It is a good thing my aunt Harriet died years ago.

It is a good thing (that) … ^幸亏…

• It is a good thing that we brought an umbrella.
• It's a good thing you aren't married. ^{幸好你没有结婚。}
• It's a good thing we got here early. ^{幸亏我们早到了这儿。}

If she were alive today she would not be able to air her views on her favourite topic of conversation: domestic servants.

If + S. + did / were …, S. + would / should / could / might + do …  ^{与现在事实相反的虚拟语气}

• they would devour all our crops and kill our flocks and herds, if it were not for the protection we get from insect-eating animals. 
• if you ate more and talked less, we would both enjoy our dinner!
• The tunnel would be well-ventilated if tall chimneys were built above sea level.

air ^{v. to express your opinions publicly 公开表达…}

• air one’s views / opinions / grievances / complaints (on …) ^{公开表达…}
• In an interview, the singer aired his views on family life.

At the meeting everyone will get a chance to air their views on the current situation. ^{在会上每个人都将有机会当前的局势发表看法。}

topic ^话题

• a topic of conversation / discussion / debate ^{一个交谈的/讨论的/辩论的话题}
• a sensitive / controversial topic ^{一个敏感的/引人争议的话题}

domestic servant   ^家仆

• A person employed to help, especially a farm worker or domestic servant.^{佣人， 雇工被雇佣来帮忙的人，尤指农场工人或家庭仆役。}
• A domestic servant took her upstairs. ^{一个仆人带她上楼。}
• This is my domestic servant--set him free! ^{这是我的仆人，把他放了！}

Aunt Harriet lived in that leisurely age when servants were employed to do housework.

leisurely ^{adj. & adv. done without hurrying 悠闲的/地，从容的/地}

• a leisurely bath / meal / stroll ^悠闲地…
• Couples strolled leisurely along the beach.

do (the) housework ^{表达“做家务”}

• do (the) household chores

She had a huge, rambling country house called 'The Gables'.

ramble ^闲逛 → rambling ^散乱的

• What is she rambling on about now? ^{她现在又在东拉西扯些什么呀？}
• Prune rambling roses when the flowers have faded. ^{花儿已经凋谢了的时候，修剪那些凌乱的蔷薇。}
• His actions were accompanied by a rambling monologue. ^{他的行动伴随着一串冗长含糊的独白。}
• It was easy to get lost in the rambling house. ^{在布局凌乱的大房子里容易迷路。}

She was sentimentally attached to this house, for even though it was far too big for her needs, she persisted in living there long after her husband's death.

be attached to sb. / sth. ^{（感情上联系到一起）依恋}

to like someone or something very much, because you have known them or had them for a long time ^依恋…

• I've never seen two people so attached to each other. 
• The children are very attached to their grandparents.
• We've grown deeply attached to this house and would hate to move. 
• I am sentimentally attached to my old guitar.

much / far too … ^{（加强语气）实在是太…}

• Alice is far too young to get married. 
• He is finding his new work far more exciting.
• These days, people who do manual work often receive far more money than people who work in offices.

persist ^{v. 含义1. to continue to do sth. in spite of difficulties or opposition, in a way that can seem unreasonable 坚持，执意}

• I will persist until I succeed.^{我会坚持不懈，直到成功。}
• Achievement only belongs to those who persist in their dreams.^{坚持梦想的人才能成功。}
• You should persist in your dream no matter what difficulties you meet.^{无论你遇到了什么困难，你都应该坚持自己的梦想。}

persist ^{v. 含义2. if sth. bad persists, it continues to exist or happen（坏事）持续（存在或发生）}

• If the pain persists, you must see a doctor.
• Competition between ourselves, person against person, community against community, still persists, however; and it is as fierce as it ever was.
• You should persist in your dream no matter what difficulties you meet. ^{无论你遇到了什么困难，你都应该坚持自己的梦想。}

shortly before / after … ^{在…之前/之后不久}

• The accident happened shortly before midday. 
• I saw him shortly before he died.
• Police arrived at the scene shortly after midnight.
• Shortly after it was launched, the pie committee went to a local inn to celebrate. 

Before she grew old, aunt Harriet used to entertain lavishly.

entertain ^{v. to invite people to eat or drink with you as your guests, especially in your home（在家中）宴客}

• I don't entertain very often.
• Bob and Liz entertained us to dinner last night. 
• They often entertain friends on weekends. ^{他们常在周末招待朋友。}

lavish ^{adj. very generous 慷慨的，大方的}

• He staged the most lavish productions of Mozart.  ^{他举办了最盛大的莫扎特作品演奏会。}
• The apartment building was lavishly decorated. ^{这幢公寓楼装修豪华。}
•  Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style. ^{批评家们抨击他的挥霍无度和过分夸张的作风。}
• Reviewers are lavish in their praise of this book. ^{评论家们对于这本书大加赞赏。}

I often visited The Gables when I was a boy.

No matter how many guests were present, the great house was always immaculate.

be present ^到场的

• Neither synchronization method is present. ^{未提供任何一种同步方法。}
• John was present at the birth of both his children. ^{约翰的两个孩子出生时他均在场。}
• No one was present. ^{没有人在场。}

immaculate = spotless ^{adj. very clean and tidy 一尘不染的}

• Her kitchen was kept immaculate. ^{她的厨房保持得一尘不染。}
• She always looks immaculate. ^{她总是打扮得干净利落。}
• The goalie's performance was immaculate. ^{守门员的表现完美无缺。}
• Mr. Jorgensen was an immaculate dresser. ^{乔根森先生是个衣着考究的人。}