Chapter 30 of The Mercenary is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXX
Chapter 30 of The Mercenary is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
AN ASSIGNATION. The lock yielded. The door opened. But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed. He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
Chapter 30 of The Mercenary is here in full — 270 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/54 · 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.
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading “He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.”
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading “But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.”
fasten with a lock
From this reading “The lock yielded.”
the light of the Moon
From this reading “But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.”
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading “He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.”
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading “He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.”
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading “He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.”
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading “The lock yielded.”
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.
In this reading “He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.”
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 He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN ASSIGNATION.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
a secret rendezvous (especially between lovers)
From this reading AN ASSIGNATION.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
completely unclothed
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
provide with a covering or cause to be covered
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading The door opened.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
occurring in spells and often abruptly
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
a plot of ground where plants are cultivated
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
fasten with a lock
From this reading The lock yielded.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
the light of the Moon
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading The door opened.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
plural of “see” — the seat within a bishop's diocese where his cathedral is located
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The lock yielded.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
decoration consisting of an open pattern of interlacing ribs
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But the walk was bare as far as the fitful moonlight showed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He strode forward almost as if he feared an ambush, though at this part of the garden the short bare trees and standards made but the cover of a spider's-web tracery, through which one sees what is beyond.
past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of
From this reading The lock yielded.
Chapter 30 of The Mercenary by W. J. Eccott holds 270 sentences, grouped into 54 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 30 holds 270 sentences of The Mercenary, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 30 of The Mercenary by W. J. Eccott exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 270 sentences, grouped into 54 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 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 54 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 30 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 Mercenary by W. J. Eccott on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 5752 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #40567 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #40567, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 479 minutes of reading across 1151 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Mercenary section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Mercenary 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 Mercenary, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
