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The Battle of Life

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Battle of Life is here in full — 195 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Charles Dickens • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Battle of Life

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

Narrator

Speed 0.75x

AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter IX Reading 1/39

The Battle of Life

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Battle of Life is here in full — 195 sentences across 39 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/39 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

Line 2

‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

Line 3

‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

Line 4

I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

Line 5

I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

All words in this reading · 71

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 I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

again

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

although

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

and

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

answer

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

any

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

arms

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

as

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

at

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

be

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

blest

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

dear

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

ever

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

friend

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

gently

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

Grace

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

had

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

hard

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

have

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

he

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

head

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

Hear

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

heard

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

held

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

her

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

his

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

honoured

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

I

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

in

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

it

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

itself

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

know

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

laid

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

letter

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

look

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

love

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

make

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

me

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

meant

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

my

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

myself

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

never

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

No

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

now

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

of

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

or

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

passage

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

raised

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

said

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

She

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

shoulder

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

showed

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

so

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

spoke

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

that

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

the

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

this

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

time

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

to

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

trace

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

true

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

until

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

upon

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

From this reading ‘Hear me, my dear!’ he said.—‘No. Hear me so!’—and as he spoke, he gently laid the head she had raised, again upon his shoulder.

was

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

why

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

From this reading ‘I know why I have never heard this passage in the letter, until now.

wife

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

wife's

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

win

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

From this reading I know why Grace, although so true a friend to me, was hard to win to be my wife.

word

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

your

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

From this reading ‘She meant, to make myself so blest and honoured in your love,’ was his wife’s answer, as he held her in his arms.

yours

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

From this reading I know why no trace of it ever showed itself in any word or look of yours at that time.

Chapter 9 of The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens holds 195 sentences, grouped into 39 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 9 of The Battle of Life contain?

Chapter 9 holds 195 sentences of The Battle of Life, unabridged, divided into 39 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 195 sentences, grouped into 39 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 9 of The Battle of Life?

Work through the 39 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 39 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 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 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 Battle of Life

Common questions about reading The Battle of Life by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Battle of Life?

Yes. All 1692 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #676 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Battle of Life is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #676, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Battle of Life take to read?

About 141 minutes of reading across 339 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Battle of Life section by section

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

Open a chapter

Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Battle of Life to begin.
Read one section

Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Listen and tap

Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Battle of Life

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

Matters: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Battle of Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Battle of Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stalwart: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Battle of Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
England: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Battle of Life; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.