Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Lock and Key Library — American
The Lock and Key Library — American

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of The Lock and Key Library — American is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Lock and Key Library — American
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.
Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.
Attend! attend! but be not terrified.”
I started, and exclaimed, Good heavens! what is that?
Who are you?”
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The Lock and Key Library — American

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of The Lock and Key Library — American is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.
/ðɪs wɑːz noʊ ˈsuːnər dʌn ðæn ə loʊ vɔɪs wɑːz hɜːrd frʌm bɪˈhaɪnd ðə ˈlætəs ɑːn ðə saɪd wer aɪ sæt/
Line 2
Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.
/bɪˈtwiːn ðə rɑːk ənd ðə ˈlætəs wɑːz ə ˈkæzəm nɑːt waɪd ɪˈnʌf tuː ədˈmɪt ə ˈhjuːmən ˈbɑːdi jet ɪn ðɪs ˈkæzəm hiː ðæt spoʊk əˈpɪrd tuː biː ˈsteɪʃənd/
Line 3
Attend! attend! but be not terrified.”
/əˈtend əˈtend bʌt biː nɑːt ˈterəfaɪd/
Line 4
I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?
/aɪ ˈstɑːrtɪd ənd ɪkˈskleɪmd ɡʊd ˈhevənz wʌt ɪz ðæt/
Line 5
Who are you?”
/huː ɑːr juː/

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.

admit verb US /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading “Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.”

attend verb US /əˈtend/

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading ““Attend! attend! but be not terrified.””

chasm noun US /ˈkæzəm/

a deep opening in the earth's surface

From this reading “Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.”

heavens noun US /ˈhevənz/

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading “I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?”

lattice noun US /ˈlætəs/

an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern in 2 or 3 dimensions

From this reading “This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.”

sooner adverb US /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading “This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.”

stationed verb US /ˈsteɪʃənd/

past form of “station” — assign to a station

From this reading “Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.”

terrified adjective US /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading ““Attend! attend! but be not terrified.””

All words in this reading · 50

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 This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading Who are you?”

AttendverbUS /əˈtend/

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading “Attend! attend! but be not terrified.”

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

bodynounUS /ˈbɑːdi/

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “Attend! attend! but be not terrified.”

chasmnounUS /ˈkæzəm/

a deep opening in the earth's surface

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

exclaimedverbUS /ɪkˈskleɪmd/

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

GoodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

heavensnounUS /ˈhevənz/

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

latticenounUS /ˈlætəs/

an arrangement of points or particles or objects in a regular periodic pattern in 2 or 3 dimensions

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

rocknounUS /rɑːk/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

satnounUS /sæt/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

sooneradverbUS /ˈsuːnər/

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

stationedverbUS /ˈsteɪʃənd/

past form of “station” — assign to a station

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

terrifiedadjectiveUS /ˈterəfaɪd/

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading “Attend! attend! but be not terrified.”

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

voicenounUS /vɔɪs/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I started, and exclaimed, “Good heavens! what is that?

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading This was no sooner done, than a low voice was heard from behind the lattice, on the side where I sat.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Who are you?”

wideadjectiveUS /waɪd/

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Between the rock and the lattice was a chasm not wide enough to admit a human body; yet in this chasm he that spoke appeared to be stationed.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Who are you?”

Chapter 24 of The Lock and Key Library — American by Julian [Editor] Hawthorne holds 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 24 of The Lock and Key Library — American contain?

Chapter 24 holds 173 sentences of The Lock and Key Library — American, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of The Lock and Key Library — American by Julian [Editor] Hawthorne exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 Lock and Key Library — American?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 24 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Lock and Key Library — American

Common questions about reading The Lock and Key Library — American by Julian [Editor] Hawthorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Lock and Key Library — American?

Yes. All 6847 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2043 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Lock and Key Library — American is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2043, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Lock and Key Library — American take to read?

About 570 minutes of reading across 1370 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Lock and Key Library — American section by section

How to work through The Lock and Key Library — American section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Lock and Key Library — American 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 Lock and Key Library — American

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Lock and Key Library — American, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Marion
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lock and Key Library — American; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Crawford
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lock and Key Library — American; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Waters
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lock and Key Library — American; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Paradise
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lock and Key Library — American; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.