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Hawtrey's Deputy
Hawtrey's Deputy

Chapter XVI

Cover illustration for Hawtrey's Deputy
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE BEACH.
For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.
They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.
Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.
It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.
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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.

Hawtrey's Deputy

Chapter XVI

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE BEACH.
Line 2
For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.
Line 3
They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.
Line 4
Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.
Line 5
It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

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

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.”

Ship noun US /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

Thing noun US /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

afterwards

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

appeared

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

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

ashore

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

avoid

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

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

away

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

BEACH

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

From this reading THE BEACH.

British

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

busy

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

certain

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

contend

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

Dampier

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

desired

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

difficulties

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

discussing

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

dispensed

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

down

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

essential

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

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

exploits

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

fancied

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

fenced

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

formalities

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

fortnight

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

gone

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

man

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

many

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

movements

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

much

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

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

notoriety

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

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

possible

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

preferred

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

probability

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

Puget

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

quietly

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

reached

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

sailormen

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

saloons

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

sea

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

sealers

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

shipnounUS /ship/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It appeared essential that he should avoid notoriety as much as possible.

slip

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

Sound

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE BEACH.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

there

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

thingnounUS /thing/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

Vancouver

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

various

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

very

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

vessel's

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Wyllard fancied there were sailormen and sealers in Vancouver and down Puget Sound who would have gone with him, but there was a certain probability of their discussing their exploits afterwards in the saloons ashore, which was about the last thing that he desired.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

white

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

wish

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading They had various difficulties to contend with, for while they would have preferred to slip away to sea as quietly as possible a British vessel's movements are fenced about with many formalities, and they did not wish to ship a white man who could be dispensed with.

Wyllard

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

From this reading For a fortnight after they reached Vancouver Wyllard and Dampier were very busy.