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Ragged Lady — Volume 1
Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Ragged Lady — Volume 1
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.
She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.
"Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.
How old ah' you, this summa?
Time does go so!"
0:00 / 0:00
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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.

Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 is here in full — 417 sentences across 84 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.
Line 2
She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.
Line 3
"Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.
Line 4
How old ah' you, this summa?
Line 5
Time does go so!"
/taɪm dʌz ɡoʊ soʊ/

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.

clerk noun US /klɜːrk/

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

folks noun US /foʊks/

your parents

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

Israel noun US /ˈɪzriəl/

Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine

From this reading “"Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.”

minute noun US /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading “"Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.”

official adjective US /əˈfɪʃəl/

having official authority or sanction

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

prepared adjective US /priˈperd/

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

private adjective US /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

running adjective US /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading “She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.”

All words in this reading · 71

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 "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

a'n't

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

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

ah

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

From this reading How old ah' you, this summa?

aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

Atwell

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

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

childnounUS /tʃaɪld/

a young person of either sex

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

Clem

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

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

clerknounUS /klɜːrk/

an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Time does go so!"

folksnounUS /foʊks/

your parents

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Time does go so!"

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

housekeeper's

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

How

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

From this reading How old ah' you, this summa?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

IsraelnounUS /ˈɪzriəl/

Jewish republic in southwestern Asia at eastern end of Mediterranean; formerly part of Palestine

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

minutenounUS /ˈmɪnət/

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

moanoun

extinct flightless bird of New Zealand

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

officialadjectiveUS /əˈfɪʃəl/

having official authority or sanction

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading How old ah' you, this summa?

preparedadjectiveUS /priˈperd/

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

runningadjectiveUS /ˈrʌnɪŋ/

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

summa

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

From this reading How old ah' you, this summa?

talkin

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

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading How old ah' you, this summa?

TimenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Time does go so!"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

wantedadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːntɪd/

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

WhynounUS /waɪ/

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She took the girl from the clerk, and led her to the official housekeeper's room which she said had been prepared for her so that folks need not keep running to her in her private room where she wanted to be alone with her children, when she was there.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Now, I want you should come in and see where I live, a minute," said Mrs. Atwell.

youaself

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

From this reading "Why, you a'n't much moa than a child youaself, Clem, and here I be talkin' to you as if you was a mother in Israel.

Chapter 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 by William Dean Howells holds 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 contain?

Chapter 2 holds 417 sentences of Ragged Lady — Volume 1, unabridged, divided into 84 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 by William Dean Howells exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 417 sentences, grouped into 84 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 2 of Ragged Lady — Volume 1?

Work through the 84 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 84 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Common questions about reading Ragged Lady — Volume 1 by William Dean Howells on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Ragged Lady — Volume 1?

Yes. All 1663 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #3405 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #3405, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Ragged Lady — Volume 1 take to read?

About 138 minutes of reading across 333 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Ragged Lady — Volume 1 section by section

How to work through Ragged Lady — Volume 1 section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 4 chapters of Ragged Lady — Volume 1 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 Ragged Lady — Volume 1

Words and structures a reader meets early in Ragged Lady — Volume 1, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Ragged
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ragged Lady — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ragged Lady — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Summer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ragged Lady — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Middlemount
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Ragged Lady — Volume 1; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.