Hester — Volume 3

Chapter X · The Hour of Need

Chapter X of Hester — Volume 3, “The Hour of Need,” is here in full — 301 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Hester — Volume 3

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness.

"Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

He had disappeared before she turned her eyes to the other, who, by this time, had raised herself to her knees, and remained there looking up, her face a paleness in the dim air, nothing more.

Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

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 X Reading 1/60

Hester — Volume 3 Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

Chapter X

The Hour of Need

Chapter X of Hester — Volume 3, “The Hour of Need,” is here in full — 301 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights. She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness. "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear. He had disappeared before she turned her eyes to the other, who, by this time, had raised herself to her knees, and remained there looking up, her face a paleness in the dim air, nothing more. Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

Hester — Volume 3

Chapter X · The Hour of Need

Chapter X of Hester — Volume 3, “The Hour of Need,” is here in full — 301 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

/ˈkæθərən stʊd əˈpɑːn ðə ˈθreʃoʊld ʌv hɜːr oʊn ɡeɪt hɜːr haʊs stɪl ənd ˈveɪkənt bɪˈhaɪnd ðə læmps dʒʌst ˈkærid ˈɪntuː ðə ˈveɪkənt pleɪs ʌp sterz ðə ˈwɪndoʊz bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ tuː ʃoʊ laɪts/

Line 2

She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness.

/ʃiː stʊd hərˈself ə ˈʃæd.oʊ fɔːr ðə ˈmoʊmənt rəˈɡɑːrdləs ʌv ðə ˈʃæd.oʊ æt hɜːr fiːt ˈlʊkɪŋ aʊt ˈɪntuː ðə dɪm wɜːrld ˈæftər ðə ˈʌðər ˈʃæd.oʊ wɪtʃ went əˈlɔːŋ swɪft ənd ˈsaɪlənt ˈɪntuː ðə ˈdɑːrknəs/

Line 3

"Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

/ˈedwərd ʃiː kraɪd bʌt hiː dɪd nɑːt hiːr/

Line 4

He had disappeared before she turned her eyes to the other, who, by this time, had raised herself to her knees, and remained there looking up, her face a paleness in the dim air, nothing more.

Line 5

Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

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 “Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.”

dim adjective US /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading “She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness.”

Edward noun US /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading “"Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.”

lamps noun US /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

regardless adverb US /rəˈɡɑːrdləs/

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

swift adjective US /swɪft/

moving very fast

threshold noun US /ˈθreʃoʊld/

the starting point for a new state or experience

vacant adjective US /ˈveɪkənt/

void of intelligence or thought

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.

vacant place adjective + noun

In this reading “Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.”

upon the threshold preposition + article + noun counted as “upon … threshold”

looked at verb + particle counted as “look at”

take into consideration for exemplifying purposes

In this reading “Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.”

into the darkness preposition + article + noun counted as “into … darkness”

In this reading “She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness.”

for the moment preposition + article + noun counted as “for … moment”

temporarily

up stairs adjective + noun

went along verb + particle counted as “go along”

cooperate or pretend to cooperate

in silence preposition + noun

In this reading “Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 She stood, herself a shadow, for the moment regardless of the shadow at her feet, looking out into the dim world after the other shadow which went along swift and silent into the darkness.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading He had disappeared before she turned her eyes to the other, who, by this time, had raised herself to her knees, and remained there looking up, her face a paleness in the dim air, nothing more.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

carriedverbUS /ˈkærid/

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

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 Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

darknessnounUS /ˈdɑːrknəs/

absence of light or illumination

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

disappearedverbUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrd/

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

EdwardnounUS /ˈedwərd/

King of England and Ireland in 1936; his marriage to Wallis Warfield Simpson created a constitutional crisis leading to his abdication (1894-1972)

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

facenounUS /feɪs/

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

feetnounUS /fiːt/

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

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

hearverbUS /hiːr/

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

herselfpronounUS /hərˈself/

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

kneesnounUS /niːz/

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

lampsnounUS /læmps/

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "Edward!" she cried; but he did not hear.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

palenessnoun

unnatural lack of color in the skin (as from bruising or sickness or emotional distress)

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

raisedadjectiveUS /reɪzd/

located or moved above the surround or above the normal position

regardlessadverbUS /rəˈɡɑːrdləs/

in spite of everything; without regard to drawbacks

remainedverbUS /rɪˈmeɪnd/

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

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

showverbUS /ʃoʊ/

give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/

marked by absence of sound

stairsnounUS /sterz/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

swiftadjectiveUS /swɪft/

moving very fast

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

thresholdnounUS /ˈθreʃoʊld/

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/

void of intelligence or thought

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

Vernon

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

From this reading Catherine Vernon looked at her in silence.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

windowsnounUS /ˈwɪndoʊz/

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading Catherine stood upon the threshold of her own gate: her house still and vacant behind, the lamps just carried into the vacant place up stairs, the windows beginning to show lights.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

Chapter 10 of Hester — Volume 3 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 301 sentences, grouped into 61 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 10 of Hester — Volume 3 contain?

Chapter 10 holds 301 sentences of Hester — Volume 3, unabridged, divided into 61 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 10 of Hester — Volume 3 by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 301 sentences, grouped into 61 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.

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Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 10 can be played aloud in United States English.

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Vocabulary met early in Hester — Volume 3

Words and structures a reader meets early in Hester — Volume 3, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Springy: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Hester — Volume 3; 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 3; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Chapter X · The Hour of Need

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