Chapter 2 of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. is here in full — 577 sentences across 116 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter II
Chapter 2 of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. is here in full — 577 sentences across 116 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
MARI. Indeed, uncle, I have not. JACO. (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this? A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
Chapter 2 of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. is here in full — 577 sentences across 116 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/115 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading “(_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?”
a member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia
From this reading “MARI.”
third-person singular of “perceive” — to become aware of through the senses
From this reading “(_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?”
a strong line
From this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
plural of “rope” — a strong line
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
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.
a ladder with side pieces of rope
In this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
In this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
In this reading “A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a device or control that is very useful for a particular job
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
(theater) the space over the stage (out of view of the audience) used to store scenery (drop curtains)
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Indeed, uncle, I have not.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
the act of retaining something
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Indeed, uncle, I have not.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Indeed, uncle, I have not.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JACO.
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a member of a rural Finnish people living in eastern Russia
From this reading MARI.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Indeed, uncle, I have not.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
third-person singular of “perceive” — to become aware of through the senses
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a strong line
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
express a supposition
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Indeed, uncle, I have not.
precisely as stated
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
at the time that
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading (_goes to window_, _and perceives ladder of ropes_) Hah!—What’s this?
a means of flight or ascent
From this reading A very pretty contrivance—I suppose, when love can’t get in at the door, he flies in at the window—and here are his wings, (_holding the rope ladder to view_) And this hat.
Chapter 2 of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne holds 577 sentences, grouped into 116 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 2 holds 577 sentences of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act., unabridged, divided into 116 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 577 sentences, grouped into 116 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 116 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 116 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 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.
Common questions about reading What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. by J. Stirling (Joseph Stirling) Coyne on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1171 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58114 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #58114, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 97 minutes of reading across 235 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 2 chapters of What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act. to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in What Will They Say at Brompton? A Comedetta, in One Act., each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
