大学体验英语第一册Unit8-Passage B

Passage B
Love Beyond the Grave
Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose. And every year, her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows. The year he passed away, the roses were delivered to her door. The enclosed card said, "Be My Valentine," like all the years before.
　　Each year he sent her roses, the notes would always say, "I love you even more this year than last year on this day." or "My love for you will always grow with each passing year." The year he passed away, she was sure it was the last time that the roses would appear on her front door

　　 She thought he must have ordered the roses in advance before this day. Her loving husband did not know that he would die. He always liked to do things very promptly¹, long before the deadline. In this way, if he was occupied, everything would still work out appropriately.

　　She trimmed the stems, and inserted them symbolically² in a very special vase. She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair while staring blankly at his photograph and the roses sitting there.
A year went by and it was difficult to endure without her mate. With loneliness and solitude³, that tragedy has become her fate. Then, at that identical hour, as on Valentines Day before, the doorbell rang and there were red roses sitting by her door.
　　She brought the roses in and then just looked at them in astonishment⁴. Then, she went to get the telephone and called the florist⁵ who had delivered the roses. The owner answered and she asked him if he would explain why someone would unexpectedly do this to her, provoking such intense pain?
I know your husband passed away more than a year ago," the owner said. "I knew you'd call and you would want to know," he proceeded. "The flowers you received today were paid for in advance. Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."
　　"There is a standing⁶ purchase and delivery order that I have on file down here. And he has paid, well in advance, so you'll get them every year. There is also another thing that I think you should know. He wrote a special little card, which he did several years ago."
　　"Then should ever I find out that he is no longer around, that's the card that should be sent to you the following year." She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard. Her fingers were shaking, as she haltingly reached to get the card.

　　 Inside the card, she saw that he had written a note. As she stared in absolute silence, this was what he wrote...
　　"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've departed. I loved you more than words can say. You were the perfect wife and the ideal companion. You were my friend and lover. You fulfilled my every need."
　　"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness that we had together and how both of us were blessed to have each other. The roses will come every year and they will only stop when your door's not answered, when the florist stops to deliver and knock on the door.
　　"He will come five times that day, in case you should be out. But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt, to take the roses to the place where I've instructed him, and place the roses where we are, together once again."

1 promptly   

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。

2 symbolically   

ad.象征地，象征性地

参考例句：

• By wearing the ring on the third finger of the left hand, a married couple symbolically declares their eternal love for each other. 将婚戒戴在左手的第三只手指上，意味着夫妻双方象征性地宣告他们的爱情天长地久，他们定能白头偕老。
• Symbolically, he coughed to clear his throat. 周经理象征地咳一声无谓的嗽，清清嗓子。

3 solitude   

n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方

参考例句：

• People need a chance to reflect on spiritual matters in solitude. 人们需要独处的机会来反思精神上的事情。
• They searched for a place where they could live in solitude. 他们寻找一个可以过隐居生活的地方。

4 astonishment   

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。

5 florist   

n.花商；种花者

参考例句：

• The florist bunched the flowers up.花匠把花捆成花束。
• Could you stop at that florist shop over there?劳驾在那边花店停一下好不好？

6 standing   

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。