Chapter 1 of The Lovels of Arden is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter I
Chapter 1 of The Lovels of Arden is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
BEGINNING THE WORLD. "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle. "Is it any one you know?" "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London. He was very kind."
Chapter 1 of The Lovels of Arden is here in full — 132 sentences across 27 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/26 · 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.
aromatic herb of southern Europe; cultivated in Great Britain as a potherb and widely as an ornamental
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
the way of administering a business
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
possessive form of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading “"O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.”
a conveyance that transports people or objects
From this reading “"Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.”
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 "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Is it any one you know?"
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading BEGINNING THE WORLD.
a railcar where passengers ride
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
aromatic herb of southern Europe; cultivated in Great Britain as a potherb and widely as an ornamental
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
the way of administering a business
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
a man of refinement
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Is it any one you know?"
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Is it any one you know?"
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He was very kind."
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading "Is it any one you know?"
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
cases used to carry belongings when traveling
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
possessive form of “niece” — a daughter of your brother or sister
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
not any; not one
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "Is it any one you know?"
and nothing more
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
Identical; not different.
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading BEGINNING THE WORLD.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
a conveyance that transports people or objects
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was very kind."
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
at the time that
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
which person or people
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
in the company of; together with
From this reading "O, no, uncle; only a gentleman who travelled in the same carriage with me from London.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading BEGINNING THE WORLD.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Who on earth was that man you were talking to, Clary?" asked the Reverend Mathew Oliver, when he had seen his niece's luggage carried off to a fly, and was conducting her to that vehicle.
Chapter 1 of The Lovels of Arden by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon holds 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 1 holds 132 sentences of The Lovels of Arden, unabridged, divided into 27 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 1 of The Lovels of Arden by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 132 sentences, grouped into 27 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 27 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 27 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 1 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 Lovels of Arden by M. E. (Mary Elizabeth) Braddon on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8841 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #9475 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #9475, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1769 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Lovels of Arden section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Lovels of Arden 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 Lovels of Arden, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
