Excuse Me!

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Excuse Me! is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Rupert Hughes • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VII Reading 1/14

Excuse Me! Rupert Hughes

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Excuse Me! is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE MASKED MINISTER Being an angel must have this great advantage at least, that one may sit in the grandstand overlooking the earth and enjoy the ludicrous blunders of that great blind man's buff we call life. This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures. Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together. There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion. Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

Excuse Me!

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Excuse Me! is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

/ðə mæskt ˈmɪnəstər ˈbiːɪŋ æn ˈeɪndʒəl mʌst hæv ðɪs ɡreɪt ædˈvæntɪdʒ æt liːst ðæt wʌn meɪ sɪt ɪn ðə ˈɡrændstænd ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ ðə ɜːrθ ənd ˌenˈdʒɔɪ ðə ˈluːdəkrəs ˈblʌndərz ʌv ðæt ɡreɪt blaɪnd mænz bʌf wiː kɔːl laɪf/

Line 2

This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

Line 3

Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

Line 4

There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

/ðer ɪn ðə kɑːr wɜːr ðə ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ kənˈspɪrətərz priˈperɪŋ ə ˈbraɪdəl ˈmɑːkəri fɔːr ðer swiːt kənˈfjuːʒən/

Line 5

Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

/ðen ðə ˈeɪndʒəlz maɪt hæv nʌdʒd wʌn əˈnʌðər ənd sed/

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.

blunders noun US /ˈblʌndərz/

plural of “blunder” — an embarrassing mistake

From this reading “THE MASKED MINISTER Being an angel must have this great advantage at least, that one may sit in the grandstand overlooking the earth and enjoy the ludicrous blunders of that great blind man's buff we call life.”

buff noun US /bʌf/

an ardent follower and admirer

conspirators noun US /kənˈspɪrətərz/

plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy

From this reading “There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.”

giggling verb US /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously

From this reading “There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.”

grandstand noun US /ˈɡrændstænd/

the audience at a stadium or racetrack

mix-up noun US /ˈmɪksʌp/

a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another

From this reading “This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.”

nudged verb US /nʌdʒd/

past form of “nudge” — to push against gently

From this reading “Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:”

regretting verb US /rɪˈɡretɪŋ/

inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading “Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

great advantage adjective + noun

In this reading “THE MASKED MINISTER Being an angel must have this great advantage at least, that one may sit in the grandstand overlooking the earth and enjoy the ludicrous blunders of that great blind man's buff we call life.”

blind man's noun + noun counted as “blind man”

get married verb + adjective

take in marriage

In this reading “Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.”

sit in verb + particle

attend as a visitor

All words in this reading · 80

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 This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/

(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

advantagenounUS /ædˈvæntɪdʒ/

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading THE MASKED MINISTER Being an angel must have this great advantage at least, that one may sit in the grandstand overlooking the earth and enjoy the ludicrous blunders of that great blind man's buff we call life.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

angelnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəl/

spiritual being attendant upon God

angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

bitterlyadverbUS /ˈbɪtərli/

with bitterness; in a resentful manner

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

blindnounUS /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

blundersnounUS /ˈblʌndərz/

plural of “blunder” — an embarrassing mistake

bridaladjectiveUS /ˈbraɪdəl/

of or relating to a wedding

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

buffnounUS /bʌf/

an ardent follower and admirer

callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/

largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/

disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

conspiratorsnounUS /kənˈspɪrətərz/

plural of “conspirator” — a member of a conspiracy

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

continueverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuː/

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

cryverbUS /kraɪ/

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

earthnounUS /ɜːrθ/

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

enjoyverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪ/

derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

gigglingverbUS /ˈɡɪɡəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “giggle” — laugh nervously

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

grandstandnounUS /ˈɡrændstænd/

the audience at a stadium or racetrack

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

inabilitynounUS /ˌɪnəˈbɪlɪti/

lack of ability (especially mental ability) to do something

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

journeyverbUS /ˈdʒɜːrni/

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

laughnounUS /læf/

the sound of laughing

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

ludicrousadjectiveUS /ˈluːdəkrəs/

broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

Mallory

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

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

man'snounUS /mænz/

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

Marjorie

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

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

MASKEDadjectiveUS /mæskt/

having its true character concealed with the intent of misleading

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

merelyadverbUS /ˈmɪrli/

and nothing more

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

MINISTERnounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

mix-upnounUS /ˈmɪksʌp/

a mistake that results from taking one thing to be another

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

mockerynounUS /ˈmɑːkəri/

showing your contempt by derision

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

naturesnounUS /ˈneɪtʃərz/

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

nudgedverbUS /nʌdʒd/

past form of “nudge” — to push against gently

From this reading Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

overlookingadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərlʊkɪŋ/

used of a height or viewpoint

preparingverbUS /priˈperɪŋ/

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

regrettingverbUS /rɪˈɡretɪŋ/

inflected form of “regret” — feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

sweetadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then the angels might have nudged one another and said:

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There in the car were the giggling conspirators preparing a bridal mockery for their sweet confusion.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Here were Mallory and Marjorie, still merely engaged, bitterly regretting their inability to get married and to continue their journey together.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading This night, if any angels were watching Chicago, the Mallory mix-up must have given them a good laugh, or a good cry--according to their natures.

Chapter 7 of Excuse Me! by Rupert Hughes holds 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 7 of Excuse Me! contain?

Chapter 7 holds 70 sentences of Excuse Me!, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Excuse Me! by Rupert Hughes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 7 of Excuse Me!?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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.

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Yes. All 4574 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40607 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #40607, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 381 minutes of reading across 915 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Excuse Me!

Words and structures a reader meets early in Excuse Me!, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Wreck: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Excuse Me!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Woman: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Excuse Me!; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter VII

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