Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance
Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Nathaniel Hawthorne • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance
Context Illustration Reading 1/1 · 6 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 6
_Note 1.
Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”
_Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”
_Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.
_Note 4.
Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”
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.

Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance is here in full — 6 sentences across 2 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/1 · 6 reading units · Lines 1–6

Line 1
_Note 1.
Line 2
Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”
Line 3
_Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”
Line 4
_Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.
Line 5
_Note 4.
Line 6
Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

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.

aims noun US /eɪmz/

plural of “aim” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
author noun US /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Author's noun US /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
burial noun US /ˈberiəl/

the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
customs noun US /ˈkʌstəmz/

money collected under a tariff

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pipe noun US /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
text noun US /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading “_Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wards noun US /wɔːrdz/

plural of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading “Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.””

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 50

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.

1

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

From this reading _Note 1.

Pending verification
2

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

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

Pending verification
3

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

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

Pending verification
4

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

From this reading _Note 4.

Pending verification
adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acti

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Pending verification
aimsnounUS /eɪmz/

plural of “aim” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
authornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Author'snounUS /ˈɔːθərz/

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
blowverbUS /bloʊ/

exhale hard

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
burialnounUS /ˈberiəl/

the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/

money collected under a tariff

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
delightverbUS /dɪˈlaɪt/

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
especiallyadverbUS /əˈspeʃli/

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
evidentlyadverbUS /ˈevədəntli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grave-digger

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Pending verification
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
InsteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/

resulting from one's intentions

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
laudatornoun

someone who communicates high praise

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MakeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
meantverbUS /ment/

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MSnounUS /mɪz/

a chronic progressive nervous disorder involving loss of myelin sheath around certain nerve fibers

From this reading _Note 3._ The MS. has “delight,” but “a light” is evidently intended.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Ned

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Pending verification
NotenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading _Note 1.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
temporis

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Pending verification
textnounUS /tekst/

the words of something written

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Author’s note_.--“Make the old grave-digger a _laudator temporis acti_,--especially as to burial customs.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wardsnounUS /wɔːrdz/

plural of “ward” — a person who is under the protection or in the custody of another

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Author’s note_.--“He aims a blow, perhaps with his pipe, at the boy, which Ned wards off.”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
writeverbUS /raɪt/

produce a literary work

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
writtenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtən/

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading _Note 2._ Instead of “written,” as in the text, the author probably meant to write “read.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne holds 6 sentences, grouped into 2 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 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance contain?

Chapter 28 holds 6 sentences of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance, unabridged, divided into 2 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 6 sentences, grouped into 2 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 28 of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance?

Work through the 2 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 2 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 28 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 28 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 Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Common questions about reading Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance?

Yes. All 2971 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7183 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7183, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance take to read?

About 247 minutes of reading across 595 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance section by section

How to work through Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 35 chapters of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance 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 Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance

Words and structures a reader meets early in Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Endnote
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Familiarly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Acquainted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dwelt
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Doctor Grimshawe's Secret — a Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.