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The Guilty River
The Guilty River

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Guilty River is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Guilty River
Context Illustration Reading 1/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.
Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.
A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.
So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.
I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.
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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 Guilty River

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Guilty River is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.
Line 2
Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.
Line 3
A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.
Line 4
So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.
Line 5
I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

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.

delicately adverb US /ˈdeləkətli/

in a delicate manner

From this reading “A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.”

helps noun US /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading “So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.”

Lena noun US /ˈliːnə/

a Russian river in Siberia; flows northward into the Laptev Sea

From this reading “Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.”

permits noun US /pərˈmɪts/

plural of “permit” — a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading “So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.”

reviving adjective US /rɪˈvaɪvɪŋ/

tending to impart new life and vigor to

From this reading “So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.”

rewards noun US /rɪˈwɔːrdz/

plural of “reward” — a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading “Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.”

slim adjective US /slɪm/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading “A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.”

unaffected adjective US /ˌʌnəˈfektɪd/

undergoing no change when acted upon

From this reading “I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

admirationnounUS /ˌædmərˈeɪʃən/

a feeling of delighted approval and liking

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

bestnounUS /best/

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

brownnounUS /braʊn/

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

cannot

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

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

charmnounUS /tʃɑːrm/

attractiveness that interests or pleases or stimulates

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

colornounUS /ˈkʌlər/

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

complexionnounUS /kəmˈplekʃən/

the coloring of a person's face

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/

having an (artificial) crown on a tooth

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

Deen

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

delicatelyadverbUS /ˈdeləkətli/

in a delicate manner

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

delightedadjectiveUS /dɪˈlaɪtəd/

greatly pleased

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

dinnernounUS /ˈdɪnər/

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/

clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

dressedadjectiveUS /drest/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

earsnounUS /ɪrz/

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

easyadjectiveUS /ˈiːzi/

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/

every person

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

faintly-marked

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

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

forgettingverbUS /fərˈɡetɪŋ/

inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

GAMEnounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

gracefuladjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪsfəl/

characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

hairnounUS /her/

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

helpsnounUS /helps/

plural of “help” — the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

interestedadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪd/

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

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 MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

LenanounUS /ˈliːnə/

a Russian river in Siberia; flows northward into the Laptev Sea

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

lovelyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌvli/

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

MOVEverbUS /muːv/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

MRSnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

musicaladjectiveUS /ˈmjuːzɪkəl/

characterized by or capable of producing music

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

paleadjectiveUS /peɪl/

very light colored; highly diluted with white

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

perfectionnounUS /pərˈfekʃən/

the state of being without a flaw or defect

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

permitsnounUS /pərˈmɪts/

plural of “permit” — a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

presentsnounUS /ˈprezənts/

plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

repeatverbUS /rɪˈpiːt/

to say, state, or perform again

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

revivingadjectiveUS /rɪˈvaɪvɪŋ/

tending to impart new life and vigor to

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

rewardsnounUS /rɪˈwɔːrdz/

plural of “reward” — a recompense for worthy acts or retribution for wrongdoing

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

ROYLAKE'S

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/

the quality of being simple or uncompounded

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

slimadjectiveUS /slɪm/

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading So far, time helps the reviving past to come to life again--and permits nothing more.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/

having come into contact

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

Trimley

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

From this reading MRS ROYLAKE'S GAME: FIRST MOVE The dinner at Trimley Deen has left in my memory little that I can distinctly recall.

unaffectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈfektɪd/

undergoing no change when acted upon

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

visionnounUS /ˈvɪʒən/

a vivid mental image

From this reading Only a faintly-marked vision of Lady Lena rewards me for doing my best to remember her.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading I cannot say that I now remember the voice once so musical in my ears, or that I am able to repeat the easy unaffected talk which once interested me, or that I see again (in my thoughts) the perfect charm of manner which delighted everybody, not forgetting myself.

well-carried

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

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A tall slim graceful person, dressed in white with a simplicity which is the perfection of art, presents to my admiration gentle blue eyes, a pale complexion delicately touched with color, a well-carried head crowned by lovely light brown hair.

Chapter 8 of The Guilty River by Wilkie Collins holds 108 sentences, grouped into 22 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 8 of The Guilty River contain?

Chapter 8 holds 108 sentences of The Guilty River, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Guilty River by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 108 sentences, grouped into 22 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 8 of The Guilty River?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Guilty River

Common questions about reading The Guilty River by Wilkie Collins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Guilty River?

Yes. All 2911 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3634 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Guilty River is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3634, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Guilty River take to read?

About 242 minutes of reading across 583 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Guilty River section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Guilty River 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 Guilty River

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

Stood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guilty River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Alone
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guilty River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ugliest
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guilty River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stream
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Guilty River; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.