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Two on a Tower
Two on a Tower

Chapter XXI

Cover illustration for Two on a Tower
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.
'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'
Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.
'O Swithin, what do you say?
Found the coral bracelet?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Two on a Tower

Chapter XXI

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.
Line 2
'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'
Line 3
Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.
Line 4
'O Swithin, what do you say?
Line 5
Found the coral bracelet?

Learner Dictionary

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

Added noun US /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'”

Between preposition US /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading “They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.”

Brought noun US /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading “Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.”

Short adjective US /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading “They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.”

Substance noun US /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading “They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.”

Understand noun US /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'”

All words in this reading · 66

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 They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

accusation

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

addednounUS /added/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

bed

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

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

bed-curtains

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

Bishop

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

Bishop's

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

bracelet

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

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

brother

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

broughtnounUS /ˈbrought/

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

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

cabin

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

cannot

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

churchyard

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

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

coral

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

From this reading Found the coral bracelet?

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

discover

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'O Swithin, what do you say?

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

embraced

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

explained

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

few

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

haste

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

heard

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

how

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

interview

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

knowing

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

man

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

O

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

From this reading 'O Swithin, what do you say?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

other

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

panting

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

person

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

say

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

From this reading 'O Swithin, what do you say?

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/

brief or direct in expression

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

spot

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

substancenounUS /ˈsʌbstəns/

wealth or financial means

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

Swithin

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

From this reading Swithin explained that the Bishop had found the bracelet on the bed, and had brought it to him in the churchyard.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

then

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

understandnounUS /understand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading 'And what I cannot understand is this,' she added; 'how did the Bishop discover that the person behind the bed-curtains was a woman and not a man?'

witnessed

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

woman

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

words

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

From this reading They embraced each other in haste, and then, in a few short panting words, she explained to him that her brother had heard and witnessed the interview on that spot between himself and the Bishop, and had told her the substance of the Bishop's accusation, not knowing she was the woman in the cabin.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'O Swithin, what do you say?