Chapter 3 of Clayhanger is here in full — 402 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Clayhanger is here in full — 402 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day." Her archness had deserted her. "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin. "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?" And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
Chapter 3 of Clayhanger is here in full — 402 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 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.
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading “And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.”
past form of “blush” — turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading “And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.”
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading “"Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"”
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading “Her archness had deserted her.”
king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)
From this reading “"I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."”
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading “"Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.”
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading “And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.”
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading “"I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."”
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 "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
an expression of regret at having caused trouble for someone
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
inappropriate playfulness
From this reading Her archness had deserted her.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
past form of “blush” — turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
an institution created to conduct business
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
with intention; in an intentional manner
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
forsaken by owner or inhabitants
From this reading Her archness had deserted her.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
king of Northumbria who was converted to Christianity (585-633)
From this reading "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
the act of departing
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Her archness had deserted her.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Her archness had deserted her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
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 was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.
naughtily or annoyingly playful
From this reading "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
and nothing more
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
an educational institution
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
a special situation
From this reading "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading "Mischievous little thing!" thought Edwin.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading And he too blushed, feeling as if he owed an apology to the company for having left school.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
comparative of “weak” — wanting in physical strength
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why must she deliberately go and draw attention to that?"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "I was only going to ask you," Clara went on, in a weaker, stammering voice, "if you knew that Edwin's left school to-day."
Chapter 3 of Clayhanger by Arnold Bennett holds 402 sentences, grouped into 81 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 3 holds 402 sentences of Clayhanger, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Clayhanger by Arnold Bennett exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 402 sentences, grouped into 81 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 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 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 3 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 Clayhanger by Arnold Bennett on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 13540 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21249 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21249, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 2708 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Clayhanger section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 33 chapters of Clayhanger 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 Clayhanger, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
