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Our Mutual Friend
Our Mutual Friend

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Our Mutual Friend is here in full — 322 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Our Mutual Friend
Context Illustration Reading 1/64 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.
The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.
Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.
Show him in.’
Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.
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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.

Our Mutual Friend

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Our Mutual Friend is here in full — 322 sentences across 65 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/64 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.
Line 2
The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.
Line 3
Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.
Line 4
Show him in.’
Line 5
Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

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.

Taste verb US /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading “The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.”

All words in this reading · 84

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

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

a

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

and

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

be

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

bearer

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

before

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

being

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

betimes

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

Boffin

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

buttons

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

by

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

close

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

communicated

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

composed

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

confounding

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

decent

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

Dismal

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

door

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

express

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

feelings

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

footman

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

forced

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

form

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

gave

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

good

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

had

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

hall

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

have

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

him

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

HIS

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

if

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

IN

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

incomprehensible

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

informed

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

inherit

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

intelligence

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

introduced

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

it

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

made

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

MAKES

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

many

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

morning

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

Mr

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

Mrs

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

name

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

next

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

of

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

on

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

ORPHAN

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

other

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

parts

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

pause

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

perfectly

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

pleased

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

question

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

reluctance

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

remained

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

revealing

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

said

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

Secretary

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

sense

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

Show

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

From this reading ‘Show him in.’

Sloppy

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

some

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

spared

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

surprising

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

Swamp

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

tasteverbUS /teɪst/

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

that

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

THE

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

this

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

to

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

uttering

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

various

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

From this reading Mr Sloppy being introduced, remained close to the door: revealing in various parts of his form many surprising, confounding, and incomprehensible buttons.

very

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

waited

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

was

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

way

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

well

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

From this reading ‘Mrs Boffin will be very well pleased,’ said the Secretary in a perfectly composed way.

WHICH

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

who

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

WILL

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

working

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

would

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

From this reading The footman who communicated this intelligence made a decent pause before uttering the name, to express that it was forced on his reluctance by the youth in question, and that if the youth had had the good sense and good taste to inherit some other name it would have spared the feelings of him the bearer.

youth

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

From this reading IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL The Secretary, working in the Dismal Swamp betimes next morning, was informed that a youth waited in the hall who gave the name of Sloppy.

Chapter 16 of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens holds 322 sentences, grouped into 65 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 16 of Our Mutual Friend contain?

Chapter 16 holds 322 sentences of Our Mutual Friend, unabridged, divided into 65 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 322 sentences, grouped into 65 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 16 of Our Mutual Friend?

Work through the 65 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 65 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Our Mutual Friend

Common questions about reading Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Our Mutual Friend?

Yes. All 19192 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #883 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Our Mutual Friend is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #883, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Our Mutual Friend take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 3839 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Our Mutual Friend section by section

How to work through Our Mutual Friend section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Our Mutual Friend 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 Our Mutual Friend

Words and structures a reader meets early in Our Mutual Friend, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

These
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Mutual Friend; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Times
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Mutual Friend; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Though
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Mutual Friend; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Concerning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Our Mutual Friend; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.