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Reprinted Pieces
Reprinted Pieces

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Reprinted Pieces is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Reprinted Pieces
Context Illustration Reading 1/24 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.
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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.

Reprinted Pieces

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of Reprinted Pieces is here in full — 120 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/24 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.
Line 2
I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.
Line 3
I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.
Line 4
At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.
Line 5
So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

addressed

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

all

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

always

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

and

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

at

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

backwards

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

bar

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

been

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

behind

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

brandy-and-water

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

but

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

came

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

couldn't

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

couple

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

days

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

do

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

drank

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

else

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

for

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

forwards

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

full

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

get

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

glass

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

had

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

horse-fair

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

house

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

I

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

I'd

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

in

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

instead

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

it

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

John

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

last

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

letter

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

lodgings

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

looking

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

Mr

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

my

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

myself

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

obliged

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

of

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

one

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

or

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

out

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

over

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

Pigeon

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

posted

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

pretty

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

purposely

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

put

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

see

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

sharp

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

So

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

something

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

somewhere

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

sort

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

that

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

the

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

there

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

Thomas

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

thought

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

to

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

tried

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

turned

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

up

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

From this reading I was obliged to put up somewhere else, but I came backwards and forwards to the bar for a couple of days, and there was the letter always behind the glass.

was

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

From this reading I tried to get lodgings in the house, but there had been a horse-fair, or something of that sort, and it was full.

way

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

what

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

while

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

From this reading ‘I turned it over in my mind while I drank my brandy-and-water (looking pretty sharp at the letter the while), but I couldn’t see my way out of it at all.

would

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

write

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

From this reading At last I thought I’d write a letter to Mr. Pigeon myself, and see what that would do.

wrote

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

From this reading So I wrote one, and posted it, but I purposely addressed it, Mr. John Pigeon, instead of Mr. Thomas Pigeon, to see what that would do.

Chapter 14 of Reprinted Pieces by Charles Dickens holds 120 sentences, grouped into 24 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 14 of Reprinted Pieces contain?

Chapter 14 holds 120 sentences of Reprinted Pieces, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of Reprinted Pieces by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 120 sentences, grouped into 24 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 14 of Reprinted Pieces?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Reprinted Pieces

Common questions about reading Reprinted Pieces by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Reprinted Pieces?

Yes. All 3906 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #872 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Reprinted Pieces is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #872, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Reprinted Pieces take to read?

About 325 minutes of reading across 782 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Reprinted Pieces section by section

How to work through Reprinted Pieces section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Reprinted Pieces 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 Reprinted Pieces

Words and structures a reader meets early in Reprinted Pieces, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Voyage
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Reprinted Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begging-letter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Reprinted Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Reprinted Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Reprinted Pieces; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.