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Pembroke: A Novel
Pembroke: A Novel

Chapter X

Cover illustration for Pembroke: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.
The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.
Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.
He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.
And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.
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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.

Pembroke: A Novel

Chapter X

Reading 1/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.
Line 2
The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.
Line 3
Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.
Line 4
He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.
Line 5
And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

Learner Dictionary

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

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

Alger

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

appeared

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

austerely

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

bandbox

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

Barnabas

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

black

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

bonnet

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

call

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

change

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

compounded

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

Crane

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

delicate

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

depths

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

drawing-string

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

face

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

fathom

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

fathomed

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

features

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

fell

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

felt

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

feminine

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

fingers

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

flowers

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

following

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

furtively

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

get

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

glanced

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

glimpses

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

heavily

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

knew

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

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

known

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

lace

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

leaves

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

led

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

like

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

meeting

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

mother's

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

motive

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

narrow

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

net-work

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

old

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

only

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

own

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

pale

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

people

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

pride

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

purely

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

Richard

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

scarcely

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

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

senorita

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

shame

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

shifting

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.

shrinking

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

silk

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

some

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

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

Spanish

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

Sunday

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

sweetheart

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

Sylvia

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

Thayer's

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

tie

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

trembling

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

unearth

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

veil

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

From this reading On the Sunday following the one of Barnabas Thayer's call Sylvia Crane appeared at meeting in a black lace veil like a Spanish senorita.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Richard Alger glanced furtively at the pale face shrinking austerely behind the net-work of black silk leaves and flowers, and wondered at some change which he felt but could not fathom.

worked-lace

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

From this reading And Richard Alger, had he known, could never have fathomed the purely feminine motive compounded of pride and shame which led his old sweetheart to unearth from the depths of a bandbox her mother's worked-lace veil, and tie its narrow black drawing-string with trembling fingers over her own bonnet.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading He scarcely knew that she had never worn the veil before.

wrought

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

From this reading The heavily wrought black lace fell over her face, and people could get only shifting glimpses of her delicate features behind it.