Within Prison Walls

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Within Prison Walls is here in full — 229 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas Mott Osborne • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Within Prison Walls

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup!

You've forgotten your cup!"

So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

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 VII Reading 1/45

Within Prison Walls Thomas Mott Osborne

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Within Prison Walls is here in full — 229 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30. Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door. The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup! You've forgotten your cup!" So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

Within Prison Walls

Chapter VII

Chapter 7 of Within Prison Walls is here in full — 229 sentences across 46 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/45 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

Line 2

Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

/ˈleɪɪŋ əˈsaɪd maɪ ˈdʒɜːrnəl ðɪs nuːn aɪ dɑːn maɪ koʊt ənd kæp ənd stænd ˈredi æt ðə sel dɔːr/

Line 3

The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup!

Line 4

You've forgotten your cup!"

Line 5

So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

/soʊ aɪ kriˈeɪt ə ˈmoʊmənteri hɔːlt ənd kənˈfjuːʒən ɪn ðə ˈɡæləri æz aɪ dæʃ bæk ˈɪntuː ðə sel tuː ɡet maɪ tɪn kʌp ənd aʊt əˈɡen ˈliːvɪŋ ɪt ɑːn ðə ʃelf æt ðə ˈentrəns/

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.

create verb US /kriˈeɪt/

make or cause to be or to become

From this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

levers noun US /ˈlevərz/

plural of “lever” — a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum

From this reading “The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup!”

momentary adjective US /ˈmoʊmənteri/

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

shelf noun US /ʃelf/

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

stops noun US /stɑːps/

a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck)

tuesday noun US /ˈtuːzdi/

the third day of the week; the second working day

From this reading “TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.”

unlocking verb US /ənˈlɑːkɪŋ/

-ing form of “unlock” — open the lock of

whispers noun US /ˈwɪspərz/

plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

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.

tin cup noun + noun

In this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

on the shelf preposition + article + noun counted as “on … shelf”

In this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

cell door noun + noun

In this reading “Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.”

at the entrance preposition + article + noun counted as “at … entrance”

In this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

passes by verb + particle counted as “pass by”

move past

In this reading “The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup!”

in the gallery preposition + article + noun counted as “in … gallery”

In this reading “So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.”

fall in verb + particle

break down, literally or metaphorically

All words in this reading · 71

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.

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

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

AFTERNOONnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading The Captain passes by, unlocking the levers; then repasses, pushing them down, and I am ready to fall in line as usual; but one of the gray figures stops suddenly and whispers to me, "Your cup!

ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

asideadverbUS /əˈsaɪd/

on or to one side

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

capnounUS /kæp/

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

cellnounUS /sel/

A small stone room in a prison where an inmate is locked behind iron bars.

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

coatnounUS /koʊt/

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

confusionnounUS /kənˈfjuːʒən/

disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

createverbUS /kriˈeɪt/

make or cause to be or to become

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

cupnounUS /kʌp/

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

dashverbUS /dæʃ/

run or move very quickly or hastily

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

donnounUS /dɑːn/

a Spanish gentleman or nobleman

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

entrancenounUS /ˈentrəns/

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

EVENINGnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

fallverbUS /fɔːl/

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

figuresnounUS /ˈfɪɡjərz/

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading You've forgotten your cup!"

gallerynounUS /ˈɡæləri/

spectators at a golf or tennis match

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

graynounUS /ɡreɪ/

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

haltverbUS /hɔːlt/

cause to stop

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

journalnounUS /ˈdʒɜːrnəl/

a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

LayingnounUS /ˈleɪɪŋ/

the production of eggs (especially in birds)

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

leversnounUS /ˈlevərz/

plural of “lever” — a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum

linenounUS /laɪn/

a formation of people or things one beside another

mepronounUS /miː/

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

momentaryadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊmənteri/

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

noonnounUS /nuːn/

the middle of the day

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/

plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls

pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/

the act of applying force in order to move something away

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

repasses

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

SeptembernounUS /sepˈtembər/

the month following August and preceding October

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

shelfnounUS /ʃelf/

A flat horizontal plane used to hold books or scrolls in a library.

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

standverbUS /stænd/

be standing; be upright

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

stopsnounUS /stɑːps/

a gambling card game in which chips are placed on the ace and king and queen and jack of separate suits (taken from a separate deck)

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading Laying aside my journal this noon, I don my coat and cap and stand ready at the cell door.

tinnounUS /tɪn/

a silvery malleable metallic element that resists corrosion; used in many alloys and to coat other metals to prevent corrosion; obtained chiefly from cassiterite where it occurs as tin oxide

From this reading So I create a momentary halt and confusion in the gallery as I dash back into the cell to get my tin cup and out again, leaving it on the shelf at the entrance.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

TUESDAYnounUS /ˈtuːzdi/

the third day of the week; the second working day

From this reading TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING In my cell, Tuesday evening, September 30.

unlockingverbUS /ənˈlɑːkɪŋ/

-ing form of “unlock” — open the lock of

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/

plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

You've

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

From this reading You've forgotten your cup!"

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 7 of Within Prison Walls by Thomas Mott Osborne holds 229 sentences, grouped into 46 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 7 of Within Prison Walls contain?

Chapter 7 holds 229 sentences of Within Prison Walls, unabridged, divided into 46 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Within Prison Walls by Thomas Mott Osborne exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 229 sentences, grouped into 46 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 7 of Within Prison Walls?

Work through the 46 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 46 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Within Prison Walls

Common questions about reading Within Prison Walls by Thomas Mott Osborne on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Within Prison Walls?

Yes. All 3980 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33255 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Within Prison Walls is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33255, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Within Prison Walls take to read?

About 331 minutes of reading across 796 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Within Prison Walls

Words and structures a reader meets early in Within Prison Walls, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Years: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within Prison Walls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Early: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within Prison Walls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Boyhood: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within Prison Walls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Taken: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Within Prison Walls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter VII

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