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The Grain of Dust: A Novel

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By David Graham Phillips • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Grain of Dust: A Novel

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

"You mean Josephine?

Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

Narrator

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.

Chapter IV Reading 1/44

The Grain of Dust: A Novel

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel is here in full — 224 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1

His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

Line 2

"You mean Josephine?

Line 3

Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

Line 4

She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

Line 5

She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

All words in this reading · 49

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 His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

and

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

appreciates

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

From this reading She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

be

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

care

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

charming

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

From this reading She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

conventional

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

do

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

earnest

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

fill

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

fine

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

flatters

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

From this reading She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

for

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

gives

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

handsome

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

her

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

His

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

I

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

in

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

is

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

jest

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

jesting

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

Josephine

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

From this reading "You mean Josephine?

just

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

like

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

man

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

mean

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

From this reading "You mean Josephine?

nice

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

of

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

Oh

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

or

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

piece

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

position

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

She

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

She's

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

From this reading She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

smile

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

sort

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

suppose

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

sweet

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

From this reading She's sweet and charming, she appreciates, she flatters you.

the

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

thought

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

to

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

was

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

way

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

when

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

wife

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

From this reading She is a fine handsome piece--just the sort to fill the position of wife to a man like you.

wishing

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

From this reading His was the smile a man gives when in earnest and wishing to be thought jesting--or when in jest and wishing to be thought in earnest.

yes

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

From this reading Oh, yes, I suppose you do care for her in a way--in a nice, conventional way.

You

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

From this reading "You mean Josephine?

Chapter 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel by David Graham Phillips holds 224 sentences, grouped into 45 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 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel contain?

Chapter 4 holds 224 sentences of The Grain of Dust: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel by David Graham Phillips exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 224 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 4 of The Grain of Dust: A Novel?

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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Grain of Dust: A Novel

Common questions about reading The Grain of Dust: A Novel by David Graham Phillips on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Grain of Dust: A Novel?

Yes. All 7996 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #430 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Grain of Dust: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #430, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Grain of Dust: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1600 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Grain of Dust: A Novel section by section

How to work through The Grain of Dust: A Novel section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Grain of Dust: A Novel to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Grain of Dust: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Grain of Dust: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Teach: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Grain of Dust: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cried: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Grain of Dust: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Won't: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Grain of Dust: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Out-and-out: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Grain of Dust: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.