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Mary Barton
Mary Barton

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Mary Barton is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mary Barton
Context Illustration Reading 1/27 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
WITH THE DYING.
"O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!
O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"
ANONYMOUS.
Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.
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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.

Mary Barton

Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

Chapter 24 of Mary Barton is here in full — 136 sentences across 28 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/27 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
WITH THE DYING.
/wɪð ðə ˈdaɪɪŋ/
Line 2
"O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!
/oʊ sæd ənd ˈsɑːləm ɪz ðə ˈtrembəlɪŋ wɑːtʃ ʌv ðoʊz huː sɪt ənd kaʊnt ðə ˈhevi ˈaʊərz bɪˈsaɪd ðə ˈfiːvərd sliːp ʌv wʌn ðeɪ lʌv/
Line 3
O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"
Line 4
ANONYMOUS.
/əˈnɑːnəməs/
Line 5
Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

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.

anonymous adjective US /əˈnɑːnəməs/

having no known name or identity or known source

From this reading “ANONYMOUS.”

fevered adjective US /ˈfiːvərd/

highly or nervously excited

From this reading “"O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!”

haunted adjective US /ˈhɔːntɪd/

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading “Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.”

hushed adjective US /hʌʃt/

in a softened tone

From this reading “O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"”

loneliness noun US /ˈloʊnlinəs/

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading “Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.”

mid adjective US /mɪd/

used in combination to denote the middle

From this reading “O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"”

pallid adjective US /ˈpæləd/

abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress

From this reading “O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"”

weighed verb US /weɪd/

past form of “weigh” — have a certain weight

From this reading “Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

ANONYMOUSadjectiveUS /əˈnɑːnəməs/

having no known name or identity or known source

From this reading ANONYMOUS.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

BesideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

countverbUS /kaʊnt/

determine the number or amount of

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

DYINGadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading WITH THE DYING.

feveredadjectiveUS /ˈfiːvərd/

highly or nervously excited

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

foreshadowings

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

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

formnounUS /fɔːrm/

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

gazingverbUS /ˈɡeɪzɪŋ/

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

hushedadjectiveUS /hʌʃt/

in a softened tone

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/

the state of being alone in solitary isolation

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

memoriesnounUS /ˈmɛm.ə.riz/

Recollections of past events.

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

midadjectiveUS /mɪd/

used in combination to denote the middle

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

moveless

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

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

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

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

OnounUS /oʊ/

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

OfprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

painfuladjectiveUS /ˈpeɪnfəl/

causing physical or psychological pain

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

pallidadjectiveUS /ˈpæləd/

abnormally deficient in color as suggesting physical or emotional distress

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

patientnounUS /ˈpeɪʃənt/

a person who requires medical care

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

sadadjectiveUS /sæd/

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

sitverbUS /sɪt/

be seated

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

sleepnounUS /sliːp/

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

solemnadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləm/

dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

startverbUS /stɑːrt/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading WITH THE DYING.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

tremblingnounUS /ˈtrembəlɪŋ/

a shaky motion

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

weighedverbUS /weɪd/

past form of “weigh” — have a certain weight

From this reading Mary could not be patient in her loneliness; so much painful thought weighed on her mind; the very house was haunted with memories and foreshadowings.

WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading O awful is it in the hushed mid night, While gazing on the pallid, moveless form, To start and ask, 'Is it now sleep--or death?'"

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "O sad and solemn is the trembling watch Of those who sit and count the heavy hours, Beside the fevered sleep of one they love!

WITHprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading WITH THE DYING.

Chapter 24 of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell holds 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 24 of Mary Barton contain?

Chapter 24 holds 136 sentences of Mary Barton, unabridged, divided into 28 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 24 of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 136 sentences, grouped into 28 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 24 of Mary Barton?

Work through the 28 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 28 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 24 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 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 Mary Barton

Common questions about reading Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Mary Barton?

Yes. All 7946 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2153 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Mary Barton is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2153, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Mary Barton take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1590 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Mary Barton section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Mary Barton 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 Mary Barton

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

Mysterious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Barton; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Disappearance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Barton; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Working
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Barton; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whole
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Mary Barton; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.