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The Scarlet Pimpernel
The Scarlet Pimpernel

Chapter XXV · The Eagle and the Fox

The Eagle and the Fox, section 1: Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song. In the singer she had recognised
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.
In the singer she had recognised her husband.
Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.
The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.
She checked the impulse just in time.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Scarlet Pimpernel

Chapter XXV · The Eagle and the Fox

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.
Line 2
In the singer she had recognised her husband.
Line 3
Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.
Line 4
The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.
Line 5
She checked the impulse just in time.

Learner Dictionary

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

marguerite noun US /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/

tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum

From this reading “Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.”

Collocations
Marguerite sA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
s breathA source-grounded phrase from this reading.
All words in this reading · 76

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 Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

any

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

beg

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

breath

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

brief

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

broad-brimmed

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

Chauvelin

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

checked

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

From this reading She checked the impulse just in time.

cheerful

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

clapped

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

cost

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

darted

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

desire

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

door

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

down

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

feel

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

fly

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

glance

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

hat

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

head

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

heard

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

hurriedly

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

husband

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

impulsenounUS /ˈɪmpʌls/

a sudden strong desire to act

From this reading She checked the impulse just in time.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

just

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

From this reading She checked the impulse just in time.

late

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

listened

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

MargueritenounUS /ˌmɑːrɡərˈiːt/

tall leafy-stemmed Eurasian perennial with white flowers; widely naturalized; often placed in genus Chrysanthemum

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

Marguerite's

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

momentarily

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

nearer

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

quick

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

recognised

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

room

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

rush

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

second

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

seemednounUS /seemed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

seized

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

singer

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

song

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

standingnounUS /ˈstanding/

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

steps

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

stop

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.

stoppednounUS /stopped/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading In the singer she had recognised her husband.

then

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

timenounUS /time/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She checked the impulse just in time.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

too

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

tooknounUS /took/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

up

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

From this reading Chauvelin, too, had heard it, for he darted a quick glance towards the door, then hurriedly took up his broad-brimmed hat and clapped it over his head.

very

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

voice

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

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

whilstconjunctionUS /waɪlst/

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading Marguerite’s breath stopped short; she seemed to feel her very life standing still momentarily whilst she listened to that voice and to that song.

wild

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

From this reading The voice drew nearer; for one brief second the wild desire seized Marguerite to rush down the steps and fly across the room, to stop that song at any cost, to beg the cheerful singer to fly—fly for his life, before it be too late.