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A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time
A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time
Context Illustration Reading 1/79 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
IN THE YEAR 1877.
The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.
Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.
But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.
On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.
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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 Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time is here in full — 398 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/79 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
IN THE YEAR 1877.
Line 2
The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.
Line 3
Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.
Line 4
But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.
/bʌt ðə er wɑːz əˈlaɪv wɪð jet ˈswiːtər saʊndz/
Line 5
On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

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

amber noun US /ˈæmbər/

a deep yellow color

From this reading “The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.”

cataracts noun US /ˈkætərækts/

plural of “cataract” — an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye

From this reading “Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.”

fleecy adjective US /ˈfliːsi/

(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing

From this reading “The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.”

prattled verb US /ˈprætəld/

past form of “prattle” — speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly

From this reading “The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.”

rumble verb US /ˈrʌmbəl/

make a low noise

From this reading “Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.”

sweeter adjective US /ˈswiːtər/

comparative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading “But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.”

thud verb US /θʌd/

make a dull sound

From this reading “Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.”

tumbling noun US /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/

the gymnastic moves of an acrobat

From this reading “Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.”

All words in this reading · 92

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1877

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

From this reading IN THE YEAR 1877.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/

possessing life

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

ambernounUS /ˈæmbər/

a deep yellow color

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

bednounUS /bed/

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

BellsnounUS /belz/

plural of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

birdsnounUS /bɜːrdz/

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

bleating

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

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

breastnounUS /brest/

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

carolingnoun

singing joyful religious songs (especially at Christmas)

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

CatnounUS /kæt/

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

cataractsnounUS /ˈkætərækts/

plural of “cataract” — an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

chattered

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

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

cloudverbUS /klaʊd/

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

dalenounUS /deɪl/

an open river valley (in a hilly area)

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

distantadjectiveUS /ˈdɪstənt/

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

fleecyadjectiveUS /ˈfliːsi/

(of fabrics) having soft nap produced by brushing

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

greennounUS /ɡriːn/

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

hillsnounUS /hɪlz/

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading IN THE YEAR 1877.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

lakenounUS /leɪk/

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

languidlyadverb

in a languid and lethargic manner

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

laughedverbUS /læft/

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

liesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

lightadjectiveUS /laɪt/

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

lowadjectiveUS /loʊ/

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

lowestadjectiveUS /ˈloʊəst/

lowest in rank or importance

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

OutadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

overheadadverbUS /ˈoʊvərˈhed/

above your head; in the sky

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

peaknounUS /piːk/

the most extreme possible amount or value

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

prattledverbUS /ˈprætəld/

past form of “prattle” — speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

processionnounUS /prəˈseʃən/

(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

purplenounUS /ˈpɜːrpəl/

a purple color or pigment

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

rumbleverbUS /ˈrʌmbəl/

make a low noise

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

rushesnounUS /ˈrʌʃəz/

plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

sheepnounUS /ʃiːp/

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

smoothadjectiveUS /smuːð/

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

souched

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

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

soundsnounUS /saʊndz/

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

sparkledverbUS /ˈspɑːrkəld/

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

sungnounUS /sʌŋ/

the imperial dynasty of China from 960 to 1279; noted for art and literature and philosophy

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

sunlightnounUS /ˈsʌnlaɪt/

the rays of the sun

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

sweeteradjectiveUS /ˈswiːtər/

comparative of “sweet” — having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading IN THE YEAR 1877.

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

thudverbUS /θʌd/

make a dull sound

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

tumblingnounUS /ˈtʌmbəlɪŋ/

the gymnastic moves of an acrobat

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

unseenadjectiveUS /ənˈsiːn/

not seen or perceived

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

walkedverbUS /wɔːkt/

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading On the breast of the fell that lies over against Cat Bells a procession of children walked, and sung, and chattered, and laughed.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

watersnounUS /ˈwɔːtərz/

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading Out of unseen places came the bleating of sheep and the rumble of distant cataracts, and above the dull thud of tumbling waters far away was the thin caroling of birds overhead.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading The dale lay green in the morning sunlight; the river that ran through its lowest bed sparkled with purple and amber; the leaves prattled low in the light breeze that souched through the rushes and the long grass; the hills rose sheer and white to the smooth blue lake of the sky, where only one fleecy cloud floated languidly across from peak to peak.

YEARnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading IN THE YEAR 1877.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading But the air was alive with yet sweeter sounds.

Chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time by Hall, Sir Caine holds 398 sentences, grouped into 80 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time contain?

Chapter 30 holds 398 sentences of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time by Hall, Sir Caine exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 398 sentences, grouped into 80 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 30 of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time?

Work through the 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 80 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 30 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 30 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time

Common questions about reading A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time by Hall, Sir Caine on this page, its source edition and its audio.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #26088, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2162 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Hagar
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bondsman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Deemster
A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Son of Hagar: A Romance of Our Time; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.