Chapter 9 of The Real Thing and Other Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
Chapter 9 of The Real Thing and Other Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Mr. Locket stared. “Hospitality—secured?” He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach. “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.” “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
Chapter 9 of The Real Thing and Other Tales is here in full — 156 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/31 · 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.
-ing form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading ““I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.””
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading ““I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.””
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading ““Hospitality—secured?””
a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading “Mr. Locket stared.”
cultivated in temperate regions
From this reading “He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.”
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading “He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.”
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading ““Hospitality—secured?””
(of pages) worn or soiled by thumb and fingers by frequent handling or turning
From this reading “He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.”
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 He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
-ing form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
From this reading “Hospitality—secured?”
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
a small ornamental case; usually contains a picture or a lock of hair and is worn on a necklace
From this reading Mr. Locket stared.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Locket stared.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
the time that has elapsed
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
cultivated in temperate regions
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
past form of “secure” — get by special effort
From this reading “Hospitality—secured?”
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading Mr. Locket stared.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading “I should give them my best attention—as I’ve always done in the past.”
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
(of pages) worn or soiled by thumb and fingers by frequent handling or turning
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He thumbed the proposition as if it were a hard peach.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “I mean that of course you wouldn’t—in courtsey, in gratitude—keep on declining my things.”
Chapter 9 of The Real Thing and Other Tales by Henry James holds 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 9 holds 156 sentences of The Real Thing and Other Tales, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 9 of The Real Thing and Other Tales by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 156 sentences, grouped into 32 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 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 32 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 9 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 Real Thing and Other Tales by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3216 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2715 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2715, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 268 minutes of reading across 644 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Real Thing and Other Tales section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 20 chapters of The Real Thing and Other Tales 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 Real Thing and Other Tales, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
