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The Moonstone
The Moonstone

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Moonstone is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Moonstone
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.
We, in the servants hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.
I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliamentnamely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.
Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.
When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.
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 Moonstone

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Moonstone is here in full — 133 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.
Line 2
We, in the servantshall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.
Line 3
I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliamentnamely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.
Line 4
Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.
Line 5
When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.”

All words in this reading · 91

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.

a

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

adopted

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

and

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

anniversary

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

annually

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

anticipated

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

as

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

at

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

be

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

been

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

Before

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

began

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

birthday

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

bravely

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

but

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

by

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

chief

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

cleared

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

cloudy

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

day

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

delivered

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

eagerly

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

ever

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

every

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

follow

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

for

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

forward

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

grumble

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

had

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

hall

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

happy

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

heard

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

hopefully

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

I

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

if

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

in

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

is

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

it

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

June

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

kind

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

like

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

little

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

look

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

looked

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

me

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

Miss

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

much

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

my

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

namely

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

newer

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

next

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

noon

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

not

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

nothing

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

novelty

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

of

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

offering

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

opening

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

our

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

out

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

Parliament

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

plan

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

presents

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

Queen

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

Queen's

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

From this reading Before it is delivered, my speech (like the Queen’s) is looked for as eagerly as if nothing of the kind had ever been heard before.

Rachel

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

regular

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

regularly

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

saying

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

servants

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

something

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

speech

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

sunrise

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

the

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

they

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

thing

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

this

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

though

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

to

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

towards

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

turns

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

twenty-first

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

unsettled

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

up

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

usual

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

was

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

From this reading June twenty-first, the day of the birthday, was cloudy and unsettled at sunrise, but towards noon it cleared up bravely.

We

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

When

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

From this reading When it is delivered, and turns out not to be the novelty anticipated, though they grumble a little, they look forward hopefully to something newer next year.

with

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

From this reading We, in the servants’ hall, began this happy anniversary, as usual, by offering our little presents to Miss Rachel, with the regular speech delivered annually by me as the chief.

year

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

From this reading I follow the plan adopted by the Queen in opening Parliament—namely, the plan of saying much the same thing regularly every year.

Chapter 9 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins holds 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 9 of The Moonstone contain?

Chapter 9 holds 133 sentences of The Moonstone, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 133 sentences, grouped into 27 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 9 of The Moonstone?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Moonstone

Common questions about reading The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Moonstone?

Yes. All 11510 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #155 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Moonstone is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #155, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Moonstone take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2302 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Moonstone section by section

How to work through The Moonstone section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of The Moonstone 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 Moonstone

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Moonstone, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Third
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Narrative
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fourth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fifth
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Moonstone; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.