Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Marcia Schuyler
Marcia Schuyler

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Marcia Schuyler
Context Illustration Reading 1/47 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.
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.

Marcia Schuyler

Chapter VI

Reading 1/47 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.
Line 2
As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.
Line 3
Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.
Line 4
Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?
Line 5
It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

Learner Dictionary

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

Anything pronoun US /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading “As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.”

Course noun US /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?”

Look noun US /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.”

Steaming noun US /ˈsteaming/

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

From this reading “As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.”

Suddenly noun US /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading “As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.”

All words in this reading · 81

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 Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

Also

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

bearing

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

bitterness

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

breakfast

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

came

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

caught

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

certain

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

cheeks

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

childish

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

comfort

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

corn

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

coursenounUS /course/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

David

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

dinner

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

doorway

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

eaten

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

eyes

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

face

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

fancy

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

felt

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

flushed

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

green

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

home

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

hurry

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

just

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

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

kitchen

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

knowledge

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

less

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

looknounUS /look/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

Marcia's

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

mere

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

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

more

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

new

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

noticed

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

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

odor

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

platter

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

putting

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

realized

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

reserved

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

sad

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

scarcely

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading It was mere fancy of course, something he had just not noticed.

steady

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

steamingnounUS /ˈsteaming/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

suddenlynounUS /ˈsuddenly/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

sweet

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

sympathy

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.

table

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

there

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

touched

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

From this reading Did he fancy it, or was there a new look upon her face, a more reserved bearing, less childish, more touched by sad knowledge of life and its bitterness?

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Marcia’s cheeks were flushed when David came home to dinner, for at the last she had to hurry.

wide

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

From this reading As he stood in the doorway of the wide kitchen and caught the odor of the steaming platter of green corn she was putting upon the table, David suddenly realized that he had eaten scarcely anything for breakfast.

wistful

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

From this reading Also, he felt a certain comfort from the sweet steady look of wistful sympathy in Marcia’s eyes.