Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
1886
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
age
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
alley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
AlthoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
articles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
Aun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
bread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
cabin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
cakes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
chances
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
chapter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
character
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
Charleston
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
city
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
colored
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
discovered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
dwelling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
earns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
elapsed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
emphatically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
enabled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
events
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
EXPERIENCE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
facing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
familiarly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
family
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
fruits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
head
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
hit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
husband
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
lastnounUS /last/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
Many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
master
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
mercantile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
narrated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
native
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
obscure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
occurred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
principles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
profit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
progresses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
pursuits
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
reader
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
received
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
rotund
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
scarcely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
selling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
Sheba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
SHEBA'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
shrewdness
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
street
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
success
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
taken
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
thread
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
training
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
uncertain
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
UNCLE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
vended
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.
well-known
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading She had always been so emphatically the master of the house and the head of the family, that her husband went by the name of "Uncle Sheba."
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading She is a well-known character in the city, for she earns her bread by selling cakes, fruits, and other light articles which may be vended in the street with chances of profit.
winter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
woman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In a small dwelling, scarcely more than a cabin, and facing on an obscure alley in Charleston, a rotund colored woman of uncertain age is sitting by the fire with her husband.
years
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UNCLE SHEBA'S EXPERIENCE Many years have elapsed since the events narrated in the last chapter occurred, and the thread of story is taken up again in the winter of 1886.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Although "Aun' Sheba," as she was familiarly called, had received no training for mercantile pursuits, yet her native shrewdness had enabled her to hit upon the principles of success, as may be discovered by the reader as the story progresses.