Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete
The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 28/29 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.
Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.
The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.
But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.
He made all sorts of pretexts.
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.

The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete is here in full — 149 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 28/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 136–140

Line 1
I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.
Line 2
Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.
/ˈsʌmbɑːdi ˈkærid miː ʌp ənd ənˈdrest miː ənd ˈprɑːməst miː ə ɡreɪt ɡeɪm ʌv ˈkɪsɪŋ ɪn ðə ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
Line 3
The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.
Line 4
But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.
Line 5
He made all sorts of pretexts.

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.

authorities noun US /əˈθɔːrətiz/

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading “The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.”

claims noun US /kleɪmz/

plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading “The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.”

clerks noun US /klɜːrks/

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading “The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.”

communicated verb US /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/

past form of “communicate” — transmit information

From this reading “The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.”

complained verb US /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading “I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.”

constables noun US /ˈkɑːnstəbəlz/

plural of “constable” — a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff

From this reading “The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.”

stool noun US /stuːl/

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading “I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.”

undressed adjective US /ənˈdrest/

of lumber or stone or hides; not finished or dressed

From this reading “Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.”

All words in this reading · 92

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 I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

auntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

authoritiesnounUS /əˈθɔːrətiz/

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

by-and-bynoun

an indefinite time in the future

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

ceasedverbUS /siːst/

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/

plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

clerksnounUS /klɜːrks/

plural of “clerk” — an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

communicatedverbUS /kəˈmjuːnəkeɪtɪd/

past form of “communicate” — transmit information

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

complainedverbUS /kəmˈpleɪnd/

past form of “complain” — express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

constablesnounUS /ˈkɑːnstəbəlz/

plural of “constable” — a lawman with less authority and jurisdiction than a sheriff

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

Dorothy

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

dressedadjectiveUS /drest/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He made all sorts of pretexts.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

kissingnounUS /ˈkɪsɪŋ/

affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

likewiseadverbUS /ˈlaɪkwaɪz/

in like or similar manner

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He made all sorts of pretexts.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

messengernounUS /ˈmesəndʒər/

a person who carries a message

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

objectionnounUS /əbˈdʒekʃən/

the act of expressing earnest opposition or protest

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

pretexts

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

From this reading He made all sorts of pretexts.

promisedverbUS /ˈprɑːməst/

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

rednounUS /red/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

Riversley

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

SomebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/

a person, without saying who

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading He made all sorts of pretexts.

stoolnounUS /stuːl/

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

supportedadjectiveUS /səˈpɔːrtɪd/

sustained or maintained by aid (as distinct from physical support)

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

tea-tray

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

undressedadjectiveUS /ənˈdrest/

of lumber or stone or hides; not finished or dressed

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Somebody carried me up and undressed me, and promised me a great game of kissing in the morning.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

visitedverbUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪd/

past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

Waddy

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

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading I had been placed on a stool beside a tea-tray near the fire, and there I saw the old red house of Riversley, and my mother dressed in white, and my aunt Dorothy; and they all complained that I had ceased to love them, and must go to bed, to which I had no objection.

whompronounUS /huːm/

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading But the old gentleman wished to keep me until his messenger returned from Riversley.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The next day in the strange house I heard that the old gentleman had sent one of his clerks down to my grandfather at Riversley, and communicated with the constables in London; and, by-and-by, Mrs. Waddy arrived, having likewise visited those authorities, one of whom supported her claims upon me.

Chapter 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete by George Meredith holds 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete contain?

Chapter 1 holds 149 sentences of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete by George Meredith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 149 sentences, grouped into 30 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 1 of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete?

Work through the 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 30 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete

Common questions about reading The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete by George Meredith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete?

Yes. All 12750 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4452 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4452, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2550 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete section by section

How to work through The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete 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 Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Night
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stands
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Without
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Clear
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Adventures of Harry Richmond — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.