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Beaufort Chums
Beaufort Chums

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for Beaufort Chums
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.
But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.
For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.
They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"
If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.
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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.

Beaufort Chums

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.
Line 2
But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.
Line 3
For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.
Line 4
They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"
Line 5
If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"”

All words in this reading · 97

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 But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

all

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

away

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

back

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

Beaufort

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

Bob

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

boy

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

brink

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

change

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

CHANGES

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

cold

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

days

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

eleven

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

errand

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

experience

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

father

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

forever

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

frankly

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

glance

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

go

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

greater

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

greatest

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

human

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

hung

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

keeping

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

lasts

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

loads

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

LooknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

loss

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

made

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

mother

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

near

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

Ned

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

now

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

off

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

once

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

other

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

out

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

run

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

said

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

sent

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

sharing

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

some

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

stop

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

taking

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

talking

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

Thus

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For some time it had seemed to him that his father and mother were sharing a secret between them, and keeping him out in the cold.

too

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

very

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading CHANGES Thus passed the days in Beaufort; very good days they were, too, taking them all in all.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading If he hung around for quite a while after he had made them do this, he would be sent off on an errand; and once his father had even said, frankly: "Ned, boy, run away.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

wood

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading They would be talking, and when he drew near they would stop, with a glance from one to the other that said: "Look out!"

year

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

From this reading But they could not go on forever; in human experience nothing--not even eleven loads of wood--lasts forever, and suddenly Ned found himself on the brink of a change greater than his other greatest one: the loss of Bob, now a year back.