Babylon, Volume 3

Chapter XV · The Slough of Despond

Chapter XV of Babylon, Volume 3, “The Slough of Despond,” is here in full — 185 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Grant Allen • Curated US English Learning Edition

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English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

'Back to America, Hiram!'

Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

Narrator

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Chapter XV Reading 1/37

Babylon, Volume 3

Chapter XV · The Slough of Despond

Chapter XV of Babylon, Volume 3, “The Slough of Despond,” is here in full — 185 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

Line 2

'Back to America, Hiram!'

Line 3

Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

Line 4

'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

/waɪ wʌt ɑːn ɜːrθ duː juː wɑːnt tuː duː ðæt fɔːr/

Line 5

Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

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.

bursting verb US /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading “|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'”

dismay noun US /dɪˈsmeɪ/

the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

From this reading “Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.”

fever noun US /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading “|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'”

friend's noun US /frendz/

possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading “|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'”

guessed verb US /ɡest/

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading “Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.”

instinctively adverb US /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/

as a matter of instinct

From this reading “Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.”

moody noun US /ˈmuːdi/

United States tennis player who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s (1905-1998)

From this reading “Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.”

ottoman noun US /ˈɑːtəmən/

a Turk (especially a Turk who is a member of the tribe of Osman I)

From this reading “Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.”

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.

three days noun + noun

In this reading “|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'”

bursting into verb + particle counted as “burst into”

In this reading “|Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'”

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.”

on the ottoman preposition + article + noun counted as “on … ottoman”

In this reading “Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.”

on earth preposition + noun

used with question words to convey surprise

In this reading “'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'”

in dismay preposition + noun

In this reading “Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.”

in the corner preposition + article + noun counted as “in … corner”

In this reading “Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.”

All words in this reading · 48

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 |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

Audouin

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

burstingverbUS /ˈbɜːrstɪŋ/

-ing form of “burst” — come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

dejectionnoun

a state of melancholy depression

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

dismaynounUS /dɪˈsmeɪ/

the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

fevernounUS /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

friend'snounUS /frendz/

possessive form of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

guessedverbUS /ɡest/

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

Hiram

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

I'm

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

I've

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

instinctivelyadverbUS /ˌɪnˈstɪŋktɪvliː/

as a matter of instinct

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

moodynounUS /ˈmuːdi/

United States tennis player who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s (1905-1998)

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

ottomannounUS /ˈɑːtəmən/

a Turk (especially a Turk who is a member of the tribe of Osman I)

From this reading Hiram flung himself back in moody dejection on the ottoman in the corner.

roomsnounUS /ruːmz/

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Audouin cried in dismay, for he guessed the cause instinctively at once.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

WhynounUS /waɪ/

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

From this reading 'Why, what on earth do you want to do that for?'

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading |Mr. Audouin,' Hiram cried, bursting into his friend's rooms in a fever of despair, three days later, 'I've come to tell you I'm going back to America!'

Chapter 15 of Babylon, Volume 3 by Grant Allen holds 185 sentences, grouped into 37 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 15 of Babylon, Volume 3 contain?

Chapter 15 holds 185 sentences of Babylon, Volume 3, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Babylon, Volume 3 by Grant Allen exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 185 sentences, grouped into 37 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.

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Chapter XV · The Slough of Despond

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