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The Circular Staircase
The Circular Staircase

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 84 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Circular Staircase
Context Illustration Reading 1/16 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.
What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the ghost had made in the trunk-room wall.
I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.
Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:
Then we’ve got them,” he said.
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 Circular Staircase

Chapter XXXI · Chapter 31

Chapter 31 of The Circular Staircase is here in full — 84 sentences across 17 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/16 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.
Line 2
What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole theghosthad made in the trunk-room wall.
Line 3
I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.
Line 4
Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:
Line 5
Then we’ve got them,” he said.

All words in this reading · 92

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.

again

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

Alex's

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

all

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

and

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

around

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

as

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

asleep

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

at

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

being

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

BETWEEN

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

boots

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

completely

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

decided

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

decision

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

discovery

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

do

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

draggled

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

dreams

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

drop

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

events

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

excitement

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

figure

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

FIREPLACES

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

from

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

getting

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

ghost

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

got

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

From this reading “Then we’ve got them,” he said.

grass

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

grave

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

greatest

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

group

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

had

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

happened

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

he

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

From this reading “Then we’ve got them,” he said.

heard

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

hole

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

home

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

house

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

I

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

in

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

into

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

Liddy

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

lived

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

made

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

morning

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

my

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

next

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

night

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

no

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

of

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

on

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

over

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

place

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

puzzle

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

reached

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

rousing

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

safe

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

said

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

From this reading “Then we’ve got them,” he said.

saw

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

shoes

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

silent

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

skirts

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

slip

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

soon

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

stars

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

tense

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

the

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

them

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

Then

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

From this reading “Then we’ve got them,” he said.

there

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

this

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

to

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

triumphant

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

trunk-room

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

TWO

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

under

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

undressed

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

until

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

up

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

up-stairs

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

upstairs

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

used

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

voice

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

From this reading Again I saw the group around the silent figure on the grass, and again, as had happened at the grave, I heard Alex’s voice, tense and triumphant:

walk

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

wall

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

From this reading What to do with my boots was the greatest puzzle of all, there being no place in the house safe from Liddy, until I decided to slip upstairs the next morning and drop them into the hole the “ghost” had made in the trunk-room wall.

was

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

we've

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

From this reading “Then we’ve got them,” he said.

went

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

From this reading I went asleep as soon as I reached this decision, and in my dreams I lived over again the events of the night.

wet

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

What

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

with

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

without

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

From this reading BETWEEN TWO FIREPLACES What with the excitement of the discovery, the walk home under the stars in wet shoes and draggled skirts, and getting up-stairs and undressed without rousing Liddy, I was completely used up.

Chapter 31 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart holds 84 sentences, grouped into 17 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 31 of The Circular Staircase contain?

Chapter 31 holds 84 sentences of The Circular Staircase, unabridged, divided into 17 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 84 sentences, grouped into 17 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 31 of The Circular Staircase?

Work through the 17 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 17 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Circular Staircase 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 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.