"A String in the Harp" by Nancy Bond, Chapters 14–19

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. tankard
    a large drinking vessel with one handle
    Hanging from the beam above the bar was a collection of pewter tankards of different shapes and designs, dull with age, battered and scratched with use.
  2. disconcerted
    having self-possession upset; thrown into confusion
    Next day at tea, Gwilym reported on his morning with the Nature Conservancy Officer. Mr. Lord had been clearly disconcerted to find the local men really had hunted and killed a wolf in the hills above Talybont.
  3. hillock
    a small natural mound
    On the far side of the farm they found the path, a neglected green track. It crossed a bare field and rejoined the Leri in a plantation of larch and fir. On their left, before they reached the trees, they passed a steep symmetrical hillock.
  4. deign
    do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
    “I shall be so full I won’t want to move in a minute,” Peter announced, falling backward, his hands behind his head.
    “This will be Bedd Peter,” declared Becky with a giggle. “Twentieth century and not very important.”
    Peter didn’t deign to answer.
  5. furtively
    in a secretive manner
    He glanced furtively at his jacket, hung over the back of a hall chair. He could just grab it and . . .
    But Mrs. Rhys was back.
  6. foreboding
    a feeling of evil to come
    Peter spent an uncomfortable night. The pills Dr. Pugh prescribed did help clear his head and he could breathe more easily, but he was hot and restless. He was oppressed by an unexplained foreboding. Something was about to happen that he wouldn’t like at all, and he could not go to sleep no matter how hard he tried.
  7. roil
    be agitated
    As the third day broke, the wind rose and the sea roiled in fury.
  8. convalesce
    get over an illness or shock
    Peter’s cold settled in to run a normal, irritating course. He was quite content to spend a week quietly convalescing at Bryn Celyn.
  9. canny
    showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
    The three border collies were canny sheepdogs, even though they’d lost their own flock.
  10. whelp
    birth
    There was a man in Ponterwyd Dai was particularly anxious to see called Howell Pritchard, who raised some of the finest rabbit dogs in the county. His best bitch had just whelped, and Dai’s heart was set on owning one of her pups.
  11. amiably
    in a friendly manner
    Gwilym and Rhian were arguing amiably about the best way up the mountain, which they referred to as a hill.
  12. clout
    special advantage or influence
    "...He has a lot of clout, you understand. Dr. Owen knows all the right people, he’s got authority, and I’m going to look pretty foolish if it turns out he’s right. But that’s not important...."
  13. tawny
    having the color of tanned leather
    The silence was complete when he switched off the motor; then somewhere off to the left a tawny owl called—a long tremulous, “oo-oo-oo-oo.”
  14. wry
    humorously sarcastic or mocking
    “If we can convince him he wasn’t wrong to come here in the first place, we’d have a better chance.”
    Peter pulled a wry face. “I suppose that’s my job—I was wrong and he was right.”
  15. composedly
    in a self-collected or self-possessed manner
    “Good of you to interrupt your afternoon for me,” said Dr. Owen, continuing to stand. “You must have a great many things to do after school.”
    “No, sir. That is, I don’t mind coming.” Peter returned the man’s gaze composedly.
Created on Tue Feb 17 20:54:05 EST 2026 (updated Fri Feb 20 21:31:24 EST 2026)

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