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Peter Ruff and the Double Four
Peter Ruff and the Double Four

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four is here in full — 331 sentences across 67 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Peter Ruff and the Double Four
Context Illustration Reading 1/66 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.
Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.
I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.
I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.
With your own husband, my dear?’
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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.

Peter Ruff and the Double Four

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four is here in full — 331 sentences across 67 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/66 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.
Line 2
Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.
Line 3
I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.
Line 4
I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.
Line 5
With your own husband, my dear?’
/wɪð jɔːr oʊn ˈhʌzbənd maɪ dɪr/

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.

Bohemian noun US /boʊˈhiːmiən/

a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling

From this reading “De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.”

dined verb US /daɪnd/

past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner

From this reading ““I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.”

dining noun US /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/

the act of eating dinner

From this reading “De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.”

fashionable adjective US /ˈfæʃənəbəl/

being or in accordance with current social fashions

From this reading “De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.”

neighbors noun US /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading “Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.”

reminiscences noun US /ˌreməˈnɪsənsɪz/

plural of “reminiscence” — a mental impression retained and recalled from the past

From this reading “Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.”

restaurant noun US /ˈrestərɑːnt/

a building where people go to eat

From this reading “De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.”

Violet noun US /ˈvaɪəlɪt/

any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers

From this reading ““I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

Amershal

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

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

BohemiannounUS /boʊˈhiːmiən/

a member of a people with dark skin and hair who speak Romany and who traditionally live by seasonal work and fortunetelling

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

BothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

DenounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

dinedverbUS /daɪnd/

past form of “dine” — have supper; eat dinner

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

diningnounUS /ˈdaɪnɪŋ/

the act of eating dinner

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/

being or in accordance with current social fashions

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

Grost

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/

a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

husbandnounUS /ˈhʌzbənd/

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

neighborsnounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

outstayed

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

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

pensivelyadverb

in a pensive manner

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

refusedverbUS /rəˈfjuːzd/

past form of “refuse” — show unwillingness towards

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

remarkedverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkt/

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

reminiscencesnounUS /ˌreməˈnɪsənsɪz/

plural of “reminiscence” — a mental impression retained and recalled from the past

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

restaurantnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnt/

a building where people go to eat

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/

to a small degree or extent

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

somewhereadverbUS /ˈsʌmwer/

in or at or to some place

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Both had been in the humor for reminiscences, and they had outstayed most of their neighbors.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

togetheradverbUS /təˈɡeðər/

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

VioletnounUS /ˈvaɪəlɪt/

any of numerous low-growing violas with small flowers

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading “I told Lady Amershal, when she asked us to go there this evening, that we always dined together alone somewhere once a week, and she absolutely refused to believe me.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading De Grost and his wife were dining together at the corner table in a fashionable but somewhat Bohemian restaurant.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading “I wonder what people really think of us,” Violet remarked pensively.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading ‘With your own husband, my dear?’

Chapter 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim holds 331 sentences, grouped into 67 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 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four contain?

Chapter 15 holds 331 sentences of Peter Ruff and the Double Four, unabridged, divided into 67 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 331 sentences, grouped into 67 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 15 of Peter Ruff and the Double Four?

Work through the 67 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 67 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Peter Ruff and the Double Four

Common questions about reading Peter Ruff and the Double Four by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Peter Ruff and the Double Four?

Yes. All 9756 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1976 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Peter Ruff and the Double Four is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1976, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Peter Ruff and the Double Four take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1952 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Peter Ruff and the Double Four section by section

How to work through Peter Ruff and the Double Four section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of Peter Ruff and the Double Four 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 Peter Ruff and the Double Four

Words and structures a reader meets early in Peter Ruff and the Double Four, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Nothing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peter Ruff and the Double Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Supper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peter Ruff and the Double Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Party
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peter Ruff and the Double Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Particular
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Peter Ruff and the Double Four; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.