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The House of a Thousand Candles
The House of a Thousand Candles

Chapter XIII

Cover illustration for The House of a Thousand Candles
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.
I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.
It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.
DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.
Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.
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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 House of a Thousand Candles

Chapter XIII

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.
Line 2
I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.
Line 3
It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.
Line 4
DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.
Line 5
Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.”

However adverb US /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.”

Merry noun US /merry/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.”

Seemed noun US /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.”

Since preposition US /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading “DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.”

Time noun US /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.”

All words in this reading · 80

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1901

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

American

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

attention

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

authorities

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

away

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

Bates

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

bearing

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

belated

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

boat

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

called

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

came

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

case

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

Couldn't

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

Cruz

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

dated

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

DEAR

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

December

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

deck-hand

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

dinner

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

Donovan's

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

down

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

dressing

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

eagerly

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

EAVESDROPPERS

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

European

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

fifteenth

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

get

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

hand

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

hoped

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

Laurance

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

letter

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

lucky

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

mail

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

MAN

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

merry

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

Mexico

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

New

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

off

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

OLD

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

Orleans

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

PAIR

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

port

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

postmarked

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

pounced

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

saw

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

seriously

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

south-bound

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

stamp

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

surprise

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

taking

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Couldn’t get away for a European port as I hoped when I left you, as the authorities seemed to be taking my case seriously, and I was lucky to get off as a deck-hand on a south-bound boat.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

Vera

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was dated, however, at Vera Cruz, Mexico, December fifteenth, 1901.

well-known

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

From this reading I pounced eagerly upon a letter in Laurance Donovan’s well-known hand, bearing, to my surprise, an American stamp and postmarked New Orleans.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading A PAIR OF EAVESDROPPERS When I came down after dressing for dinner, Bates called my attention to a belated mail.

York

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

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading DEAR OLD MAN: I have had a merry time since I saw you in New York.