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Madeline
Madeline

Chapter XII · Lucy’s Letter

Chapter XII of Madeline, “Lucy’s Letter,” is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Madeline
Context Illustration Reading 1/22 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.
She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.
She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.
Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.
The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.
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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.

Madeline

Chapter XII · Lucy’s Letter

Chapter XII of Madeline, “Lucy’s Letter,” is here in full — 111 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.
Line 2
She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.
/ʃiː hæd bɪn hoʊm ðæt deɪ ənd ɑːn hɜːr rɪˈtɜːrn hæd ˈrɪdən baɪ ðə ˈɔːfɪs æz ɡaɪ hæd rɪˈkwestɪd hɜːr tuː duː/
Line 3
She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.
Line 4
Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.
Line 5
The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

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.

affect verb US /əˈfekt/

have an effect upon

From this reading “She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.”

basket noun US /ˈbæskət/

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading “Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.”

Guy noun US /ɡaɪ/

an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading “She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.”

handwriting noun US /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/

something written by hand

From this reading “She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.”

placing verb US /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/

-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading “Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.”

requested adjective US /rɪˈkwestɪd/

asked for

From this reading “She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.”

ridden verb US /ˈrɪdən/

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading “She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.”

trifle noun US /ˈtraɪfəl/

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading “Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.”

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.

too heavy adverb + adjective

In this reading “Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.”

ridden by verb + particle counted as “ride by”

In this reading “She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

affectverbUS /əˈfekt/

have an effect upon

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

Aikenside

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

basketnounUS /ˈbæskət/

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

boreverbUS /bɔːr/

cause to be bored

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

carenounUS /ker/

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

carefullyadverbUS /ˈkerfəli/

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

faradverbUS /fɑːr/

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

foreignadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrən/

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

GuynounUS /ɡaɪ/

an informal term for a youth or man

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

handwritingnounUS /ˈhændraɪtɪŋ/

something written by hand

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

how

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

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

keptadjectiveUS /kept/

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

ladynounUS /ˈleɪdi/

a polite name for any woman

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

LucynounUS /ˈluːsi/

incomplete skeleton of female found in eastern Ethiopia in 1974

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

Maddy

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

Maddy's

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

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/

place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

placingverbUS /ˈpleɪsɪŋ/

-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

post-mark

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

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

requestedadjectiveUS /rɪˈkwestɪd/

asked for

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

riddenverbUS /ˈrɪdən/

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading She saw the letter bore a foreign post-mark, and that it was in the delicate handwriting of some lady, but the sight did not affect her in the least.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She had been home that day, and on her return had ridden by the office as Guy had requested her to do.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

triflenounUS /ˈtraɪfəl/

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading Maddy’s heart was far too heavy that day to care for a trifle, and placing the letter carefully in her basket she kept on to Aikenside.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading The letter was just like Lucy, and Guy, while reading it, felt how good she was.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading At last the answer came, and it was Maddy who brought it to Aikenside.

Chapter 12 of Madeline by Mary Jane Holmes holds 111 sentences, grouped into 23 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 12 of Madeline contain?

Chapter 12 holds 111 sentences of Madeline, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of Madeline by Mary Jane Holmes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 111 sentences, grouped into 23 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 12 of Madeline?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 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.

Questions about reading Madeline

Common questions about reading Madeline by Mary Jane Holmes on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Madeline?

Yes. All 3239 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #74902 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Madeline is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #74902, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Madeline take to read?

About 269 minutes of reading across 648 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Madeline section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Madeline 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 Madeline

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

Twenty-five
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madeline; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madeline; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
People
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madeline; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Devonshire
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Madeline; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.