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The Lady of Big Shanty
The Lady of Big Shanty

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Lady of Big Shanty
Context Illustration Reading 1/86 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.
She looked up at him.
"I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.
"You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.
I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.
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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 Lady of Big Shanty

Chapter IV · Chapter 4

Chapter 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty is here in full — 433 sentences across 87 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/86 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.
Line 2
She looked up at him.
/ʃiː lʊkt ʌp æt hɪm/
Line 3
"I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.
Line 4
"You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.
Line 5
I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.
/aɪ ɡes wiː kɪn biː æz ˈhæpi æz moʊst foʊks ʃiː ˈædəd ˈsmaɪlɪŋ ˈbreɪvli θruː terz/

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.

bravely adverb US /ˈbreɪvli/

in a courageous manner

From this reading “I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.”

embarrassed adjective US /ɪmˈberəst/

feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed

From this reading “"I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.”

folks noun US /foʊks/

your parents

From this reading “I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.”

jest noun US /dʒest/

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading “"You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.”

kin noun US /kɪn/

a person having kinship with another or others

From this reading “I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.”

knowed verb US /noʊd/

past form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “"I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.”

promised verb US /ˈprɑːməst/

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading “"You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.”

searching adjective US /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/

diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

From this reading “"I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.”

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.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She looked up at him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

blood-shot

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

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

blueadjectiveUS /bluː/

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

bravelyadverbUS /ˈbreɪvli/

in a courageous manner

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

drinkverbUS /drɪŋk/

take in liquids

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

embarrassedadjectiveUS /ɪmˈberəst/

feeling or caused to feel ill at ease or self-conscious or ashamed

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

folksnounUS /foʊks/

your parents

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

Freme

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

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

hain't

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

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

happyadjectiveUS /ˈhæpi/

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading She looked up at him.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

I'll

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

jestnounUS /dʒest/

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

keepverbUS /kiːp/

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

kinnounUS /kɪn/

a person having kinship with another or others

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

knowedverbUS /noʊd/

past form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

laughnounUS /læf/

the sound of laughing

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

lookedverbUS /lʊkt/

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

From this reading She looked up at him.

marryverbUS /ˈmeri/

take in marriage

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

promisedverbUS /ˈprɑːməst/

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

searchingadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtʃɪŋ/

diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

shakilyadverb

in an insecurely shaky manner

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She looked up at him.

smilingnounUS /ˈsmaɪlɪŋ/

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

tearsnounUS /terz/

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

throughprepositionUS /θruː/

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading She looked up at him.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I guess we kin be as happy as most folks," she added, smiling bravely through tears.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "I hain't took no drink," he said shakily, with an embarrassed laugh.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

wouldn't

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

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

yepronounUS /jiː/

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

ye'll

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

From this reading "You promised, Freme, and--you know I'll marry ye," she said, "jest as I said I would if ye'll only keep to what ye promised.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "I knowed you wouldn't, Freme," she answered searching his blood-shot blue eyes.

Chapter 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty by F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley) Smith holds 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty contain?

Chapter 4 holds 433 sentences of The Lady of Big Shanty, unabridged, divided into 87 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty by F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley) Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 433 sentences, grouped into 87 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 4 of The Lady of Big Shanty?

Work through the 87 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 87 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 4 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 4 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 Lady of Big Shanty

Common questions about reading The Lady of Big Shanty by F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley) Smith on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Lady of Big Shanty?

Yes. All 3504 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #12989 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Lady of Big Shanty is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #12989, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Lady of Big Shanty take to read?

About 292 minutes of reading across 701 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Lady of Big Shanty section by section

How to work through The Lady of Big Shanty section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 8 chapters of The Lady of Big Shanty 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 Lady of Big Shanty

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Lady of Big Shanty, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of Big Shanty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Written
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of Big Shanty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Passed
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of Big Shanty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Years
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Lady of Big Shanty; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.