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A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)
A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) is here in full — 162 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SECRET OF THE SEA.
Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.
In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.
Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.
Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) is here in full — 162 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SECRET OF THE SEA.
/ə ˈsiː.krət ʌv ðə siː/
Line 2
Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.
Line 3
In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.
Line 4
Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.
Line 5
Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

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.

Alley noun US /ˈæli/

a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ambrose noun US /ˈæmbroʊz/

(Roman Catholic Church) Roman priest who became bishop of Milan

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Murray noun US /ˈmɜːri/

British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
progressing verb US /prəˈɡresɪŋ/

-ing form of “progress” — develop in a positive way

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
proposed verb US /prəˈpoʊzd/

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading “Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satisfy verb US /ˈsætəsfaɪ/

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Spur noun US /spɜːr/

a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Van noun US /væn/

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading “In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.”

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.

few days adjective + noun

In this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

43,567 times in 426,211 chapters
brief notes adjective + noun counted as “brief note”

In this reading “In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.”

674 times in 426,211 chapters
at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.”

257,448 times in 426,211 chapters
in order preposition + noun

in a state of proper readiness or preparation or arrangement

In this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

95,690 times in 426,211 chapters
in the habit preposition + article + noun counted as “in … habit”

In this reading “Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.”

10,567 times in 426,211 chapters
for a couple preposition + article + noun counted as “for … couple”

In this reading “In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.”

4,761 times in 426,211 chapters
left home noun + noun

In this reading “In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.”

2,818 times in 426,211 chapters
at six preposition + noun

In this reading “Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.”

6,384 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 76

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 A SECRET OF THE SEA.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AlleynounUS /ˈæli/

a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AmbrosenounUS /ˈæmbroʊz/

(Roman Catholic Church) Roman priest who became bishop of Milan

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
assented

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

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

Pending verification
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Bellamy's

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Pending verification
briefadjectiveUS /briːf/

of short duration or distance

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Byrne

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Pending verification
cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couplenounUS /ˈkʌpəl/

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Duren

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

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Pending verification
Duren's

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

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

Pending verification
eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Gerald

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Pending verification
habitnounUS /ˈhæbət/

an established custom

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

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

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
how

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
latteradjectiveUS /ˈlætər/

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mentionedverbUS /ˈmenʃənd/

past form of “mention” — make reference to

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MurraynounUS /ˈmɜːri/

British classical scholar (born in Australia) who advocated the League of Nations and the United Nations (1866-1957)

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A SECRET OF THE SEA.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
progressingverbUS /prəˈɡresɪŋ/

-ing form of “progress” — develop in a positive way

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satisfyverbUS /ˈsætəsfaɪ/

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SEAnounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading A SECRET OF THE SEA.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SECRETnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading A SECRET OF THE SEA.

Velmora curated lexicon
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SpurnounUS /spɜːr/

a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A SECRET OF THE SEA.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading Gerald assented, and at six o'clock that evening they found themselves at Van Duren's door.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
VannounUS /væn/

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading In one of his brief notes he mentioned that Van Duren had left home on business for a couple of days.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Warburton

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Gerald Warburton happened to be at Miss Bellamy's when this note came to hand, and Murray at once proposed that he and Gerald should visit Byrne and his daughter in Spur Alley, while Van Duren was out of town.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/

the act of creating written works

From this reading Mr. Byrne had been in the habit of writing a line to Ambrose Murray every few days, in order to satisfy the latter as to how matters were progressing at the house in Spur Alley.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight holds 162 sentences, grouped into 33 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 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) contain?

Chapter 6 holds 162 sentences of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3), unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 162 sentences, grouped into 33 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 6 of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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 Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)

Common questions about reading A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)?

Yes. All 2584 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #57814 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #57814, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) take to read?

About 215 minutes of reading across 517 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) section by section

How to work through A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 12 chapters of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3) 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 Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3)

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Miriam
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Byrne
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nearly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eighth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Secret of the Sea: A Novel. Vol. 2 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.