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Tales and Fantasies

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Tales and Fantasies is here in full — 513 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Louis Stevenson • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Tales and Fantasies

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IX Reading 1/102

Tales and Fantasies Robert Louis Stevenson

Cover illustration for Tales and Fantasies

Chapter IX

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Tales and Fantasies is here in full — 513 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy. He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door. The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light. Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering. Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

Tales and Fantasies

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Tales and Fantasies is here in full — 513 sentences across 103 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/102 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

Line 2

He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

Line 3

The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

Line 4

Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

Line 5

Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

All words in this reading · 78

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 Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

affected

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

ago

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

all

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

and

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

as

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

at

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

awakened

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

back

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

Bay

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

been

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

by

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

cleanly

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

colours

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

coped

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

day

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

door

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

during

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

east

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

foot

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

Francisco

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

garden

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

glittering

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

greens

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

grown

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

had

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

have

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

He

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

height

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

him

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

his

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

horrors

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

house

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

houses

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

IN

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

infancy

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

into

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

it

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

John

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

lay

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

light

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

maid

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

many

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

might

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

most

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

night

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

of

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

painting

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

refracted

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

roofed

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

room

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

San

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

saw

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

shone

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

sleep

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

slept

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

snow

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

spite

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

strange

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

sunrise

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

tapping

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

tea-drinking

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

ten

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

that

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

the

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

From this reading IN spite of the horrors of the day and the tea-drinking of the night, John slept the sleep of infancy.

to

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

upon

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

walls

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

was

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

were

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

what

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

window

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

winter

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

with

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

From this reading The winter sunrise was painting the east; and as the window was to the back of the house, it shone into the room with many strange colours of refracted light.

within

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

Without

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

From this reading Without, the houses were all cleanly roofed with snow; the garden walls were coped with it a foot in height; the greens lay glittering.

years

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

From this reading He was awakened by the maid, as it might have been ten years ago, tapping at the door.

Yet

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

From this reading Yet strange as snow had grown to John during his years upon the Bay of San Francisco, it was what he saw within that most affected him.

Chapter 9 of Tales and Fantasies by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 513 sentences, grouped into 103 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 9 of Tales and Fantasies contain?

Chapter 9 holds 513 sentences of Tales and Fantasies, unabridged, divided into 103 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Tales and Fantasies by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 513 sentences, grouped into 103 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 9 of Tales and Fantasies?

Work through the 103 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 103 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Tales and Fantasies

Common questions about reading Tales and Fantasies by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tales and Fantasies?

Yes. All 2496 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #426 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tales and Fantasies is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #426, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tales and Fantasies take to read?

About 208 minutes of reading across 500 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tales and Fantasies section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 18 chapters of Tales and Fantasies to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Tales and Fantasies

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tales and Fantasies, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Varey: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales and Fantasies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nicholson: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales and Fantasies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stupid: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales and Fantasies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stupider: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales and Fantasies; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.