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

Chapter VI

Cover illustration for The Pretty Lady
Context Illustration Reading 1/19 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.
To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.
Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.
She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.
G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.
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 Pretty Lady

Chapter VI

Reading 1/19 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.
Line 2
To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.
Line 3
Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.
Line 4
She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.
Line 5
G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

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 “To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.”

Crypt noun US /krɪpt/

An underground room or vault beneath an ancient building, often used for storage or burials.

From this reading “To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.”

Took noun US /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.”

Wondered noun US /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.”

All words in this reading · 89

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 To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

anxiety

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

appeared

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

aspect

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

Braiding

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

bravely

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

brightness

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

came

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

careless

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

chains

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

cheerful

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

cryptnounUS /krɪpt/

An underground room or vault beneath an ancient building, often used for storage or burials.

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

dark

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

demons

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

despair

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

disaster

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

doubt

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

dragged

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

drawing-room

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

earnest

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

EMPIRE

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

face

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

fidgety

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

firmly

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

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

FORprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

frightful

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

fronting

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

G

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

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

got

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

hope

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

intimidating

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

J

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

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

knocked

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

lady's-maid

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

mate

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

Mrs

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

neat

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

nonsense

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

observer

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

once

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

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

out

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

paternally

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

pretty

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

reared

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

recalled

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

respected

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

shapes

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

Slender

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

small

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

some

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

temple

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

thirty-five

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

tranquillising

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

turned

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

up

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

From this reading G.J., still paternally, but firmly, took her up at once.

upturned

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

vivacious

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

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

why

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

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

wife

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

From this reading She was thirty-five, and her aspect recalled the pretty, respected lady's-maid which she had been before Braiding got her and knocked some nonsense out of her and turned her into a wife.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Slender, small, and neat, she passed her life in bravely fronting the shapes of disaster with an earnest, vivacious, upturned face.

woman

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.

wonderednounUS /wondered/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading FOR THE EMPIRE Mrs. Braiding came into the drawing-room, and he wondered, paternally, why she was so fidgety and why her tranquillising mate had not appeared.

year

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

From this reading To the careless observer she was a cheerful woman, but the temple of her brightness was reared over a dark and frightful crypt in which the demons of doubt, anxiety, and despair year after year dragged at their chains, intimidating hope.