A String in the Harp: Chapters 5–9

by Nancy Bond
The Morgan family reunites in Wales for Christmas while still mourning the mother's sudden death a year ago. Inclement weather, uncomfortable accommodations, and strained relationships threaten the family's holiday, until the Morgans must work together to protect a valuable artifact — a harp key with unique properties.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–9, Chapters 10–13, Chapters 14–19
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. mottled
    having spots or patches of color
    Beyond the River Dovey the hills reappeared, mottled with sun patches and distance, looking like a painted backdrop.
  2. broach
    bring up a topic for discussion
    As it was, Becky was the first to worry. She kept well out of his arguments with David and Jen, so it was she who first concluded that there might be more to Peter’s odd behavior than just being difficult. She broached it to Jen when they were alone, doing their last-minute shopping in Borth.
  3. shrewdly
    in a wise or thoughtful manner
    His small eyes gleamed shrewdly under a tangle of hair and great black eyebrows.
  4. irreconcilable
    impossible to bring into accord
    She had never before seen her father and her brother so totally opposed, so irreconcilable.
  5. tentatively
    in a hesitant manner
    “Maybe it’s just harder for Peter,” suggested Jen tentatively.
  6. burnished
    made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing
    After all, how long ago was hundreds of years? Gwilym had said sixth century, but that would have been 500. Imagination couldn’t stretch that far, and yet vast pieces of time lay all around: in the sand underfoot, the shaping of the sea, the burnished hills, the Bog.
  7. restless
    lacking physical or mental ease
    After lunch and a period of contented collapse, Peter grew restless; he felt the need to be out in the blustery afternoon and walking again.
  8. blustery
    blowing in violent and abrupt bursts
    After lunch and a period of contented collapse, Peter grew restless; he felt the need to be out in the blustery afternoon and walking again.
  9. momentum
    an impelling force or strength
    When Mrs. Rhys left the room, the silence was overwhelming. It wasn’t that she spoke fast, but she seemed to build up great momentum as she went.
  10. lilt
    a jaunty rhythm in music or speech
    Her voice had a lilt to it that was not Welsh.
  11. rivet
    direct one's attention on something
    Jen, sitting beside Peter, heard her brother catch his breath sharply. His gaze was riveted on Howell Roberts’s hands.
  12. chagrin
    a feeling of annoyance or distress due to disappointment or failure
    To Gwilym’s chagrin, Becky was the first to spot the dipper. She poked him hard in the ribs and pointed to the neat dark bird with its white bib, bobbing up and down on a rock across the stream.
  13. inscrutable
    difficult or impossible to understand
    His face was inscrutable in the half-light.
  14. sullenly
    in a manner showing a brooding ill humor
    "...After this, Peter, you will not go anywhere outside this house without telling me first. Not Jen, or Becky, but me. Do you understand?”
    Peter nodded sullenly.
  15. unabated
    continuing at full strength or intensity
    All night the wind continued to scream unabated.
Created on Tue Feb 17 20:25:14 EST 2026 (updated Tue Jun 30 14:06:06 EDT 2026)

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