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Then I'll Come Back to You
Then I'll Come Back to You

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
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THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.
Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.
Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.
But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.
For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Then I'll Come Back to You

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.
Line 2
Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.
Line 3
Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.
Line 4
But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.
Line 5
For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

engrossing adjective US /ɪnˈɡroʊsɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading “Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.”

facetious adjective US /fəˈsiːʃəs/

cleverly amusing in tone

From this reading “For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.”

jolting adjective US /ˈdʒoʊltɪŋ/

causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements

From this reading “THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.”

monopoly noun US /məˈnɑːpəli/

(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller

From this reading “THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.”

perfunctory adjective US /pərˈfʌŋktəri/

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

From this reading “THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.”

singled verb US /ˈsɪŋɡəld/

past form of “single” — hit a single

From this reading “Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.”

trundled verb US /ˈtrʌndəld/

past form of “trundle” — move heavily

From this reading “THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.”

undivided adjective US /ˌʌndəˈvaɪdɪd/

not parted by conflict of opinion

From this reading “Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.”

All words in this reading · 119

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

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 THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

acceptancenounUS /ækˈseptəns/

the mental attitude that something is believable and should be accepted as true

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

Allison

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

Allison's

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

AlmostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

Barbara

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

Burrell

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

commentsnounUS /ˈkɑːments/

plural of “comment” — a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/

placed crosswise

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

DexteradjectiveUS /ˈdekstər/

on or starting from the wearer's right

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/

having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

edgenounUS /edʒ/

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

Elliott's

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

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

else

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

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

embankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/

a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

engrossingadjectiveUS /ɪnˈɡroʊsɪŋ/

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

exclusionnounUS /ɪkˈskluːʒən/

the state of being excluded

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

explanationnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/

a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

facetiousadjectiveUS /fəˈsiːʃəs/

cleverly amusing in tone

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

farthestadverbUS /ˈfɑːrðəst/

to the greatest distance in space or time (“farthest” is used more often than “furthest” in this physical sense)

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

figurenounUS /ˈfɪɡjər/

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

followedverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊd/

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

glancingverbUS /ˈɡlænsɪŋ/

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

grewverbUS /ɡruː/

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

groundnounUS /ɡraʊnd/

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

instantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

joltingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊltɪŋ/

causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

McLean

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

Miriam

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

Miriam's

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

monopolynounUS /məˈnɑːpəli/

(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

O'Mara

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

operationsnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃənz/

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

patientnounUS /ˈpeɪʃənt/

a person who requires medical care

From this reading But Allison's acceptance of that arrangement as time passed grew less patient.

perfunctoryadjectiveUS /pərˈfʌŋktəri/

hasty and without attention to detail; not thorough

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/

the property of a continuous and connected period of time

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

rideverbUS /raɪd/

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

singledverbUS /ˈsɪŋɡəld/

past form of “single” — hit a single

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/

not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

spitenounUS /spaɪt/

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

StephennounUS /ˈstiːvən/

English writer (1832-1904)

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

Steve's

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

strollnounUS /stroʊl/

a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading For a time he was content to stroll along with the rest--content with his facetious comments on Elliott's explanation of this matter or that.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/

having come into contact

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

trundledverbUS /ˈtrʌndəld/

past form of “trundle” — move heavily

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

undividedadjectiveUS /ˌʌndəˈvaɪdɪd/

not parted by conflict of opinion

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

white-bearded

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

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

white-hairedadjective

showing characteristics of age, especially having grey or white hair

From this reading Almost as soon as her feet touched the ground Miriam's eager survey singled out a tall figure at the edge of the farthest embankment; and in spite of the fact that he was at the moment in sober conversation with white-haired, white-bearded McLean, she crossed instantly to take possession of both Steve's arms and his undivided attention.

Wickersham's

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

From this reading Barbara, at Wickersham's side, glancing now and then in their direction, knew well what subject was engrossing them to the exclusion of all else.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

WOODS-RAT

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

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading THAT WOODS-RAT Between Dexter Allison's monopoly of his time and the persistence with which Miriam Burrell clung to Stephen O'Mara, Barbara Allison had opportunity for little more than a perfunctory word or two of greeting that afternoon, during the first hour or two that followed a jolting ride on the flat car which trundled them to the head of operations.

Chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You by Larry, -1925 Evans holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You contain?

Chapter 11 holds 207 sentences of Then I'll Come Back to You, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You by Larry, -1925 Evans exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 11 of Then I'll Come Back to You?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Then I'll Come Back to You

Common questions about reading Then I'll Come Back to You by Larry, -1925 Evans on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Then I'll Come Back to You?

Yes. All 6395 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18894 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Then I'll Come Back to You is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18894, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Then I'll Come Back to You take to read?

About 532 minutes of reading across 1279 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Then I'll Come Back to You section by section

How to work through Then I'll Come Back to You section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Then I'll Come Back to You to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Then I'll Come Back to You

Words and structures a reader meets early in Then I'll Come Back to You, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Caleb
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Then I'll Come Back to You; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hunter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Then I'll Come Back to You; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Never
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Then I'll Come Back to You; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Married
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Then I'll Come Back to You; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.