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The Ambassadors
The Ambassadors

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of The Ambassadors is here in full — 231 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ambassadors
Context Illustration Reading 1/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”
It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.
Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.
If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enoughfor she seemed to like me to-dayto want me to tell her.”
And _shall_ you?”
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Ambassadors

Chapter XXX · Chapter 30

Chapter 30 of The Ambassadors is here in full — 231 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”
Line 2
It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.
Line 3
Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.
Line 4
If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enoughfor she seemed to like me to-dayto want me to tell her.”
Line 5
And _shall_ you?”

All words in this reading · 80

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.

a

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

always

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

and

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

appealed

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

as

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

at

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

be

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

been

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

before

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

but

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

came

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

certitude

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

Chad

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

confirmed

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

disinterestedly

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

doesn't

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

easy

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

enough

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

fat

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

for

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

girl

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

had

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

her

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

him

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

his

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

hope

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

hour

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

I

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

If

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

in

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

It

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

Jeanne

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

Know

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

large

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

like

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

little

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

love

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

Mamie

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

matter

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

me

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

more

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

near

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

not

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

of

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

or

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

person

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

poor

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

present

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

probably

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

quite

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

saying

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

see

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

seemed

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

shall

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

sharp

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

she

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

she'll

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

something

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

Strether

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

tell

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

tender

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

that

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

the

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

they

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

think

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

thirty

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

to

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

to-day

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

too

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

want

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

From this reading “If I see a little more of her, as I hope I shall, I think she’ll like me enough—for she seemed to like me to-day—to want me to tell her.”

wanted

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

was

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

what

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

what's

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

whether

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

which

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

From this reading It was as near as they came to saying that she was probably in love with Chad; but it was quite near enough for what Strether wanted; which was to be confirmed in his certitude that, whether in love or not, she appealed to something large and easy in the girl before him.

who

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

with

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

From this reading “Know that poor little Jeanne doesn’t know what’s the matter with her?”

would

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

From this reading Mamie would be fat, too fat, at thirty; but she would always be the person who, at the present sharp hour, had been disinterestedly tender.

you

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

From this reading “And _shall_ you?”

Chapter 30 of The Ambassadors by Henry James holds 231 sentences, grouped into 47 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 30 of The Ambassadors contain?

Chapter 30 holds 231 sentences of The Ambassadors, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 30 of The Ambassadors by Henry James exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 231 sentences, grouped into 47 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 30 of The Ambassadors?

Work through the 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 47 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 30 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 30 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 Ambassadors

Common questions about reading The Ambassadors by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ambassadors?

Yes. All 9031 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #432 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ambassadors is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #432, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ambassadors take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1807 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ambassadors section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Ambassadors 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 The Ambassadors

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ambassadors, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Preface
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
First
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Second
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Third
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ambassadors; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.