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

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for Number Seventeen
Context Illustration Reading 1/55 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.
As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.
"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.
At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.
Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.
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.

Number Seventeen

Chapter VI

Reading 1/55 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.
Line 2
As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.
Line 3
"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.
Line 4
At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.
Line 5
Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

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 “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.”

Think noun US /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “"To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.”

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.

17

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

Beale

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

best

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

better

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

catch

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

CLOSE

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

closed

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

content

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

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

darkened

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

days

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

door

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

downstairs

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

Edith

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

escorted

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

evenings

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

existence

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

few

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

forever

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

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

going

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

held

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

how

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

interests

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

lady

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

Miss

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

murmured

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

narrow

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

Newquay

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

pitiful

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

placid

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

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

planning

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

probably

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

QUARTERS

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

remainder

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

shattered

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

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

shivered

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

shrinking

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

staying

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

SuchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

theater

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

there

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As they passed the closed door of No. 17, the lady shivered.

Theydon

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

From this reading CLOSE QUARTERS Theydon escorted Miss Beale downstairs.

thinknounUS /think/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

timid

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

tragedy

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

voice

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Such as they were, their placid content was forever shattered.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

woman

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

From this reading At best she was a shrinking, timid little woman, for whom life probably held but narrow interests.

words

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

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "To think that within the next few days I would have been staying there with Edith, and planning evenings at the theater before going to Newquay!" she murmured; there was a pitiful catch in her voice that told better than words how the remainder of her existence would be darkened by the tragedy.