Chapter 2 of Christine is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Christine is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark. "And you are not left in the dark. Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?" But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that. I preserve it wholly for the infirmities.
Chapter 2 of Christine is here in full — 435 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/87 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading “"Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.”
for a short time
From this reading “"Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.”
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading “But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.”
a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman
From this reading “"Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.”
plural of “infirmity” — the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading “Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"”
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading “Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"”
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading “I preserve it wholly for the infirmities.”
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading “"Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "And you are not left in the dark.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "And you are not left in the dark.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
a large mass of ice floating at sea; usually broken off of a polar glacier
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
for a short time
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
relatively low in price or charging low prices
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
lacking in light; not bright or harsh
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
a German courtesy title or form of address for an adult woman
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
plural of “infirmity” — the state of being weak in health or body (especially from old age)
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
go away from a place
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
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 "And you are not left in the dark.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
plural of “match” — lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "And you are not left in the dark.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading I preserve it wholly for the infirmities.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading Have I not provided a candle and matches for the chance infirmities of the night?"
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
plural of “rule” — a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
be seated
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
hard to endure
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But the candle is cheap and dim, so I don't sit up trying to read by that.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
at the time that
From this reading "Rules," said Frau Berg briefly, when I asked if it wasn't a little early to leave me in the dark.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I preserve it wholly for the infirmities.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "And you are not left in the dark.
Chapter 2 of Christine by Elizabeth Von Arnim holds 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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.
Chapter 2 holds 435 sentences of Christine, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Christine by Elizabeth Von Arnim exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 435 sentences, grouped into 87 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.
Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 87 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.
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.
Common questions about reading Christine by Elizabeth Von Arnim on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2579 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12683 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #12683, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 214 minutes of reading across 516 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Christine section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Christine to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Christine, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
