Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities

Book II · Chapter XX · A Plea

Read and study this complete chapter with synchronized narration, pronunciation, and vocabulary support.

By Charles Dickens • Curated US English Learning Edition

When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

A Plea, reading 1: When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.
They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.
He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;
but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.
He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.
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.

A Tale of Two Cities

Book II · Chapter XX · A Plea

Study this chapter through synchronized reading, listening, pronunciation, and contextual vocabulary.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.
Line 2
They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.
Line 3
He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;
Line 4
but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.
Line 5
He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

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.

fidelity noun US /fəˈdɛləti/

Faithful and reliable devotion to a person or duty.

From this reading “but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
observation noun US /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/

the act or ability of noticing someone or something carefully

From this reading “but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
opportunity noun US /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

a suitable time or situation that makes it possible to do something

From this reading “He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.”

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
All words in this reading · 59

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
about

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
air

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
appeared

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
aside

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
been

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
but

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
came

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
Carton

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
certain

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
Charles

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
congratulations

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
Darnay

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
fidelitynounUS /fəˈdɛləti/

Faithful and reliable devotion to a person or duty.

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
first

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
habits

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
him

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
himself

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
his

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
home

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
hours

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
improved

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
into

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
looks

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
manner

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
many

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
new

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
newly-married

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
no

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/

the act or ability of noticing someone or something carefully

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
of

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
offer

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
one

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

a suitable time or situation that makes it possible to do something

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Velmora Academy editorial learner gloss; Oxford-style entry order
or

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

From this reading He was not improved in habits, or in looks, or in manner;

Pending verification
overheard

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
pair

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
person

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
presented

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
rugged

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
speaking

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
Sydney

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
taking

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
there

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
They

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

From this reading They had not been at home many hours, when he presented himself.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
watched

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification
When

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
which

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

From this reading but there was a certain rugged air of fidelity about him, which was new to the observation of Charles Darnay.

Pending verification
who

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

From this reading When the newly-married pair came home, the first person who appeared, to offer his congratulations, was Sydney Carton.

Pending verification
window

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

From this reading He watched his opportunity of taking Darnay aside into a window, and of speaking to him when no one overheard.

Pending verification