The 'Phone Booth Mystery

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By John Ironside • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery by John Ironside holds 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery contain?

Chapter 20 holds 144 sentences of The 'Phone Booth Mystery, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery by John Ironside exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 144 sentences, grouped into 29 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 'Phone Booth Mystery?

Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 29 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 'Phone Booth Mystery

Common questions about reading The 'Phone Booth Mystery by John Ironside on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The 'Phone Booth Mystery?

Yes. All 4264 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #65811 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The 'Phone Booth Mystery is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #65811, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The 'Phone Booth Mystery take to read?

About 355 minutes of reading across 853 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The 'Phone Booth Mystery section by section

How to work through The 'Phone Booth Mystery section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 27 chapters of The 'Phone Booth Mystery to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The 'Phone Booth Mystery

Words and structures a reader meets early in The 'Phone Booth Mystery, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The 'Phone Booth Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Symbol: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The 'Phone Booth Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Forged: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The 'Phone Booth Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Strong: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The 'Phone Booth Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Cover illustration for The 'Phone Booth Mystery

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

“I’ve been fretting so about you being here all alone, and now I’ve had the good fortune to let the cottage for three months, and all the money paid in advance, I felt I must come straight up, without asking your permission.

And--and I’ve brought Dear Brutus too.

He’s been so good through the journey.”

“You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XX Reading 1/29

The 'Phone Booth Mystery

Chapter XX

Chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery is here in full — 144 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/29 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

Line 2

Line 3

And--and I’ve brought Dear Brutus too.

Line 4

He’s been so good through the journey.”

Line 5

“You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading ““I’ve been fretting so about you being here all alone, and now I’ve had the good fortune to let the cottage for three months, and all the money paid in advance, I felt I must come straight up, without asking your permission.”

Alone adjective US /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

Fluttering noun US /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

a quick, light movement or sound made by wings

From this reading “AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

Must modal verb US /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

Through preposition US /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading “He’s been so good through the journey.””

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.”

Without preposition US /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

All words in this reading · 67

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “I’ve been fretting so about you being here all alone, and now I’ve had the good fortune to let the cottage for three months, and all the money paid in advance, I felt I must come straight up, without asking your permission.

advance

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

all

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

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

ANdeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

asking

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

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

brought

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

From this reading And--and I’ve brought Dear Brutus too.

Brutus

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

From this reading And--and I’ve brought Dear Brutus too.

Carling

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

come

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

cottage

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

cried

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

Culpepper

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

darling

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

From this reading “You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

dear

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

don't

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

felt

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

flutteringnounUS /ˈflʌtərɪŋ/

a quick, light movement or sound made by wings

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

fortune

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

fretting

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

good

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

Grace

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

He's

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

From this reading He’s been so good through the journey.”

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

here

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

hugged

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

From this reading “You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

I've

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

journey

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

From this reading He’s been so good through the journey.”

just

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

From this reading “You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

kitten

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

From this reading “You darling!” cried Grace, and just hugged her, kitten and all.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

Miss

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

money

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

months

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

Mrs

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

now

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

OLD

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

paid

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

permission

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

rising

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

ROMANCE

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

straight

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

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

three

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

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He’s been so good through the journey.”

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

too

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

From this reading And--and I’ve brought Dear Brutus too.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

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

vexed

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

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading AN OLD ROMANCE “Oh, my dear Mrs. Carling, don’t be vexed with me!” cried Miss Culpepper, rising and fluttering towards Grace.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

Chapter XX

What does chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery contain?

How do I study chapter 20 of The 'Phone Booth Mystery?

Can chapter 20 be read aloud to me?

Questions about reading The 'Phone Booth Mystery

How to read The 'Phone Booth Mystery section by section

Open a chapter

Read one section

Listen and tap

Vocabulary met early in The 'Phone Booth Mystery