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1908
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
20th
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
alonenounUS /alone/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
arranged
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
asking
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
aunt
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
Christmas
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
club
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From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
club-window
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
country
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
cronies
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From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
December
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
DESPERATE
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
drenched
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
dull
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
father
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
felt
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
GAME
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
gloomy
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
gone
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
houses
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
idly
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
incessantly
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
James's
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
London
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
lunch
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
many
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
message
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
Nice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
old
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From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
olives
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
outlook
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
outsidenounUS /ˈoutside/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
particularly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
passers-by
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
people
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
PLAYING
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From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
Portsmouth
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From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
postpone
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
practically
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From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
pretty
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From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
rained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
Ray
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
recollect
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
sat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
saveprepositionUS /seɪv/
except for; apart from
From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
shopping
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
spend
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
spendingnounUS /ˈspending/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
St
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
Street
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From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
telegram
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
two
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From this reading The club was practically deserted save for one or two old cronies.
unwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
Vera's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Every one had gone to country houses, Ray was spending Christmas with Vera's father at Portsmouth, and in view of the message I had received I felt dull and alone.
villa
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
visit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
watching
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PLAYING A DESPERATE GAME On the 20th of December, 1908, it rained incessantly in London, and well I recollect it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading After lunch I sat in the club-window in St. James's Street, idly watching the drenched passers-by, many of them people who were up from the country to do their Christmas shopping.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The outlook was a gloomy one; particularly so for myself, for I had arranged to spend Christmas with an aunt who had a pretty villa among the olives outside Nice, but that morning I had received a telegram from her saying that she was very unwell and asking me to postpone my visit.
