Chapter 17 of Ruth Arnold is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XVII
Chapter 17 of Ruth Arnold is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
SO AS BY FIRE. "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed. She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen. "I believe it is Gerald. I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
Chapter 17 of Ruth Arnold is here in full — 108 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
on a floor below
From this reading “She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.”
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading “She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.”
listen; used mostly in the imperative
From this reading “"Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.”
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading “She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.”
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading “"Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.”
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading “She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.”
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading “"Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.”
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading “She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading SO AS BY FIRE.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading "I believe it is Gerald.
confined by bonds
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
showing who or what does the action
From this reading SO AS BY FIRE.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
on a floor below
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
start firing a weapon
From this reading SO AS BY FIRE.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I believe it is Gerald.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
listen; used mostly in the imperative
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I believe it is Gerald.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I believe it is Gerald.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I believe it is Gerald.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
for more time
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
not any; not one
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
on one occasion
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
make a promise or commitment
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SO AS BY FIRE.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
(especially of eyes) bulging or protruding as with fear
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
express in words
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Hark! what was that?" exclaimed Ruth one night, starting up in bed.
at the time that
From this reading She had been half-dozing, half-dreaming, when she was startled by a slight noise downstairs, as if something had fallen.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading I will go down at once, and tell him that as he has not kept his word I am no longer bound by my promise."
Chapter 17 of Ruth Arnold by Lucy Byerley holds 108 sentences, grouped into 22 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.
Chapter 17 holds 108 sentences of Ruth Arnold, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 17 of Ruth Arnold by Lucy Byerley exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 108 sentences, grouped into 22 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 22 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 17 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading Ruth Arnold by Lucy Byerley on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1073 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #18777 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #18777, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 89 minutes of reading across 215 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through Ruth Arnold section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 19 chapters of Ruth Arnold to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in Ruth Arnold, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
