Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

open to or abounding in fresh air

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

prince consort of Queen Victoria of England (1819-1861)

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

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

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

plural of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

plural of “bachelor” — a man who has never been married

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

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

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

past form of “contribute” — bestow a quality on

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

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

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

plural of “creation” — the human act of creating

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

past form of “debate” — argue with one another

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

plural of “essay” — an analytic or interpretive literary composition

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

Austrian general in the service of the Holy Roman Empire during the War of the Spanish Succession (1663-1736)

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

lens for correcting defective vision in one eye; held in place by facial muscles

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

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

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

a boy or man

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

powerful and effective language

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

a long, loose outer garment

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

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

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

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

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

of the same turn of mind

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

of or relating to or characteristic of literature

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

a periodic publication containing pictures and stories and articles of interest to those who purchase it or subscribe to it

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

come together

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

the force of workers available

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

putting the wrong interpretation on

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

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

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

a dramatic or musical entertainment

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

possessive form of “queen” — the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

plural of “reading” — the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

in a regular manner

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

presiding officer of a school

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

plural of “school” — an educational institution

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

characterized by dignity and propriety

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

marked by skill in deception

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

possessive form of “society” — an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

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

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

an old word meaning “to that place”

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

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

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

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

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

the provincial capital and largest city in Ontario (and the largest city in Canada)

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

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

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

literature in metrical form

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

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

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

(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 Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

-ing form of “wend” — direct one's course or way

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

From this reading The Friends--The Knapsacks--The Queen's Wharf--The Northern Railway--Belle Ewart--The _Susan Thomas_, Captain and Crew--Musical Performance--The Sly Dog--Misunderstanding--Kempenfeldt Bay.

at the time that

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

which person or people

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading In various degrees of fluency they debated the questions of the day; they read essays with a wide range of style and topic; they gave readings from popular authors, and contributed airy creations in prose and in verse to the Society's manuscript magazine.

English chemist honored for his research on pollutants in car exhausts (born in 1921)

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading Wilkinson, the older and more sedate of the two, who wore a tightly-buttoned blue frock coat and an eyeglass, was a schoolmaster, pretty well up in the Toronto Public Schools.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Thither, on Wednesday evenings, when respectable church-members were wending their way to weekly service, they hastened regularly, to meet with a band of like-minded young men, and spend a literary hour or two.

somewhat young

From this reading Eugene Coristine and Farquhar Wilkinson were youngish bachelors and fellow members of the Victoria and Albert Literary Society.