • I'll be sending them a donation in appreciation of their help.我将送给他们一笔捐款以感谢他们的帮助。
4 solicitor vFBzb     
n.初级律师，事务律师
参考例句：
  • The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
  • The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。
5 grudgingly grudgingly     
参考例句：
  • He grudgingly acknowledged having made a mistake. 他勉强承认他做错了。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Their parents unwillingly [grudgingly] consented to the marriage. 他们的父母无可奈何地应允了这门亲事。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
6 bent QQ8yD     
n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的
参考例句：
  • He was fully bent upon the project.他一心扑在这项计划上。
  • We bent over backward to help them.我们尽了最大努力帮助他们。
7 colloquy 8bRyH     
n.谈话，自由讨论
参考例句：
  • The colloquy between them was brief.他们之间的对话很简洁。
  • They entered into eager colloquy with each other.他们展开热切的相互交谈。
8 determined duszmP     
adj.坚定的；有决心的
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。
9 kit D2Rxp     
n.用具包，成套工具；随身携带物
参考例句：
  • The kit consisted of about twenty cosmetic items.整套工具包括大约20种化妆用品。
  • The captain wants to inspect your kit.船长想检查你的行装。
10 winced 7be9a27cb0995f7f6019956af354c6e4     
赶紧避开，畏缩( wince的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句：
  • He winced as the dog nipped his ankle. 狗咬了他的脚腕子，疼得他龇牙咧嘴。
  • He winced as a sharp pain shot through his left leg. 他左腿一阵剧痛疼得他直龇牙咧嘴。
11 foul Sfnzy     
adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规
参考例句：
  • Take off those foul clothes and let me wash them.脱下那些脏衣服让我洗一洗。
  • What a foul day it is!多么恶劣的天气！
12 conscientious mYmzr     
adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的
参考例句：
  • He is a conscientious man and knows his job.他很认真负责，也很懂行。
  • He is very conscientious in the performance of his duties.他非常认真地履行职责。
13 bucolic 5SKy7     
adj.乡村的；牧羊的
参考例句：
  • It is a bucolic refuge in the midst of a great bustling city.它是处在繁华的大城市之中的世外桃源。
  • She turns into a sweet country girl surrounded by family,chickens and a bucolic landscape.她变成了被家人、鸡与乡村景象所围绕的甜美乡村姑娘。

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