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A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life
A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life is here in full — 139 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Elsie Janis • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.
"She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.
When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.
That's all.
That's why I telephoned you to come right over."
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 Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life is here in full — 139 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.
Line 2
"She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.
Line 3
When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.
Line 4
That's all.
Line 5
That's why I telephoned you to come right over."

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.

commences verb US /kəˈmensəz/

third-person singular of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headstrong adjective US /ˈhedstrɔːŋ/

habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

From this reading “"She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recital noun US /rəˈsaɪtəl/

the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events

From this reading “LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sends verb US /sendz/

third-person singular of “send” — cause to go somewhere

From this reading “When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shortcomings noun US /ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋz/

plural of “shortcoming” — a failing or deficiency

From this reading “LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
telephoned verb US /ˈteləfoʊnd/

past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading “That's why I telephoned you to come right over."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
unreliable adjective US /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/

liable to be erroneous or misleading

From this reading “"She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ward's noun US /wɔːrdz/

possessive form of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading “LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.”

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.

chorus girl noun + noun

a woman who dances in a chorus line

In this reading “When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.”

415 times in 225,867 chapters
own daughter verb + noun

In this reading “"She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.”

2,215 times in 225,867 chapters
listened with verb + particle counted as “listen with”

In this reading “LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.”

10,353 times in 225,867 chapters
stay in verb + particle

In this reading “When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.”

18,803 times in 225,867 chapters
come right verb + particle

In this reading “That's why I telephoned you to come right over."”

6,365 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 72

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 LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
adventureverbUS /ædˈventʃər/

take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
airnounUS /er/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading That's all.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AMBITIONnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/

a cherished desire

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/

pleasantly occupied

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AuntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
billsnounUS /bɪlz/

plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
can't

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Pending verification
chorusnounUS /ˈkɔːrəs/

any utterance produced simultaneously by a group

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Clayton

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Pending verification
comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading That's why I telephoned you to come right over."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commencesverbUS /kəˈmensəz/

third-person singular of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
concludedadjectiveUS /kənˈkluːdəd/

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
diamondsnounUS /ˈdaɪməndz/

plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
headstrongadjectiveUS /ˈhedstrɔːŋ/

habitually disposed to disobedience and opposition

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hundred-dollar

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

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Jane

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Pending verification
knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
latestadjectiveUS /ˈleɪtəst/

up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
listenedverbUS /ˈlɪsənd/

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
LOVEnounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Martha's

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Pending verification
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading That's why I telephoned you to come right over."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
receiveverbUS /rəˈsiːv/

get something; come into possession of

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recitalnounUS /rəˈsaɪtəl/

the act of giving an account describing incidents or a course of events

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading That's why I telephoned you to come right over."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sendsverbUS /sendz/

third-person singular of “send” — cause to go somewhere

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seriouslyadverbUS /ˈsɪriəsli/

in a serious manner

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
She's

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

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Pending verification
shortcomingsnounUS /ˈʃɔːrtkʌmɪŋz/

plural of “shortcoming” — a failing or deficiency

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stayverbUS /steɪ/

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
telephonedverbUS /ˈteləfoʊnd/

past form of “telephone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading That's why I telephoned you to come right over."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
That's

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

From this reading That's all.

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unreliableadjectiveUS /ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbəl/

liable to be erroneous or misleading

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ward'snounUS /wɔːrdz/

possessive form of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading When a chorus girl commences to receive hundred-dollar bills and diamonds, she can't stay in my house until I know who sends them, and why.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading LOVE AND AMBITION "And I can't do a thing with her," concluded Aunt Jane, in her recital of Martha's shortcomings, while Clayton listened with an amused air at the story of his ward's latest adventure.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "She's headstrong and unreliable, and though I love her as I would my own daughter, I think it is time for you to talk to her seriously.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life by Elsie Janis holds 139 sentences, grouped into 28 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life contain?

Chapter 9 holds 139 sentences of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life by Elsie Janis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 139 sentences, grouped into 28 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 9 of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life?

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

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

Can chapter 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life

Common questions about reading A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life by Elsie Janis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life?

Yes. All 2140 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33785 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33785, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life take to read?

About 178 minutes of reading across 428 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life section by section

How to work through A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life 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 Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Zinsheimer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stick
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Southern
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Indiana
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Star for a Night: A Story of Stage Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.