Chapter 3 of The Education of Eric Lane is here in full — 399 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 Education of Eric Lane is here in full — 399 sentences across 80 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box. "Bed-time," he said. "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp. "Oh, it's no good!" Barbara cried.
Chapter 3 of The Education of Eric Lane is here in full — 399 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.
have an effect upon
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading “Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.”
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading “Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.”
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading “"This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.”
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 "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
have an effect upon
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
past form of “arrest” — take into custody
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Bed-time," he said.
a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading Barbara cried.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
a short labored intake of breath with the mouth open
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "Oh, it's no good!"
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Bed-time," he said.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Oh, it's no good!"
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
a formally arranged gathering
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
not any; not one
From this reading "Oh, it's no good!"
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading "Oh, it's no good!"
past form of “replace” — substitute a person or thing for (another that is broken or inefficient or lost or no longer working or yielding what is expected)
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Bed-time," he said.
so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Eric took the cigarette and replaced it in its box.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
at the time that
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
the words that are spoken
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "This meeting was not of my contriving, Lady Barbara, and, when you've learned the meaning of words, you'll find that it won't affect your _happiness_----" His flow was arrested by a startling gasp.
Chapter 3 of The Education of Eric Lane by Stephen McKenna holds 399 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 399 sentences of The Education of Eric Lane, unabridged, divided into 80 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Education of Eric Lane by Stephen McKenna exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 399 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 Education of Eric Lane by Stephen McKenna on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 7191 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #29041 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #29041, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 599 minutes of reading across 1439 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Education of Eric Lane section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 18 chapters of The Education of Eric Lane 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 Education of Eric Lane, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
