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Colonel Thorndyke's Secret
Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret is here in full — 280 sentences across 56 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Colonel Thorndyke's Secret
Context Illustration Reading 1/56 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.
Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.
There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.
When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.
His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret is here in full — 280 sentences across 56 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/56 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.
Line 2
Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.
Line 3
There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.
/ðer wɜːr noʊ mɔːr ˈdʒeliz suːps ənd ˈʌðər ˈkʌmfərts tuː biː lʊkt fɔːr ɪn taɪm ʌv ˈsɪknəs noʊ əˈbeɪtmənt ʌv rent wen ðə ˈbredwɪnər wɑːz sɪk ɔːr dɪˈseɪbəld noʊ tʃek tuː ðə ˈdrʌŋkərdz huːm ðə ˈnɑːlədʒ ðæt ðeɪ wʊd biː tɜːrnd aʊt ʌv ðer ˈkɑːtədʒ æt ə wiːks ˈnoʊtəs kept ɪn sʌm sɔːrt ʌv ˈɔːrdər/
Line 4
When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.
Line 5
His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.
/hɪz fɜːrst ækt wɑːz tuː dɪˈsmɪs ˈnuːmən huː kəmˈpliːtli ənˈtʃekt hæd hiː faʊnd bɪn ˈsædli mɪˈsmænɪdʒɪŋ əˈferz/

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.

abatement noun US /əˈbeɪtmənt/

an interruption in the intensity or amount of something

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

breadwinner noun US /ˈbredwɪnər/

one whose earnings are the primary source of support for their dependents

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

disabled noun US /dɪˈseɪbəld/

people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

drunkards noun US /ˈdrʌŋkərdz/

plural of “drunkard” — a chronic drinker

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

jellies noun US /ˈdʒeliz/

plural of “jelly” — an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

mismanaging verb US /mɪˈsmænɪdʒɪŋ/

-ing form of “mismanage” — manage badly or incompetently

From this reading “His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.”

soups noun US /suːps/

plural of “soup” — liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading “There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.”

unchecked adjective US /ənˈtʃekt/

not restrained or controlled

From this reading “His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.”

All words in this reading · 113

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 Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

abatementnounUS /əˈbeɪtmənt/

an interruption in the intensity or amount of something

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

absencenounUS /ˈæbsəns/

the state of being absent

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

actverbUS /ækt/

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

affairsnounUS /əˈferz/

matters of personal concern

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

breadwinnernounUS /ˈbredwɪnər/

one whose earnings are the primary source of support for their dependents

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

checkverbUS /tʃek/

examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/

the act of closing something

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

ColonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

comfortsnounUS /ˈkʌmfərts/

things that make you comfortable and at ease

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

completelyadverbUS /kəmˈpliːtli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

cottagenounUS /ˈkɑːtədʒ/

a small house with a single story

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

Crowswood

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

disablednounUS /dɪˈseɪbəld/

people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

dismissverbUS /dɪˈsmɪs/

bar from attention or consideration

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

drunkardsnounUS /ˈdrʌŋkərdz/

plural of “drunkard” — a chronic drinker

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

fairlyadverbUS /ˈferli/

to certain extent or degree

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

governmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

GreatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

HousenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

jelliesnounUS /ˈdʒeliz/

plural of “jelly” — an edible jelly (sweet or pungent) made with gelatin and used as a dessert or salad base or a coating for foods

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

knowledgenounUS /ˈnɑːlədʒ/

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

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 When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

ManornounUS /ˈmænər/

the mansion of a lord or wealthy person

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

mismanagingverbUS /mɪˈsmænɪdʒɪŋ/

-ing form of “mismanage” — manage badly or incompetently

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

NewmannounUS /ˈnuːmən/

United States film actor (born in 1925)

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Greatly had the closing of the Manor House, after the death of old Squire Thorndyke, been felt.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

ownedadjectiveUS /oʊnd/

having an owner; often used in combination

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

parishnounUS /ˈpærɪʃ/

a local church community

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

portionnounUS /ˈpɔːrʃən/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

possessionnounUS /pəˈzeʃən/

the act of having and controlling property

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

Reigate

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

rentverbUS /rent/

let for money

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

sadlyadverbUS /ˈsædli/

in an unfortunate way

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

sickadjectiveUS /sɪk/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

sicknessnounUS /ˈsɪknəs/

impairment of normal physiological function affecting part or all of an organism

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

soupsnounUS /suːps/

plural of “soup” — liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

SquirenounUS /skwaɪr/

young nobleman attendant on a knight

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

StandingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

tenantsnounUS /ˈtenənts/

plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

thanksnounUS /θæŋks/

an acknowledgment of appreciation

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

Thorndyke

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

uncheckedadjectiveUS /ənˈtʃekt/

not restrained or controlled

From this reading His first act was to dismiss Newman; who, completely unchecked, had, he found, been sadly mismanaging affairs.

villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

week'snounUS /wiːks/

possessive form of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

welladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Standing some two miles out of Reigate is the village of Crowswood, a quiet place and fairly well to do, thanks in no small degree to Squire Thorndyke, who owned the whole of the parish, and by whom and his tenants the greater portion of the village were employed.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading There were no more jellies, soups, and other comforts to be looked for in time of sickness, no abatement of rent when the breadwinner was sick or disabled, no check to the drunkards, whom the knowledge that they would be turned out of their cottage at a week's notice kept in some sort of order.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading When, therefore, after ten years of absence of all government, John Thorndyke, after the death of his brother, the Colonel, came down and took possession, he found the place sadly changed from what it had been when he had left it twenty years before.

Chapter 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty holds 280 sentences, grouped into 56 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 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret contain?

Chapter 2 holds 280 sentences of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret, unabridged, divided into 56 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 280 sentences, grouped into 56 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 2 of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret?

Work through the 56 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 56 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 2 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

Common questions about reading Colonel Thorndyke's Secret by G. A. (George Alfred) Henty on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret?

Yes. All 5861 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8155 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8155, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Colonel Thorndyke's Secret take to read?

About 488 minutes of reading across 1173 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Colonel Thorndyke's Secret section by section

How to work through Colonel Thorndyke's Secret section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret 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 Colonel Thorndyke's Secret

Words and structures a reader meets early in Colonel Thorndyke's Secret, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Squire
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Thorndyke
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Manor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Colonel Thorndyke's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.