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The Rise of Silas Lapham
The Rise of Silas Lapham

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Rise of Silas Lapham
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Where is your lot?
They say it's unhealthy, over there."
Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.
There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.
He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Rise of Silas Lapham

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham is here in full — 206 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Where is your lot?
Line 2
They say it's unhealthy, over there."
Line 3
Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.
Line 4
There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.
Line 5
He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

All words in this reading · 77

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 Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

abandoned

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

account

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

affairs

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

all

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

and

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

as

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

be

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

being

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

blind

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

but

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

by

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

came

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

ceased

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

certain

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

come

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

confidence

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

crash

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

day

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

expanded

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

felt

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

grapple

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

great

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

had

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

He

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

her

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

herself

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

his

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

hitherto

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

husband's

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

in

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

intimate

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

is

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

From this reading "Where is your lot?

it's

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

judgment

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

kept

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

knowledge

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

Lapham

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

lot

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

From this reading "Where is your lot?

made

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

Mrs

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

nature

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

needed

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

nervous

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

not

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

of

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

over

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

period

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

point

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

prosperity

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

retail

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

revision

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

ruined

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

say

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

she

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

since

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

strict

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

success

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

successfully

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

that

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

the

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

their

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

them

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

there

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

They

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

to

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

unhealthy

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

From this reading They say it's unhealthy, over there."

unquestioned

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

Up

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

was

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

went

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

From this reading He came and went, day by day, unquestioned.

were

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

From this reading There was a period in which she felt that they were being ruined, but the crash had not come; and, since his great success, she had abandoned herself to a blind confidence in her husband's judgment, which she had hitherto felt needed her revision.

Where

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

From this reading "Where is your lot?

which

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

with

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

women

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

From this reading Up to a certain point in their prosperity Mrs. Lapham had kept strict account of all her husband's affairs; but as they expanded, and ceased to be of the retail nature with which women successfully grapple, the intimate knowledge of them made her nervous.

your

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

From this reading "Where is your lot?

Chapter 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells holds 206 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham contain?

Chapter 4 holds 206 sentences of The Rise of Silas Lapham, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 206 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Rise of Silas Lapham?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Rise of Silas Lapham

Common questions about reading The Rise of Silas Lapham by William Dean Howells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Rise of Silas Lapham?

Yes. All 8158 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #154 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Rise of Silas Lapham is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #154, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Rise of Silas Lapham take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1632 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Rise of Silas Lapham section by section

How to work through The Rise of Silas Lapham section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Rise of Silas Lapham 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 Rise of Silas Lapham

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Rise of Silas Lapham, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Bartley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hubbard
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Interview
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Silas
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Rise of Silas Lapham; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.