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The Alchemist's Secret
The Alchemist's Secret

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Alchemist's Secret is here in full — 468 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Alchemist's Secret
Context Illustration Reading 1/93 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.
You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"
"Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.
"Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."
"But we're not glad.
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 Alchemist's Secret

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Alchemist's Secret is here in full — 468 sentences across 94 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/93 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.
Line 2
You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"
Line 3
"Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.
/jes ɪt ɪz ˈpɜːrfəktli truː rɪˈplaɪd ðə ˈfɔːrwuːmən ˈkɑːmli/
Line 4
"Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."
Line 5
"But we're not glad.

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.

calmly adverb US /ˈkɑːmli/

with self-possession (especially in times of stress)

From this reading “"Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.”

forewoman noun US /ˈfɔːrwuːmən/

a woman who is foreperson of a jury

From this reading “"Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.”

horrid adjective US /ˈhɔːrəd/

exceedingly bad

From this reading “"Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.”

Merton noun US /ˈmɜːrtən/

United States religious and writer (1915-1968)

From this reading “"Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.”

Monday noun US /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading “"Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."”

perfectly adverb US /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading “"Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.”

surely adverb US /ˈʃʊrli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading “You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"”

telling adjective US /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading “"Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.”

All words in this reading · 59

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

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 "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

Benoit

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But we're not glad.

calmlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmli/

with self-possession (especially in times of stress)

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

can't

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

forewomannounUS /ˈfɔːrwuːmən/

a woman who is foreperson of a jury

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

horridadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəd/

exceedingly bad

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

Julie

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

Louise

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

MertonnounUS /ˈmɜːrtən/

United States religious and writer (1915-1968)

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

MondaynounUS /ˈmʌndi/

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "But we're not glad.

perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

surelyadverbUS /ˈʃʊrli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"

tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

we're

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

From this reading "But we're not glad.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Julie will return to us next Monday, and I hope all my girls will do everything they can to make her feel that we are glad to have her back."

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"

wouldn't

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

From this reading You surely wouldn't take her back, would you, Miss Merton?"

YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes, it is perfectly true," replied the forewoman calmly.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Miss Merton, it can't be true, what Louise has just been telling us, that you are going to let that horrid Julie Benoit come back again.

Chapter 4 of The Alchemist's Secret by Isabel Cecilia Williams holds 468 sentences, grouped into 94 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 4 of The Alchemist's Secret contain?

Chapter 4 holds 468 sentences of The Alchemist's Secret, unabridged, divided into 94 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Alchemist's Secret by Isabel Cecilia Williams exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 468 sentences, grouped into 94 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 4 of The Alchemist's Secret?

Work through the 94 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 94 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Alchemist's Secret

Common questions about reading The Alchemist's Secret by Isabel Cecilia Williams on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Alchemist's Secret?

Yes. All 1906 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #19224 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Alchemist's Secret is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #19224, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Alchemist's Secret take to read?

About 158 minutes of reading across 382 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Alchemist's Secret section by section

How to work through The Alchemist's Secret section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Alchemist's Secret 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 Alchemist's Secret

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Alchemist's Secret, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Passing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alchemist's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bascomb
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alchemist's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mail's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alchemist's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Anything
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Alchemist's Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.