Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II
The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II is here in full — 134 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Cour de Parme," Parma.
Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.
Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.
Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?
I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II

Chapter XVI

Chapter 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II is here in full — 134 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Cour de Parme," Parma.
Line 2
Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.
Line 3
Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.
/fərˈɡɪv miː ˈdɪrəst ɪf aɪ ˌɪmˈpoʊz ɑːn juː ðə ˈtaɪərsəm tæsk ʌv ˈlɪsənɪŋ twaɪs tuː ðə seɪm teɪl ɔːr ðə ˈɔːlmoʊst ˈiːkwəli ənˈplezənt ˈduːti ʌv ˈtraɪɪŋ tuː ˈfɑːloʊ miː θruː ɡæps ʌv ˌʌnɪkˈspleɪnd ɪˈvents/
Line 4
Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?
Line 5
I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.
/aɪ fiːl æz ɪf aɪ hæd rɪˈviːld ɪt tuː maɪ ˈdɪrəst ˈkɪti maɪ soʊl ˈwɪspərz tuː miː ðæt ʃiː berz hɜːr ʃer ɪn maɪ ˈsɑːroʊz ənd ˈmɪŋɡəlz hɜːr terz wɪð maɪn/

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.

epistle noun US /ɪˈpɪsəl/

a specially long, formal letter

From this reading “Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.”

gaps noun US /ɡæps/

plural of “gap” — a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

impose verb US /ˌɪmˈpoʊz/

compel to behave in a certain way

From this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

mingles verb US /ˈmɪŋɡəlz/

third-person singular of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading “I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.”

shipwreck noun US /ˈʃɪprek/

a wrecked ship (or a part of one)

From this reading “Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?”

tiresome adjective US /ˈtaɪərsəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

unexplained adjective US /ˌʌnɪkˈspleɪnd/

not explained

From this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

whirlwind noun US /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/

a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth

From this reading “Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.”

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.

unpleasant duty adjective + noun

In this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

impose on verb + particle

In this reading “Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.”

at a loss preposition + article + noun counted as “at … loss”

filled with bewilderment

In this reading “Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.”

most mysterious adverb + adjective

In this reading “Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?”

share in verb + particle

In this reading “I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.”

All words in this reading · 106

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 Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

adventuresnounUS /ædˈventʃərz/

plural of “adventure” — a wild and exciting undertaking (not necessarily lawful)

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

amauxiliary verbUS /æm/

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

bearsnounUS /berz/

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

brainnounUS /breɪn/

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

closedadjectiveUS /kloʊzd/

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

Countess's

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

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

Cour

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

From this reading "Cour de Parme," Parma.

crisisnounUS /ˈkraɪsəs/

an unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

denounUS /diː/

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading "Cour de Parme," Parma.

DearestnounUS /ˈdɪrəst/

a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/

the act of departing

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

distractedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstræktəd/

having the attention diverted especially because of anxiety

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

dutynounUS /ˈduːti/

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/

plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

epistlenounUS /ɪˈpɪsəl/

a specially long, formal letter

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

fearverbUS /fɪr/

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

feelverbUS /fiːl/

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

flightnounUS /flaɪt/

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

foreveradverbUS /fərˈevər/

for a limitless time

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

ForgiveverbUS /fərˈɡɪv/

stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

gapsnounUS /ɡæps/

plural of “gap” — a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

heartnounUS /hɑːrt/

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

hopelessadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊpləs/

without hope because there seems to be no possibility of comfort or success

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

imposeverbUS /ˌɪmˈpoʊz/

compel to behave in a certain way

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

JamesnounUS /dʒeɪmz/

a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

KittynounUS /ˈkɪti/

the combined stakes of the betters

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

leftnounUS /left/

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 Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

listeningnounUS /ˈlɪsənɪŋ/

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

lossnounUS /lɔːs/

something that is lost

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

melancholynounUS /ˈmelənkɑːli/

a feeling of thoughtful sadness

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

minepronounUS /maɪn/

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

minglesverbUS /ˈmɪŋɡəlz/

third-person singular of “mingle” — to bring or combine together or with something else

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

mysteriousadjectiveUS /mɪˈstɪriəs/

of an obscure nature

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

narrativenounUS /ˈnærətɪv/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

offadverbUS /ɔːf/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

Parma

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

From this reading "Cour de Parme," Parma.

Parme

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

From this reading "Cour de Parme," Parma.

particularadjectiveUS /pərˈtɪkjələr/

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

pooradjectiveUS /puːr/

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/

a rate that is rapid

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

revealedverbUS /rɪˈviːld/

past form of “reveal” — make visible

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

shareverbUS /ʃer/

have in common

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

shipwrecknounUS /ˈʃɪprek/

a wrecked ship (or a part of one)

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

sorrowsnounUS /ˈsɑːroʊz/

plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

soulnounUS /soʊl/

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

succeededverbUS /səkˈsiːdɪd/

past form of “succeed” — attain success or reach a desired goal

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

talenounUS /teɪl/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

tasknounUS /tæsk/

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

tearsnounUS /terz/

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

thrownadjectiveUS /θroʊn/

caused to fall to the ground

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

tiresomeadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərsəm/

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

toldverbUS /toʊld/

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/

hard to endure

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

twiceadverbUS /twaɪs/

two times

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

unexplainedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspleɪnd/

not explained

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

unpleasantadjectiveUS /ənˈplezənt/

offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness

From this reading Forgive me, dearest, if I impose on you the tiresome task of listening twice to the same tale, or the almost equally unpleasant duty of trying to follow me through gaps of unexplained events.

variedadjectiveUS /ˈverid/

characterized by variety

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Have I told you of the Countess's departure,--that most mysterious flight, which has thrown poor James into, I fear, a hopeless melancholy, and made shipwreck of his heart forever?

whirlwindnounUS /ˈwɜːrlwɪnd/

a more or less vertical column of air whirling around itself as it moves over the surface of the Earth

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/

plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading I feel as if I had revealed it to my dearest Kitty; my soul whispers to me that she bears her share in my sorrows, and mingles her tears with mine.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Dearest Kitty,--So varied have been my emotions of late, and with such whirlwind rapidity have they succeeded each other in my distracted brain, that I am really at a loss to know where I left off in my last epistle to you, and at what particular crisis in our adventures I closed my narrative.

Chapter 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Charles Lever holds 134 sentences, grouped into 27 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 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II contain?

Chapter 16 holds 134 sentences of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Charles Lever exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 134 sentences, grouped into 27 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 16 of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II?

Work through the 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 27 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 16 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 16 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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II

Common questions about reading The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II by Charles Lever on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II?

Yes. All 3859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35442 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #35442, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II take to read?

About 321 minutes of reading across 772 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II section by section

How to work through The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 29 chapters of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II 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 Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Volume
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Constance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Papers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Account
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. II; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.