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The Moonstone
The Moonstone

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Moonstone is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Wilkie Collins • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 21 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins holds 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 21 of The Moonstone contain?

Chapter 21 holds 225 sentences of The Moonstone, unabridged, divided into 45 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 225 sentences, grouped into 45 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 21 of The Moonstone?

Work through the 45 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 45 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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.
Cover illustration for The Moonstone
Context Illustration Reading 1/45 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.
In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.
An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.
The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.
And the sweet sleep of childhood invariably followed the “Evening Hymn.”
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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 XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Moonstone is here in full — 225 sentences across 45 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.
Line 2
In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.
Line 3
An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.
Line 4
The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.
Line 5
And the sweet sleep of childhood invariably followed the “Evening Hymn.”

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 “In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 72

Every word is available to listen to. 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 I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
age

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
all

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
am

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
An

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
article

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
at

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
bed

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
before

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
both

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
bygone

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
carefully

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
chair

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
childhood

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

From this reading And the sweet sleep of childhood invariably followed the “Evening Hymn.”

Pending verification
clothing

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
day

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
day's

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
dear

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
diary

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
early

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
entry

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
Evening

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

From this reading The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.

Pending verification
events

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
every

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
fold

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
folding

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
followed

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

From this reading The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.

Pending verification
foot

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
for

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
habits

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
hair

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
happy

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
having

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
heaven

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
hours

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
Hymn

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

From this reading The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.

Pending verification
I

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
indebted

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
instilled

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
into

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
invariably

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
keep

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
little

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
me

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
my

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
night

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
now

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
on

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
order

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
parents

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
place

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
preceded

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

From this reading An entry of the day’s events in my little diary invariably preceded the folding up.

Pending verification
regularity

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
repeated

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

From this reading The “Evening Hymn” (repeated in bed) invariably followed the folding up.

Pending verification
rest

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
retiring

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Velmora curated lexicon
sleep

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

From this reading And the sweet sleep of childhood invariably followed the “Evening Hymn.”

Pending verification
sweet

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

From this reading And the sweet sleep of childhood invariably followed the “Evening Hymn.”

Pending verification
taught

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
tidy

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
time

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
to

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
up

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification
very

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

From this reading I am indebted to my dear parents (both now in heaven) for having had habits of order and regularity instilled into me at a very early age.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading In that happy bygone time, I was taught to keep my hair tidy at all hours of the day and night, and to fold up every article of my clothing carefully, in the same order, on the same chair, in the same place at the foot of the bed, before retiring to rest.

Pending verification