VELMORA ACADEMY

Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies

Menu Close

Hard Times

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Hard Times is here in full — 262 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Charles Dickens • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Hard Times

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

LOWER AND LOWER

THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XVI Reading 1/52

Hard Times Charles Dickens

Cover illustration for Hard Times

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Hard Times is here in full — 262 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

LOWER AND LOWER THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom. Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner. He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties. In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

Hard Times

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Hard Times is here in full — 262 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

LOWER AND LOWER

Line 2

THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

Line 3

Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

Line 4

He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

Line 5

In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

All words in this reading · 68

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.

a

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

about

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

always

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

an

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

AND

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

From this reading LOWER AND LOWER

apprised

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

at

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

black

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

bottom

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

buried

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

business-like

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

cinder-heap

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

decease

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

deep

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

descended

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

dust

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

duties

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

ends

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

expedition

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

eyes

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

fact

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

figure

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

for

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

from

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

Gradgrind

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

great

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

gulf

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

He

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

her

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

his

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

in

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

into

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

kept

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

like

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

London

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

LOWER

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

From this reading LOWER AND LOWER

made

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

manner

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

meantime

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

Mrs

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

national

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

odds

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

of

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

other

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

parliamentary

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

people

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

promptitude

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

resumed

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

returned

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

sifting

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

Sparsit

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

stairs

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

steadily

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

THE

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

then

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

throwing

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

to

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

unwinking

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

verging

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

wanted

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

ward

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

watch

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

From this reading In the meantime, Mrs. Sparsit kept unwinking watch and ward.

water

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

weight

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

From this reading THE figure descended the great stairs, steadily, steadily; always verging, like a weight in deep water, to the black gulf at the bottom.

who

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

wife's

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

From this reading Mr. Gradgrind, apprised of his wife’s decease, made an expedition from London, and buried her in a business-like manner.

with

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

From this reading He then returned with promptitude to the national cinder-heap, and resumed his sifting for the odds and ends he wanted, and his throwing of the dust about into the eyes of other people who wanted other odds and ends—in fact resumed his parliamentary duties.

Chapter 16 of Hard Times by Charles Dickens holds 262 sentences, grouped into 53 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 16 of Hard Times contain?

Chapter 16 holds 262 sentences of Hard Times, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of Hard Times by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 262 sentences, grouped into 53 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 16 of Hard Times?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Hard Times

Common questions about reading Hard Times by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hard Times?

Yes. All 6128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #786 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hard Times is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #786, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hard Times take to read?

About 510 minutes of reading across 1226 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hard Times section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 21 chapters of Hard Times to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Hard Times

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

Philosophical: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Times; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Final: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Times; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Illustrations: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Times; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stephen: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Times; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.