Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Pierre and His People
Pierre and His People

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Pierre and His People is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Pierre and His People
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:
"That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.
Let us turn the medal over now.
And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."
"Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.
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.

Pierre and His People

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Pierre and His People is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:
Line 2
"That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.
/ðæt ɪz jɔːr ˌɪntɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən ʌv ðə ˈstɔːri bʌt nɑːt ðə ˈstɔːri/
Line 3
Let us turn the medal over now.
/let ʌs tɜːrn ðə ˈmedəl ˈoʊvər naʊ/
Line 4
And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."
Line 5
"Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

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.

ago adverb US /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading “"Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.”

Duke noun US /duːk/

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading “Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:”

five noun US /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading “"Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.”

interpretation noun US /ˌɪntɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/

a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something

From this reading “"That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.”

interrupted adjective US /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

discontinued temporarily

From this reading “And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."”

medal noun US /ˈmedəl/

an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event

From this reading “Let us turn the medal over now.”

minute noun US /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading “Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:”

permission noun US /pərˈmɪʃən/

approval to do something

From this reading “And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."”

All words in this reading · 51

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 Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

Dorset

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

DukenounUS /duːk/

a British peer of the highest rank

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

Emily

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

imperturbably

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

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

interpretationnounUS /ˌɪntɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/

a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

interruptedadjectiveUS /ˌɪntərˈʌptɪd/

discontinued temporarily

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

Letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

medalnounUS /ˈmedəl/

an award for winning a championship or commemorating some other event

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

musinglyadverb

in a reflective manner

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

permissionnounUS /pərˈmɪʃən/

approval to do something

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

Trafford

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

From this reading Just Trafford sat looking musingly but imperturbably at Sir Duke for a minute; then he said:

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

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

From this reading Let us turn the medal over now.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading And, first, let Trafford say that he has the permission of Emily Dorset--" Sir Duke interrupted: "Of her who was Emily Dorset."

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading "Of Miss Emily Dorset, to tell what she did not tell that day five years ago.

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "That is your interpretation of the story, but not the story.

Chapter 8 of Pierre and His People by Gilbert Parker holds 396 sentences, grouped into 80 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 8 of Pierre and His People contain?

Chapter 8 holds 396 sentences of Pierre and His People, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Pierre and His People by Gilbert Parker exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 396 sentences, grouped into 80 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 8 of Pierre and His People?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Pierre and His People

Common questions about reading Pierre and His People by Gilbert Parker on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Pierre and His People?

Yes. All 5631 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #6179 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Pierre and His People is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #6179, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Pierre and His People take to read?

About 469 minutes of reading across 1127 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Pierre and His People section by section

How to work through Pierre and His People section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Pierre and His People 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 Pierre and His People

Words and structures a reader meets early in Pierre and His People, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre and His People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Subscription
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre and His People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre and His People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Special
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Pierre and His People; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.