Chapter I

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

equally

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

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

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

make calm or still

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

in a very pleasurable manner

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

apart from; not including

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

expose or make accessible to some action or influence

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

with no protection or shield

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading Some had laurels in front; some had names.

destroyed or killed

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

plural of “good” — benefit

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

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

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

make more humane

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

in an idle manner

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading Some had laurels in front; some had names.

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

the act of departing

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading Some had laurels in front; some had names.

not one, and not any

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

on one occasion

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

plural of “pair” — a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

a perceptual structure

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

(of plans, ideas, etc.) perfectly formed

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

wild and domesticated birds having a heavy body and short legs

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a formal ball held for a school class toward the end of the academic year

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

with speed

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

free from harm or evil

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

past form of “resemble” — appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

plural of “row” — an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some had laurels in front; some had names.

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a depository for goods

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

relating to or characteristic of or situated in suburbs

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

carry out

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

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

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

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

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading LEAVING TOWN THE HEART OF ENGLAND LEAVING TOWN Sunday afternoon had perfected the silence of the suburban street.

marked by continuous or uninterrupted extension in space or time or sequence

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

not interfered with, disturbed, or harmed

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

be dressed in

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

in or at the place that

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

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

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

a Caucasian

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The houses were in unbroken rows and arranged in pairs, of which one had a bay window on the ground floor and one had not.

a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.

hope for; have a wish

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading But they were so much alike that the street resembled a great storehouse where yards of goods, all of one pattern, are exposed, all with that painful lack of character that makes us wish to rescue one and take it away and wear it, and soil it, and humanise it rapidly.

but in spite of that

From this reading Every one had gone into his house to tea; none had yet started for church or promenade; the street was empty, except for a white pigeon that pecked idly in the middle of the road and once leaned upon one wing, raised the other so as to expose her tender side and took the rain deliciously; so calm and unmolested was the hour.