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The House of the Seven Gables
The House of the Seven Gables

Chapter XXIX

Cover illustration for The House of the Seven Gables
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.
It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!
Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?
Yes, very often.
This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.
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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 the Seven Gables

Chapter XXIX

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.
Line 2
It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!
Line 3
Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?
Line 4
Yes, very often.
Line 5
This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

Learner Dictionary

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

Appearance noun US /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?”

Ever noun US /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!”

Know noun US /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.”

Make noun US /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!”

Nobody pronoun US /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading “Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!”

All words in this reading · 92

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 But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

away

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

bloody

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

business

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

cared

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

contrast

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

cue

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

daily

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

dance

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

door

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

door-step

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

effect

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

evernounUS /ever/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

exterior

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

face

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

fiddle

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

fig

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

foreign

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

frown

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

Gables

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

ghastly

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

grim

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

grinding

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

happens

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

harmonious

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

heart

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

hourly

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

indeed

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

inner

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

intermingling

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

jigs

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

Judge

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

knownounUS /know/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

light

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

makenounUS /make/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

mirth

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

momently

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

mood

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

most

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

motion

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

often

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

From this reading Yes, very often.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

out

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

Paganini's

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

popular

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

Pyncheon

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

repetition

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

Seven

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

shirt-bosom

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

swarthily

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

there

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

tragedy

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

From this reading This contrast, or intermingling of tragedy with mirth, happens daily, hourly, momently.

tunes

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

ugly

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

vagabond

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

very

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

From this reading Yes, very often.

visage

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

waltzes

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

Wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

well

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

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Was ever before such a grinding out of jigs and waltzes, where nobody was in the cue to dance?

white

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading But to us, who know the inner heart of the Seven Gables as well as its exterior face, there is a ghastly effect in this repetition of light popular tunes at its door-step.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading It would be an ugly business, indeed, if Judge Pyncheon (who would not have cared a fig for Paganini’s fiddle in his most harmonious mood) should make his appearance at the door, with a bloody shirt-bosom, and a grim frown on his swarthily white visage, and motion the foreign vagabond away!

Yes

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

From this reading Yes, very often.