Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Miser Farebrother: A Novel (Vol. 3 of 3)
Miser Farebrother: A Novel (Vol. 3 of 3)

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for Miser Farebrother: A Novel (Vol. 3 of 3)
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.
So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.
She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.
She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.
The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Miser Farebrother: A Novel (Vol. 3 of 3)

Chapter IX

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.
Line 2
So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.
Line 3
She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.
Line 4
She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.
Line 5
The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

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 “So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Remained noun US /ˈremained/

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

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Senses plural noun US /ˈsɛnsɪz/

powers of perception and awareness

From this reading “So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

actually

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

almost

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

Aunt

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

become

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

Beeminster's

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

bewilderment

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

caused

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

coherently

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

confused

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

consciousness

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

CORNWALL

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

From this reading FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

departure

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

despair

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

door

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

effect

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

endeavour

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

face

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

feet

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

forehead

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

FRED

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

From this reading FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.

grew

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

hard

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

immediately

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

interruption

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

knew

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

knocking

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

Leth's

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

lost

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

loud

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

more

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

most

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

Mr

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

occurring

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

overwhelming

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

pressed

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

put

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

rapid

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

recall

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

remainednounUS /ˈremained/

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

RESCUE

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

From this reading FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.

salutary

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

sensesplural nounUS /ˈsɛnsɪz/

powers of perception and awareness

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

sensible

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

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

street

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

successful

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

thoughts

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She was not successful; her mind grew more confused, and she might have remained for a long time in this most terrible bewilderment had it not been for a loud and rapid knocking at the street door.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading FRED CORNWALL TO THE RESCUE.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The interruption had a salutary effect upon her; it caused her to start to her feet, and to become sensible to what was actually occurring.

vague

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

wandering

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

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading So overwhelming was Aunt Leth's despair after Mr. Beeminster's departure that she almost lost her senses.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She could not think coherently, but she had a vague consciousness that something--she knew not what--must be immediately done, and she put her hands over her face and pressed her forehead hard in the endeavour to recall her wandering thoughts.