Chapter 30 of The porcelain mask is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXX
Chapter 30 of The porcelain mask is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table. He gulped a drink nervously. He put the glass down clumsily. "It's impossible--utterly impossible!" Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.
Chapter 30 of The porcelain mask is here in full — 154 sentences across 31 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/30 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
American inventor who in 1775 designed a man-propelled submarine that was ineffectual but subsequently earned him recognition as a submarine pioneer (1742-1824)
From this reading “Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.”
in a clumsy manner
From this reading “He put the glass down clumsily.”
possessive form of “coroner” — a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
From this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
past form of “gulp” — to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
From this reading “He gulped a drink nervously.”
in a helpless manner
From this reading “Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.”
in a tense manner
From this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
the act of gambling
From this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
curved or curving in and out
From this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
In this reading “WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
American inventor who in 1775 designed a man-propelled submarine that was ineffectual but subsequently earned him recognition as a submarine pioneer (1742-1824)
From this reading Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.
in a clumsy manner
From this reading He put the glass down clumsily.
possessive form of “coroner” — a public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
a licensed medical practitioner
From this reading Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He put the glass down clumsily.
take in liquids
From this reading He gulped a drink nervously.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
past form of “gulp” — to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one draught
From this reading He gulped a drink nervously.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He gulped a drink nervously.
in a helpless manner
From this reading Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading "It's impossible--utterly impossible!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "It's impossible--utterly impossible!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
past form of “mutter” — talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading Doctor Bushnell muttered helplessly.
in an anxiously nervous manner
From this reading He gulped a drink nervously.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He put the glass down clumsily.
not tired; refreshed as by sleeping or relaxing
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
in a tense manner
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "It's impossible--utterly impossible!"
the act of gambling
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
curved or curving in and out
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
in the company of; together with
From this reading WIGGLY MAKES A WAGER The room was tensely silent, as Kirklan Gilmore made his way slowly to the front of the room and, with a shaking hand, took the glass of water that rested upon the coroner's table.
Chapter 30 of The porcelain mask by John Jay Chichester holds 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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.
Chapter 30 holds 154 sentences of The porcelain mask, unabridged, divided into 31 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 30 of The porcelain mask by John Jay Chichester exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 154 sentences, grouped into 31 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.
Work through the 31 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 31 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 30 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.
Common questions about reading The porcelain mask by John Jay Chichester on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #?, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The porcelain mask section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 0 chapters of The porcelain mask to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The porcelain mask, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
