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Dorothy Dale's Great Secret
Dorothy Dale's Great Secret

Chapter XIII · Little Urania

Chapter XIII of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret, “Little Urania,” is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Dorothy Dale's Great Secret
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.
Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.
Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.
Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.
They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.
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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.

Dorothy Dale's Great Secret

Chapter XIII · Little Urania

Chapter XIII of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret, “Little Urania,” is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.
/ðə sɑːft ˈmuːnlaɪt wɑːz naʊ ˈpiːpɪŋ θruː ðə skriːn ʌv ˈmeɪpəl liːvz ðæt ɑːrtʃt ðə oʊld stoʊn brɪdʒ æz ðə ˈʃɪftɪŋ ˈʃædoʊz ʌv ˈɜːrli ˈiːvnɪŋ ˈsetəld daʊn tuː ˈkwaɪət ˈnaɪtfɔːl/
Line 2
Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.
Line 3
Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.
Line 4
Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.
Line 5
They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

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.

arched adjective US /ɑːrtʃt/

constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches

From this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

Cedars noun US /ˈsiːdərz/

plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars

From this reading “Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.”

maple noun US /ˈmeɪpəl/

wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

nightfall noun US /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

noblest adjective US /ˈnoʊblɪst/

superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance

From this reading “Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.”

peeping verb US /ˈpiːpɪŋ/

-ing form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

shifting adjective US /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/

continuously varying

From this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

vacation noun US /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading “Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

maple leaves noun + noun counted as “maple leaf”

In this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

peeping through verb + particle counted as “peep through”

In this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.”

stone bridge noun + noun

In this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

human suffering adjective + noun

In this reading “Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.”

early evening adjective + noun

In this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

through the screen preposition + article + noun counted as “through … screen”

In this reading “The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.”

on the bridge preposition + article + noun counted as “on … bridge”

In this reading “Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.”

All words in this reading · 104

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 Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

archedadjectiveUS /ɑːrtʃt/

constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

AuntnounUS /ænt/

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

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

ballnounUS /bɔːl/

round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

bridgenounUS /brɪdʒ/

a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

brothersnounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

CedarsnounUS /ˈsiːdərz/

plural of “cedar” — any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

cousinnounUS /ˈkʌzən/

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

Dorothy

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

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/

-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

evenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

fairadjectiveUS /fer/

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

greatestadjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtəst/

highest in quality

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

grown-up

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

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

happenverbUS /ˈhæpən/

come to pass

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

maplenounUS /ˈmeɪpəl/

wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/

the light of the Moon

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

Nat

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

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

nightfallnounUS /ˈnaɪtfɔːl/

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

noblestadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊblɪst/

superlative of “noble” — impressive in appearance

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

peepingverbUS /ˈpiːpɪŋ/

-ing form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

physiciannounUS /fəˈzɪʃən/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

planverbUS /plæn/

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

professionnounUS /prəˈfeʃən/

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/

provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

rollingadjectiveUS /ˈroʊlɪŋ/

uttered with a trill

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

schooldaysnoun

the time of life when you are going to school

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

screennounUS /skriːn/

a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

shadowsnounUS /ˈʃædoʊz/

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

shapenounUS /ʃeɪp/

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/

continuously varying

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

stayingverbUS /ˈsteɪɪŋ/

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

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

stonenounUS /stoʊn/

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

sufferingnounUS /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/

a state of acute pain

From this reading Nat declared he would be a physician, as that particular profession had ever been to him the greatest and noblest—to relieve human suffering.

summernounUS /ˈsʌmər/

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

talkingnounUS /ˈtɔːkɪŋ/

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

theirspronounUS /ðerz/

the one or ones belonging to them

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/

in the direction of

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

tranquiladjectiveUS /ˈtræŋkwəl/

(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

vacationnounUS /veɪˈkeɪʃən/

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The soft moonlight was now peeping through the screen of maple leaves that arched the old stone bridge, as the shifting shadows of early evening settled down to quiet nightfall.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

Winnie

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

From this reading They would need her, she said, and it would not be fair to let Aunt Winnie do so much for them.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Dorothy talked of staying home with her brothers and father.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Dorothy and her cousin did not at once turn their steps toward the Cedars; instead they sat there on the bridge, enjoying the tranquil summer eve, and talking of what might happen when all their schooldays would be over and the long “vacation” of the grown-up world would be theirs to plan for, and theirs to shape into the rolling ball of destiny.

Chapter 13 of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret by Margaret Penrose holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 13 of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret contain?

Chapter 13 holds 167 sentences of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret by Margaret Penrose exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 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 13 of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret?

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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 Dorothy Dale's Great Secret

Common questions about reading Dorothy Dale's Great Secret by Margaret Penrose on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret?

Yes. All 2930 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #41558 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #41558, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Dorothy Dale's Great Secret take to read?

About 244 minutes of reading across 586 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Dorothy Dale's Great Secret section by section

How to work through Dorothy Dale's Great Secret section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret 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 Dorothy Dale's Great Secret

Words and structures a reader meets early in Dorothy Dale's Great Secret, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Dorothy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
To-day
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glenwood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Dorothy Dale's Great Secret; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.