Lancaster's Choice

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Lancaster's Choice is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Alex. McVeigh, Mrs. Miller • Curated US English Learning Edition

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That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

"Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

"Eh?" said the lieutenant.

"I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

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Chapter XII Reading 1/17

Lancaster's Choice

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of Lancaster's Choice is here in full — 89 sentences across 18 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/17 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

Line 2

"Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

Line 3

"Eh?" said the lieutenant.

Line 4

"I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

Line 5

You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

/juː wɜːr ˈseɪɪŋ noʊ end ʌv sɑːft θɪŋz tuː hɜːr ðɪs ˈiːvnɪŋ/

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.

cigars noun US /sɪˈɡɑːrz/

plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

deck noun US /dek/

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

flirt verb US /flɜːrt/

talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

From this reading “"I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.”

Lancaster noun US /ˈlænkæstər/

a city in northwestern England

From this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

lieutenant noun US /luːˈtenənt/

a commissioned military officer

From this reading “"Eh?" said the lieutenant.”

moonlight noun US /ˈmuːnlaɪt/

the light of the Moon

From this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

pace noun US /peɪs/

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading “"Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"”

smoking noun US /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

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.

on deck preposition + noun

In this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

two men noun + noun

In this reading “That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:”

flirt with verb + particle

take into consideration, have in view

In this reading “"I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

cigarsnounUS /sɪˈɡɑːrz/

plural of “cigar” — a roll of tobacco for smoking

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

DenounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

decknounUS /dek/

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

diffidentlyadverb

in a diffident manner

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

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

From this reading "Eh?" said the lieutenant.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

flirtverbUS /flɜːrt/

talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

LancasternounUS /ˈlænkæstər/

a city in northwestern England

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

Leonora

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

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

lieutenantnounUS /luːˈtenənt/

a commissioned military officer

From this reading "Eh?" said the lieutenant.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

mennounUS /men/

the force of workers available

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/

the light of the Moon

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

oughtn't

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

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

pacenounUS /peɪs/

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

smokingnounUS /ˈsmoʊkɪŋ/

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

softadjectiveUS /sɑːft/

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

state-room

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

ThatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading You were saying no end of soft things to her this evening.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

Vere

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

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

weren't

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

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

WestnounUS /west/

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading That night when the girl had gone to her state-room, and the two men were alone on deck smoking their cigars in the soft spring moonlight, Lancaster said, rather diffidently:

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "I say you oughtn't to try to flirt with little Leonora West.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Oh, I say, De Vere, weren't you going the pace rather strong this evening?"

Chapter 12 of Lancaster's Choice by Alex. McVeigh, Mrs. Miller holds 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 12 of Lancaster's Choice contain?

Chapter 12 holds 89 sentences of Lancaster's Choice, unabridged, divided into 18 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Lancaster's Choice by Alex. McVeigh, Mrs. Miller exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 89 sentences, grouped into 18 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 12 of Lancaster's Choice?

Work through the 18 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 18 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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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Yes. All 3413 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #47685 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #47685, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 284 minutes of reading across 683 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Lancaster's Choice

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lancaster's Choice, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Lancaster's: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lancaster's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Choice: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lancaster's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Mcveigh: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lancaster's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Miller: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lancaster's Choice; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XII

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