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The Emancipated
The Emancipated

Chapter IX

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Context Illustration Reading 1/65 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.
For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.
But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.
Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.
Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Emancipated

Chapter IX

Reading 1/65 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.
Line 2
For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.
Line 3
But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.
Line 4
Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.
Line 5
Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

Learner Dictionary

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

Above preposition US /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading “Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.”

Beginning noun US /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

Spending noun US /ˈspending/

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

From this reading “But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.”

Stand noun US /stand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

accompany

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

all

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

Allowing

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

ambition

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

From this reading Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

begun

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

From this reading Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

caress

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

chiefly

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

circumstances

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

Clifford

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

daring

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

From this reading Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

days

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

DECLARATION

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

difficulty

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

Doran

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

enable

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

enough

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

eyes

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

fate

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

figure

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

four

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

half-belief

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

harshness

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

hours

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

how

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

imagining

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

invitation

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

made

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

making

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

Marsh

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

Miss

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

Mr

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

much

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

Musselwhite

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

naturally

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

noble

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

nurse

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

From this reading Clifford had begun to nurse a daring ambition.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

other

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

passing

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

people

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

Pompeii

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

position

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

present

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

prolonged

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

prospect

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

really

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

regarded

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

relished

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

resemble

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

shine

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

society

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

some

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

soon

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

spendingnounUS /ˈspending/

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

spent

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

stand

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

state

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

things

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

From this reading For one thing, he was beginning to have a difficulty in passing his days; if the present state of things prolonged itself, his position might soon resemble that of Mr. Musselwhite.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

true

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

vanity

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

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.

welcomed

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Allowing his vanity to caress him into the half-belief that he was really making a noble stand against the harshness of fate, he naturally spent much time in imagining how other people regarded him--above all, what figure he made in the eyes of Miss Doran.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But chiefly would he have welcomed the prospect of spending some hours in the society of Miss Doran, and under circumstances which would enable him to shine.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading THE DECLARATION It was true enough that Clifford Marsh would have relished an invitation to accompany that party of four to Pompeii.