Chapter 9 of The Old Pincushion is here in full — 235 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IX
Chapter 9 of The Old Pincushion is here in full — 235 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step. Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder. The little girl started. 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil. Such a long letter!'
Chapter 9 of The Old Pincushion is here in full — 235 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/47 · 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.
a small house with a single story
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
a room where books are kept
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading “Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.”
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
the act of creating written works
From this reading “'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.”
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.
a youthful female person
In this reading “The little girl started.”
In this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
obtain, especially accidentally
In this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
In this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
In this reading “THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.”
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 THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
a small house with a single story
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
a young female
From this reading The little girl started.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
and nothing more
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
set down according to a plan
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
a room where books are kept
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The little girl started.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The little girl started.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such a long letter!'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
up to a particular time
From this reading Kathleen did not hear her till her aunt laid her hand on her shoulder.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
at the time that
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
in the company of; together with
From this reading THE COTTAGE NEAR THE CREEK. athleen was just finishing a long letter to Philippa that afternoon in the library, when Miss Clotilda came into the room with her usual quiet step.
the act of creating written works
From this reading 'Oh, aunty,' she said, 'I've been writing to poor Phil.
Chapter 9 of The Old Pincushion by Mrs. Molesworth holds 235 sentences, grouped into 47 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 9 holds 235 sentences of The Old Pincushion, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 9 of The Old Pincushion by Mrs. Molesworth exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 235 sentences, grouped into 47 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 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 47 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 9 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 Old Pincushion by Mrs. Molesworth on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 2446 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #39833 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #39833, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 203 minutes of reading across 490 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Old Pincushion section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 12 chapters of The Old Pincushion 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 Old Pincushion, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
