Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
On the Brink of a Chasm
On the Brink of a Chasm

Chapter XVIII · “Tarbot Will Tell Me.”

Chapter XVIII of On the Brink of a Chasm, ““Tarbot Will Tell Me.”,” is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for On the Brink of a Chasm
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.
It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.
He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.
He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.
There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

On the Brink of a Chasm

Chapter XVIII · “Tarbot Will Tell Me.”

Chapter XVIII of On the Brink of a Chasm, ““Tarbot Will Tell Me.”,” is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.
/wen ˈpeləm left hɪz waɪf hiː went ˈɪntuː ðə pɑːrk/
Line 2
It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.
/ɪt wɑːz ə ˈfɑːɡi ˈiːvnɪŋ wɪð frɔːst ɪn ðə er ənd ðə fɑːɡ wɑːz ˈdensəst ɪn ðə pɑːrk æz ɪt ˈɔːlweɪz ɪz/
Line 3
He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.
/hiː wɔːkt ˈʌndər ðə triːz ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ ðə ɡæs læmps wɪtʃ ʃoʊn ˈfiːbli θruː ðə ˈfɑːɡi ˈætməsfɪr/
Line 4
He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.
/hiː dɪd nɑːt hiːd wer hiː wɑːz ˈɡoʊɪŋ hɪz hoʊl soʊl wɑːz əbˈzɔːrbd ɪn ˈæŋkʃəs θɔːt/
Line 5
There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.
/ðer wɜːr noʊ ˈnɜːrvəs ˈterərz naʊ ˈvɪzəbəl ɑːn hɪz feɪs/

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.

densest adjective US /ˈdensəst/

superlative of “dense” — permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading “It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.”

feebly adverb US /ˈfiːbli/

in a faint and feeble manner

From this reading “He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.”

foggy adjective US /ˈfɑːɡi/

stunned or confused and slow to react (as from blows or drunkenness or exhaustion)

From this reading “It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.”

frost noun US /frɔːst/

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading “It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.”

gas noun US /ɡæs/

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading “He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.”

lamps noun US /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading “He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.”

Pelham noun US /ˈpeləm/

a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle

From this reading “When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.”

terrors noun US /ˈterərz/

plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading “There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.”

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.

gas lamps noun + noun counted as “gas lamp”

a lamp that burns illuminating gas

In this reading “He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.”

nervous terrors adjective + noun counted as “nervous terror”

In this reading “There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.”

under the trees preposition + article + noun counted as “under … tree”

In this reading “He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.”

whole soul adjective + noun

In this reading “He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.”

went into verb + particle counted as “go into”

to come or go into

In this reading “When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.”

in the Park preposition + article + noun counted as “in … park”

In this reading “It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.”

in the air preposition + article + noun counted as “in … air”

on everybody's mind

In this reading “It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.”

All words in this reading · 55

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 It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

absorbedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɔːrbd/

giving or marked by complete attention to

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

atmospherenounUS /ˈætməsfɪr/

a particular environment or surrounding influence

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

densestadjectiveUS /ˈdensəst/

superlative of “dense” — permitting little if any light to pass through because of denseness of matter

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

feeblyadverbUS /ˈfiːbli/

in a faint and feeble manner

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

fognounUS /fɑːɡ/

droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

foggyadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːɡi/

stunned or confused and slow to react (as from blows or drunkenness or exhaustion)

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

frostnounUS /frɔːst/

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

gasnounUS /ɡæs/

the state of matter distinguished from the solid and liquid states by: relatively low density and viscosity

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

heednounUS /hiːd/

paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

lampsnounUS /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

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 When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/

easily agitated

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

ParknounUS /pɑːrk/

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

PelhamnounUS /ˈpeləm/

a bit with a bar mouthpiece that is designed to combine a curb and snaffle

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

shoneverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

terrorsnounUS /ˈterərz/

plural of “terror” — an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

treesnounUS /triːz/

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

visibleadjectiveUS /ˈvɪzəbəl/

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were no nervous terrors now visible on his face.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading He walked under the trees watching the gas lamps, which shone feebly through the foggy atmosphere.

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading He did not heed where he was going, his whole soul was absorbed in anxious thought.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading When Pelham left his wife he went into the Park.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a foggy evening with frost in the air, and the fog was densest in the Park, as it always is.

Chapter 18 of On the Brink of a Chasm by L. T. Meade holds 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 18 of On the Brink of a Chasm contain?

Chapter 18 holds 92 sentences of On the Brink of a Chasm, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of On the Brink of a Chasm by L. T. Meade exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 18 of On the Brink of a Chasm?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 On the Brink of a Chasm

Common questions about reading On the Brink of a Chasm by L. T. Meade on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of On the Brink of a Chasm?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of On the Brink of a Chasm is used?

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

How long does On the Brink of a Chasm take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read On the Brink of a Chasm section by section

How to work through On the Brink of a Chasm section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of On the Brink of a Chasm to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in On the Brink of a Chasm

Words and structures a reader meets early in On the Brink of a Chasm, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of On the Brink of a Chasm, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of On the Brink of a Chasm, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of On the Brink of a Chasm, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.