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Rudy and Babette
Rudy and Babette

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Rudy and Babette is here in full — 32 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Rudy and Babette
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."
"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.
"The eaglet!" shouted the miller.
Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.
"You are not to be frightened!" said the miller.
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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.

Rudy and Babette

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of Rudy and Babette is here in full — 32 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."
Line 2
"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.
Line 3
"The eaglet!" shouted the miller.
Line 4
Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.
Line 5
"You are not to be frightened!" said the miller.
/juː ɑːr nɑːt tuː biː ˈfraɪtənd sed ðə ˈmɪlər/

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.

beak noun US /biːk/

beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

devour verb US /dɪˈvaʊər/

destroy completely

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

downy adjective US /ˈdaʊni/

like down or as soft as down

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

glared verb US /ɡlerd/

past form of “glare” — look at with a fixed gaze

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

miller noun US /ˈmɪlər/

United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

miller's noun US /ˈmɪlərz/

possessive form of “miller” — United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

scream verb US /skriːm/

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading “Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.”

sparkling adjective US /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/

shining with brilliant points of light like stars

From this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

HOLD FAST verb + particle

stick to firmly

In this reading “"I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."”

large basket adjective + noun

In this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

on the floor preposition + article + noun counted as “on … floor”

In this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

took off verb + particle counted as “take off”

leave

In this reading “"Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.”

sprang aside verb + particle counted as “spring aside”

In this reading “Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.”

All words in this reading · 76

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 "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "You are not to be frightened!" said the miller.

asideadverbUS /əˈsaɪd/

on or to one side

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

BABETTE

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

From this reading "I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."

basketnounUS /ˈbæskət/

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "You are not to be frightened!" said the miller.

beaknounUS /biːk/

beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

Bex

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

biteverbUS /baɪt/

to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

black-rimmed

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

burnverbUS /bɜːrn/

To consume or be consumed by fire.

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

clothnounUS /klɔːθ/

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

demandedverbUS /dɪˈmændəd/

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

devourverbUS /dɪˈvaʊər/

destroy completely

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

downyadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊni/

like down or as soft as down

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

eagletnoun

a young eagle

From this reading "The eaglet!" shouted the miller.

enteringnounUS /ˈentərɪŋ/

a movement into or inward

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/

all things; all of a situation

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

FASTadverbUS /fæst/

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading "I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."

floornounUS /flɔːr/

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

frightenedadjectiveUS /ˈfraɪtənd/

made afraid

From this reading "You are not to be frightened!" said the miller.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

gaped

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

gaveverbUS /ɡeɪv/

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

glaredverbUS /ɡlerd/

past form of “glare” — look at with a fixed gaze

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

HereadverbUS /hiːr/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

HOLDverbUS /hoʊld/

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

From this reading "I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

millernounUS /ˈmɪlər/

United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading "The eaglet!" shouted the miller.

miller'snounUS /ˈmɪlərz/

possessive form of “miller” — United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

necknounUS /nek/

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

readyadjectiveUS /ˈredi/

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

rednounUS /red/

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

Rudy

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

screamverbUS /skriːm/

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

settingnounUS /ˈsetɪŋ/

the context and environment in which something is set

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

shoutedadjectiveUS /ˈʃaʊtɪd/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading "The eaglet!" shouted the miller.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

sparklingadjectiveUS /ˈspɑːrklɪŋ/

shining with brilliant points of light like stars

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

sprangverbUS /spræŋ/

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "I HOLD FAST TO BABETTE."

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

turnverbUS /tɜːrn/

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading Babette gave one scream, and sprang aside, but she could not turn her eyes away from Rudy or the eaglet.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

wildadjectiveUS /waɪld/

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

yellowadjectiveUS /ˈjeloʊ/

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Here is what you demanded!" said Rudy, entering the miller's house at Bex; and, setting on the floor a large basket, he took off the cloth, and there glared from it two yellow, black-rimmed eyes, so sparkling, so wild, that they seemed to burn and devour everything they saw; the short, strong beak gaped, ready to bite, the neck was red and downy.

Chapter 8 of Rudy and Babette by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen holds 32 sentences, grouped into 7 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.

What does chapter 8 of Rudy and Babette contain?

Chapter 8 holds 32 sentences of Rudy and Babette, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of Rudy and Babette by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 32 sentences, grouped into 7 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 Rudy and Babette?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 Rudy and Babette

Common questions about reading Rudy and Babette by H. C. (Hans Christian) Andersen on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rudy and Babette?

Yes. All 1888 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40283 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rudy and Babette is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40283, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rudy and Babette take to read?

About 157 minutes of reading across 378 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rudy and Babette section by section

How to work through Rudy and Babette section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 15 chapters of Rudy and Babette 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 Rudy and Babette

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rudy and Babette, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Capture
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rudy and Babette; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Eagle's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rudy and Babette; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Switzerland
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rudy and Babette; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wonderful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rudy and Babette; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.