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Her Dark Inheritance
Her Dark Inheritance

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for Her Dark Inheritance
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A STRANGE COMMAND.
Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.
From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.
He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.
She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Her Dark Inheritance

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A STRANGE COMMAND.
Line 2
Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.
Line 3
From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.
Line 4
He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.
Line 5
She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.”

Everything pronoun US /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading “He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.”

All words in this reading · 86

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 STRANGE COMMAND.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

appear

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From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

arrival

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

away

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

Beatrix

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

Bernard

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

bright

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

burst

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

circumstance

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

City

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

COMMAND

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

From this reading A STRANGE COMMAND.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

Crescent

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

Dane

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

dark

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

devour

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

evil

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

eyes

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

fierce

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

fire

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

flames

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

forget

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

forth

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

gaze

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

gloomy

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

hidden

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

indeed

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

LifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

like

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

lovable

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

made

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

malice

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

man

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

mansion

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

night

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

old

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

outbursts

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

own

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

past

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

preternaturally

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

prevent

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

rage

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

ready

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

regret

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

repulsive

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

scarcely

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

seen

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

shifting

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

shrank

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

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

shut

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

some

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

STRANGE

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

From this reading A STRANGE COMMAND.

terror

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She shrank from the gaze of his shifting dark eyes, preternaturally bright with some hidden fire which made them appear like fierce flames ready to burst forth and devour her.

there

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Life had seemed strange to Beatrix in that gloomy mansion in the Crescent City.

tremble

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

truth

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

try

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading From the night of her arrival she had scarcely seen old Bernard Dane--a circumstance which she could not regret; for, try as she might to shut her eyes to the truth, there was nothing pleasant or lovable about the old man.

wild

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

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was, indeed, everything repulsive; and his strange, wild outbursts of rage and malice against some evil which he could not prevent or forget--something hidden away in his own past--made Beatrix tremble with terror.