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Hester — Volume 1
Hester — Volume 1

Chapter IX · Recollections

Chapter IX of Hester — Volume 1, “Recollections,” is here in full — 245 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Hester — Volume 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.
That was always my opinion.
I said it at the time, and I say it again.
To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."
"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Hester — Volume 1

Chapter IX · Recollections

Chapter IX of Hester — Volume 1, “Recollections,” is here in full — 245 sentences across 49 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.
/ɪf juː wɪl nɑːt θɪŋk miː æn oʊld ˈkroʊkər mæm aɪ wʊd seɪ ðæt juː rɪˈtaɪrd frʌm wɜːrk tuː suːn/
Line 2
That was always my opinion.
/ðæt wɑːz ˈɔːlweɪz maɪ əˈpɪnjən/
Line 3
I said it at the time, and I say it again.
/aɪ sed ɪt æt ðə taɪm ənd aɪ seɪ ɪt əˈɡen/
Line 4
To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."
/tuː ɡɪv ʌp bɪˈfɔːr jɔːr taɪm ɪz ˈflaɪɪŋ ɪn ðə feɪs ʌv ˈprɑː.və.dəns/
Line 5
"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

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.

Catherine noun US /ˈkæθərən/

first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)

From this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
creation noun US /kriˈeɪʃən/

the human act of creating

From this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
croaker noun US /ˈkroʊkər/

the lean flesh of a saltwater fish caught along Atlantic coast of southern U.S.

From this reading “"If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ma'am noun US /mæm/

a woman of refinement

From this reading “"If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
preacher noun US /ˈpriːtʃər/

someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel

From this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Providence noun US /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading “To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."”

Velmora curated lexicon
Sabbath noun US /ˈsæbəθ/

a day of rest and worship: Sunday for most Christians; Saturday for the Jews and a few Christians; Friday for Muslims

From this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Scotch noun US /skɑːtʃ/

a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

From this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

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.

ten years noun + noun

In this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

20,715 times in 426,211 chapters
give up verb + adjective

lose (s.th.) or lose the right to (s.th.) by some error, offense, or crime

In this reading “To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."”

42,234 times in 426,211 chapters
last ten adjective + noun

In this reading “"I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"”

2,095 times in 426,211 chapters
at the time preposition + article + noun counted as “at … time”

simultaneously

In this reading “I said it at the time, and I say it again.”

57,842 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 67

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 "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading That was always my opinion.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
CatherinenounUS /ˈkæθərən/

first wife of Henry VIII; Henry VIII's divorce from her was the initial step of the Reformation in England (1485-1536)

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Chalmers

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

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Pending verification
creationnounUS /kriˈeɪʃən/

the human act of creating

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
croakernounUS /ˈkroʊkər/

the lean flesh of a saltwater fish caught along Atlantic coast of southern U.S.

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
don't

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

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Pending verification
facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fondadjectiveUS /fɑːnd/

having or displaying warmth or affection

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
livesnounUS /lɪvz/

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ma'amnounUS /mæm/

a woman of refinement

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading That was always my opinion.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading That was always my opinion.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
preachernounUS /ˈpriːtʃər/

someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ProvidencenounUS /ˈprɑː.və.dəns/

The protective care of God or nature as a spiritual power. (Sự quan phòng, thiên ý phù hộ.)

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora curated lexicon
rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora curated lexicon
restverbUS /rest/

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
retiredadjectiveUS /rɪˈtaɪrd/

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RulenounUS /ruːl/

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SabbathnounUS /ˈsæbəθ/

a day of rest and worship: Sunday for most Christians; Saturday for the Jews and a few Christians; Friday for Muslims

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ScotchnounUS /skɑːtʃ/

a slight surface cut (especially a notch that is made to keep a tally)

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

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 I said it at the time, and I say it again.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I said it at the time, and I say it again.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Vernon

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

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Pending verification
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading That was always my opinion.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
workverbUS /wɜːrk/

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading "I know you are fond of a fine preacher, Mr. Rule," said Catherine Vernon; "don't you remember what the Scotch Chalmers said, that our lives were like the work of creation, and that the last ten years was the Sabbath--for rest?"

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you will not think me an old croaker, ma'am, I would say that you retired from work too soon.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading To give up before your time is flying in the face of Providence."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 9 of Hester — Volume 1 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 245 sentences, grouped into 49 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 9 of Hester — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 9 holds 245 sentences of Hester — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 49 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of Hester — Volume 1 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 245 sentences, grouped into 49 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 9 of Hester — Volume 1?

Work through the 49 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 49 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Hester — Volume 1

Common questions about reading Hester — Volume 1 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Hester — Volume 1?

Yes. All 3439 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #48197 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Hester — Volume 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #48197, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Hester — Volume 1 take to read?

About 286 minutes of reading across 688 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Hester — Volume 1 section by section

How to work through Hester — Volume 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of Hester — Volume 1 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 Hester — Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hester — Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Springy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hester — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Motion
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hester — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rising
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hester — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Indicate
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hester — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.