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Black Beauty
Black Beauty

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Black Beauty is here in full — 166 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Black Beauty
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Well, then,” he said, I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”
Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.
This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.
She looked across to me and said:
So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Black Beauty

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Black Beauty is here in full — 166 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”
Line 2
Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.
Line 3
This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.
Line 4
She looked across to me and said:
Line 5
So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

All words in this reading · 69

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 Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

across

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

From this reading She looked across to me and said:

and

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

any

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

are

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

back

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

beyond

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

bites

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

box

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

chestnut

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

colt

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

come

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

do

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

door

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

ears

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

eye

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

for

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

from

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

good-tempered

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

handsome

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

have

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

he

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

head

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

her

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

home

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

hope

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

horse's

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

I

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

ill-tempered

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

is

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

it

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

Just

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

lady

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

laid

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

like

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

long

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

looked

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

mare

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

me

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

From this reading She looked across to me and said:

my

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

neck

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

next

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

not

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

of

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

one

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

out

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

over

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

own

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

rather

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

said

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

She

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

From this reading She looked across to me and said:

So

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

stall

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

strange

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

tall

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

the

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

then

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

thing

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

This

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

to

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

From this reading She looked across to me and said:

turn

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

turned

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

very

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

From this reading “So it is you who have turned me out of my box; it is a very strange thing for a colt like you to come and turn a lady out of her own home.”

was

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

Well

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

were

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

From this reading Just then a horse's head looked over from the stall beyond; the ears were laid back, and the eye looked rather ill-tempered.

who

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

with

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

From this reading This was a tall chestnut mare, with a long handsome neck.

you

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

From this reading “Well, then,” he said, “I hope you are good-tempered; I do not like any one next door who bites.”

Chapter 2 of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell holds 166 sentences, grouped into 34 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 2 of Black Beauty contain?

Chapter 2 holds 166 sentences of Black Beauty, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Black Beauty by Anna Sewell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 166 sentences, grouped into 34 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 2 of Black Beauty?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Black Beauty

Common questions about reading Black Beauty by Anna Sewell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Black Beauty?

Yes. All 2409 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #271 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Black Beauty is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #271, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Black Beauty take to read?

About 200 minutes of reading across 482 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Black Beauty section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of Black Beauty 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 Black Beauty

Words and structures a reader meets early in Black Beauty, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Sewell
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Black Beauty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
English
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Black Beauty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Quaker
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Black Beauty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Black Beauty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.