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The Holly-Tree
The Holly-Tree

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Holly-Tree is here in full — 179 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Holly-Tree
Context Illustration Reading 1/35 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.
"To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."
"Just so, sir," says Cobbs.
"Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"
When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!
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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 Holly-Tree

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Holly-Tree is here in full — 179 sentences across 36 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/35 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.
Line 2
"To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."
Line 3
"Just so, sir," says Cobbs.
Line 4
"Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"
/wʊd ɪt miːt jɔːr vjuːz sɜːr ɪf aɪ wɑːz tuː əˈkʌmpəni juː/
Line 5
When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

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.

accompany verb US /əˈkʌmpəni/

be present or associated with an event or entity

From this reading “"Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"”

courage noun US /ˈkɜːrədʒ/

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading “"To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."”

exact adjective US /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading “"What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.”

joy noun US /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading “When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!”

jumped verb US /dʒʌmpt/

past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading “When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!”

plans noun US /plænz/

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading “"What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.”

views noun US /vjuːz/

plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading “"Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"”

wonderful adjective US /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading “"To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."”

All words in this reading · 51

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.

accompanyverbUS /əˈkʌmpəni/

be present or associated with an event or entity

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

againadverbUS /əˈɡen/

anew

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/

the two together, not just one

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

boynounUS /bɔɪ/

a youthful male person

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

Cobbs

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

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

couragenounUS /ˈkɜːrədʒ/

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

criedverbUS /kraɪd/

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/

Strictly particular and correct.

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

joynounUS /dʒɔɪ/

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

jumpedverbUS /dʒʌmpt/

past form of “jump” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

JustadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading "Just so, sir," says Cobbs.

marriedadjectiveUS /ˈmerid/

joined in matrimony

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

meetverbUS /miːt/

come together

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

natur

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

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

plansnounUS /plænz/

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

repliedverbUS /rɪˈplaɪd/

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

saysnounUS /sez/

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

sirnounUS /sɜːr/

term of address for a man

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "Just so, sir," says Cobbs.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

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

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

ToparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

to-morrow

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

viewsnounUS /vjuːz/

plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

WhenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

wonderfuladjectiveUS /ˈwʌndərfəl/

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading "To go on," replied the boy,--which the courage of that boy was something wonderful!--"in the morning, and be married to-morrow."

Wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

yesnounUS /jes/

an affirmative

From this reading When Cobbs said this, they both jumped for joy again, and cried out, "Oh, yes, yes, Cobbs!

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Would it meet your views, sir, if I was to accompany you?"

yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "What may be the exact natur of your plans, sir?" says Cobbs.

Chapter 3 of The Holly-Tree by Charles Dickens holds 179 sentences, grouped into 36 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 3 of The Holly-Tree contain?

Chapter 3 holds 179 sentences of The Holly-Tree, unabridged, divided into 36 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Holly-Tree by Charles Dickens exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 179 sentences, grouped into 36 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 3 of The Holly-Tree?

Work through the 36 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 36 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Holly-Tree

Common questions about reading The Holly-Tree by Charles Dickens on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Holly-Tree?

Yes. All 552 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1394 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Holly-Tree is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1394, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Holly-Tree take to read?

About 46 minutes of reading across 111 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Holly-Tree section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 3 chapters of The Holly-Tree 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 Holly-Tree

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

Secret
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Holly-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Course
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Holly-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Bashful
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Holly-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Nobody
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Holly-Tree; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.