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A Bed of Roses
A Bed of Roses

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Walter Lionel George • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Bed of Roses
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Bed of Roses

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.
/ðə ˈrʌsɪt ʌv ɑːkˈtoʊbər hæd tɜːrnd ˈɪntuː ðə bliːk ˈdɑːrknəs ʌv dɪˈsembər/
Line 2
The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.
/ðə θret ʌv ˈwɪntər wɑːz ɪn ðə er ɪt hɪst ənd ˈsɪzəld ɪn ðə ber ˈbræntʃəz æz ðeɪ bent ɪn ðə koʊld waɪnd ˈʃeɪkɪŋ ˈkwɪvərɪŋ drɑːps ʌv ˈwɔːtər ˈbrɔːdkæst æz ɪf ˈsoʊɪŋ ðə siːdz ʌv peɪn/
Line 3
Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.
/vɪkˈtɔːriə stɑːpt fɔːr ə ˈmoʊmənt ɑːn ðə ˈθreʃoʊld ʌv ðə haʊs ɪn stɑːr striːt lʊkt ʌp ənd daʊn ðə roʊd/
Line 4
It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.
Line 5
Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

broadcast verb US /ˈbrɔːdkæst/

broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television

From this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cabbage noun US /ˈkæbədʒ/

any of various types of cabbage

From this reading “It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peel verb US /piːl/

strip the skin off

From this reading “It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
russet noun US /ˈrʌsɪt/

a reddish brown homespun fabric

From this reading “THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sizzled verb US /ˈsɪzəld/

past form of “sizzle” — make a sound like frying fat

From this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sodden adjective US /ˈsɑːdən/

wet through and through; thoroughly wet

From this reading “It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sowing verb US /ˈsoʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “sow” — place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth

From this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stalks noun US /stɔːks/

plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading “It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

sowing the seeds verb + article + noun counted as “sow … seed”

In this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

482 times in 426,211 chapters
bare branches adjective + noun counted as “bare branch”

In this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

388 times in 426,211 chapters
on the threshold preposition + article + noun counted as “on … threshold”

In this reading “Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.”

7,105 times in 426,211 chapters
cold wind adjective + noun

In this reading “The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.”

1,854 times in 426,211 chapters
for a moment preposition + article + noun counted as “for … moment”

temporarily

In this reading “Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.”

130,343 times in 426,211 chapters
looked up verb + adjective counted as “look up”

seek information from

In this reading “Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.”

73,493 times in 426,211 chapters
on a level preposition + article + noun counted as “on … level”

In this reading “Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.”

4,747 times in 426,211 chapters
looked across verb + particle counted as “look across”

be oriented in a certain direction

In this reading “Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.”

3,946 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 81

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
avariciousadjective

immoderately desirous of acquiring e.g. wealth

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bareadjectiveUS /ber/

completely unclothed

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bentnounUS /bent/

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bleakadjectiveUS /bliːk/

offering little or no hope

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
branchesnounUS /ˈbræntʃəz/

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
broadcastverbUS /ˈbrɔːdkæst/

broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cabbagenounUS /ˈkæbədʒ/

any of various types of cabbage

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coldadjectiveUS /koʊld/

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
collectingnounUS /kəˈlektɪŋ/

the act of gathering something together

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cross-leggedadverb

with the legs crossed

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DecembernounUS /dɪˈsembər/

the last (12th) month of the year

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dropsnounUS /drɑːps/

plural of “drop” — a shape that is spherical and small

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fleckedadjective

having a pattern of dots

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/

reflecting light

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greasyadjectiveUS /ˈɡriːsi/

containing an unusual amount of grease or oil

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hissedverbUS /hɪst/

past form of “hiss” — make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
levelnounUS /ˈlevəl/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
orangenounUS /ˈɔːrəndʒ/

round yellow to orange fruit of any of several citrus trees

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
painnounUS /peɪn/

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
painfullyadverbUS /ˈpeɪnfəli/

unpleasantly

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pavementnounUS /ˈpeɪvmənt/

the paved surface of a thoroughfare

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peelverbUS /piːl/

strip the skin off

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
quiveringnounUS /ˈkwɪvərɪŋ/

a shaky motion

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
russetnounUS /ˈrʌsɪt/

a reddish brown homespun fabric

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seedsnounUS /siːdz/

plural of “seed” — a small hard fruit

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shakingnounUS /ˈʃeɪkɪŋ/

the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sizzledverbUS /ˈsɪzəld/

past form of “sizzle” — make a sound like frying fat

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/

wet through and through; thoroughly wet

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sowingverbUS /ˈsoʊɪŋ/

-ing form of “sow” — place (seeds) in or on the ground for future growth

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stalksnounUS /stɔːks/

plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StarnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StreetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SundaynounUS /ˈsʌndeɪ/

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tailorverbUS /ˈteɪlər/

adjust to a specific need or market

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
threatnounUS /θret/

something that is a source of danger

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading THE russet of October had turned into the bleak darkness of December.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VictorianounUS /vɪkˈtɔːriə/

queen of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India from 1837 to 1901; the last Hanoverian ruler of England (1819-1901)

From this reading Victoria stopped for a moment on the threshold of the house in Star Street, looked up and down the road.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wearyverbUS /ˈwɪri/

exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wetadjectiveUS /wet/

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Then she looked across at the small shop where, though it was Sunday, a tailor sat cross-legged almost on a level with the street, painfully collecting with weary eyes the avaricious light.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading The threat of winter was in the air; it hissed and sizzled in the bare branches as they bent in the cold wind, shaking quivering drops of water broadcast as if sowing the seeds of pain.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was black and sodden with wet; the pavement was greasy and glistening, flecked with cabbage stalks and orange peel.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses by Walter Lionel George holds 140 sentences, grouped into 28 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses contain?

Chapter 16 holds 140 sentences of A Bed of Roses, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses by Walter Lionel George exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 140 sentences, grouped into 28 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 16 of A Bed of Roses?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Bed of Roses

Common questions about reading A Bed of Roses by Walter Lionel George on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Bed of Roses?

Yes. All 9140 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33538 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Bed of Roses is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33538, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Bed of Roses take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1828 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Bed of Roses section by section

How to work through A Bed of Roses section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of A Bed of Roses to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in A Bed of Roses

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Bed of Roses, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lascar
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bed of Roses; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Meditatively
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bed of Roses; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pressed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bed of Roses; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brown
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Bed of Roses; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.