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Madeline
Madeline

Chapter XII · Lucy’s Letter

Cover illustration for Madeline
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.
She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.
She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.
Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.
The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.
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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.

Madeline

Chapter XII · Lucy’s Letter

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.
Line 2
She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.
Line 3
She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.
Line 4
Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.
Line 5
The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.”

Good noun US /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.”

Least noun US /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.”

Trifle noun US /ˈtraɪfəl/

something that needs very little effort

From this reading “Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.”

While conjunction US /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

affect

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

Aikenside

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

answer

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

basket

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

bore

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

came

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

care

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

carefully

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

day

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

delicate

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

far

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

felt

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

foreign

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

goodnounUS /good/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

Guy

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

handwriting

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

heart

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

heavy

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

home

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

how

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

just

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

kept

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

lady

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

leastnounUS /least/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

letter

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

like

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

Lucy

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

Maddy

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

Maddy's

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

office

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

placing

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

post-mark

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

reading

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

requested

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

return

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

ridden

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

saw

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

sight

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

some

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

too

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/

something that needs very little effort

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.