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The Hampdenshire Wonder
The Hampdenshire Wonder

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Hampdenshire Wonder
Context Illustration Reading 1/23 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"
Lewes asked.
He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.
There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.
"You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Hampdenshire Wonder

Chapter VIII

Chapter 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder is here in full — 119 sentences across 24 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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

Line 1
HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"
Line 2
Lewes asked.
Line 3
He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.
Line 4
There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.
/ðer wɑːz noʊ ˈserəmoʊni bɪˈtwiːn ˈʃæli ənd hɪz ˈsekrəteri/
Line 5
"You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.
/juː fərˈɡet ˈaʊər enˈɡeɪdʒmənt fɔːr ten əˈklɑːk sed ˈʃæli/

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.

ceremony noun US /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading “There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.”

challis noun US /ˈʃæli/

a soft lightweight fabric (usually printed)

From this reading “HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"”

cigarette noun US /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading “He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.”

engagement noun US /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading “"You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.”

lit adjective US /lɪt/

provided with artificial light

From this reading “He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.”

notes noun US /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading “HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"”

observations noun US /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/

plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading “HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"”

secretary noun US /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading “There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.”

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.

for ten preposition + noun

In this reading “"You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.”

All words in this reading · 47

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 He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

askedverbUS /æskt/

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Lewes asked.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

breakfast-table

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

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

ceremonynounUS /ˈserəmoʊni/

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

CHALLISnounUS /ˈʃæli/

a soft lightweight fabric (usually printed)

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

cigarettenounUS /ˌsɪɡərˈet/

finely ground tobacco wrapped in paper; for smoking

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

collating

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

COURTnounUS /kɔːrt/

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

engagementnounUS /enˈɡeɪdʒmənt/

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

HepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

helpverbUS /help/

give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

Lewes

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

From this reading Lewes asked.

litadjectiveUS /lɪt/

provided with artificial light

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

notesnounUS /noʊts/

plural of “note” — a brief written record

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/

according to the clock

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

observationsnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃənz/

plural of “observation” — the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

rosenounUS /roʊz/

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading He rose from the breakfast-table and lit a cigarette.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

secretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/

a person who is head of an administrative department of government

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

Shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

tennounUS /ten/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading "You forget our engagement for ten o'clock," said Challis.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

Tikopia

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

TOparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

VISITverbUS /ˈvɪzɪt/

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was no ceremony between Challis and his secretary.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading HIS FIRST VISIT TO CHALLIS COURT I "Shall you be able to help me in collating your notes of the Tikopia observations this morning, sir?"

Chapter 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder by J. D. (John Davys) Beresford holds 119 sentences, grouped into 24 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 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder contain?

Chapter 8 holds 119 sentences of The Hampdenshire Wonder, unabridged, divided into 24 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder by J. D. (John Davys) Beresford exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 119 sentences, grouped into 24 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 8 of The Hampdenshire Wonder?

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

Each of the 24 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 8 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 8 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 Hampdenshire Wonder

Common questions about reading The Hampdenshire Wonder by J. D. (John Davys) Beresford on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Hampdenshire Wonder?

Yes. All 3597 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #53028 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Hampdenshire Wonder is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #53028, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Hampdenshire Wonder take to read?

About 299 minutes of reading across 720 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Hampdenshire Wonder section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 17 chapters of The Hampdenshire Wonder 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 Hampdenshire Wonder

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

Station
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hampdenshire Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Woman
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hampdenshire Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Entered
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hampdenshire Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Train
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Hampdenshire Wonder; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.