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The Heart of the Hills
The Heart of the Hills

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Heart of the Hills is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Heart of the Hills
Context Illustration Reading 41/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"
Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.
Jason's eyes fell.
"Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.
"I don't know, sir," he said at last.
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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 Heart of the Hills

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Heart of the Hills is here in full — 429 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 41/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 201–205

Line 1
"Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"
Line 2
Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.
Line 3
Jason's eyes fell.
/ˈdʒeɪsənz aɪz fel/
Line 4
"Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.
Line 5
"I don't know, sir," he said at last.

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.

astonished adjective US /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading “"Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.”

bewildered adjective US /bɪˈwɪldərd/

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading “"Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.”

finger verb US /ˈfɪŋɡər/

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading “Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.”

inquiry noun US /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading “"Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.”

Jason noun US /ˈdʒeɪsən/

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading “"Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"”

Jason's noun US /ˈdʒeɪsənz/

possessive form of “jason” — (Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading “Jason's eyes fell.”

Mavis noun US /ˈmeɪvɪs/

common Old World thrush noted for its song

From this reading “Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.”

sternly adverb US /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading “"Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"”

All words in this reading · 46

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.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

astonishedadjectiveUS /əˈstɑːnɪʃt/

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

bewilderedadjectiveUS /bɪˈwɪldərd/

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

ColonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

don't

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

From this reading "I don't know, sir," he said at last.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading Jason's eyes fell.

facenounUS /feɪs/

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading Jason's eyes fell.

fineadjectiveUS /faɪn/

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/

feel or handle with the fingers

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

foolishadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪʃ/

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

hyeh

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

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I don't know, sir," he said at last.

inquirynounUS /ˌɪnˈkwaɪriː/

a search for knowledge

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

JasonnounUS /ˈdʒeɪsən/

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

Jason'snounUS /ˈdʒeɪsənz/

possessive form of “jason” — (Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading Jason's eyes fell.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I don't know, sir," he said at last.

lad's

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

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

lastadjectiveUS /læst/

immediately past

From this reading "I don't know, sir," he said at last.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

mannounUS /mæn/

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

Marjorie

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

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

matternounUS /ˈmætər/

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

MavisnounUS /ˈmeɪvɪs/

common Old World thrush noted for its song

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

Nothin

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

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

Pendleton

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

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

pointedadjectiveUS /ˈpɔɪntɪd/

having a point

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading "I don't know, sir," he said at last.

sonnounUS /sʌn/

a male human offspring

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

speakverbUS /spiːk/

express in speech

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/

past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

sternlyadverbUS /ˈstɜːrnli/

with sternness; in a severe manner

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

stoppedadjectiveUS /stɑːpt/

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

sullenlyadverb

in a sullen manner

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Marjorie pointed one finger at Mavis, started to speak, and stopped.

turnedadjectiveUS /tɜːrnd/

moved around an axis or center

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

whut's

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

From this reading "Jason," said the old man sternly, "whut's the matter out hyeh?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Nothin'," he said sullenly, and Colonel Pendleton looked to his son with astonished inquiry, and the lad's fine face turned bewildered and foolish.

Chapter 1 of The Heart of the Hills by John, Jr. Fox holds 429 sentences, grouped into 86 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 1 of The Heart of the Hills contain?

Chapter 1 holds 429 sentences of The Heart of the Hills, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Heart of the Hills by John, Jr. Fox exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 429 sentences, grouped into 86 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 1 of The Heart of the Hills?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 the Hills

Common questions about reading The Heart of the Hills by John, Jr. Fox on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Heart of the Hills?

Yes. All 3941 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5145 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Heart of the Hills is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5145, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Heart of the Hills take to read?

About 328 minutes of reading across 789 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Heart of the Hills section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 9 chapters of The Heart of the Hills 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 the Hills

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

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of the Hills; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of the Hills; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shepherd
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of the Hills; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Kingdom
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Heart of the Hills; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.