Chapter 2 of Bliss, and Other Stories is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Bliss, and Other Stories is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“My dear, don’t worry. You’ll never be fat. You are far too energetic.” “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails. “Breakfast, Stanley.”
Chapter 2 of Bliss, and Other Stories is here in full — 425 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
possessing or exerting or displaying energy
From this reading “You are far too energetic.””
position 100 in a countable series of things
From this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
decrease gradually or bit by bit
From this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading ““Breakfast, Stanley.””
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading ““My dear, don’t worry.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
In this reading ““Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading You are far too energetic.”
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You’ll never be fat.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading “Breakfast, Stanley.”
made comfortable or more comfortable in a time of distress
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
dearly loved
From this reading “My dear, don’t worry.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “My dear, don’t worry.
possessing or exerting or displaying energy
From this reading You are far too energetic.”
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading You are far too energetic.”
having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading You’ll never be fat.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
position 100 in a countable series of things
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear, don’t worry.
plural of “nail” — horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading You’ll never be fat.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
decrease gradually or bit by bit
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)
From this reading “Breakfast, Stanley.”
express a supposition
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading You are far too energetic.”
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy
From this reading “My dear, don’t worry.
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, yes, I suppose that’s true,” said he, comforted for the hundredth time, and taking a pearl pen-knife out of his pocket he began to pare his nails.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You are far too energetic.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You’ll never be fat.
Chapter 2 of Bliss, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield holds 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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.
Chapter 2 holds 425 sentences of Bliss, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Bliss, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 425 sentences, grouped into 85 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.
Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 85 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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.
Common questions about reading Bliss, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6345 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #44385 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #44385, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 528 minutes of reading across 1269 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Bliss, and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 15 chapters of Bliss, and Other Stories to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Bliss, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
