used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/
Having no one else present.
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
Athalie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
bathnounUS /bæθ/
a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
clenchedadjectiveUS /klentʃt/
closed or squeezed together tightly
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
Clive's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
crumpledadjectiveUS /ˈkrʌmpəld/
of metal e.g.
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/
a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/
something written by hand
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
the locus of feelings and intuitions
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
heavenlyadjectiveUS /ˈhevənli/
relating to or inhabiting a divine heaven
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
immediately past
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading And she crumpled the letter fiercely in her clenched hand.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
a particular point in time
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
nervelessadjective
marked by calm self-control (especially in trying circumstances); unemotional
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
being perceived or observed
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
and nothing more
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
palmnounUS /pɑːm/
the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
pensivelyadverb
in a pensive manner
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
by chance
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
pleadingnounUS /ˈpliːdɪŋ/
(law) a statement in legal and logical form stating something on behalf of a party to a legal proceeding
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
projectingadjectiveUS /prəˈdʒektɪŋ/
extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
reactionnounUS /riˈækʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
relaxedadjectiveUS /rɪˈlækst/
without strain or anxiety
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
resurgencenounUS /riˈsɜːrdʒəns/
bringing again into activity and prominence
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
scouredadjectiveUS /ˈskaʊərd/
worn away as by water or ice or wind
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
smoothedadjectiveUS /smuːðd/
made smooth by ironing
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
strangleverbUS /ˈstræŋɡəl/
kill by squeezing the throat of so as to cut off the air
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
sunnyadjectiveUS /ˈsʌni/
bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As she came, pensively, from her morning bath into the sunny front room Athalie noticed the corner of an envelope projecting from beneath her door.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
a special situation
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
throttleverbUS /ˈθrɑːtəl/
place limits on (extent or amount or access)
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
tighteningnounUS /ˈtaɪtənɪŋ/
the act of making something tighter
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And after a while her nerveless hand relaxed; she looked down at the crushed thing in her palm for a long time before she smoothed it out and finally opened it.
a Caucasian
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
which person or people
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
set down in writing in any of various ways
From this reading Minute after minute she stood there, her white hand tightening as though to strangle the speech written there on those crushed sheets--perhaps to throttle and silence the faint, persistent cry of her own heart pleading a hearing for the man who had written to her at last.
wrungverbUS /rʌŋ/
inflected form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape
From this reading For one heavenly moment the old delight surprised her at sight of Clive's handwriting,--for one moment only, before an overwhelming reaction scoured her heart of tenderness and joy; and the terrible resurgence of pain and grief wrung a low cry from her: "Why couldn't he let me alone!"
