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Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Thomas Hardy • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Far from the Madding Crowd

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XVI Reading 1/21

Far from the Madding Crowd Thomas Hardy

Cover illustration for Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room. Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table. She was thus at the head without mingling with the men. This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair. She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

Far from the Madding Crowd

Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

Chapter 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

Line 2

Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

Line 3

She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

Line 4

This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

Line 5

She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

All words in this reading · 74

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.

A

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

after

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

and

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

assistance

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

at

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

Bathsheba

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

begun

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

being

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

beside

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

bottom

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

cheeks

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

contrasting

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

DECLARATION

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

down

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

end

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

evening

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

EVENTIDE

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

Everdene

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

excited

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

expect

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

facing

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

foot

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

For

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

grass-plot

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

had

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

hair

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

head

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

her

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

house

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

inside

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

into

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

left

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

lips

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

long

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

lustrously

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

mazy

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

meal

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

men

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

mingling

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

Miss

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

of

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

on

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

or

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

over

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

parlour-window

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

placed

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

red

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

request

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

room

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

sat

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

seat

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

SECOND

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

seemed

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

shadowy

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

She

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

shearing-supper

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

sill

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

skeins

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

table

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

the

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

they

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

This

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

thrust

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

thus

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

to

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

two

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

until

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

unusually

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

From this reading This evening Bathsheba was unusually excited, her red cheeks and lips contrasting lustrously with the mazy skeins of her shadowy hair.

vacant

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

From this reading She seemed to expect assistance, and the seat at the bottom of the table was at her request left vacant until after they had begun the meal.

was

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

wide

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

From this reading EVENTIDE—A SECOND DECLARATION For the shearing-supper a long table was placed on the grass-plot beside the house, the end of the table being thrust over the sill of the wide parlour-window and a foot or two into the room.

window

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

From this reading Miss Everdene sat inside the window, facing down the table.

with

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

without

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

From this reading She was thus at the head without mingling with the men.

Chapter 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy holds 106 sentences, grouped into 22 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd contain?

Chapter 16 holds 106 sentences of Far from the Madding Crowd, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 16 of Far from the Madding Crowd?

Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 22 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Far from the Madding Crowd

Common questions about reading Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Far from the Madding Crowd?

Yes. All 7856 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #27 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Far from the Madding Crowd is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #27, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Far from the Madding Crowd take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1572 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Far from the Madding Crowd section by section

How to work through Far from the Madding Crowd section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 39 chapters of Far from the Madding Crowd to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Far from the Madding Crowd

Words and structures a reader meets early in Far from the Madding Crowd, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Illustrations: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hands: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Loosening: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Neckerchief: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Far from the Madding Crowd; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.