Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
By Blow and Kiss
By Blow and Kiss

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of By Blow and Kiss is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Boyd Cable • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for By Blow and Kiss
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.
“She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.
“She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’
She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”
“Killed,” repeated the trooper, thoughtfully.
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.

By Blow and Kiss

Chapter IX

Chapter 9 of By Blow and Kiss is here in full — 163 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.
Line 2
“She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.
Line 3
“She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’
Line 4
She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”
Line 5
“Killed,” repeated the trooper, thoughtfully.
/kɪld rɪˈpiːtɪd ðə ˈtruːpər ˈθɔːtfəli/

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.

crazy adjective US /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading ““She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crying adjective US /ˈkraɪɪŋ/

demanding attention

From this reading “She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moaning verb US /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/

-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading ““She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
screaming adjective US /ˈskriːmɪŋ/

so extremely intense as to evoke screams

From this reading “She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sits verb US /sɪts/

third-person singular of “sit” — be seated

From this reading ““She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughtfully adverb US /ˈθɔːtfəli/

in a thoughtful manner

From this reading ““Killed,” repeated the trooper, thoughtfully.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trooper noun US /ˈtruːpər/

a soldier in a motorized army unit

From this reading ““HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wringing verb US /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape

From this reading ““She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

sits there verb + particle counted as “sit there”

In this reading ““She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’”

4,290 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 44

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 “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
cleanadjectiveUS /kliːn/

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/

affected with madness or insanity

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
cryingadjectiveUS /ˈkraɪɪŋ/

demanding attention

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dan

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

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

Pending verification
deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
He's

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

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Pending verification
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HOW'S

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

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
killedverbUS /kɪld/

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
laughingadjectiveUS /ˈlæfɪŋ/

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mavourneen

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

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

Pending verification
moaningverbUS /ˈmoʊnɪŋ/

-ing form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
repeatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈpiːtɪd/

recurring again and again

From this reading “Killed,” repeated the trooper, thoughtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/

so extremely intense as to evoke screams

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
She's

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

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

Pending verification
sitsverbUS /sɪts/

third-person singular of “sit” — be seated

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughtfullyadverbUS /ˈθɔːtfəli/

in a thoughtful manner

From this reading “Killed,” repeated the trooper, thoughtfully.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TroopernounUS /ˈtruːpər/

a soldier in a motorized army unit

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading She was screaming crying a while, then laughing to herself, then crying again, then over an’ over ‘He’s dead—he’s killed.’”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading “She’s clean crazy, I think,” said his wife.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “HOW’S the woman, mavourneen?” asked Trooper Dan.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wringingverbUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/

-ing form of “wring” — twist and press out of shape

From this reading “She sits there moaning an’ wringing her hands, an’ not a word out o’ her but ‘He’s dead—he’s dead.’

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 9 of By Blow and Kiss by Boyd Cable holds 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 9 of By Blow and Kiss contain?

Chapter 9 holds 163 sentences of By Blow and Kiss, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of By Blow and Kiss by Boyd Cable exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 163 sentences, grouped into 33 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 9 of By Blow and Kiss?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 By Blow and Kiss

Common questions about reading By Blow and Kiss by Boyd Cable on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of By Blow and Kiss?

Yes. All 5450 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48756 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of By Blow and Kiss is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48756, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does By Blow and Kiss take to read?

About 454 minutes of reading across 1090 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read By Blow and Kiss section by section

How to work through By Blow and Kiss section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of By Blow and Kiss 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 By Blow and Kiss

Words and structures a reader meets early in By Blow and Kiss, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Fiercely
A word that appears in the opening chapter of By Blow and Kiss; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Inside
A word that appears in the opening chapter of By Blow and Kiss; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Although
A word that appears in the opening chapter of By Blow and Kiss; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Click
A word that appears in the opening chapter of By Blow and Kiss; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.