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The Highwayman
The Highwayman

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Highwayman is here in full — 303 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By H. C. (Henry Christopher) Bailey • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The Highwayman
Context Illustration Reading 1/60 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.
"Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.
"There'll be none in the house, sir.
Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."
"Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.
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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 Highwayman

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Highwayman is here in full — 303 sentences across 61 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/60 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.
Line 2
"Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.
/wʊd juː kɔːl fɔːr ə paɪp naʊ tʃɑːrlz sez sɜːr dʒɑːn ˈfɪdʒətɪŋ/
Line 3
"There'll be none in the house, sir.
Line 4
Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."
Line 5
"Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

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.

distress noun US /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

From this reading “DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fidgeting verb US /ˈfɪdʒətɪŋ/

-ing form of “fidget” — move restlessly

From this reading “"Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
grumbled verb US /ˈɡrʌmbəld/

past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

From this reading “"Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
kicked verb US /kɪkt/

past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot

From this reading “"Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
logs noun US /lɔːɡz/

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading “"Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pipe noun US /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading “"Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stomach noun US /ˈstʌmək/

an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading “Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
tobacco noun US /təˈbækoʊ/

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading “Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

All words in this reading · 49

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 DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "There'll be none in the house, sir.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Burford

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Pending verification
burningnounUS /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of burning something

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
callverbUS /kɔːl/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Damme

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

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Pending verification
DISTRESSnounUS /dɪˈstres/

psychological suffering

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
fidgetingverbUS /ˈfɪdʒətɪŋ/

-ing form of “fidget” — move restlessly

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/

start firing a weapon

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Geoffrey

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

From this reading Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."

Pending verification
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/

past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Hadley

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Pending verification
hallnounUS /hɔːl/

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hathauxiliary verbUS /hæθ/

an old form of “has”

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading "There'll be none in the house, sir.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
kickedverbUS /kɪkt/

past form of “kick” — drive or propel with the foot

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MOTHERnounUS /ˈmʌðər/

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/

a form of address for a man

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading "There'll be none in the house, sir.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
nowadverbUS /naʊ/

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

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
pipenounUS /paɪp/

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
SirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stomachnounUS /ˈstʌmək/

an enlarged and muscular saclike organ of the alimentary canal; the principal organ of digestion

From this reading Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Tetherdown

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Pending verification
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading DISTRESS OF A MOTHER Mr. Hadley and Sir John Burford in the hall at Tetherdown looked at each other across the fire.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
There'll

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

From this reading "There'll be none in the house, sir.

Pending verification
tobacconounUS /təˈbækoʊ/

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading Geoffrey has no stomach for tobacco."

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Damme, if I know what he hath a stomach for," Sir John grumbled, and kicked at the burning logs.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Would you call for a pipe now, Charles?" says Sir John, fidgeting.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 12 of The Highwayman by H. C. (Henry Christopher) Bailey holds 303 sentences, grouped into 61 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 12 of The Highwayman contain?

Chapter 12 holds 303 sentences of The Highwayman, unabridged, divided into 61 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Highwayman by H. C. (Henry Christopher) Bailey exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 303 sentences, grouped into 61 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 12 of The Highwayman?

Work through the 61 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 61 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Highwayman

Common questions about reading The Highwayman by H. C. (Henry Christopher) Bailey on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Highwayman?

Yes. All 6421 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9749 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Highwayman is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #9749, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Highwayman take to read?

About 535 minutes of reading across 1285 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Highwayman section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 30 chapters of The Highwayman 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 Highwayman

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

Waverton
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Highwayman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Least
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Highwayman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Unusual
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Highwayman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Unhappily
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Highwayman; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.