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Tales from the Telling-House
Tales from the Telling-House

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Tales from the Telling-House is here in full — 61 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Tales from the Telling-House
Context Illustration Reading 1/12 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
BY A QUIET RIVER.
Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.
But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.
Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.
Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Tales from the Telling-House

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of Tales from the Telling-House is here in full — 61 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/12 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
BY A QUIET RIVER.
/baɪ ə ˈkwaɪət ˈrɪvər/
Line 2
Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the RobbersValley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.
Line 3
But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.
Line 4
Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.
Line 5
Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

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.

accounted verb US /əˈkaʊntɪd/

past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something

From this reading “But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.”

comely adjective US /ˈkʌmli/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading “But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.”

creel noun US /kriːl/

a wicker basket used by anglers to hold fish

From this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

duck verb US /dʌk/

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away

From this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

loaded adjective US /ˈloʊdɪd/

filled with a great quantity

From this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

outlaws noun US /ˈaʊtlɔːz/

plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading “But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.”

Robbers noun US /ˈrɒb.ərz/

Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.

From this reading “Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.”

trout noun US /traʊt/

flesh of any of several primarily freshwater game and food fishes

From this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

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.

six miles noun + noun counted as “six mile”

In this reading “Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.”

carrying off verb + particle counted as “carry off”

be successful; achieve a goal

In this reading “But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.”

young women adjective + noun counted as “young woman”

a young female

In this reading “But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.”

ride away verb + particle

ride away on a horse, for example

In this reading “Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.”

at home preposition + noun

a reception held in your own home

In this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

little boy adjective + noun

In this reading “Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.”

few books adjective + noun

In this reading “Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.”

quit the house verb + article + noun counted as “quit … house”

In this reading “Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.”

All words in this reading · 114

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 BY A QUIET RIVER.

accountedverbUS /əˈkaʊntɪd/

past form of “account” — be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/

for the reason that

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

beginningnounUS /bɪˈɡɪnɪŋ/

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

booksnounUS /bʊks/

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

bushesnounUS /ˈbʊʃəz/

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

BYprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading BY A QUIET RIVER.

carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

comelyadjectiveUS /ˈkʌmli/

according with custom or propriety

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

creelnounUS /kriːl/

a wicker basket used by anglers to hold fish

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

Deborah

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

DicknounUS /dɪk/

someone who is a detective

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

Doones

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

doorsnounUS /dɔːrz/

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

duckverbUS /dʌk/

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

extentnounUS /ɪkˈstent/

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

fivenounUS /faɪv/

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

flyverbUS /flaɪ/

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

full-grownadjective

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

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

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

gunsnounUS /ɡʌnz/

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

hithertoadverbUS /ˈhɪðɜːrˈtuː/

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

Hutchings

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

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

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 Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

LivingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

loadedadjectiveUS /ˈloʊdɪd/

filled with a great quantity

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

orderedadjectiveUS /ˈɔːrdərd/

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

outlawsnounUS /ˈaʊtlɔːz/

plural of “outlaw” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

Pring

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

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

QUIETadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading BY A QUIET RIVER.

quitverbUS /kwɪt/

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

reputationnounUS /ˌrepjəˈteɪʃən/

the state of being held in high esteem and honor

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

returnverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrn/

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

rideverbUS /raɪd/

sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

RIVERnounUS /ˈrɪvər/

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading BY A QUIET RIVER.

RobbersnounUS /ˈrɒb.ərz/

Persons who steal from a person or place, especially using violence or threats.

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

showedverbUS /ʃoʊd/

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

sixnounUS /sɪks/

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

stealverbUS /stiːl/

take without the owner's consent

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

suppernounUS /ˈsʌpər/

a light evening meal; served in early evening if dinner is at midday or served late in the evening at bedtime

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

swearverbUS /swer/

utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

ThereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

ThomasnounUS /ˈtɑːməs/

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

thusadverbUS /ðʌs/

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

troutnounUS /traʊt/

flesh of any of several primarily freshwater game and food fishes

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

uneasyadjectiveUS /əˈniːzi/

lacking a sense of security or affording no ease or reassurance

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

ValleynounUS /ˈvæli/

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

well-barred

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

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading Only our little boy Dick Hutchings was to go with him, to help when his fly caught in the bushes.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Therefore he left Thomas Pring at home, with the doors well-barred, and two duck guns loaded, and ordered me not to quit the house until he should return with a creel of trout for supper.

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

wonnounUS /wʌn/

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Living as we did all by ourselves, and five or six miles away from the Robbers’ Valley, we had felt little fear of the Doones hitherto, because we had nothing for them to steal except a few books, the sight of which would only make them swear and ride away.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading But now that I was full-grown, and beginning to be accounted comely, my father was sometimes uneasy in his mind, as he told Deborah, and she told me; for the outlaws showed interest in such matters, even to the extent of carrying off young women who had won reputation thus.

Chapter 2 of Tales from the Telling-House by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore holds 61 sentences, grouped into 13 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 2 of Tales from the Telling-House contain?

Chapter 2 holds 61 sentences of Tales from the Telling-House, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of Tales from the Telling-House by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 61 sentences, grouped into 13 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 2 of Tales from the Telling-House?

Work through the 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 13 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Tales from the Telling-House

Common questions about reading Tales from the Telling-House by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Tales from the Telling-House?

Yes. All 1627 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51497 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Tales from the Telling-House is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #51497, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Tales from the Telling-House take to read?

About 135 minutes of reading across 326 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Tales from the Telling-House section by section

How to work through Tales from the Telling-House section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 26 chapters of Tales from the Telling-House 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 Tales from the Telling-House

Words and structures a reader meets early in Tales from the Telling-House, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from the Telling-House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Sometimes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from the Telling-House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Night
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from the Telling-House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spirit
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Tales from the Telling-House; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.