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Letters of Two Brides
Letters of Two Brides

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Letters of Two Brides is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Letters of Two Brides
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?
Or is it the uncle's legacy?
Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?
Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!
Vain thing!
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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.

Letters of Two Brides

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of Letters of Two Brides is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?
Line 2
Or is it the uncle's legacy?
/ɔːr ɪz ɪt ðə ˈʌŋkəlz ˈleɡəsi/
Line 3
Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?
/pərˈhæps juː wɜːr əˈfreɪd juː wʊd biː les tuː jɔːr ˈtʃɪldrən ɪn ˈperɪs/
Line 4
Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!
Line 5
Vain thing!
/veɪn θɪŋ/

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.

centre noun US /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading “Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?”

condition noun US /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading “Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!”

legacy noun US /ˈleɡəsi/

(law) a gift of personal property by will

From this reading “Or is it the uncle's legacy?”

political adjective US /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading “Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?”

simply adverb US /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading “Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!”

uncle's noun US /ˈʌŋkəlz/

possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading “Or is it the uncle's legacy?”

vain adjective US /veɪn/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading “Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!”

wisdom noun US /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading “Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?”

All words in this reading · 50

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.

afraidadjectiveUS /əˈfreɪd/

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

Ah

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

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

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 Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

centrenounUS /ˈsentər/

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

conditionnounUS /kənˈdɪʃən/

a state at a particular time

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Or is it the uncle's legacy?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Or is it the uncle's legacy?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

l'Estorade

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

legacynounUS /ˈleɡəsi/

(law) a gift of personal property by will

From this reading Or is it the uncle's legacy?

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

OrconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or is it the uncle's legacy?

ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

simplyadverbUS /ˈsɪmpli/

and nothing more

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading Vain thing!

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

uncle'snounUS /ˈʌŋkəlz/

possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Or is it the uncle's legacy?

vainadjectiveUS /veɪn/

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

wisdomnounUS /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Tell me, are you afraid that the political wisdom of the house of l'Estorade should seem to centre in you?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Perhaps you were afraid you would be less to your children in Paris?

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading Ah! what I would give to know whether, after all, you were not simply too vain to show yourself in Paris for the first time in your present condition!

Chapter 20 of Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 20 of Letters of Two Brides contain?

Chapter 20 holds 178 sentences of Letters of Two Brides, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 20 of Letters of Two Brides?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Letters of Two Brides

Common questions about reading Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Letters of Two Brides?

Yes. All 4507 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1941 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Letters of Two Brides is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1941, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Letters of Two Brides take to read?

About 375 minutes of reading across 902 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Letters of Two Brides section by section

How to work through Letters of Two Brides section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Letters of Two Brides 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 Letters of Two Brides

Words and structures a reader meets early in Letters of Two Brides, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
While
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Casting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reflected
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.