The Carter Girls

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Carter Girls is here in full — 258 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Nell Speed • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

WHERE IS BOBBY?

"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

"I want to make you glad to see me and if my coming means you are no longer in durance vile I know I shall be welcome," he had said when he told her good-by after a little more pulse taking.

"We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

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/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter XXI Reading 1/51

The Carter Girls

Chapter XXI

Chapter 21 of The Carter Girls is here in full — 258 sentences across 52 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/51 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

WHERE IS BOBBY?

/wer ɪz ˈbɑːbi/

Line 2

"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

Line 3

She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

Line 4

"I want to make you glad to see me and if my coming means you are no longer in durance vile I know I shall be welcome," he had said when he told her good-by after a little more pulse taking.

Line 5

"We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

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.

bobby noun US /ˈbɑːbi/

an informal term for a British policeman

From this reading “WHERE IS BOBBY?”

Douglas noun US /ˈdʌɡləs/

United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)

From this reading “"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.”

enforced adjective US /enˈfɔːrst/

forced or compelled or put in force

From this reading “"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.”

planning noun US /ˈplænɪŋ/

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading “She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.”

pulse noun US /pʌls/

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)

From this reading “"I want to make you glad to see me and if my coming means you are no longer in durance vile I know I shall be welcome," he had said when he told her good-by after a little more pulse taking.”

tent noun US /tent/

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading “"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.”

vile adjective US /vaɪl/

morally reprehensible

Wright noun US /raɪt/

United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)

From this reading “She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.”

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.

in durance preposition + noun

In this reading “"I want to make you glad to see me and if my coming means you are no longer in durance vile I know I shall be welcome," he had said when he told her good-by after a little more pulse taking.”

into the tent preposition + article + noun counted as “into … tent”

In this reading “"Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.”

All words in this reading · 67

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 She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading "I want to make you glad to see me and if my coming means you are no longer in durance vile I know I shall be welcome," he had said when he told her good-by after a little more pulse taking.

alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading "We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

BOBBYnounUS /ˈbɑːbi/

an informal term for a British policeman

From this reading WHERE IS BOBBY?

campnounUS /kæmp/

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/

United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

durancenoun

imprisonment (especially for a long time)

enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/

forced or compelled or put in force

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

good-bynoun

a farewell remark

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

HelennounUS /ˈhelən/

(Greek mythology) the beautiful daughter of Zeus and Leda who was abducted by Paris; the Greek army sailed to Troy to get her back which resulted in the Trojan War

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

impersonallyadverb

without warmth

From this reading "We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

invalidismnoun

chronic ill health

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading WHERE IS BOBBY?

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

mepronounUS /miː/

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

meansnounUS /miːnz/

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

planningnounUS /ˈplænɪŋ/

an act of formulating a program for a definite course of action

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

promisedverbUS /ˈprɑːməst/

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

pulsenounUS /pʌls/

(electronics) a sharp transient wave in the normal electrical state (or a series of such transients)

quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

tentnounUS /tent/

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

vileadjectiveUS /vaɪl/

morally reprehensible

wantverbUS /wɑːnt/

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "Where is Bobby, Helen?" asked Douglas, coming into the tent where Helen was having an enforced invalidism.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We shall always be glad to have you," she had replied impersonally.

weeknounUS /wiːk/

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

welcomeverbUS /ˈwelkəm/

accept gladly

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

WHEREconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading WHERE IS BOBBY?

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

WrightnounUS /raɪt/

United States writer of detective novels (1888-1939)

From this reading She had promised Dr. Wright to be quiet until he returned to camp, which he was planning to do in a week.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

Chapter 21 of The Carter Girls by Nell Speed holds 258 sentences, grouped into 52 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 21 of The Carter Girls contain?

Chapter 21 holds 258 sentences of The Carter Girls, unabridged, divided into 52 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Carter Girls by Nell Speed exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 258 sentences, grouped into 52 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 21 of The Carter Girls?

Work through the 52 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 52 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Carter Girls

Common questions about reading The Carter Girls by Nell Speed on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Carter Girls?

Yes. All 3402 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40177 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Carter Girls is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #40177, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Carter Girls take to read?

About 283 minutes of reading across 681 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Carter Girls

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

Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Carter Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Molly: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Carter Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
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Series: A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Carter Girls; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XXI

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