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Chapter XII

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Context Illustration Reading 1/133 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.
Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.
He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.
Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.
"Mr. Baxter!"
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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.

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Chapter XII

Reading 1/133 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.
Line 2
Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.
Line 3
He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.
Line 4
Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.
Line 5
"Mr. Baxter!"

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.”

Start noun US /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

arrested

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

Baxter

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

Beach's

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

bedroom

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

brush-up

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

call

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

charge

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

considered

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

Constance

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

delivered

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

dignified

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

door

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

Earl

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

Emsworth

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

ex-secretary's

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

exclamation

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

expressed

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

firm

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

floor

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

garden

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

go

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

greatly

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

house

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

immediately

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

Keeble

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

Lady

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

lesser

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

lips

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

mould

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

mounting

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

Mr

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

From this reading "Mr. Baxter!"

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

needed

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

note

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

Only

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

opened

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

opinion

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

performed

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

Proceeding

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

progress

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

quest

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

reached

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

return

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

room

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

Rupert

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

stained

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

stairs

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

startnounUS /start/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

surprise

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

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

task

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

upstairs

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

urgent

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

wash

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

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Proceeding, as it did, from the lips of Lady Constance Keeble, we must call it an exclamation of surprise.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Only when this urgent task had been performed did he start to go upstairs in quest of the wash and brush-up which he so greatly needed.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

woman

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.

written

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

From this reading I The firm and dignified note in which Rupert Baxter had expressed his considered opinion of the Earl of Emsworth had been written in the morning room immediately upon the ex-secretary's return to the house and delivered into Beach's charge with hands still stained with garden mould.

yelp

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

From this reading He was mounting the stairs to his bedroom and had reached the first floor when a door opened and his progress was arrested by what in a lesser woman would have been a yelp.