Offer useful attention
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
The director tried to pacify the worried assistant by showing him the returned boxes and agreeing on a short check of their contents. Her solicitude appeared in practical attention to the newcomer's concerns as well, including a quiet place to review the opening cues. A few minutes of tranquility followed when the backstage traffic paused and each person knew the next step. Calm did not require everyone to feel delighted; it gave the group room to prepare without the earlier rush and confusion.
An empty assurance would not necessarily pacify someone whose essential props were still missing, so the director connected reassurance with information and action. Her solicitude also involved listening when the narrator asked for a brief break before the audience entered. The resulting tranquility was a condition of relative peace in the room, not a promise that the performance would have no surprises. The group used that interval to check cues together and begin from a more settled position.
Before you move on
Look away from the passage. Can you explain each focus word in your own words?
Original fictional passages for vocabulary practice.