Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Following heavenward
Following heavenward

Chapter XXX

Cover illustration for Following heavenward
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."
IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.
The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.
But interest was not confined to this room.
The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.
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.

Following heavenward

Chapter XXX

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."
Line 2
IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.
Line 3
The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.
Line 4
But interest was not confined to this room.
Line 5
The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.”

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.”

Different noun US /ˈdifferent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.”

Party noun US /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.”

Quite noun US /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.”

All words in this reading · 73

Every word is available to listen to. 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 IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

admiring

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

AFFAIR

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

From this reading "IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."

aglow

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

company

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

confined

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

From this reading But interest was not confined to this room.

conservatory

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

continually

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

cosy

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

differentnounUS /ˈdifferent/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

evening

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

flowers

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

gathering

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

groups

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

home

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

interest

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

From this reading But interest was not confined to this room.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."

large

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

library

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

lights

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

MADE-UP

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

From this reading "IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."

magazines

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

many

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

men

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

middle-aged

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

Monday

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

Mr

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

music-room

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

NOdeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "IT IS NO MADE-UP AFFAIR."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

opposite

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

out

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

paintings

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

parlours

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

partynounUS /party/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

passing

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

patterns

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

pretty

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

property

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

public

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

From this reading The parlours were thrown open and the music-room beyond; even the cosy little library was public property for this one evening.

quitenounUS /quite/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

Roberts's

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

room

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

some

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

there

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But interest was not confined to this room.

thrown

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But interest was not confined to this room.

type-writers

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

usual

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

well-dressed

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The pretty room opposite the conservatory was thrown open, and aglow with lights and flowers; and groups were continually passing in and out, admiring the paintings and the flowers, and the type-writers of different patterns, and the books and magazines, of which there were many.

women

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.

young

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

From this reading IT was Monday evening, and there was company at Mr. Roberts's home—not the usual Monday evening gathering, but quite a large party of well-dressed men and women, many of them young, yet some were middle-aged.