Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Beyond the City
Beyond the City

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Beyond the City is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Beyond the City
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.
He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.
He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.
"My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.
Try a pinch.
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.

Beyond the City

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Beyond the City is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.
Line 2
He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.
Line 3
He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.
Line 4
"My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.
Line 5
Try a pinch.

All words in this reading · 75

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 Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

addicted

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

adorned

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

always

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

amiable

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

and

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

any

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

aquiline

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

as

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

at

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

behind

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

bows

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

carry

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

classics

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

conversation

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

dear

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

deep-lined

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

descending

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

dwelt

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

face

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

firm

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

friend

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

from

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

had

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

half-cock

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

He

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

high-buckled

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

highly

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

himself

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

his

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

in

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

indeed

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

into

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

is

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

just

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

listened

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

little

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

low

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

man

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

McAdam

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

mine

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

Mrs

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

My

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

neatest

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

of

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

offices

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

one

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

or

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

pinch

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

From this reading Try a pinch.

polished

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

recovering

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

said

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

scraps

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

seemed

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

Sir

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

snuff

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

snuggest

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

Squire

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

stock

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

story

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

table

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

the

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

their

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

though

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

to

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

took

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

Try

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

From this reading Try a pinch.

was

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

Westmacott's

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

when

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

From this reading "My dear Sir," said he, when he had listened to their story, "any friend of Mrs. Westmacott's is a friend of mine.

white-haired

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

who

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

From this reading Mr. McAdam, of the firm of McAdam and Squire, was a highly polished man who dwelt behind a highly polished table in the neatest and snuggest of offices.

with

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

From this reading He was white-haired and amiable, with a deep-lined aquiline face, was addicted to low bows, and indeed, always seemed to carry himself at half-cock, as though just descending into one, or just recovering himself.

wore

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

From this reading He wore a high-buckled stock, took snuff, and adorned his conversation with little scraps from the classics.

Chapter 14 of Beyond the City by Arthur Conan Doyle holds 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 14 of Beyond the City contain?

Chapter 14 holds 173 sentences of Beyond the City, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Beyond the City by Arthur Conan Doyle exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 14 of Beyond the City?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Beyond the City

Common questions about reading Beyond the City by Arthur Conan Doyle on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Beyond the City?

Yes. All 2946 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #356 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Beyond the City is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #356, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Beyond the City take to read?

About 245 minutes of reading across 590 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Beyond the City section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Beyond the City 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 Beyond the City

Words and structures a reader meets early in Beyond the City, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Please
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Voice
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Domestic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Somewhere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Beyond the City; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.