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Letters of Two Brides
Letters of Two Brides

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Letters of Two Brides is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Letters of Two Brides
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.
My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"
I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!
Ah!
Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Letters of Two Brides

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of Letters of Two Brides is here in full — 174 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.
Line 2
My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"
/maɪ ˈbrʌðər wɪl fərˈɡɪv miː hiː noʊz wʌt ɪt ɪz tuː lʌv/
Line 3
I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!
/aɪ oʊ maɪ laɪf tuː ðə ker ʌv maɪ ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː ənd hɪz waɪf ðeɪ wɑːnt tuː ˈkæri miː ɔːf tuː speɪn/
Line 4
Ah!
Line 5
Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

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.

brother-in-law noun US /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/

a brother by marriage

From this reading “I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!”

Darling noun US /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

a special loved one

From this reading “"Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.”

deserted adjective US /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading “"Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.”

forgive verb US /fərˈɡɪv/

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading “My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"”

frankness noun US /ˈfræŋknəs/

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

From this reading “"Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.”

freely adverb US /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading “Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.”

owe verb US /oʊ/

be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading “I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!”

Spain noun US /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading “I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!”

All words in this reading · 59

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 "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

Ah

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

From this reading Ah!

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

Baronynoun

the estate of a baron

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

brothernounUS /ˈbrʌðər/

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

brother-in-lawnounUS /ˈbrʌðərɪnlɔː/

a brother by marriage

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

carryverbUS /ˈkæri/

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

DarlingnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

a special loved one

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

desertedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

Fernand

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

forgiveverbUS /fərˈɡɪv/

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

franknessnounUS /ˈfræŋknəs/

the quality of being honest and straightforward in attitude and speech

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

freelyadverbUS /ˈfriːli/

in a free manner

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

griefnounUS /ɡriːf/

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

knowsnounUS /noʊz/

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

Macumer

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

MydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

oweverbUS /oʊ/

be obliged to pay or repay

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

Renee

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

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

SpainnounUS /speɪn/

a parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula; a former colonial power

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading My brother will forgive me; he knows what it is to love!"

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

wifenounUS /waɪf/

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading I owe my life to the care of my brother-in-law and his wife; they want to carry me off to Spain!

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading "Darling," he said to me with the simple frankness which never deserted him, "I had almost gone from life without leaving to Fernand the Barony of Macumer; I must make a new will.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Renee, to no one but you can I speak freely of my grief.

Chapter 21 of Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac holds 174 sentences, grouped into 35 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 21 of Letters of Two Brides contain?

Chapter 21 holds 174 sentences of Letters of Two Brides, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 174 sentences, grouped into 35 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 21 of Letters of Two Brides?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Letters of Two Brides

Common questions about reading Letters of Two Brides by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Letters of Two Brides?

Yes. All 4507 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1941 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Letters of Two Brides is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1941, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Letters of Two Brides take to read?

About 375 minutes of reading across 902 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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How to work through Letters of Two Brides section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Letters of Two Brides

Words and structures a reader meets early in Letters of Two Brides, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

George
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
While
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Casting
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Reflected
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Letters of Two Brides; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.