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The Proof of the Pudding
The Proof of the Pudding

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Proof of the Pudding is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Meredith Nicholson • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 25 of The Proof of the Pudding by Meredith Nicholson holds 171 sentences, grouped into 35 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 25 of The Proof of the Pudding contain?

Chapter 25 holds 171 sentences of The Proof of the Pudding, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of The Proof of the Pudding by Meredith Nicholson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 171 sentences, grouped into 35 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 25 of The Proof of the Pudding?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Proof of the Pudding

Common questions about reading The Proof of the Pudding by Meredith Nicholson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Proof of the Pudding?

Yes. All 5333 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #66354 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Proof of the Pudding is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #66354, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Proof of the Pudding take to read?

About 444 minutes of reading across 1067 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Proof of the Pudding section by section

How to work through The Proof of the Pudding section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The Proof of the Pudding 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 Proof of the Pudding

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Proof of the Pudding, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Meredith
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Proof of the Pudding; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nicholson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Proof of the Pudding; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Proof
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Proof of the Pudding; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pudding
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Proof of the Pudding; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Proof of the Pudding
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.
It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.
He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.
A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.
He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.
0:00 / 0:00
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.

The Proof of the Pudding

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Proof of the Pudding is here in full — 171 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.
Line 2
It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.
Line 3
He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.
Line 4
A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.
Line 5
He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

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.

Below preposition US /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading “COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Expecting verb US /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading “COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 71

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

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Velmora curated lexicon
absently

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
April's

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Velmora curated lexicon
belowprepositionUS /bɪˈloʊ/

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
BENEFACTOR

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
big

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
box

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
C

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
calendar

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
clear

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
closed

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
COPELAND'S

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
crumpled

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
dancing

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
day's

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
desk

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
drawer

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
Eaton

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
encumbrances

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
exert

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
file-cases

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
five

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
floor

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
gaze

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
glanced

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
hand

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Velmora curated lexicon
heralds

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Velmora curated lexicon
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
March

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
nearing

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
o'clock

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
office

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
opened

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
out

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
paced

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
particular

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
peered

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
ranging

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
ranks

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
roofs

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
section

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
see

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
seemed

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
several

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
slowly

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
spell

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

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Pending verification
swept

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Velmora curated lexicon
then

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
times

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

From this reading He glanced at it several times, then opened a drawer in his desk, peered in, and absently closed it.

Pending verification
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Velmora curated lexicon
tore

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
UNKNOWN

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A particular box in the “C” section seemed to exert a spell upon him.

Velmora curated lexicon
walls

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

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was nearing five o’clock and his big desk was swept clear of the day’s encumbrances.

Velmora curated lexicon
window

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

From this reading COPELAND’S UNKNOWN BENEFACTOR Eaton tore March from his office calendar, crumpled it in his hand, and glanced out of the window as though expecting to see April’s heralds dancing over the roofs below.

Pending verification
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He paced the floor slowly, his gaze ranging the walls with their ranks of file-cases.

Velmora curated lexicon