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A Mad Love
A Mad Love

Chapter XXXVI

Cover illustration for A Mad Love
Context Illustration Reading 1/50 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"WAR TO THE KNIFE."
Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.
Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.
Now no law could intervene, and no justice.
Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Mad Love

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/50 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"WAR TO THE KNIFE."
Line 2
Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.
Line 3
Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.
Line 4
Now no law could intervene, and no justice.
Line 5
Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “Now no law could intervene, and no justice.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.”

Saved noun US /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.”

Terrible noun US /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading “Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.”

All words in this reading · 66

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 Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

appeal

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

arm

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

artful

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

beautiful

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading Now no law could intervene, and no justice.

Countess

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

dairy-maid

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

designing

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

difficulty

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

England

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

exceed

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

finding

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

gifted

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

girl

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

helped

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

intervene

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

From this reading Now no law could intervene, and no justice.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

justice

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

From this reading Now no law could intervene, and no justice.

KNIFE

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

From this reading "WAR TO THE KNIFE."

Lanswell

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

law

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

Lucia

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

Madame

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

marriage

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

most

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Now no law could intervene, and no justice.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

Now

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

From this reading Now no law could intervene, and no justice.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

person

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

positively

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

Queen

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

rather

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

real

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

savednounUS /saved/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

son

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

son's

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

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

Song

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

strong

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

surprise

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

tempestuous

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

terriblenounUS /ˈterrible/

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Her son's marriage had been rather a difficulty than a trouble--a difficulty that the law had helped her over.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "WAR TO THE KNIFE."

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "WAR TO THE KNIFE."

trouble

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

Vanira

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

WAR

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

From this reading "WAR TO THE KNIFE."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lucia, Countess of Lanswell, was in terrible trouble, and it was the first real trouble of her life.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

woman

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.

young

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

From this reading Nothing could exceed her surprise in finding Madame Vanira, the Queen of Song, the most beautiful, the most gifted woman in England, positively the "dairy-maid," "the tempestuous young person," the artful, designing girl from whom by an appeal to the strong arm of the law she had saved her son.