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The Corner House Girls
The Corner House Girls

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Corner House Girls is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Grace Brooks Hill • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Corner House Girls
Context Illustration Reading 1/28 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.
As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.
Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.
They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.
Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.
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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 Corner House Girls

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Corner House Girls is here in full — 140 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.
Line 2
As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.
Line 3
Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.
/bɪˈhaɪnd ðem ˈleɪbərd ðə tɔːl ɡreɪ ˈdʒentəlmən/
Line 4
They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.
/ðeɪ kʊd hiːr hɪm ˈpʌfɪŋ ˈhevəli ɑːn ðə læst flaɪt/
Line 5
Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.
/dɑːt hæd breθ left tuː bɜːrst ˈoʊ.pən ðə ˈkɪtʃən dɔːr ənd rʌn tuː tel ruːθ ʌv ðə ˈvɪzɪtər/

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.

clung verb US /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Dot noun US /dɑːt/

a very small circular shape

From this reading “UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flights noun US /flaɪts/

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
labored adjective US /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading “Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
landings noun US /ˈlændɪŋz/

plural of “landing” — an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
peter's noun US /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
puffing noun US /ˈpʌfɪŋ/

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading “They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tightly adverb US /ˈtaɪtli/

in a tight or constricted manner

From this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

clung tightly verb + particle counted as “cling tightly”

In this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

370 times in 426,211 chapters
greatly excited adverb + adjective

In this reading “UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.”

1,100 times in 426,211 chapters
kitchen door noun + noun

In this reading “Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.”

3,085 times in 426,211 chapters
climbed up verb + adjective counted as “climb up”

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

In this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

10,443 times in 426,211 chapters
at the top preposition + article + noun counted as “at … top”

In this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

20,091 times in 426,211 chapters
on the landings preposition + article + noun counted as “on … landing”

In this reading “As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.”

2,312 times in 426,211 chapters

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
BehindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
burstverbUS /bɜːrst/

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
climbedverbUS /klaɪmd/

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DotnounUS /dɑːt/

a very small circular shape

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
excitedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtəd/

(of persons) excessively affected by emotion

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flightnounUS /flaɪt/

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flightsnounUS /flaɪts/

plural of “flight” — a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
greatlyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪtli/

to an extraordinary extent or degree

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
heavilyadverbUS /ˈhevəli/

to a considerable degree

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
kitchennounUS /ˈkɪtʃən/

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
laboredadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
landingsnounUS /ˈlændɪŋz/

plural of “landing” — an intermediate platform in a staircase

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

Velmora curated lexicon
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
other's

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Pending verification
PETER'SnounUS /ˈpiːtərz/

possessive form of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading They could hear him puffing heavily on the last flight.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
round-eyedadjective

exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RuthnounUS /ruːθ/

United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
semi-dark

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Pending verification
staredverbUS /sterd/

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Tess

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

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Behind them labored the tall, gray gentleman.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tightlyadverbUS /ˈtaɪtli/

in a tight or constricted manner

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
topnounUS /tɑːp/

the upper part of anything

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
UNCLEnounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading As they climbed up the long and semi-dark flights to the little flat at the top of the house, they clung tightly to each other’s hands and stared, round-eyed, at each other on the landings.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
visitornounUS /ˈvɪzɪtər/

someone who visits

From this reading Dot had breath left to burst open the kitchen door and run to tell Ruth of the visitor.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WILLmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading UNCLE PETER’S WILL Tess and Dot were greatly excited.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 2 of The Corner House Girls by Grace Brooks Hill holds 140 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 2 of The Corner House Girls contain?

Chapter 2 holds 140 sentences of The Corner House Girls, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Corner House Girls by Grace Brooks Hill exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 140 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 2 of The Corner House Girls?

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 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 Corner House Girls

Common questions about reading The Corner House Girls by Grace Brooks Hill on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Corner House Girls?

Yes. All 4128 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38743 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Corner House Girls is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38743, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Corner House Girls take to read?

About 344 minutes of reading across 826 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Corner House Girls section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Corner House Girls 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 Corner House Girls

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

Chair
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Corner House Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Child
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Corner House Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bustling
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Corner House Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Important
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Corner House Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.