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Riceyman Steps: A Novel
Riceyman Steps: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel is here in full — 1040 sentences across 208 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Arnold Bennett • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Riceyman Steps: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/208 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.
It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.
They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.
At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.
Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.
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.

Riceyman Steps: A Novel

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel is here in full — 1040 sentences across 208 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/208 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.
Line 2
It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.
/ɪt wɑːz dʒʌst ˈæftər fɔːr əˈklɑːk ɪn ðə ˈdʒænjuːeri ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ ðer fɜːrst əˈkweɪntəns/
Line 3
They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.
/ðeɪ sæt ɑːn ˈɑːpəzət saɪdz ʌv ˈhenriz desk wɪð ðə ɪˈlektrɪk laɪt ˌekˈstrævəɡəntli ˈbɜːrnɪŋ əˈbʌv ðem/
Line 4
At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.
/æt ðə frʌnt ʌv ðə ʃɑːp ðə deɪ wɑːz ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ ɪn feɪnt ɡliːmz ʌv ɡreɪ ˈtwaɪlaɪt/
Line 5
Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.

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.

Arb noun US /ɑːrb/

someone who engages in arbitrage (who purchases securities in one market for immediate resale in another in the hope of profiting from the price differential)

From this reading “I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Cytherea noun US /ˌsɪθərˈiːə/

goddess of love and beauty and daughter of Zeus in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Venus

From this reading “I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
disorder noun US /dɪˈsɔːrdər/

a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading “Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
expiring verb US /ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ/

-ing form of “expire” — lose validity

From this reading “At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
extravagantly adverb US /ˌekˈstrævəɡəntli/

in an abundant manner

From this reading “They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gleams noun US /ɡliːmz/

plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light

From this reading “At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Henry's noun US /ˈhenriz/

possessive form of “henry” — a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading “They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reclining noun US /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/

the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position

From this reading “I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

opposite sides adjective + noun counted as “opposite side”

In this reading “They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.”

10,059 times in 426,211 chapters
red lips noun + noun counted as “red lip”

In this reading “I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.”

2,470 times in 426,211 chapters
gleams of verb + particle counted as “gleam of”

In this reading “At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.”

14,785 times in 426,211 chapters
reigned in verb + particle counted as “reign in”

In this reading “I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.”

3,233 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 66

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.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ArbnounUS /ɑːrb/

someone who engages in arbitrage (who purchases securities in one market for immediate resale in another in the hope of profiting from the price differential)

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BEFOREprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CythereanounUS /ˌsɪθərˈiːə/

goddess of love and beauty and daughter of Zeus in ancient mythology; identified with Roman Venus

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DAYnounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
desknounUS /desk/

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DirtnounUS /dɜːrt/

the part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock

From this reading Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
disordernounUS /dɪˈsɔːrdər/

a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

From this reading Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Earlforward

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Pending verification
Earlforward's

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Pending verification
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
expiringverbUS /ɪkˈspaɪrɪŋ/

-ing form of “expire” — lose validity

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
extravagantlyadverbUS /ˌekˈstrævəɡəntli/

in an abundant manner

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
faintadjectiveUS /feɪnt/

deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fascinatedadjectiveUS /ˈfæsəneɪtəd/

having your attention fixated as though by a spell

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gleamsnounUS /ɡliːmz/

plural of “gleam” — an appearance of reflected light

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Henry'snounUS /ˈhenriz/

possessive form of “henry” — a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
how

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JanuarynounUS /ˈdʒænjuːeri/

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lipsnounUS /lɪps/

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Dirt was nothing; disorder was nothing; Mr. Earlforward loved.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oppositeadjectiveUS /ˈɑːpəzət/

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
recliningnounUS /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/

the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reignedverbUS /reɪnd/

past form of “reign” — have sovereign power

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

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

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was just after four o'clock in the January following their first acquaintance.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
twilightnounUS /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading At the front of the shop the day was expiring in faint gleams of grey twilight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I THE DAY BEFORE Cytherea reigned in Mr. Earlforward's office behind the shop--invisible, but she was there--probably reclining--ask not how!--on the full red lips (which fascinated Mrs. Arb) of Mr. Earlforward.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading They sat on opposite sides of Henry's desk, with the electric light extravagantly burning above them.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel by Arnold Bennett holds 1040 sentences, grouped into 208 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 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel contain?

Chapter 2 holds 1040 sentences of Riceyman Steps: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 208 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel by Arnold Bennett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 1040 sentences, grouped into 208 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 2 of Riceyman Steps: A Novel?

Work through the 208 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 208 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Riceyman Steps: A Novel

Common questions about reading Riceyman Steps: A Novel by Arnold Bennett on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Riceyman Steps: A Novel?

Yes. All 7303 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58666 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Riceyman Steps: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58666, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Riceyman Steps: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1461 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Riceyman Steps: A Novel section by section

How to work through Riceyman Steps: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of Riceyman Steps: A Novel 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 Riceyman Steps: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in Riceyman Steps: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lilian
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Riceyman Steps: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Prohack
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Riceyman Steps: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Roll-call
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Riceyman Steps: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pretty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Riceyman Steps: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.