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

Chapter VII

Cover illustration for The Regent
Context Illustration Reading 1/160 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
Not that he was afraid of his wife!
Not that he was afraid even of his mother!
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 Regent

Chapter VII

Reading 1/160 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.
Line 2
Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.
Line 3
It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.
Line 4
Not that he was afraid of his wife!
Line 5
Not that he was afraid even of his mother!

Learner Dictionary

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

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.”

Come noun US /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.”

Even noun US /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Not that he was afraid even of his mother!”

Express verb US /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading “CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.”

Found noun US /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.”

Having auxiliary verb US /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading “Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.”

Morning noun US /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.”

All words in this reading · 63

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 CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

afraid

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

From this reading Not that he was afraid of his wife!

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

Birmingham

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

business

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

called

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

comenounUS /come/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

convenient

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

CORNER-STONE

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

day

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

Edward

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

Euston

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

evennounUS /even/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Not that he was afraid even of his mother!

expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/

to show or communicate a feeling or idea

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

fashion

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

Five

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

foundnounUS /found/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

got

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

half-furtive

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

Henry

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

home

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

local

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

London

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

morningnounUS /morning/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

mother

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

From this reading Not that he was afraid even of his mother!

night

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

now

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

occurred

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

out

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

previous

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

profitable

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

spend

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

spring

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

summoned

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

telegraph

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

there

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Having on the previous day been called to Birmingham on local and profitable business, he had found it convenient to spend the night there and telegraph home that London had summoned him.

Towns

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

unostentatious

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

usually

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

visits

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was in this unostentatious, this half-furtive fashion, that his visits to London now usually occurred.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading CORNER-STONE I On a morning in spring Edward Henry got out of an express at Euston which had come, not from the Five Towns, but from Birmingham.

wife

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

From this reading Not that he was afraid of his wife!