Chapter 3 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 147 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 147 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
DAYS OF YORE. AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps. "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then! Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation. Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
Chapter 3 of Stopping the leak is here in full — 147 sentences across 30 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/29 · 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.
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading “Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.”
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading “Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.”
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading “"Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!”
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
time long past
From this reading “DAYS OF YORE.”
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.
In this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
In this reading “Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.”
In this reading “DAYS OF YORE.”
In this reading “AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.”
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 AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
react verbally
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading DAYS OF YORE.
an abrupt excited utterance
From this reading Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.
the organ of sight
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
-ing form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
not any; not one
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DAYS OF YORE.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Lawrence started forward, laughing, and caught her in his arms.
past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
in a stealthy manner
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
separate or cause to separate abruptly
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading "Oh, I'm sorry I stayed so then!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
at the time that
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where is he?" was the hurried exclamation.
past form of “wipe” — rub with a circular motion
From this reading AUNT MERCY stealthily wiped a tear from her eye, and finding she had no voice to answer, was hastening from the room, when a sweet voice in the hall arrested her steps.
time long past
From this reading DAYS OF YORE.
Chapter 3 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie holds 147 sentences, grouped into 30 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 3 holds 147 sentences of Stopping the leak, unabridged, divided into 30 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of Stopping the leak by Madeline Leslie exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 147 sentences, grouped into 30 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 30 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 30 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.
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Words and structures a reader meets early in Stopping the leak, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
