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 It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
animated
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From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
assisted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
attempt
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From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
attributed
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From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
Avenger
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From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
awoke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
chambers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
chronically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
concealed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
concourse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
confused
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From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
curiosity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
distance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
donenounUS /done/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
dreaded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
engender
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
ensure
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From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
exaggeration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
eyes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
female
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
fortunateadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənət/
having unexpected good fortune
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
held
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
impossibility
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
inevitably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
inflammatory
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
invite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
keep
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
keyholes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
larceny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
looking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
niece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
precautionsplural nounUS /prɪˈkɔʃənz/
actions taken to prevent danger
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
quality
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
rag-bag
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
reliable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
safety
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/
Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
self-evident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The impossibility of keeping him concealed in the chambers was self-evident.
service
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
suspicion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
thoughts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
True
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
visitor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
wanted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
weak
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading It was fortunate for me that I had to take precautions to ensure (so far as I could) the safety of my dreaded visitor; for, this thought pressing on me when I awoke, held other thoughts in a confused concourse at a distance.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They both had weak eyes, which I had long attributed to their chronically looking in at keyholes, and they were always at hand when not wanted; indeed that was their only reliable quality besides larceny.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading True, I had no Avenger in my service now, but I was looked after by an inflammatory old female, assisted by an animated rag-bag whom she called her niece, and to keep a room secret from them would be to invite curiosity and exaggeration.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It could not be done, and the attempt to do it would inevitably engender suspicion.
