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The Barton Experiment
The Barton Experiment

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Barton Experiment
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SOME VOLUNTEER SHEPHERDS.
The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,
“Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”
“What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.
The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.
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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.

The Barton Experiment

Chapter IX

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SOME VOLUNTEER SHEPHERDS.
Line 2
The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,
Line 3
“Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”
Line 4
“What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.
Line 5
The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ““Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?””

Among preposition US /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

Waiting noun US /ˈwaiting/

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

From this reading “The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,”

All words in this reading · 67

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 mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

all

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

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

bad

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

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

Baguss

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

conversation

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

Crupp's

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

day

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

desultory

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

devoid

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

displayed

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

dozen

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

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

face

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

Father

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

following

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

habitual

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

hour

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

important

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

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

infinitely

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

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

isn't

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

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

jolly

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

large

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

lull

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

mail

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

mail-stage

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

more

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

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

once

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

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

postmaster

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

prevailed

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

remarked

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

round

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

second

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

From this reading The postmaster looked infinitely more important all in a second.

SHEPHERDS

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

From this reading SOME VOLUNTEER SHEPHERDS.

smile

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

SOME

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

From this reading SOME VOLUNTEER SHEPHERDS.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

Too

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

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

usual

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

VOLUNTEER

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

From this reading SOME VOLUNTEER SHEPHERDS.

Wainright

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

From this reading “Too bad about Wainright, isn’t it?”

waiting

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

What's

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

From this reading “What’s that?” asked half a dozen at once.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

window

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

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The mail-stage did not make its appearance at the usual hour on the day following Crupp’s conversation with Father Baguss, and during a lull in the desultory conversation which prevailed among those who were waiting for the mail, the postmaster displayed at his window his large, round face, devoid of its habitual jolly smile, and remarked,