Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Lucretia — Complete
Lucretia — Complete

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Lucretia — Complete is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Lucretia — Complete
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”
Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!
0:00 / 0:00
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.

Lucretia — Complete

Chapter XV · Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of Lucretia — Complete is here in full — 91 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?
Line 2
Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”
Line 3
Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?
Line 4
Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!
/oʊ let miː biː ʃʊr ðæt aɪ hæv stɪl ə sʌn/
Line 5
Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

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.

abyss noun US /əˈbɪs/

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading ““Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?”

boor noun US /bʊr/

a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement

From this reading “Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!”

elapsed adjective US /ɪˈlæpst/

(of time) having passed or slipped by

From this reading “Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.””

energies noun US /ˈenərdʒiz/

plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading “Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!”

menaces noun US /ˈmenəsɪz/

plural of “menace” — something that is a source of danger

From this reading ““And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?”

merest adjective US /ˈmerəst/

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading “Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!”

pursuing adjective US /pərˈsuːɪŋ/

following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit

From this reading ““And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?”

shrunk verb US /ʃrʌŋk/

inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading “Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.””

All words in this reading · 105

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 “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

abyssnounUS /əˈbɪs/

a bottomless gulf or pit; any unfathomable (or apparently unfathomable) cavity or chasm or void extending below (often used figuratively)

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

admittedverbUS /ədˈmɪtɪd/

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

advancingadjectiveUS /ədˈvænsɪŋ/

moving forward

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

Ardworth

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

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!

boornounUS /bʊr/

a crude uncouth ill-bred person lacking culture or refinement

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

brainnounUS /breɪn/

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

builtadjectiveUS /bɪlt/

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

clewnoun

a ball of yarn or cord or thread

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

crimenounUS /kraɪm/

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

darknounUS /dɑːrk/

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

deniedverbUS /dɪˈnaɪd/

inflected form of “deny” — declare untrue; contradict

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

elapsedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlæpst/

(of time) having passed or slipped by

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

energiesnounUS /ˈenərdʒiz/

plural of “energy” — (physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

failverbUS /feɪl/

fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

fanciedadjectiveUS /ˈfænsid/

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

giftsnounUS /ɡɪfts/

plural of “gift” — something acquired without compensation

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

hearthnounUS /hɑːrθ/

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

ignorantadjectiveUS /ˈɪɡnərənt/

uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

independencenounUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/

freedom from control or influence of another or others

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

inquiriesnounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪəriz/

plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

lawyernounUS /ˈlɔːjər/

a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!

Mainwaring

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

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

menacesnounUS /ˈmenəsɪz/

plural of “menace” — something that is a source of danger

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

merestadjectiveUS /ˈmerəst/

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

MonthsnounUS /mʌnθs/

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

nethermostadjective

farthest down

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

OhnounUS /oʊ/

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

From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

pourverbUS /pɔːr/

cause to run

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

provideverbUS /prəˈvaɪd/

give something useful or necessary to

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

pursuingadjectiveUS /pərˈsuːɪŋ/

following in order to overtake or capture or as accompaniment to such pursuit

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

ragsnounUS /ræɡz/

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

rareadjectiveUS /rer/

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

recallverbUS /ˈriːkɔːl/

recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

revengenounUS /riˈvendʒ/

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

schemenounUS /skiːm/

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

secureverbUS /sɪˈkjʊr/

get by special effort

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

seekingnounUS /ˈsiːkɪŋ/

the act of searching for something

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

shrunkverbUS /ʃrʌŋk/

inflected form of “shrink” — wither, as with a loss of moisture

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading Oh, let me be sure that I have still a son!

Susan

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

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

Varney

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

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

wealthnounUS /welθ/

the state of being rich and affluent; having a plentiful supply of material goods and money

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading “Why recall me, in these rare moments when I feel myself human still,--why recall me back to the nethermost abyss of revenge and crime?

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

wisdomnounUS /ˈwɪzdəm/

accumulated knowledge or erudition or enlightenment

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Even if John Ardworth, with his gifts and energies, be denied to me, a son, though in rags, I will give him wealth!--a son, though ignorant as the merest boor, I will pour into his brain my dark wisdom!

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Months have elapsed, and you have still shrunk from advancing the great scheme upon which we built, when the daughter of Susan Mainwaring was admitted to your hearth.”

yourselfpronounUS /jərˈself/

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading “And what,” said Varney,--“what, while we are pursuing a fancied clew, and seeking to provide first a name, and then a fortune for this young lawyer,--what steps have you really taken to meet the danger that menaces me,--to secure, if our inquiries fail, an independence for yourself?

Chapter 15 of Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton holds 91 sentences, grouped into 19 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 15 of Lucretia — Complete contain?

Chapter 15 holds 91 sentences of Lucretia — Complete, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 15 of Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 91 sentences, grouped into 19 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 15 of Lucretia — Complete?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 15 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 15 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 Lucretia — Complete

Common questions about reading Lucretia — Complete by Edward Bulwer Lytton, Baron Lytton on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Lucretia — Complete?

Yes. All 7076 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #7691 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Lucretia — Complete is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #7691, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Lucretia — Complete take to read?

About 589 minutes of reading across 1416 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Lucretia — Complete section by section

How to work through Lucretia — Complete section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Lucretia — Complete to begin.

  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 Lucretia — Complete

Words and structures a reader meets early in Lucretia — Complete, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Evening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Commencement
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Present
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Century
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Lucretia — Complete; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.