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Old Mr. Tredgold
Old Mr. Tredgold

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold is here in full — 318 sentences across 64 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/63 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.
I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.
It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.
He could not exit praying.”
How was he to get off the stage?
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Old Mr. Tredgold

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold is here in full — 318 sentences across 64 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/63 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.
Line 2
I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.
Line 3
It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.
/ɪt wɑːz laɪk ðə pəˈzɪʃən wɪtʃ ɡeɪv ˈmɪstər pʌf soʊ mʌtʃ ˈtrʌbəl ɪn ðə ˈkrɪtɪk/
Line 4
He could notexit praying.”
/hiː kʊd nɑːt ˈeɡzɪt ˈpreɪɪŋ/
Line 5
How was he to get off the stage?

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.

aloe noun US /ˈæloʊ/

succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in Africa

From this reading “But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.”

conservatory noun US /kənˈsɜːrvətɔːri/

the faculty and students of a school specializing in one of the fine arts

From this reading “But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.”

Critic noun US /ˈkrɪtɪk/

a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

husk noun US /hʌsk/

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading “But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.”

praying verb US /ˈpreɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading “He could not “exit praying.””

Puff verb US /pʌf/

smoke and exhale strongly

From this reading “It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.”

sanction noun US /ˈsæŋkʃən/

formal and explicit approval

From this reading “But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.”

unsuccessful adjective US /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəl/

not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome

From this reading “I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

get back verb + particle

recover something or somebody that appeared to be lost

In this reading “I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.”

any accident adjective + noun

In this reading “I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.”

get off verb + particle

leave a vehicle, aircraft, etc.

In this reading “How was he to get off the stage?”

came over verb + particle counted as “come over”

communicate the intended meaning or impression

In this reading “I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.”

think there verb + particle

In this reading “I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.”

All words in this reading · 96

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 I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

accidentnounUS /ˈæksədənt/

an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

alarmnounUS /əˈlɑːrm/

fear resulting from the awareness of danger

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

aloenounUS /ˈæloʊ/

succulent plants having rosettes of leaves usually with fiber like hemp and spikes of showy flowers; found chiefly in Africa

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

awaitedadjectiveUS /əˈweɪtɪd/

expected hopefully

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

Burnet's

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

burstverbUS /bɜːrst/

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

cannot

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

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

chillnounUS /tʃɪl/

coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

consciousnessnounUS /ˈkɑːnʃəsnəs/

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

conservatorynounUS /kənˈsɜːrvətɔːri/

the faculty and students of a school specializing in one of the fine arts

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading He could not “exit praying.”

CriticnounUS /ˈkrɪtɪk/

a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

declareverbUS /dɪˈkler/

state emphatically and authoritatively

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

Dr

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

excitementnounUS /ɪkˈsaɪtmənt/

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

exitnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/

an opening that permits escape or release

From this reading He could not “exit praying.”

fullyadverbUS /ˈfʊli/

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

how

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

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

husknounUS /hʌsk/

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/

too numerous to be counted

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

Jane

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

Katherine

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

looksnounUS /lʊks/

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading How was he to get off the stage?

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

positionnounUS /pəˈzɪʃən/

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

prayingverbUS /ˈpreɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “pray” — address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading He could not “exit praying.”

PuffverbUS /pʌf/

smoke and exhale strongly

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

resultnounUS /rɪˈzʌlt/

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

sanctionnounUS /ˈsæŋkʃən/

formal and explicit approval

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading How was he to get off the stage?

Steephill

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

suitverbUS /suːt/

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

thrilledadjectiveUS /θrɪld/

feeling intense pleasurable excitement

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading It was like the position which gave Mr. Puff so much trouble in the _Critic_.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

unsuccessfuladjectiveUS /ˌʌnsəkˈsesfəl/

not successful; having failed or having an unfavorable outcome

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading I cannot tell the reason why--I think there came over him a chill alarm as to how he should get back if by any accident his suit was unsuccessful.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

wrappings

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

From this reading But though Lady Jane had so fully made up her mind to it, and awaited the result with so much excitement, and though Katherine herself was thrilled with an uneasy consciousness, and Dr. Burnet’s looks gave every sanction to the idea, he did not on that evening under the tall aloe, which had begun to burst the innumerable wrappings of its husk, in the Steephill conservatory, declare his love or ask Katherine to be his wife.

Chapter 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 318 sentences, grouped into 64 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 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold contain?

Chapter 24 holds 318 sentences of Old Mr. Tredgold, unabridged, divided into 64 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 318 sentences, grouped into 64 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 24 of Old Mr. Tredgold?

Work through the 64 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 64 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Old Mr. Tredgold

Common questions about reading Old Mr. Tredgold by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Old Mr. Tredgold?

Yes. All 8435 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55155 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Old Mr. Tredgold is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #55155, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Old Mr. Tredgold take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1687 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Old Mr. Tredgold section by section

How to work through Old Mr. Tredgold section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of Old Mr. Tredgold to begin.

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  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Old Mr. Tredgold

Words and structures a reader meets early in Old Mr. Tredgold, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Exactly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Old Mr. Tredgold; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Conventional
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Common
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Whenever
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