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The Circular Staircase

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary Roberts Rinehart • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Circular Staircase

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

“It was a woman,” I said positively.

“And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

“Nonsense,” I broke in.

“Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

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.

Chapter VIII Reading 1/40

The Circular Staircase

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

Line 2

“It was a woman,” I said positively.

Line 3

“And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

Line 4

“Nonsense,” I broke in.

Line 5

“Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

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.

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading “THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?””

All words in this reading · 54

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 “It was a woman,” I said positively.

affirms

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

always

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

and

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

began

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

broke

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

From this reading “Nonsense,” I broke in.

detective

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

east

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

equal

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

eyes

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

figure

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

frightened

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

had

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

HALF

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

her

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

house

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

I

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

in

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

Innes

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

is

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

It

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

Liddy

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

LINE

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

maid

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

man

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

Miss

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

night

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

Nonsense

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

From this reading “Nonsense,” I broke in.

OF

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

on

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

opinion

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

OTHER

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

positively

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

positiveness

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

said

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

saw

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

she

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

she's

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

shut

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

shuts

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

that

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

THE

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

them

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

veranda

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

was

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

were

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

what

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

when

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

From this reading “Liddy had her eyes shut—she always shuts them when she’s frightened.”

with

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

woman

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

From this reading “It was a woman,” I said positively.

yet

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

From this reading “And yet your maid affirms with equal positiveness that it was a man.”

you

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

your

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

From this reading THE OTHER HALF OF THE LINE “Miss Innes,” the detective began, “what is your opinion of the figure you saw on the east veranda the night you and your maid were in the house alone?”

Chapter 8 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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 8 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 8 holds 202 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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 8 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 41 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Circular Staircase

Common questions about reading The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Circular Staircase?

Yes. All 4811 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #434 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Circular Staircase is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #434, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Circular Staircase take to read?

About 400 minutes of reading across 963 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Circular Staircase section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Circular Staircase 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 Circular Staircase

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Circular Staircase, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Story: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Middle-aged: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spinster: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deserted: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Circular Staircase; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.