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 had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
absolutely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
alreadynounUS /already/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
anger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
ask
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
calculations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
Cecilia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
chance
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
Chief
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
comfortable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
coming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
Derringham
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
Destiny
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
dinner
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
distinct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
doubt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
dwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
ease
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
engaged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
ensconced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
fairnounUS /fair/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
Fate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
felt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
gates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
given
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
Hanbury-Green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
hostess's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
impossible
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
John
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
knocked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
leftnounUS /left/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
lily
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
lodge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
London
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
lookednounUS /looked/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
Mr
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
near
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
old
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
orchard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
person
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
pointed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
quarrelnounUS /ˈkwɔːrəl/
an angry argument or disagreement
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
reached
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
refused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
road
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
smokingnounUS /ˈsmoking/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
summoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
temper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
turn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But this turn of events was not in the calculations of Destiny for the moment, and he found no less a person than Mr. Hanbury-Green already ensconced by his hostess's side.
Wendover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading John Derringham reached Wendover--by the road and the lodge gates--in an impossible temper.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were both smoking and looked very comfortable and at ease.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had left the orchard house coming as near to a quarrel with his old master as such a thing could be.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He absolutely refused to let himself dwell upon the anger he had felt; and if Fate had given him a distinct and pointed chance to ask the fair Cecilia for her lily hand, when he knocked at her sitting-room door before dinner, he would no doubt have left the next day--summoned again to London by his Chief--an engaged man.
