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Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete
Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?
I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.
On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.
To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.
My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete

Chapter X · Chapter 10

Chapter 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?
Line 2
I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.
Line 3
On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.
Line 4
To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.
/tuː ðə left ə dɔːr ˈoʊpənd ənd aɪ kɑːt ə ɡlɪmps ʌv ə loʊ dɑːrk ruːm ɪn wɪtʃ ə ˈdʌzən ˈfeloʊz bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ tuː ðə ˈnæʃənəl ɡɑːrd wɜːr ˈsmoʊkɪŋ blæk paɪps/
Line 5
My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

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.

formality noun US /fɔːrˈmæləti/

a requirement of etiquette or custom

From this reading “I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.”

humiliation noun US /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/

state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading “I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.”

inky adjective US /ˈɪŋki/

of the color of black ink

From this reading “On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.”

muddy adjective US /ˈmʌdi/

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading “On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.”

pipes noun US /paɪps/

plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading “To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.”

tolerable adjective US /ˈtɑːlərəbəl/

capable of being borne or endured

From this reading “The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?”

undergone verb US /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/

inflected form of “undergo” — pass through

From this reading “I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.”

wisely adverb US /ˈwaɪzli/

in a wise manner

From this reading “My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.”

All words in this reading · 108

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 The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

alighting

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

bare-headed

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

barrack-room

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

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

belongingnounUS /bɪˈlɔːŋɪŋ/

happiness felt in a secure relationship

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

billsnounUS /bɪlz/

plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

carriagenounUS /ˈkærɪdʒ/

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

coatnounUS /koʊt/

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

colornounUS /ˈkʌlər/

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

descried

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

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

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

dozennounUS /ˈdʌzən/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

dressverbUS /dres/

put on clothes

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

earnounUS /iːr/

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

else

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

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

enteringnounUS /ˈentərɪŋ/

a movement into or inward

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

feelingnounUS /ˈfiːlɪŋ/

the experiencing of affective and emotional states

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

fellowsnounUS /ˈfeloʊz/

plural of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

fingersnounUS /ˈfɪŋɡərz/

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

formalitynounUS /fɔːrˈmæləti/

a requirement of etiquette or custom

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

glimpsenounUS /ɡlɪmps/

a quick look

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

GuardnounUS /ɡɑːrd/

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

HallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

humiliationnounUS /hjuːˌmɪliˈeɪʃən/

state of disgrace or loss of self-respect

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

importancenounUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəns/

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

inkyadjectiveUS /ˈɪŋki/

of the color of black ink

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

marriagenounUS /ˈmerɪdʒ/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

muddyadjectiveUS /ˈmʌdi/

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

NationaladjectiveUS /ˈnæʃənəl/

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

painfuladjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnfəl/

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

papersnounUS /ˈpeɪpərz/

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

pennounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

pipesnounUS /paɪps/

plural of “pipe” — a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

placarded

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

puttingnounUS /ˈpʌtɪŋ/

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

regardnounUS /rɪˈɡɑːrd/

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

rollingadjectiveUS /ˈroʊlɪŋ/

uttered with a trill

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

seriouslyadverbUS /ˈsɪriəsli/

in a serious manner

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

snuff-colored

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

staircasenounUS /ˈsterkeɪs/

a way of access (upward and downward) consisting of a set of steps

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

tolerableadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərəbəl/

capable of being borne or endured

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

TownnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

undergoneverbUS /ˌʌndərˈɡɔːn/

inflected form of “undergo” — pass through

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

wallsnounUS /wɔːlz/

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

well-bredadjective

of good upbringing

From this reading The marriage ceremony at the Town Hall has, no doubt, a tolerable importance; but is it really possible for a well-bred person to regard this importance seriously?

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading To the left a door opened and I caught a glimpse of a low dark room in which a dozen fellows belonging to the National Guard were smoking black pipes.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

wiselyadverbUS /ˈwaɪzli/

in a wise manner

From this reading My first thought on entering this barrack-room was that I had done wisely in not putting on my gray dress.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading On alighting from the carriage I descried a muddy staircase; walls placarded with bills of every color, and in front of one of them a man in a snuff-colored coat, bare-headed, a pen behind his ear, and papers under his arm, who was rolling a cigarette between his inky fingers.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I have been through it; I have undergone like every one else this painful formality, and I can not look back on it without feeling a kind of humiliation.

Chapter 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete by Gustave Droz holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete contain?

Chapter 10 holds 131 sentences of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete by Gustave Droz exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 10 of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete

Common questions about reading Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete by Gustave Droz on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Yes. All 4038 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3926 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #3926, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete take to read?

About 336 minutes of reading across 808 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

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Vocabulary met early in Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Devil
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Remember
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Notwithstanding
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dearly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Monsieur, Madame, and Bébé — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.