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The Gray Mask
The Gray Mask

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Gray Mask is here in full — 301 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Wadsworth Camp • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Gray Mask
Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.
Garth, however, didn't care for the man.
He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.
"I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.
"Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.
0:00 / 0:00
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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 Gray Mask

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Gray Mask is here in full — 301 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.
Line 2
Garth, however, didn't care for the man.
Line 3
He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.
/hiː prəˈfɜːrd tuː kiːp ðer riˈleɪʃənz ɑːn ə ˈpjʊrli ˈbɪznəs ˈbeɪsəs/
Line 4
"I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.
Line 5
"Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.
/sʌm deɪ aɪ meɪ breɪk əˈweɪ frʌm hiːr ənd stɑːrt æn ˈɔːfɪs ʌv maɪ oʊn/

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.

basis noun US /ˈbeɪsəs/

a relation that provides the foundation for something

From this reading “He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
generosity noun US /ˌdʒenərˈɑːsəti/

the trait of being willing to give your money or time

From this reading “A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
loud adjective US /laʊd/

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading “A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preferred adjective US /prəˈfɜːrd/

more desirable than another

From this reading “He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
purely adverb US /ˈpjʊrli/

restricted to something

From this reading “He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
relations noun US /riˈleɪʃənz/

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading “He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reward noun US /rɪˈwɔːrd/

a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading “A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sums noun US /sʌmz/

plural of “sum” — a quantity of money

From this reading “A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

next day adjective + noun

In this reading “A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.”

60,103 times in 225,867 chapters
Some day adjective + noun

In this reading “"Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.”

32,932 times in 225,867 chapters
break away verb + particle

move away or escape suddenly

In this reading “"Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.”

1,811 times in 225,867 chapters
from here preposition + adverb

In this reading “"Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.”

13,439 times in 225,867 chapters

All words in this reading · 56

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 A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Alsop

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Pending verification
andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
basisnounUS /ˈbeɪsəs/

a relation that provides the foundation for something

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Garth, however, didn't care for the man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DEADadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
didn't

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

From this reading Garth, however, didn't care for the man.

Pending verification
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Garth, however, didn't care for the man.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Garth

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Pending verification
generositynounUS /ˌdʒenərˈɑːsəti/

the trait of being willing to give your money or time

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Garth, however, didn't care for the man.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
loudadjectiveUS /laʊd/

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Garth, however, didn't care for the man.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moneynounUS /ˈmʌni/

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NOTEnounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/

more desirable than another

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/

restricted to something

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
relationsnounUS /riˈleɪʃənz/

mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rewardnounUS /rɪˈwɔːrd/

a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I only did my duty, Mr. Alsop," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
startverbUS /stɑːrt/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "Some day I may break away from here and start an office of my own.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sumsnounUS /sʌmz/

plural of “sum” — a quantity of money

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He preferred to keep their relations on a purely business basis.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A NOTE FROM THE DEAD Alsop was around the next day, loud with generosity, and anxious to give Garth the only form of reward he could understand--large sums of money.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 16 of The Gray Mask by Wadsworth Camp holds 301 sentences, grouped into 61 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 16 of The Gray Mask contain?

Chapter 16 holds 301 sentences of The Gray Mask, unabridged, divided into 61 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Gray Mask by Wadsworth Camp exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 301 sentences, grouped into 61 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 16 of The Gray Mask?

Work through the 61 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 61 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Gray Mask

Common questions about reading The Gray Mask by Wadsworth Camp on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Gray Mask?

Yes. All 6217 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33230 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Gray Mask is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33230, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Gray Mask take to read?

About 518 minutes of reading across 1244 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Gray Mask section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 21 chapters of The Gray Mask 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 Gray Mask

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gray Mask; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Abandoned
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gray Mask; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gray Mask; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Garden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Gray Mask; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.