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Polly of the Circus
Polly of the Circus

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Polly of the Circus is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Polly of the Circus
Context Illustration Reading 1/36 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.
She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.
She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.
She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.
She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.
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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.

Polly of the Circus

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Polly of the Circus is here in full — 180 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.
Line 2
She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.
Line 3
She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.
Line 4
She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.
Line 5
She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

All words in this reading · 60

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.

able

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

ACTUALLY

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

again

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

all

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

and

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

back

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

be

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

been

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

believe

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

came

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

care

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

come

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

could

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

death

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

done

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

DRAG

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

felt

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

for

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

go

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

GONE

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

grateful

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

had

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

have

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

her

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

him

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

his

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

how

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

inevitableness

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

it

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

laugh

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

little

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

might

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

mother

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

must

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

never

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

not

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

now

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

of

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

on

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

Polly

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

realise

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

scarcely

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

seemed

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

she

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

tell

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

that

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

the

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

things

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

thought

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

thousand

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

From this reading She thought of the thousand little things that she might have done for him.

to

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

Toby

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

too

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

understood

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

wanted

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

From this reading She wanted to tell him how grateful she was for all his care of her.

was

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

When

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

From this reading When Polly understood that Toby was ACTUALLY GONE, it seemed to her that she could never laugh again.

without

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

From this reading She felt that she must be able to DRAG him back, that she could not go on without him.

would

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

young

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

From this reading She had been too young to realise the inevitableness of death when it came to her mother, and now she could scarcely believe that Toby would never, never come back to her.

Chapter 8 of Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo holds 180 sentences, grouped into 36 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 8 of Polly of the Circus contain?

Chapter 8 holds 180 sentences of Polly of the Circus, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 180 sentences, grouped into 36 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 8 of Polly of the Circus?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Polly of the Circus

Common questions about reading Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Polly of the Circus?

Yes. All 2492 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #859 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Polly of the Circus is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #859, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Polly of the Circus take to read?

About 207 minutes of reading across 499 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Polly of the Circus section by section

How to work through Polly of the Circus section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of Polly of the Circus 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 Polly of the Circus

Words and structures a reader meets early in Polly of the Circus, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Great
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
American
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Circus
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Playing
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Polly of the Circus; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.