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The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories
The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.
There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.
But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.
He read it.
She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— But above all,” she wrote, night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.
Line 2
There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.
Line 3
But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.
Line 4
He read it.
Line 5
She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

All words in this reading · 82

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 The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

above

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

adores

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

all

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

an

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

and

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

Armand

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

arranged

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

back

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

belongs

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

blessing

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

brand

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

bundle

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

But

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

cursed

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

day

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

days

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

dear

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

drawer

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

during

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

Désirée

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

Désirée's

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

espousal

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

father

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

for

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

from

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

go

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

God

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

good

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

had

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

having

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

he

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

her

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

him

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

his

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

husband's

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

I

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

in

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

innocent

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

is

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

it

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

know

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

last

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

letter

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

letters

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

little

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

lives

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

love

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

mother

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

never

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

night

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

not

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

of

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

old

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

one

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

our

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

part

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

From this reading But it was not Désirée’s; it was part of an old letter from his mother to his father.

race

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

read

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

From this reading He read it.

remnant

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

scribblings

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

sent

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

She

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

slavery

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

so

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

thank

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

thanking

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

that

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

The

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

their

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

them

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

There

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

thing

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

tiny

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

to

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

took

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

was

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

From this reading The last thing to go was a tiny bundle of letters; innocent little scribblings that Désirée had sent to him during the days of their espousal.

which

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

From this reading There was the remnant of one back in the drawer from which he took them.

who

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

will

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

with

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

wrote

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

From this reading She was thanking God for the blessing of her husband’s love:— “But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.”

Chapter 20 of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin holds 206 sentences, grouped into 42 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 Awakening, and Selected Short Stories contain?

Chapter 20 holds 206 sentences of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 206 sentences, grouped into 42 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 Awakening, and Selected Short Stories?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 Awakening, and Selected Short Stories

Common questions about reading The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories by Kate Chopin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories?

Yes. All 4176 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #160 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #160, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories take to read?

About 348 minutes of reading across 836 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories section by section

How to work through The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of The Awakening, and Selected Short 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 Awakening, and Selected Short Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Awakening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Selected
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Short
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stories
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Awakening, and Selected Short Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.