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Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Madame Bovary is here in full — 181 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Madame Bovary
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.
Did he suspect anything?
She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.
At last, however, he went on-- We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”
This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.
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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.

Madame Bovary

Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

Chapter 26 of Madame Bovary is here in full — 181 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.
/hiː hæd drɔːn hɪz hæt ˈoʊvər hɪz aɪz ənd wɪð hɪz hændz bɪˈhaɪnd hɪz bæk ˈsmaɪlɪŋ ənd ˈwɪslɪŋ hiː lʊkt streɪt æt hɜːr ɪn æn ənˈberəbəl ˈmænər/
Line 2
Did he suspect anything?
/dɪd hiː səˈspekt ˈeniθɪŋ/
Line 3
She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.
/ʃiː wɑːz lɔːst ɪn ɔːl kaɪndz ʌv ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/
Line 4
At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”
Line 5
This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

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.

apprehensions noun US /ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/

plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading “She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.”

arrangement noun US /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading “At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.””

kinds noun US /kaɪndz/

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading “She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.”

propose verb US /prəˈpoʊz/

make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading “At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.””

renew verb US /rɪˈnuː/

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading “This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.”

signed adjective US /saɪnd/

having a handwritten signature

From this reading “This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.”

unbearable adjective US /ənˈberəbəl/

incapable of being tolerated or endured

From this reading “He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.”

whistling noun US /ˈwɪslɪŋ/

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading “He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.”

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading Did he suspect anything?

apprehensionsnounUS /ˌæprɪˈhenʃənz/

plural of “apprehension” — fearful expectation or anticipation

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

arrangementnounUS /ərˈeɪndʒmənt/

the thing arranged or agreed to

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

billnounUS /bɪl/

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

Bovary

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

From this reading This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Did he suspect anything?

drawnadjectiveUS /drɔːn/

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

howeveradverbUS /ˌhaʊˈevər/

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

I've

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

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

kindsnounUS /kaɪndz/

plural of “kind” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

proposeverbUS /prəˈpoʊz/

make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

renewverbUS /rɪˈnuː/

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

signedadjectiveUS /saɪnd/

having a handwritten signature

From this reading This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/

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

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

straightadjectiveUS /streɪt/

successive (without a break)

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

suspectverbUS /səˈspekt/

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading Did he suspect anything?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading This was to renew the bill Bovary had signed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

unbearableadjectiveUS /ənˈberəbəl/

incapable of being tolerated or endured

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She was lost in all kinds of apprehensions.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading At last, however, he went on-- “We made it up, all the same, and I’ve come again to propose another arrangement.”

whistlingnounUS /ˈwɪslɪŋ/

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had drawn his hat over his eyes, and, with his hands behind his back, smiling and whistling, he looked straight at her in an unbearable manner.

Chapter 26 of Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert holds 181 sentences, grouped into 37 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 26 of Madame Bovary contain?

Chapter 26 holds 181 sentences of Madame Bovary, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 26 of Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 181 sentences, grouped into 37 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 26 of Madame Bovary?

Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 37 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 26 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 26 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 Madame Bovary

Common questions about reading Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Madame Bovary?

Yes. All 6429 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2413 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Madame Bovary is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2413, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Madame Bovary take to read?

About 535 minutes of reading across 1286 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Madame Bovary section by section

How to work through Madame Bovary section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of Madame Bovary 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 Madame Bovary

Words and structures a reader meets early in Madame Bovary, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Translated
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madame Bovary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
French
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madame Bovary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eleanor
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madame Bovary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Marx-aveling
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madame Bovary; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.