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At Love's Cost
At Love's Cost

Chapter XXII

Cover illustration for At Love's Cost
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.
That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.
But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.
The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.
Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?
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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.

At Love's Cost

Chapter XXII

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.
Line 2
That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.
Line 3
But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.
Line 4
The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.
Line 5
Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

Learner Dictionary

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

Expecting verb US /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading “But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.”

Thought noun US /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

attitudes

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

blunder

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

case

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

colour

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

From this reading The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.

countenance

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

dropped

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

From this reading The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.

ejaculate

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

elder

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

expressionless

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

eyes

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

From this reading The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.

face

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

From this reading The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.

Falconer

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

fled

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

gazed

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

Heaven

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

Howard's

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

indeed

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

love

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

mad

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

made

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

man

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

Maude

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

men

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

Merciful

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

mistake

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

mistaking

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

moment

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

moments

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

Mr

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

nowadays

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

occurred

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

perfectly

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

piece

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

remembered

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

rushed

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

From this reading The colour rushed to his face and his eyes dropped.

said

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

shocked

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

some

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

speak

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

speaking

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

From this reading Merciful Heaven! was the man speaking the truth when he said that he, Stafford, was in love with Maude Falconer?

Stafford

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

startled

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

Stonehenge

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

strike

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

swear

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

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

then

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

there

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

thoughtnounUS /thought/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

truth

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

two

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

warning

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

From this reading But as the moments fled, and the two elder men gazed at him, as if expecting him to speak, he remembered Howard's warning.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading That the man was indeed and in truth mad, occurred to him for a moment; then he thought there must be some mistake, that Mr. Falconer had made a blunder in the name, and that it was a case of mistaking his man.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading We do not, nowadays, strike attitudes, or ejaculate and swear when we are startled or shocked; Stafford stood perfectly still, still as a piece of Stonehenge, and gazed with an expressionless countenance at Mr. Falconer.