Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

belonging to or characteristic of the nobility or aristocracy

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

plural of “beauty” — the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

with bitterness; in a resentful manner

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

the two together, not just one

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

past form of “bridge” — connect or reduce the distance between

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

changeable

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

plural of “charm” — attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

the act of discovering something

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

coming next after the thirteenth in position

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

a city in northwest Indiana on Lake Michigan; steel production

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

a man of refinement

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

in a joyous manner

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

an attitude of mind especially one that favors one alternative over others

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

held dear

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

in your mind

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

popular aquarium fish

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

used to form the superlative

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

a form of address for a man

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

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

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

make believe with the intent to deceive

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

not known

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

not of the nobility

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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 He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

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

From this reading THE FOURTH AND THE FOURTEENTH OF JULY For the next few weeks Mr. Calvert had little time--and, indeed, little inclination--to see Adrienne.

belonging to which person

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading He felt the gulf too wide between them, both in circumstance and character, to be bridged.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The discovery that he loved her had brought pain, not happiness with it.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading He smiled to himself as he mentally compared Adrienne with the simple young beauties of Virginia he had known--with Miss Molly Crenshawe and Miss Peggy Gary--and he wondered a little bitterly why he could not have fallen happily in love with some one of his own countrywomen, whose heart he could have won and kept, instead of falling a victim to the charms of a dazzling creature quite beyond his reach.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading How could he, an untitled American, an unknown young gentleman of small fortune, pretend to the hand of one of the most beautiful, most aristocratic, and most capricious women in Paris?