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The Hampstead mystery — Volume 2
The Hampstead mystery — Volume 2

Chapter X

Cover illustration for The Hampstead mystery — Volume 2
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.
Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’
But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.
Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.
But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Hampstead mystery — Volume 2

Chapter X

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.
Line 2
Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’
Line 3
But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.
Line 4
Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.
Line 5
But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

Learner Dictionary

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

Accounts noun US /ˈaccounts/

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

From this reading “Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’”

Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’”

All words in this reading · 89

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 Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

accountsnounUS /ˈaccounts/

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

active

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

adduced

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

all

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

always

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

bargain

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

business

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

capacity

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

change

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

Clerks

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

condition

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

constantly

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

Crampton

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

Crampton's

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

death

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

derogatory

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

detect

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

employer

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

employés

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

error

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

extraordinary

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

firm

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

Formerly

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

head

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

Henry

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

Hindes

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

keen

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

late

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

lost

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

man

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

Messrs

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

more

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

Mr

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

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

office

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

other

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

partner

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

place

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

possible

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

presented

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

ready

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

really

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

reason

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

rule

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

shy

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading But, since Mr Crampton’s death, he seemed as if he had lost all his capacity.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

Son

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

suspicion

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

taken

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

takes

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

talk

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

there

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

vigorous

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

From this reading Formerly, he had been a keen, vigorous, active man of business, always ready to detect an error in the accounts, or to make a good bargain for himself and his partner.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But there was really no other possible reason to be adduced for the condition in which Henry Hindes constantly presented himself in the office.

whispering

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

From this reading Clerks, whether they be head or under clerks, are shy, as a rule, of whispering anything so derogatory to the head of their firm, as the suspicion that he takes ‘more than is good for him.’

whole

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

From this reading The whole talk of the employés in the firm of Messrs Hindes & Son, late Hindes & Crampton, was of the extraordinary change that had taken place in their employer.