Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Dark Star
The Dark Star

Chapter IX

Cover illustration for The Dark Star
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.
"If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.
"That get-up of hers is something fierce."
Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.
His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.
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 Dark Star

Chapter IX

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.
Line 2
"If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.
Line 3
"That get-up of hers is something fierce."
Line 4
Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.
Line 5
His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.”

Although noun US /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.”

Hers pronoun US /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading “"That get-up of hers is something fierce."”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “"That get-up of hers is something fierce."”

Told noun US /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.”

Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.”

All words in this reading · 91

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

anxiety

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

appeared

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

attended

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

better

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

betting

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

Brandes

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

bring

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

business

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

can't

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

CHANGE

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

charcoal

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

close

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

clothes

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

doing

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

ear

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

eyes

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

face

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

feverish

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

fierce

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

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

get

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

get-up

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

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

girl

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

got

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

herspronounUS /hərz/

the one or ones belonging to her

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

hoped

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

hot

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

hours

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

IMPENDS

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

incident

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

indiscreet

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

Late

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

like

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

money

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

nourishment

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

nursing

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

only

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

other

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

pasty

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

people's

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

person

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

races

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

racing

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

resentment

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

Saratoga

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

season

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

smears

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

some

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

sourly

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

Stull

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "That get-up of hers is something fierce."

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

there

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

times

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

toldnounUS /told/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

twice

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

two

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

very

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

weather

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

From this reading Late hours, hot weather, indiscreet nourishment, and the feverish anxiety incident to betting other people's money had told on Stull.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading His eyes were like two smears of charcoal on his pasty face; sourly he went about the business which Brandes should have attended to, nursing resentment--although he was doing better than Brandes had hoped to do.

whispered

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

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you got to bring her here to the races, can't you get her some clothes?" whispered Stull in his ear.

young

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

From this reading A CHANGE IMPENDS The racing season at Saratoga drew toward its close, and Brandes had appeared there only twice in person, both times with a very young girl.