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Camille (La Dame Aux Camilias)
Camille (La Dame Aux Camilias)

Chapter XXIII

Cover illustration for Camille (La Dame Aux Camilias)
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.
There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.
When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.
I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.
My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.
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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.

Camille (La Dame Aux Camilias)

Chapter XXIII

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.
Line 2
There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.
Line 3
When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.
Line 4
I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.
Line 5
My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.”

Believe noun US /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Body noun US /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.”

Broken noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Current noun US /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Has auxiliary verb US /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.”

Resumed noun US /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Returned noun US /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading “There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.”

Same noun US /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.”

All words in this reading · 94

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 When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

all

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

anxious

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

ask

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

away

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

believenounUS /ˈbelieve/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

bodynounUS /body/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

Bougival

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

breaking

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

brokennounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

circumstance

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

contracted

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

convince

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

currentnounUS /ˈcurrent/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

dawning

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

day

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

detained

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

dreaming

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

existence

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

fancied

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

find

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

forced

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

habit

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

impossible

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

incapable

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

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

letter

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

like

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

love

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

Marguerite

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

Marguerite's

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

moments

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

moral

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

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

movement

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

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

night

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

obliged

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

one's

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

other

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

preceded

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

recollect

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

reread

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

resumednounUS /ˈresumed/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

returnednounUS /ˈreturned/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

samenounUS /same/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

saw

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

seems

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

shock

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

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

some

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

spend

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

springs

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

succumbing

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

From this reading My body, succumbing to the moral shock, was incapable of movement.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

There

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was forced from time to time to reread Marguerite’s letter, in order to convince myself that I had not been dreaming.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There were moments when I fancied that some circumstance, which I could not recollect, had obliged me to spend the night away from Marguerite, but that, if I returned to Bougival, I should find her again as anxious as I had been, and that she would ask me what had detained me away from her so long.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading When one’s existence has contracted a habit, such as that of this love, it seems impossible that the habit should be broken without at the same time breaking all the other springs of life.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading When the current of life had resumed its course, I could not believe that the day which I saw dawning would not be like those which had preceded it.