Confidence is only a beginning
Read for meaning first. Select a highlighted word if you want a closer look.
A collector visited a small archive to assert that an unsigned drawing was the work of a well-known local illustrator. His confidence interested the archivist, but she wanted a credible basis for the attribution before changing the catalog. A date penciled on the back was useful; a story about an unnamed previous owner was more dubious. She recorded both pieces of information while explaining that the collection's description would remain open to revision.
The collector could assert his view firmly without having enough evidence to settle the matter. To find a credible connection, the archivist compared the drawing with signed examples and searched the donation records for a traceable owner. One apparently helpful recollection became dubious when the dates did not agree. The archivist described that inconsistency without accusing the collector of dishonesty, since a mistaken memory could also explain the problem.
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.