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The Black Opal
The Black Opal

Chapter XXXV

Chapter 35 of The Black Opal is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Black Opal
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.
Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.
All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.
Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.
The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.
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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.

The Black Opal

Chapter XXXV

Chapter 35 of The Black Opal is here in full — 115 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/23 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.
Line 2
Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.
Line 3
All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.
Line 4
Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.
Line 5
The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

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.

buggies noun US /ˈbʌɡiz/

plural of “buggy” — a small lightweight carriage; drawn by a single horse

From this reading “All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.”

carts noun US /kɑːrts/

plural of “cart” — a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading “All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.”

circling verb US /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “circle” — travel around something

From this reading “It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.”

cuckoos noun US /ˈkuːkuːz/

plural of “cuckoo” — a man who is a stupid incompetent fool

From this reading “It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.”

daisies noun US /ˈdeɪziz/

plural of “daisy” — any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl

From this reading “It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.”

paddock noun US /ˈpædək/

pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race

From this reading “The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.”

stakes noun US /steɪks/

the money risked on a gamble

From this reading “Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.”

vehicles noun US /ˈviːhɪkəlz/

plural of “vehicle” — a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading “Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.”

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.

Three Mile noun + noun

In this reading “All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.”

other side adjective + noun

In this reading “The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.”

Saddle horses verb + noun counted as “saddle horse”

a lightweight horse kept for riding only

In this reading “Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.”

lay across verb + particle

In this reading “It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.”

reins over verb + particle counted as “rein over”

In this reading “Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.”

horse's head noun + noun counted as “horse head”

In this reading “The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.”

snapped at verb + particle counted as “snap at”

bite off with a quick bite

In this reading “Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.”

in the air preposition + article + noun counted as “in … air”

on everybody's mind

In this reading “It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.”

All words in this reading · 106

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.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

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 All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

ArthurnounUS /ˈɑːrθər/

elected vice president and became 21st President of the United States when Garfield was assassinated (1830-1886)

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

besideprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪd/

next to; at the side of

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

blossomverbUS /ˈblɑːsəm/

produce or yield flowers

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

brightly-painted

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

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

buggiesnounUS /ˈbʌɡiz/

plural of “buggy” — a small lightweight carriage; drawn by a single horse

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

callingnounUS /ˈkɔːlɪŋ/

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

cartsnounUS /kɑːrts/

plural of “cart” — a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

cemeterynounUS /ˈseməteri/

a tract of land used for burials

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

chestnutadjectiveUS /ˈtʃesnʌt/

(of hair or feathers) of a golden brown to reddish brown color

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

circlingverbUS /ˈsɜːrkəlɪŋ/

-ing form of “circle” — travel around something

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

clearverbUS /klɪr/

rid of obstructions

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

crowdverbUS /kraʊd/

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

cuckoosnounUS /ˈkuːkuːz/

plural of “cuckoo” — a man who is a stupid incompetent fool

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

daisiesnounUS /ˈdeɪziz/

plural of “daisy” — any of numerous composite plants having flower heads with well-developed ray flowers usually arranged in a single whorl

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

dimadjectiveUS /dɪm/

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

directionnounUS /dərˈekʃən/

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

exquisitelyadverbUS /ˌekˈskwɪzɪtli/

in a delicate manner

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

FallenadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːlən/

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

fenceverbUS /fens/

enclose with a fence

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

fragrancenounUS /ˈfreɪɡrəns/

a distinctive odor that is pleasant

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

grassverbUS /ɡræs/

shoot down, of birds

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

greyadjectiveUS /ɡreɪ/

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

headnounUS /hed/

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

Henty

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

herbagenoun

succulent herbaceous vegetation of pasture land

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

horizonnounUS /hərˈaɪzən/

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

horse'snounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/

possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

HorsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

housenounUS /haʊs/

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

Langi-Eumina

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

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

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 The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

MilenounUS /maɪl/

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

outsideadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtˈsaɪd/

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

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

paddocknounUS /ˈpædək/

pen where racehorses are saddled and paraded before a race

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

palings

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

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

papernounUS /ˈpeɪpər/

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/

plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

Potch

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

rangedverbUS /reɪndʒd/

past form of “range” — change or be different within limits

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

reinsnounUS /reɪnz/

plural of “rein” — one of a pair of long straps (usually connected to the bit or the headpiece) used to control a horse

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

ridingnounUS /ˈraɪdɪŋ/

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

rivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/

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

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

SaddleverbUS /ˈsædəl/

put a saddle on

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

shabbyadjectiveUS /ˈʃæbi/

showing signs of wear and tear

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

sidenounUS /saɪd/

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

skynounUS /skaɪ/

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

snappedverbUS /snæpt/

inflected form of “snap” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

Sophie

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

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

springnounUS /sprɪŋ/

the season of growth

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

stakesnounUS /steɪks/

the money risked on a gamble

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

StarnounUS /stɑːr/

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

stationsnounUS /ˈsteɪʃənz/

(Roman Catholic Church) a devotion consisting of fourteen prayers said before a series of fourteen pictures or carvings representing successive incidents during Jesus' passage from Pilate's house to his crucifixion at Calvary

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

sulkies

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

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

tanknounUS /tæŋk/

an enclosed armored military vehicle; has a cannon and moves on caterpillar treads

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

ThreenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

tiedadjectiveUS /taɪd/

bound or secured closely

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

vehiclesnounUS /ˈviːhɪkəlz/

plural of “vehicle” — a conveyance that transports people or objects

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

walkingadjectiveUS /ˈwɔːkɪŋ/

close enough to be walked to

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

Warria

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

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

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 All the horses and shabby, or new and brightly-painted carts, sulkies, and buggies of Fallen Star and the Three Mile were there; and buggies from Warria, Langi-Eumina, and the river stations as well.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Horses and vehicles were tied up outside the grey palings of the cemetery on the Warria road.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading The crowd of people standing in the tall grass and herbage on the other side of the fence was just breaking up when Sophie and Potch appeared, coming over the plains from the direction of the tank paddock, Sophie riding the chestnut Arthur Henty had left behind her house, and Potch walking beside the horse's head.

whinnied

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

From this reading Saddle horses, ranged along one side of the fence, reins over the stakes, whinnied and snapped at each other.

whitenounUS /waɪt/

a Caucasian

From this reading It was one of those clear days of late spring, the sky exquisitely blue, the cuckoos calling, the paper daisies in blossom, their fragrance in the air; they lay across the plains, through the herbage, white to the dim, circling horizon.

Chapter 35 of The Black Opal by Katharine Susannah Prichard holds 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 35 of The Black Opal contain?

Chapter 35 holds 115 sentences of The Black Opal, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 35 of The Black Opal by Katharine Susannah Prichard exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 115 sentences, grouped into 23 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 35 of The Black Opal?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 35 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 35 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 Black Opal

Common questions about reading The Black Opal by Katharine Susannah Prichard on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Black Opal?

Yes. All 6229 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #36710 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Black Opal is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #36710, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Black Opal take to read?

About 519 minutes of reading across 1246 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Black Opal section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 35 chapters of The Black Opal 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 Black Opal

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Opal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pioneers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Opal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Windlestraws
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Opal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
String
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Black Opal; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.