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An interrupted night
An interrupted night

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for An interrupted night
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.
She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.
She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.
And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.
Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.
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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.

An interrupted night

Chapter VI

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.
Line 2
She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.
Line 3
She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.
Line 4
And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.
Line 5
Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

Learner Dictionary

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

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.”

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.”

Beside preposition US /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading “Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.”

Pleased noun US /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading “Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

almost

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

barely

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

bride

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

busy

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

conscious

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

decided

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

Dunlap

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

evening

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

face

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

fascinated

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

front

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

gave

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

girl

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

given

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

glance

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

got

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

groom

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

impression

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

instant

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

leisure

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

lovely

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

low

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

made

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

man

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

Mary

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

note

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

noticed

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

once

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

own

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

plain

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

pleasednounUS /ˈpleased/

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

quick

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

relaxing

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

said

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

scarcely

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

seat

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

sitting

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

story

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

swift

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

sympathy

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

tender

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

then

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

From this reading And then almost at once she was fascinated by the lovely face of the girl in front of her.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

train

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

troubled

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

From this reading Mary Dunlap was quick to note the pleased relaxing of the troubled face as she said this, and the instant sympathy as she gave her own first impression of the man who was sitting beside the girl.

two

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

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

voice

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading She had been barely conscious of the two who took the seat in front of her, had given them but a swift glance and decided that they were bride and groom; until her work was done and she had leisure to look around.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading THE voice was low and tender in which she began her story of the afternoon on the train.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

work

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.

writing

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

From this reading She made it plain that she had been so busy with her writing that she scarcely noticed who got on the train until toward evening when her work was done.