Chapter XIII · The Deacon Makes a Good End

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading That's the difference, really, between revolution and evolution.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

possessive form of “carlyle” — Scottish historian who wrote about the French Revolution (1795-1881)

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

any of various ornamental climbing plants of the genus Clematis usually having showy flowers

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

any plant (as ivy or periwinkle) that grows by creeping

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading That's the difference, really, between revolution and evolution.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

From this reading That's the difference, really, between revolution and evolution.

a wide scope

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

destroyed or killed

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

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

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

of great significance or value

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

and nothing more

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

set down according to a plan

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

the shore of a lake

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

having no leaves

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

engage in

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

the process whereby heat changes something from a solid to a liquid

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

past form of “murmur” — speak softly or indistinctly

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

not any; not one

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

the smallest of the Great Lakes

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading That's the difference, really, between revolution and evolution.

a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

without speaking

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

move an implement through

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

of a light brown to brownish orange color; the color of tanned leather

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading That's the difference, really, between revolution and evolution.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

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

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

plural of “tint” — a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

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

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The most truly important events make no stir on their first taking place; they grow, surely but silently.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

without forethought or plan; inadvertently

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading |In his bright little study at Lakeside, Lothrop Audouin had just laid down a parchment-bound volume of Carlyle's 'French Revolution' and turned to look out of the pretty bay-window, embowered in clematis and Virginia creeper, that opened on to the placid tawny creek and the blue expanse of more distant Ontario.

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

From this reading 'How unawares the summer has crept upon us,' he murmured to himself, half-audibly, as was his fashion.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

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

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.

at the time that

From this reading 'When I first got back from Rome in early May, the trees were all but leafless; and now July is far gone, and before many weeks we shall be beginning to think of the melting tints of our golden autumn.