基础段-猴爪（原著版第14集）

一，原文文章：

She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of theassurance dawned upon her and she saw the awfulconfirmation of her fears in the other's averted face. 

"He was caught in the machinery," said the visitor atlength, in a low voice.

"Caught in the machinery," repeated Mr. White, in adazed fashion, "yes." 

"He was the only one left to us," he said, turninggently to the visitor. "It is hard."

The other coughed, and rising, walked slowly to thewindow. "The firm wished me to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss," he said,without looking round. "I beg that you will understandI am only their servant and merely obeying orders." 

"I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim allresponsibility," continued the other. "They admit noliability at all, but in consideration of your son'sservices they wish to present you with a certain sumas compensation."

Mr. White dropped his wife's hand, and rising to hisfeet, gazed with a look of horror at his visitor. His drylips shaped the words, "How much?"

"Two hundred pounds," was the answer. 

Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the old man smiledfaintly, put out his hands like a sightless man, anddropped, a senseless heap, to the floor. 

二，词汇知识：

1. awful：可怕的

2. confirmation：证实

3. averted：转开的

4. at length：最终

5. dazed：发昏的

6. gently：轻轻地

7. convey：传达

8. sincere：真诚的

9. sympathy：同情

10. loss：损失

11. beg：恳请

12. servant：员工；仆人

13. mere：仅仅的

14. obey：服从

15. disclaim：否认

16. responsibility：负责

17. liability：责任

18. consideration：考虑

19. present：赠送

20. sum：总数

21. compensation：补偿

22. shape：形成

23. unconscious：失去知觉的

24. shriek：尖叫

25. faint：虚弱的

26. smile faintly：苦笑

27. sightless：看不见

28. senseless：无意识的

29. heap：堆积

三，句型知识：

put out：伸出