A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mannington, Mrs., -1926 Caffyn • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter X Reading 1/20

A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) Mannington, Mrs., -1926 Caffyn

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE function was arranged for a certain Wednesday in February, the day before Dacre was to leave for school, and the children had been given formal notice to appear in the drawing-room at three o’clock. They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event. They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action. It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room. Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)

Chapter X

Chapter 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

Line 3

They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

Line 4

It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

Line 5

Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

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.

colds noun US /koʊldz/

plural of “cold” — a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)

From this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

dismal adjective US /ˈdɪzməl/

causing dejection

From this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

endured verb US /enˈdjʊrd/

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading “Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.”

function noun US /ˈfʌŋkʃən/

(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

From this reading “THE function was arranged for a certain Wednesday in February, the day before Dacre was to leave for school, and the children had been given formal notice to appear in the drawing-room at three o’clock.”

holidays noun US /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

nursery noun US /ˈnɜːrsəri/

a child's room for a baby

From this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

speculating verb US /ˈspekjəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading “They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.”

Wednesday noun US /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

six weeks noun + noun counted as “six week”

In this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

speculating on verb + particle counted as “speculate on”

In this reading “They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.”

at the end preposition + article + noun counted as “at … end”

In this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.”

by reason preposition + noun

In this reading “It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.”

appear in verb + particle

In this reading “THE function was arranged for a certain Wednesday in February, the day before Dacre was to leave for school, and the children had been given formal notice to appear in the drawing-room at three o’clock.”

All words in this reading · 73

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading THE function was arranged for a certain Wednesday in February, the day before Dacre was to leave for school, and the children had been given formal notice to appear in the drawing-room at three o’clock.

actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

appointedadjectiveUS /əˈpɔɪntɪd/

subject to appointment

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

boutnounUS /baʊt/

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/

definite but not specified or identified

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

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

coldsnounUS /koʊldz/

plural of “cold” — a mild viral infection involving the nose and respiratory passages (but not the lungs)

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

Dacre

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

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

dismaladjectiveUS /ˈdɪzməl/

causing dejection

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

drawing-room

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

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

enduredverbUS /enˈdjʊrd/

past form of “endure” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

eventnounUS /ɪˈvent/

something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/

the month following January and preceding March

flattest

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

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

formaladjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrməl/

being in accord with established forms and conventions and requirements (as e.g. of formal dress)

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

functionnounUS /ˈfʌŋkʃən/

(mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

holidaysnounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪz/

plural of “holiday” — leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

IndeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

leaveverbUS /liːv/

go away from a place

mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

noticenounUS /ˈnoʊtəs/

an announcement containing information about an event

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

nurserynounUS /ˈnɜːrsəri/

a child's room for a baby

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

placesnounUS /ˈpleɪsəz/

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

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

scenenounUS /siːn/

the place where some action occurs

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

schoolnounUS /skuːl/

an educational institution

school-room

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

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

speculatingverbUS /ˈspekjəleɪtɪŋ/

-ing form of “speculate” — to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

spentadjectiveUS /spent/

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

unusualadjectiveUS /əˈnjuːʒuːəl/

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

waitingnounUS /ˈweɪtɪŋ/

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

WednesdaynounUS /ˈwenzdi/

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading It was at the end of a dismal six weeks of holidays, mostly spent, by reason of colds, between the nursery and the school-room.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading They were now waiting in the school-room speculating on the event.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading They knew it must be something very unusual from the fact of the drawing-room, of all places in the world, being appointed as the scene of action.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading Indeed, it had been the very flattest bout of holidays the two had ever yet endured.

Chapter 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) by Mannington, Mrs., -1926 Caffyn holds 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) contain?

Chapter 10 holds 103 sentences of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3), unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) by Mannington, Mrs., -1926 Caffyn exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 10 of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 10 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 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 Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)

Common questions about reading A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) by Mannington, Mrs., -1926 Caffyn on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)?

Yes. All 1263 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #63682 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #63682, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) take to read?

About 105 minutes of reading across 253 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3) section by section

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Vocabulary met early in A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3)

Words and structures a reader meets early in A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3), each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ebook: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Created: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Honour: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Italics: A word that appears in the opening chapter of A Yellow Aster, Volume 1 (of 3); the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter X

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