Chapter 14 of Father Payne is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of Father Payne is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter! People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course. He's always giving out!" "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now. I feel better for having told you.
Chapter 14 of Father Payne is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/85 · 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.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading “I feel better for having told you.”
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading “People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.”
the act of giving
From this reading “He's always giving out!"”
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading “People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.”
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading “I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!”
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading “I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!”
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading “People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.”
the upper part of anything
From this reading “People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
the act of giving
From this reading He's always giving out!"
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He's always giving out!"
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
express in words
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
in or at that place or location
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading I smiled at this, and said, "I don't think there really is much the matter!
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
the upper part of anything
From this reading People can't be always at the top of their game, and he takes a lot out of himself, of course.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "He is indeed," said Barthrop; "but I won't say more now.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I feel better for having told you.
Chapter 14 of Father Payne by Arthur Christopher Benson holds 426 sentences, grouped into 86 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 14 holds 426 sentences of Father Payne, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of Father Payne by Arthur Christopher Benson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 426 sentences, grouped into 86 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 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 86 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 14 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 Father Payne by Arthur Christopher Benson on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5896 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12264 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #12264, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 491 minutes of reading across 1180 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Father Payne section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 14 chapters of Father Payne 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 Father Payne, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
