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The Way Out
The Way Out

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Way Out is here in full — 168 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Emerson Hough • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Way Out
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.
It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.
Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.
It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.
That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.
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 Way Out

Chapter XXV

Chapter 25 of The Way Out is here in full — 168 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.
Line 2
It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.
Line 3
Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.
/hɜːr ɡeɪz wɑːz fɪkst əˈpɑːn ðə əˈproʊtʃɪŋ ˈviːhɪkəl ˈkɑːmənli noʊn æz ðə meɪl steɪdʒ/
Line 4
It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.
Line 5
That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

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.

blacksmith noun US /ˈblæksmɪθ/

a smith who forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil

From this reading “STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
civic adjective US /ˈsɪvɪk/

of or relating or belonging to a city

From this reading “STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commonly adverb US /ˈkɑːmənli/

under normal conditions

From this reading “Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forks noun US /fɔːrks/

plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading “STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Granny noun US /ˈɡræni/

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading “It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
located adjective US /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading “STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rambled verb US /ˈræmbəld/

past form of “ramble” — continue talking or writing in a desultory manner

From this reading “It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vehicle noun US /ˈviːhɪkəl/

a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading “Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

commonly known adverb + adjective

In this reading “Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.”

635 times in 426,212 chapters
special attention adjective + noun

In this reading “It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.”

712 times in 426,212 chapters
unusual thing adjective + noun

In this reading “It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.”

743 times in 426,212 chapters
WITHIN THE GATES preposition + article + noun counted as “within … gates”

In this reading “STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.”

283 times in 426,212 chapters

All words in this reading · 76

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.

agoadverbUS /əˈɡoʊ/

in the past

From this reading That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
approachingnounUS /əˈproʊtʃɪŋ/

the event of one object coming closer to another

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
attentionnounUS /əˈtenʃən/

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
attractverbUS /əˈtrækt/

direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
blacksmithnounUS /ˈblæksmɪθ/

a smith who forges and shapes iron with a hammer and anvil

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
buildingnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋ/

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
calledverbUS /kɔːld/

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora curated lexicon
civicadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvɪk/

of or relating or belonging to a city

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/

under normal conditions

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doornounUS /dɔːr/

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

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forksnounUS /fɔːrks/

plural of “fork” — cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
furriners

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

From this reading That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

Pending verification
GATESnounUS /ɡeɪts/

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gazenounUS /ɡeɪz/

a long fixed look

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GrannynounUS /ˈɡræni/

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HerdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Joslin

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

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Pending verification
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
locatedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkeɪtəd/

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
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 STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mailnounUS /meɪl/

the bags of letters and packages that are transported by the postal service

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mouthnounUS /maʊθ/

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
others

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

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Pending verification
passengersnounUS /ˈpæsəndʒərz/

plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
post-office

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

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Pending verification
pronouncedadjectiveUS /prəˈnaʊnst/

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rambledverbUS /ˈræmbəld/

past form of “ramble” — continue talking or writing in a desultory manner

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shopverbUS /ʃɑːp/

do one's shopping

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
specialadjectiveUS /ˈspeʃəl/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stagenounUS /steɪdʒ/

any distinct time period in a sequence of events

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora curated lexicon
STRANGERSnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/

plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
streetnounUS /striːt/

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/

a special situation

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading It seemed to carry passengers this morning, an unusual thing, and the passengers themselves were such as to attract special attention of Granny Joslin and others.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
vehiclenounUS /ˈviːhɪkəl/

a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading Her gaze was fixed upon the approaching vehicle commonly known as the mail stage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was here that, on the morning following, old Granny Joslin stood in the door, pipe in mouth, looking up the long street, which rambled down from the hills.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
WITHINprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading STRANGERS WITHIN THE GATES THE civic center of the village at the river forks might have been called the long building, in which were located the post-office and the blacksmith shop.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading That they were “furriners” Granny Joslin would have pronounced long ago.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 25 of The Way Out by Emerson Hough holds 168 sentences, grouped into 34 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 25 of The Way Out contain?

Chapter 25 holds 168 sentences of The Way Out, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 25 of The Way Out by Emerson Hough exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 168 sentences, grouped into 34 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 25 of The Way Out?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 25 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 25 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 Way Out

Common questions about reading The Way Out by Emerson Hough on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Way Out?

Yes. All 5046 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #49096 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Way Out is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #49096, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Way Out take to read?

About 420 minutes of reading across 1010 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Way Out section by section

How to work through The Way Out section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 28 chapters of The Way Out 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 Way Out

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Way Out, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Woman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Way Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spoke
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Way Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wrinkled
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Way Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bowed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Way Out; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.