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The Ne'er-Do-Well
The Ne'er-Do-Well

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Ne'er-Do-Well
Context Illustration Reading 1/81 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.
"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.
You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.
I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.
Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.
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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 Ne'er-Do-Well

Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

Chapter 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well is here in full — 406 sentences across 82 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/81 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.
Line 2
"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.
/wiː hæv tɔːkt ˈoʊpənli bɪˈfɔːr ənd ðer ɪz noʊ niːd tuː duː ˈʌðərwaɪz naʊ/
Line 3
You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.
Line 4
I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.
/aɪ bɪˈliːv ðer ɪz ə lʌv soʊ strɔːŋ ðæt ɪt mʌst faɪnd æn ˈænsər/
Line 5
Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

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.

Although conjunction US /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.”

difference noun US /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading “"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.”

forget verb US /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading “Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.”

gravely adverb US /ˈɡreɪvli/

in a grave and sober manner

From this reading “"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.”

husband's noun US /ˈhʌzbəndz/

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

From this reading “"Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.”

openly adverb US /ˈoʊpənli/

in an open way

From this reading “"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.”

otherwise adverb US /ˈʌðərwaɪz/

in other respects or ways

From this reading “"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.”

talked verb US /tɔːkt/

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading “"We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.”

All words in this reading · 61

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 I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

AlthoughconjunctionUS /ˌɔːlˈðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

answerverbUS /ˈænsər/

react verbally

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

carenounUS /ker/

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

Cortlandt

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

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

deathnounUS /deθ/

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

differencenounUS /ˈdɪfərəns/

the quality of being unlike or dissimilar

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

don't

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

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

else

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

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

findverbUS /faɪnd/

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

forgetverbUS /fərˈɡet/

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

gravelyadverbUS /ˈɡreɪvli/

in a grave and sober manner

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

hepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

husband'snounUS /ˈhʌzbəndz/

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

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

knowverbUS /noʊ/

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

lovenounUS /lʌv/

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

maymodal verbUS /meɪ/

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

mepronounUS /miː/

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

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

meanverbUS /miːn/

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

MrsnounUS /ˈmɪsɪz/

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

neednounUS /niːd/

a condition requiring relief

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

openlyadverbUS /ˈoʊpənli/

in an open way

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

otherwiseadverbUS /ˈʌðərwaɪz/

in other respects or ways

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

putverbUS /pʊt/

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Although you may not care for me now as you care for--some one else--I KNOW that I can make you forget her and put me in her place.

strongadjectiveUS /strɔːŋ/

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading I believe there is a love so strong that it must find an answer.

talkedverbUS /tɔːkt/

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

uspronounUS /ʌs/

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

WepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "We have talked openly before, and there is no need to do otherwise now.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

YoupronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading You mean by that that you don't care for me, but I know better.

YourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Your husband's death can make no difference with us, Mrs. Cortlandt," he said, gravely.

Chapter 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well by Rex Beach holds 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well contain?

Chapter 23 holds 406 sentences of The Ne'er-Do-Well, unabridged, divided into 82 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well by Rex Beach exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 406 sentences, grouped into 82 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 23 of The Ne'er-Do-Well?

Work through the 82 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 82 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 23 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 23 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 Ne'er-Do-Well

Common questions about reading The Ne'er-Do-Well by Rex Beach on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Ne'er-Do-Well?

Yes. All 9399 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #5405 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Ne'er-Do-Well is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #5405, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Ne'er-Do-Well take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1880 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Ne'er-Do-Well section by section

How to work through The Ne'er-Do-Well section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 23 chapters of The Ne'er-Do-Well 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 Ne'er-Do-Well

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Ne'er-Do-Well, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Author
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ne'er-Do-Well; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Silver
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ne'er-Do-Well; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Horde
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ne'er-Do-Well; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spoilers
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Ne'er-Do-Well; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.