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An Ambitious Woman: A Novel
An Ambitious Woman: A Novel

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for An Ambitious Woman: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
She rose, keeping her eyes on his.
"I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.
I have grown used to it, Herbert.
I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."
As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.
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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.

An Ambitious Woman: A Novel

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel is here in full — 416 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
She rose, keeping her eyes on his.
/ʃiː roʊz ˈkiːpɪŋ hɜːr aɪz ɑːn hɪz/
Line 2
"I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.
Line 3
I have grown used to it, Herbert.
/aɪ hæv ɡroʊn juːzd tuː ɪt ˈhɜːrbərt/
Line 4
I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."
Line 5
As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.
/æz ʃiː spoʊk ðə læst wɜːrdz hiː roʊz ˈɔːlsoʊ ənd kɑːt boʊθ hɜːr hændz ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈiːɡərli ˈɪntuː hɜːr feɪs/

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.

caught verb US /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading “As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.”

eagerly adverb US /ˈiːɡərli/

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading “As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.”

grown adjective US /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading “I have grown used to it, Herbert.”

Herbert noun US /ˈhɜːrbərt/

United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)

From this reading “I have grown used to it, Herbert.”

keeping noun US /ˈkiːpɪŋ/

conformity or harmony

From this reading “She rose, keeping her eyes on his.”

pass verb US /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading “I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."”

precious adjective US /ˈpreʃəs/

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading “I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."”

spoke noun US /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading “As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.”

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.

last words adjective + noun

In this reading “As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.”

precious things adjective + noun

In this reading “I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

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 I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

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

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

don't

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

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

eagerlyadverbUS /ˈiːɡərli/

with eagerness; in an eager manner

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading I have grown used to it, Herbert.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

HerbertnounUS /ˈhɜːrbərt/

United States musician and composer and conductor noted for his comic operas (1859-1924)

From this reading I have grown used to it, Herbert.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have grown used to it, Herbert.

keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/

conformity or harmony

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

passverbUS /pæs/

go across or through

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She rose, keeping her eyes on his.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

spokenounUS /spoʊk/

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I have grown used to it, Herbert.

usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading I have grown used to it, Herbert.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "I don't know what I should do," she said, "if I lost what I have now.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

won't

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

From this reading I won't let myself think that it might pass away--that I should be left without all these good and precious things."

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

From this reading As she spoke the last words he rose also, and caught both her hands, looking eagerly into her face.

Chapter 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel by Edgar Fawcett holds 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel contain?

Chapter 16 holds 416 sentences of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel by Edgar Fawcett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 416 sentences, grouped into 84 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 16 of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 An Ambitious Woman: A Novel

Common questions about reading An Ambitious Woman: A Novel by Edgar Fawcett on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel?

Yes. All 8595 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #38075 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #38075, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does An Ambitious Woman: A Novel take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1719 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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  3. Listen and tap

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Vocabulary met early in An Ambitious Woman: A Novel

Words and structures a reader meets early in An Ambitious Woman: A Novel, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Fawcett
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novelist
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Service
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Greatly
A word that appears in the opening chapter of An Ambitious Woman: A Novel; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.