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The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories
The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories
Context Illustration Reading 3/21 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.
They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.
And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.
It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.
But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 3/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 11–15

Line 1
But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.
Line 2
They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.
/ðeɪ hæd noʊ wɪŋz ənd wɔːr kloʊðz ənd tɔːkt ənd lʊkt ənd ˈæktɪd dʒʌst laɪk ˈeni ˈnætʃərəl ˈpɜːrsən ənd juː wʊd ˈnevər noʊ ðem fɔːr ˈeɪndʒəlz ɪkˈsept fɔːr ðə ˈwʌndərfəl θɪŋz ðeɪ dɪd wɪtʃ ə ˈmɔːrtəl kʊd nɑːt duː ənd ðə weɪ ðeɪ ˈsʌdənli ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd waɪl juː wɜːr ˈtɔːkɪŋ wɪð ðem wɪtʃ wɑːz ˈɔːlsoʊ ə θɪŋ wɪtʃ noʊ ˈmɔːrtəl kʊd duː/
Line 3
And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.
/ənd hiː sed ðeɪ wɜːr ˈplezənt ənd ˈtʃɪrfəl nɑːt ˈɡluːmi ənd ˈmelənkɑːli laɪk ɡoʊsts/
Line 4
It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.
Line 5
But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

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.

actual adjective US /ˈæktʃəwəl/

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading “But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.”

angels noun US /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading “But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.”

favorite noun US /ˈfeɪvərɪt/

something regarded with special favor or liking

From this reading “It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.”

flint noun US /flɪnt/

a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony

From this reading “But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.”

ghosts noun US /ɡoʊsts/

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading “And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.”

impressing verb US /ˌɪmˈpresɪŋ/

-ing form of “impress” — have an emotional or cognitive impact upon

From this reading “It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.”

strangest adjective US /ˈstreɪndʒɪst/

superlative of “strange” — being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading “But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.”

woody adjective US /ˈwʊdi/

made of or containing or resembling wood

From this reading “It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.”

All words in this reading · 111

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 They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

actedverbUS /ˈæktɪd/

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

actualadjectiveUS /ˈæktʃəwəl/

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/

plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

breakfastverbUS /ˈbrekfəst/

eat an early morning meal

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

cheerfuladjectiveUS /ˈtʃɪrfəl/

being full of or promoting cheer; having or showing good spirits

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

clothesnounUS /kloʊðz/

clothing in general

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

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

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

couldn't

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

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

crossedadjectiveUS /krɔːst/

placed crosswise

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/

something regarded with special favor or liking

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

flintnounUS /flɪnt/

a hard kind of stone; a form of silica more opaque than chalcedony

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

ghostsnounUS /ɡoʊsts/

plural of “ghost” — a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

gloomyadjectiveUS /ˈɡluːmi/

depressingly dark

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

heavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

heedlessadjective

marked by or paying little heed or attention

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

hill-top

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

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

impressingverbUS /ˌɪmˈpresɪŋ/

-ing form of “impress” — have an emotional or cognitive impact upon

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

melancholynounUS /ˈmelənkɑːli/

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

mindsnounUS /maɪndz/

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

mortaladjectiveUS /ˈmɔːrtəl/

subject to death

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

naturaladjectiveUS /ˈnætʃərəl/

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

ourspronounUS /ˈaʊərz/

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

pleasantadjectiveUS /ˈplezənt/

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And he said they were pleasant and cheerful, not gloomy and melancholy, like ghosts.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

shadenounUS /ʃeɪd/

relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

smokenounUS /smoʊk/

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

steelnounUS /stiːl/

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading But we couldn't smoke, because we had been heedless and left our flint and steel behind.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

strangestadjectiveUS /ˈstreɪndʒɪst/

superlative of “strange” — being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

stretchedadjectiveUS /stretʃt/

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

talkverbUS /tɔːk/

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

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

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But the strangest thing was that he had seen angels--actual angels out of heaven--and had talked with them.

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

woodyadjectiveUS /ˈwʊdi/

made of or containing or resembling wood

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

woreverbUS /wɔːr/

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It was after that kind of a talk one May night that we got up next morning and had a good breakfast with him and then went down and crossed the bridge and went away up into the hills on the left to a woody hill-top which was a favorite place of ours, and there we stretched out on the grass in the shade to rest and smoke and talk over these strange things, for they were in our minds yet, and impressing us.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading They had no wings, and wore clothes, and talked and looked and acted just like any natural person, and you would never know them for angels except for the wonderful things they did which a mortal could not do, and the way they suddenly disappeared while you were talking with them, which was also a thing which no mortal could do.

Chapter 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain holds 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories contain?

Chapter 2 holds 106 sentences of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 2 of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Stranger, and Other Stories

Common questions about reading The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories by Mark Twain on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories?

Yes. All 2124 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3186 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3186, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories take to read?

About 177 minutes of reading across 425 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories section by section

How to work through The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories 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 Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Winter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Austria
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
World
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Asleep
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mysterious Stranger, and Other Stories; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.