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Jacob's Ladder
Jacob's Ladder

Chapter XIX

Cover illustration for Jacob's Ladder
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.
Lady Mary came to meet him.
"You see what I have done for you," she whispered.
"Miss Bultiwell!"
Lady Mary nodded.
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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.

Jacob's Ladder

Chapter XIX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.
Line 2
Lady Mary came to meet him.
Line 3
"You see what I have done for you," she whispered.
Line 4
"Miss Bultiwell!"
Line 5
Lady Mary nodded.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.”

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You see what I have done for you," she whispered.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"You see what I have done for you," she whispered.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.”

Nodded noun US /nodded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lady Mary nodded.”

All words in this reading · 59

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 Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

amber

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

apartment

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

Bultiwell

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

From this reading "Miss Bultiwell!"

bygone

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

came

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

From this reading Lady Mary came to meet him.

days

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

drawing-room

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

faded

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

familiar

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

figure

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

furniture

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

hangings

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Lady Mary came to meet him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

Jacob

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

Lady

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

From this reading Lady Mary came to meet him.

lamplight

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

Mary

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

From this reading Lady Mary came to meet him.

meet

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

From this reading Lady Mary came to meet him.

Miss

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

From this reading "Miss Bultiwell!"

more

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

noddednounUS /nodded/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lady Mary nodded.

now

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

perfume

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

piano

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

picturesque

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

quaint

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

return

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

satin

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

seated

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

see

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

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

shaded

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

surprise

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

telephone

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

whispered

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

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

yellow

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

From this reading Jacob, on his return from the telephone, found to his surprise a familiar figure seated before the piano in the long drawing-room, an apartment more picturesque than ever now in the shaded lamplight, with its faded yellow satin furniture, its amber hangings, and its quaint perfume of bygone days.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You see what I have done for you," she whispered.