The daily exercises lasted only eleven minutes and I proposed to do them early in the morning before anyone had got up.

propose ^{v. (fml.) to intend to do something 打算}

• It's still far from clear what action the government proposes to take over the affair. ^{尚不清楚政府打算采取什么行动接手这件事。}
• How do you propose getting home? ^{你打算怎么回家？}
• What would you propose? ^{你想提什么建议？}

The self-discipline required to drag myself out of bed 11 minutes earlier than usual was considerable.

self-discipline ^{自律能力；自我约束能力}

• The self-discipline required to do physical exercises every morning for years on end is considerable. ^{连续数年每天早晨锻炼身体需要很强的自制力。}
• The self-discipline was considerable. ^{自律是相当重要的。}

Nevertheless, I managed to creep down into the living room for two days before anyone found me out.

nevertheless / nonetheless / still / all the same / just the same ^{尽管如此，还是…}

'You certainly did give me a surprise!' said the vicar. 'You've probably woken up everyone in the village as well. Still, I'm glad the bell is working again.'

• The girl is not beautiful. Nevertheless / Nonetheless / Still / All the same / Just the same, I like her very much.

creep ^{v. 蹑手蹑脚地走}

• One bad winter we watched the river creep up the lower meadows.

After jumping about on the carpet and twisting the human frame into uncomfortable positions, I sat down at the breakfast table in an exhausted condition.

about / around ^{adv. 各处, 到处}

• As there are so many people about, the dogs have to be kept in a special enclosure. 

twist ^{v. 转动，扭曲，缠绕}

• You always twist everything I say. ^{你总是歪曲我说的每一句话。}
• She gave the lid another twist and it came off. ^{她又拧了一下，盖儿开了。}
• Her hands began to twist the handles of the bag she carried. ^{她的双手开始拧她拎着的那个包的拎柄。}
• Just a twist of the handle is all it takes to wring out the mop. ^{只需旋转一下那个手柄就可以拧干拖把。}

frame ^{n. human or animal body（人或动物的）身体}

• Sobs shook her slender frame. ^{她抽泣着, 苗条的身体都在颤动.} 
• Their belts are pulled tight against their bony frames.  ^{他们的腰带紧裹着瘦骨嶙峋的躯体。}

语法：补足语 ^{课文写法替换}

I sat down at the breakfast table exhausted.
Inevitably you arrive at your destination almost exhausted.

It was this that betrayed me. §

• This betrayed me. → It was this that betrayed me.

The next morning the whole family trooped in to watch the performance.

troop ^{v. to walk somewhere together as a group 成群结队而行}

• The bell rings and they all troop into school. 

That was really unsettling but I fended off the taunts and jibes of the family good-humouredly and soon everybody got used to the idea.

unsettling = disturbing  ^{adj. 令人不安的} 

• Phil had several unsettling dreams every night.  ^{菲尔每晚都做好几个令他不安的梦。}
• There was something about him she found disturbing.  ^{她发现他身上有些东西让她觉得不安。}

fend sb. / sth. ↔ off ^{挡开，躲避开，抵御住}

• He tried to kiss her but she fended him off. 
• She managed to fend off awkward questions. 

taunt = jibe / gibe ^嘲笑

• taunts and jibes ^{讥笑和嘲笑}
• aches and pains ^这疼那疼
• schemes and intrigues ^阴谋诡计
• hustle and bustle ^忙忙碌碌

However, my enthusiasm waned.

wane ^{1.月亏；2.衰落；衰败；败落；减弱}

• While his interest in these sports began to wane, a passion for lacrosse developed.  ^{他对这些运动项目的兴趣开始减退的同时，对长曲棍球的兴趣却浓厚起来。}
• Something in the drip began to wane. ^{点滴里的药劲儿开始消退。}
• When the interest in art began to wane, the two fell to talking. ^{当对艺术的兴趣开始减退时，两人开始交谈起来。}
• We cannot let this momentum wane. ^{我们不能让这种势头减弱。}

【扩展】表达“热情减退”：

• ebb (away) ^{落潮；退潮}
• subside ^{回落；减退}

However, my enthusiasm ebbed (away) / subsided. ^{课文写法替换}