The High Calling

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The High Calling is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Charles M. Sheldon • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

In the first place, he was saying to himself, "Bauer's drawings differ only a trifle from my own and I had practically gone as far as he, only one or two points were suggested to me by his diagram of the electrodes resting at an angle on the porcelain plate.

The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IV Reading 1/26

The High Calling Charles M. Sheldon

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The High Calling is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room. He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down. The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes. In the first place, he was saying to himself, "Bauer's drawings differ only a trifle from my own and I had practically gone as far as he, only one or two points were suggested to me by his diagram of the electrodes resting at an angle on the porcelain plate. The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

The High Calling

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The High Calling is here in full — 131 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

/ɪt wɑːz ten əˈklɑːk æt naɪt wen ˈwɔːltər ˈfaɪnəli went aʊt ʌv ðə ʃɑːp ənd ʌp tuː hɪz ruːm/

Line 2

He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

/hiː dɪd nɑːt tɜːrn ɑːn ðə laɪt æt wʌns bʌt went ˈoʊvər baɪ hɪz ˈteɪbəl ənd sæt daʊn/

Line 3

The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

/ðə temˈteɪʃən hiː stɪl feɪst hæd əˈsuːmd əˈlʊrɪŋ ʃeɪps/

Line 4

Line 5

The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

/ðə ˈkʌtɪŋ ʌv ðə tiːθ ɪn ðə sɑːft ˈmetəl wɑːz ˈɔːlsoʊ səˈdʒestɪd baɪ hɪm/

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.

alluring adjective US /əˈlʊrɪŋ/

highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire

From this reading “The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.”

angle noun US /ˈæŋɡəl/

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading “In the first place, he was saying to himself, "Bauer's drawings differ only a trifle from my own and I had practically gone as far as he, only one or two points were suggested to me by his diagram of the electrodes resting at an angle on the porcelain plate.”

diagram noun US /ˈdaɪəɡræm/

a drawing intended to explain how something works; a drawing showing the relation between the parts

differ verb US /ˈdɪfər/

be different

drawings noun US /ˈdrɔːɪŋz/

plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

electrodes noun US /ˌɪˈlektroʊdz/

plural of “electrode” — a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit

porcelain noun US /ˈpɔːrsələn/

ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic

shapes noun US /ʃeɪps/

plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading “The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.”

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.

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.”

first place adjective + noun

In this reading “In the first place, he was saying to himself, "Bauer's drawings differ only a trifle from my own and I had practically gone as far as he, only one or two points were suggested to me by his diagram of the electrodes resting at an angle on the porcelain plate.”

went out verb + adjective counted as “go out”

move out of or depart from

In this reading “IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.”

at an angle preposition + article + noun counted as “at … angle”

at night preposition + noun

In this reading “IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.”

differ only verb + particle

went over verb + particle counted as “go over”

hold a review (of troops)

In this reading “He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.”

suggested by verb + particle counted as “suggest by”

In this reading “The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.”

All words in this reading · 78

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 In the first place, he was saying to himself, "Bauer's drawings differ only a trifle from my own and I had practically gone as far as he, only one or two points were suggested to me by his diagram of the electrodes resting at an angle on the porcelain plate.

alluringadjectiveUS /əˈlʊrɪŋ/

highly attractive and able to arouse hope or desire

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

anglenounUS /ˈæŋɡəl/

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

assumedadjectiveUS /əˈsuːmd/

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

Bauer's

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

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

cuttingnounUS /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

diagramnounUS /ˈdaɪəɡræm/

a drawing intended to explain how something works; a drawing showing the relation between the parts

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

differverbUS /ˈdɪfər/

be different

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

drawingsnounUS /ˈdrɔːɪŋz/

plural of “drawing” — an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

electrodesnounUS /ˌɪˈlektroʊdz/

plural of “electrode” — a conductor used to make electrical contact with some part of a circuit

facedadjectiveUS /feɪst/

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

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

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

ITpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/

any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

platenounUS /pleɪt/

(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

porcelainnounUS /ˈpɔːrsələn/

ceramic ware made of a more or less translucent ceramic

practicallyadverbUS /ˈpræktɪkli/

almost; nearly

restingverbUS /ˈrestɪŋ/

-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

shapesnounUS /ʃeɪps/

plural of “shape” — any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

suggestedverbUS /səˈdʒestɪd/

past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

teethnounUS /tiːθ/

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading The cutting of the teeth in the soft metal was also suggested by him.

temptationnounUS /temˈteɪʃən/

something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

From this reading The temptation he still faced had assumed alluring shapes.

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading He did not turn on the light at once, but went over by his table and sat down.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

WalternounUS /ˈwɔːltər/

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading IT was ten o'clock at night when Walter finally went out of the shop and up to his room.

Chapter 4 of The High Calling by Charles M. Sheldon holds 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 4 of The High Calling contain?

Chapter 4 holds 131 sentences of The High Calling, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The High Calling by Charles M. Sheldon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 131 sentences, grouped into 27 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 High Calling?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 High Calling

Common questions about reading The High Calling by Charles M. Sheldon on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The High Calling?

Yes. All 5396 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #26309 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The High Calling is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #26309, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The High Calling take to read?

About 449 minutes of reading across 1080 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The High Calling section by section

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

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Vocabulary met early in The High Calling

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

Charles: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The High Calling; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sheldon: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The High Calling; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Steps: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The High Calling; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter IV

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