John Burnet of Barns: A Romance

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By John Buchan • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for John Burnet of Barns: A Romance

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I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

My niece is driven out of house and home by an overbold lover, and you, Master Burnet, come here and bid me take over the keeping of this firebrand, which, it seems, is so obnoxious to His Majesty’s lieges."

So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXIV Reading 1/22

John Burnet of Barns: A Romance John Buchan

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this. My niece is driven out of house and home by an overbold lover, and you, Master Burnet, come here and bid me take over the keeping of this firebrand, which, it seems, is so obnoxious to His Majesty’s lieges." So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling. He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing. He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

John Burnet of Barns: A Romance

Chapter XXIV

Chapter 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1

I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

Line 2

Line 3

So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

Line 4

He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

Line 5

He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

/hiː wɑːz θɪn ənd tɔːl ənd ˈprɪmli drest ɪn ðə ˈfæʃən ʌv æn ˈeldər deɪ/

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.

eighty adjective US /ˈeɪti/

being ten more than seventy

From this reading “He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.”

erect verb US /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

From this reading “He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.”

firebrand noun US /ˈfaɪərbrænd/

a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning

From this reading “My niece is driven out of house and home by an overbold lover, and you, Master Burnet, come here and bid me take over the keeping of this firebrand, which, it seems, is so obnoxious to His Majesty’s lieges."”

Gad noun US /ɡæd/

an anxiety disorder characterized by chronic free-floating anxiety and such symptoms as tension or sweating or trembling or lightheadedness or irritability etc that has lasted for more than six months

From this reading “I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.”

laird noun US /lerd/

a landowner

From this reading “So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.”

Majesty's noun US /ˈmædʒəstiz/

possessive form of “majesty” — impressiveness in scale or proportion

obnoxious adjective US /ɑːbˈnɑːkʃəs/

causing disapproval or protest

primly adverb US /ˈprɪmli/

in a prissy manner

From this reading “He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.”

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.

eighty years adjective + noun

In this reading “He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.”

many things adjective + noun

In this reading “I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.”

come here verb + particle

In this reading “My niece is driven out of house and home by an overbold lover, and you, Master Burnet, come here and bid me take over the keeping of this firebrand, which, it seems, is so obnoxious to His Majesty’s lieges."”

All words in this reading · 78

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 PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

agenounUS /eɪdʒ/

how long something has existed

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading My niece is driven out of house and home by an overbold lover, and you, Master Burnet, come here and bid me take over the keeping of this firebrand, which, it seems, is so obnoxious to His Majesty’s lieges."

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

bearingnounUS /ˈberɪŋ/

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

bidverbUS /bɪd/

propose a payment

Burnet

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

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

dressedadjectiveUS /drest/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

eightyadjectiveUS /ˈeɪti/

being ten more than seventy

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

eldernounUS /ˈeldər/

a person who is older than you are

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

erectverbUS /ɪˈrekt/

construct, build, or erect

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

firebrandnounUS /ˈfaɪərbrænd/

a piece of wood that has been burned or is burning

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

GadnounUS /ɡæd/

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

I've

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

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

keepingnounUS /ˈkiːpɪŋ/

conformity or harmony

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

lairdnounUS /lerd/

a landowner

From this reading So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

lieges

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

lovernounUS /ˈlʌvər/

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

Majesty'snounUS /ˈmædʒəstiz/

possessive form of “majesty” — impressiveness in scale or proportion

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

MARJORY

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

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/

an artist of consummate skill

mepronounUS /miː/

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

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

niecenounUS /niːs/

a daughter of your brother or sister

obnoxiousadjectiveUS /ɑːbˈnɑːkʃəs/

causing disapproval or protest

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

overboldadjective

improperly forward or bold

PARTnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

primlyadverbUS /ˈprɪmli/

in a prissy manner

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

seemsverbUS /siːmz/

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

Smitwood

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

From this reading So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

soldierlyadjective

(of persons) befitting a warrior

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

spake

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

From this reading So spake the old laird of Smitwood, smiling.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

strangernounUS /ˈstreɪndʒər/

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading He was thin and tall, and primly dressed in the fashion of an elder day.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/

familiar with many parts of the world

From this reading I PART FROM MARJORY "I’ve travelled far and seen many things, but, Gad, I never saw a stranger than this.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading He was a man of full eighty years of age, but still erect with a kind of soldierly bearing.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance by John Buchan holds 111 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 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance contain?

Chapter 24 holds 111 sentences of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance by John Buchan exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 111 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 24 of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance?

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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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.

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Common questions about reading John Burnet of Barns: A Romance by John Buchan on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance?

Yes. All 5632 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40014 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #40014, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 469 minutes of reading across 1127 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in John Burnet of Barns: A Romance

Words and structures a reader meets early in John Burnet of Barns: A Romance, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Toronto: A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Clark: A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Company: A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Limited: A word that appears in the opening chapter of John Burnet of Barns: A Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXIV

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