Chapter 24 of The Spider and the Fly is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
Chapter 24 of The Spider and the Fly is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A TRYING INTERVIEW. So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned. "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price. Shall I go to-morrow?" Ethel turned pale and sighed.
Chapter 24 of The Spider and the Fly is here in full — 390 sentences across 78 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/78 · 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.
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading “So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.”
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading “A TRYING INTERVIEW.”
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
In this reading “"Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.”
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 A TRYING INTERVIEW.
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
made known or openly avowed
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
conduct an interview in television, newspaper, and radio reporting
From this reading A TRYING INTERVIEW.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
very light colored; highly diluted with white
From this reading Ethel turned pale and sighed.
a smooth lustrous round structure inside the shell of a clam or oyster; much valued as a jewel
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Shall I go to-morrow?"
past form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading Ethel turned pale and sighed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
a tendency to express warm and affectionate feeling
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shall I go to-morrow?"
hard to endure
From this reading A TRYING INTERVIEW.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Ethel turned pale and sighed.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading So Bertie had declared love, and won an acknowledgment from Ethel that his love was returned.
(used as an intensifier) extremely well
From this reading "Ethel," he said, and the name sounded wonderfully sweet as he dwelt upon it with loving tenderness, "Ethel, I must go to the earl and ask for my pearl of price.
Chapter 24 of The Spider and the Fly by Charles Garvice holds 390 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.
Chapter 24 holds 390 sentences of The Spider and the Fly, unabridged, divided into 78 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 24 of The Spider and the Fly by Charles Garvice exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 390 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.
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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Spider and the Fly by Charles Garvice on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 7374 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49537 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #49537, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1475 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Spider and the Fly section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Spider and the Fly 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 Spider and the Fly, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
