Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Servant in the House
The Servant in the House

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Servant in the House is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Servant in the House
Context Illustration Reading 1/77 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?
See wot I mean?"
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
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 Servant in the House

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Servant in the House is here in full — 389 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/77 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?
Line 2
See wot I mean?"
Line 3
"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
Line 4
He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.
Line 5
But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

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, and audio.

blinded adjective US /ˈblaɪndɪd/

deprived of sight

From this reading “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

brothers noun US /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading “"There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?”

darkness noun US /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading “"He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”

hath auxiliary verb US /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

lot noun US /lɑːt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading “"There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?”

occasion noun US /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

stumbling verb US /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.”

whither adverb US /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

abaht

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

abideth

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

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

blindedadjectiveUS /ˈblaɪndɪd/

deprived of sight

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

brothersnounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

don't

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

eh

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

goeth

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

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

hateth

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading See wot I mean?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

knockin

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

knoweth

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

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

lotnounUS /lɑːt/

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

loveth

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

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading See wot I mean?"

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

onounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

saith

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

SeeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading See wot I mean?"

stumblingverbUS /ˈstʌmbəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

There's

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

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading "He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

walketh

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

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "There's a lot o' brothers knockin' abaht as people don't know on, eh what?

whitheradverbUS /ˈwɪðər/

an old word meaning “to where”

From this reading But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

wot

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

From this reading See wot I mean?"

Chapter 1 of The Servant in the House by Charles Rann Kennedy holds 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 1 of The Servant in the House contain?

Chapter 1 holds 389 sentences of The Servant in the House, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Servant in the House by Charles Rann Kennedy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 389 sentences, grouped into 78 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 1 of The Servant in the House?

Work through the 78 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 78 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Servant in the House

Common questions about reading The Servant in the House by Charles Rann Kennedy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Servant in the House?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Servant in the House is used?

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

How long does The Servant in the House take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Servant in the House section by section

How to work through The Servant in the House section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The Servant in the House 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 Servant in the House

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Servant in the House, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The Servant in the House, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The Servant in the House, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The Servant in the House, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.