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The Man Who Couldn't Sleep
The Man Who Couldn't Sleep

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep is here in full — 552 sentences across 111 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Arthur Stringer • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Man Who Couldn't Sleep
Context Illustration Reading 1/110 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.
"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."
"Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."
The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.
And it did not add to my serenity of mind.
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 Man Who Couldn't Sleep

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep is here in full — 552 sentences across 111 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/110 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.
Line 2
"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."
/noʊ wɑːz maɪ ˈstuːdiəsli dɪˈtætʃt ˈriːtɔːrt aɪ ˌɪnˈtend tuː wɔːk/
Line 3
"Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."
Line 4
The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.
/ðə səɡˈnɪfɪkəns ʌv ðæt blænd səˈdʒestʃən dɪd nɑːt ɪˈskeɪp miː/
Line 5
And it did not add to my serenity of mind.
/ənd ɪt dɪd nɑːt æd tuː maɪ səˈren.ə.t̬i ʌv maɪnd/

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.

bland adjective US /blænd/

lacking taste or flavor or tang

From this reading “The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
covertly adverb US /koʊˈvɜːrtli/

in a covert manner

From this reading “THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
detached adjective US /dɪˈtætʃt/

showing lack of emotional involvement

From this reading “"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
intend verb US /ˌɪnˈtend/

have in mind as a purpose

From this reading “"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retort noun US /ˈriːtɔːrt/

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

From this reading “"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
serenity noun US /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading “And it did not add to my serenity of mind.”

Velmora curated lexicon
significance noun US /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

the quality of being significant

From this reading “The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
studiously adverb US /ˈstuːdiəsli/

in a studious manner

From this reading “"No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

OPEN DOOR verb + noun

the policy of granting equal trade opportunities to all countries

In this reading “THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.”

10,220 times in 426,211 chapters

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.

addverbUS /æd/

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading And it did not add to my serenity of mind.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And it did not add to my serenity of mind.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
askingnounUS /ˈæskɪŋ/

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Benson

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Pending verification
blandadjectiveUS /blænd/

lacking taste or flavor or tang

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carnounUS /kɑːr/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
covertlyadverbUS /koʊˈvɜːrtli/

in a covert manner

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
detachedadjectiveUS /dɪˈtætʃt/

showing lack of emotional involvement

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
DOORnounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
escapenounUS /ɪˈskeɪp/

the act of escaping physically

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intendverbUS /ˌɪnˈtend/

have in mind as a purpose

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And it did not add to my serenity of mind.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/

set down according to a plan

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Latreille

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

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

Pending verification
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading And it did not add to my serenity of mind.

Velmora curated lexicon
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OPENverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora curated lexicon
readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/

a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
serenitynounUS /səˈren.ə.t̬i/

The state of being calm, peaceful, and untroubled by external storms.

From this reading And it did not add to my serenity of mind.

Velmora curated lexicon
Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
significancenounUS /səɡˈnɪfɪkəns/

the quality of being significant

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
solicitous-eyed

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Pending verification
streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
studiouslyadverbUS /ˈstuːdiəsli/

in a studious manner

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suggestionnounUS /səˈdʒestʃən/

an idea that is suggested

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The significance of that bland suggestion did not escape me.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "No," was my studiously detached retort, "I intend to walk."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
watchingnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃɪŋ/

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading THE OPEN DOOR "Shall I call the car, sir?" asked the solicitous-eyed Benson, covertly watching me as I made ready for the street.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Latreille was asking, sir, if you would care to have the car laid up."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 4 of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep by Arthur Stringer holds 552 sentences, grouped into 111 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 Man Who Couldn't Sleep contain?

Chapter 4 holds 552 sentences of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep, unabridged, divided into 111 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep by Arthur Stringer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 552 sentences, grouped into 111 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 Man Who Couldn't Sleep?

Work through the 111 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 111 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 Man Who Couldn't Sleep

Common questions about reading The Man Who Couldn't Sleep by Arthur Stringer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep?

Yes. All 6719 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33645 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33645, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Man Who Couldn't Sleep take to read?

About 559 minutes of reading across 1344 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Man Who Couldn't Sleep section by section

How to work through The Man Who Couldn't Sleep section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep 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 Man Who Couldn't Sleep

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Man Who Couldn't Sleep, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Prairie
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Printed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
United
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
States
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Man Who Couldn't Sleep; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.