Chapter 3 of The Elect Lady is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter III
Chapter 3 of The Elect Lady is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
HELP. “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books. “I saw it from the door!” “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened. “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
Chapter 3 of The Elect Lady is here in full — 63 sentences across 13 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/12 · 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.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading ““Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.”
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading ““Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.”
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading ““Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.”
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading ““Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.”
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading ““Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.”
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading ““Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.”
confined on all sides
From this reading ““Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.”
create by training and teaching
From this reading ““I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.”
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 “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
later than; following
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading “I saw it from the door!”
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “I saw it from the door!”
the act of departing
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading HELP.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I saw it from the door!”
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “I saw it from the door!”
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
a particular point in time
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading “Hush!” returned the old man, and listened.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
cut with a saw
From this reading “I saw it from the door!”
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
confined on all sides
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
create by training and teaching
From this reading “I hear the train going on,” he said, after a moment.
in or at the place that
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Papa! papa! there is an accident on the line!” cried Miss Fordyce, running into her father's study, where he sat surrounded with books.
Chapter 3 of The Elect Lady by George MacDonald holds 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 63 sentences of The Elect Lady, unabridged, divided into 13 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 3 of The Elect Lady by George MacDonald exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 63 sentences, grouped into 13 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 13 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 13 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 Elect Lady by George MacDonald on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 3543 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #8944 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #8944, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 295 minutes of reading across 709 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Elect Lady section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 37 chapters of The Elect Lady 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 Elect Lady, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
