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The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories
The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.
Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.
They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.
The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.
Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.
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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.

The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories

Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

Chapter 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories is here in full — 70 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.
Line 2
Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.
Line 3
They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.
Line 4
The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.
Line 5
Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

All words in this reading · 94

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 After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

After

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

all

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

and

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

any

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

at

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

aunts

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From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

baffling

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

been

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

both

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

bountifully

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

but

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From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

by

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

chamber

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

child's

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

could

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

days

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

difficult

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

earnestly

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

enough

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

enriched

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

eye

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

failure

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

familiar

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

fell

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

fingers

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

for

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

forge

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

from

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

good

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

had

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

Hannah

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

have

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

Helen's

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

her

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

humor

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

imitation

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

improved

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

in

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

it

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

laboring

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

last

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

lips

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

little

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

loving

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

made

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

misformed

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

nicknames

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

none

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

note

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

notes

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

nursery

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

of

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

Often

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

old

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

on

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

one

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

pass

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

pathetic

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

Patiently

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

petting

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

phrases

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

pity

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

produced

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

required

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

risky

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

script

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

see

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

single

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

sometimes

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

spoiled

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

stiff

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

suspicious

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

tears

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

that

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

the

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

their

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

them

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

themselves

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

there

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

they

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

time

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

From this reading They made failure after failure, but they improved little by little all the time.

to

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

trying

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

unconscious

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

upon

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

ventured

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

was

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

From this reading The pity of it all, the pathetic humor of it, there was none to see; they themselves were unconscious of it.

were

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

which

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

whose

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

with

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

From this reading Patiently and earnestly, with their stiff old fingers, they were trying to forge the required note.

word

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

From this reading Often their tears fell upon the notes and spoiled them; sometimes a single misformed word made a note risky which could have been ventured but for that; but at last Hannah produced one whose script was a good enough imitation of Helen's to pass any but a suspicious eye, and bountifully enriched it with the petting phrases and loving nicknames that had been familiar on the child's lips from her nursery days.

work

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

From this reading After a little, both aunts were laboring upon a difficult and baffling work in Helen's chamber.

Chapter 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories by Mark Twain holds 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 20 holds 70 sentences of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 70 sentences, grouped into 14 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 20 of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories

Common questions about reading The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories?

Yes. All 5342 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #142 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #142, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories take to read?

About 445 minutes of reading across 1069 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories section by section

How to work through The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories 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 The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Blues
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Curious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Californian's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Helpless
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The $30,000 Bequest, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.