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The Gem Collector
The Gem Collector

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Gem Collector is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Gem Collector
Context Illustration Reading 1/25 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.
He felt aggrieved with the world.
One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.
Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.
Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.
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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 Gem Collector

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Gem Collector is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.
Line 2
He felt aggrieved with the world.
/hiː felt əˈɡriːvd wɪð ðə wɜːrld/
Line 3
One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.
Line 4
Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.
Line 5
Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

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.

aggrieved verb US /əˈɡriːvd/

past form of “aggrieve” — infringe on the rights of

From this reading “He felt aggrieved with the world.”

jaundiced adjective US /ˈdʒɔːndɪst/

affected by jaundice which causes yellowing of skin etc

From this reading “Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.”

Molly noun US /ˈmɑːli/

popular aquarium fish

From this reading “Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.”

moody noun US /ˈmuːdi/

United States tennis player who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s (1905-1998)

From this reading “The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.”

outlook noun US /ˈaʊtlʊk/

a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations

From this reading “Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.”

stains noun US /steɪnz/

plural of “stain” — a soiled or discolored appearance

From this reading “Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.”

tinge noun US /tɪndʒ/

a slight but appreciable amount

From this reading “Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.”

tour noun US /tʊr/

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

From this reading “The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.”

All words in this reading · 64

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

aggrievedverbUS /əˈɡriːvd/

past form of “aggrieve” — infringe on the rights of

From this reading He felt aggrieved with the world.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

beneathprepositionUS /bɪˈniːθ/

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

brilliantadjectiveUS /ˈbrɪljənt/

of surpassing excellence

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

cutting-out

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

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt aggrieved with the world.

groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/

your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He felt aggrieved with the world.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

HonorableadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərəbəl/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

jaundicedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔːndɪst/

affected by jaundice which causes yellowing of skin etc

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

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 The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

litadjectiveUS /lɪt/

provided with artificial light

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

LouisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

meanwhileadverbUS /ˈmiːnwaɪl/

at the same time but in another place

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

MollynounUS /ˈmɑːli/

popular aquarium fish

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

moodynounUS /ˈmuːdi/

United States tennis player who dominated women's tennis in the 1920s and 1930s (1905-1998)

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

one's

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

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

outlooknounUS /ˈaʊtlʊk/

a habitual or characteristic mental attitude that determines how you will interpret and respond to situations

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/

past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

piecenounUS /piːs/

a separate part of a whole

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

pretendverbUS /priˈtend/

make believe with the intent to deceive

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

proceededverbUS /prəˈsiːdɪd/

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

rivalverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/

be equal to in quality or ability

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

SomethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

stainsnounUS /steɪnz/

plural of “stain” — a soiled or discolored appearance

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

sunniest

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

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

tingenounUS /tɪndʒ/

a slight but appreciable amount

From this reading Something of a jaundiced tinge stains one's outlook on life in such circumstances.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

tournounUS /tʊr/

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

violentlyadverbUS /ˈvaɪələntli/

in a violent manner

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mr. Wesson did not pretend to himself that he was violently in love with Molly.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

Wesson

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

From this reading The Honorable Louis Wesson, meanwhile, having left the water side, lit a cigarette, and proceeded to make a moody tour of the grounds.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He felt aggrieved with the world.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading One is never at one's best and sunniest when a rival has performed a brilliant and successful piece of cutting-out work beneath one's very eyes.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading He felt aggrieved with the world.

Chapter 12 of The Gem Collector by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse holds 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 12 of The Gem Collector contain?

Chapter 12 holds 128 sentences of The Gem Collector, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Gem Collector by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 12 of The Gem Collector?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Gem Collector

Common questions about reading The Gem Collector by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Gem Collector?

Yes. All 3136 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8931 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Gem Collector is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #8931, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Gem Collector take to read?

About 261 minutes of reading across 628 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Gem Collector section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Gem Collector 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 Gem Collector

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

Supper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gem Collector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Savoy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gem Collector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hotel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gem Collector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Brightness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gem Collector; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.