in the soft balmy gale that kissed my cheek, or have glided below

the horizon on the glowing, descending beams. A seraphic satisfaction



animated, without agitating my spirits; and my imagination collected,

in visions sublimely terrible, or soothingly beautiful, an immense



variety of the endless images, which nature affords, and fancy

combines, of the grand and fair. The lustre of these bright



picturesque sketches faded with the setting sun; but I was still

alive to the calm delight they had diffused through my heart.



"There may be advocates for matrimonial obedience, who, making

a distinction between the duty of a wife and of a human being, may



blame my conduct.--To them I write not--my feelings are not for

them to analyze; and may you, my child, never be able to ascertain,



by heart-rending experience, what your mother felt before the

present emancipation of her mind!



"I began to write a letter to my father, after closing one to

my uncle; not to ask advice, but to signify my determination; when



I was interrupted by the entrance of Mr. Venables. His manner was

changed. His views on my uncle's fortune made him averse to my



quitting his house, or he would, I am convinced, have been glad to

have shaken off even the slight restraint my presence imposed on



him; the restraint of showing me some respect. So far from having

an affection for me, he really hated me, because he was convinced



that I must despise him.

"He told me, that 'As I now had had time to cool and reflect,



he did not doubt but that my prudence, and nice sense of propriety,

would lead me to overlook what was passed.'



"'Reflection,' I replied, 'had only confirmed my purpose, and

no power on earth could divert me from it.'



"Endeavouring to assume a soothing voice and look, when he

would willingly have tortured me, to force me to feel his power,



his countenance had an infernal expression, when he desired me,

'Not to expose myself to the servants, by obliging him to confine



me in my apartment; if then I would give my promise not to quit

the house precipitately, I should be free--and--.' I declared,



interrupting him, 'that I would promise nothing. I had

no measures to keep with him--I was resolved, and would not



condescend to subterfuge.'

"He muttered, 'that I should soon repent of these preposterous



airs;' and, ordering tea to be carried into my little study, which

had a communication with my bed-chamber, he once more locked the



door upon me, and left me to my own meditations. I had passively

followed him up stairs, not wishing to fatigue myself with



unavailing exertion.

"Nothing calms the mind like a fixed purpose. I felt as if



I had heaved a thousand weight from my heart; the atmosphere seemed

lightened; and, if I execrated the institutions of society, which



thus enable men to tyrannize over women, it was almost a disinterested

sentiment. I disregarded present inconveniences, when my mind had



done struggling with itself,--when reason and inclination had shaken

hands and were at peace. I had no longer the cruel task before



me, in endless perspective, aye, during the tedious for ever of

life, of labouring to overcome my repugnance--of labouring to



extinguish the hopes, the maybes of a livelyimagination. Death

I had hailed as my only chance for deliverance; but, while existence



had still so many charms, and life promised happiness, I shrunk

from the icy arms of an unknown tyrant, though far more inviting



than those of the man, to whom I supposed myself bound without any

other alternative; and was content to linger a little longer,



waiting for I knew not what, rather than leave 'the warm precincts

of the cheerful day,' and all the unenjoyed affection of my nature.



"My present situation gave a new turn to my reflection; and

I wondered (now the film seemed to be withdrawn, that obscured the

• assembly [ə´sembli] n.集会；装配；与会者 (初中英语单词)


• existence [ig´zistəns] n.存在；生存；生活 (初中英语单词)


• belief [bi´li:f] n.相信；信仰，信条 (初中英语单词)


• entitle [in´taitl] vt.称做；命名；授权 (初中英语单词)


• acquaintance [ə´kweintəns] n.相识；熟人，相识的人 (初中英语单词)


• literature [´litərətʃə] n.文学；文献；著作 (初中英语单词)


• grateful [´greitful] a.感谢的；令人愉快的 (初中英语单词)


• countenance [´kauntinəns] n.面部表情；脸色；面容 (初中英语单词)


• endeavour [in´devə] n.&v.努力，试图，尽力 (初中英语单词)


• pointed [´pɔintid] a.尖(锐)的；中肯的 (初中英语单词)


• virtue [´və:tʃu:] n.美德；贞操；长处 (初中英语单词)


• character [´kæriktə] n.特性；性质；人物；字 (初中英语单词)


• disgrace [dis´greis] n.耻辱 vt.玷辱；贬黜 (初中英语单词)


• consult [kən´sʌlt] v.商量；磋商；请教 (初中英语单词)


• energy [´enədʒi] n.活力，精力；能力 (初中英语单词)


• pursuit [pə´sju:t] n.追踪；追击；事务 (初中英语单词)


• savage [´sævidʒ] a.野蛮的 n.蛮人 (初中英语单词)


• advocate [´ædvəkit] n.辩护者 (初中英语单词)


• affection [ə´fekʃən] n.友爱；慈爱 (初中英语单词)


• humanity [hju:´mæniti] n.人类；人性；仁慈 (初中英语单词)


• mistress [´mistris] n.女主人；情妇；女能手 (初中英语单词)


• poverty [´pɔvəti] n.贫穷(乏，瘠)；不足 (初中英语单词)


• absolutely [´æbsəlu:tli] ad.绝对地；确实 (初中英语单词)


• extremely [ik´stri:mli] ad.极端地；非常地 (初中英语单词)


• sincere [sin´siə] a.真挚的；直率的 (初中英语单词)


• therefore [´ðeəfɔ:] ad.&conj.因此；所以 (初中英语单词)


• emotion [i´məuʃən] n.感情；情绪；激动 (初中英语单词)


• romantic [rəu´mæntik] a.传奇(式)的；浪漫的 (初中英语单词)


• instantly [´instəntli] ad.立即，立刻 (初中英语单词)


• confusion [kən´fju:ʒən] n.混乱(状态)；骚乱 (初中英语单词)


• sacred [´seikrid] a.神圣的；庄严的 (初中英语单词)


• insult [in´sʌlt, ´insʌlt] n.&vt.侮辱；损害 (初中英语单词)


• terror [´terə] n.恐怖；惊骇 (初中英语单词)


• resource [ri´zɔ:s] n.手段；智谋 (初中英语单词)


• horizon [hə´raizən] n.地平线；范围；视野 (初中英语单词)


• imagination [i,mædʒi´neiʃən] n.想象(力) (初中英语单词)


• distinction [di´stiŋkʃən] n.差别；特征；卓越 (初中英语单词)


• shaken [´ʃeikən] shake的过去分词 (初中英语单词)


• despise [di´spaiz] vt.轻视，藐视 (初中英语单词)


• overlook [,əuvə´luk] vt.&n.俯瞰；忽略；观察 (初中英语单词)


• expose [ik´spəuz] vt.揭露，暴露；陈列 (初中英语单词)


• apartment [ə´pɑ:tmənt] n.一套房间 (初中英语单词)


• communication [kə,mju:ni´keiʃən] n.通信；通讯联系 (初中英语单词)


• atmosphere [´ætməsfiə] n.大气；空气；气氛 (初中英语单词)


• enable [i´neibəl] vt.使能够；赋予权力 (初中英语单词)


• overcome [,əuvə´kʌm] vt.战胜，克服 (初中英语单词)


• lively [´laivli] a.活泼的；热烈的 (初中英语单词)


• supposed [sə´pəuzd] a.想象的；假定的 (初中英语单词)


• linger [´liŋgə] v.逗留；留恋；拖延 (初中英语单词)


• cheerful [´tʃiəful] a.快乐的；高兴的 (初中英语单词)


• reflection [ri´flekʃən] n.反射；映象；想法 (初中英语单词)


• indignation [,indig´neiʃən] n.愤慨；气愤 (高中英语单词)


• continually [kən´tinjuəli] ad.不断地，频繁地 (高中英语单词)


• repeated [ri´pi:tid] a.反复的；重复的 (高中英语单词)


• contempt [kən´tempt] n.轻蔑；受辱；不顾 (高中英语单词)


• interpretation [in,tə:pri´teiʃən] n.解释；翻译；表演 (高中英语单词)


• restraint [ri´streint] n.抑制；管束；克制 (高中英语单词)


• delicacy [´delikəsi] n.精美；娇弱，微妙 (高中英语单词)


• encouragement [in´kʌridʒmənt] n.鼓励；赞助；引诱 (高中英语单词)


• significant [sig´nifikənt] a.重要的；意义重大的 (高中英语单词)


• saying [´seiŋ, ´sei-iŋ] n.言语；言论；格言 (高中英语单词)


• generosity [,dʒenə´rɔsiti] n.慷慨；慷慨的行为 (高中英语单词)


• tumult [´tju:mʌlt, ´tu:-] n.喧哗；激昂；烦乱 (高中英语单词)


• disdain [dis´dein] vt.&n.藐视，轻视 (高中英语单词)


• decidedly [di´saididli] ad.坚决地，果断地 (高中英语单词)


• expand [ik´spænd] vt.张开；膨胀；扩大 (高中英语单词)


• obedience [ə´bi:djəns] n.服从；顺从 (高中英语单词)


• signify [´signifai] vt.表示 vi.有重要性 (高中英语单词)


• determination [di,tə:mi´neiʃən] n.决心；决定 (高中英语单词)


• divert [dai´və:t] vt.转移注意力；消遣 (高中英语单词)


• repent [ri´pent] v.后悔；悔改；悔悟 (高中英语单词)


• fatigue [fə´ti:g] n.&vt.(使)疲劳(劳累) (高中英语单词)


• inclination [,inkli´neiʃən] n.倾斜；爱好；天资 (高中英语单词)


• tyrant [´taiərənt] n.暴君；霸主；专制君主 (高中英语单词)


• virtuous [´və:tjuəs] a.道德的；善良的 (英语四级单词)


• bondage [´bɔndidʒ] n.奴役；束缚 (英语四级单词)


• comply [kəm´plai] vi.照做 (英语四级单词)


• maternal [mə´tə:nl] a.母亲的；母性(系)的 (英语四级单词)


• stimulus [´stimjuləs] n.刺激(物)；促进因素 (英语四级单词)


• mildly [´maildli] ad.温和地；适度地 (英语四级单词)


• gentleness [´dʒentlnis] n.温和，温柔 (英语四级单词)


• ridicule [´ridikju:l] vi.&n.嘲笑；奚落 (英语四级单词)


• vicious [´viʃəs] a.不道德的；刻毒的 (英语四级单词)


• rapidity [rə´piditi] n.迅速；险峻；陡 (英语四级单词)


• setting [´setiŋ] n.安装；排字；布景 (英语四级单词)


• prudence [´pru:dəns] n.谨慎；慎重；节俭 (英语四级单词)


• willingly [´wiliŋli] ad.情愿地，乐意地 (英语四级单词)


• resolved [ri´zɔlvd] a.决心的；坚定的 (英语四级单词)


• tedious [´ti:diəs] a.冗长的；乏味的 (英语四级单词)


• deliverance [di´livərəns] n.援救；获释 (英语四级单词)


• alternative [ɔ:l´tə:nətiv] a.二中选一的 n.选择 (英语四级单词)


• withdrawn [wið´drɔ:n] withdraw过去分词 (英语四级单词)


• affront [ə´frʌnt] vt.&n.(当众)侮辱 (英语六级单词)


• politeness [pə´laitnis] n.礼貌；文雅；温和 (英语六级单词)


• affected [ə´fektid] a.做作的；假装的 (英语六级单词)


• respecting [ri´spektiŋ] prep.由于；鉴于 (英语六级单词)


• destitute [´destitju:t] a.贫穷的；缺乏…的 (英语六级单词)


• gratification [,grætifi´keiʃən] n.满意；喜悦 (英语六级单词)


• accidentally [,æksi´dentəli] ad.偶然地 (英语六级单词)


• scruple [´skru:pəl] n.&v.犹豫；顾忌 (英语六级单词)


• indescribable [,indis´kraibəbəl] a.难以形容的 (英语六级单词)


• assured [ə´ʃuəd] a.确实的 n.被保险人 (英语六级单词)


• credulous [´kredjuləs] a.轻信的 (英语六级单词)


• solemnity [sə´lemniti] n.庄严；(隆重的)仪式 (英语六级单词)


• resolutely [´rezəlju:tli] ad.坚决地；果断地 (英语六级单词)


• barter [´bɑ:tə] v.交换(货物) n.互换品 (英语六级单词)


• malignant [mə´lignənt] a.恶意的；有害的 (英语六级单词)


• methought [mi´θɔ:t] methinks的过去式 (英语六级单词)


• emancipation [i,mænsi´peiʃən] n.解放，翻身 (英语六级单词)


• averse [ə´və:s] a.反对的，不乐意的 (英语六级单词)


• infernal [in´fə:nəl] a.地狱的，恶魔似的 (英语六级单词)


• perspective [pə´spektiv] n.望远镜 a.透视的 (英语六级单词)