adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
Amy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
birthnounUS /bɜːrθ/
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
childnounUS /tʃaɪld/
a young person of either sex
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
commentingverbUS /ˈkɑːmentɪŋ/
-ing form of “comment” — make or write a comment on
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
consciouslyadverbUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsli/
with awareness
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
defectnounUS /ˈdiːfekt/
an imperfection in a bodily system
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/
not to your liking
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
disinterestedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɪntrɪstɪd/
unaffected by self-interest
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
exquisiteadjectiveUS /ˈekskwəzət/
intense or sharp
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
eyenounUS /aɪ/
the organ of sight
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/
plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
formerlyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrmərli/
at a previous time
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/
usually; as a rule
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
handsnounUS /hændz/
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/
a married man; a woman's partner in marriage
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
insensibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈsensəbəl/
incapable of physical sensation
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
intentionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
keenadjectiveUS /kiːn/
having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
lapverbUS /læp/
lie partly over or alongside of something or of one another
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
literaryadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəreri/
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
mannernounUS /ˈmænər/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
meritsnounUS /ˈmerəts/
plural of “merit” — any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
musingnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪŋ/
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
novelnounUS /ˈnɑːvəl/
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/
the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/
To move from a closed position.
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
perusedverbUS /pərˈuːzd/
past form of “peruse” — examine or consider with attention and in detail
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
pointingverbUS /ˈpɔɪntɪŋ/
-ing form of “point” — indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
practicaladjectiveUS /ˈpræktəkəl/
concerned with actual use or practice
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
readernounUS /ˈriːdər/
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
realadjectiveUS /riːl/
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
Reardon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/
(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
sitverbUS /sɪt/
be seated
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
studynounUS /ˈstʌdi/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading How often she had given her husband a thrill of exquisite pleasure by pointing to some merit or defect of which the common reader would be totally insensible!
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
totallyadverbUS /ˈtoʊtəli/
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
truthnounUS /truːθ/
a fact that has been verified
From this reading She did not, in truth, read much nowadays; since the birth of her child she had seemed to care less than before for disinterested study.
unoccupiedadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːkjəpaɪd/
not held or filled or in use
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
volumenounUS /ˈvɑːljuːm/
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When her husband had set forth, Amy seated herself in the study and took up a new library volume as if to read.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But she had no real intention of doing so; it was always disagreeable to her to sit in the manner of one totally unoccupied, with hands on lap, and even when she consciously gave herself up to musing an open book was generally before her.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If a new novel that had succeeded came into her hands she perused it in a very practical spirit, commenting to Reardon on the features of the work which had made it popular; formerly, she would have thought much more of its purely literary merits, for which her eye was very keen.
