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The School-Girls in Number 40
The School-Girls in Number 40

Chapter IV

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Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
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THE TABLEAUX PARTY.
This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.
When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.
Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.
It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The School-Girls in Number 40

Chapter IV

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE TABLEAUX PARTY.
Line 2
This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.
Line 3
When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.
Line 4
Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.
Line 5
It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

Learner Dictionary

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

Another noun US /ˈanother/

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

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.”

Lest conjunction US /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

PARTY noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “THE TABLEAUX PARTY.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

Therefore adverb US /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading “It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.”

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 Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

anothernounUS /ˈanother/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

any

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

careful

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

constant

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

conversation

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

cousins

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

effect

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

familiar

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

fatal

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

feelings

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

felt

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

fond

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

footing

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

friendship

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

girls

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

injure

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

intercourse

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

lestconjunctionUS /lest/

in order that something should not happen

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

more

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

necessity

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

old

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

one's

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

other

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

other's

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

outwardly

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

PARTYnounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading THE TABLEAUX PARTY.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

presence

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

rather

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

re-establishing

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

said

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

shunned

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

society

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

sought

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

state

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

strange

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

surely

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

TABLEAUX

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

From this reading THE TABLEAUX PARTY.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE TABLEAUX PARTY.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This conversation did not have the effect of re-establishing the intercourse between the cousins on its old familiar footing.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Nothing can be more surely fatal to a friendship than such a state of mind.

together

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

very

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was not strange, therefore, that the cousins, though outwardly as fond of each other as ever, rather shunned than sought each other’s society.

watchfulness

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.

words

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

From this reading When they were together, both the girls felt that they must be very careful what they said, lest they should injure each other’s feelings; and this necessity of constant watchfulness over one’s words in presence of another is any thing but pleasant.