The following are from My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin
1.
Grannie states, “You’ll come to some harm yet, you immodest, bold, bad hussy!” (My Brilliant Career, Miles Franklin, p. 131)
immodest: indecent, bold, impudent, shameless, improper
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2.
“I could hear grannie deprecating my conduct as I departed, and Harold quietly and decidedly differing from her.” (131)
to deprecate: to express disapproval of; protest against; to belittle.
3.
“Grannie was putting me through a term of penance. Was I bold and immodest with men, as accused of being? It was the last indiscretion I would intentionally have been guilty of.” (131)
Note the interior monologue-style. The questions and answers.
penance: voluntary self-punishment to atone for a sin, crime. ; a feeling of regret for one’s wrong-doings.
indiscretion; state of being indiscreet – imprudent or tactless; rash ; heedless
4.
Grannie, I cannot say I am sorry and promise to reform, for my conscience does not reproach me in the least. I had no evil – not even a violation of manners – in my intention; but I am sorry that I vexed you.” (132)
to reproach; rebuke, reproof or blame
to vex: to anger, annoy
5.
“It is your unrepentant heart that fills me with fears for your future.” (132)
repentant: reproaching oneself for one’s past actions or sins; to repent – to feel remorse; be contrite about; show penitence;
6.
“Old people often have troublesome straitlaced ideas. It will blow over tomorrow.” (132)
straitlaced – prudish or puritannical (a prude is someone who shows an excessively modest, prim or proper attitude esp. regarding sex)
7.
“I flirted and frolicked with my other young men friends, but he did not care. I did not find him an ardent or jealous lover.” (133)
ardent: characterised by intense desire or emotion, passionate, intensely enthusiastic; eager
(arduous – requiring great physical or mental effort, difficult to accomplish, strenuous, hard to endure)
8.
“We laughed heartily at the disparity in the size of our hands.” (131)
disparity; inequality or difference as in wage, age
9.
“Grannie frequently showed marked displeasure regarding what she termed my larrikinism, but never before had I seen her so thoroughly angry.” (131)
larrikan; a hooligan (australian slang)
10.
My hair was grey with dust, so I washed all over, arrayed myself in a cool white dress, and, throwing myself in a squatter’s chair in the veranda, spread my hair over the back of it to dry.” (136)
to array: to adorn; to dress in rich attire; to arrange in order
an array: an impressive display or collection;
11.
“A cloud of white, which I knew to be cockatoos, circled over the distant hilltop. Nearer they wheeled until I could hear their discordant screech.” (136)
discordant: lack of agreement or harmony; strife; harsh confused mingling of sounds; combination of musical notes, esp. one containing one or more dissonant intervals.
