Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Freelands
The Freelands

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Freelands is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Freelands
Context Illustration Reading 1/31 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!
I don't trust that woman a yard!
I shall wire for Felix!'
And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.
There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.
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 Freelands

Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

Chapter 21 of The Freelands is here in full — 158 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/31 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!
Line 2
I don't trust that woman a yard!
Line 3
I shall wire for Felix!'
Line 4
And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.
/ənd ðə ˈlɔːŋɡər hiː leɪ ɑːn hɪz bæk ðə mɔːr ðə kənˈvɪkʃən bɔːrd ə hoʊl ɪn hɪm/
Line 5
There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.
/ðer wɑːz ə kaɪnd ʌv ˈfiːvər ɪn ðə er ˈnaʊədeɪz ðæt ˈwɪmən siːmd tuː kætʃ æz ˈtʃɪldrən kɑːt ðə ˈmiːzəlz/

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.

becomes verb US /bɪˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading “But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!”

bored adjective US /bɔːrd/

tired of the world

From this reading “And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.”

conviction noun US /kənˈvɪkʃən/

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading “And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.”

intensity noun US /ɪnˈtensəti/

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading “But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!”

measles noun US /ˈmiːzəlz/

an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children

From this reading “There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.”

nowadays noun US /ˈnaʊədeɪz/

the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

From this reading “There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.”

Stanley noun US /ˈstænli/

United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)

From this reading “But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!”

wire noun US /ˈwaɪər/

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading “I shall wire for Felix!'”

All words in this reading · 62

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 I don't trust that woman a yard!

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

AndconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

becomesverbUS /bɪˈkʌmz/

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

boredadjectiveUS /bɔːrd/

tired of the world

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

ByprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

cameverbUS /keɪm/

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

catchverbUS /kætʃ/

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

caughtverbUS /kɑːt/

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

convictionnounUS /kənˈvɪkʃən/

an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

dawnnounUS /dɔːn/

the first light of day

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

don't

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

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

fearverbUS /fɪr/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

Felix

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

From this reading I shall wire for Felix!'

fevernounUS /ˈfiːvər/

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I shall wire for Felix!'

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

holenounUS /hoʊl/

an opening into or through something

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

intensitynounUS /ɪnˈtensəti/

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

Jovenoun

(Roman mythology) supreme god of Romans; counterpart of Greek Zeus

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

layverbUS /leɪ/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/

for more time

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

measlesnounUS /ˈmiːzəlz/

an acute and highly contagious viral disease marked by distinct red spots followed by a rash; occurs primarily in children

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

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

From this reading And the longer he lay on his back, the more the conviction bored a hole in him.

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

nextadjectiveUS /nekst/

immediately following in time or order

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

nowadaysnounUS /ˈnaʊədeɪz/

the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

seemedverbUS /siːmd/

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall wire for Felix!'

smalladjectiveUS /smɔːl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

soonadverbUS /suːn/

in the near future

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

StanleynounUS /ˈstænli/

United States inventor who built a steam-powered automobile (1849-1918)

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

trustnounUS /trʌst/

something (as property) held by one party (the trustee) for the benefit of another (the beneficiary)

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

turningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/

ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc

From this reading I shall wire for Felix!'

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading But next morning, turning on his back as it came dawn, Stanley thought, with the curious intensity which in those small hours so soon becomes fear: 'By Jove!

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

womennounUS /ˈwɪmən/

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading There was a kind of fever in the air nowadays, that women seemed to catch, as children caught the measles.

yardnounUS /jɑːrd/

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading I don't trust that woman a yard!

Chapter 21 of The Freelands by John Galsworthy holds 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 21 of The Freelands contain?

Chapter 21 holds 158 sentences of The Freelands, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 21 of The Freelands by John Galsworthy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 158 sentences, grouped into 32 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 21 of The Freelands?

Work through the 32 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 32 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 21 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 21 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 Freelands

Common questions about reading The Freelands by John Galsworthy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Freelands?

Yes. All 6557 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2309 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Freelands is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #2309, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Freelands take to read?

About 546 minutes of reading across 1312 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Freelands section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 39 chapters of The Freelands 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 Freelands

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

Liberty's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Glorious
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Feast
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Burns
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Freelands; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.