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Tom Ossington's Ghost
Tom Ossington's Ghost

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Tom Ossington's Ghost
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.
The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.
The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.
That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.
This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!
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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.

Tom Ossington's Ghost

Chapter X

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.
Line 2
The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.
Line 3
The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.
Line 4
That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.
Line 5
This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

Learner Dictionary

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

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!”

Blood noun US /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.”

Burglar noun US /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/

A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.

From this reading “MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.”

Fortune noun US /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading “This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!”

HERSELF pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading “That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.”

All words in this reading · 84

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 The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

all

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

AWKWARD

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

beat

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

better

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

bloodnounUS /blood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

brains

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

burglarnounUS /ˈbɝː.ɡlɚ/

A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

business-like

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

busy

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

call

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

coursing

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

day

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

discuss

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

eyes

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

faster

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

FINDS

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

fortunenounUS /ˈfortune/

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

heart

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

HERSELFpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

hidden

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

hoards

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

intimation

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

made

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

MADGE

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

memorandum

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

MSS

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

night

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

obliged

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

own

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

post

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

preferred

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

publication

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

publisher

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

quickly

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

sent

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

SITUATION

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

sort

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

sparkle

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

striven

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

submitted

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

terms

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

There

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

town

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

undisturbed

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

From this reading The night was undisturbed; and the next day was, for both, a busy one.

veins

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

From this reading That business-like memorandum made her heart beat faster; sent the blood coursing quickly through her veins; added a sparkle to her eyes.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading MADGE FINDS HERSELF IN AN AWKWARD SITUATION 'There was no burglar.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading This, after all, was the sort of fortune she preferred--one for which she had striven with her own brains and hands--better than hidden hoards!

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading The morning post brought Madge an intimation from a publisher to whom she had submitted one of her MSS., that he would be obliged if, when she was in town, she would call on him, so that she might discuss with him terms for its publication.