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The Dumpling
The Dumpling

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Dumpling
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.
Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.
But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.
The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.
Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:
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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 Dumpling

Chapter IX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.
Line 2
Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.
Line 3
But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.
Line 4
The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.
Line 5
Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.”

BROKEN noun US /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.”

Fair noun US /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:”

Perhaps noun US /perhaps/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.”

Remarkable noun US /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading “Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.”

All words in this reading · 80

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 But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

afterwards

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

all

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

aptness

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.

back

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

bird

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

BROKENnounUS /broken/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.

burden

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

charms

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

Chesterfield

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

Clara

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

collapsed

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

confirming

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

described

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

destination

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

down

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

dropped

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

drops

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

FACE

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

From this reading THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.

fact

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

fairnounUS /fair/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

floor

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

flutter

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

huge

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

imagery

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

immediately

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

marksman

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

merely

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

neatly

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

observed

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

perhaps

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

persuaded

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

quietly

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

ready

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

receive

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

recovering

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

remarkablenounUS /ˈremarkable/

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

said

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

sat

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

say

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

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Miss Clara sat down--perhaps I should say collapsed down.

Sinking

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

speedily

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

statement

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

suddenness

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

From this reading The suddenness of my statement "dropped" her as neatly as a good marksman "drops" his bird.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.

then

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

thus

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

truly

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

ultimate

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

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.

unconsciously

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

up

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

Well

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

WINDOW

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

From this reading THE FACE AT THE BROKEN WINDOW.

woman

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

From this reading Sinking--"all of a flutter," as she afterwards described it, thus unconsciously confirming the aptness of my bird imagery--upon the Chesterfield, this truly remarkable woman merely observed, "Well, I never!" and then as speedily recovering herself, sat up and said, quietly:

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading But for the fact that a huge Chesterfield stood immediately at her back, ready to receive the fair burden of her charms, I am persuaded that her ultimate destination would have been the floor.