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Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby
Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby
Context Illustration Reading 1/82 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"
George had been walking up and down the room.
"She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.
And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.
Mary sat in stony despair.
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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.

Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby

Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

Chapter 8 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is here in full — 411 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/82 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"
Line 2
George had been walking up and down the room.
/dʒɔːrdʒ hæd bɪn ˈwɔːkɪŋ ʌp ənd daʊn ðə ruːm/
Line 3
"She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.
Line 4
And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.
/ənd hiː flʌŋ boʊθ hændz aʊt wɪð æn er ʌv ˈfrenzi bɪˈfɔːr bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ hɪz ˈæŋɡri mɑːrtʃ əˈɡen/
Line 5
Mary sat in stony despair.
/ˈmeri sæt ɪn ˈstoʊni dɪˈsper/

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.

cent noun US /sent/

a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading “"She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.”

distressed adjective US /dɪˈstrest/

facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

From this reading “"I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"”

flung verb US /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading “And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.”

frenzy noun US /ˈfrenzi/

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading “And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.”

Potter verb US /ˈpɑːtər/

do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

From this reading “"I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"”

raising noun US /ˈreɪzɪŋ/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading “"I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"”

savagely adverb US /ˈsævɪdʒli/

in a vicious manner

From this reading “"She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.”

stony adjective US /ˈstoʊni/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading “Mary sat in stony despair.”

All words in this reading · 61

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.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

angryadjectiveUS /ˈæŋɡri/

feeling or showing anger

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/

any thing at all

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

centnounUS /sent/

a fractional monetary unit of several countries

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

despairnounUS /dɪˈsper/

a state in which all hope is lost or absent

From this reading Mary sat in stony despair.

distressedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrest/

facing or experiencing financial trouble or difficulty

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

DOauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

downadjectiveUS /daʊn/

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

flungverbUS /flʌŋ/

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

frenzynounUS /ˈfrenzi/

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

GeorgenounUS /dʒɔːrdʒ/

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

handsnounUS /hændz/

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

ideanounUS /aɪˈdiːə/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Mary sat in stony despair.

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

marchverbUS /mɑːrtʃ/

march in a procession

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

MarynounUS /ˈmeri/

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

meditated

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And he flung both hands out with an air of frenzy before beginning his angry march again.

possibleadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːsəbəl/

capable of happening or existing

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

PotterverbUS /ˈpɑːtər/

do random, unplanned work or activities or spend time idly

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

raisingnounUS /ˈreɪzɪŋ/

the event of something being raised upward

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

satnounUS /sæt/

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

From this reading Mary sat in stony despair.

savagelyadverbUS /ˈsævɪdʒli/

in a vicious manner

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

sayingnounUS /ˈseɪɪŋ/

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

She's

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

From this reading "She's lost every cent!" he said savagely.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

stonyadjectiveUS /ˈstoʊni/

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading Mary sat in stony despair.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading George had been walking up and down the room.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "I DO remember now her saying something about the Potter," Mary said, raising honest, distressed eyes from the letter, "but with no possible idea that she meditated anything like this!"

Chapter 8 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris holds 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby contain?

Chapter 8 holds 411 sentences of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 411 sentences, grouped into 83 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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby?

Work through the 83 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 83 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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby

Common questions about reading Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby?

Yes. All 6931 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4348 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #4348, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby take to read?

About 577 minutes of reading across 1387 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby section by section

How to work through Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

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  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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby

Words and structures a reader meets early in Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Jim's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shall
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Witness
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Small
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.