The Initials: A Story of Modern Life

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life is here in full — 264 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Jemima Montgomery, Baroness Tautphoeus • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Initials: A Story of Modern Life

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

“I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room.

“I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

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 XXIV Reading 1/52

The Initials: A Story of Modern Life Jemima Montgomery, Baroness Tautphoeus

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life is here in full — 264 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB. “I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room. “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming. If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them. Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

The Initials: A Story of Modern Life

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life is here in full — 264 sentences across 53 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/52 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

/ə bɔːl æt ðə mjuːˈziːəm klʌb/

Line 2

“I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room.

Line 3

“I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

Line 4

If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

/ɪf ˈmɑːmə hæd əˈlaʊd aɪ ʃʊd hæv pæst ðə deɪ ɪn maɪ oʊn ruːm ðæt ˈnoʊbɑːdiː maɪt siː ðem/

Line 5

Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

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.

attentively adverb US /əˈtentɪvli/

with attention; in an attentive manner

From this reading ““I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room.”

becoming adjective US /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading ““I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.”

examined verb US /ɪɡˈzæmənd/

past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

Hamilton noun US /ˈhæməltən/

Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading “Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.”

museum noun US /mjuːˈziːəm/

a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value

From this reading “A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.”

stove noun US /stoʊv/

a kitchen appliance used for cooking food

From this reading “Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.”

ugly adjective US /ˈʌɡli/

displeasing to the senses

From this reading “Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.”

visitors noun US /ˈvɪzɪtərz/

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

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 ““I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room.”

some time adjective + noun

own room verb + noun

In this reading “If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “I HOPE we shall have no visitors,” said Crescenz the next day, after having examined herself for some time attentively in the glass which was between the windows in the drawing-room.

allowedverbUS /əˈlaʊd/

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

ATprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

attentivelyadverbUS /əˈtentɪvli/

with attention; in an attentive manner

BALLnounUS /bɔːl/

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

becomingadjectiveUS /bɪˈkʌmɪŋ/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

CLUBnounUS /klʌb/

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

Crescenz

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

curl-papers

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

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

Don't

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

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

drawing-room

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

examinedverbUS /ɪɡˈzæmənd/

past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

glassnounUS /ɡlæs/

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

HamiltonnounUS /ˈhæməltən/

Irish mathematician (1806-1865)

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

HOPEnounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

mammanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/

informal terms for a mother

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

MUSEUMnounUS /mjuːˈziːəm/

a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value

From this reading A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/

no person; not anyone

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

passedverbUS /pæst/

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

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

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

stovenounUS /stoʊv/

a kitchen appliance used for cooking food

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A BALL AT THE MUSEUM CLUB.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading If mamma had allowed, I should have passed the day in my own room, that nobody might see them.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “I hope we shall have no visitors, for these curl-papers are certainly not becoming.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

to-day

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

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

uglyadjectiveUS /ˈʌɡli/

displeasing to the senses

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

visitorsnounUS /ˈvɪzɪtərz/

plural of “visitor” — someone who visits

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Don’t you think me very ugly to-day?” she added, turning to Hamilton, who, as usual, was close to the stove.

Chapter 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life by Jemima Montgomery, Baroness Tautphoeus holds 264 sentences, grouped into 53 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 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life contain?

Chapter 24 holds 264 sentences of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life, unabridged, divided into 53 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life by Jemima Montgomery, Baroness Tautphoeus exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 264 sentences, grouped into 53 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 24 of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life?

Work through the 53 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 53 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #58908, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 600 minutes of reading across 1706 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Initials: A Story of Modern Life

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Initials: A Story of Modern Life, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Baroness: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quits: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Initials: A Story of Modern Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXIV

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