Chapter 21 of A Spirit in Prison is here in full — 358 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
Chapter 21 of A Spirit in Prison is here in full — 358 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare. “Please ask him to come up,” he said. “I want to speak to him.” Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look. “Good-day, Gaspare.
Chapter 21 of A Spirit in Prison is here in full — 358 sentences across 72 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/71 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
a former province of northern France near the English Channel (between Picardy and Flanders)
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
to certain extent or degree
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
given to inquiry
From this reading “Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.”
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading “Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.”
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading “When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
a former province of northern France near the English Channel (between Picardy and Flanders)
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Good-day, Gaspare.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I want to speak to him.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
given to inquiry
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
deliver a sharp blow or push
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
past form of “obtain” — come into possession of
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
express in speech
From this reading “I want to speak to him.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Please ask him to come up,” he said.
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “I want to speak to him.”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
at the time that
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
which person or people
From this reading When Artois received Hermione’s letter he asked who had brought it, and obtained from the waiter a fairly accurate description of Gaspare.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Two or three minutes later there was a knock at the door and Gaspare walked in, with a large-eyed inquiring look.
Chapter 21 of A Spirit in Prison by Robert Hichens holds 358 sentences, grouped into 72 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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.
Chapter 21 holds 358 sentences of A Spirit in Prison, unabridged, divided into 72 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 21 of A Spirit in Prison by Robert Hichens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 358 sentences, grouped into 72 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.
Work through the 72 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 72 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.
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.
Common questions about reading A Spirit in Prison by Robert Hichens on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 15677 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2994 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2994, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 3136 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through A Spirit in Prison section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 38 chapters of A Spirit in Prison to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in A Spirit in Prison, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
