The Candle and the Cat

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary Finley Leonard • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Candle and the Cat

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

“It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

“Who is Thompson?” he asked.

“He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

Narrator

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 Candle and the Cat Mary Finley Leonard

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

OLD FRIENDS “There is one thing I don’t understand,” remarked Aunt Charlotte at the breakfast table, “and that is how one of the Grayson servants happened to come over here to ask about the children yesterday.” “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather. “Who is Thompson?” he asked. “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice. Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

The Candle and the Cat

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

“It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

Line 3

“Who is Thompson?” he asked.

/huː ɪz ˈtɑːmpsən hiː æskt/

Line 4

“He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

/hiː ɪz ðə wʌn huː teɪks ker ʌv ˈwɔːltər ənd hiː ɪz ˈveri naɪs/

Line 5

Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

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.

Charlotte noun US /ˈʃɑːrlət/

the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina

From this reading “OLD FRIENDS “There is one thing I don’t understand,” remarked Aunt Charlotte at the breakfast table, “and that is how one of the Grayson servants happened to come over here to ask about the children yesterday.””

grandfather noun US /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading ““It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.”

grandpa noun US /ˈɡrændpɑː/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading “Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!””

oatmeal noun US /ˈoʊtmiːl/

porridge made of rolled oats

From this reading ““It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.”

sorts noun US /sɔːrts/

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

From this reading “Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!””

stopping noun US /ˈstɑːpɪŋ/

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading ““It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.”

Thompson noun US /ˈtɑːmpsən/

United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)

From this reading ““It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.”

tricks noun US /trɪks/

plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading “Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!””

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

breakfast table verb + noun

a table where breakfast is eaten

In this reading “OLD FRIENDS “There is one thing I don’t understand,” remarked Aunt Charlotte at the breakfast table, “and that is how one of the Grayson servants happened to come over here to ask about the children yesterday.””

takes care verb + noun counted as “take care”

be careful, prudent, or watchful

In this reading ““He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.”

OLD FRIENDS adjective + noun counted as “old friend”

all sorts adjective + noun counted as “all sort”

In this reading “Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!””

come over verb + particle

communicate the intended meaning or impression

smile at verb + particle

In this reading ““It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.”

All words in this reading · 66

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading OLD FRIENDS “There is one thing I don’t understand,” remarked Aunt Charlotte at the breakfast table, “and that is how one of the Grayson servants happened to come over here to ask about the children yesterday.”

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 Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “Who is Thompson?” he asked.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

AuntnounUS /ænt/

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

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

Caro

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

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

CharlottenounUS /ˈʃɑːrlət/

the largest city in North Carolina; located in south central North Carolina

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

don't

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

eatingnounUS /ˈiːtɪŋ/

the act of consuming food

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

FRIENDSnounUS /frendz/

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

grandpanounUS /ˈɡrændpɑː/

the father of your father or mother

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

Grayson

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

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading “Who is Thompson?” he asked.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

how

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

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

Kellar

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

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

oatmealnounUS /ˈoʊtmiːl/

porridge made of rolled oats

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

OLDadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

remarkedverbUS /rɪˈmɑːrkt/

past form of “remark” — make mention of

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

servantsnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənts/

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

sleight-of-hand

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

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

smileverbUS /smaɪl/

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/

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

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

stoppingnounUS /ˈstɑːpɪŋ/

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

takesnounUS /teɪks/

plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

From this reading “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

ThompsonnounUS /ˈtɑːmpsən/

United States classical archaeologist (born in Canada) noted for leading the excavation of the Athenian agora (1906-2000)

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

tricksnounUS /trɪks/

plural of “trick” — a cunning or deceitful action or device

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

WalternounUS /ˈwɔːltər/

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading “He is the one who takes care of Walter, and he is very nice.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “It was Thompson, I guess,” said Caro who was eating her oatmeal, stopping every other minute to smile at her grandfather.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why grandpa, he is almost as good as Kellar; he can do all sorts of sleight-of-hand tricks!”

yesterdaynounUS /ˈjestərdeɪ/

the day immediately before today

Chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat by Mary Finley Leonard holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 10 of The Candle and the Cat contain?

Chapter 10 holds 89 sentences of The Candle and the Cat, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat by Mary Finley Leonard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 10 of The Candle and the Cat?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Candle and the Cat

Common questions about reading The Candle and the Cat by Mary Finley Leonard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Candle and the Cat?

Yes. All 831 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58263 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Candle and the Cat is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58263, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Candle and the Cat take to read?

About 69 minutes of reading across 167 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Candle and the Cat section by section

How to work through The Candle and the Cat section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 12 chapters of The Candle and the Cat to begin.
Read one section

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

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

Vocabulary met early in The Candle and the Cat

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Candle and the Cat, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Trolley: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Candle and the Cat; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entrance: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Candle and the Cat; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Driveway: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Candle and the Cat; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Leading: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Candle and the Cat; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter X

What does chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat contain?

How do I study chapter 10 of The Candle and the Cat?

Can chapter 10 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading The Candle and the Cat

How to read The Candle and the Cat section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in The Candle and the Cat