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Some Short Stories [by Henry James]
Some Short Stories [by Henry James]

Chapter XVII

Cover illustration for Some Short Stories [by Henry James]
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.
Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.
"She distinctly understood he was there?"
"Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."
"And what did you call him?"
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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.

Some Short Stories [by Henry James]

Chapter XVII

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.
Line 2
Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.
Line 3
"She distinctly understood he was there?"
Line 4
"Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."
Line 5
"And what did you call him?"

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 “Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

Foot noun US /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

Right noun US /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

admissions

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

arrived

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

call

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

From this reading "And what did you call him?"

circumstances

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

Cutter's

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

developed

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading "And what did you call him?"

directions

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

distinctly

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

From this reading "She distinctly understood he was there?"

down

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

event

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

few

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

footnounUS /foot/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

gasps

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

gone

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "And what did you call him?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

interloper

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

interrogative

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

Lady

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

lying

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

ma'am

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

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

maid

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

mention

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

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

minutes

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

Miss

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

mistress

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

other

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

past

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

place

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

return

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

rightnounUS /right/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

said

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

scared

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

seven

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

shortly

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

situation

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

some

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

spite

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

stair

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

straight

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

subject

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

there

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

From this reading "She distinctly understood he was there?"

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

understood

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

From this reading "She distinctly understood he was there?"

up

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

wait

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

Wantridge

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "And what did you call him?"

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.

wishing

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

From this reading Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.

yes

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

From this reading "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "And what did you call him?"