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Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works
Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works

Chapter CCLXIX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:
"Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.
Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.
And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.
Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Complete Project Gutenberg John Galsworthy Works

Chapter CCLXIX

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:
Line 2
"Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.
Line 3
Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.
Line 4
And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.
Line 5
Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Except preposition US /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Fluttering verb US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

ache

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

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

Barbara

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

bird

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

box

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

breast

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

cage

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

calmly

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

coffee

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

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

contemplating

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

Courtier

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

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

entertainment

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

evening

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

father

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

feebly

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

flutteringverbUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

moving with quick light beats or trembles

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

further

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

Harbinger

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

heart

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

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

hedge

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

imprisoned

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

jangled

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

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

kissed

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

LeftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

Let's

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

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

moment

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

mother

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

now

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

populace

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

room

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

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.

said

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

sea

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

shelter

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

soft

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

solid

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

struggling

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

talk

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

From this reading Her last jangled talk with Courtier had left an ache in her heart.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

there

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Left by her father and mother to the further entertainment of Harbinger, Barbara had said:

together

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

wall

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

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading And now, after the first moment, she looked at him calmly, though in her breast there was a fluttering, as if an imprisoned bird were struggling ever so feebly against that soft and solid cage.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Except for that one evening, when together by the sea wall they stood contemplating the populace, she had not been alone with him since he kissed her under the shelter of the box hedge.

withdrawing

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

From this reading "Let's have coffee in here," and passed into the withdrawing room.