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That Affair at Elizabeth
That Affair at Elizabeth

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for That Affair at Elizabeth
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.
Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.
I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.
I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.
A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.
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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.

That Affair at Elizabeth

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.
Line 2
Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.
Line 3
I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.
Line 4
I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.
Line 5
A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

Learner Dictionary

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

Done noun US /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.”

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.”

Sure noun US /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.”

Until preposition US /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.”

Whatever determiner US /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading “Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

able

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

better

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

bravely

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

Burr

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

business

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

calmer

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

chose

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

contained

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

counsel

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

crisis

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

Curtiss's

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

days

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

donenounUS /done/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

Elizabeth

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

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

few

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

house

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

Kingdons

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

Lawrence

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

Lawrences

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

lives

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

Marcia

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

meet

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

message

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

more

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

mystery

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

New

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

only

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

place

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

Pursuit

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

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

respite

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

return

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

reveal

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

secrets

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

self-controlled

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

sensibly

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

surenounUS /sure/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

wait

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

WhateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

wise

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

From this reading A few days' respite would be wise for both of them; they would be calmer, more self-controlled, better able to meet bravely and sensibly what must be the one crisis of their lives.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Whatever mystery this house contained, whatever the secrets of the Kingdons and the Lawrences, my business was not with them.

work

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

From this reading Pursuit My work at Elizabeth was done.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading I would counsel him to wait until Marcia Lawrence chose to reveal herself--I was sure it would not be long.

York

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

From this reading I had only to return to New York and place this message in Burr Curtiss's hands.