Chapter 19 of The Middle of Things is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIX
Chapter 19 of The Middle of Things is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction. "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed. "You'll find out that I'm right! But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless. If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
Chapter 19 of The Middle of Things is here in full — 176 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading “If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.”
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading “If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.”
be a sign or indication of
From this reading “SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.”
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading “SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.”
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading “SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.”
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading “SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.”
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading “But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.”
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading “SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
a quantity of money
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
British choreographer (1906-1988)
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
rid of objects or obstructions such as e.g. trees and brush
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
be a sign or indication of
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "You'll find out that I'm right!
motion of hands or body to emphasize or help to express a thought or feeling
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
a form of address for a man
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
on one occasion
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
and nothing more
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "You'll find out that I'm right!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
precisely, exactly
From this reading "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
the feeling you have when you are satisfied with yourself
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading "I'm sure I'm right!" he exclaimed.
causing surprise or wonder or amazement
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "You'll find out that I'm right!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree
From this reading But there's a tremendous lot to do, Carless.
joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
not favored by fortune; marked or accompanied by or resulting in ill fortune
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading If only that unfortunate man, Ashton, had lived, he could have cleared this matter up at once.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading SURPRISING READINESS Mr. Pawle made a gesture which seemed to denote a certain amount of triumphant self-satisfaction.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You'll find out that I'm right!
Chapter 19 of The Middle of Things by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher holds 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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.
Chapter 19 holds 176 sentences of The Middle of Things, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 19 of The Middle of Things by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 176 sentences, grouped into 36 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.
Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 36 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 19 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.
Common questions about reading The Middle of Things by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4739 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9902 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #9902, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 394 minutes of reading across 948 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Middle of Things section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 28 chapters of The Middle of Things to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Middle of Things, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
