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

Chapter XXIV

Cover illustration for A waif's progress
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”
“I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.
If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”
These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.
They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A waif's progress

Chapter XXIV

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”
Line 2
“I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.
Line 3
If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”
Line 4
These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.
Line 5
They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.

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 “These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.””

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading ““She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.””

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading ““She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.””

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.””

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.”

These determiner US /ðiːz/

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

From this reading “These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.””

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.””

Whose determiner US /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading “These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading ““She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.””

All words in this reading · 74

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

all

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

assign

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

ate

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

From this reading They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

bedrooms

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

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

comment

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

downstairs

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

eat

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

eaten

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

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

enough

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

fit

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

food

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

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

glad

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

luncheon

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

managers

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

melodrama

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

once

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

opinion

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

From this reading “I have no opinion of food eaten in bedrooms.

ownerships

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

people

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

played

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

possible

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

probably

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

recent

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

relax

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

reluctant

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

remarks

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

respective

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

ruffled

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

From this reading They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.

rule

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

seen

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

sent

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading They ate their luncheon in ruffled silence.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

stage

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

superfluous

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

ThesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

two

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

up

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

well

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

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

whosedeterminerUS /huːz/

belonging to which person

From this reading These two remarks, to which it would be superfluous to assign their respective ownerships, were all the comment upon the recent melodrama at first possible to the reluctant managers upon whose stage it had been played.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading If people are well enough to eat, they are well enough to come downstairs; but she is probably not fit to be seen, so for once I will relax my rule.”

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “She would, I should think, be glad if you let her have luncheon sent up to her.”