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Betty Alden
Betty Alden

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of Betty Alden is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Betty Alden
Context Illustration Reading 1/13 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”
“Lora!
Aunt Bab!
What do you think?
Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.
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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.

Betty Alden

Chapter XXIII

Chapter 23 of Betty Alden is here in full — 65 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/13 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”
Line 2
“Lora!
Line 3
Aunt Bab!
Line 4
What do you think?
/wʌt duː juː θɪŋk/
Line 5
Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

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.

bound adjective US /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

consent noun US /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

hate noun US /heɪt/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

minister noun US /ˈmɪnəstər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

parson noun US /ˈpɑːrsən/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

Partridge noun US /ˈpɑːrtrədʒ/

flesh of either quail or grouse

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

standish noun US /ˈstændɪʃ/

English colonist in America; leader of the Pilgrims in the early days of the Plymouth Colony (1584-1656)

From this reading ““LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.””

sweetheart noun US /ˈswiːthɑːrt/

a person loved by another person

From this reading “Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.”

All words in this reading · 44

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 Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

AuntnounUS /ænt/

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Aunt Bab!

Bab

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

From this reading Aunt Bab!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

Bessie

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/

confined by bonds

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

consentnounUS /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading What do you think?

don't

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

hatenounUS /heɪt/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

he's

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”

Lora

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

From this reading “Lora!

LOREA

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

From this reading “LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

ministernounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”

NAMEverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

parsonnounUS /ˈpɑːrsən/

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

PartridgenounUS /ˈpɑːrtrədʒ/

flesh of either quail or grouse

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

sortnounUS /sɔːrt/

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

STANDISHnounUS /ˈstændɪʃ/

English colonist in America; leader of the Pilgrims in the early days of the Plymouth Colony (1584-1656)

From this reading “LOREA STANDISH IS MY NAME.”

sweetheartnounUS /ˈswiːthɑːrt/

a person loved by another person

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

they're

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading What do you think?

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

we're

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

From this reading Bessie Partridge has a sweetheart, and he’s going to be a minister, and his father is one of the old sort that we’re bound to hate; but the parson don’t care and has given his consent, and they’re to be married out of hand.

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What do you think?

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading What do you think?

Chapter 23 of Betty Alden by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin holds 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 23 of Betty Alden contain?

Chapter 23 holds 65 sentences of Betty Alden, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of Betty Alden by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 65 sentences, grouped into 13 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 23 of Betty Alden?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Betty Alden

Common questions about reading Betty Alden by Jane G. (Jane Goodwin) Austin on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Betty Alden?

Yes. All 3812 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #67608 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Betty Alden is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #67608, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Betty Alden take to read?

About 317 minutes of reading across 763 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Betty Alden section by section

How to work through Betty Alden section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 37 chapters of Betty Alden to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

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

Vocabulary met early in Betty Alden

Words and structures a reader meets early in Betty Alden, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Standish
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Betty Alden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Novel
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Betty Alden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Betty
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Betty Alden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Alden
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Betty Alden; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.