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Melbourne House
Melbourne House

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Melbourne House is here in full — 214 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE PONY-CHAISE.
For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.
Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.
Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.
But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Melbourne House

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Melbourne House is here in full — 214 sentences across 43 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PONY-CHAISE.
Line 2
For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.
Line 3
Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.
Line 4
Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.
Line 5
But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.
/bʌt hɜːr ˈmʌðər θɔːt ˈdeɪzi wɑːz ˈdruːpɪŋ ənd ˈdeɪzi hæd bɪn ə ˈdeləkət tʃaɪld ənd ðə ˈdɑːktər hæd toʊld ðem tuː tɜːrn hɜːr aʊt ɪn ðə ˈkʌntri ənd let hɜːr rʌn ˈðerfɔːr ɪt wɑːz ðæt ʃiː wɑːz ˈhɑːrdli ˈevər tʃekt ɪn ˈeni ˈfænsi ðæt keɪm ˈɪntuː hɜːr hed/

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.

Belvedere noun US /ˌbelvəˈdɪr/

densely branched Eurasian plant; foliage turns purple-red in autumn

From this reading “Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.”

checked adjective US /tʃekt/

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading “But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.”

Daisy noun US /ˈdeɪzi/

any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl

From this reading “Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.”

drooping adjective US /ˈdruːpɪŋ/

weak from exhaustion

From this reading “But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.”

guessing noun US /ˈɡesɪŋ/

an estimate based on little or no information

From this reading “Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.”

moped noun US /moʊpt/

a motorbike that can be pedaled or driven by a low-powered gasoline engine

From this reading “For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.”

moping verb US /ˈmoʊpɪŋ/

-ing form of “mope” — move around slowly and aimlessly

From this reading “Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.”

studies noun US /ˈstʌdiz/

plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection

From this reading “Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.”

All words in this reading · 87

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 Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

banknounUS /bæŋk/

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

BelvederenounUS /ˌbelvəˈdɪr/

densely branched Eurasian plant; foliage turns purple-red in autumn

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

BiblenounUS /ˈbaɪbəl/

the sacred writings of the Christian religions

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

booknounUS /bʊk/

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

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

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

checkedadjectiveUS /tʃekt/

patterned with alternating squares of color

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

DaisynounUS /ˈdeɪzi/

any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/

exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

doctornounUS /ˈdɑːktər/

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/

weak from exhaustion

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

fanciedadjectiveUS /ˈfænsid/

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/

usually; as a rule

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/

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

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

guessingnounUS /ˈɡesɪŋ/

an estimate based on little or no information

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/

only a very short time before

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

heardadjectiveUS /hɜːrd/

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

lessadverbUS /les/

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

livelyadjectiveUS /ˈlaɪvli/

full of life and energy

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

mopednounUS /moʊpt/

a motorbike that can be pedaled or driven by a low-powered gasoline engine

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

mopingverbUS /ˈmoʊpɪŋ/

-ing form of “mope” — move around slowly and aimlessly

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

painsnounUS /peɪnz/

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

PONY-CHAISE

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

From this reading THE PONY-CHAISE.

Randolph

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

rose-bush

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

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

seenverbUS /siːn/

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

sittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

somehowadverbUS /ˈsʌmhaʊ/

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

studiesnounUS /ˈstʌdiz/

plural of “study” — a detailed critical inspection

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PONY-CHAISE.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

trueadjectiveUS /truː/

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading But her mother thought Daisy was drooping; and Daisy had been a delicate child, and the doctor had told them to turn her out in the country and "let her run;" therefore it was that she was hardly ever checked in any fancy that came into her head.

underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading For some days after this time, Mrs. Randolph fancied that her little daughter was less lively than usual; she "moped," her mother said.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Daisy was not moping, but it was true she had been little seen or heard; and then it was generally sitting with a book in the Belvedere or on a bank under a rose-bush, or going out or coming in with a book under her arm.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Mrs. Randolph did not know that this book was almost always the Bible, and Daisy had taken a little pains that she should not know, guessing somehow that it would not be good for her studies.

Chapter 1 of Melbourne House by Susan Warner holds 214 sentences, grouped into 43 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 1 of Melbourne House contain?

Chapter 1 holds 214 sentences of Melbourne House, unabridged, divided into 43 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Melbourne House by Susan Warner exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 214 sentences, grouped into 43 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 1 of Melbourne House?

Work through the 43 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 43 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Melbourne House

Common questions about reading Melbourne House by Susan Warner on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Melbourne House?

Yes. All 13397 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18686 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Melbourne House is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18686, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Melbourne House take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 2680 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Melbourne House section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 38 chapters of Melbourne House 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 Melbourne House

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

Pony-chaise
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Melbourne House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Randolph
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Melbourne House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Fancied
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Melbourne House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Melbourne House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.