Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Birds of Prey is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Birds of Prey
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE OLDEST INHABITANT.
Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.
As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.
Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.
This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.
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.

Birds of Prey

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of Birds of Prey is here in full — 130 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
THE OLDEST INHABITANT.
/ðə ˈoʊldəst ɪnˈhæbətənt/
Line 2
Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.
Line 3
As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.
Line 4
Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.
/ˌɪnˈsted ʌv ˈraɪtɪŋ maɪ ˈprɪnsəpəl ə ˈfɔːrməl ˈletər aɪ ʃæl send ə ˈkɑːpi ʌv ðə ˈentriz ɪn ðə ˈdaɪəri rɪˈvaɪzd ənd əˈmendɪd/
Line 5
This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.
/ðɪs wɪl ˌɪnˈʃʊr ɪɡˈzæktətuːd ənd ðer ɪz dʒʌst ðə ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː ðæt ðə rəˈkɔːrd meɪ biː ˈjuːsfəl tuː miː hɪˈræftər/

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.

amended adjective US /əˈmendɪd/

of legislation

From this reading “Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.”

diary noun US /ˈdaɪəri/

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading “As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.”

entries noun US /ˈentriz/

plural of “entry” — an item inserted in a written record

From this reading “Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.”

exactitude noun US /ɪɡˈzæktətuːd/

the quality of being exact

From this reading “This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.”

inhabitant noun US /ɪnˈhæbətənt/

a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading “THE OLDEST INHABITANT.”

insure verb US /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/

be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

From this reading “This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.”

revised adjective US /rɪˈvaɪzd/

improved or brought up to date

From this reading “Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.”

Swan verb US /swɑːn/

to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

From this reading “Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.”

All words in this reading · 65

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.

2nd

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

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

amendedadjectiveUS /əˈmendɪd/

of legislation

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

BlackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

copynounUS /ˈkɑːpi/

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

diarynounUS /ˈdaɪəri/

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

entriesnounUS /ˈentriz/

plural of “entry” — an item inserted in a written record

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

exactitudenounUS /ɪɡˈzæktətuːd/

the quality of being exact

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

hereafteradverbUS /hɪˈræftər/

in a subsequent part of this document or statement or matter etc.

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

INHABITANTnounUS /ɪnˈhæbətənt/

a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading THE OLDEST INHABITANT.

InnnounUS /ɪn/

a hotel providing overnight lodging for travelers

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/

plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

InsteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

insureverbUS /ˌɪnˈʃʊr/

be careful or certain to do something; make certain of something

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

jottingnoun

a brief (and hurriedly handwritten) note

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

OctobernounUS /ɑːkˈtoʊbər/

the month following September and preceding November

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

OLDESTadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/

superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading THE OLDEST INHABITANT.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

possibilitynounUS /ˌpɑːsəˈbɪlətiː/

a future prospect or potential

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

postedadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊstɪd/

publicly displayed

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

principalnounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/

the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

recordnounUS /rəˈkɔːrd/

anything (such as a document or a phonograph record or a photograph) providing permanent evidence of or information about past events

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/

plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

revisedadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪzd/

improved or brought up to date

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

sendverbUS /send/

cause to go somewhere

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

Sheldon

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

SwanverbUS /swɑːn/

to declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE OLDEST INHABITANT.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

Ullerton

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

From this reading Black Swan Inn, Ullerton, October 2nd.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

usefuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːsfəl/

being of use or service

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading This will insure exactitude; and there is just the possibility that the record may be useful to me hereafter.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading As the work I am now employed in is quite new to me, and I am to keep Sheldon posted up in this business day by day, I have decided on jotting down the results of my inquiries in a kind of diary.

writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/

the act of creating written works

From this reading Instead of writing my principal a formal letter, I shall send a copy of the entries in the diary, revised and amended.

Chapter 18 of Birds of Prey by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon holds 130 sentences, grouped into 26 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 18 of Birds of Prey contain?

Chapter 18 holds 130 sentences of Birds of Prey, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of Birds of Prey by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 130 sentences, grouped into 26 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 18 of Birds of Prey?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Birds of Prey

Common questions about reading Birds of Prey by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Birds of Prey?

Yes. All 6938 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9362 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Birds of Prey is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #9362, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Birds of Prey take to read?

About 578 minutes of reading across 1388 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Birds of Prey section by section

How to work through Birds of Prey section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Birds of Prey 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 Birds of Prey

Words and structures a reader meets early in Birds of Prey, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Philip
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Birds of Prey; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sheldon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Birds of Prey; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reads
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Birds of Prey; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lancet
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Birds of Prey; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.