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Wilt Thou Torchy
Wilt Thou Torchy

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy is here in full — 293 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Wilt Thou Torchy
Context Illustration Reading 1/58 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!
Does it?
Say, listen a while!
I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.
Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.
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.

Wilt Thou Torchy

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy is here in full — 293 sentences across 59 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/58 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!
Line 2
Does it?
/dʌz ɪt/
Line 3
Say, listen a while!
/seɪ ˈlɪsən ə waɪl/
Line 4
I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.
Line 5
Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

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.

arcade noun US /ɑːrˈkeɪd/

a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side

From this reading “I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.”

collision noun US /kəˈlɪʒən/

(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together

From this reading “Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.”

firms noun US /fɜːrmz/

plural of “firm” — the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments

From this reading “I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.”

reporting noun US /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading “REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!”

rupert noun US /ˈruːpərt/

English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)

From this reading “REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!”

schedule noun US /ˈskedʒʊl/

a temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to

From this reading “I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.”

sec noun US /sek/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading “REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!”

tablets noun US /ˈtæbləts/

plural of “tablet” — a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription

From this reading “I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.”

All words in this reading · 77

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 Say, listen a while!

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

agentsnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənts/

plural of “agent” — an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

arcadenounUS /ɑːrˈkeɪd/

a covered passageway with shops and stalls on either side

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

backsnounUS /bæks/

plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

BLANKadjectiveUS /blæŋk/

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

breezin

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/

(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

didn't

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

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

Doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Does it?

duckin

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

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

erectedverbUS /ɪˈrektəd/

past form of “erect” — construct, build, or erect

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

firmsnounUS /fɜːrmz/

plural of “firm” — the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

goosenounUS /ɡuːs/

web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/

a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

I've

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

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Does it?

jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

listenverbUS /ˈlɪsən/

hear with intention

From this reading Say, listen a while!

lunchverbUS /lʌntʃ/

take the midday meal

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

marblenounUS /ˈmɑːrbəl/

a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

monotonousadjectiveUS /məˈnɑːtənəs/

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

noonnounUS /nuːn/

the middle of the day

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

ONprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

paidadjectiveUS /peɪd/

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

perfectadjectiveUS /pərˈfekt/

being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

rentverbUS /rent/

let for money

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

REPORTINGnounUS /riˈpɔːrtɪŋ/

the news as presented by reporters for newspapers or radio or television

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

reverseverbUS /rɪˈvɜːrs/

change to the contrary

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

RUPERTnounUS /ˈruːpərt/

English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

SayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading Say, listen a while!

schedulenounUS /ˈskedʒʊl/

a temporally organized plan for matters to be attended to

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

secnounUS /sek/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

SomeadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

someonepronounUS /ˈsʌmwʌn/

a person, without saying who

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

stepnounUS /step/

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

tabletsnounUS /ˈtæbləts/

plural of “tablet” — a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

there's

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

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/

not expected or anticipated

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

wallnounUS /wɔːl/

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading I was breezin' through the arcade here the other noon, about twenty minutes behind my lunch schedule, when someone backs away from the marble wall tablets the agents have erected in honor of them firms that keep their rent paid.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading Say, listen a while!

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Some perfect stranger it is, who does the reverse goose step so unexpected that there's no duckin' a collision.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading REPORTING BLANK ON RUPERT And yet, I've had people ask me if this private sec. job didn't get sort of monotonous!

Chapter 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy by Sewell Ford holds 293 sentences, grouped into 59 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 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy contain?

Chapter 9 holds 293 sentences of Wilt Thou Torchy, unabridged, divided into 59 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy by Sewell Ford exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 293 sentences, grouped into 59 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 9 of Wilt Thou Torchy?

Work through the 59 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 59 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Wilt Thou Torchy

Common questions about reading Wilt Thou Torchy by Sewell Ford on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Wilt Thou Torchy?

Yes. All 5361 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17333 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Wilt Thou Torchy is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17333, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Wilt Thou Torchy take to read?

About 446 minutes of reading across 1073 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Wilt Thou Torchy section by section

How to work through Wilt Thou Torchy section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of Wilt Thou Torchy 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 Wilt Thou Torchy

Words and structures a reader meets early in Wilt Thou Torchy, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Declarin'
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilt Thou Torchy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilt Thou Torchy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Uh-huh--a
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilt Thou Torchy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whole
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Wilt Thou Torchy; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.