Chapter XVII

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

Having no one else present.

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

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

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

graceful Old World ruminant with long legs and horns directed upward and backward; includes gazelles; springboks; impalas; addax; gerenuks; blackbucks; dik-diks

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a large and stately mansion

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a lake in southeastern Germany on the northern side of the Swiss Alps; forms part of the Rhine River

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

at any time

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

a spectator who can describe what happened

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

a social unit living together

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

(Arthurian legend) the most virtuous knight of the Round Table; was able to see the Holy Grail

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

(Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

French poet and novelist and dramatist; leader of the romantic movement in France (1802-1885)

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

discontinued temporarily

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

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

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

a particular point in time

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

above and across; more than

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

a full supply

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Lady Constance alone might have been expected to provide enough conversation to keep the historian busy for hours.

characterized by violent and forceful activity or movement; very intense

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

past form of “reign” — have sovereign power

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

express in words

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

term of address for a man

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

a unit of spoken language larger than a phoneme

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Not so much as a syllable proceeded from one of them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

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

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

at the time that

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

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

From this reading From the moment when it left the door of Matchingham Hall and started on its journey back to Blandings Castle, a silence as of the tomb had reigned in the Antelope car which was bringing Lord Emsworth, his sister, Lady Constance Keeble, and his brother, the Hon. Galahad Threepwood, home from their interrupted dinner party.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading In the light of what Millicent, an eyewitness at the front, had told Hugo over the telephone of the family battle which had been raging at Sir Gregory Parsloe's table this will appear strange.

in the company of; together with

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.

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

From this reading If ever three people with plenty to say to one another were assembled together in a small space, these three, one would have thought, were those three.