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Bleak House
Bleak House

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Bleak House is here in full — 380 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/76 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.
But not to-day is George so occupied.
He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.
As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.
Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.
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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.

Bleak House

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Bleak House is here in full — 380 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/76 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.
Line 2
But not to-day is George so occupied.
Line 3
He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.
Line 4
As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.
Line 5
Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.
/əˈmʌŋ sʌtʃ ˈɑːbdʒekts raɪdz ðə ˈtruːpər ˈlʊkɪŋ əˈbaʊt hɪm ənd ˈɔːlweɪz ˈlʊkɪŋ fɔːr ˈsʌmθɪŋ hiː hæz kʌm tuː faɪnd/

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.

blighted adjective US /ˈblaɪtɪd/

affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity

From this reading “As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.”

bricks noun US /brɪks/

plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading “As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.”

George's noun US /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/

possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

journeying noun US /ˈdʒɜːrniɪŋ/

the act of traveling from one place to another

From this reading “He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.”

pits noun US /pɪts/

plural of “pit” — a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)

From this reading “As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.”

scorching adjective US /ˈskɔːrtʃɪŋ/

hot and dry enough to burn or parch a surface

From this reading “As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.”

trooper noun US /ˈtruːpər/

a soldier in a motorized army unit

From this reading “Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.”

Wold noun US /woʊld/

a tract of open rolling country (especially upland)

From this reading “Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.”

All words in this reading · 90

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 As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

AmongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

attendingnounUS /əˈtendɪŋ/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

becomeverbUS /bɪˈkʌm/

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

blightedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪtɪd/

affected by blight; anything that mars or prevents growth or prosperity

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

bricksnounUS /brɪks/

plural of “brick” — rectangular block of clay baked by the sun or in a kiln; used as a building or paving material

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

bridle-rein

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But not to-day is George so occupied.

Chesney

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

chimneysnounUS /ˈtʃɪmniz/

plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

coalnounUS /koʊl/

fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

fartheradjectiveUS /ˈfɑːrðər/

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

featuresnounUS /ˈfiːtʃərz/

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

firesnounUS /ˈfaɪərz/

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

freshadjectiveUS /freʃ/

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

GallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/

spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/

possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

guidesnounUS /ɡaɪdz/

plural of “guide” — someone employed to conduct others

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

horsenounUS /hɔːrs/

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

IronnounUS /ˈaɪərn/

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

journeyingnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrniɪŋ/

the act of traveling from one place to another

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

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 As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

LeicesternounUS /ˈlestər/

a largely agricultural county in central England

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

never-lightening

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

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading He is journeying to-day into the iron country farther north to look about him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But not to-day is George so occupied.

objectsnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekts/

plural of “object” — a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

occupiedadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkjəpaɪd/

held or filled or in use

From this reading But not to-day is George so occupied.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

pitsnounUS /pɪts/

plural of “pit” — a sizeable hole (usually in the ground)

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

ridesnounUS /raɪdz/

plural of “ride” — a journey in a vehicle (usually an automobile)

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

ridingnounUS /ˈraɪdɪŋ/

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

scenerynounUS /ˈsiːnəri/

the painted structures of a stage set that are intended to suggest a particular locale

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

scorchingadjectiveUS /ˈskɔːrtʃɪŋ/

hot and dry enough to burn or parch a surface

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

ShootingnounUS /ˈʃuːtɪŋ/

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

smokenounUS /smoʊk/

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But not to-day is George so occupied.

soldadjectiveUS /soʊld/

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

SteelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

stocknounUS /stɑːk/

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

to-day

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

From this reading But not to-day is George so occupied.

troopernounUS /ˈtruːpər/

a soldier in a motorized army unit

From this reading Among such objects rides the trooper, looking about him and always looking for something he has come to find.

uncertainadjectiveUS /ənˈsɜːrtən/

lacking or indicating lack of confidence or assurance

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

verdurenoun

green foliage

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

WoldnounUS /woʊld/

a tract of open rolling country (especially upland)

From this reading Steel and Iron George’s Shooting Gallery is to let, and the stock is sold off, and George himself is at Chesney Wold attending on Sir Leicester in his rides and riding very near his bridle-rein because of the uncertain hand with which he guides his horse.

woodsnounUS /wʊdz/

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading As he comes into the iron country farther north, such fresh green woods as those of Chesney Wold are left behind; and coal pits and ashes, high chimneys and red bricks, blighted verdure, scorching fires, and a heavy never-lightening cloud of smoke become the features of the scenery.

Chapter 38 of Bleak House by Charles Dickens holds 380 sentences, grouped into 76 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 38 of Bleak House contain?

Chapter 38 holds 380 sentences of Bleak House, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of Bleak House by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 380 sentences, grouped into 76 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 38 of Bleak House?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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 Bleak House

Common questions about reading Bleak House by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Bleak House?

Yes. All 19360 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1023 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Bleak House is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1023, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Bleak House take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 3872 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Bleak House section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Bleak House 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 Bleak House

Words and structures a reader meets early in Bleak House, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

London
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bleak House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Michaelmas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bleak House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lately
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bleak House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chancellor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Bleak House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.