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 The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
arisen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
attempted
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From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
attention
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From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/
next to; at the side of
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
bidding
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From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
breakfast-bell
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From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
caught
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From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
child
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
cloudy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
comfort
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From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
completed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
crushing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
dark
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
desperation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
dim
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
early
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
escaped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
faintly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
fled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
foreboding
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
gentle
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From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
gone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
good-morrow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
granddaughter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
Grandma
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
hour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
kind
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From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
Lena
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
loud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
ministering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
nearly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
Nichols's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
note
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
pillow
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
rang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
reading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
rested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
roused
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
shone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
slumber
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
summonsnounUS /ˈsʌmənz/
an official order to appear or respond
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
sustained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
table
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
ThinkingnounUS /thinking/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
toilet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
trial
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
turned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
vain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in vain that the breakfast-bell rang out its loud summons.
voice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Thinking her granddaughter had arisen early and gone before her, she attempted to make her own toilet, which was nearly completed, when her eye caught the note.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
window
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The light of a dark, cloudy morning shone faintly in at the window of Grandma Nichols’s room, and roused her from her slumber.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was directed to her, and with a dim foreboding she: took it up, reading that her child was gone—gone from those who should have sustained her in her hour of trial, but who, instead, turned against her, crushing her down, until in a state of desperation she had fled.
youthful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the pillow beside her rested no youthful head—there was no kind voice bidding her “good-morrow”—no gentle hand ministering to her comfort—for ’Lena was gone, and on the table lay the note, which at first escaped Mrs. Nichols’s attention.
