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At the Back of the North Wind

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of At the Back of the North Wind is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George MacDonald • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for At the Back of the North Wind

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XIII Reading 1/34

At the Back of the North Wind George MacDonald

Cover illustration for At the Back of the North Wind

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of At the Back of the North Wind is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand. The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward. A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her. Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children. On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

At the Back of the North Wind

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of At the Back of the North Wind is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

Line 2

The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

Line 3

A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

Line 4

Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

Line 5

On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

All words in this reading · 81

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.

A

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

and

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

Away

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

back

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

bay

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

before

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

blew

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

blue

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

bordered

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

children

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

comforted

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

delight

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

DIAMOND

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

down

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

each

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

eastward

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

edge

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

enough

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

every

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

eyes

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

face

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

far

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

flashed

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

flashing

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

forming

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

from

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

glorious

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

grass

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

great

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

hand

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

her

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

highest

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

his

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

house

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

in

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

it

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

its

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

just

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

know

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

left

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

letting

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

little

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

looked

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

mother

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

not

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

ocean

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

of

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

on

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

out

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

outwards

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

own

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

past

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

rough

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

rounded

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

sand

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

sat

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

shine

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

shore

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

From this reading On each hand the shore rounded outwards, forming a little bay.

side

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

silent

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

sparkling

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

stillness

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

stretched

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

sun

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

sweet

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

that

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

the

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

their

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

them

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

they

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

to

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

upon

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

From this reading DIAMOND and his mother sat down upon the edge of the rough grass that bordered the sand.

was

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

waters

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

wave

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

what

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

when

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

From this reading The sun was just far enough past its highest not to shine in their eyes when they looked eastward.

which

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

wind

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

with

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

From this reading Away before them stretched the sparkling waters of the ocean, every wave of which flashed out its own delight back in the face of the great sun, which looked down from the stillness of its blue house with glorious silent face upon its flashing children.

without

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

From this reading A sweet little wind blew on their left side, and comforted the mother without letting her know what it was that comforted her.

Chapter 13 of At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald holds 173 sentences, grouped into 35 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 13 of At the Back of the North Wind contain?

Chapter 13 holds 173 sentences of At the Back of the North Wind, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 13 of At the Back of the North Wind?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 At the Back of the North Wind

Common questions about reading At the Back of the North Wind by George MacDonald on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of At the Back of the North Wind?

Yes. All 6064 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #225 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of At the Back of the North Wind is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #225, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does At the Back of the North Wind take to read?

About 505 minutes of reading across 1213 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read At the Back of the North Wind section by section

How to work through At the Back of the North Wind section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 38 chapters of At the Back of the North Wind to begin.
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Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in At the Back of the North Wind

Words and structures a reader meets early in At the Back of the North Wind, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Asked: A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Back of the North Wind; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
North: A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Back of the North Wind; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Greek: A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Back of the North Wind; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Writer: A word that appears in the opening chapter of At the Back of the North Wind; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.