Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Four Faces: A Mystery
The Four Faces: A Mystery

Chapter XI

Cover illustration for The Four Faces: A Mystery
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.
She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.
"Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.
I really am not keen to go."
"Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Four Faces: A Mystery

Chapter XI

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.
Line 2
She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.
Line 3
"Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.
Line 4
I really am not keen to go."
Line 5
"Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

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 “"Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.”

All words in this reading · 79

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

accepted

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

accepting

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

all

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I really am not keen to go."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

any

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

arms

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

away

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

BROAD

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

chance

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

consulted

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

consulting

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

declining

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

delicious

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

dinner

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

don't

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

Dulcie

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

exclaimed

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

excuse

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

gave

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

given

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

go

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

From this reading I really am not keen to go."

Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

hadn't

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

HIGHWAY

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

improvised

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

invitation

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

joyously

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

keen

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

From this reading I really am not keen to go."

kisses

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

Mrs

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

neck

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

plausible

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

putting

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

really

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

From this reading I really am not keen to go."

refusing

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

rude

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

said

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

silly

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

some

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

Stapleton's

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

staying

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

then

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

there

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

three

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

From this reading "Oh, don't be silly!" she exclaimed joyously, and, putting her arms about my neck, she gave me three delicious kisses.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE BROAD HIGHWAY Had Dulcie consulted me before accepting Mrs. Stapleton's invitation to dinner I should have improvised some plausible excuse for declining.

unconditionally

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

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

wish

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

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She had not, however, given me the chance of refusing, for she had then and there accepted for both of us unconditionally, so that I could not, without being rude, make any excuse for staying away.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Dulcie," I said, when we were again alone, "I wish you hadn't accepted that invitation without first of all consulting me.