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Mary Barton
Mary Barton

Chapter XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Mary Barton is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Mary Barton
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
CONCLUSION.
"Touch us gently, gentle Time!
We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"
BARRY CORNWALL.
Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.
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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 XXXVIII · Chapter 38

Chapter 38 of Mary Barton is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
CONCLUSION.
/kənˈkluːʒən/
Line 2
"Touch us gently, gentle Time!
/tʌtʃ ʌs ˈdʒentli ˈdʒentəl taɪm/
Line 3
We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"
Line 4
BARRY CORNWALL.
Line 5
Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

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.

appointment noun US /əˈpɔɪntmənt/

the act of putting a person into a non-elective position

From this reading “Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.”

cornwall noun US /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/

a hilly county in southwestern England

From this reading “BARRY CORNWALL.”

Jem's noun US /dʒemz/

possessive form of “jem” — a terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to secure release of imprisoned fellow militants by kidnappings

From this reading “Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.”

life's noun US /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"”

respecting verb US /riˈspektɪŋ/

-ing form of “respect” — regard highly; think much of

From this reading “Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.”

soaring adjective US /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/

ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual

From this reading “We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"”

Toronto noun US /tərˈɑːntoʊ/

the provincial capital and largest city in Ontario (and the largest city in Canada)

From this reading “Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.”

voyagers noun US /ˈvɔɪɪdʒərz/

plural of “voyager” — a traveler to a distant land (especially one who travels by sea)

From this reading “We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

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 Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

ambitionnounUS /æmˈbɪʃən/

a cherished desire

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

appointmentnounUS /əˈpɔɪntmənt/

the act of putting a person into a non-elective position

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

arrangedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪndʒd/

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

BARRY

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

From this reading BARRY CORNWALL.

Barton's

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

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

CONCLUSIONnounUS /kənˈkluːʒən/

a position or opinion or judgment reached after consideration

From this reading CONCLUSION.

contentnounUS /ˈkɑːntent/

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

CORNWALLnounUS /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl/

a hilly county in southwestern England

From this reading BARRY CORNWALL.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

fixedadjectiveUS /fɪkst/

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

funeralnounUS /ˈfjuːnərəl/

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

gentleadjectiveUS /ˈdʒentəl/

soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe

From this reading "Touch us gently, gentle Time!

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading "Touch us gently, gentle Time!

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

HumbleadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbəl/

low or inferior in station or quality

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

Jem'snounUS /dʒemz/

possessive form of “jem” — a terrorist organization founded in 2000; a militant Islamic group active in Kashmir and closely aligned with al-Rashid Trust; seeks to secure release of imprisoned fellow militants by kidnappings

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

LiesnounUS /laɪz/

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

life'snounUS /laɪfs/

possessive form of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

O'er

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

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

proudadjectiveUS /praʊd/

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

respectingverbUS /riˈspektɪŋ/

-ing form of “respect” — regard highly; think much of

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

sailingnounUS /ˈseɪlɪŋ/

the work of a sailor

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

seanounUS /siː/

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

simpleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪmpəl/

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

soaringadjectiveUS /ˈsɔːrɪŋ/

ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

thingsnounUS /θɪŋz/

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

TimenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "Touch us gently, gentle Time!

TorontonounUS /tərˈɑːntoʊ/

the provincial capital and largest city in Ontario (and the largest city in Canada)

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

TouchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading "Touch us gently, gentle Time!

unsounded

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

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Touch us gently, gentle Time!

voyagersnounUS /ˈvɔɪɪdʒərz/

plural of “voyager” — a traveler to a distant land (especially one who travels by sea)

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Not many days after John Barton's funeral was over, all was arranged respecting Jem's appointment at Toronto; and the time was fixed for his sailing.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

We've

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

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading We've not proud nor soaring wings, Our ambition, our content, Lies in simple things; Humble voyagers are we O'er life's dim unsounded sea; Touch us gently, gentle Time!"

Chapter 38 of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell holds 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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 38 of Mary Barton contain?

Chapter 38 holds 118 sentences of Mary Barton, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of Mary Barton by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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 38 of Mary Barton?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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.