A String in the Harp: Chapters 10–13

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. matter-of-fact
    not fanciful or imaginative
    Becky refused to let her leave anything out, but Jen tried to sound as flat and matter-of-fact as she could, adding the explanations that seemed to her to make the best sense.
  2. brusque
    rudely abrupt or blunt in speech or manner
    He was brusque and businesslike, anxious not to keep his customers waiting too long.
  3. erratic
    having no fixed course
    They made very erratic progress along the sidewalk, dodging crowds and peering in shops.
  4. precise
    sharply exact or accurate or delimited
    He spoke in a smooth, precise way, giving various words particular emphasis, which made everything he said sound significant.
  5. emphasis
    intensity or forcefulness of expression
    He spoke in a smooth, precise way, giving various words particular emphasis, which made everything he said sound significant.
  6. inflection
    the patterns of stress and intonation in a language
    He had only the faintest trace of Welsh inflection. “Now then, what can I do for you? Have you been round the Museum?”
  7. apprehensive
    in fear or dread of possible evil or harm
    Jen and Becky exchanged an apprehensive glance.
  8. acutely
    in a sharp or intense manner
    Something about Dr. Owen made them acutely uncomfortable.
  9. precariously
    in a manner affording no ease or reassurance
    These men lived precariously close to the edge of subsistence, sheep were their livelihood, and there was a serious feeling to the crowd—faces were grim.
  10. subsistence
    minimal resources for survival
    These men lived precariously close to the edge of subsistence, sheep were their livelihood, and there was a serious feeling to the crowd —faces were grim.
  11. eaves
    the overhang at the lower edge of a roof
    Today, with the rain dripping off the low, slate eaves and no other sounds but the shuffle of feet in the hay and the quiet mutter of hens talking to themselves, Jen began to regain her sense of balance.
  12. slog
    walk heavily and firmly, as when weary, or through mud
    When they’d been gathered, the three girls slogged out in the rain and found the ewes and lambs huddled against the overhanging hedgerow: the lambs wet and miserable, the ewes patient and long-suffering.
  13. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    Mrs. Evans was making a vast stew that could simmer for hours on the back of the stove until the men got back, tired and hungry. And Gram, whose hands were gnarled with work and arthritis, crocheted endlessly on a blue and gold afghan.
  14. rangy
    tall and thin and having long slender limbs
    One minute the dogs were black-and-white Welsh sheepdogs, the next rangy, lop-eared hounds.
  15. merge
    join or combine
    Peter didn’t even try to sort the present from the past, they were too closely interwoven here, they were merging.
Created on Tue Feb 17 20:40:34 EST 2026 (updated Tue Jun 30 14:14:12 EDT 2026)

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