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The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange
The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange

Chapter XIV

Cover illustration for The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange
Context Illustration Reading 1/38 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.
Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.
And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.
Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:
“It’s out of town this time--‘way out.
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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.

The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange

Chapter XIV

Reading 1/38 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.
Line 2
Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.
Line 3
And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.
Line 4
Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:
Line 5
“It’s out of town this time--‘way out.

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 “The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.”

Duty noun US /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading “Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.”

Everyone pronoun US /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading “The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.”

Mind noun US /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading ““It’s out of town this time--‘way out.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:”

All words in this reading · 84

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 Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

abstraction

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

account

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

accumulating

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

all

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

always

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

bank

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

came

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

capable

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

casual

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

child

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

close

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

conceived

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

cutting

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

dangerous

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

dared

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

daughter's

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

displeasing

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

doubt

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

a responsibility that must be carried out

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

everyonepronounUS /ˈevriwʌn/

every person

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

father

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

favourite

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

fits

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

holding

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

implacable

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

interpret

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

It's

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

From this reading “It’s out of town this time--‘way out.

knew

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

known

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

learn

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

lure

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

mindnounUS /mind/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

off

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

once

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

only

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

out

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

personage

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

Peter

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

prejudiced

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

remarked

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

risk

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

run

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

shilling

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

situation

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

slowly

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

sly

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

smiled

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

Strange

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

suggestion

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It’s out of town this time--‘way out.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

town

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

From this reading “It’s out of town this time--‘way out.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

way

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

From this reading “It’s out of town this time--‘way out.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Though she was his favourite child, Peter Strange was known to be quite capable of cutting her off with a shilling, once his close, prejudiced mind conceived it to be his duty.

wonder

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

From this reading The personage knew her father--everyone did--and the wonder had always been that she dared run the risk of displeasing one so implacable.

words

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

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion:

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading And that he would so interpret the situation, if he ever came to learn the secret of his daughter’s fits of abstraction and the sly bank account she was slowly accumulating, the personage holding out this dangerous lure had no doubt at all.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet he only smiled at her words and remarked in casual suggestion: