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A bankrupt heart, Vol. 3 (of 3)
A bankrupt heart, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for A bankrupt heart, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A bankrupt heart, Vol. 3 (of 3)

Chapter IX

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.
Line 2
What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?
Line 3
She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?
Line 4
Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.
Line 5
Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?”

Ashamed adjective US /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading “Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?”

Great noun US /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.”

Purity noun US /ˈpjʊrəti/

the state of being morally clean and innocent

From this reading “She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.”

All words in this reading · 86

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

away

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

bloom

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

Countess

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

delicate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

difference

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

dignity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

disgraced

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

fallen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

fear

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

felt

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.

filled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

flirtation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

glad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

greatnounUS /great/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

Hall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

hand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

heart

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

Ilfracombe

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

indulged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

interest

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

intrepidity

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

Jack

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

letters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

Llewellyn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

lowering

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

maidenly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

Nell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

Nell's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

Nora

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

openly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

other

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

packet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

past

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

Portland

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

protected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

puritynounUS /ˈpjʊrəti/

the state of being morally clean and innocent

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

remembered

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

smirching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

soberer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

soiling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

terribly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Nora felt terribly ashamed of herself as she remembered it.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

thanks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

things

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her great fear had passed away, thanks to Nell’s interest and intrepidity, and her mind had time to think of other things.

thoughts

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

true

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

veil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

very

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What was after all the great difference between her and Nell Llewellyn?

whiteness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading As the Countess of Ilfracombe returned to the Hall, with her packet of letters in her hand, her heart was very glad, but at the same time it was filled with soberer thoughts than it had indulged in for some time past.

womanly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading She had not fallen, it was true--she had not openly disgraced herself--but what had her flirtation with Jack Portland been if not a lowering of her womanly dignity; a soiling of her purity; a smirching of the delicate bloom and whiteness that should have protected her maidenly life as with a veil?