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The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife
The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife is here in full — 20 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ellen M. Firebaugh • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife by Ellen M. Firebaugh holds 20 sentences, grouped into 4 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 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife contain?

Chapter 2 holds 20 sentences of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife, unabridged, divided into 4 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife by Ellen M. Firebaugh exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 20 sentences, grouped into 4 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 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife?

Work through the 4 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 4 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife

Common questions about reading The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife by Ellen M. Firebaugh on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife?

Yes. All 4597 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38752 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38752, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife take to read?

About 383 minutes of reading across 920 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife section by section

How to work through The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 19 chapters of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife 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 Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Italic
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Marked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Underscores
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ellen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife
Context Illustration Reading 1/4 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.
Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.
Then she fell into a soliloquy:
To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?
To dream! perchance to sleep!
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 Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Story of a Doctor's Telephone—Told by His Wife is here in full — 20 sentences across 4 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/4 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.
Line 2
Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.
Line 3
Then she fell into a soliloquy:
Line 4
To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?
Line 5
To dream! perchance to sleep!

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, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?”

Velmora curated lexicon
Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Dream noun US /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading “To dream! perchance to sleep!”

Velmora curated lexicon
Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Toward preposition US /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading “The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Whether conjunction US /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading “To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 56

Every word is available to listen to. 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 Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Velmora curated lexicon
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
bed

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
beginning

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
belated

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
climbing

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
clock

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
couch

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
doctor

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
down

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
drapery

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
dreamnounUS /driːm/

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading To dream! perchance to sleep!

Velmora curated lexicon
dreams

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
drowsiness

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
eleven

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
fell

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

From this reading Then she fell into a soliloquy:

Pending verification
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
hands

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Velmora curated lexicon
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then she fell into a soliloquy:

Velmora curated lexicon
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
lie

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
looked

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
Mary

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Velmora curated lexicon
perchance

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

From this reading To dream! perchance to sleep!

Pending verification
pleasant

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
question

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
returned

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Pending verification
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Then she fell into a soliloquy:

Velmora curated lexicon
sleep

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

From this reading To dream! perchance to sleep!

Pending verification
soliloquy

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

From this reading Then she fell into a soliloquy:

Pending verification
spouse

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
steal

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
Then

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

From this reading Then she fell into a soliloquy:

Pending verification
tis

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Velmora curated lexicon
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
up

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification
wait

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The hands of the clock were climbing around toward eleven and the doctor had not returned.

Velmora curated lexicon
WhetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Velmora curated lexicon
wife

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
wiser

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Velmora curated lexicon
wrap

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

From this reading To bed, or not to bed--that is the question: Whether 'tis wiser in the wife to wait for a belated spouse, Or to wrap the drapery of her couch about her And lie down to pleasant dreams?

Pending verification
yawn

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

From this reading Mary, a drowsiness beginning to steal over her, looked up with a yawn.

Pending verification