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A Nine Days' Wonder
A Nine Days' Wonder

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder by B. M. (Bithia Mary) Croker holds 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder contain?

Chapter 21 holds 132 sentences of A Nine Days' Wonder, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder by B. M. (Bithia Mary) Croker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Nine Days' Wonder

Common questions about reading A Nine Days' Wonder by B. M. (Bithia Mary) Croker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Nine Days' Wonder?

Yes. All 5274 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #65634 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Nine Days' Wonder is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #65634, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Nine Days' Wonder take to read?

About 439 minutes of reading across 1055 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Nine Days' Wonder section by section

How to work through A Nine Days' Wonder section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of A Nine Days' Wonder 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 Nine Days' Wonder

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Nine Days' Wonder, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Grey-haired
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Nine Days' Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Soldier
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Nine Days' Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Professionally
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Nine Days' Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Straight
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Nine Days' Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for A Nine Days' Wonder
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.
“Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”
Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?
What a transformation!
Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.
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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 Nine Days' Wonder

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of A Nine Days' Wonder is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.
Line 2
“Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”
Line 3
Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?
Line 4
What a transformation!
Line 5
Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.”

All words in this reading · 68

Every word is available to listen to. 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 It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

actually

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

back

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

black-and-white

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

boat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

broad

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

check

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

clothes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

come

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

done

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

evening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

ever

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

excitement

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

fact

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

feeling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

girl

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

gown

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

hall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

hotel

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

inquired

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

Joseline

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

ladyship

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

Lord

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

manners

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

Miss

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

Mulgrave

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

nervousness

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

pitiably

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

porter

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

recognised

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

repressed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

said

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

shaking

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

timid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

transformation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading What a transformation!

trepidation

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

uncouth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

Undoubtedly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

unusual

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

Usher

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

Usher's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?

walked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “Miss Usher and her ladyship were in,” said the porter; “in fact, they were in the hall.”

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What a transformation!

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was with a feeling of repressed excitement and unusual trepidation, that Lord Mulgrave, who had come over by the evening boat, walked into the hotel and inquired for Miss Usher.

wonders

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Undoubtedly clothes had done wonders; but her manners were as pitiably timid and uncouth as ever--she was actually shaking with nervousness.

Yes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Yes, he recognised Miss Usher’s black-and-white check gown, and her broad back; the girl with her--could it be Joseline?