Lonesome Town

Chapter IV · Double Focus

Chapter IV of Lonesome Town, “Double Focus,” is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By E. S. (Ethel Smith) Dorrance • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 4 of Lonesome Town by E. S. (Ethel Smith) Dorrance holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 4 of Lonesome Town contain?

Chapter 4 holds 138 sentences of Lonesome Town, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Lonesome Town by E. S. (Ethel Smith) Dorrance exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 4 of Lonesome Town?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Lonesome Town

Common questions about reading Lonesome Town by E. S. (Ethel Smith) Dorrance on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Lonesome Town?

Yes. All 4987 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35819 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Lonesome Town is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35819, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Lonesome Town take to read?

About 415 minutes of reading across 998 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Lonesome Town section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 27 chapters of Lonesome Town 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 Lonesome Town

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lonesome Town, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Authors: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lonesome Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glory: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lonesome Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rides: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lonesome Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Range: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lonesome Town; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

Where?

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 IV Reading 1/28

Lonesome Town

Chapter IV · Double Focus

Chapter IV of Lonesome Town, “Double Focus,” is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

Line 2

At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

Line 3

Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

Line 4

Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

Line 5

Where?

/wer/

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.”

Worthy adjective US /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading “Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.”

Yet conjunction US /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading “Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.”

All words in this reading · 65

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

action

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

all

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

any

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

belief

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

cast

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

Certainly

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

colorful

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

consideration

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

costly

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

devout

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

doubtless

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

escort

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

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

evening

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

ever

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

felt

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

first

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

flaunted

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

Forty-second

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

howdy-doo

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

last

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

loiter

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

look

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

man

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

most

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

New

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

now

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

obligation

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

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

one's

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

outfit

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

own

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

Pape

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

power

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

raised

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

returning

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

self-advertisement

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

sign

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

somewhere

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

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

Street

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

suit

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

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A man of action does not loiter all evening returning his own howdy-doo to himself—not in his first evening outfit.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

WhereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Where?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

worthyadjectiveUS /ˈwɜːr.ði/

Having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in character or magic.

From this reading Certainly it was self-advertisement raised to the _N_th power and worthy any one’s consideration.

YetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet the obligation to escort his new suit somewhere was on him.

York

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

From this reading At Forty-second Street Pape cast a last look at the sign in which he felt by now devout belief, doubtless one of the most costly and colorful ever flaunted before New York.

Chapter IV · Double Focus

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Vocabulary met early in Lonesome Town