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Sylvie and Bruno
Sylvie and Bruno

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Sylvie and Bruno is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Sylvie and Bruno
Context Illustration Reading 1/37 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.
So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.
I was delayed,” I stammered.
Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!
Luckily no questions were asked.
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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.

Sylvie and Bruno

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 17 of Sylvie and Bruno is here in full — 186 sentences across 38 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/37 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.
Line 2
So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.
Line 3
I was delayed,” I stammered.
Line 4
Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!
/ðoʊ wʌt ɪt wɑːz ðæt hæd dɪˈleɪd miː aɪ ʃʊd hæv bɪn ˈpʌzəld tuː ɪkˈspleɪn/
Line 5
Luckily no questions were asked.
/ˈlʌkəli noʊ ˈkwestʃənz wɜːr æskt/

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.

Arthur noun US /ˈɑːrθər/

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading “Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.”

delayed adjective US /dɪˈleɪd/

not as far along as normal in development

From this reading ““I was delayed,” I stammered.”

Earl noun US /ɜːrl/

a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

From this reading “Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.”

imperious adj US /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading “Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.”

Luckily adverb US /ˈlʌkəli/

by good fortune

From this reading “Luckily no questions were asked.”

playful adjective US /ˈpleɪfəl/

full of fun and high spirits

From this reading ““So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.”

puzzled adjective US /ˈpʌzəld/

filled with bewilderment

From this reading “Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!”

reproach noun US /riˈproʊtʃ/

a mild rebuke or criticism

From this reading ““So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.”

All words in this reading · 54

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 Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

ArthurnounUS /ˈɑːrθər/

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

askedverbUS /æskt/

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

From this reading Luckily no questions were asked.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

delayedadjectiveUS /dɪˈleɪd/

not as far along as normal in development

From this reading “I was delayed,” I stammered.

dreamilyadverb

in a dreamy manner

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

EarlnounUS /ɜːrl/

a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

explainverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪn/

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

imperiousadjUS /ɪmˈpɪr.i.əs/

Assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering. (Hách dịch, độc đoán, kiêu kỳ.)

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

LuckilyadverbUS /ˈlʌkəli/

by good fortune

From this reading Luckily no questions were asked.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

Muriel

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

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Luckily no questions were asked.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

playfuladjectiveUS /ˈpleɪfəl/

full of fun and high spirits

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

puzzledadjectiveUS /ˈpʌzəld/

filled with bewilderment

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

questionsnounUS /ˈkwestʃənz/

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading Luckily no questions were asked.

reproachnounUS /riˈproʊtʃ/

a mild rebuke or criticism

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

seatedadjectiveUS /ˈsiːtɪd/

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

stammered

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

From this reading “I was delayed,” I stammered.

StilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

ThoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

tonenounUS /toʊn/

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “I was delayed,” I stammered.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Though what it was that had delayed me I should have been puzzled to explain!

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Still more dreamily I found myself following this imperious voice into a room where the Earl, his daughter, and Arthur, were seated.

you're

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

From this reading “So you're come at last!” said Lady Muriel, in a tone of playful reproach.

Chapter 17 of Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll holds 186 sentences, grouped into 38 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 17 of Sylvie and Bruno contain?

Chapter 17 holds 186 sentences of Sylvie and Bruno, unabridged, divided into 38 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 17 of Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 186 sentences, grouped into 38 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 17 of Sylvie and Bruno?

Work through the 38 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 38 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 17 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 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 Sylvie and Bruno

Common questions about reading Sylvie and Bruno by Lewis Carroll on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Sylvie and Bruno?

Yes. All 4359 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #620 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Sylvie and Bruno is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #620, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Sylvie and Bruno take to read?

About 363 minutes of reading across 872 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Sylvie and Bruno section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of Sylvie and Bruno 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 Sylvie and Bruno

Words and structures a reader meets early in Sylvie and Bruno, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

People
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvie and Bruno; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cheered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvie and Bruno; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Again
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvie and Bruno; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Excited
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Sylvie and Bruno; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.