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Midshipman Merrill
Midshipman Merrill

Chapter X · A Plot That Failed

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Context Illustration Reading 1/10 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:
“Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”
Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:
“Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”
“Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”
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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.

Midshipman Merrill

Chapter X · A Plot That Failed

Reading 1/10 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:
Line 2
“Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”
Line 3
Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:
Line 4
“Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”
Line 5
“Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:”

Berth noun US /bɜrθ/

a job or position on a ship

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Continued noun US /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading “Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Gentleman noun US /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading “Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.””

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.””

May modal verb US /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading ““Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.””

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading ““Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.””

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:”

Suppose noun US /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading ““Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.””

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.””

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.””

All words in this reading · 104

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 Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

aghast

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

From this reading Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:

also

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

appointment

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

arriving

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

B

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

berthnounUS /bɜrθ/

a job or position on a ship

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

cadet

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

called

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

Clemmons

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

congratulate

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

continuednounUS /ˈcontinued/

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

From this reading Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:

country

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

document

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

easy

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

escorting

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

examination

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

fail

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

friend

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

gentlemannounUS /ˈgentleman/

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

glad

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

home

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

how

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

influence

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

Judge

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

just

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

keep

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

knows

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

leak

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

like

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

looking

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

mails

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

Mark

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

midshipman's

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

Miller

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

Mr

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

naval

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

navy

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

obtained

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

office

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

official

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

often

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

orders

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

out

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

post

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

received

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

receiving

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

report

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

said

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

school

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

Scott

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

Secrets

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

secure

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

sir

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

son

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Mark stood aghast, and the judge continued:

supposenounUS /ˈsuppose/

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

supposed

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

task

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

Virgene

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

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

Well

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Secrets often leak out of a country post office, just how no one knows, but still they do, and when Mark called upon Judge Miller after arriving in B----, and escorting Virgene home, that gentleman said:

wished

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Mr. Clemmons told me his son Scott had received an appointment, and that a like official looking document had come through the mails for you, and he supposed it was also a cadet midshipman’s berth in our navy, though he wondered how you had obtained, without influence, what he had found no easy task to secure for his son.”

Yes

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

From this reading “Yes, sir, I have orders to report for examination, but I wished to keep it secret, for I may fail, you know, sir.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”

young

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

From this reading “Well, my young friend, I suppose I am to congratulate you upon receiving an appointment to the naval school, and I am glad of it.”