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Active Service

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Active Service is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Stephen Crane • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Active Service

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XX Reading 1/26

Active Service

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Active Service is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

Line 2

They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

Line 3

It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

Line 4

Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

Line 5

Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

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.

Stood verb US /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.”

All words in this reading · 57

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.

a

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

an

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

and

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

as

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

at

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

before

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

but

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

Coke

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

culprit

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

end

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

eternity

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

fool

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

girl

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

glower

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

green

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

her

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

if

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

incident

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

incredulity

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

indeed

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

It

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

like

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

looked

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

looking

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

Marjory

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

From this reading Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

masterpiece

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

Mrs

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

nodded

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

From this reading Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

NORA

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

not

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

odd

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

of

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

offensive

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

pair

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

pleasantly

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

From this reading Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

poise

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

practiced

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

professor

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

From this reading Marjory nodded pleasantly; the professor nodded.

recovered

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

rooted

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

spot

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

stage

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

staring

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

surprising

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

the

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

They

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

time

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

to

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

travellers

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

two

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

vacuously

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

villagers

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

From this reading They stood indeed as if rooted to the spot, staring vacuously, like two villagers, at the surprising travellers.

Wainwright's

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

From this reading Mrs. Wainwright's glower of offensive incredulity was a masterpiece.

was

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

were

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

From this reading NORA and Coke were an odd looking pair at the time.

youth

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

From this reading It was not an eternity before the practiced girl of the stage recovered her poise, but to the end of the incident the green youth looked like a culprit and a fool.

Chapter 20 of Active Service by Stephen Crane holds 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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.

What does chapter 20 of Active Service contain?

Chapter 20 holds 133 sentences of Active Service, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Active Service by Stephen Crane exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 133 sentences, grouped into 27 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 20 of Active Service?

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

Each of the 27 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Active Service

Common questions about reading Active Service by Stephen Crane on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Active Service?

Yes. All 5592 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2364 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Active Service is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2364, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Active Service take to read?

About 466 minutes of reading across 1119 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Active Service section by section

How to work through Active Service section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 30 chapters of Active Service to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Active Service

Words and structures a reader meets early in Active Service, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Marjory: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Active Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Walked: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Active Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pensively: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Active Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Along: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Active Service; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.