Chapter 21 of Mr. Prohack is here in full — 616 sentences across 124 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXI
Chapter 21 of Mr. Prohack is here in full — 616 sentences across 124 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MR. PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel. He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy. "Sissie?" said Eve calmly. "I haven't the slightest idea."
Chapter 21 of Mr. Prohack is here in full — 616 sentences across 124 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/123 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading “"Sissie?" said Eve calmly.”
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
introducing a different topic
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading “"I haven't the slightest idea."”
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading “PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.”
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.
Having no one else present.
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
a senior member of the Christian clergy having spiritual and administrative authority; appointed in Christian churches to oversee priests or ministers; considered in some churches to be successors of the twelve Apostles of Christ
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading "Sissie?" said Eve calmly.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
a female human offspring
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
something many people believe that is false
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
in a gradual manner
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I haven't the slightest idea."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I haven't the slightest idea."
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "I haven't the slightest idea."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
introducing a different topic
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
not any; not one
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Sissie?" said Eve calmly.
a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Sissie?" said Eve calmly.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading "I haven't the slightest idea."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
with low volume
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
a successful ending of a struggle or contest
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was alone--no sign of Miss Fancy.
at the time that
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
in or at the place that
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading PROHACK'S TRIUMPH "And where is your charming daughter?" asked Mr. Softly Bishop so gently of Eve, when he had greeted her, and quite incidentally Mr. Prohack, in the entrance hall of the Grand Babylon Hotel.
Chapter 21 of Mr. Prohack by Arnold Bennett holds 616 sentences, grouped into 124 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.
Chapter 21 holds 616 sentences of Mr. Prohack, unabridged, divided into 124 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 21 of Mr. Prohack by Arnold Bennett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 616 sentences, grouped into 124 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.
Work through the 124 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 124 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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.
Common questions about reading Mr. Prohack by Arnold Bennett on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8910 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12773 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #12773, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1782 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Mr. Prohack section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 22 chapters of Mr. Prohack to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Mr. Prohack, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
