Chapter 2 of Indian Summer is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter II
Chapter 2 of Indian Summer is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville. "Yes, I know they are. I don't think any young person can be interesting." "Then what becomes of all the novels? They're full of young persons."
Chapter 2 of Indian Summer is here in full — 396 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/79 · 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.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading “"Then what becomes of all the novels?”
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading “They're full of young persons."”
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading “I don't think any young person can be interesting."”
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading “"Then what becomes of all the novels?”
a human being
From this reading “I don't think any young person can be interesting."”
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading “They're full of young persons."”
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading “"Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.”
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading “"Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.”
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.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Yes, I know they are.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
(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 "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading They're full of young persons."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Yes, I know they are.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Yes, I know they are.
plural of “novel” — an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
by chance
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
a human being
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading They're full of young persons."
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
past form of “suggest” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Yes, I know they are.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They're full of young persons."
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Then what becomes of all the novels?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes, I know they are.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading I don't think any young person can be interesting."
used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action
From this reading "Perhaps if you knew yourself better you wouldn't think so," suggested Colville.
Chapter 2 of Indian Summer by William Dean Howells holds 396 sentences, grouped into 80 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 2 holds 396 sentences of Indian Summer, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 2 of Indian Summer by William Dean Howells exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 396 sentences, grouped into 80 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 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 80 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 2 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 Indian Summer by William Dean Howells on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6078 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7359 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #7359, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 506 minutes of reading across 1216 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Indian Summer section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 15 chapters of Indian Summer 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 Indian Summer, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
