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The Contrast

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Contrast is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Royall Tyler • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Contrast

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

LETITIA Ha, ha, ha!

Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

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 II Reading 1/33

The Contrast

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Contrast is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

LETITIA Ha, ha, ha!

Line 2

Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Line 3

CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

Line 4

Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

Line 5

LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

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.

a

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

Affable's

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

American

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

and

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

Apropos

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

babies

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

be

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

Bloomsbury's

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

but

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Charlotte

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

chit

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

come

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

cried

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

delicacy

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

deprived

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

dolls

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

don't

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

exchanging

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

for

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

given

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

Ha

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

From this reading LETITIA Ha, ha, ha!

have

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

heard

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

her

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

high-flying

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

husband

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

I

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

is

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

it

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

LETITIA

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

From this reading LETITIA Ha, ha, ha!

London

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

Lovely

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

From this reading LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

match

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

me

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Miss

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Mrs

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

not

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

notions

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

of

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

only

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

plaything

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

probable

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

puling

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

shall

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

she

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

tell

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

that

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

From this reading LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

the

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

they

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

think

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

tis

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

to

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

From this reading Well, well, well, the puling chit shall not be deprived of her plaything: 'tis only exchanging London dolls for American babies.--Apropos, of babies, have you heard what Mrs. Affable's high-flying notions of delicacy have come to?

was

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

From this reading LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

Well

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

what

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Who

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

From this reading LETITIA Who, she that was Miss Lovely?

why

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

From this reading CHARLOTTE Think! why I think it is probable she cried for a plaything, and they have given her a husband.

you

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

From this reading Well, but, Charlotte, you don't tell me what you think of Miss Bloomsbury's match.

Chapter 2 of The Contrast by Royall Tyler holds 165 sentences, grouped into 33 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 2 of The Contrast contain?

Chapter 2 holds 165 sentences of The Contrast, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Contrast by Royall Tyler exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 165 sentences, grouped into 33 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 2 of The Contrast?

Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 33 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Contrast

Common questions about reading The Contrast by Royall Tyler on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Contrast?

Yes. All 1255 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #554 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Contrast is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #554, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Contrast take to read?

About 104 minutes of reading across 251 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Contrast section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 8 chapters of The Contrast 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 Contrast

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

Introduction: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Contrast; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Contrast': A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Contrast; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Contrast; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
American: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Contrast; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.