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The Deserted Woman
The Deserted Woman

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Deserted Woman is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Deserted Woman
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!
Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.
After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.
So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.
Tell me, do you wish for your liberty?
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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 Deserted Woman

Chapter V · Chapter 5

Chapter 5 of The Deserted Woman is here in full — 118 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!
Line 2
Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.
Line 3
After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.
/ˈæftər enˈdjʊrɪŋ ðə ˈniːdləs ˈtɔːrtʃər ʌv ðiːz daʊts ʌv wɪtʃ aɪ æm əˈkjuːzɪŋ ˌmaɪˈself ˈevəri ˈædəd deɪ ʌv lʌv jes ˈevəri ˈsɪŋɡəl deɪ wɪl biː ə hoʊl ˈlaɪftaɪm ʌv blɪs/
Line 4
So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.
/soʊ spiːk ənd spiːk ˈoʊpənli duː nɑːt dɪˈsiːv miː ɪt wʊd biː ə kraɪm/
Line 5
Tell me, do you wish for your liberty?
/tel miː duː juː wɪʃ fɔːr jɔːr ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

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.

accusing adjective US /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading “After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.”

bliss noun US /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading “After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.”

chimerical adjective US /kɪˈmerəkəl/

being or relating to or like a chimera

From this reading ““Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!”

deceive verb US /dɪˈsiːv/

be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading “So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.”

enduring adjective US /enˈdjʊrɪŋ/

lasting a long time

From this reading “After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.”

lifetime noun US /ˈlaɪftaɪm/

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading “After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.”

needless adjective US /ˈniːdləs/

unnecessary and unwarranted

From this reading “After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.”

openly adverb US /ˈoʊpənli/

in an open way

From this reading “So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.”

All words in this reading · 85

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 After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

accusingadjectiveUS /əˈkjuːzɪŋ/

containing or expressing accusation

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

Ah

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

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

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 “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

blissnounUS /blɪs/

a state of extreme happiness

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

burdennounUS /ˈbɜːrdən/

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

chimericaladjectiveUS /kɪˈmerəkəl/

being or relating to or like a chimera

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

crimenounUS /kraɪm/

(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

daynounUS /deɪ/

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

DearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

deceiveverbUS /dɪˈsiːv/

be false to; be dishonest with

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

doubtsnounUS /daʊts/

plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

enduringadjectiveUS /enˈdjʊrɪŋ/

lasting a long time

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

EvenounUS /iːv/

(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

fearsnounUS /fɪrz/

plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

leastadjectiveUS /liːst/

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

letternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

libertynounUS /ˈlɪb.ər.ti/

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

lifetimenounUS /ˈlaɪftaɪm/

the period during which something is functional (as between birth and death)

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/

held dear

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/

a particular point in time

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

needlessadjectiveUS /ˈniːdləs/

unnecessary and unwarranted

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

ninenounUS /naɪn/

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

openlyadverbUS /ˈoʊpənli/

in an open way

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

quicklyadverbUS /ˈkwɪkli/

with speed

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

readverbUS /red/

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

risenadjectiveUS /ˈrɪzən/

(of e.g. celestial bodies) above the horizon

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/

not in physical motion

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

TellverbUS /tel/

express in words

From this reading Tell me, do you wish for your liberty?

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/

torment emotionally or mentally

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

treasurenounUS /ˈtreʒər/

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

wishverbUS /wɪʃ/

hope for; have a wish

From this reading Tell me, do you wish for your liberty?

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading So speak, and speak openly; do not deceive me, it would be a crime.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Ah, in one moment I will love you more than I have ever loved you, I think, in these nine years.

yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading After enduring the needless torture of these doubts of which I am accusing myself, every added day of love, yes, every single day, will be a whole lifetime of bliss.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Dear treasure of mine, if all the while no least thought of liberty has risen in your mind, if my love is no burden on you, if my fears are chimerical, if I am still your Eve--the one woman in the world for you--come to me as soon as you have read this letter, come quickly!

Chapter 5 of The Deserted Woman by Honoré de Balzac holds 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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.

What does chapter 5 of The Deserted Woman contain?

Chapter 5 holds 118 sentences of The Deserted Woman, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 5 of The Deserted Woman by Honoré de Balzac exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 118 sentences, grouped into 24 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 5 of The Deserted Woman?

Work through the 24 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 24 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 5 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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 Deserted Woman

Common questions about reading The Deserted Woman by Honoré de Balzac on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Deserted Woman?

Yes. All 687 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1729 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Deserted Woman is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1729, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Deserted Woman take to read?

About 57 minutes of reading across 138 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Deserted Woman section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 5 chapters of The Deserted Woman 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 Deserted Woman

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

Grace
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Deserted Woman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Duchesse
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Deserted Woman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Abrantes
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Deserted Woman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Devoted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Deserted Woman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.