The Bird in the Box

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of The Bird in the Box is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mary M. (Mary Martha) Mears • Curated US English Learning Edition

Cover illustration for The Bird in the Box

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

Nora Gage might run the house as she chose and cook as many savory dishes as she pleased, the girl did not care; she was indifferent even to her grandfather; but let the one or the other cross her will, and her anger blazed forth.

Narrator

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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 XII Reading 1/31

The Bird in the Box Mary M. (Mary Martha) Mears

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of The Bird in the Box is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter. It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear. But none came, and finally she realized that none would come. She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye. Nora Gage might run the house as she chose and cook as many savory dishes as she pleased, the girl did not care; she was indifferent even to her grandfather; but let the one or the other cross her will, and her anger blazed forth.

The Bird in the Box

Chapter XII

Chapter 12 of The Bird in the Box is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

Line 2

It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

/ɪt siːmd tuː hɜːr ðə ɪnˈtensəti ʌv hɜːr ˈlɔːŋɪŋ mʌst kɑːz wʌn tuː əˈpɪr/

Line 3

But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

/bʌt nʌn keɪm ənd ˈfaɪnəli ʃiː ˈriːəlaɪzd ðæt nʌn wʊd kʌm/

Line 4

She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

/ʃiː went əˈbaʊt wɪð ə kɜːrld lɪp ənd ə ˈskɔːrnfəl aɪ/

Line 5

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.

blazed verb US /bleɪzd/

past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively

From this reading “Nora Gage might run the house as she chose and cook as many savory dishes as she pleased, the girl did not care; she was indifferent even to her grandfather; but let the one or the other cross her will, and her anger blazed forth.”

feverishly adverb US /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading “THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.”

Gage noun US /ɡeɪdʒ/

street names for marijuana

intensity noun US /ɪnˈtensəti/

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading “It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.”

migratory adjective US /ˈmaɪɡrətɔːri/

used of animals that move seasonally

From this reading “THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.”

savory adjective US /ˈseɪvəri/

morally wholesome or acceptable

scornful adjective US /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading “She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.”

succeeding adjective US /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/

coming after or following

From this reading “THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.”

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.

first weeks adjective + noun counted as “first week”

In this reading “THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.”

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

angernounUS /ˈæŋɡər/

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading Nora Gage might run the house as she chose and cook as many savory dishes as she pleased, the girl did not care; she was indifferent even to her grandfather; but let the one or the other cross her will, and her anger blazed forth.

appearverbUS /əˈpɪr/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

blazedverbUS /bleɪzd/

past form of “blaze” — shine brightly and intensively

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

carenounUS /ker/

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

causenounUS /kɑːz/

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

choseverbUS /tʃoʊz/

inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

comeverbUS /kʌm/

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

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

cookverbUS /kʊk/

prepare a hot meal

crossverbUS /krɔːs/

travel across or pass over

curledadjectiveUS /kɜːrld/

(of hair) making curls or having been made to curl

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

dishesnounUS /ˈdɪʃəz/

plural of “dish” — a piece of dishware normally used as a container for holding or serving food

DuringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

Emil's

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

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

eyenounUS /aɪ/

the organ of sight

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

feverishlyadverbUS /ˈfevərɪʃli/

in a feverish manner

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/

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

GagenounUS /ɡeɪdʒ/

street names for marijuana

girlnounUS /ɡɜːrl/

a young female

grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/

the father of your father or mother

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

indifferentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdɪfrənt/

marked by a lack of interest

INSTINCTnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkt/

inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

letauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

lipnounUS /lɪp/

either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

longingnounUS /ˈlɔːŋɪŋ/

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

MIGRATORYadjectiveUS /ˈmaɪɡrətɔːri/

used of animals that move seasonally

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

Nora

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

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

pleasedadjectiveUS /pliːzd/

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

RachelnounUS /ˈreɪtʃəl/

(Old Testament) the second wife of Jacob and mother of Joseph and Benjamin

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

realizedadjectiveUS /ˈriːəlaɪzd/

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

runverbUS /rʌn/

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

savoryadjectiveUS /ˈseɪvəri/

morally wholesome or acceptable

scornfuladjectiveUS /ˈskɔːrnfəl/

expressing extreme contempt

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

succeedingadjectiveUS /səkˈsiːdɪŋ/

coming after or following

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It seemed to her the intensity of her longing must cause one to appear.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

weeksnounUS /wiːks/

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading THE MIGRATORY INSTINCT During the first weeks succeeding Emil's departure, Rachel looked feverishly for a letter.

wentverbUS /went/

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading She went about with a curled lip and a scornful eye.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading But none came, and finally she realized that none would come.

Chapter 12 of The Bird in the Box by Mary M. (Mary Martha) Mears holds 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 12 of The Bird in the Box contain?

Chapter 12 holds 158 sentences of The Bird in the Box, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Bird in the Box by Mary M. (Mary Martha) Mears exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 12 of The Bird in the Box?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Bird in the Box

Common questions about reading The Bird in the Box by Mary M. (Mary Martha) Mears on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Bird in the Box?

Yes. All 5304 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #55816 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Bird in the Box is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #55816, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Bird in the Box take to read?

About 442 minutes of reading across 1061 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Bird in the Box section by section

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

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Vocabulary met early in The Bird in the Box

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

Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bird in the Box; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Breath: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bird in the Box; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Runners: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bird in the Box; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Birth: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Bird in the Box; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XII

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