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Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country
Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.
When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.
"The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.
He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.
But he soon saw it was genuine.
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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.

Little Mr. Thimblefinger and His Queer Country

Chapter VII

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.
Line 2
When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.
Line 3
"The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.
Line 4
He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.
Line 5
But he soon saw it was genuine.

Learner Dictionary

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

Disguise noun US /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Inquired noun US /ˈinquired/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Merchant noun US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But he soon saw it was genuine.”

Surprised noun US /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “"The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.”

All words in this reading · 91

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 When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

arrived

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

became

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

bestowed

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

called

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

cause

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

certain

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

child

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

clerk

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

clerks

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

console

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

convinced

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

correct

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

daughter's

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

directed

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

disappearance

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

discover

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

disguisenounUS /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

A means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity.

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

disguised

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

display

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

door

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

father

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

find

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

firmly

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

genuine

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

From this reading But he soon saw it was genuine.

girl

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

go

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

grief

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

helped

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

hoping

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

house

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

humble

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

inquirednounUS /ˈinquired/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

knocked

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

lightly

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

master's

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

mere

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

mother

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

much

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

nurse

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

nurse's

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

peddler

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

place

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

possible

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

powerful

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

rich

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

roof

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

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

saw

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

From this reading But he soon saw it was genuine.

sham

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

somewhat

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

soon

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

From this reading But he soon saw it was genuine.

surprisednounUS /surprised/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

suspicion

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

there

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

treated

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

trouble

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

From this reading He knocked at the door and inquired the cause of the trouble, hoping to discover that the display of grief was a mere sham.

trusty

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

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading "The clerk did as he was directed, but when he arrived at the nurse's house, disguised as a peddler, he was surprised to find as much grief under that humble roof as there was at his master's house.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "He was so firmly convinced that his suspicion was correct that he treated his daughter's disappearance somewhat lightly, and this helped to console the mother.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading When it became certain that the little girl was not to be found in the house or on the place, her father called one of his trusty clerks (for he was a rich and powerful merchant), and told him to disguise himself as a peddler, go to the nurse's house, and there discover, if possible, where the nurse had bestowed the child.