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The Heart of a Mystery
The Heart of a Mystery

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Heart of a Mystery is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.
The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.
They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.
For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.
In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Heart of a Mystery

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The Heart of a Mystery is here in full — 103 sentences across 21 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/20 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.
Line 2
The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.
Line 3
They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.
/ðeɪ wɜːr ðə ˈjʌŋɡər bræntʃ ʌv æn ˈeɪn.ʃənt ˈkɔːrnɪʃ ˈfæməli wɪtʃ prəˈfest tuː biː ˈeɪbəl tuː treɪs bæk ɪts ˈpedəɡri tuː ðə deɪz wen ˈledʒənd ənd ˈhɪstəri wɜːr soʊ ˌɪˈnekstrɪkʌbli mɪkst ðæt ɪt wɑːz ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl æt ðɪs ˈdɪstəns ʌv taɪm tuː drɔː ˈeni naɪs dɪˈstɪŋkʃən bɪˈtwiːn ðə tuː/
Line 4
For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.
Line 5
In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

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.

cherish verb US /ˈtʃerɪʃ/

be fond of; be attached to

From this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

Cornish noun US /ˈkɔːrnɪʃ/

a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall

From this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

distinctive adjective US /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/

of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing

From this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

indisputable adjective US /ˌɪndɪsˈpjuːtəbəl/

not open to question; obviously true

From this reading “In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.”

inextricably adverb US /ˌɪˈnekstrɪkʌbli/

in an inextricable manner

From this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

motto noun US /ˈmɑːtoʊ/

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

From this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

peculiarity noun US /pɪˌkjuːliˈerəti/

an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

pedigree noun US /ˈpedəɡri/

the descendants of one individual

From this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

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.

twenty miles noun + noun counted as “twenty mile”

In this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

three hundred noun + noun

being one hundred more than two hundred

In this reading “The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.”

hundred years noun + noun

In this reading “The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.”

nice distinction adjective + noun

In this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

younger branch adjective + noun

In this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

between the two preposition + article + noun counted as “between … two”

In this reading “They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.”

any case adjective + noun

In this reading “In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.”

For twenty preposition + noun

In this reading “For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.”

All words in this reading · 91

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.

ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/

generally approved or compelling recognition

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

accordinglyadverbUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋli/

(sentence connectors) because of the reason given

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

betweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

branchnounUS /bræntʃ/

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

BROOME

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

From this reading THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

cherishverbUS /ˈtʃerɪʃ/

be fond of; be attached to

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

CornishnounUS /ˈkɔːrnɪʃ/

a Celtic language spoken in Cornwall

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

curiouslyadverbUS /ˈkjʊriəsli/

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

distancenounUS /ˈdɪstəns/

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

distinctionnounUS /dɪˈstɪŋkʃən/

a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

distinctiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/

of a feature that helps to distinguish a person or thing

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

drawverbUS /drɔː/

cause to move by pulling

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

factnounUS /fækt/

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

familynounUS /ˈfæməli/

a social unit living together

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

fellowsnounUS /ˈfeloʊz/

plural of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/

the aggregate of past events

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/

ten 10s

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

indisputableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪsˈpjuːtəbəl/

not open to question; obviously true

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

inextricablyadverbUS /ˌɪˈnekstrɪkʌbli/

in an inextricable manner

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

inquireverbUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪr/

address a question to and expect an answer from

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/

apprehended with certainty

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

legendnounUS /ˈledʒənd/

a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

mentaladjectiveUS /ˈmentəl/

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

milesnounUS /maɪlz/

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

mixedadjectiveUS /mɪkst/

consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

modenounUS /moʊd/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/

a favorite saying of a sect or political group

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

niceadjectiveUS /naɪs/

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

originnounUS /ˈɔːrədʒən/

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

peculiaritynounUS /pɪˌkjuːliˈerəti/

an odd or unusual characteristic

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

pedigreenounUS /ˈpedəɡri/

the descendants of one individual

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

PENGARVON'S

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

From this reading THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.

Pengarvons

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

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

PridenounUS /praɪd/

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

professedadjectiveUS /prəˈfest/

professing to be qualified

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

ProudadjectiveUS /praʊd/

feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/

worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

settledadjectiveUS /ˈsetəld/

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading In any case, it was accepted as an indisputable fact that the Pengarvons should be proud, and proud they were accordingly.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

THEdeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading THE PENGARVON'S OF BROOME.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

titlenounUS /ˈtaɪtəl/

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

tracenounUS /treɪs/

a just detectable amount

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

twonounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/

during the time that

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

worthnounUS /wɜːrθ/

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading For twenty miles round they were known as "The Proud Pengarvons;" but whether this distinctive title had its origin in some mental peculiarity of the family, or in their mode of carrying themselves towards their fellows, or whether the family motto, "Pride I cherish," was responsible for it, it would not be worth while too curiously to inquire.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading The Pengarvons had been settled at Broome for three hundred years.

youngeradjectiveUS /ˈjʌŋɡər/

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading They were the younger branch of an ancient Cornish family, which professed to be able to trace back its pedigree to the days when legend and history were so inextricably mixed that it was impossible at this distance of time to draw any nice distinction between the two.

Chapter 2 of The Heart of a Mystery by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight holds 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 2 of The Heart of a Mystery contain?

Chapter 2 holds 103 sentences of The Heart of a Mystery, unabridged, divided into 21 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Heart of a Mystery by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 103 sentences, grouped into 21 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 2 of The Heart of a Mystery?

Work through the 21 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 21 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 Heart of a Mystery

Common questions about reading The Heart of a Mystery by T. W. (Thomas Wilkinson) Speight on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Heart of a Mystery?

Yes. All 4918 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #57311 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Heart of a Mystery is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #57311, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Heart of a Mystery take to read?

About 409 minutes of reading across 984 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Heart of a Mystery section by section

How to work through The Heart of a Mystery section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Heart of a Mystery 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 Heart of a Mystery

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of a Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hoodwinked
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of a Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Burgo's
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of a Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Romance
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of a Mystery; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.