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The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Context Illustration Reading 1/43 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.
It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.
What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.
But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?
She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.
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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 Mystery of Edwin Drood

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is here in full — 216 sentences across 44 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/43 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.
Line 2
It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.
Line 3
What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.
Line 4
But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?
Line 5
She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.”

All words in this reading · 63

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

A

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

and

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

any

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

as

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

at

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

before

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

breathed

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

But

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

came

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

clear

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

could

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

do

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

dread

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

even

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

FLIGHT

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

fly

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

frightened

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

from

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

go

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

had

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

Helena

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

her

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

herself

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

him

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

how

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

if

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

in

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

insensibility

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

interview

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

into

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

It

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

know

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

late

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

loss

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

man

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

moment's

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

must

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

never

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

From this reading She had never breathed her dread of him to any one but Helena.

no

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

not

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

of

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

one

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

only

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

pursued

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

refuge

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

Rosa

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

seemed

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

she

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

sooner

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

take

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

terrible

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

than

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

that

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

the

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

this

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

thought

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

to

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

unconsciousness

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

From this reading It even seemed as if it had pursued her into her insensibility, and she had not had a moment’s unconsciousness of it.

was

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

What

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

From this reading What to do, she was at a frightened loss to know: the only one clear thought in her mind was, that she must fly from this terrible man.

where

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

From this reading But where could she take refuge, and how could she go?

whole

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

From this reading A FLIGHT Rosa no sooner came to herself than the whole of the late interview was before her.

Chapter 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens holds 216 sentences, grouped into 44 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 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood contain?

Chapter 20 holds 216 sentences of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unabridged, divided into 44 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 216 sentences, grouped into 44 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 20 of The Mystery of Edwin Drood?

Work through the 44 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 44 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Mystery of Edwin Drood

Common questions about reading The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mystery of Edwin Drood?

Yes. All 5297 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #564 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mystery of Edwin Drood is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #564, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Mystery of Edwin Drood take to read?

About 441 minutes of reading across 1060 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Mystery of Edwin Drood section by section

How to work through The Mystery of Edwin Drood section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Mystery of Edwin Drood 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 Mystery of Edwin Drood

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ancient
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
English
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cathedral
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Tower
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mystery of Edwin Drood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.