Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Leslie's Loyalty
Leslie's Loyalty

Chapter XXXVI

Cover illustration for Leslie's Loyalty
Context Illustration Reading 1/103 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"IT IS THE TRUTH."
Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.
He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.
Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.
"Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Leslie's Loyalty

Chapter XXXVI

Reading 1/103 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"IT IS THE TRUTH."
Line 2
Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.
Line 3
He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.
Line 4
Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.
Line 5
"Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

Learner Dictionary

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

Began noun US /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

Ebb noun US /ɛb/

the movement of the tide away from the land

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

Silence noun US /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading “Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.”

Speak noun US /speak/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

announcement

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

arms

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

awful

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

begannounUS /began/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

break

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

cannot

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

From this reading "Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

color

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

Duncombe

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

ebbnounUS /ɛb/

the movement of the tide away from the land

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

enfolding

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

face

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

failed

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

feebly

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

firstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

followed

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

fury

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

glared

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

half-dazed

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "IT IS THE TRUTH."

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "IT IS THE TRUTH."

kind

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

Leslie

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

Lucy

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

moment

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

Oh

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

From this reading "Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

Ralph

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

Ralph's

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

release

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

speak

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

From this reading He did not speak, but he glared at Ralph Duncombe in a kind of half-dazed fury.

strove

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "IT IS THE TRUTH."

then

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

true

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

From this reading "Oh, no, no, it is not--it cannot be true!

TRUTH

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

From this reading "IT IS THE TRUTH."

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

vacantly

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Lucy was the first to break the awful silence which followed Ralph's announcement.

white

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.

Yorke's

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

From this reading Leslie looked at Ralph Duncombe vacantly for a moment, as if she had failed to understand him; then the color began to ebb from her face and left it white, and she strove feebly to release herself from Yorke's enfolding arms.