Chapter 3 of The Dark Fleece is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of The Dark Fleece is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“You might be amused by his accounts of California. For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.” “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you. Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.” “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
Chapter 3 of The Dark Fleece is here in full — 397 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/79 · 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.
plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading ““You might be amused by his accounts of California.”
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading ““You might be amused by his accounts of California.”
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading “For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.””
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading “Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.””
lean white flesh of fish similar to but smaller than cod; usually baked or poached or as fillets sauteed or fried
From this reading ““You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.”
under normal conditions
From this reading ““I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.”
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading ““You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.”
(used especially of meats) preserved in salt
From this reading ““You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.”
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.
a woman who is old
In this reading ““I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.”
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 “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
plural of “account” — a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
pleasantly occupied
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
the quality of being slow to understand
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
lean white flesh of fish similar to but smaller than cod; usually baked or poached or as fillets sauteed or fried
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
under normal conditions
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
prevented from decaying or spoiling and prepared for future use
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
feel remorse for; feel sorry for; be contrite about
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
(used especially of meats) preserved in salt
From this reading “You are afraid I'll get preserved like a salted haddock.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
express in speech
From this reading Any dullness you speak of I regret for another reason.”
declared as fact; explicitly stated
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading For, although you never complain, I can see that you think it dull.”
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading “I am an old woman,” Herriot Cozzens stated, “my life was quite normally full, and I am content here with you.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You might be amused by his accounts of California.
Chapter 3 of The Dark Fleece by Joseph Hergesheimer holds 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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.
Chapter 3 holds 397 sentences of The Dark Fleece, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Dark Fleece by Joseph Hergesheimer exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 397 sentences, grouped into 80 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 80 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 80 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 3 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 Dark Fleece by Joseph Hergesheimer on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 1599 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #51928 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #51928, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 133 minutes of reading across 320 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Dark Fleece section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 4 chapters of The Dark Fleece 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 Dark Fleece, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
