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Contrary Mary
Contrary Mary

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Contrary Mary is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Temple Bailey • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Contrary Mary
Context Illustration Reading 1/40 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.
But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.
"Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"
"About Porter?"
"Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Contrary Mary

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Contrary Mary is here in full — 202 sentences across 41 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/40 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.
/ɪn wɪtʃ ænt ˈfrænsɪs spiːks ʌv ˈmætrəmoʊni æz ə fɪkst ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən ənd ɪz met baɪ ˈfleɪmɪŋ ˈɑːrɡjəmənts ənd ɪn wɪtʃ ə streɪndʒ vɔɪs sɪŋz əˈpɑːn ðə sterz ænt ˈfrænsɪs steɪd ənˈtɪl ˈæftər ðə nuː jɪr/
Line 2
But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.
Line 3
"Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"
Line 4
"About Porter?"
/əˈbaʊt ˈpɔːrtər/
Line 5
"Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.
/jes ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli əˈbaʊt ˈmeriɪŋ hɪm/

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.

Arguments noun US /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/

plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Flaming adjective US /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Frances noun US /ˈfrænsɪs/

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Institution noun US /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən/

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
marrying verb US /ˈmeriɪŋ/

-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage

From this reading “"Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Matrimony noun US /ˈmætrəmoʊni/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Porter noun US /ˈpɔːrtər/

a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading “"Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Sings verb US /sɪŋz/

third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing

From this reading “_In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 47

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 _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ArgumentsnounUS /ˈɑːrɡjəmənts/

plural of “argument” — a fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AuntnounUS /ænt/

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

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Bigelow

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

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Pending verification
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
FixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FlamingadjectiveUS /ˈfleɪmɪŋ/

informal intensifiers

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
FrancesnounUS /ˈfrænsɪs/

plural of “france” — a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/

with impatience; in an impatient manner

From this reading "Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
InprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
InstitutionnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃən/

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Isabelle

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

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

Pending verification
marryingverbUS /ˈmeriɪŋ/

-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage

From this reading "Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MatrimonynounUS /ˈmætrəmoʊni/

the state of being a married couple voluntarily joined for life (or until divorce)

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MetverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
PorternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/

a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
SingsverbUS /sɪŋz/

third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SpeaksverbUS /spiːks/

third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StairsnounUS /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stayedverbUS /steɪd/

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
StrangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
UponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
VoicenounUS /vɔɪs/

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading But before she went she sounded Aunt Isabelle.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
WhichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YearnounUS /jɪr/

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading _In Which Aunt Frances Speaks of Matrimony as a Fixed Institution and is Met by Flaming Arguments; and in Which a Strange Voice Sings Upon the Stairs._ Aunt Frances stayed until after the New Year.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
YesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading "Yes," impatiently, "about marrying him.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Has Mary said anything to you about Porter Bigelow?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 7 of Contrary Mary by Temple Bailey holds 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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 7 of Contrary Mary contain?

Chapter 7 holds 202 sentences of Contrary Mary, unabridged, divided into 41 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Contrary Mary by Temple Bailey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 202 sentences, grouped into 41 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 7 of Contrary Mary?

Work through the 41 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 41 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Contrary Mary

Common questions about reading Contrary Mary by Temple Bailey on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Contrary Mary?

Yes. All 6204 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #17938 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Contrary Mary is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #17938, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Contrary Mary take to read?

About 517 minutes of reading across 1241 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Contrary Mary section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Contrary Mary 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 Contrary Mary

Words and structures a reader meets early in Contrary Mary, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Silken
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Contrary Mary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ladies
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Contrary Mary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ascend
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Contrary Mary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stairway
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Contrary Mary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.