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A Modern Madonna
A Modern Madonna

Chapter XL

Cover illustration for A Modern Madonna
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.
He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.
But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.
Life seemed to be disintegrating.
Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.
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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.

A Modern Madonna

Chapter XL

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

Line 1
AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.
Line 2
He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.
Line 3
But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.
Line 4
Life seemed to be disintegrating.
Line 5
Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

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 “Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.”

Anybody pronoun US /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

Asked noun US /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.”

Cemetery noun US /ˈcemetery/

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

From this reading “Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

John noun US /john/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life seemed to be disintegrating.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Life seemed to be disintegrating.”

Sob noun US /sɒb/

a sudden deep breath caused by emotion

From this reading “He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.”

All words in this reading · 103

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 AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

AFORETIME

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

all

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

anybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

ASconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

askednounUS /asked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Avenue

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Life seemed to be disintegrating.

Bess

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

boy

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

Capitol

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

CemeterynounUS /ˈcemetery/

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

cheerfully

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

circumstances

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

Creek

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

disintegrating

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

From this reading Life seemed to be disintegrating.

drive

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

exhilaration

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

far

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

farewell

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

flow

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

gay

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

girl's

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

given

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

going

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

grandmother's

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Harcourt

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Hill

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

home

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

house

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

inmost

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

inward

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

John

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

just

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

keeping

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

known

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

LifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life seemed to be disintegrating.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

Margaret

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

Massachusetts

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

matched

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

Missouri

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

Oak

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

ocean

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

own

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

Park

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Philip

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

pride

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

re-opened

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Rock

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Rosalie

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

said

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Life seemed to be disintegrating.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

smothering

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

sobnounUS /sɒb/

a sudden deep breath caused by emotion

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

soul

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

spirits

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

summoned

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

truth

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

unchecked

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

view

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

Vista

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading But if the truth were known, and the truth is never known under just these circumstances to anybody or anything but the girl's inmost soul, she was feeling far from gay.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

woman's

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

From this reading He said it so cheerfully and with such unchecked flow of spirits that Bess, smothering an inward sob, summoned her woman's pride and matched his exhilaration with her own.

worst

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

From this reading Margaret and Philip were on the ocean; Rosalie, in Oak Hill Cemetery; the little boy given into her grandmother's keeping until the house on Massachusetts Avenue should be re-opened; and--after all this was the worst--they were going home to Missouri.

Zoo

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

From this reading AS AFORETIME John Harcourt had asked Bess for a drive--a farewell view, he told her, of Capitol Vista, Rock Creek Park, the Zoo, and all the rest.