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The White Peacock
The White Peacock

Chapter XIV · An Arrow from the Impatient God

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Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.
George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.
Then he hastened to knock.
“Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”
On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The White Peacock

Chapter XIV · An Arrow from the Impatient God

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

Line 1
On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.
Line 2
George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.
Line 3
Then he hastened to knock.
Line 4
“Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”
Line 5
On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.”

Afternoon noun US /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading “On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’”

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading “On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.””

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.””

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

All words in this reading · 81

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 George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

absence

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

afternoonnounUS /ˈafternoon/

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

bang

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

became

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

called

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

came

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

church

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

coming

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

complicated

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

dawdling

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

days

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

desires

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

discovered

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

doors

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

Elizabeth

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

evening

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

family

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

four

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

garrulous

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

George

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

happens

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

hastened

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

From this reading Then he hastened to knock.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

I'm

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

inquire

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

just

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

knock

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

From this reading Then he hastened to knock.

matters

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

milking

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

morrow

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

Now

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

off

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

ostensibly

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

person

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

portals

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

put

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

recovery

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

said

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

Sam

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

see

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

spinster

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

TellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

Then

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

From this reading Then he hastened to knock.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

three

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

From this reading On an afternoon three or four days after the recovery of Sam, matters became complicated.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

tomorrow

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

up

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

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

usual

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

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

wedding

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

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading On the evening of that morrow, the first person to put in an appearance was a garrulous spinster who had called ostensibly to inquire into the absence of the family from church: “I said to Elizabeth, ‘Now what a _thing_ if anything happens to them just now, and the wedding is put off.’

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading “Tell her,” he said, “I will come up tomorrow after milking—tell her I’m coming to see her.”

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading George, as usual, discovered that he had been dawdling in the portals of his desires, when the doors came to with a bang.