Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The House of Whispers
The House of Whispers

Chapter XVIII

Cover illustration for The House of Whispers
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.
"My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?
Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."
"You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.
"I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."
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.

The House of Whispers

Chapter XVIII

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.
Line 2
"My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?
Line 3
Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."
Line 4
"You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.
Line 5
"I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

Learner Dictionary

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

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “"My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?”

Already noun US /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."”

Before preposition US /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Cried noun US /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.”

Every determiner US /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Expecting verb US /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Hear noun US /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Herself pronoun US /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading “"You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Nothing pronoun US /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading “Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Open verb US /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading “SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.”

Shall modal verb US /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading “"I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."”

Tell noun US /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “"I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."”

Those determiner US /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading “Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."”

All words in this reading · 82

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 "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

alreadynounUS /already/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

angrily

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

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

beastly

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

burglar-alarm

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

completely

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

cool

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

create

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

criednounUS /cried/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

crossed

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

dear

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

DEFIANT

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

draught

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

drawing

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

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

exclaimed

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

expectingverbUS /ɪkˈspektɪŋ/

thinking that somebody or something will arrive

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

father

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

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

flung

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

GABRIELLE

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

girl

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

go

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

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

happen

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

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

hearnounUS /hear/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

Hill

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

how

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

I've

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

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

leisurely

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

man

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

master

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

night

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

NothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

once

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

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

perfect

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

quickly

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

retiring

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

seen

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

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

showed

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

SHOWS

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

shrill

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

smiling

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

straight

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

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

strolled

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

switched

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

tellnounUS /tell/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading "I shall go straight to my father and tell him at once."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

thief

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

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

unbolted

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

unconcern

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

up

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

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

whir

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

why

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

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

windows

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

From this reading SHOWS GABRIELLE DEFIANT Gabrielle crossed quickly to one of the long windows, which she unbolted and flung open, expecting to hear the shrill whir of the burglar-alarm, which, every night, Hill switched on before retiring.

wires

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

From this reading Nothing will happen, for I've already seen to those wires."

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "My dear little girl!" exclaimed the man, smiling as he strolled leisurely across to her with a cool, perfect unconcern which showed how completely he was master, "why create such a beastly draught?

You're

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

From this reading "You're a thief!" she cried, drawing herself up angrily.