Chapter 2 of Dick o' the Fens is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Dick o' the Fens is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how. But I am thinking of the people about. I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out." "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick. "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
Chapter 2 of Dick o' the Fens is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/81 · 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.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading “"I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.”
someone who is a detective
From this reading “"I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.”
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading “"I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.”
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading “"That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."”
a boy or man
From this reading “"I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.”
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading “But I am thinking of the people about.”
United States writer and poet (1905-1989)
From this reading “"That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."”
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading “I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."”
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.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
a youthful male person
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
someone who is a detective
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
set up or found
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
a boy or man
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
by chance
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
express in words
From this reading "I dare say he's in bed, father," said Dick.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading But I am thinking of the people about.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "I used to, my lad; perhaps I have not forgotten how.
United States writer and poet (1905-1989)
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "That's what I fear, my boy; and then there's John Warren."
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading I wonder whether Hickathrift has found it out."
Chapter 2 of Dick o' the Fens by George Manville Fenn holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 406 sentences of Dick o' the Fens, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Dick o' the Fens by George Manville Fenn exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 82 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 Dick o' the Fens by George Manville Fenn on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6997 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #21306 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #21306, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 583 minutes of reading across 1400 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Dick o' the Fens section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 17 chapters of Dick o' the Fens 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 Dick o' the Fens, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
