Chapter 14 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XIV
Chapter 14 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"No, you wouldn't, Ann!" Miss Ives assured her promptly. "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while. And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you. Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
Chapter 14 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby is here in full — 412 sentences across 83 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/82 · 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.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading “Miss Ives assured her promptly.”
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
From this reading “Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"”
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading “Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"”
like down or as soft as down
From this reading “Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"”
United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874-1954)
From this reading “Miss Ives assured her promptly.”
with little or no delay
From this reading “Miss Ives assured her promptly.”
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading “And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.”
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading “And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.”
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 "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, you wouldn't, Ann!"
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence
From this reading Miss Ives assured her promptly.
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
like down or as soft as down
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
a young female
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Ives assured her promptly.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
United States composer noted for his innovative use of polytonality (1874-1954)
From this reading Miss Ives assured her promptly.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Ives assured her promptly.
not any; not one
From this reading "No, you wouldn't, Ann!"
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
with little or no delay
From this reading Miss Ives assured her promptly.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
the quality of having no practical use
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
during the time that
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Especially from such little complacent, fluffy whirlings as that Dancing Girl!"
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading And then the utter USELESSNESS of it would strike you.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "No, you wouldn't, Ann!"
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "No, you wouldn't, Ann!"
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "You'd like it, as I did, for a little while.
Chapter 14 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris holds 412 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.
Chapter 14 holds 412 sentences of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby, unabridged, divided into 83 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 14 of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 412 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.
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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby by Kathleen Thompson Norris on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6931 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #4348 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #4348, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 577 minutes of reading across 1387 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 17 chapters of Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby 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 Poor, Dear Margaret Kirby, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
