The Snare

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of The Snare is here in full — 335 sentences across 67 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Rafael Sabatini • Curated US English Learning Edition

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To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

Then Miss Armytage closed the door and came forward, moving with that grace peculiar to her, and carrying her head erect, facing Captain Tremayne now with some lingering signs of the defiance she had shown the members of the court-martial.

“Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

“After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

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Chapter XIX Reading 1/67

The Snare Rafael Sabatini

Chapter XIX

Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of The Snare is here in full — 335 sentences across 67 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage. She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease. Then Miss Armytage closed the door and came forward, moving with that grace peculiar to her, and carrying her head erect, facing Captain Tremayne now with some lingering signs of the defiance she had shown the members of the court-martial. “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence. “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

The Snare

Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

Chapter 19 of The Snare is here in full — 335 sentences across 67 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/67 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

Line 2

She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

Line 3

Line 4

“Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

Line 5

“After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

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.

court-martial noun US /ˈkɔːrtmɑːrʃəl/

a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law

From this reading “Then Miss Armytage closed the door and came forward, moving with that grace peculiar to her, and carrying her head erect, facing Captain Tremayne now with some lingering signs of the defiance she had shown the members of the court-martial.”

defiance noun US /dɪˈfaɪəns/

intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude

disconcerting adjective US /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/

causing an emotional disturbance

From this reading ““Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.”

fretted adjective US /ˈfretɪd/

having frets

From this reading “To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.”

lingering noun US /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/

the act of tarrying

merest adjective US /ˈmerəst/

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading ““Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.”

mutually adverb US /ˈmjuːtʃuːəli/

in a mutual or shared manner

From this reading “She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.”

unannounced adjective US /ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/

without warning or announcement

All words in this reading · 84

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 To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

Armytage

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

breakverbUS /breɪk/

terminate

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Then Miss Armytage closed the door and came forward, moving with that grace peculiar to her, and carrying her head erect, facing Captain Tremayne now with some lingering signs of the defiance she had shown the members of the court-martial.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

consideringverbUS /kənˈsɪdərɪŋ/

-ing form of “consider” — deem to be

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

conventionalitynoun

conformity with conventional thought and behavior

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

court-martialnounUS /ˈkɔːrtmɑːrʃəl/

a military court to try members of the armed services who are accused of serious breaches of martial law

defiancenounUS /dɪˈfaɪəns/

intentionally contemptuous behavior or attitude

diningroom

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

disconcertingadjectiveUS /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrtɪŋ/

causing an emotional disturbance

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

easeverbUS /iːz/

move gently or carefully

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/

having frets

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/

(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

hournounUS /ˈaʊər/

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

illadjectiveUS /ɪl/

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

impatiencenounUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəns/

a lack of patience; irritation with anything that causes delay

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

lingeringnounUS /ˈlɪŋɡərɪŋ/

the act of tarrying

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

membersnounUS /ˈmembərz/

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

movingadjectiveUS /ˈmuːvɪŋ/

in motion

Mullins

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

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

mutuallyadverbUS /ˈmjuːtʃuːəli/

in a mutual or shared manner

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

peculiaradjectiveUS /pəˈkjuːljər/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

ringingnounUS /ˈrɪŋɪŋ/

the sound of a bell ringing

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

shownverbUS /ʃoʊn/

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

signsnounUS /saɪnz/

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

surprisenounUS /sərˈpraɪz/

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

Sylvia

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

tellsnounUS /telz/

plural of “tell” — a Swiss patriot who lived in the early 14th century and who was renowned for his skill as an archer

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

Tremayne

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

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

unannouncedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnəˈnaʊnst/

without warning or announcement

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “After what has happened that should not surprise you,” said Tremayne.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She entered unannounced, at a moment when for the third time he was on the point of ringing for Mullins, and for a moment they stood considering each other mutually ill at ease.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading To Captain Tremayne, fretted with impatience in the diningroom, came, at the end of a long hour of waiting, Sylvia Armytage.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Mullins tells me that you wish to see me,” she said the merest conventionality to break the disconcerting, uneasy silence.

Chapter 19 of The Snare by Rafael Sabatini holds 335 sentences, grouped into 67 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 19 of The Snare contain?

Chapter 19 holds 335 sentences of The Snare, unabridged, divided into 67 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 19 of The Snare by Rafael Sabatini exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 335 sentences, grouped into 67 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.

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Work through the 67 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 67 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 19 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.

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Chapter XIX · Chapter 19

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