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When It Was Dark
When It Was Dark

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of When It Was Dark is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Guy Thorne • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for When It Was Dark
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.
Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.
Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.
The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.
Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.
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.

When It Was Dark

Chapter XXXI

Chapter 31 of When It Was Dark is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.
Line 2
Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.
Line 3
Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.
Line 4
The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.
Line 5
Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

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.

Avoiding verb US /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading “Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Bond noun US /bɑːnd/

an electrical force linking atoms

From this reading “THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
clicked verb US /klɪkt/

past form of “click” — move or strike with a noise

From this reading “The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
latch verb US /lætʃ/

fasten with a latch

From this reading “The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perceptible adjective US /pərˈseptəbəl/

capable of being perceived by the mind or senses

From this reading “Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shudder verb US /ˈʃʌdər/

shake, as from cold

From this reading “Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
strained adjective US /streɪnd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading “Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tinkle noun US /ˈtɪŋkəl/

a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell

From this reading “THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.”

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.

scarcely perceptible adverb + adjective

In this reading “Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.”

840 times in 426,211 chapters
electric bell adjective + noun

a bell activated by the magnetic effect of an electric current

In this reading “THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.”

731 times in 426,211 chapters
third person noun + noun

pronouns and verbs that are used to refer to something other than the speaker or addressee of the language in which they occur

In this reading “The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.”

2,077 times in 426,211 chapters
went out verb + adjective counted as “go out”

move out of or depart from

In this reading “Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.”

111,556 times in 426,211 chapters
looked up verb + adjective counted as “look up”

seek information from

In this reading “Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.”

73,493 times in 426,211 chapters
white face noun + noun

In this reading “Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.”

6,475 times in 426,211 chapters
LAST MEETING adjective + noun

In this reading “THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.”

1,203 times in 426,211 chapters
into the passage preposition + article + noun counted as “into … passage”

In this reading “Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.”

2,073 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 59

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AvoidingverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪŋ/

-ing form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
bellnounUS /bel/

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
BondnounUS /bɑːnd/

an electrical force linking atoms

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
clickedverbUS /klɪkt/

past form of “click” — move or strike with a noise

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

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 The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
electricadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektrɪk/

using or providing or producing or transmitting or operated by electricity

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
enteredverbUS /ˈentərd/

past form of “enter” — to come or go into

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flatadjectiveUS /flæt/

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
LASTadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
latchverbUS /lætʃ/

fasten with a latch

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Llwellyn

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

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

Pending verification
Llwellyn's

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

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

Pending verification
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MEETINGnounUS /ˈmiːtɪŋ/

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
murmurnounUS /ˈmɜːrmər/

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
passagenounUS /ˈpæsədʒ/

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
perceptibleadjectiveUS /pərˈseptəbəl/

capable of being perceived by the mind or senses

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/

a human being

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rangverbUS /ræŋ/

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RobertnounUS /ˈrɑːbərt/

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Schuabe

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

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

Pending verification
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/

having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shudderverbUS /ˈʃʌdər/

shake, as from cold

From this reading Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

Velmora curated lexicon
SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
strainedadjectiveUS /streɪnd/

lacking natural ease

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StreetnounUS /striːt/

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

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

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 Schuabe gave a scarcely perceptible shudder as this man entered.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tinklenounUS /ˈtɪŋkəl/

a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell

From this reading THE LAST MEETING In Sir Robert Llwellyn's flat in Bond Street the electric bell suddenly rang, a shrill tinkle in the silence.

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 Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
voicesnounUS /ˈvɔɪsəz/

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

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 The latch of the door clicked, there was a murmur of voices, and Llwellyn returned, following a third person.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Avoiding his glance, Llwellyn rose and went out into the passage.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/

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 Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Schuabe, who sat by the window, looked up with a strained, white face.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 31 of When It Was Dark by Guy Thorne holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 31 of When It Was Dark contain?

Chapter 31 holds 178 sentences of When It Was Dark, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 31 of When It Was Dark by Guy Thorne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 31 of When It Was Dark?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 31 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 31 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 When It Was Dark

Common questions about reading When It Was Dark by Guy Thorne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of When It Was Dark?

Yes. All 6775 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39666 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of When It Was Dark is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #39666, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does When It Was Dark take to read?

About 564 minutes of reading across 1355 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read When It Was Dark section by section

How to work through When It Was Dark section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  2. Read one section

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  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in When It Was Dark

Words and structures a reader meets early in When It Was Dark, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Hinchcliffe
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When It Was Dark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sexton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When It Was Dark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Looked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When It Was Dark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Philemon
A word that appears in the opening chapter of When It Was Dark; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.