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Confidence
Confidence

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Confidence is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 1 of Confidence by Henry James holds 216 sentences, grouped into 44 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Confidence contain?

Chapter 1 holds 216 sentences of Confidence, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Confidence by Henry James exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 216 sentences, grouped into 44 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 1 of Confidence?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Confidence

Common questions about reading Confidence by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Confidence?

Yes. All 4722 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #178 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Confidence is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #178, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Confidence take to read?

About 393 minutes of reading across 945 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Confidence section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of Confidence 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 Confidence

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

Early
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confidence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
April
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confidence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bernard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confidence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Longueville
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Confidence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for Confidence
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.
He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.
He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.
He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.
He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
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Confidence

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Confidence is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.
Line 2
He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.
Line 3
He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.
Line 4
He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.
Line 5
He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.
All words in this reading · 82

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 He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

Alps

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

and

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

appealed

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

April

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

at

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

be

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

been

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

Bernard

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

but

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

by

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

charm

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

conscience

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

consciousness

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

contemplative

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

continue

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

dallied

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

days

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

duties

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

early

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

fancy

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

few

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

first

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

five

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

for

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

from

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

further

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

had

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

harshly

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

He

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

him

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

his

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

if

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

impossible

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

in

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

intended

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

It

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

Italian

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

Italy

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

journey

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

judged

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

lingering

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

Longueville

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

made

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

man

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

northward

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

not

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

notes

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

of

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

on

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

pictorial

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

pretext

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

Rome

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

several

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

should

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

side

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

Siena

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

sketching

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

so

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

social

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

speculative

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

spend

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

spending

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

spent

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

spring

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

still

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

take

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

From this reading He had a fancy for sketching, and it was on his conscience to take a few pictorial notes.

that

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

the

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

this

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

to

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

travelled

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

turn

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

two

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

under

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

visit

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

was

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

way

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.

where

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

From this reading He had spent five days at Siena, where he had intended to spend but two, and still it was impossible to continue his journey.

winter

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

From this reading It was in the early days of April; Bernard Longueville had been spending the winter in Rome.

with

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

From this reading He had travelled northward with the consciousness of several social duties that appealed to him from the further side of the Alps, but he was under the charm of the Italian spring, and he made a pretext for lingering.

young

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

From this reading He was a young man of a contemplative and speculative turn, and this was his first visit to Italy, so that if he dallied by the way he should not be harshly judged.