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Half A Chance
Half A Chance

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Half A Chance
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.
As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.
Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.
The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.
Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.
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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.

Half A Chance

Chapter II

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.
Line 2
As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.
Line 3
Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.
Line 4
The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.
Line 5
Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading “A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.”

Descended noun US /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading “Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.”

Pipe noun US /pipe/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.”

Wind noun US /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.”

All words in this reading · 85

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

ADMIRALTY

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

away

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

back

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

black

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

cabin

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

CaptainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

carefully

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

chair

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

chart

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

comes

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

comfortably

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

copper

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

countenance

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

cylinder

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

degree

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

deposited

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

descendednounUS /ˈdescended/

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

dissonance

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

exhaling

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

exhibited

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

expression

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

fierce-scolding

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

filled

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

following

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

hold

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

iron

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

leaning

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

lighted

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

like

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

listen

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

loudly

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

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

low

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

Macpherson

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

MESSAGE

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

more

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

mouth

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

nasty

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

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

nicotine

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

night

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

Now

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

Occasionally

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

pause

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.

pipe

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

pocket

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

rolled

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

rushed

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

scanning

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

shrieking

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

slightest

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

small

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

smoke

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

solace

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

sounded

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

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

swinging

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

then

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

turned

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

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

up

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

From this reading A MESSAGE TO THE ADMIRALTY The following night, Captain Macpherson in his cabin, rolled up carefully the chart he had been scanning, deposited it in a copper cylinder and drew from his pocket a small pipe.

virago

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

weather

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

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

weed

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading As he filled and lighted it, exhaling the smoke of the black weed and leaning more comfortably back in his low, swinging chair, the expression of his iron countenance exhibited, in the slightest degree, that solace which comes from the nicotine.

wild

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

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

windnounUS /wind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The weather had turned nasty again; above, the wind sounded loudly.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Now it descended on the ship like a fierce-scolding virago, then rushed on with wild, shrieking dissonance.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Occasionally, however, he would hold his pipe away from his mouth, to pause and listen.