The Destroyer

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Destroyer is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Burton Egbert Stevenson • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

"You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

"The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

I started out to amuse him by describing certain strange customs of America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."

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Chapter XXI Reading 1/44

The Destroyer

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Destroyer is here in full — 222 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/44 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

Line 2

Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

/hɜːr ˈfɑːðər wɑːtʃt ðə siːn wɪð æn əˈmjuːzd feɪs/

Line 3

"You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

Line 4

"The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

/ðə prɪns ˈbiːɪŋ bɔːrd æz ɪz ðə weɪ wɪð ˈprɪnsəz keɪm tuː miː ˈæskɪŋ tuː biː əˈmjuːzd/

Line 5

I started out to amuse him by describing certain strange customs of America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."

/aɪ ˈstɑːrtɪd aʊt tuː əˈmjuːz hɪm baɪ dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ ˈsɜːrtən streɪndʒ ˈkʌstəmz ʌv əˈmerəkə wɪtʃ hiː ɪz əˈbaʊt tuː ˈvɪzɪt fɔːr ðə fɜːrst taɪm bʌt aɪ wɑːz suːn ɑːn maɪ ˈhɑːbi əˈɡen ənd ˌɪnˈsted ʌv əˈmjuːzɪŋ hɪm/

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.

amuse verb US /əˈmjuːz/

occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

From this reading “I started out to amuse him by describing certain strange customs of America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."”

amusing adjective US /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

bored adjective US /bɔːrd/

tired of the world

From this reading “"The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.”

customs noun US /ˈkʌstəmz/

money collected under a tariff

describing verb US /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

hesitation noun US /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/

indecision in speech or action

From this reading “ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.”

hobby noun US /ˈhɑːbi/

an auxiliary activity

princes noun US /ˈprɪnsəz/

plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading “ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.”

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.

first time adjective + noun

In this reading “I started out to amuse him by describing certain strange customs of America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."”

started out verb + adjective counted as “start out”

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

All words in this reading · 71

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I started out to amuse him by describing certain strange customs of America, which he is about to visit for the first time; but I was soon on my hobby again, and instead of amusing him...."

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

amuseverbUS /əˈmjuːz/

occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/

pleasantly occupied

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

arrivedverbUS /ərˈaɪvd/

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

boredadjectiveUS /bɔːrd/

tired of the world

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

bowedadjectiveUS /baʊd/

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

customsnounUS /ˈkʌstəmz/

money collected under a tariff

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

EDUCATIONnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/

the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

extendedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstendəd/

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/

indecision in speech or action

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

hobbynounUS /ˈhɑːbi/

an auxiliary activity

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

instant's

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

Kasia

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

opportunelyadverb

at an opportune time

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

PrincenounUS /prɪns/

a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

PRINCESnounUS /ˈprɪnsəz/

plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

sprangverbUS /spræŋ/

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

startledadjectiveUS /ˈstɑːrtəld/

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

visitverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

watchedverbUS /wɑːtʃt/

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "The Prince, being bored, as is the way with Princes, came to me, asking to be amused.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading ON THE EDUCATION OF PRINCES The Prince sprang to his feet and bowed low over the hand which Kasia, after an instant's startled hesitation, had extended.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Her father watched the scene with an amused face.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "You arrived most opportunely, my dear," he said.

Chapter 21 of The Destroyer by Burton Egbert Stevenson holds 222 sentences, grouped into 45 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 21 of The Destroyer contain?

Chapter 21 holds 222 sentences of The Destroyer, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Destroyer by Burton Egbert Stevenson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 222 sentences, grouped into 45 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 21 of The Destroyer?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Destroyer

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Is this the complete text of The Destroyer?

Yes. All 6504 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29629 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #29629, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 542 minutes of reading across 1301 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter XXI

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