The Unseen Guest: Chapters 7–8

by Maryrose Wood
In the third book of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place series, governess Miss Penelope Lumley and the wolf-children Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia must go on the hunt for an escaped ostrich. Along the way the children are reunited with their wolf family, and Penelope discovers some of the Ashton family's secrets.

Here are links to our lists for the book:

Chapters 1–2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapters 9–11, Chapters 12–13, Chapter 14–Epilogue
25 words 20 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. bamboozle
    conceal one's true motives from
    Those of you who enjoy shooting laser beams at your friends for sport can bamboozle your opponents by crying out, “Here comes my Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation!” just before you fire.
  2. presently
    at this time or period; now
    Alas, there is presently no word in English that means a word that does not exist, but perhaps the clever among you can invent one.)
  3. tedious
    so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
    “Tedious and uninteresting,” Alexander offered, concealing a smirk.
  4. grub
    food
    “Another hour and we’ll stop for grub. Hup, hup, hup!”
  5. conspiratorial
    relating to or characteristic of a secret plot or agreement
    While they were busy at their task, he approached Penelope, a greedy, conspiratorial look in his eye.
  6. bluster
    vain and empty boasting
    She ached from head to toe; she wanted a hot bath and a bright fire to read by and was in no mood for the admiral’s bluster.
  7. painstakingly
    in a very careful manner
    What if they decided they much preferred the muffled sounds of the forest, the soft, springy moss beneath their feet, the scent of a tasty field mouse on the breeze—the howl of the wild, if you will—to the world of books and poetry and socially useful phrases that Penelope had so painstakingly and lovingly introduced them to?
  8. provisions
    a stock or supply of foods
    The campfire was ablaze, a hearty dinner had been cooked and eaten (fashioned from the provisions they had packed and a few fat squab the children had wordlessly produced, although their proud faces and the tiny feathers stuck to their clothes said as much as needed to be said).
  9. squab
    an unfledged pigeon
    The campfire was ablaze, a hearty dinner had been cooked and eaten (fashioned from the provisions they had packed and a few fat squab the children had wordlessly produced, although their proud faces and the tiny feathers stuck to their clothes said as much as needed to be said).
  10. skittish
    unpredictably excitable, especially of horses
    “Hmm. I’ll need my Always Waterproof Fashion Ostrich Leash. And my Savory Pickled Ostrich Treats; those will help lure her, if she’s feeling skittish.”
  11. ceaseless
    uninterrupted in time and indefinitely long continuing
    The crickets and cicadas make a ceaseless, deafening buzz, coyotes cry mournfully in the distance, songbirds cheep and squawk at the first hint of dawn.
  12. gravely
    in a serious or solemn manner
    “So do ostriches,” Beowulf observed gravely.
  13. guttural
    relating to or articulated in the throat
    He sniffed, and growled, and uttered a few words in the low, guttural language that he and his siblings sometimes used among themselves.
  14. sodden
    wet through and through; thoroughly wet
    Penelope weighed the options: They could stay here, sodden and cold, and wait for the admiral to return.
  15. precipice
    a very steep cliff
    Helpless, Penelope stood like a statue, not daring to take a step lest she tumble off some unseen precipice.
  16. bureau
    furniture with drawers for keeping clothes
    Instead of a carved wooden bureau and a set of French doors leading to a balcony, she saw walls of rough stone.
  17. antiquity
    the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
    (Note that the idea of caves whose walls were covered with paintings created by the primitive peoples of antiquity was a perfectly sound one, although Penelope was somewhat ahead of herself in thinking of it.
  18. cower
    show submission or fear
    Should she run, or fight, or cower helplessly in the hope that the wolf would take pity and leave them alone?
  19. stole
    a wide shawl or scarf worn around the shoulders
    And Cassiopeia, with a look of deepest contentment on her sweet little girl’s face, wrapped ’round the creature’s neck like a fox fur stole.
  20. tremulous
    quivering as from weakness or fear
    “Ahwooooo?” she said, in a tremulous voice.
  21. prudent
    marked by sound judgment
    While the children enjoyed this strange but happy reunion with Mama Woof, Penelope fetched the picnic hamper and offered more sandwiches all around, for it seemed prudent to make sure their guest was not hungry.
  22. congenial
    friendly and pleasant
    The congenial thumping of the wolf’s tail against the stone floor echoed in hidden caverns far below.
  23. conundrum
    a difficult problem
    It was a conundrum, to be sure, but a good night’s sleep and a tasty breakfast had restored Penelope’s supply of pluck, and she felt more than ready for the challenge.
  24. reprovingly
    in a disapproving, disappointing, or critical manner
    The girl tapped the wolf reprovingly on the nose.
  25. assent
    agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
    The wolf sniffed the plume again and gave a short, low bark of assent.
Created on Fri Nov 22 08:55:23 EST 2024 (updated Mon Jan 27 19:57:33 EST 2025)

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