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Hilda: A Story of Calcutta
Hilda: A Story of Calcutta

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Hilda: A Story of Calcutta
Context Illustration Reading 1/44 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.
It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.
There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.
Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.
The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Hilda: A Story of Calcutta

Chapter XI · Chapter 11

Chapter 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.
/mɪs haʊ wɑːz ˈwɔːkɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈbɪznəs ˈkwɔːrtər ʌv ˌkælˈkʌtə/
Line 2
It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.
Line 3
There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.
Line 4
Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.
/ˈevriwer wɑːz ə ˈsʌtəl kənˈteɪdʒən ʌv ˈmoʊmənteri ˌwelˈbiːɪŋ ə sens ʌv ˈlɪftəd ˈbɜːrdən/
Line 5
The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

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.

contagion noun US /kənˈteɪdʒən/

any disease easily transmitted by contact

From this reading “Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.”

Howe noun US /haʊ/

United States editor (1920-1993)

From this reading “Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.”

kites noun US /kaɪts/

plural of “kite” — a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value

From this reading “The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.”

pariahs noun US /pərˈaɪəz/

plural of “pariah” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)

From this reading “The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.”

slovenly adjective US /ˈslʌvənli/

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt

From this reading “The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.”

stucco noun US /ˈstʌkoʊ/

a plaster now made mostly from Portland cement and sand and lime; applied while soft to cover exterior walls or surfaces

From this reading “The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.”

stuccoed verb US /ˈstʌkoʊd/

past form of “stucco” — decorate with stucco work

From this reading “It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.”

well-being noun US /ˌwelˈbiːɪŋ/

a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous

From this reading “Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.”

All words in this reading · 100

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 There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

balustrades

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

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

bannersnounUS /ˈbænərz/

plural of “banner” — long strip of cloth or paper used for decoration or advertising

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

blewverbUS /bluː/

inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

blinkedverbUS /blɪŋkt/

past form of “blink” — briefly shut the eyes

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

brightadjectiveUS /braɪt/

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

broodedverbUS /ˈbruːdɪd/

past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

burdennounUS /ˈbɜːrdən/

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

CalcuttanounUS /ˌkælˈkʌtə/

the largest city in India and one of the largest cities in the world; located in eastern India; suffers from poverty and overcrowding

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

cheeling

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

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

cheerverbUS /tʃɪr/

give encouragement to

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

circledverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəld/

past form of “circle” — travel around something

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

contagionnounUS /kənˈteɪdʒən/

any disease easily transmitted by contact

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

curtainsnounUS /ˈkɜːrtənz/

plural of “curtain” — hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

dimpling

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

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

EverywhereadverbUS /ˈevriwer/

to or in any or all places

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

flatsnounUS /flæts/

footwear (shoes or slippers) with no heel (or a very low heel)

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

gardensnounUS /ˈɡɑːrdənz/

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

gayadjectiveUS /ɡeɪ/

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

geniallyadverb

in an affable manner

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

HowenounUS /haʊ/

United States editor (1920-1993)

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

huddledadjectiveUS /ˈhʌdəld/

crowded or massed together

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

joyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/

full of or characterized by joy

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

kitesnounUS /kaɪts/

plural of “kite” — a bank check that has been fraudulently altered to increase its face value

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

liftedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪftəd/

held up in the air

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

muslinnounUS /ˈmʌzlən/

plain-woven cotton fabric

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

northnounUS /nɔːrθ/

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/

plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

palmsnounUS /pɑːmz/

plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

pariahsnounUS /pərˈaɪəz/

plural of “pariah” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

pianonounUS /piˈænoʊ/

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

potsnounUS /pɑːts/

plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/

restricted to something

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

quarternounUS /ˈkwɔːrtər/

one of four equal parts

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

roof-cornices

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

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

roofsnounUS /ruːfs/

plural of “roof” — a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

satisfactionnounUS /ˌsætəˈsfækʃən/

the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/

plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

slovenlyadjectiveUS /ˈslʌvənli/

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

streetsnounUS /striːts/

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

stucconounUS /ˈstʌkoʊ/

a plaster now made mostly from Portland cement and sand and lime; applied while soft to cover exterior walls or surfaces

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

stuccoedverbUS /ˈstʌkoʊd/

past form of “stucco” — decorate with stucco work

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

subtleadjectiveUS /ˈsʌtəl/

difficult to detect or grasp by the mind or analyze

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

sunlightnounUS /ˈsʌnlaɪt/

the rays of the sun

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

warmadjectiveUS /wɔːrm/

having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Miss Howe was walking in the business quarter of Calcutta.

well-beingnounUS /ˌwelˈbiːɪŋ/

a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous

From this reading Everywhere was a subtle contagion of momentary well-being, a sense of lifted burden.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

wheneverconjunctionUS /weˈnevər/

at any time that; every time that

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The stucco streets were too slovenly to be purely joyous, but a warm satisfaction brooded in them, the pariahs blinked at one genially, there was a note of cheer even in the cheeling of the kites where they sat huddled on the roof-cornices or circled against the high blue sky.

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

windnounUS /waɪnd/

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading There the pleasant north wind blew banners of muslin curtains out of wide windows, and little gardens of palms in pots showed behind the balustrades of the flat roofs whenever a story ran short.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It was the business quarter, and yet the air was gay with the dimpling of piano notes, and looking up one saw the bright sunlight fall on yellow stuccoed flats above the shops and the offices.

Chapter 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta by Sara Jeannette Duncan holds 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta contain?

Chapter 11 holds 224 sentences of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta by Sara Jeannette Duncan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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 11 of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 11 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 11 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 Hilda: A Story of Calcutta

Common questions about reading Hilda: A Story of Calcutta by Sara Jeannette Duncan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta?

Yes. All 4799 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18051 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18051, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hilda: A Story of Calcutta take to read?

About 399 minutes of reading across 960 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hilda: A Story of Calcutta section by section

How to work through Hilda: A Story of Calcutta section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta 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 Hilda: A Story of Calcutta

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hilda: A Story of Calcutta, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Pushed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Portiere
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Aside
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Curved
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hilda: A Story of Calcutta; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.