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A quiet valley
A quiet valley

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for A quiet valley
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MARIAN’S FEAR.
“YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.
“I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.
It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.
‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.
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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 quiet valley

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MARIAN’S FEAR.
Line 2
“YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.
Line 3
“I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.
Line 4
It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.
Line 5
‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.”

Alone noun US /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.”

Parlor noun US /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading ““YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.”

Pleasant noun US /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.”

Remember verb US /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading ““I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.”

Repeated noun US /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.”

Smoking noun US /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading ““YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

alive

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

alonenounUS /alone/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

always

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

answering

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

ask

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

auburn

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

belongs

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

big

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

boy

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

Brooke

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

brother

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

Cairns

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

days

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

farm-house

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

father

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

FEAR

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

From this reading MARIAN’S FEAR.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

going

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

hair

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

how

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

Jervis

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

lessons

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

liked

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

looking

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

Marian

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

MARIAN'S

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

From this reading MARIAN’S FEAR.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

Mr

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

often

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

old

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/

an old-fashioned sitting room

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

pleasantnounUS /pleasant/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

Polly

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

repeatednounUS /repeated/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

Rutherford

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

sat

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

saw

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

say

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

shy

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

slowly

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

sunny

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

used

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

wasn't

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

Well

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

From this reading ‘Well, Polly, how are the lessons going on?’ he used to say; and I liked him to ask, though I was shy about answering him.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “I can remember him first as a big boy, when his father was alive—always so sunny looking, with his auburn hair.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

word

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

From this reading It wasn’t often I saw him, but when I did he always had a pleasant word for me.

YES

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.

young

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

From this reading “YES; Mr. Rutherford belongs to my young days,” slowly repeated Marian Brooke, as she sat in the little smoking parlor of the old farm-house, alone with her brother, Jervis Cairns.