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The City of Fire
The City of Fire

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The City of Fire
Context Illustration Reading 23/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_You know Link!_” That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.
The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.
It's far enough away and yet not too far--.
You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.
All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”
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 City of Fire

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire is here in full — 423 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 23/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 111–115

Line 1
_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.
Line 2
The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.
Line 3
It's far enough away and yet not too far--.
Line 4
You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.
Line 5
All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

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.

handle verb US /ˈhændəl/

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading “All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.””

Link verb US /lɪŋk/

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

million noun US /ˈmɪljən/

the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

Pat verb US /pæt/

pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

retire verb US /rɪˈtaɪr/

go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position

From this reading “You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.”

slick noun US /slɪk/

a slippery smoothness

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

whistle verb US /ˈwɪsəl/

make whistling sounds

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

worry verb US /ˈwɜːri/

be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy

From this reading “_You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.”

All words in this reading · 58

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

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 _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

handleverbUS /ˈhændəl/

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

It's

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

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

LinkverbUS /lɪŋk/

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/

the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

mistakenounUS /mɪˈsteɪk/

a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

needn't

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

PatverbUS /pæt/

pat or squeeze fondly or playfully, especially under the chin

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

retireverbUS /rɪˈtaɪr/

go into retirement; stop performing one's work or withdraw from one's position

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

slicknounUS /slɪk/

a slippery smoothness

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

suspectverbUS /səˈspekt/

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

That's

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

this'll

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

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/

make whistling sounds

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

worryverbUS /ˈwɜːri/

be worried, concerned, anxious, troubled, or uneasy

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading The house is all ready--you know where--and never a soul in all the world would suspect.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It's far enough away and yet not too far--.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _You know Link!_” “That's all right, Pat, you needn't worry, this'll go through slick as a whistle, and a million in it if we work it right.

You'll

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

From this reading You'll make enough out of this to retire for life if you want to Pat, and no mistake.

you've

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

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading All you've got to do is to handle it right, and you know your business.”

Chapter 1 of The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill holds 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 1 of The City of Fire contain?

Chapter 1 holds 423 sentences of The City of Fire, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 423 sentences, grouped into 85 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 1 of The City of Fire?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 City of Fire

Common questions about reading The City of Fire by Grace Livingston Hill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The City of Fire?

Yes. All 6645 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7008 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The City of Fire is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7008, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The City of Fire take to read?

About 553 minutes of reading across 1329 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The City of Fire section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of The City of Fire 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 City of Fire

Words and structures a reader meets early in The City of Fire, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Renumbered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beginning
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The City of Fire; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.