"Well, Charlie, don't you look dashing!" Renee said in a tone that was almost shocked. That might have explained the crustiness of Charlie's answer.

“喔，查理，你神气极了！”蕾内语调中带着一丝惊讶。这令查理的回答得生起来。

Once I broke through my initial crustiness and got into the habit, it even became a game: Can I make this grump open up?

一旦打破了自己原来粗鲁的举止，养成这个好习惯，甚至成了一个游戏：我还能让脾气再发作吗？