Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Rupert's Ambition
Rupert's Ambition

Chapter XXXVIII

Chapter 38 of Rupert's Ambition is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Horatio, Jr. Alger • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for Rupert's Ambition
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.
At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.
"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.
"Perhaps I may be more successful than he."
"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Rupert's Ambition

Chapter XXXVIII

Chapter 38 of Rupert's Ambition is here in full — 178 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.
Line 2
At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.
Line 3
"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.
/aɪ ʃæl stɑːp ɑːn ðə weɪ æt ˈrɑːtʃestər ənd siː ɪf aɪ kæn kəˈlekt ˈʌŋkəl dʒɑːnz noʊt hiː sed/
Line 4
"Perhaps I may be more successful than he."
/pərˈhæps aɪ meɪ biː mɔːr səkˈsesfəl ðæn hiː/
Line 5
"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

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.

collect verb US /kəˈlekt/

get or gather together

From this reading “"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
John's noun US /dʒɑːnz/

possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading “"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
manage verb US /ˈmænədʒ/

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading “HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reluctant adjective US /rɪˈlʌktənt/

unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

From this reading “At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rochester noun US /ˈrɑːtʃestər/

a city in western New York; a center of the photographic equipment industry

From this reading “"I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
rogue noun US /roʊɡ/

a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

From this reading “HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Rupert noun US /ˈruːpərt/

English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)

From this reading “"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
successful adjective US /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading “"Perhaps I may be more successful than he."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

at once preposition + adverb

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

In this reading “"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."”

257,448 times in 426,211 chapters
old man adjective + noun

a man who is very old

In this reading “At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.”

132,882 times in 426,211 chapters
go on verb + particle

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

In this reading “"If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."”

241,940 times in 426,211 chapters
last moment adjective + noun

In this reading “At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.”

7,372 times in 426,211 chapters

All words in this reading · 64

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 HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
aloneadjectiveUS /əˈloʊn/

Having no one else present.

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora curated lexicon
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
anxiousadjectiveUS /ˈæŋkʃəs/

eagerly desirous

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
AtprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
collectverbUS /kəˈlekt/

get or gather together

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/

recognizable; marked

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
don't

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

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Pending verification
feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
findingnounUS /ˈfaɪndɪŋ/

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Giles

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Pending verification
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
HOW

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

From this reading HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.

Pending verification
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
John'snounUS /dʒɑːnz/

possessive form of “john” — a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
leftnounUS /left/

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MANAGEverbUS /ˈmænədʒ/

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora curated lexicon
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/

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

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
NewadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Packard

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Pending verification
PerhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Plympton

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Pending verification
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/

unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RochesternounUS /ˈrɑːtʃestər/

a city in western New York; a center of the photographic equipment industry

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ROGUEnounUS /roʊɡ/

a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

From this reading HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
RupertnounUS /ˈruːpərt/

English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
stopverbUS /stɑːp/

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
successfuladjectiveUS /səkˈsesfəl/

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
takeverbUS /teɪk/

carry out

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "Perhaps I may be more successful than he."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HOW TO MANAGE A ROGUE.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
unclenounUS /ˈʌŋkəl/

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading "I shall stop on the way at Rochester and see if I can collect Uncle John's note," he said.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the last moment Giles Packard decided to take his uncle, John Plympton, with him, finding that the old man was reluctant to be left alone.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
YorknounUS /jɔːrk/

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If you don't mind, Mr. Packard," said Rupert, "I will go on at once to New York, as I feel anxious about my mother."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 38 of Rupert's Ambition by Horatio, Jr. Alger holds 178 sentences, grouped into 36 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 38 of Rupert's Ambition contain?

Chapter 38 holds 178 sentences of Rupert's Ambition, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 38 of Rupert's Ambition by Horatio, Jr. Alger exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 178 sentences, grouped into 36 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 38 of Rupert's Ambition?

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

Each of the 36 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 38 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 38 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 Rupert's Ambition

Common questions about reading Rupert's Ambition by Horatio, Jr. Alger on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Rupert's Ambition?

Yes. All 5178 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #54621 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Rupert's Ambition is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #54621, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Rupert's Ambition take to read?

About 431 minutes of reading across 1036 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Rupert's Ambition section by section

How to work through Rupert's Ambition section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of Rupert's Ambition 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 Rupert's Ambition

Words and structures a reader meets early in Rupert's Ambition, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Https
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rupert's Ambition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rupert's Ambition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Chester
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rupert's Ambition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Lester's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Rupert's Ambition; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.