Chapter 5 of The Little Missis is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter V
Chapter 5 of The Little Missis is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
WILL GOD ANSWER? Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about. "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face. "I have had a very bad night." "Where is Ralph?"
Chapter 5 of The Little Missis is here in full — 143 sentences across 29 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
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.
react verbally
From this reading “WILL GOD ANSWER?”
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading “"What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.”
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading “"I have had a very bad night."”
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading “Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.”
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading “"What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.”
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading “Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.”
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading “Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.”
a source of difficulty
From this reading “Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.”
English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.
Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.
see something for a brief time
In this reading “"What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.”
to consider or examine in speech or writing
In this reading “Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.”
In this reading “"What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.”
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
react verbally
From this reading WILL GOD ANSWER?
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading "I have had a very bad night."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
set up or found
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading WILL GOD ANSWER?
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "I have had a very bad night."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I have had a very bad night."
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "I have had a very bad night."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Where is Ralph?"
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
in the near future
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
precisely as stated
From this reading "I have had a very bad night."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where is Ralph?"
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Miss Lizzie Lawson soon found that the trouble which had befallen her sister Phebe was one which, at least for a time, could not be talked about.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading WILL GOD ANSWER?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What is the matter with you, Phebe?" she asked anxiously, as she caught sight of the weary-looking face.
Chapter 5 of The Little Missis by Charlotte Skinner holds 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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.
Chapter 5 holds 143 sentences of The Little Missis, unabridged, divided into 29 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 5 of The Little Missis by Charlotte Skinner exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 143 sentences, grouped into 29 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.
Work through the 29 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 29 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.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 5 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.
Common questions about reading The Little Missis by Charlotte Skinner on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4070 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #35383 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #35383, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 339 minutes of reading across 814 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Little Missis section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 29 chapters of The Little Missis to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Little Missis, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
