Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A sham princess
A sham princess

Chapter V

Cover illustration for A sham princess
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.
To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.
It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.
Week after week passed on.
Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.
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 sham princess

Chapter V

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.
Line 2
To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.
Line 3
It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.
Line 4
Week after week passed on.
Line 5
Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

Learner Dictionary

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

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “Week after week passed on.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.”

Life noun US /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.”

Passed noun US /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Week after week passed on.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.”

Till preposition US /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading “The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.”

Well noun US /well/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.”

Within preposition US /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading “To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Week after week passed on.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

air

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

atmosphere

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

became

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

BERT

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

brother

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

close

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

constant

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

country

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

enjoying

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

fervid

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

fresher

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

got

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

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

grew

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

handling

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

heart

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

heat

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

jacket

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

keep

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

knew

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

letter

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

lifenounUS /life/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

lived

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

Lodger

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

more

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

narrow

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

New

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

often

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Week after week passed on.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

paper

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

passednounUS /passed/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Week after week passed on.

pinned

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

Prin

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

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

Princess's

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

ragged

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

read

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

remembrance

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

safely

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

second

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

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

sent

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

soiled

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

Spring

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

street

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

summer

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

sun's

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

sweeter

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

tainted

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

token

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

treasured

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

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

Week

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

From this reading Week after week passed on.

well

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

From this reading It was well he treasured it, for he got no second letter from Prin.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

wholesome

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

From this reading Spring grew into summer, and the sun's heat was fervid, and the air close and tainted in the narrow street in which Bert lived; but Prin, enjoying the fresher, sweeter atmosphere, and more wholesome life of the country, sent no token of remembrance to her brother.

withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading To keep it safely, he pinned it within his ragged jacket; but it was often in his hands, till from constant handling the paper became soiled and ragged.

words

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

From this reading The New Lodger BERT read the Princess's letter over and over again, till he knew the words by heart.