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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
all
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
bound
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From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
breatheverbUS /briːð/
to speak or reveal information, especially secretly
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
closing
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From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
curtains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
daring
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From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
darkness
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From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
door
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From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
doors
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From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
entirelynounUS /ˈentirely/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
equalled
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From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
essential
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
to show or communicate a feeling or idea
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
eyelids
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
glimmer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
gloom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
GO
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “LET ME GO HOME.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
heard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
Hetty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
Hofland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
HOME
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “LET ME GO HOME.”
hopeless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
horrible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
horror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
LETauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading “LET ME GO HOME.”
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
locked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
lying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
MEpronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “LET ME GO HOME.”
middle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
Miss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
night
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
overwhelmed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
panic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
precautionsplural nounUS /prɪˈkɔʃənz/
actions taken to prevent danger
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
pressing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
prisoner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
restnounUS /rest/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
round
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
sensation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
shutters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
speechless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
tangible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
terror
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
throbbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Miss Hofland next door felt these precautions essential to her rest.
unreasonable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
weighing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
weight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
woke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
words
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But little Hetty lay not daring to breathe, bound in a speechless and horrible panic which no words could express.
world
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Hetty woke in the middle of the night, and found herself in darkness, without a glimmer of light, curtains and shutters closing her in, doors locked between her and all the rest of the world, a gloom which could be felt weighing down her eyelids, the sensation of terror which overwhelmed her was no doubt entirely unreasonable.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Nothing that she could have seen or heard would have equalled the horror of seeing nothing, of lying there a hopeless prisoner of the darkness, the silence throbbing round her, the gloom pressing upon her like a tangible weight.
