Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Wyndham's Pal
Wyndham's Pal

Chapter XXV

Cover illustration for Wyndham's Pal
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.
The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.
When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.
After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.
For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.
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.

Wyndham's Pal

Chapter XXV

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.
Line 2
The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.
Line 3
When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.
Line 4
After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.
Line 5
For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

Learner Dictionary

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

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.”

After preposition US /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading “After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.”

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.”

Behind preposition US /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading “The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.”

Crew noun US /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.”

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.”

Pulled noun US /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.”

SAIL noun US /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.”

Shouted noun US /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

arrived

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

back

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

ballast

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

begun

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

black

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

blow

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

board

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

bought

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

chain

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

Columbine

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

cooler

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

crewnounUS /crew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

crisped

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

DARK

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

deck

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

drank

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

dropped

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

early

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

end

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

evening

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

few

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

gentle

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

gig

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

glass

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

greasy

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

gusts

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

high

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

hold

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

land-breeze

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

landing

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

lounged

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

man

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

Marston

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

mole

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

newspaper

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

ordered

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

pullednounUS /pulled/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

putting

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

range

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

rubbed

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

s

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

SAILnounUS /sail/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

shoutednounUS /shouted/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

slept

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

some

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

steps

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

strolled

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

sun

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

sunk

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

then

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

top

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

town

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

trimming

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

wall

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.

water

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

From this reading The sun had sunk behind a high, black range and the land-breeze had begun to blow in gentle gusts that crisped the greasy water and dropped again.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When the crew were trimming ballast in the hold, a man shouted that some chain Wyndham had ordered had arrived, and he and Marston pulled the gig to the steps.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

wine

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

From this reading After putting the chain on board, they strolled to the town, where they drank a glass of wine and bought a newspaper; and then went back to the mole.

Wyndham

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

From this reading A SAIL IN THE DARK _Columbine_'s gig rubbed against the landing steps and Wyndham and Marston lounged about the end of the mole.

yacht

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

From this reading For the last few nights they had slept on board, but it was early in the evening and the top of the wall was cooler than the deck of the yacht.