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Whiteladies
Whiteladies

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for Whiteladies
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.
It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.
There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.
Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.
The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.
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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.

Whiteladies

Chapter XIX

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

Line 1
“Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.
Line 2
It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.
Line 3
There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.
Line 4
Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.
Line 5
The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

Learner Dictionary

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

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.”

Handsome noun US /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading “It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.”

Itself pronoun US /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading “There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.”

Might modal verb US /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading ““Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

accidents

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

antique

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

Augustine

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

black

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

bought

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

brass

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

bright

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

brown

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

burnished

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

casuistry

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

chantry

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

close

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

doubled

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

drawing-room

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

drawings

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

elaborate

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

fire

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

firelight

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

framing

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

handsomenounUS /ˈhandsome/

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

happen

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

heaped

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

HerenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

house

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

improvement

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

independent

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

introducing

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

knitting

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

knows

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

large

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

like

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

mantelpiece

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

means

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

meshes

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

mirror

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

neighborhood

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

newcomer

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

old

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

out

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

panelling

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

referred

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

reflected

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

room

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

said

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

sat

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

shining

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

shone

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

sister

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

some

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

Susan

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

table

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

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

There

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

very

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

wainscoted

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

warm

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading The table close by her was heaped with books, drawings for the chantry, and for the improvement of an old house in the neighborhood which she had bought in order to be independent, whatever accidents might happen.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was a wainscoted room, very handsome and warm in its brown panelling, in which the firelight shone reflected.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Miss Susan sat by the fire with her knitting, framing one of those elaborate meshes of casuistry which I have already referred to.

wood

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

From this reading There was a bright fire, and the room doubled itself by means of a large mirror over the mantelpiece, antique like the house, shining out of black wood and burnished brass.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Here is some one, Susan, who knows you,” said Augustine, introducing the newcomer into the drawing-room where her sister sat.