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Helen Vardon's confession
Helen Vardon's confession

Chapter VIII · The Terms of Release

Chapter VIII of Helen Vardon's confession, “The Terms of Release,” is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Helen Vardon's confession
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.
But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.
My father was dead.
That was all I could think of.
My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.
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.

Helen Vardon's confession

Chapter VIII · The Terms of Release

Chapter VIII of Helen Vardon's confession, “The Terms of Release,” is here in full — 218 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.
Line 2
But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.
/bʌt ðoʊ aɪ wɑːz ˈveɪɡli ˈkɑːnʃəs ðæt ðɪs ˈdredfəl dɪˈzæstər ˈvaɪtəli əˈfektɪd maɪ pəˈzɪʃən ənd mʌst ɪn sʌm weɪ əˈfekt maɪ ˈækʃənz ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ ɡriːf ənd ə sens ʌv ˌɪˈrepərəbəl lɔːs ˈrendərd koʊˈhɪrənt θɔːt ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
Line 3
My father was dead.
/maɪ ˈfɑːðər wɑːz ded/
Line 4
That was all I could think of.
/ðæt wɑːz ɔːl aɪ kʊd θɪŋk ʌv/
Line 5
My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.
/maɪ wʌn pərˈfekt frend huː hæd əbˈzɔːrbd ɔːl maɪ əˈfekʃən ənd ˈɡɪvən miː ɔːl ʌv hɪz hæd ɡɔːn aʊt ʌv maɪ laɪf/

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.

affect verb US /əˈfekt/

have an effect upon

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coherent adjective US /koʊˈhɪrənt/

marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
collect verb US /kəˈlekt/

get or gather together

From this reading “When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
disaster noun US /dɪˈzæstər/

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
irreparable adjective US /ˌɪˈrepərəbəl/

impossible to repair, rectify, or amend

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overwhelming adjective US /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vaguely adverb US /ˈveɪɡli/

in a vague way

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vitally adverb US /ˈvaɪtəli/

to a vital degree

From this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

irreparable loss adjective + noun

In this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

289 times in 426,211 chapters
vaguely conscious adverb + adjective

In this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

457 times in 426,211 chapters
shut the door verb + article + noun counted as “shut … door”

In this reading “When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.”

8,347 times in 426,211 chapters
some way adjective + noun

In this reading “But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.”

17,701 times in 426,211 chapters
think of verb + particle

keep in mind for attention or consideration

In this reading “That was all I could think of.”

152,298 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 65

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 But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
affectverbUS /əˈfekt/

have an effect upon

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
affectedadjectiveUS /əˈfektɪd/

acted upon; influenced

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
affectionnounUS /əˈfekʃən/

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading That was all I could think of.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
chairnounUS /tʃer/

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
coherentadjectiveUS /koʊˈhɪrənt/

marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/

get or gather together

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
consciousadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnʃəs/

intentionally conceived

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading That was all I could think of.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading My father was dead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
disasternounUS /dɪˈzæstər/

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My father was dead.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
friendnounUS /frend/

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Gregg

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

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Pending verification
griefnounUS /ɡriːf/

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
irreparableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈrepərəbəl/

impossible to repair, rectify, or amend

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lossnounUS /lɔːs/

something that is lost

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
overwhelmingadjectiveUS /ˌoʊvərˈwelmɪŋ/

so strong as to be irresistible

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
renderedverbUS /ˈrendərd/

past form of “render” — cause to become

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shutverbUS /ʃʌt/

move so that an opening or passage is obstructed; make shut

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading That was all I could think of.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
triedadjectiveUS /traɪd/

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vaguelyadverbUS /ˈveɪɡli/

in a vague way

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vitallyadverbUS /ˈvaɪtəli/

to a vital degree

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But though I was vaguely conscious that this dreadful disaster vitally affected my position, and must in some way affect my actions, overwhelming grief and a sense of irreparable loss rendered coherent thought impossible.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading My one perfect friend, who had absorbed all my affection and given me all of his, had gone out of my life.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
writing-table

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

From this reading When Mrs. Gregg had gone, I shut the door, and, sinking on to the chair by the writing-table, tried to collect my thoughts.

Pending verification

Chapter 8 of Helen Vardon's confession by R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman holds 218 sentences, grouped into 44 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 8 of Helen Vardon's confession contain?

Chapter 8 holds 218 sentences of Helen Vardon's confession, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Helen Vardon's confession by R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 218 sentences, grouped into 44 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of Helen Vardon's confession?

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

Each of the 44 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Helen Vardon's confession

Common questions about reading Helen Vardon's confession by R. Austin (Richard Austin) Freeman on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Helen Vardon's confession?

Yes. All 7630 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #76728 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Helen Vardon's confession is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #76728, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Helen Vardon's confession take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1526 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Helen Vardon's confession section by section

How to work through Helen Vardon's confession section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of Helen Vardon's confession 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 Helen Vardon's confession

Words and structures a reader meets early in Helen Vardon's confession, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Austin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen Vardon's confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Freeman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen Vardon's confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen Vardon's confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Osiris
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Helen Vardon's confession; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.