VOCABULARY--Chapters 1-5

Chapter 1: Miss Slighcarp arrives a day early and does not make a very good impression on Bonnie.

dusk- twilight

pleated hills- folded hills

icicles

wrapped in sacking- srapped in canvas or burlap, or some other heavy fabric

herringbone brick- fish bone pattern with bricks

battlements-

crenelated balconies-

cornice- trim at the roofline

somber- serious, drab

inevitable reply-

obstinate-stubborn

presently-shortly or soon after

porters-

stationmasters-

muskets- old-fashioned gun

fowling pieces- small guns for shooting gamebirds

commotion-disturbance

impetuosity- sudden willfulness

swathed- wrapped

twill- a kind of tightly woven fabric

hoydenish creature

fourth cousin, once removed-

haughtily- extremely proudly, arrogantly, pompously

stammered-

curtsy- a formal gesture involving a bow

flustered- visibly nervous

formality- a formal gesture

deportment- manners, behavior

smirking and dawdling-

blockhead- oaf

commodious set of rooms- large and comfortable rooms (roomy)

acknowledged- recognized

inclination of the head- tilted the head

savage blow- fierce hit

meddle- interfere

hurling- throwing

relished the task- enjoyed the job

an angry red weal- a red scar or mark

wrestle- struggle

merino- a kind of fine wool

indignation- being offended

salutations- greetings

estates- lands and properties

unprovoked- for no obvious reason

assault- attack

"Girls will be girls..."- the expression is usually "Boys will be boys..."

heartfelt- sincere

indulgence-

reckless- careless

apprehend- understand


Chapter 2: Sylvia prepares for her journey from London to Willoughby Chase, says goodbye to Aunt Jane, and makes the acquaintance of Josiah Grimshaw on the train.

carried off by a fever- killed by a serious illness

harum-scarum

come into my money- actually inherit my money (usually at a specified age)

deplorably shabby- extremely run down, worn

injunctions- rules against

hackney carriage- small taxi carriage

felt a pang- felt a twinge

Dr. Johnson's Dictionary- a thick classic that most home libraries would have had

extracting- removing

tiffin-

inexpressible

concealment- hiding

drowsy- sleepy

uneasy slumber- nervous sleep

contradiction of his words-

red, slavering jaws-

huddled-

onslaught- attack

precipitated itself- threw itself or fell

aperture- opening

that's capital- that's a good thing

shift- move (Here it is being used as an old expression. "We should shift.")

reluctant- hesitant

force of his proposal- point of his suggestion

unbounded relief--

recommence

disapproving-

scrutinizing- studying

wince- gasp (or start) with pain

recollection

Chapter Three: Sylvia tells Mr. Grimshaw about her uncle, and when Mr. Grimshaw has an accident, he ends up being taken by Bonnie and Sylvia to Willoughby Chase.

Chapter Four: Sir Willoughby and Lady Green leave for their ship. The girls take a walk in the snow and are assisted by Simon, the boy who lives in a cave and tends geese.






Chapter Five:


how they fared on their journey- how they did on their journey

unaccustomed- unusual, out of the ordinary

bustle- part of a dress, Victorian fashion

drives his geese-

gets on famously- gets along with very well

beguiled the time- made the time pass quickly

cunningly- cleverly

tantalizing glimpse- an interesting view

retorted

once she has reflected

batter down the door- bang down the door

in vain- uselessly, to no avail

assented- agreed

blunderbuss-

that wicked Jezebel-

javelin-

anteroom-

dismissing the servants- firing the servants

leer- rude look or stare

gaudy- showy

suitable occupations- appropriate pasttimes

to make hay while the sun shines- to profit while there is an opportunity

pilfering- stealing

knavish- loutish

harpy- mythological reference to a flying beast, but refers to a very mean woman

as soon as the cat's out of the way- refers to the expression, "When the cat's away, the mice will play."

trifle- a rich, English dessert made of layers of cake and cream

pudding plates- dessert plates (in England)

disheartened- discouraged

mantel

vexatious- annoying

bellows- fans for fires

compressed lips-

to make inquiries about- to ask about

to interfere with- to meddle with, to get involved in someone else's affair

unworldly- inexperienced

ample warning- lots of warning

embarked for the colonies- boarded a ship for America

insolent- rude

gaunt- very thin

bony- very thin

how very provoking- how very annoying

I have a good mind to... - I would really like to...