Shadowing Practice: The Nine O'Clock Clock | A Sherlock Holmes Mystery - Learn English Speaking with Video
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302 sentences
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1
It was a bright morning in April.
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Sherlock Holmes was cleaning his violin carefully.
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I was reading the newspaper quietly.
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Baker Street was busy outside.
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Mrs. Hudson knocked and opened the door.
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A young lady wishes to see you, she said.
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A tall young woman entered nervously.
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She wore a traveling coat.
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Her eyes looked tired and worried.
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Please forgive me for coming so early, she said.
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My name is Sophie Whitmore.
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I need your help urgently.
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Sit down, Miss Whitmore, said Holmes kindly.
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Tell us what troubles you.
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Sophie sat down and folded her hands.
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It concerns my great aunt, Agatha Whitmore, she explained.
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She lives at Greystone Manor in the countryside.
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Every evening at exactly nine o'clock, she becomes terribly ill.
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Ill in what way? questioned Holmes.
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She grows dizzy, said Sophie.
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Her hands shake badly.
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Sometimes she nearly faints.
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It always happens at the same hour, without fail.
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How long has this continued? asked Holmes.
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Six weeks now, replied Sophie.
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Our family doctor cannot explain it.
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He has examined her thoroughly but finds nothing wrong physically.
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Has she lost weight recently, asked Holmes, or noticed other changes besides the dizziness?
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She has grown weaker generally, admitted Sophie.
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She sleeps poorly and eats very little these days.
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I fear she grows frailer with each passing week.
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Does this illness ever happen elsewhere? questioned Holmes.
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Sophie shook her head slowly.
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Never, she said.
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Last month, she visited friends in Bath.
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She felt perfectly well the entire week.
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The moment she returned home, the illness began again that same evening.
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Holmes leaned forward with interest.
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So the illness belongs to the house itself, he murmured, or to something within it.
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Who lives at Greystone Manor with your aunt?
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My cousin Charles lives there, said Sophie.
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He manages her money and her affairs.
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There is also
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Nurse Ellen Price, who cares for my aunt daily, and of course the regular household servants.
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And who stands to inherit your aunt's fortune? asked Holmes directly.
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Sophie hesitated before answering.
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Charles would receive most of it, she admitted.
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I would receive very little.
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But Mr. Holmes, I do not accuse him of anything.
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I only want my aunt to get well again.
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Naturally, said Holmes gently.
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Tell me about the evenings themselves.
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What happens exactly before the illness begins?
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Nurse Price brings her evening tea at a quarter to nine, explained Sophie.
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My aunt drinks it slowly while reading.
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The clock in her room chimes at nine o'clock precisely.
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Almost immediately afterward, the illness begins.
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Interesting, said Holmes.
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And this clock?
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Has it always been there?
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No, said Sophie.
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Charles gave it to her as a gift.
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It arrived about two months ago, shortly before the illness started.
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Holmes stood and walked toward the window.
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Miss Whitmore, he said finally, Watson and I will travel to Greystone Manor today.
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This case interests me greatly.
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Sophie looked relieved immediately.
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Thank you, Mr. Holmes, she said.
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I was afraid nobody would believe me.
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We arrived at Greystone Manor by early afternoon.
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It was a grand stone house, surrounded by quiet gardens.
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A thin, nervous woman met us at the door.
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I am Nurse Ellen Price, she said.
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Miss Sophie told me you were coming.
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We would like to see Mrs. Whitmore, said Holmes politely, and speak with Dr. Mitchell, if possible.
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The doctor is here now, said Nurse Price.
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He visits every afternoon to check on her condition.
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We found Dr. Mitchell examining Mrs. Whitmore in the sitting room.
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She was a frail, elderly woman with gentle eyes.
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She looked exhausted despite the early hour.
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Mr. Holmes, said Dr. Mitchell, shaking hands firmly.
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I confess this case puzzles me completely.
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I have tested her blood.
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I have examined her heart.
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Everything appears normal, yet every evening she suffers terribly.
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Describe her symptoms precisely," said Holmes.
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Dizziness first, explained Dr. Mitchell.
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Then her hands begin trembling.
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Her heartbeat becomes rapid and irregular.
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The symptoms last roughly one hour, then disappear completely until the following evening.
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Does anything relieve her suffering? asked Holmes.
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Rest helps somewhat, said the doctor, but nothing cures it entirely.
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I am genuinely worried for her health.
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Have you considered poison as a possible cause? asked Holmes directly.
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Dr. Mitchell looked startled by the question.
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I had wondered privately, he admitted, but I found no evidence supporting such a theory.
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Her food seemed perfectly ordinary, and nobody showed any obvious motive.
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Motive is not always obvious at first glance, said Holmes thoughtfully.
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Sometimes it hides behind kindness and careful patience.
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Holmes turned toward Mrs. Whitmore herself.
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Mrs. Whitmore, may I ask you some questions?
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Of course, she said weakly, though I fear I cannot explain this mystery myself.
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Does the illness feel like anything specific? asked Holmes.
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A particular taste, perhaps, or a strange smell?
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Mrs. Whitmore thought carefully.
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There is a bitter taste sometimes, she admitted.
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I assumed it came from my evening tea.
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Holmes glanced quickly at Watson.
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Who prepares your tea each evening?
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He questioned.
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Nurse Price prepares it, said Mrs. Whitmore.
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She has cared for me faithfully for three years now.
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And your clock, said Holmes, the one your nephew gave you.
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May we see it?
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Mrs. Whitmore pointed toward her bedroom.
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It stands beside my bed, she said.
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Charles chose it himself.
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He said the chiming sound would comfort me.
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Holmes examined the bedroom carefully.
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A tall wooden clock stood near the bed.
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Its chimes were elegant, but somehow unusual looking.
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This clock is remarkably heavy, said Holmes, running his hand along its base.
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Watson, notice this small door at the bottom.
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I looked closely and saw a tiny hidden panel.
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Holmes opened it carefully, revealing a small glass container inside.
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What is that?
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I asked, surprised.
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A reservoir, said Holmes thoughtfully, connected somehow to the chiming mechanism.
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I suspect this clock does more than simply tell time.
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We walked downstairs toward the kitchen.
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Nurse Price was preparing the evening tea tray carefully.
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Miss Price, said Holmes, might I examine your teapot?
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She hesitated nervously before handing it over.
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Holmes smelled the inside slowly, then examined the leaves remaining.
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There is a faint bitter odor here, he remarked.
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Watson, would you agree?
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I smelled it carefully.
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Yes, I said, slightly unusual, though not obviously dangerous.
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Nurse Price's face had gone quite pale.
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I only prepare the tea as instructed, she said quickly.
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I had nothing unusual myself.
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Instructed by whom? questioned Holmes sharply.
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She looked away, saying nothing.
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Her hands were shaking visibly now.
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At that moment, Charles Whitmore entered the kitchen.
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He was a well-dressed man with cold, careful eyes.
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Mr. Holmes, he said smoothly, I understand you are investigating my aunt's illness.
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I do hope you find an answer soon.
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Her suffering distresses our entire family.
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I believe I am close to an answer, said Holmes evenly.
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Tell me, Mr. Whitmore, where did you purchase that unusual clock?
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Charles blinked, momentarily surprised.
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A shop in London, he said.
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Why does this matter?
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Clocks rarely contain hidden compartments, said Holmes, unless specially made for a particular purpose.
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Charles' smile faltered slightly.
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I am not sure what you mean, he said carefully.
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Perhaps you understand perfectly well, replied Holmes.
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We shall discuss this further this evening once the household has gathered.
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Before confronting anyone further, Holmes wished to learn more.
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Watson, he said, we must visit London briefly.
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That clock was not built by an ordinary craftsman.
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We took the afternoon train back toward the city.
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Holmes carried a small note, copied from a maker's mark hidden beneath the clock's base.
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The mark led us to a narrow workshop near Clerkenwell.
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An elderly clockmaker greeted us, surrounded by gears and half-finished timepieces.
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I remember that clock well, he said, examining Holmes's description.
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A gentleman ordered it specially, two months ago.
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Can you describe him? asked Holmes.
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Tall, well-dressed, rather impatient, replied the clockmaker.
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He requested an unusual addition, a small hidden reservoir, connected to the chiming mechanism.
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Did he explain the purpose? questioned Holmes.
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He claimed it was for medicine, said the clockmaker.
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He said his aunt forgot her evening dose.
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The clock would release it automatically, so nothing could be missed.
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It seemed a kind idea at the time.
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Did he sign any papers for this order? asked Holmes.
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The clockmaker searched through an old ledger.
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Yes, here, he said, pointing to a signature.
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Charles Whitmore.
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He paid in full and collected it personally.
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Holmes studied the signature carefully, comparing it silently with something in his notebook.
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This confirms my suspicions entirely, he said quietly.
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Is something wrong? asked the clockmaker, suddenly concerned.
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That clock was not used for medicine, I am afraid, said Holmes gravely.
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It was used to poison an innocent woman, slowly and deliberately.
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The old man's face grew pale with shock.
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I built it in good faith, he said.
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I never imagined such a purpose.
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You are not responsible, said Holmes kindly.
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You built exactly what was requested.
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The guilt belongs entirely to the man who ordered it.
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We thanked the clockmaker for his honesty, and returned immediately to Greystone Manor.
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Holmes now possessed everything required—physical evidence,
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a clear motive, and proof of deliberate planning stretching back two full months.
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This was no sudden impulse, Holmes remarked on the train.
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planned this carefully, long before the first symptom appeared.
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A patient kind of cruelty, I said quietly.
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The worst kind, agreed Holmes.
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Now, Watson, we finish what we started.
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That evening, Holmes gathered everyone in the sitting room.
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Mrs. Whitmore's sack wrapped warmly in blankets.
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Dr. Mitchell stood nearby, watching carefully.
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I believe I understand this mystery now," began Holmes.
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Mrs. Whitmore's illness is not natural.
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Someone has been poisoning her slowly.
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Timed precisely to that clock, Mrs. Whitmore gasped softly.
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Poisoned? By whom?
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Holmes turned toward
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Nurse Price gently.
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Miss Price, I believe you know the truth, he said.
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Will you tell us honestly?" Nurse Price began crying quietly.
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I never wanted to harm her, she said.
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She has always been kind to me.
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Then why? asked Sophie, stepping forward anxiously.
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Charles discovered something about my past, admitted Nurse Price.
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My nursing certificate was forged years ago.
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I never completed proper training.
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He threatened to expose me publicly unless I helped him.
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Helped him how? questioned Holmes firmly.
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He gave me a special powder, she continued weeping.
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He told me to add a small amount to her tea each evening.
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He said it would only make her weak, nothing more serious.
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The clock released it automatically when it chimed, so I would not need to measure anything myself.
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Why did he want her weakened? asked Dr. Mitchell, horrified.
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He needed money quickly, explained Nurse Price.
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He hoped her illness would convince her to change her will sooner, giving him full control immediately.
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He feared she might live for many more years otherwise.
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Charles stood suddenly, his face furious.
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This is ridiculous, he said.
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Nobody can prove such accusations.
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Actually, we can, said Holmes calmly.
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The glass container inside your clock still holds traces of the powder.
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Dr. Mitchell contested immediately, and Miss Price has just confessed everything in front of witnesses.
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Charles looked around desperately, searching for an escape.
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Two police constables entered the room, having waited quietly outside.
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Charles Whitmore, said the inspector firmly, you are under arrest for deliberately poisoning your aunt.
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Charles said nothing further.
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The constables led him away without resistance.
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Mrs. Whitmore reached toward
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Nurse Price's hand gently.
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You were frightened, she said softly.
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I understand that fear completely.
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I am deeply sorry, wept Nurse Price.
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I should have come to you immediately instead.
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You will not face prison, said Holmes kindly.
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You acted under terrible pressure, and you confessed honestly today.
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I believe the court will consider this carefully.
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Mitchell examined the clock's hidden container thoroughly.
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This confirms everything, he said.
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A carefully measured dose, released nightly through this small mechanism.
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Quite ingenious, in a horrible way.
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How did you first suspect the clock itself?
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I asked Holmes curiously.
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Several details seemed significant, explained Holmes.
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The illness began exactly when the clock arrived.
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It occurred only within this house, never elsewhere.
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And it started precisely when the clock chimed each evening.
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Objects rarely cause illness through coincidence alone.
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But why did you suspect
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Nurse Price specifically? asked Sophie.
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I did not initially, admitted Holmes, but someone needed access to both the tea and clock daily.
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Few people in this household had that particular opportunity.
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Her nervousness only confirmed my growing suspicion.
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And the clockmaker's evidence settled the matter completely, I added.
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Without that signature, Charles might have denied everything successfully.
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Quite true, Watson, agreed Holmes.
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Confession alone can sometimes be withdrawn later.
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Written proof, however, remains considerably harder to escape.
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Mrs. Whitmore looked towards Sophie with grateful eyes.
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You saved my life, my dear, she said.
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I shall never forget your courage in seeking help.
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Sophie smiled through tears.
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I only wish to protect you, Aunt Agatha, she said.
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I could not bear watching you suffer silently.
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Over the following weeks, Mrs. Whitmore's health steadily improved.
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Without the nightly poison, her strength gradually returned.
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Dr. Mitchell visited less frequently, satisfied with her genuine recovery.
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Holmes and I visited once more before returning to London.
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We found Mrs. Whitmore sitting comfortably in her garden, reading peacefully in the sunshine.
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Mr. Holmes, she said warmly, I owe you my life entirely.
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How can I possibly repay such a debt?
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Your recovery is reward enough,
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said Holmes modestly, though I confess this case taught me something valuable about patience and careful observation.
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What will become of that terrible clock? she asked.
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The police have kept it as evidence, said Holmes, though I suspect you will prefer an ordinary clock from now onward.
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Mrs. Whitmore laughed softly, the first genuine laughter we had heard from her.
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Indeed I shall, she said, a simple clock with no hidden secrets inside.
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And Nurse Price, I asked gently, what has become of her?
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She remains here, caring for me still, said Mrs. Whitmore.
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I could not bring myself to dismiss her.
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She made a terrible mistake, but her fear was genuine, and her regret seems honest.
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A wise decision, said Holmes approvingly.
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Punishment rarely heals anything by itself, understanding sometimes accomplishes considerably more.
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As our carriage departed Greystone Manor, I turned toward Holmes thoughtfully.
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A clever method, I remarked, poisoning someone through their own bedroom clock.
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Clever, yet ultimately careless, said Holmes.
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Charles trusted a frightened woman to keep his terrible secret forever.
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Fear makes people obedient, Watson, but rarely makes them loyal.
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Eventually, frightened people seek help, just as Sophie did.
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I nodded thoughtfully, watching the countryside pass beyond our window.
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Another mystery had been solved, not through searching for stolen treasure, but through understanding the quiet suffering hidden within an ordinary house.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “The Nine O'Clock Clock”. The speaker keeps coming back to these words: Holmes, clock, Whitmore, Sophie, Price. This video has 302 sentences and 2474 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:04. The speaker talks at a steady 117 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. Only 71% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English, so the vocabulary is demanding.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| clock noun | /klɑk/ | A chronometer, an instrument that measures time, particularly the time of day. |
| carefully adverb | /ˈkɛɹf(ə)li/ | With care; attentively, circumspectly. |
| illness noun | /ˈɪl.nəs/ | An instance (episode) of a disease or poor health. |
| examine verb | /ɪɡˈzæmɪn/ | To observe carefully or critically to learn about someone or something. |
| aunt noun | /ɑːnt/ | The sister or sister-in-law of one’s parent. |
| poison noun | /ˈpɔɪ.zən/ | A substance that is harmful or lethal to a living organism when ingested. |
| unusual adjective | /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/ | Not usual, out of the ordinary. |
| quietly adverb | /ˈkwaɪ.ɪt.li/ | Producing little or no noise. |
| ordinary adjective | /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/ | Having regular jurisdiction; now only used in certain phrases. |
| rarely adverb | /ˈɹɛəɹli/ | Not occurring at a regular interval; seldom; not often. |
| shake verb | /ˈʃeɪk/ | To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly. |
| precisely adverb | /pɹɪˈsaɪs.li/ | In a precise manner; exactly. |
| gently adverb | /ˈd͡ʒɛntli/ | Without strong force or quickness: softly, lightly. |
| confess verb | /kənˈfɛs/ | To admit to the truth, particularly in the context of sins or crimes committed. |
| household adjective | /ˈhaʊshoʊld/ | Belonging to the same house and family. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sit down verb | To assume a sitting position from a standing position. |
| hide behind verb | To use someone or something as a shield in order to avoid taking responsibility for something; to avoid attention by using someone or something as a shield. |
| look around verb | To inspect a building or area. |
| look away verb | To ignore something; to pretend not to have seen or noticed something; to avoid dealing with something. |
| step forward verb | to take one or more steps forward, especially in response to a request for identification |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Have you considered poison as a possible cause?
- Whitmore, may I ask you some questions?
- Who prepares your tea each evening?
- Whitmore, where did you purchase that unusual clock?
- How did you first suspect the clock itself?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | has examined · Has she lost · has grown |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | was not built · could be missed · was not used |
| Past continuous was/were + -ing — an action in progress at a moment in the past | was cleaning · was reading · were coming |
| Possibility with “might / may” might/may + verb — something that is possible but not certain | might live · might have |
Pronunciation to watch
- The “th” sounds: gather /ˈɡæðɚ/, thoroughly /ˈθʌɹ.ə.li/, thin /ˈθɪn/, beneath /bɪˈniːθ/, withdraw /wɪðˈdɹɔ/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: unusual /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/, shake /ˈʃeɪk/, patience /ˈpeɪ̯.ʃəns/, specially /ˈspɛʃəli/, shortly /ˈʃɔɹtli/
- Long words — get the stress right: unusual /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/, ordinary /ˈɔɹdɪnɛɹi/, mechanism /ˈmɛk.ə.nɪ.zəm/, deliberately /dɪˈlɪb.(ə.)ɹət.li/, considerably /kənˈsɪdəɹəbli/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like clock, carefully, illness.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.