The Affair at the Inn

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn is here in full — 448 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Affair at the Inn

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'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter III Reading 1/89

The Affair at the Inn Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn is here in full — 448 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

I knew that I should not consent to this proposition; Virginia knew that she should not; we both hesitated for a moment, and then Virginia, with a glance at the storm outside, made a compromise in favour of decorum. 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said. 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.' I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little. 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

The Affair at the Inn

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn is here in full — 448 sentences across 90 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/89 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

/aɪ nuː ðæt aɪ ʃʊd nɑːt kənˈsent tuː ðɪs ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən vərˈdʒɪnjə nuː ðæt ʃiː ʃʊd nɑːt wiː boʊθ ˈhezɪteɪtɪd fɔːr ə ˈmoʊmənt ənd ðen vərˈdʒɪnjə wɪð ə ɡlæns æt ðə stɔːrm ˈaʊtˈsaɪd meɪd ə ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz ɪn ˈfeɪvər ʌv dɪˈkɔːrəm/

Line 2

'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

Line 3

'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

Line 4

I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

Line 5

'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

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.

applaud verb US /əˈplɔːd/

clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval

From this reading “'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'”

banjo noun US /ˈbændʒoʊ/

a stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular body

From this reading “'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'”

compromise verb US /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/

make a compromise; arrive at a compromise

From this reading “I knew that I should not consent to this proposition; Virginia knew that she should not; we both hesitated for a moment, and then Virginia, with a glance at the storm outside, made a compromise in favour of decorum.”

consent noun US /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

decorum noun US /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

fetch verb US /fetʃ/

go or come after and bring or take back

From this reading “'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'”

proposition noun US /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/

(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false

Virginia noun US /vərˈdʒɪnjə/

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

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.

glance at verb + particle

In this reading “I knew that I should not consent to this proposition; Virginia knew that she should not; we both hesitated for a moment, and then Virginia, with a glance at the storm outside, made a compromise in favour of decorum.”

for a moment preposition + article + noun counted as “for … moment”

temporarily

in favour preposition + noun

hesitated for verb + particle counted as “hesitate for”

All words in this reading · 79

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 I knew that I should not consent to this proposition; Virginia knew that she should not; we both hesitated for a moment, and then Virginia, with a glance at the storm outside, made a compromise in favour of decorum.

afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/

in addition

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

applaudverbUS /əˈplɔːd/

clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

Archibald

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

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

banjonounUS /ˈbændʒoʊ/

a stringed instrument of the guitar family that has long neck and circular body

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

compromiseverbUS /ˈkɑːmprəmaɪz/

make a compromise; arrive at a compromise

consentnounUS /kənˈsent/

permission to do something

decorumnounUS /dɪˈkɔːrəm/

propriety in manners and conduct

didn't

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

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

doesn't

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

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

don't

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

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

else

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

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

Evesham

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

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

favournounUS /ˈfeɪvər/

a feeling of favorable regard

fetchverbUS /fetʃ/

go or come after and bring or take back

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

gamenounUS /ɡeɪm/

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

glanceverbUS /ɡlæns/

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

hesitatedverbUS /ˈhezɪteɪtɪd/

past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

how

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

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

I'll

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

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

MissverbUS /mɪs/

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

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

ourselvespronounUS /aʊərˈselvz/

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/

by chance

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

playverbUS /pleɪ/

participate in games or sport

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

playingnounUS /ˈpleɪɪŋ/

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

proposedverbUS /prəˈpoʊzd/

past form of “propose” — make a proposal, declare a plan for something

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

propositionnounUS /ˌprɑːpəˈzɪʃən/

(logic) a statement that affirms or denies something and is either true or false

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/

perception by means of the eyes

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

singverbUS /sɪŋ/

deliver by singing

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

stormverbUS /stɔːrm/

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

VirginianounUS /vərˈdʒɪnjə/

a state in the eastern United States; one of the original 13 colonies; one of the Confederate States in the American Civil War

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading I didn't see much difference between playing ourselves and seeing him play, but perhaps there was a little.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

wetadjectiveUS /wet/

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading 'Well, there doesn't seem to be much else to do this wet afternoon,' she said.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'I don't care if I do come and see how well you play, Sir Archibald, and perhaps Miss Evesham will come and applaud also.'

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading 'I'll fetch my banjo,' proposed Virginia, 'and I can sing while you have your game.'

Chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin holds 448 sentences, grouped into 90 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn contain?

Chapter 3 holds 448 sentences of The Affair at the Inn, unabridged, divided into 90 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn by Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 448 sentences, grouped into 90 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 3 of The Affair at the Inn?

Work through the 90 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 90 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Affair at the Inn

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Is this the complete text of The Affair at the Inn?

Yes. All 1738 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40879 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Affair at the Inn is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40879, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Affair at the Inn take to read?

About 144 minutes of reading across 348 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Affair at the Inn

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Affair at the Inn, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

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Chapter III

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