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Vailima Letters Being Correspondence

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Robert Louis Stevenson • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Vailima Letters
Being Correspondence

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

_Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

I thought a good deal of this feast.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XL Reading 1/40

Vailima Letters Being Correspondence

Chapter XL · Chapter 40

Chapter 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence is here in full — 200 sentences across 40 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

_Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

Line 2

MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

Line 3

It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

Line 4

When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

Line 5

I thought a good deal of this feast.

All words in this reading · 60

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.

1894

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

From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

6

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From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

a

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

about

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

an

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

and

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

be

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

COLVIN

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

confess

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

considerably

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

consideration

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

deal

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

From this reading I thought a good deal of this feast.

DEAR

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

down

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

feast

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

good

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

From this reading I thought a good deal of this feast.

got

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

had

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

have

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

hitch

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

I

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

in

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

interesting

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

invited

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

It

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

lot

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

made

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

Missionary

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

month

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

mostly

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

MY

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

Oct

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

From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

of

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

quite

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

road

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

Samoa

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

From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

sent

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

speech

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

surprised

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

th

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

From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

that

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

the

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

them

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

they

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

think

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

this

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

From this reading I thought a good deal of this feast.

though

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

thought

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

From this reading I thought a good deal of this feast.

through

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

to

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

told

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

translated

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

Vailima

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

From this reading _Vailima_, _Samoa_, _Oct._ 6_th_, 1894.

was

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

We

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

When

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

which

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

without

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

From this reading It was made without a hitch, though I confess I was considerably surprised.

wrote

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

From this reading When they got through, I wrote a speech to them, sent it down to a Missionary to be translated, and invited the lot to a feast.

you

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

From this reading MY DEAR COLVIN,—We have had quite an interesting month and mostly in consideration of that road which I think I told you was about to be made.

Chapter 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 200 sentences, grouped into 40 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence contain?

Chapter 40 holds 200 sentences of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence, unabridged, divided into 40 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 200 sentences, grouped into 40 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 40 of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence?

Work through the 40 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 40 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 40 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 40 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 Vailima Letters Being Correspondence

Common questions about reading Vailima Letters Being Correspondence by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence?

Yes. All 4155 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #387 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #387, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Vailima Letters Being Correspondence take to read?

About 346 minutes of reading across 831 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Vailima Letters Being Correspondence section by section

How to work through Vailima Letters Being Correspondence section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 40 chapters of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence to begin.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Vailima Letters Being Correspondence

Words and structures a reader meets early in Vailima Letters Being Correspondence, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Mountain: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Samoa: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Monday: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
November: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vailima Letters Being Correspondence; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.