Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Little Lady of the Big House
The Little Lady of the Big House

Chapter XXVII

Cover illustration for The Little Lady of the Big House
Context Illustration Reading 1/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.
"Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.
"You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.
Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."
Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Little Lady of the Big House

Chapter XXVII

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

Line 1
A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.
Line 2
"Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.
Line 3
"You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.
Line 4
Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."
Line 5
Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

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 “A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."”

Dick noun US /dick/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.”

Ought modal verb US /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading “"You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.”

Rest noun US /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

answers

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

barn

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

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

Blake

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

Bonbright

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

Call

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

catch

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

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

conversations

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

correspondence

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

Dick

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

Dick's

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

dictating

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

dozen

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

entered

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

gathered

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

go

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

Hennessy

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

hour

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

indicating

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

latter

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

managers

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

Mendenhall

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

notes

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.

prepared

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

restnounUS /rest/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

rose

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

saying

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

shorthand

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

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

stallion

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

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.

TellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

ten

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

times

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

to-morrow

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

From this reading Tell them not to come this morning but to-morrow morning."

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

up

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

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

verge

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

From this reading A dozen times that morning, dictating to Blake or indicating answers, Dick had been on the verge of saying to let the rest of the correspondence go.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "Call up Hennessy and Mendenhall," he told Blake, when, at ten, the latter gathered up his notes and rose to go.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Bonbright entered, prepared to shorthand Dick's conversations with his managers for the next hour.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You ought to catch them at the stallion barn.