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The Law and the Lady
The Law and the Lady

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Law and the Lady is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Law and the Lady
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.
I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.
I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.
Let once be enough.
Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.
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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 Law and the Lady

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Law and the Lady is here in full — 34 sentences across 7 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.
/let miː kənˈfes əˈnʌðər ˈwiːknəs ɑːn maɪ pɑːrt bɪˈfɔːr aɪ bɪˈɡɪn ðə ˈstɔːri ʌv ðə ˈtraɪəl/
Line 2
I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.
Line 3
I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.
/aɪ hæv ˈkɑːpid ɪt wʌns ɪn maɪ tenθ ˈtʃæptər/
Line 4
Let once be enough.
/let wʌns biː ɪˈnʌf/
Line 5
Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.
/ˈtɜːrnɪŋ tuː ðə ˈsekənd peɪdʒ ʌv ðə ˈtraɪəl aɪ faʊnd ə noʊt əˈʃʊrɪŋ ðə ˈriːdər ʌv ðə ˈæbsəluːt kərˈektnəs ʌv ðə riˈpɔːrt ʌv ðə proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

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.

assuring adjective US /əˈʃʊrɪŋ/

giving confidence

From this reading “Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.”

copied verb US /ˈkɑːpid/

inflected form of “copy” — copy down as is

From this reading “I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.”

correctness noun US /kərˈektnəs/

conformity to fact or truth

From this reading “Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.”

husband's noun US /ˈhʌzbəndz/

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

ignominy noun US /ˈɪɡnoʊmɪni/

a state of dishonor

From this reading “I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.”

prevail verb US /prɪˈveɪl/

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

From this reading “I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.”

Proceedings noun US /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading “Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.”

tenth noun US /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading “I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.”

All words in this reading · 53

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 Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

absoluteadjectiveUS /ˈæbsəluːt/

perfect or complete or pure

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

assuringadjectiveUS /əˈʃʊrɪŋ/

giving confidence

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading Let once be enough.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

cannot

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

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

chapternounUS /ˈtʃæptər/

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

confessverbUS /kənˈfes/

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

copiedverbUS /ˈkɑːpid/

inflected form of “copy” — copy down as is

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

copynounUS /ˈkɑːpi/

a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

correctnessnounUS /kərˈektnəs/

conformity to fact or truth

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading Let once be enough.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

holdsnounUS /hoʊldz/

plural of “hold” — the act of grasping

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

horribleadjectiveUS /ˈhɔːrəbəl/

provoking horror

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/

possessive form of “husband” — a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

ignominynounUS /ˈɪɡnoʊmɪni/

a state of dishonor

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

LETauxiliary verbUS /let/

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

mepronounUS /miː/

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

NotenounUS /noʊt/

a brief written record

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

onceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

pagenounUS /peɪdʒ/

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

partnounUS /pɑːrt/

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

prevailverbUS /prɪˈveɪl/

be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

ProceedingsnounUS /proʊˈsiːdɪŋz/

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

readernounUS /ˈriːdər/

a person who enjoys reading

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

ReportverbUS /riˈpɔːrt/

to give an account or representation of in words

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

StorynounUS /ˈstɔːri/

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

tenthnounUS /tenθ/

a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts

From this reading I have copied it once in my tenth chapter.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

title-page

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

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

TrialnounUS /ˈtraɪəl/

the act of testing something

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

TurningnounUS /ˈtɜːrnɪŋ/

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Turning to the second page of the Trial, I found a Note, assuring the reader of the absolute correctness of the Report of the Proceedings.

upadjectiveUS /ʌp/

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

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

weaknessnounUS /ˈwiːknəs/

a flaw or weak point

From this reading LET me confess another weakness, on my part, before I begin the Story of the Trial.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading I cannot prevail upon myself to copy, for the second time, the horrible title-page which holds up to public ignominy my husband’s name.

Chapter 12 of The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins holds 34 sentences, grouped into 7 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, 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 Law and the Lady contain?

Chapter 12 holds 34 sentences of The Law and the Lady, unabridged, divided into 7 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 34 sentences, grouped into 7 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 Law and the Lady?

Work through the 7 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 7 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 Law and the Lady

Common questions about reading The Law and the Lady by Wilkie Collins on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Law and the Lady?

Yes. All 9493 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1622 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Law and the Lady is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1622, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Law and the Lady take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1899 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Law and the Lady section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Law and the Lady 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 Law and the Lady

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

Manner
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Law and the Lady; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Women
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Law and the Lady; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Trusted
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Law and the Lady; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Adorned
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Law and the Lady; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.