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Hard Pressed
Hard Pressed

Chapter XXXVII

Chapter 37 of Hard Pressed is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Fred M. (Fred Merrick) White • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Hard Pressed
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.
She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.
There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.
Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.
She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.
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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.

Hard Pressed

Chapter XXXVII

Chapter 37 of Hard Pressed is here in full — 114 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.
/ə drəˈmætɪk ˈeɡzɪt meɪ hæd ˈteɪkən hɜːr ˈfɔːrtʃən ɪn hɜːr oʊn hændz/
Line 2
She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.
Line 3
There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.
/ðer wɑːz noʊ ˈriːzən ʃiː θɔːt waɪ ʃiː ʃʊd nɑːt meɪk hɜːr oʊn weɪ ɪn ðə wɜːrld/
Line 4
Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.
/hɜːr ˈtrɪŋkəts wɜːr mɔːr ˈvæljəbəl ðæn ʃiː hæd ɪkˈspektəd/
Line 5
She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.
/ʃiː hæd dɪˈspoʊzd ʌv wʌn fɔːr ə ˈhʌndrəd paʊndz ənd hæd noʊ æŋˈzaɪəti æz tuː ðə ˌɪˈmiːdiːət ˈfjuːtʃər/

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.

disposed adjective US /dɪˈspoʊzd/

having made preparations

From this reading “She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dramatic adjective US /drəˈmætɪk/

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading “A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
exit noun US /ˈeɡzɪt/

an opening that permits escape or release

From this reading “A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
immediate adjective US /ˌɪˈmiːdiːət/

of the present time and place

From this reading “She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Park noun US /pɑːrk/

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading “She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shaken adjective US /ˈʃeɪkən/

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading “She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
trinkets noun US /ˈtrɪŋkəts/

plural of “trinket” — cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing

From this reading “Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
valuable adjective US /ˈvæljəbəl/

having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

From this reading “Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

own hands verb + noun

In this reading “A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.”

9,647 times in 426,211 chapters
own way verb + noun

In this reading “There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.”

17,615 times in 426,211 chapters
in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.”

107,541 times in 426,211 chapters
for ever preposition + adverb

In this reading “She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.”

37,533 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 49

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 A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anxietynounUS /æŋˈzaɪəti/

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
disposedadjectiveUS /dɪˈspoʊzd/

having made preparations

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
DRAMATICadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dustverbUS /dʌst/

remove the dust from

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EXITnounUS /ˈeɡzɪt/

an opening that permits escape or release

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/

yet to be or coming

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Haredale

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

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Pending verification
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
immediateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːət/

of the present time and place

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ParknounUS /pɑːrk/

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
poundsnounUS /paʊndz/

plural of “pound” — 16 ounces avoirdupois

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shakenadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪkən/

disturbed psychologically as if by a physical jolt or shock

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading A DRAMATIC EXIT May had taken her fortune in her own hands.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading She had, as she thought, shaken the dust of Haredale Park from her feet for ever.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had disposed of one for a hundred pounds, and had no anxiety as to the immediate future.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
trinketsnounUS /ˈtrɪŋkəts/

plural of “trinket” — cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
valuableadjectiveUS /ˈvæljəbəl/

having great material or monetary value especially for use or exchange

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Her trinkets were more valuable than she had expected.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading There was no reason, she thought, why she should not make her own way in the world.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

Chapter 37 of Hard Pressed by Fred M. (Fred Merrick) White holds 114 sentences, grouped into 23 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 37 of Hard Pressed contain?

Chapter 37 holds 114 sentences of Hard Pressed, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 37 of Hard Pressed by Fred M. (Fred Merrick) White exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 114 sentences, grouped into 23 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 37 of Hard Pressed?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 37 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 37 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 Hard Pressed

Common questions about reading Hard Pressed by Fred M. (Fred Merrick) White on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hard Pressed?

Yes. All 5056 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #33512 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hard Pressed is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #33512, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hard Pressed take to read?

About 421 minutes of reading across 1012 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hard Pressed section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Hard Pressed 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 Hard Pressed

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hard Pressed, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Crimson
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Pressed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Blind
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Pressed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Corner
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Pressed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
House
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hard Pressed; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.