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The Dynamiter
The Dynamiter

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Dynamiter is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dynamiter
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
No,’ replied Harry, you have no errand.
You are in grief or danger.
Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’
Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, you leave but one course open to me.’
And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.
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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 Dynamiter

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Dynamiter is here in full — 138 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.
Line 2
You are in grief or danger.
Line 3
Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’
Line 4
Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’
Line 5
And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

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.

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’”

All words in this reading · 54

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 ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

and

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

are

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

From this reading You are in grief or danger.

brow

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

but

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

colour

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

composure

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

conquered

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

countenance

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

course

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

danger

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

From this reading You are in grief or danger.

errand

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

every

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

eyes

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

fear

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

fled

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

from

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

grief

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

From this reading You are in grief or danger.

had

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

Harry

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

have

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

him

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

in

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

From this reading You are in grief or danger.

is

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

it

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

leave

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

Lift

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

marred

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

me

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

No

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

of

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

on

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

one

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

or

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

From this reading You are in grief or danger.

raising

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

replied

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

resolve

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

said

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

she

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

showed

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

sudden

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

tell

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

the

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

Then

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

to

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

trace

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

veil

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

weeping

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

what

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

which

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

From this reading And raising the veil, she showed him a countenance from which every trace of colour had fled, eyes marred with weeping, and a brow on which resolve had conquered fear.

with

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

From this reading ‘Then,’ she said, with a sudden composure, ‘you leave but one course open to me.’

you

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

From this reading ‘No,’ replied Harry, ‘you have no errand.

your

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

From this reading Lift your veil and tell me what it is.’

Chapter 20 of The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 138 sentences, grouped into 28 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 20 of The Dynamiter contain?

Chapter 20 holds 138 sentences of The Dynamiter, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 138 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 20 of The Dynamiter?

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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Dynamiter

Common questions about reading The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dynamiter?

Yes. All 3426 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #647 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dynamiter is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #647, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dynamiter take to read?

About 285 minutes of reading across 686 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dynamiter section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 22 chapters of The Dynamiter 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 Dynamiter

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

Silver
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynamiter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Library
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynamiter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynamiter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
January
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dynamiter; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.