Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Dark Night's Work
A Dark Night's Work

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for A Dark Night's Work
Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.
It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.
But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.
Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.
He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Dark Night's Work

Chapter IX

Reading 1/56 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.
Line 2
It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.
Line 3
But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.
Line 4
Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.
Line 5
He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

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 “He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

During preposition US /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading “Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.”

Phantom noun US /ˈfæn.təm/

A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.

From this reading “It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

always

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

busy

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

conjecture

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

conversation

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

Corbet

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

curiosity

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

days

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

difficult

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

dinner

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

down

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

Ellinor's

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

enough

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

events

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

felt

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

few

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

frank

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

further

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

given

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

host

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

inclined

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

Indeed

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

inquiries

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

keep

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

lax

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

like

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

many

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

miserable

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

Mr

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

much

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

out

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

outline

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

past

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/

A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

probe

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

Ralph

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

severing

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

subject

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

subjects

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

there

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

too

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

unspoken

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

very

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

From this reading Ralph Corbet found it a very difficult thing to keep down his curiosity during the next few days.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a miserable thing to have Ellinor's unspoken secret severing them like a phantom.

well

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

From this reading Indeed, he thought he could well enough make out the outline of past events; still, there was too much left to conjecture for his mind not to be always busy on the subject.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

Wilkins

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

From this reading He felt inclined to probe Mr. Wilkins in their after- dinner conversation, in which his host was frank and lax enough on many subjects.

word

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading But he had given her his word that he would make no further inquiries from her.