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Beasts and Super-Beasts
Beasts and Super-Beasts

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Beasts and Super-Beasts
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”
It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.
It’s something rather serious.
Very serious.”
Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; no one could talk seriously during a borshch.
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Beasts and Super-Beasts

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”
Line 2
It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.
Line 3
It’s something rather serious.
Line 4
Very serious.”
Line 5
Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

All words in this reading · 54

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 “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

about

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

and

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

any

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

as

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

at

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

borshch

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

Business

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

can't

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

certainly

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

could

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

dining-room

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

during

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

Egbert

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

exactly

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

explained

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

followed

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

he

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

his

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

immediate

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

into

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

is

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

isn't

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

It

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

It's

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

From this reading “It’s something rather serious.

Lulworth

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

lunch

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

my

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

no

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

not

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

now

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

of

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

on

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

one

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

point

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

possibly

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

rather

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

From this reading “It’s something rather serious.

said

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

serious

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

From this reading “It’s something rather serious.

seriously

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

Sir

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

something

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

From this reading “It’s something rather serious.

speak

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

strong

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

talk

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

the

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

Then

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

threshold

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

time

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

uncle

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

From this reading “It isn’t exactly business,” explained Egbert, as he followed his uncle into the dining-room.

Very

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

From this reading Very serious.”

we

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

From this reading “Then we can’t possibly speak about it now,” said Sir Lulworth; “no one could talk seriously during a borshch.

we're

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

when

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

From this reading “Business is not my strong point at any time,” said Sir Lulworth, “and certainly not when we’re on the immediate threshold of lunch.”

Chapter 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts by Saki holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts contain?

Chapter 8 holds 167 sentences of Beasts and Super-Beasts, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts by Saki exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 8 of Beasts and Super-Beasts?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Beasts and Super-Beasts

Common questions about reading Beasts and Super-Beasts by Saki on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beasts and Super-Beasts?

Yes. All 2917 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #269 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beasts and Super-Beasts is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #269, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beasts and Super-Beasts take to read?

About 243 minutes of reading across 584 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beasts and Super-Beasts section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 18 chapters of Beasts and Super-Beasts 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 Beasts and Super-Beasts

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beasts and Super-Beasts, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Window
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beasts and Super-Beasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Schartz-metterklume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beasts and Super-Beasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Method
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beasts and Super-Beasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Clovis
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beasts and Super-Beasts; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.