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Stepping Westward
Stepping Westward

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Stepping Westward is here in full — 422 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Stepping Westward
Context Illustration Reading 1/84 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
“The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.
I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.
I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.
When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”
With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.
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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.

Stepping Westward

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of Stepping Westward is here in full — 422 sentences across 85 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/84 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
“The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.
/ðə meɪd ˈlɪtəl θɪŋks æz aɪ duː noʊ hɜːr ˈsiː.krət/
Line 2
I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.
Line 3
I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.
Line 4
When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”
Line 5
With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

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.

charges noun US /ˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/

plural of “charge” — an impetuous rush toward someone or something

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

differing verb US /ˈdɪfərɪŋ/

-ing form of “differ” — be different

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

explanations noun US /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

oft adverb US /ɔːft/

many times at short intervals

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

replacing noun US /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/

the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

widely adverb US /ˈwaɪdli/

to a great degree

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

wishful adjective US /ˈwɪʃfəl/

having or expressing desire for something

From this reading “I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.”

wrapper noun US /ˈræpər/

a loose dressing gown for women

From this reading “With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.”

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.

into trouble preposition + noun

In this reading “I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.”

All words in this reading · 73

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.

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

ah

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

From this reading I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

Ann-Car'line's

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

brokenadjectiveUS /ˈbroʊkən/

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

chargesnounUS /ˈtʃɑːrdʒəz/

plural of “charge” — an impetuous rush toward someone or something

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

comesnounUS /kʌmz/

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

differingverbUS /ˈdɪfərɪŋ/

-ing form of “differ” — be different

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

digverbUS /dɪɡ/

turn up, loosen, or remove earth

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

explanationsnounUS /ˌekspləˈneɪʃənz/

plural of “explanation” — a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

getverbUS /ɡet/

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

hanounUS /hɑː/

(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

handnounUS /hænd/

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

hauntedadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːntɪd/

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

holdingnounUS /ˈhoʊldɪŋ/

the act of retaining something

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

I'll

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

From this reading I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.

I'm

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

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

maidnounUS /meɪd/

a female domestic

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

mysterynounUS /ˈmɪstəri/

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

nightnounUS /naɪt/

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

numerousadjectiveUS /ˈnuːmərəs/

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

oftadverbUS /ɔːft/

many times at short intervals

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/

perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

receivingverbUS /rəˈsiːvɪŋ/

-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

remembrancenounUS /riˈmembrəns/

the ability to recall past occurrences

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

replacingnounUS /rɪˈpleɪsɪŋ/

the act of furnishing an equivalent person or thing in the place of another

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

resolutionnounUS /ˌrezəˈluːʃən/

a formal expression by a meeting; agreed to by a vote

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

slumbers

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

summat

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

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

sureadjectiveUS /ʃʊr/

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

thinksnounUS /θɪŋks/

plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking

From this reading “The maid little thinks as I do know her secret.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

throughoutprepositionUS /θruːˈaʊt/

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

watchverbUS /wɑːtʃ/

look attentively

From this reading I’ll watch—ah, sure, I’ll watch.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When she comes to dig her treasure up again, I’ll ha’ summat for to say to her.”

widelyadverbUS /ˈwaɪdli/

to a great degree

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

wishfuladjectiveUS /ˈwɪʃfəl/

having or expressing desire for something

From this reading I’m not wishful for to get her into trouble, but I’ll watch.

WithprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

wrappernounUS /ˈræpər/

a loose dressing gown for women

From this reading With this resolution he made his way back to his charges; but throughout his oft broken slumbers that night he was haunted by the remembrance of Ann-Car’line’s secret; when he was not in fancy holding the watch in his hand or replacing it in its wrapper, he was sternly questioning the girl and receiving numerous and widely differing explanations of the mystery.

Chapter 4 of Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis holds 422 sentences, grouped into 85 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 4 of Stepping Westward contain?

Chapter 4 holds 422 sentences of Stepping Westward, unabridged, divided into 85 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 422 sentences, grouped into 85 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 4 of Stepping Westward?

Work through the 85 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 85 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Stepping Westward

Common questions about reading Stepping Westward by M. E. Francis on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Stepping Westward?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Stepping Westward is used?

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

How long does Stepping Westward take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Stepping Westward section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward 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 Stepping Westward

Words and structures a reader meets early in Stepping Westward, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of Stepping Westward, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.