Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Four Short Stories By Emile Zola
Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter II

Cover illustration for Four Short Stories By Emile Zola
Context Illustration Reading 1/132 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.
She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.
A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.
The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.
The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.
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.

Four Short Stories By Emile Zola

Chapter II

Reading 1/132 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.
Line 2
She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.
Line 3
A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.
Line 4
The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.
Line 5
The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.”

Let auxiliary verb US /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.”

Merchant noun US /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading “A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.”

Never noun US /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.”

Next noun US /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.”

Order noun US /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.”

Second noun US /second/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.”

All words in this reading · 89

Every word is available to listen to. 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 She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

advance

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

asleep

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

big

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

Boulevard

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

bric-a-brac

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

bronze

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

candelabras

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

chairs

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

completely

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

consoles

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

contrast

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

crude

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

dry

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

flats

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

floor

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

Florentine

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

formed

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

furnished

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

furniture

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

gilded

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

Haussmann

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

house

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

imitate

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

installed

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

ladies

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

landlord

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

large

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

mahogany

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

means

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

merchantnounUS /ˈmɜːr.tʃənt/

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

months

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

Moscow

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

Nana

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

nevernounUS /never/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

new

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

nextnounUS /next/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

o'clock

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

occupied

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

ordernounUS /order/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

paint

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

Paris

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

pass

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

paying

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

rent

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

rich

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

rooms

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

round

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

say

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

second

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

secondhand

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

shop

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

single

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

six

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

sought

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

sumptuosity

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

tables

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

ten

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

there

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

therein

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

too

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

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

vulgar

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At ten o’clock the next morning Nana was still asleep.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The rooms were too big for her and had never been completely furnished.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She occupied the second floor of a large new house in the Boulevard Haussmann, the landlord of which let flats to single ladies in order by their means to dry the paint.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

winter

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

From this reading A rich merchant from Moscow, who had come to pass a winter in Paris, had installed her there after paying six months’ rent in advance.

zinc

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

From this reading The vulgar sumptuosity of gilded consoles and gilded chairs formed a crude contrast therein to the bric-a-brac of a secondhand furniture shop—to mahogany round tables, that is to say, and zinc candelabras, which sought to imitate Florentine bronze.