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Memories and Portraits
Memories and Portraits

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Memories and Portraits is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Memories and Portraits
Context Illustration Reading 1/20 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
Thus I lived with words.
And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.
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.

Memories and Portraits

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of Memories and Portraits is here in full — 100 sentences across 20 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.
Line 2
I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.
Line 3
As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.
Line 4
Thus I lived with words.
Line 5
And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

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.

Books noun US /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.”

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.”

All words in this reading · 75

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

All

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

always

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

an

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

and

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

appropriate

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

As

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

be

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

boyhood

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

busy

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

by

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

commemorate

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

consciously

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

down

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

either

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

end

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

features

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

fitting

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

for

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

halting

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

hand

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

I

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

idler

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

in

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

it

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

kept

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

known

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

learn

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

lived

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

From this reading Thus I lived with words.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

my

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

no

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

note

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

of

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

on

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

one

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

or

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

out

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

own

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

pattern

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

pencil

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

penny

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

pocket

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

pointed

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

practice

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

private

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

read

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

roadside

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

sat

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

saw

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

scene

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

some

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

stanzas

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

the

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

through

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

Thus

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

From this reading Thus I lived with words.

to

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

two

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

From this reading I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

ulterior

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

use

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

version-book

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

walked

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

was

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

what

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

when

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

which

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

with

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

words

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

would

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

From this reading As I walked, my mind was busy fitting what I saw with appropriate words; when I sat by the roadside, I would either read, or a pencil and a penny version-book would be in my hand, to note down the features of the scene or commemorate some halting stanzas.

write

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

written

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

wrote

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

From this reading And what I thus wrote was for no ulterior use, it was written consciously for practice.

yet

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

youth

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

From this reading I All through my boyhood and youth, I was known and pointed out for the pattern of an idler; and yet I was always busy on my own private end, which was to learn to write.

Chapter 4 of Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 100 sentences, grouped into 20 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 4 of Memories and Portraits contain?

Chapter 4 holds 100 sentences of Memories and Portraits, unabridged, divided into 20 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 100 sentences, grouped into 20 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 Memories and Portraits?

Work through the 20 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 20 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 Memories and Portraits

Common questions about reading Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Memories and Portraits?

Yes. All 1671 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #381 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Memories and Portraits is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #381, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Memories and Portraits take to read?

About 139 minutes of reading across 335 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Memories and Portraits section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of Memories and Portraits 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 Memories and Portraits

Words and structures a reader meets early in Memories and Portraits, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Memories and Portraits; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Biggin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Memories and Portraits; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Recent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Memories and Portraits; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Books
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Memories and Portraits; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.