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The Mysterious Key and What It Opened
The Mysterious Key and What It Opened

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Mysterious Key and What It Opened
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WHICH?
"A Gentleman, my lady."
Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."
Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.
Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.
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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 Mysterious Key and What It Opened

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is here in full — 135 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WHICH?
/wɪtʃ/
Line 2
"A Gentleman, my lady."
/ə ˈdʒentəlmən maɪ ˈleɪdi/
Line 3
Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."
Line 4
Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.
Line 5
Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.
/ðer aɪz met ənd ɪn ðə ɡɜːrlz feɪs wɑːz sʌtʃ ə ˈsʌdən ɡloʊ ʌv hoʊp ənd lʌv ənd ˈlɔːŋɪŋ ðæt ðə ˈmʌðər kʊd nɑːt daʊt ɔːr ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt hɜːr wɪʃ/

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.

beseech verb US /biˈsiːtʃ/

ask for or request earnestly

From this reading “Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."”

card noun US /kɑːrd/

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading “Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."”

disappoint verb US /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/

fail to meet the hopes or expectations of

From this reading “Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.”

girl's noun US /ɡɜːrlz/

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading “Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.”

glow noun US /ɡloʊ/

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading “Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.”

longing noun US /ˈlɔːŋɪŋ/

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading “Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.”

penciled adjective US /ˈpensəld/

drawn or written with a pencil

From this reading “Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."”

Talbot noun US /ˈtælbət/

English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)

From this reading “Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."”

All words in this reading · 59

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 "A Gentleman, my lady."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

beseechverbUS /biˈsiːtʃ/

ask for or request earnestly

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

cardnounUS /kɑːrd/

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

disappointverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɔɪnt/

fail to meet the hopes or expectations of

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

doubtnounUS /daʊt/

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

GentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/

a man of refinement

From this reading "A Gentleman, my lady."

girl'snounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

possessive form of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

glownounUS /ɡloʊ/

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

hopenounUS /hoʊp/

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading "A Gentleman, my lady."

Lillian

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

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

longingnounUS /ˈlɔːŋɪŋ/

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "A Gentleman, my lady."

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

offeredverbUS /ˈɔːfərd/

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

PaulnounUS /pɔːl/

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

penciledadjectiveUS /ˈpensəld/

drawn or written with a pencil

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

salvernoun

a tray (or large plate) for serving food or drinks; usually made of silver

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

silvernounUS /ˈsɪlvər/

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Lillian stood beside her and saw the line.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

suddenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌdən/

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

TakingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

TalbotnounUS /ˈtælbət/

English inventor and pioneer in photography who published the first book illustrated with photographs (1800-1877)

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

TheirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

Trevlyn

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

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

WHICHpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading WHICH?

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Their eyes met, and in the girl's face was such a sudden glow of hope, and love, and longing, that the mother could not doubt or disappoint her wish.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Taking a card from the silver salver on which the servant offered it, Lady Trevlyn read, "Paul Talbot," and below the name these penciled words, "I beseech you to see me."

Chapter 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened by Louisa May Alcott holds 135 sentences, grouped into 27 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 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened contain?

Chapter 8 holds 135 sentences of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened by Louisa May Alcott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 135 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 8 of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened?

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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Mysterious Key and What It Opened

Common questions about reading The Mysterious Key and What It Opened by Louisa May Alcott on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened is used?

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

How long does The Mysterious Key and What It Opened take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  1. Open a chapter

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Vocabulary met early in The Mysterious Key and What It Opened

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
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Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Mysterious Key and What It Opened, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.