Chapter 12 of The Chouans is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
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Chapter XII
Chapter 12 of The Chouans is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously. Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent. “How have I displeased you?” he said. “What can I do to soothe you?” “Tell me your name.”
Chapter 12 of The Chouans is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading ““Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.”
not pleased; experiencing or manifesting displeasure
From this reading ““How have I displeased you?” he said.”
psychological suffering
From this reading “Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.”
the trait of being injudicious
From this reading ““Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.”
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading “Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.”
any red eruption of the skin
From this reading ““Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.”
give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading ““What can I do to soothe you?””
without awareness
From this reading ““Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “What can I do to soothe you?”
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
spoiled or ruined or demolished
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
not pleased; experiencing or manifesting displeasure
From this reading “How have I displeased you?” he said.
psychological suffering
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading “What can I do to soothe you?”
yet to be or coming
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “How have I displeased you?” he said.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “How have I displeased you?” he said.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “How have I displeased you?” he said.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
the trait of being injudicious
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
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 “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
small silvery drumfish often mistaken for white perch; found along coasts of United States from New York to Mexico
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “Tell me your name.”
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “Tell me your name.”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
any red eruption of the skin
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
give moral or emotional strength to
From this reading “What can I do to soothe you?”
that is looked for
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
express in words
From this reading “Tell me your name.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
without awareness
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading “What can I do to soothe you?”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
which person or people
From this reading Mademoiselle de Verneuil, who seemed to be in real distress, was silent.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why has my rash indiscretion, which sought to give a future to our present meeting, destroyed the happiness of it?” he said, taking her hand, which she left in his unconsciously.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “How have I displeased you?” he said.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Tell me your name.”
Chapter 12 of The Chouans by Honoré de Balzac holds 165 sentences, grouped into 33 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 12 holds 165 sentences of The Chouans, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 12 of The Chouans by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 165 sentences, grouped into 33 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.
Work through the 33 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 33 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.
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.
Common questions about reading The Chouans by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5194 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1921 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #1921, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 432 minutes of reading across 1039 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Chouans section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 33 chapters of The Chouans to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Chouans, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
