VOA慢速英语:'The Blue Hotel,' by Stephen Crane, Part Two

tongue-tied - adj. unable to speak because you are nervous or shy

grasp - v. to take and hold something with your fingers or hands

brave - adj. feeling or showing no fear; not afraid

poison - v. to give someone a substance that can cause people or animals to die or to become very sick if it gets into their bodies especially by being swallowed

oblige - v. to do something that someone has asked you to do; to do a favor for someone

attitude - n. the way you think and feel about someone or something

straining - adj. a feeling of stress and worry that you have because you are trying to do too much, are dealing with a difficult problem

feverishly - adv. involving intense emotion or activity; feeling or showing great or extreme excitement

compel - v. to force someone to do something

endure - v. to experience pain or suffering for a long time