The Boss of Little Arcady

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Harry Leon Wilson • Curated US English Learning Edition

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In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

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Chapter XXVIII Reading 1/21

The Boss of Little Arcady Harry Leon Wilson

Chapter XXVIII

Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

THE ABDICATION OF THE BOSS There is no need to conceal that I was by this time put to it for matters to think upon not clearly related to myself; in other words for matters extraneous to my neighbor's troublesome daughter. In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me. I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control. It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point. The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

The Boss of Little Arcady

Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

Chapter 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady is here in full — 106 sentences across 22 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/21 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

/ðə ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃən ʌv ðə bɑːs ðer ɪz noʊ niːd tuː kənˈsiːl ðæt aɪ wɑːz baɪ ðɪs taɪm pʊt tuː ɪt fɔːr ˈmætərz tuː θɪŋk əˈpɑːn nɑːt ˈklɪrli rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˌmaɪˈself ɪn ˈʌðər wɜːrdz fɔːr ˈmætərz ekˈstreɪniəs tuː maɪ ˈneɪbərz ˈtrʌbəlsəm ˈdɔːtər/

Line 2

In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

/ɪn ʃɪr ˌselfdɪˈfens wɑːz aɪ ˈdrɪvən tuː lʊk əˈbrɔːd fɔːr ˈɪntrəsts ðæt wʊd səˈfaɪs wɪˈθaʊt dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ miː/

Line 3

I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

Line 4

It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

/ɪt wɑːz ˈdɪfəkəlt æt fɜːrst tuː səˈspekt ðæt ʃiː ˈæktʃuːəli ment tuː traɪ miː tuː ðə ˈbreɪkɪŋ pɔɪnt/

Line 5

The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

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.

abdication noun US /ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃən/

a formal resignation and renunciation of powers

From this reading “THE ABDICATION OF THE BOSS There is no need to conceal that I was by this time put to it for matters to think upon not clearly related to myself; in other words for matters extraneous to my neighbor's troublesome daughter.”

chastened verb US /ˈtʃeɪsənd/

past form of “chasten” — censure severely

From this reading “The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.”

disquieting adjective US /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/

causing mental discomfort

From this reading “In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.”

extraneous adjective US /ekˈstreɪniəs/

not pertinent to the matter under consideration

neighbor's noun US /ˈneɪbərz/

possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

self-control noun US /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/

the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses

From this reading “I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.”

self-defence noun US /ˌselfdɪˈfens/

the act of defending yourself

From this reading “In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.”

troublesome adjective US /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/

causing difficulty or annoyance

All words in this reading · 87

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

ABDICATIONnounUS /ˌæbdɪˈkeɪʃən/

a formal resignation and renunciation of powers

From this reading THE ABDICATION OF THE BOSS There is no need to conceal that I was by this time put to it for matters to think upon not clearly related to myself; in other words for matters extraneous to my neighbor's troublesome daughter.

abroadadverbUS /əˈbrɔːd/

to or in a foreign country

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

actuallyadverbUS /ˈæktʃuːəli/

in actual fact

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

admitverbUS /ədˈmɪt/

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

BOSSnounUS /bɑːs/

a person who exercises control over workers

breakingnounUS /ˈbreɪkɪŋ/

the act of breaking something

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

broughtverbUS /brɔːt/

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

chastenedverbUS /ˈtʃeɪsənd/

past form of “chasten” — censure severely

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

clearlyadverbUS /ˈklɪrli/

without doubt or question

compelledverbUS /kəmˈpeld/

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

concealverbUS /kənˈsiːl/

prevent from being seen or discovered

daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/

a female human offspring

difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

disquietingadjectiveUS /dɪˈskwaɪətɪŋ/

causing mental discomfort

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

divined

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

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

extraneousadjectiveUS /ekˈstreɪniəs/

not pertinent to the matter under consideration

faithnounUS /feɪθ/

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/

not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

griefnounUS /ɡriːf/

intense sorrow caused by loss of a loved one (especially by death)

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

harmonynounUS /ˈhɑːrməni/

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

interestsnounUS /ˈɪntrəsts/

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

Kate

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

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

Lansdale

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

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

liveverbUS /laɪv/

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

lookverbUS /lʊk/

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

mattersnounUS /ˈmætərz/

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

meantverbUS /ment/

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

mereadjectiveUS /mɪr/

being nothing more than specified

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

MissverbUS /mɪs/

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

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

neighbor'snounUS /ˈneɪbərz/

possessive form of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

notenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

plainlyadverbUS /ˈpleɪnli/

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

powersnounUS /ˈpaʊərz/

plural of “power” — possession of controlling influence

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

relatedadjectiveUS /rɪˈleɪtɪd/

being connected either logically or causally or by shared characteristics

self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/

the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

self-defencenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/

the act of defending yourself

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/

complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

sufficeverbUS /səˈfaɪs/

be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

suspectverbUS /səˈspekt/

imagine to be the case or true or probable

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

suspicionnounUS /səˈspɪʃən/

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

troublesomeadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəlsəm/

causing difficulty or annoyance

tryverbUS /traɪ/

make an effort or attempt

From this reading It was difficult at first to suspect that she actually meant to try me to the breaking point.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

wherein

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

From this reading The suspicion brought a false note to that harmony of chastened grief wherein, I had divined, she meant to live out her life.

winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/

having won

From this reading I was now compelled to admit that there was plainly to be observed in Miss Kate Lansdale something more than a mere winning faith in my powers of self-control.

withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/

the words that are spoken

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading In sheer self-defence was I driven to look abroad for interests that would suffice without disquieting me.

Chapter 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady by Harry Leon Wilson holds 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady contain?

Chapter 28 holds 106 sentences of The Boss of Little Arcady, unabridged, divided into 22 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 28 of The Boss of Little Arcady by Harry Leon Wilson exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 106 sentences, grouped into 22 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.

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Work through the 22 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

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Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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