Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Chaplain of the Fleet
The Chaplain of the Fleet

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Chaplain of the Fleet
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.
Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.
I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.
"Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"
"I have heard no news," I replied.
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 Chaplain of the Fleet

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.
Line 2
Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.
Line 3
I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.
Line 4
"Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"
Line 5
"I have heard no news," I replied.
/aɪ hæv hɜːrd noʊ nuːz aɪ rɪˈplaɪd/

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.

acquainted adjective US /əˈkweɪntɪd/

having fair knowledge of

From this reading “I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.”

Baker noun US /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading “I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.”

dreadful adjective US /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading “"Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"”

informed adjective US /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmd/

having much knowledge or education

From this reading “I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.”

intention noun US /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading “Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.”

kindest adjective US /ˈkaɪndəst/

superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading “I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.”

posted adjective US /ˈpoʊstɪd/

publicly displayed

From this reading “Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.”

telling adjective US /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading “Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.”

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.

dreadful news adjective + noun

In this reading “"Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

acquaintedadjectiveUS /əˈkweɪntɪd/

having fair knowledge of

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

BakernounUS /ˈbeɪkər/

someone who bakes commercially

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

CHUDLEIGH

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

From this reading HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

DearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

dreadfuladjectiveUS /ˈdredfəl/

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

HOW

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

From this reading HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

informedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɔːrmd/

having much knowledge or education

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

intentionnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃən/

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

kindestadjectiveUS /ˈkaɪndəst/

superlative of “kind” — having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

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 HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

LORDnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

newsnounUS /nuːz/

information about recent and important events

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "I have heard no news," I replied.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

Peggy

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

Pleydell

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

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

postedadjectiveUS /ˈpoʊstɪd/

publicly displayed

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "I have heard no news," I replied.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

servicenounUS /ˈsɜːrvəs/

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

tellingadjectiveUS /ˈtelɪŋ/

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

townnounUS /taʊn/

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

WENTverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading HOW LORD CHUDLEIGH WENT TO LONDON.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading I was acquainted with this news by Miss Peggy Baker, who informed me of it in her kindest manner.

WithoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without telling any one of his intention, Lord Chudleigh posted one morning to town.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Dear Miss Pleydell," she said, after morning service, as we were coming out of church, "have you heard the dreadful news?"

Chapter 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet by Walter Besant holds 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet contain?

Chapter 24 holds 136 sentences of The Chaplain of the Fleet, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet by Walter Besant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 24 of The Chaplain of the Fleet?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Chaplain of the Fleet

Common questions about reading The Chaplain of the Fleet by Walter Besant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Chaplain of the Fleet?

Yes. All 7971 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #45734 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Chaplain of the Fleet is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #45734, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Chaplain of the Fleet take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1595 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Chaplain of the Fleet section by section

How to work through The Chaplain of the Fleet section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Chaplain of the Fleet 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 Chaplain of the Fleet

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Chaplain of the Fleet, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chaplain of the Fleet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Surely
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chaplain of the Fleet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Contemplation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chaplain of the Fleet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Happy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Chaplain of the Fleet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.