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A Girl of the People
A Girl of the People

Chapter XXVIII

Cover illustration for A Girl of the People
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.
In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.
His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.
Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.
The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

A Girl of the People

Chapter XXVIII

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.
Line 2
In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.
Line 3
His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.
Line 4
Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.
Line 5
The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

Learner Dictionary

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

Again noun US /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Captain noun US /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.”

Could modal verb US /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Cruel adjective US /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Doctor noun US /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.”

Feeling noun US /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Hand noun US /hand/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Himself pronoun US /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Left noun US /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Name noun US /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Once noun US /once/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Soon noun US /soon/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Strength noun US /ˈstrength/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.”

Weakness noun US /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading “His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.”

All words in this reading · 79

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 Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

account

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

againnounUS /again/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

attic

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

bed

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

Bet

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

boy's

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

brother's

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

came

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

captainnounUS /ˈcaptain/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

clean

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

coherent

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

continually

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/

causing pain or showing no kindness

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

difficult

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

doctornounUS /doctor/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

false

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

fast

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

feelingnounUS /ˈfeeling/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

fever

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

feverish

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

give

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

gravely

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

hand

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

hard

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

hide

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

ill

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

InprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

lay

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

leftnounUS /left/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

longer

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

lots

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

murmured

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

namenounUS /name/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

nourishment

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

Once

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

only

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

ordered

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

overtake

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

piteously

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

possible

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

promising

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

prostration

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

rendered

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

run

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

screamed

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

see

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

soon

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

spoke

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

state

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

From this reading The doctor came to see him, and ordered lots of nourishment, and spoke gravely of the boy's state.

strengthnounUS /ˈstrength/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

strokes

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

sweet

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

telling

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

tossed

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.

twice

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

From this reading Once or twice he screamed piteously, as though he were again feeling the hard strokes of a cruel hand.

uncared

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

very

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The captain was very ill, but he was no longer uncared for.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a lack of physical strength

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading His weakness and prostration were difficult to account for; he could give no coherent account of himself, only, as the fever left him false strength, he murmured his brother's name continually, telling him to hide, to run fast, and promising to overtake him as soon as possible.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading In the attic which Bet had rendered clean and sweet, he lay and tossed on his hard and feverish bed.