Mansfield Park

Chapter XXXVII

By Jane Austen • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate.

These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter XXXVII Reading 1/33

Mansfield Park Jane Austen

Chapter XXXVII

Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands. As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate. These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before. Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence. Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

Mansfield Park

Chapter XXXVII

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

Line 1

Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

Line 2

As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate.

Line 3

These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

Line 4

Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

Line 5

Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.”

Creature noun US /ˈcreature/

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

From this reading “As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

Length noun US /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.”

Myself pronoun US /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 As she opened, and saw its length, she prepared herself for a minute detail of happiness and a profusion of love and praise towards the fortunate creature who was now mistress of his fate.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

contents

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

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

Couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

Crawford

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

creaturenounUS /ˈcreature/

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

Dear

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

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

detail

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

Edmund

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

Excuse

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

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

expected

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

Fanny

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

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

Fanny's

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

fate

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

few

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fortunate

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

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

gone

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

happiness

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

happy

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

impossible

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

lengthnounUS /leŋθ/

a period of time or extent

letter

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

lines

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

London

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

love

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

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

minute

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

mistress

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

months

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

nature

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

nearly

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

now

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

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

opened

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

persuaded

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

power

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

praise

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

prepared

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

profusion

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

put

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

saw

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

sent

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

Seven

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

two

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

very

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

wanting

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

From this reading Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

weeks

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Seven weeks of the two months were very nearly gone, when the one letter, the letter from Edmund, so long expected, was put into Fanny’s hands.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

wishing

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

write

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

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.

written

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

From this reading These were the contents— “My Dear Fanny,—Excuse me that I have not written before.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence.