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The Figure in the Carpet
The Figure in the Carpet

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Figure in the Carpet is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Henry James • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 5 of The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James holds 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 5 of The Figure in the Carpet contain?

Chapter 5 holds 66 sentences of The Figure in the Carpet, unabridged, divided into 14 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 66 sentences, grouped into 14 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 5 of The Figure in the Carpet?

Work through the 14 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 14 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Figure in the Carpet

Common questions about reading The Figure in the Carpet by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Figure in the Carpet?

Yes. All 781 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #645 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Figure in the Carpet is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #645, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Figure in the Carpet take to read?

About 65 minutes of reading across 157 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Figure in the Carpet section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Figure in the Carpet 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 Figure in the Carpet

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

Things
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Figure in the Carpet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Earned
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Figure in the Carpet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Figure in the Carpet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Perhaps
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Figure in the Carpet; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Figure in the Carpet
Context Illustration Reading 1/14 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.
He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.
The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.
They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.
Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.
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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 Figure in the Carpet

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Figure in the Carpet is here in full — 66 sentences across 14 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/14 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.
Line 2
He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.
Line 3
The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.
Line 4
They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.
Line 5
Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.
All words in this reading · 76

Every word is available to listen to. 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 He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
absorb

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
affair

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
almost

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
an

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
any

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
appeared

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
ardent

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
as

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
be

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
but

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
caught

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
caution

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
Corvick

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
crowd

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
delicacy

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
discretion

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
doubt

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
enjoyment

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
feel

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
further

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
George

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
Gwendolen

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
Gwendolen's

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
hand

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
have

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
high

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
his

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
however

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
idea

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
indifferent

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
instantly

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
instinctively

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
insult

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
intellectual

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
itself

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
light

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
made

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
make

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
me

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
might

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
not

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
now

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
offer

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
on

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
pastime

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
pledge

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
precious

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
pride

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
question

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
received

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
response

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
shared

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
spoke

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
such

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
Their

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
them

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
They

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
throw

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

From this reading Their intellectual pride, however, was not such as to make them indifferent to any further light I might throw on the affair they had in hand.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
told

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
too

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
Vereker's

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

From this reading They appeared to have caught instinctively at Vereker’s high idea of enjoyment.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading He had instantly told Gwendolen, but Gwendolen’s ardent response was in itself a pledge of discretion.

Pending verification
WHEN

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification
with

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

From this reading The question would now absorb them and would offer them a pastime too precious to be shared with the crowd.

Pending verification
would

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

From this reading WHEN I spoke to George Corvick of the caution I had received he made me feel that any doubt of his delicacy would be almost an insult.

Pending verification