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A Rogue's Life
A Rogue's Life

Chapter VIII

Cover illustration for A Rogue's Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.
It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.
From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.
What could it be?
How had she first known it?
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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 Rogue's Life

Chapter VIII

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.
Line 2
It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.
Line 3
From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.
Line 4
What could it be?
/wʌt kʊd ɪt biː/
Line 5
How had she first known it?

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 “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Ashamed adjective US /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Equally noun US /ˈequally/

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

From this reading “It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Partly noun US /partly/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.”

WENT noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.”

All words in this reading · 73

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 WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

accidentally

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

afraid

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

ashamedadjectiveUS /əˈʃeɪmd/

feeling guilt or embarrassment after doing something that causes embarrassment

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

back

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading What could it be?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

connected

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

describe

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

dislike

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

doubtful

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

equallynounUS /ˈequally/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

father

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

fishing-place

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

forbade

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

FromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

heart

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

heavy

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

house

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

How

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

From this reading How had she first known it?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

impossible

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

known

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

From this reading How had she first known it?

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

listen

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

manner

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

marriage

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

mention

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

mournful

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

obstacle

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

offer

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

only

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

overcome

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

partly

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

plain

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

red-brick

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

some

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

suggested

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

there

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

thoughts

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

WENTnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What could it be?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading From the time when she had accidentally looked toward the red-brick house, something in her manner which it is quite impossible to describe, had suggested to my mind that this obstacle was not only something she could not mention, but something that she was partly ashamed of, partly afraid of, and partly doubtful about.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading It was plain that she did not dislike me, and equally plain that there was some obstacle connected with her father, which forbade her to listen to my offer of marriage.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I WENT back to the fishing-place with a heavy heart, overcome by mournful thoughts, for the first time in my life.