Six Girls: A Home Story

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Fannie Belle Irving • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for Six Girls: A Home Story

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

Rattle-de-tap, went four feet with steel-capped heels over the old shady porch, and bang! went the door back against the wall; then:---- "Mama,----" "Bea,--Er,----" "Nestine, Olive,----" "Jean, hurry;--let me tell first.

Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

"Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

Narrator

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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.

Chapter III Reading 1/25

Six Girls: A Home Story Fannie Belle Irving

Chapter III

Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF. Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying. Rattle-de-tap, went four feet with steel-capped heels over the old shady porch, and bang! went the door back against the wall; then:---- "Mama,----" "Bea,--Er,----" "Nestine, Olive,----" "Jean, hurry;--let me tell first. Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath. "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

Six Girls: A Home Story

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story is here in full — 128 sentences across 26 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/25 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

/ə faʊnˈdeɪʃən ðæt brɔːt kæt tuː ɡriːf/

Line 2

Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

Line 3

Line 4

Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

Line 5

"Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

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.

bang verb US /bæŋ/

strike violently

From this reading “Rattle-de-tap, went four feet with steel-capped heels over the old shady porch, and bang! went the door back against the wall; then:---- "Mama,----" "Bea,--Er,----" "Nestine, Olive,----" "Jean, hurry;--let me tell first.”

kat noun US /kæt/

the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant

From this reading “A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.”

Mama noun US /ˈmɑːmə/

informal terms for a mother

Nutting verb US /ˈnʌtɪŋ/

inflected form of “nut” — gather nuts

From this reading “"Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.”

Olive adjective US /ˈɑːləv/

of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive

Slam verb US /slæm/

close violently

From this reading “Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.”

unruly adjective US /ənˈruːli/

noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline

From this reading “Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.”

whiz noun US /wɪz/

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading “Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.”

All words in this reading · 75

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 A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Rattle-de-tap, went four feet with steel-capped heels over the old shady porch, and bang! went the door back against the wall; then:---- "Mama,----" "Bea,--Er,----" "Nestine, Olive,----" "Jean, hurry;--let me tell first.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

bangverbUS /bæŋ/

strike violently

Bea

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

beatverbUS /biːt/

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

breathnounUS /breθ/

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

BROUGHTverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

chokedadjectiveUS /tʃoʊkt/

stopped up; clogged up

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

deadadjectiveUS /ded/

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

endsnounUS /endz/

plural of “end” — either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

ErnounUS /ər/

a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs with yttrium

feetnounUS /fiːt/

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/

moving swiftly

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

FOUNDATIONnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/

the basis on which something is grounded

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

fournounUS /fɔːr/

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

gatenounUS /ɡeɪt/

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

girlsnounUS /ɡɜːrlz/

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

giveverbUS /ɡɪv/

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

goingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/

the act of departing

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

GRIEFnounUS /ɡriːf/

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

heelsnounUS /hiːlz/

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

HowardnounUS /ˈhaʊərd/

English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

hurrynounUS /ˈhɜːri/

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

JeannounUS /dʒiːn/

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

KATnounUS /kæt/

the leaves of the shrub Catha edulis which are chewed like tobacco or used to make tea; has the effect of a euphoric stimulant

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

Kittie

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

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

knockingnounUS /ˈnɑːkɪŋ/

the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing)

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

leavesnounUS /liːvz/

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

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 Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

likeverbUS /laɪk/

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

MamanounUS /ˈmɑːmə/

informal terms for a mother

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

MissverbUS /mɪs/

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

Nestine

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

NuttingverbUS /ˈnʌtɪŋ/

inflected form of “nut” — gather nuts

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

oddadjectiveUS /ɑːd/

not divisible by two

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

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

OliveadjectiveUS /ˈɑːləv/

of a yellow-green color similar to that of an unripe olive

oughtmodal verbUS /ɔːt/

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/

an organization to gain political power

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

porchnounUS /pɔːrtʃ/

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

Rattle-de-tap

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

rightadverbUS /raɪt/

precisely, exactly

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

shadyadjectiveUS /ˈʃeɪdi/

quiet, dark, or concealed

shoutedadjectiveUS /ˈʃaʊtɪd/

in a vehement outcry

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

shriekedadjectiveUS /ʃriːkt/

uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

sky-rockets

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

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

SlamverbUS /slæm/

close violently

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

steel-capped

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

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Miss----" "I beat to the steps, I ought to tell," shrieked Kat, as Kittie choked for breath.

tellverbUS /tel/

express in words

THATconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading A FOUNDATION THAT BROUGHT KAT TO GRIEF.

triumphantadjectiveUS /traɪˈʌmfənt/

joyful and proud especially because of triumph or success

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

unrulyadjectiveUS /ənˈruːli/

noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Miss Howard is going to give us a,----" "Nutting party!" shouted Kittie, with a triumphant breath.

walknounUS /wɔːk/

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

wallnounUS /wɔːl/

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

whiznounUS /wɪz/

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Slam! went the gate, knocking the dead leaves right and left, and whiz! went two girls up the walk, like unruly sky-rockets, with the odd ends flying.

Chapter 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story by Fannie Belle Irving holds 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story contain?

Chapter 3 holds 128 sentences of Six Girls: A Home Story, unabridged, divided into 26 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story by Fannie Belle Irving exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 128 sentences, grouped into 26 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 3 of Six Girls: A Home Story?

Work through the 26 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 26 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Six Girls: A Home Story

Common questions about reading Six Girls: A Home Story by Fannie Belle Irving on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Six Girls: A Home Story?

Yes. All 4470 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #25551 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Six Girls: A Home Story is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #25551, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Six Girls: A Home Story take to read?

About 372 minutes of reading across 894 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in Six Girls: A Home Story

Words and structures a reader meets early in Six Girls: A Home Story, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

University: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Six Girls: A Home Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Press: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Six Girls: A Home Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wilson: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Six Girls: A Home Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cambridge: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Six Girls: A Home Story; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter III · Chapter 3

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