Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Mayor of Casterbridge

Chapter XXIX · Chapter 29

Chapter 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Mayor of Casterbridge
Context Illustration Reading 1/33 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Love letters? then let’s hear em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.
Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?
Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”
By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.
These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 Mayor of Casterbridge

Chapter XXIX · Chapter 29

Chapter 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge is here in full — 167 sentences across 34 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Love letters? then let’s hearem, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.
Line 2
Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?
Line 3
Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”
Line 4
By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.
Line 5
These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

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.

Mind noun US /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading ““Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?”

Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading “These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.”

All words in this reading · 91

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.

a

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

allusive

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

aloud

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

altogether

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

and

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

at

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

be

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

began

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

being

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

buried

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

By

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

Cuxsom

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

did

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

do

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

earnestly

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

em

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

epistles

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

finger

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

folks

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

fools

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

for

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

Getting

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

giving

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

good

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

had

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

he

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

he'd

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

hear

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

here

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

him

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

his

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

hoped

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

inside

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

it

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

Jopp

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

keep

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

let's

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

letters

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

Lord

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

Love

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

Lucetta

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

make

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

Mother

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

not

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

one

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

only

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

other

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

ours

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

over

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

passages

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

penny

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

picking

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

plain

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

pushed

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

put

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

random

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

read

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

Richard

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

said

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

schoolboy

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

seals

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

so

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

soon

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

soul

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

tell

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

the

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

them

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

then

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

From this reading “Love letters? then let’s hear ’em, good soul,” said Mother Cuxsom.

there

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

These

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

this

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

though

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

time

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

to

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

tumbling

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

uncover

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

From this reading These passages soon began to uncover the secret which Lucetta had so earnestly hoped to keep buried, though the epistles, being allusive only, did not make it altogether plain.

under

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

unfastened

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

up

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

us

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

used

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

we

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

were

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

what

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

when

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

which

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

From this reading By this time Jopp had pushed his finger under the seals, and unfastened the letters, tumbling them over and picking up one here and there at random, which he read aloud.

write

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

From this reading Getting a schoolboy to write ours for us; and giving him a penny, do ye mind, not to tell other folks what he’d put inside, do ye mind?”

ye

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

younger

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

From this reading “Lord, do ye mind, Richard, what fools we used to be when we were younger?

Chapter 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy holds 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge contain?

Chapter 29 holds 167 sentences of The Mayor of Casterbridge, unabridged, divided into 34 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 167 sentences, grouped into 34 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 29 of The Mayor of Casterbridge?

Work through the 34 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 34 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 29 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 29 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 Mayor of Casterbridge

Common questions about reading The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Mayor of Casterbridge?

Yes. All 6288 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #143 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Mayor of Casterbridge is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #143, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Mayor of Casterbridge take to read?

About 524 minutes of reading across 1258 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Mayor of Casterbridge section by section

How to work through The Mayor of Casterbridge section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 36 chapters of The Mayor of Casterbridge 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 Mayor of Casterbridge

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Mayor of Casterbridge, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Death
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Character
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Evening
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Summer
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Mayor of Casterbridge; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.