Chapter 1 of Peggy Finds the Theatre is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter I
Chapter 1 of Peggy Finds the Theatre is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle. It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.” “But, Dad!” Peggy almost wailed.
Chapter 1 of Peggy Finds the Theatre is here in full — 442 sentences across 89 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/88 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
a female actor
From this reading ““We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.”
a baby bed with sides and rockers
From this reading ““We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.”
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading ““But, Dad!””
plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading “It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.””
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading ““Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.”
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading ““Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.”
in a tense manner
From this reading ““Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.”
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading “Peggy almost wailed.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
In this reading ““Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.”
as might be expected
In this reading ““Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
a female actor
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Peggy almost wailed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “But, Dad!”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
a baby bed with sides and rockers
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “But, Dad!”
a female human offspring
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
the boundary of a surface
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
only a very short time before
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
and nothing more
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
a room equipped for preparing meals
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
a narrow way or road
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
not any; not one
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
with speed
From this reading It’s just that decisions like this can’t be made quickly.”
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
from a time in the past until now
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
a simple seat without a back or arms
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
in a tense manner
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
past form of “wail” — emit long loud cries
From this reading Peggy almost wailed.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
which person or people
From this reading “Of course, this is no surprise to us,” Thomas Lane said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on the edge of a kitchen stool.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “We could hardly have helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress since you were out of your cradle.
Chapter 1 of Peggy Finds the Theatre by Virginia Hughes holds 442 sentences, grouped into 89 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.
Chapter 1 holds 442 sentences of Peggy Finds the Theatre, unabridged, divided into 89 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of Peggy Finds the Theatre by Virginia Hughes exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 442 sentences, grouped into 89 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.
Work through the 89 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 89 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.
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.
Common questions about reading Peggy Finds the Theatre by Virginia Hughes on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2673 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55933 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #55933, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 222 minutes of reading across 535 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Peggy Finds the Theatre section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 6 chapters of Peggy Finds the Theatre to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Peggy Finds the Theatre, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
