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The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20
The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 is here in full — 350 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Chapter 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 350 sentences, grouped into 70 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 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 contain?

Chapter 15 holds 350 sentences of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 350 sentences, grouped into 70 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 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20

Common questions about reading The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20?

Yes. All 7524 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #30849 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #30849, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1505 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 section by section

How to work through The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 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 Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Swanston
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Edition
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Twenty-five
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Volumes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20
Context Illustration Reading 1/70 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.
It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.
Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.
In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.
The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!
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 Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20

Chapter XV

Chapter 15 of The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson — Vol. 20 is here in full — 350 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/70 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.
Line 2
It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.
Line 3
Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.
Line 4
In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.
Line 5
The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

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.

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.”

Have auxiliary verb US /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.”

Under preposition US /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading “It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

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

From this reading “Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.”

All words in this reading · 83

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 It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

ADVENTURE

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

all

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

appetite

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

appointed

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

ATTORNEY'S

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

bread

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

business

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

came

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

cart

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

CLERK

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

Colonel

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

course

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

daily

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

dangerous

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

departed

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

disconnected

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

dismount

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

eat

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

English

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

find

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

fire

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

give

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

God

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

half

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

head

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

help

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

hostelries

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

house

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

inconsiderable

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

King

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

known

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

like

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

lion's

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

Major

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

manner

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

mentioned

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

mile

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

minimise

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

mouth

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

orders

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

piece

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

place

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

pleased

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

pronunciation

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

put

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

risk

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

satisfy

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

severally

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

some

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

From this reading In like manner we departed, to find the cart at an appointed place, some half a mile beyond.

Sometimes

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

straggle

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

strangers

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

two

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

usual

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

view

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

wayside

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

went

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

From this reading It was a dangerous business: we went daily under fire to satisfy our appetite, and put our head in the lion's mouth for a piece of bread.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading THE ADVENTURE OF THE ATTORNEY'S CLERK I have mentioned our usual course, which was to eat in inconsiderable wayside hostelries, known to King.

word

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

From this reading The Colonel and the Major had each a word or two of English--God help their pronunciation!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Sometimes, to minimise the risk, we would all dismount before we came in view of the house, straggle in severally, and give what orders we pleased, like disconnected strangers.