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Never-Fail Blake
Never-Fail Blake

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Never-Fail Blake is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Never-Fail Blake
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."
"I was n't sent out on a blind trail."
"But you found nothing when you went out.
Surely you remember that."
It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Never-Fail Blake

Chapter VII · Chapter 7

Chapter 7 of Never-Fail Blake is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."
Line 2
"I was n't sent out on a blind trail."
Line 3
"But you found nothing when you went out.
/bʌt juː faʊnd ˈnʌθɪŋ wen juː went aʊt/
Line 4
Surely you remember that."
/ˈʃʊrli juː rɪˈmɛm.bər ðæt/
Line 5
It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.
/ɪt siːmd laɪk ˈɡoʊɪŋ bæk tuː əˈnʌðər wɜːrld tuː əˈnʌðər laɪf æz hiː sæt ðer koʊˈɜːrsɪŋ hɪz ˈmem.ər.i tuː miːt ðə pæst ðə əˈbɪzməl ənd emˈbɪtərd pæst wɪtʃ hiː hæd ɡroʊn tuː heɪt/

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.

abysmal adjective US /əˈbɪzməl/

very great; limitless

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

blind noun US /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading “"As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."”

coercing verb US /koʊˈɜːrsɪŋ/

-ing form of “coerce” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

embittered verb US /emˈbɪtərd/

past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

grown adjective US /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

hate noun US /heɪt/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

memory noun US /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.”

trail noun US /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading “"As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."”

All words in this reading · 48

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 "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

abysmaladjectiveUS /əˈbɪzməl/

very great; limitless

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

blindnounUS /blaɪnd/

people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But you found nothing when you went out.

coercingverbUS /koʊˈɜːrsɪŋ/

-ing form of “coerce” — to cause to do through pressure or necessity, by physical, moral or intellectual means

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

Copeland

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

embitteredverbUS /emˈbɪtərd/

past form of “embitter” — cause to be bitter or resentful

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

expectedadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspektəd/

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading "But you found nothing when you went out.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

grownadjectiveUS /ɡroʊn/

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

hatenounUS /heɪt/

the emotion of intense dislike; a feeling of dislike so strong that it demands action

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "I was n't sent out on a blind trail."

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

memorynounUS /ˈmem.ər.i/

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

n't

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

From this reading "I was n't sent out on a blind trail."

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading "But you found nothing when you went out.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

others

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

pastnounUS /pæst/

the time that has elapsed

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading Surely you remember that."

satnounUS /sæt/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

sentnounUS /sent/

100 senti equal 1 kroon in Estonia

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

SurelyadverbUS /ˈʃʊrli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Surely you remember that."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Surely you remember that."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

trailnounUS /treɪl/

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "I was n't sent out on a blind trail."

wentverbUS /went/

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

From this reading "But you found nothing when you went out.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading It seemed like going back to another world to another life, as he sat there coercing his memory to meet the past, the abysmal and embittered past which he had grown to hate.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "As Copeland and the others expected when they sent you out on a blind trail."

Chapter 7 of Never-Fail Blake by Arthur Stringer holds 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 7 of Never-Fail Blake contain?

Chapter 7 holds 433 sentences of Never-Fail Blake, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 7 of Never-Fail Blake by Arthur Stringer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 7 of Never-Fail Blake?

Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 87 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 7 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 7 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 Never-Fail Blake

Common questions about reading Never-Fail Blake by Arthur Stringer on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Never-Fail Blake?

Yes. All 3066 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18671 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Never-Fail Blake is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #18671, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Never-Fail Blake take to read?

About 255 minutes of reading across 614 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Never-Fail Blake section by section

How to work through Never-Fail Blake section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 7 chapters of Never-Fail Blake 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 Never-Fail Blake

Words and structures a reader meets early in Never-Fail Blake, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Printed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never-Fail Blake; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Version
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never-Fail Blake; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chapter
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never-Fail Blake; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Rather
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Never-Fail Blake; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.