Notes for The Signalman (original version) ► DailyStep English

“HALLOA! Below there!” (archaic) = “HELLO! You, down there!”
his box = his hut
furled round its short pole = wrapped around (note: furl is normally used to describe the rolling up of a flag or banner – also ‘unfurl’, meaning to unwrap a flag to show it.)
considering the nature of the ground = because of the shape of the landscape
from what quarter the voice came (archaic) = which direction my voice came from
the steep cutting = the deep wide trench cut into the ground (for a train to pass through)
he turned himself about (archaic) = he turned round (phrasal verb)
looked down the Line = looked along the railway tracks
I could not have said for my life what = I would find it impossible to say why
to attract my notice (archaic) = to get/grab my attention
though his figure was foreshortened and shadowed = although from that angle he appeared short and poorly lit
steeped in the glow of an angry sunset (idiom) = lit up (phrasal verb) orange and red by the light of the setting sun
I had shaded my eyes with my hand = I had put my arm in front of my eyes to avoid being blinded by the sunlight
without pressing him too soon with a repetition of my idle question = not wanting to put him off (phrasal verb) his job by asking the same trivial question again
a violent pulsation = a forceful rhythm
an oncoming rush that caused me to start back (phrasal verb) = a strong movement towards me that made me jump backwards
as though it had force to draw me down (phrasal verb) = as if it was strong enough to pull me down (phrasal verb) on to the tracks
such vapour as rose to my height (archaic) = the steam that rose above the top of the cutting where I stood
skimming away (phrasal verb) over the landscape = floating off (phrasal verb) above the countryside
refurling the flag he had shown while the train went by (phrasal verb) = wrapping up (phrasal verb) the flag that he had waved at the passing train
he seemed to regard me with fixed attention = he appeared to be staring directly at me without looking away (phrasal verb)
by dint of looking closely about me (formal, archaic) = by looking carefully around (phrasal verb) me
a rough zigzag descending path notched out (phrasal verb) = a roughly cut path down the side of the cutting towards the railway tracks
unusually precipitate (archaic) = exceptionally steep
a clammy stone = a moist, sticky rock
a singular air of reluctance or compulsion = his strange attitude of unwillingness combined with an irresistible urge (to point out (phrasal verb) the path)
he was standing between the rails on the way by which the train had lately passed = he stood on the railway tracks on which the train had recently travelled
He had his left hand at his chin = his left hand was touching his chin
that left elbow rested on his right hand, crossed over his breast = his right hand was across his chest, supporting his left elbow
I stopped a moment, wondering at it = I hesitated for a moment to observe his peculiar attitude
stepping out upon the level of the railroad = stepping down on to the railway tracks (note: railroad is still in standard American usage but is now replaced by ‘railway’ in British English.)
drawing nearer to him = coming closer to him
a dark, sallow man = a dark-haired man with yellowish skin
His post was in as solitary and dismal a place as ever I saw = his hut was in the most lonely and horrid place I have ever seen
a dripping-wet wall of jagged stone, excluding all view but a strip of sky = an angular wall of extremely damp rock above which only a thin section of sky was visible
the perspective one way (archaic) = the view in one direction
a crooked prolongation of this great dungeon (archaic) = a continuation of this narrow prison-like structure that bent off to one side
in whose massive architecture there was a barbarous, depressing, and forbidding air = which was a huge construction that gave the impression of being cruel, saddening and sinister
it had an earthy, deadly smell = it smelled of dirt and death
it struck chill to me, as if I had left the natural world = it made me shiver and I felt as if I were no longer in the real world
Before he stirred, I was near enough to him to have touched him = I had got close enough to touch him by the time he moved
Not even then removing his eyes from mine = Even then he did not stop staring into my eyes
it had riveted my attention when I looked down from up yonder (archaic) = I was fascinated by it when I looked down from the top of the cutting
not an unwelcome rarity, I hoped = I hoped it was not the sort of rare occurrence that was unwished for
a man who had been shut up (phrasal verb) within narrow limits all his life = a man who had never had the opportunity to explore the world
had a newly-awakened interest in these great works = had suddenly become interested in great engineering projects, such as the railways (note: this story was written at a time of great expansion in the British railways, much of which required great feats of engineering.)
To such purpose I spoke to him (archaic) = I spoke to him for this reason
besides that I am not happy in opening any conversation, there was something in the man that daunted me (archaic) = apart from the fact that I am uncomfortable opening a conversation, I found something about his attitude that made me feel frightened or uneasy
He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the tunnel’s mouth = he glanced in a very strange way towards the red light at the mouth of the tunnel
and looked all about it, as if something were missing from it = and looked all around it carefully as though he could not see something that should have been there
as I perused the fixed eyes and the saturnine face (archaic) = as I looked at his staring eyes and deeply serious face
that this was a spirit, not a man = this was a ghost rather than a real person
I have speculated since, whether there may have been infection in his mind (archaic) = Since then I have thought about (phrasal verb) whether he was suffering from some kind of mental illness
I detected in his eyes some latent fear of me = I could see from his eyes that he was secretly afraid of me
This put the monstrous thought to flight (archaic) = This got rid of my terrible thought that he might be a ghost
Intently watchful of me = Staring at me in a highly focused way
be that as it may, I never was there, you may swear = regardless of that, I promise you I was never over by the light
His manner cleared, like my own (formal) = His mood lightened and so did mine
he had enough responsibility to bear = he had a responsible job
the routine of his life had shaped itself into that form (archaic) = he had become used to working in that way
a poor hand at figures (archaic, idiom) = not very good at mathematics
Under some conditions there would be less upon the Line than under others = In certain situations there would be fewer trains passing through than on others
In bright weather, he did choose occasions for getting a little above these lower shadows = When the weather was fine, he took the opportunity to climb up (phrasal verb) out of the cutting
being at all times liable to be called by his electric bell = although he needed to be able to respond to the electric bell whenever it sounded
an official book in which he had to make certain entries = a log book where he had to record important information
a telegraphic instrument = a machine that allowed him to send and receive messages by telegraph
On my trusting that he would excuse the remark that he had been well educated (archaic) = On my understanding that he had received a good education
educated above that station = more highly qualified for his job than he needed to be
instances of slight incongruity in such wise = examples of this kind of inconsistency
would rarely be found wanting among large bodies of men = were often common in large groups of people that worked together (note: this long and complicated sentence could be paraphrased in modern English as follows: “Although he assured me he was well-educated and probably more qualified for this job than he needed to be, he observed that this situation is common in large companies or institutions”.)
that last desperate resource = the last available job opportunity for some people (note: this comment reflects Dickens’s not very favourable view of the Army!)
a student of natural philosophy = somebody who studied the natural world (note: in the nineteenth century before the development of the modern sciences, this would most likely have described someone who studied a combination of physics and biology.)
he had run wild, misused his opportunities, gone down (phrasal verb), and never risen again = he had behaved in an uncontrolled way, squandered his chances, lost his position in society and never regained it
He had made his bed, and he lay upon it (idiom) = He was suffering the consequences of his previous actions (note: the idiom ‘make your own bed and lie on it’ is still commonly heard.)
All that I have here condensed (archaic) = Everything I have summarised in this story
his grave, dark regards divided between me and the fire (archaic) = as he stared seriously at me and then at the fire
as though to request me to understand that he claimed to be nothing but what I found him (archaic) = as if he wanted me to understand that he was not pretending to be any better than he was
without the door (archaic – we still say ‘within’ but not ‘without’.) = outside the door
In the discharge of his duties (formal, archaic) = While doing his job
breaking off his discourse at a syllable (archaic) = Immediately stopping the conversation even halfway through a word (so that he could do his job)
I should have set this man down as (phrasal verb – archaic) one of the safest of men to be employed in that capacity = I would have had him down as(phrasal verb – modern) the best type of person to be doing that kind of job / I would have thought of him as the best kind of person to be doing that kind of job
he twice broke off (phrasal verb) with a fallen colour = twice he stopped talking and went pale
with the inexplicable air upon him which I had remarked, without being able to define, when we were so far asunder (archaic) = in the impossible-to-understand mood that I had noticed, but had not been able to describe when we had stood a long way apart
I am afraid I must acknowledge that I said it to lead him on (phrasal verb) = I am sorry but I have to admit that I said this to trick him into saying more
It is very difficult to impart (archaic) = It is very hard for me to tell you
I expressly intend to make you another visit = I certainly mean to visit you again
His manner seemed to make the place strike colder to me = The way in which he behaved make the place seem even more sinister
I cried something to that effect = I shouted something like that
Admit those were the very words (archaic) = Even if those were the exact words I said.
You had no feeling that they were conveyed to you in any supernatural way? = You did not have the sensation that the words were spoken through you by some supernatural force?
I walked by the side of the down Line of rails = I walked beside the railway tracks
It was easier to mount than to descend = I found it easier to climb up (phrasal verb) out of the cutting than it had been going down. (phrasal verb)
I got back (phrasal verb) to my inn without any adventure = I returned to the inn without any problems
Good-night, then, and here’s my hand = Greetings, let me shake you by the hand (note: in modern English we would only say ‘goodnight’ to someone who was about to go to bed; here, the men are just greeting each other at night, in the same way that we might still say today ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good evening’!)
I took you for (phrasal verb) some one else yesterday evening = When I met you last night, I thought you were somebody else
I started up (phrasal verb) = I jumped up (phrasal verb) in fright
I caught up (phrasal verb) my lamp, turned it on red, and ran towards the figure = I lit my lamp, turned the colour to red and headed in the direction of the figure
I advanced so close upon it that I wondered at its keeping the sleeve across its eyes = I got so close to the figure that I could not understand why it kept its arm up across its eyes
had my hand stretched out (phrasal verb) to pull the sleeve away, when it was gone = reached up (phrasal verb) to pull his arm away from his eye, but it disappeared
five hundred yards = 460 metres
saw the figures of the measured distance = saw the distance markers painted

onto the walls of the tunnel

the wet stains stealing down the walls and trickling through the arch = the damp patches where water had leaked in through the walls and roof of the tunnel
I had a mortal abhorrence of the place upon me (archaic) = I was scared for my life inside the tunnel
I went up (phrasal verb) the iron ladder to the gallery atop of it (archaic) = I climbed the iron ladder up the side of the danger-light to the ledge at the top of it
Resisting the slow touch of a frozen finger tracing out my spine = Attempting to avoid the feeling of an icy finger moving down my back (note: here the narrator describes how he is trying to maintain a rational position and avoid being frightened by the supernatural details of the story.)
this figure must be a deception of his sense of sight (archaic) = the figure must be a figment of his imagination
the delicate nerves that minister to the functions of the eye (formal. archaic) = the tiny nerves that control the eyes
had become conscious of the nature of their affliction = had realised that they were ill (and so were seeing things that were not real)
do but listen for a moment to the wind in this unnatural valley (archaic) = just listen to the sound the wind makes when it blows through this deep trench dug into the ground
the wild harp it makes of the telegraph wires (metaphor) = the sound it makes as it whistles through the telegraph wires
he would beg to remark that he had not finished = he wanted me to know that his story was not over (phrasal verb)
Within six hours after the Appearance, the memorable accident on this Line happened = Less than six hours after he had seen the figure, the well-known accident occurred on this stretch of railway
A disagreeable shudder crept over me, but I did my best against it = I began to shudder from fright, but managed to resist it
I rejoined (archaic) = I replied
calculated deeply to impress his mind = that would certainly have made a strong impression on him
I thought I saw that he was going to bring the objection to bear upon me (archaic) = I believed he would argue against what I said
men of common sense did not allow much for coincidences in making the ordinary calculations of life (archaic) = sensible people do not take notice of superstition when deciding how to lead their daily lives
with both hands before the face (archaic) = having both hands in front of the face
I have seen such an attitude in stone figures on tombs = I have seen statues on graves in this pose
Nothing came of this? (archaic) = Nothing happened as a result of this?
He shut off (phrasal verb), and put his brake on, but the train drifted past here a hundred and fifty yards or more = He stopped the engine and applied the brake, but the train kept moving for another 140 metres or more
I could think of nothing to say, to any purpose = I was unable to think of anything useful to say
The wind and the wires took up (phrasal verb) the story with a long lamenting wail = The conversation was replaced by the noise of the wind whistling through the telegraph wires
mark this, and judge how my mind is troubled = Listen to this and then you’ll understand why I am so troubled
Ever since, it has been there, now and again, by fits and starts (idiom) = Since that time the figure has repeatedly appeared from time to time
that former gesticulation of, “For God’s sake, clear the way!” = the gesture I described before to indicate “Get out of the way!”
Why, see… how your imagination misleads you. = This is an example of how you are being fooled by your imagination
and if I am a living man, it did NOT ring at those times = I swear to you that the bell did not ring when you said it did
The ghost’s ring is a strange vibration in the bell that it derives from nothing else (archaic) = When the bell is rung by the ghost it makes a noise that is not caused by any external factor (such as the usual electric current)
I have not asserted that the bell stirs to the eye (archaic) = I did not tell you that the bell moves (as it would do if rung by an electric current)
taking particular note of his face = Looking carefully at his face
His eyes were prominent and strained = Hi eyes bulged out (phrasal verb) and looked tired
We went in again, shut the door, and resumed our seats (archaic) = We re-entered the hut, closed the door and sat back down (phrasal verb) again
I was thinking how best to improve this advantage (archaic) = I was trying to think of a way to make further points (to counter his argument)
surely this is a cruel haunting of me (archaic) = I am convinced that I am being haunted in cruel way
If I telegraph Danger, on either side of me, or on both, I can give no reason for it = If I send a warning message to the signalmen up and down the line, but cannot explain the nature of the danger
They would displace me (archaic). What else could they do? = I would be fired from my job, because my superiors would believe that I could no longer do it – they would have no other choice
oppressed beyond endurance by an unintelligible responsibility involving life = whose life was made unbearable by the crushing responsibility of keeping people’s lives safe
drawing his hands outward across and across his temples in an extremity of feverish distress = rubbing his hands repeatedly across his temples in a restless and distressed way
Why not tell me how it could be averted? = Why not tell me how to avoid this future accident?
why not warn me plainly now? = why not tell me exactly what danger I am in?
Why not go to somebody with credit to be believed, and power to act? = Why not explain the situation to someone who was trustworthy and had sufficient influence to change the situation?
what I had to do for the time was to compose his mind (archaic) = the most important thing at that moment was to calm him down (phrasal verb)
I represented to him that whoever thoroughly discharged his duty must do well (archaic) = I explained to him that anyone who does his job thoroughly does it well
at least it was his comfort that he understood his duty = he was consoled by the fact that he knew what was required of him in his job
the occupations incidental to his post as the night advanced began to make larger demands on his attention = as the time passed he needed to devote more time to the important aspects of his job
I had offered to stay through the night, but he would not hear of it = I had told him I was happy to stay until morning, but he refused my offer
But what ran most in my thoughts was the consideration how ought I to act, having become the recipient of this disclosure? (archaic) = But what worried me the most was what to do now that he had told me all this
Though in a subordinate position, still he held a most important trust = although he did not have a very senior job, he had great responsibility
would I… like to stake my own life on the chances of his continuing to execute it with precision? (archaic) = could I be so sure that he would still be able to do the job safely and accurately that I would be prepared to put my own life in his hands?
there would be something treacherous in my communicating what he had told me to his superiors in the Company = it would betray his trust for me to tell his bosses what he had told me
without first being plain with himself and proposing a middle course to him (archaic) = without initially explaining the situation clearly and suggesting a possible alternative course of action
the wisest medical practitioner we could hear of in those parts = the most renowned doctor in the local area
A change in his time of duty would come round (phrasal verb) next night, he had apprised me (archaic) = He explained to me that his shift would be at a different time the following night
I had appointed to return accordingly (archaic) = So I agreed to come back (phrasal verb) at that time
The sun was not yet quite down when I traversed the field-path (archaic) = the sun had not yet set when I crossed the field
The nameless horror that oppressed me passed in a moment = My overwhelming fear of the ghostly figure suddenly disappeared
in a moment I saw that this appearance of a man was a man indeed (archaic) = I immediately realised that this was a real person
Against its shaft, a little low hut, entirely new to me, had been made of some wooden supports and tarpaulin = A new hut, that I had never seen before, made of wooden poles and tarpaulin had been built next to the upright pole of the danger-light
with a flashing self-reproachful fear that fatal mischief had come of my leaving the man there (archaic) = With the sudden awful regret that he might have died because I did not stay with him through the night
with all the speed I could make (archaic) = as quickly as I could
You will recognise him… for his face is quite composed. = You will recognise him, because his face has not been mutilated
He was cut down (phrasal verb) by an engine = He was hit by a passing train
It was just at broad day = It was just after dawn (when fully light)
He had struck the light, and had the lamp in his hand = He had lit his lamp and was carrying it
As the engine came out of the tunnel, his back was towards her, and she cut him down (phrasal verb) = When the train emerged from the tunnel, he was facing away from it and he was knocked over (note: here the narrator refers to the train engine as female.)
That man drove her = That man was the driver of the train
like as if I saw him down a perspective-glass = as though I saw him through a telescope
There was no time to check speed (archaic) = I did not have time to slow the train down (phrasal verb)
he didn’t seem to take heed of the whistle = he apparently took no notice of the train whistle
I shut it off (phrasal verb) when we were running down upon him, and called to him as loud as I could call = I stopped the whistle as we approached him and shouted as loudly as I could
I never left off (phrasal verb, informal) calling to him = I never stopped shouting at him
I put this arm before my eyes not to see, and I waved this arm to the last; but it was no use (archaic) = I covered my eyes with this arm and waved the other arm as long as I could, but it made no difference
Without prolonging the narrative to dwell on any one of its curious circumstances more than on any other = Without wishing to make the story longer by repeating any particular detail
the words which I myself had attached (archaic) = the words that I had originally imagined
to the gesticulation he had imitated = along with the gesture that he had performed

The End

Notes for The Signalman

Read by Ross Armstrong for DailyStep English