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At the Villa Rose
At the Villa Rose

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of At the Villa Rose is here in full — 363 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for At the Villa Rose
Context Illustration Reading 1/72 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.
On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.
Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.
"Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.
"Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

At the Villa Rose

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of At the Villa Rose is here in full — 363 sentences across 73 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/72 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.
Line 2
On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.
Line 3
Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.
Line 4
"Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.
Line 5
"Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.
/ʌp ðə hɪl tuː ðə hoʊˈtel məˈdʒestɪk sed rɪˈkɑːrdoʊ/

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.

des noun US /des/

a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry

From this reading “Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.”

Majestic adjective US /məˈdʒestɪk/

majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters

From this reading “"Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.”

Monday noun US /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading “It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.”

o'clock adverb US /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading “Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.”

playing noun US /ˈpleɪɪŋ/

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading “Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.”

Ricardo noun US /rɪˈkɑːrdoʊ/

English economist who argued that the laws of supply and demand should operate in a free market (1772-1823)

From this reading “It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.”

Tuesday noun US /ˈtuːzdi/

the third day of the week; the second working day

From this reading “On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.”

Villa noun US /ˈvɪlə/

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading “Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.”

All words in this reading · 50

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 It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

Celia

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

desnounUS /des/

a potent estrogen used in medicine and in feed for livestock and poultry

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

Fleurs

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

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

HarryverbUS /ˈheri/

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

hillnounUS /hɪl/

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

HotelnounUS /hoʊˈtel/

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

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 Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

MajesticadjectiveUS /məˈdʒestɪk/

majestic in manner or bearing; superior to mundane matters

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

playingnounUS /ˈpleɪɪŋ/

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

RicardonounUS /rɪˈkɑːrdoʊ/

English economist who argued that the laws of supply and demand should operate in a free market (1772-1823)

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

roomsnounUS /ruːmz/

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

TuesdaynounUS /ˈtuːzdi/

the third day of the week; the second working day

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

UpadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading "Up the hill to the Hotel Majestic," said Ricardo.

VillanounUS /ˈvɪlə/

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading Wethermill was not playing that night, and about ten o'clock the two men left the Villa des Fleurs together.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

Wethermill

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

From this reading It was on a Monday evening that Ricardo saw Harry Wethermill and the girl Celia together.

WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On the Tuesday he saw Wethermill in the rooms alone and had some talk with him.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Which way do you go?" asked Wethermill.

Chapter 1 of At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason holds 363 sentences, grouped into 73 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 1 of At the Villa Rose contain?

Chapter 1 holds 363 sentences of At the Villa Rose, unabridged, divided into 73 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 363 sentences, grouped into 73 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 1 of At the Villa Rose?

Work through the 73 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 73 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 At the Villa Rose

Common questions about reading At the Villa Rose by A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley) Mason on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of At the Villa Rose?

Yes. All 5644 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4745 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of At the Villa Rose is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4745, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does At the Villa Rose take to read?

About 470 minutes of reading across 1129 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read At the Villa Rose section by section

How to work through At the Villa Rose section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of At the Villa Rose 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 At the Villa Rose

Words and structures a reader meets early in At the Villa Rose, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Monday
A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Villa Rose; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Evening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Villa Rose; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ricardo
A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Villa Rose; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Harry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Villa Rose; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.