Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Heart of Arethusa
The Heart of Arethusa

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Heart of Arethusa is here in full — 209 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Heart of Arethusa
Context Illustration Reading 1/41 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.
Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.
And then....
There was Mr. Bennet.
Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.
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 Heart of Arethusa

Chapter XX · Chapter 20

Chapter 20 of The Heart of Arethusa is here in full — 209 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.
Line 2
Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.
Line 3
And then....
/ənd ðen/
Line 4
There was Mr. Bennet.
/ðer wɑːz ˈmɪstər ˈbenɪt/
Line 5
Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.

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.

Bennet noun US /ˈbenɪt/

avens of Virginia having pale or greenish yellow flowers

From this reading “There was Mr. Bennet.”

Christmas noun US /ˈkrɪsməs/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading “The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.”

crowded adjective US /ˈkraʊdəd/

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading “Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.”

experiences noun US /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading “Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.”

happenings noun US /ˈhæpənɪŋz/

plural of “happening” — an event that happens

From this reading “Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.”

honestly adverb US /ˈɑːnəstli/

(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that

From this reading “Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.”

smallest adjective US /ˈsmɔːləst/

superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading “Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.”

sped verb US /sped/

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading “The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

absolutelyadverbUS /ˌæbsəˈluːtli/

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

Arethusanoun

any of several bog orchids of the genus Arethusa having 1 or 2 showy flowers

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

BennetnounUS /ˈbenɪt/

avens of Virginia having pale or greenish yellow flowers

From this reading There was Mr. Bennet.

ChristmasnounUS /ˈkrɪsməs/

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

comeverbUS /kʌm/

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/

plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

FarmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

fleetnessnoun

rapidity of movement

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

happeningsnounUS /ˈhæpənɪŋz/

plural of “happening” — an event that happens

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

home-sickness

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

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

honestlyadverbUS /ˈɑːnəstli/

(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that

From this reading Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.

hoursnounUS /ˈaʊərz/

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

interestedadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəstɪd/

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.

Lewisburg

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

LifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading There was Mr. Bennet.

newadjectiveUS /nuː/

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

NowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now Arethusa honestly interested Mr. Bennet.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

roomnounUS /ruːm/

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

seemverbUS /siːm/

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/

superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

spedverbUS /sped/

inflected form of “speed” — move hurridly

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

thenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then....

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was Mr. Bennet.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Life was crowded so full of new experiences and happenings that she had absolutely no smallest room or time for any moments of home-sickness for the Farm.

wingsnounUS /wɪŋz/

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading The winter sped away until Christmas, on wings of fleetness that made the days seem as if they had only been hours since Arethusa had come to Lewisburg.

Chapter 20 of The Heart of Arethusa by Frances Barton Fox holds 209 sentences, grouped into 42 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 20 of The Heart of Arethusa contain?

Chapter 20 holds 209 sentences of The Heart of Arethusa, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 20 of The Heart of Arethusa by Frances Barton Fox exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 209 sentences, grouped into 42 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 20 of The Heart of Arethusa?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 20 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 20 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 Arethusa

Common questions about reading The Heart of Arethusa by Frances Barton Fox on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Heart of Arethusa?

Yes. All 5218 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #23856 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Heart of Arethusa is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #23856, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Heart of Arethusa take to read?

About 434 minutes of reading across 1044 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Heart of Arethusa section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 25 chapters of The Heart of Arethusa 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 Arethusa

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

Images
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of Arethusa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Original
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of Arethusa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Pages
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of Arethusa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Available
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of Arethusa; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.