The Lightning Conductor

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Lightning Conductor is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson • Curated US English Learning Edition

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It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

I explained this, suggesting that we should leave the car for a night at a farmhouse, which presumably existed behind a high, glimmering white wall near which we happened to halt, and try to get a conveyance of some sort to drive on to Amboise.

But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

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Chapter III Reading 1/83

The Lightning Conductor C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Lightning Conductor is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim. I explained this, suggesting that we should leave the car for a night at a farmhouse, which presumably existed behind a high, glimmering white wall near which we happened to halt, and try to get a conveyance of some sort to drive on to Amboise. But I had calculated without Eyelashes. Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it. Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

The Lightning Conductor

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Lightning Conductor is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

Line 2

Line 3

But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

/bʌt aɪ hæd ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd wɪˈθaʊt ˈaɪlæʃɪz/

Line 4

Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

/ˈɪnstəntli hiː sɔː hɪz tʃæns ənd siːzd ɪt/

Line 5

Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

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.

conveyance noun US /kənˈveɪəns/

document effecting a property transfer

From this reading “I explained this, suggesting that we should leave the car for a night at a farmhouse, which presumably existed behind a high, glimmering white wall near which we happened to halt, and try to get a conveyance of some sort to drive on to Amboise.”

Eyelashes noun US /ˈaɪlæʃɪz/

plural of “eyelash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids

From this reading “But I had calculated without Eyelashes.”

Figuratively adverb US /fɪˈɡjʊrətɪvli/

in a figurative sense

From this reading “Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.”

glimmering noun US /ˈɡlɪmərɪŋ/

a slight suggestion or vague understanding

lunched verb US /lʌntʃt/

past form of “lunch” — take the midday meal

From this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

presumably adverb US /prəˈzuːməbli/

by reasonable assumption

suggesting verb US /səˈdʒestɪŋ/

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

tyre noun US /taɪr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

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.

some sort adjective + noun

In this reading “I explained this, suggesting that we should leave the car for a night at a farmhouse, which presumably existed behind a high, glimmering white wall near which we happened to halt, and try to get a conveyance of some sort to drive on to Amboise.”

white wall noun + noun

at a farmhouse preposition + article + noun counted as “at … farmhouse”

on the rim preposition + article + noun counted as “on … rim”

In this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

lunched at verb + particle counted as “lunch at”

In this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

run on verb + particle

talk or narrate at length

In this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

for a night preposition + article + noun counted as “for … night”

came right verb + particle counted as “come right”

In this reading “It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.”

All words in this reading · 74

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 I explained this, suggesting that we should leave the car for a night at a farmhouse, which presumably existed behind a high, glimmering white wall near which we happened to halt, and try to get a conveyance of some sort to drive on to Amboise.

Amboise

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

awkwardadjectiveUS /ˈɑːkwərd/

causing inconvenience

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

calculatedadjectiveUS /ˈkælkjəleɪtɪd/

carefully thought out in advance

From this reading But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

carnounUS /kɑːr/

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

chancenounUS /tʃæns/

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

conveyancenounUS /kənˈveɪəns/

document effecting a property transfer

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

driveverbUS /draɪv/

operate or control a vehicle

eightadjectiveUS /eɪt/

being one more than seven

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

existedverbUS /ɪɡˈzɪstəd/

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

explainedverbUS /ɪkˈspleɪnd/

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

EyelashesnounUS /ˈaɪlæʃɪz/

plural of “eyelash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids

From this reading But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

farmhousenounUS /ˈfɑːrmhaʊs/

house for a farmer and family

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

FigurativelyadverbUS /fɪˈɡjʊrətɪvli/

in a figurative sense

From this reading Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

glimmeringnounUS /ˈɡlɪmərɪŋ/

a slight suggestion or vague understanding

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

haltverbUS /hɔːlt/

cause to stop

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

highadjectiveUS /haɪ/

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

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 It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

InstantlyadverbUS /ˈɪnstəntli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/

set down according to a plan

From this reading Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

lunchedverbUS /lʌntʃt/

past form of “lunch” — take the midday meal

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

nearadverbUS /nɪr/

near in time or place or relationship

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

Pieper

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

From this reading Figuratively he laid his Pieper at the ladies' feet.

presumablyadverbUS /prəˈzuːməbli/

by reasonable assumption

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

rimnounUS /rɪm/

the shape of a raised edge of a more or less circular object

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

seizedverbUS /siːzd/

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading Instantly he saw his chance, and seized it.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

suggestingverbUS /səˈdʒestɪŋ/

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

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

tyrenounUS /taɪr/

a port in southern Lebanon on the Mediterranean Sea; formerly a major Phoenician seaport famous for silks

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

wallnounUS /wɔːl/

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But I had calculated without Eyelashes.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was eight o'clock; we had lunched at one; the night was dark; we were still miles short of Amboise; if the tyre came right off, it would be awkward to run on the rim.

Chapter 3 of The Lightning Conductor by C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 3 of The Lightning Conductor contain?

Chapter 3 holds 417 sentences of The Lightning Conductor, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Lightning Conductor by C. N. (Charles Norris) Williamson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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.

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Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 3 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 #33845, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 354 minutes of reading across 852 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Chapter III

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