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The Princess and the Goblin
The Princess and the Goblin

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Princess and the Goblin is here in full — 30 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By George MacDonald • Curated US English Learning Edition

Chapter 12 of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald holds 30 sentences, grouped into 6 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 12 of The Princess and the Goblin contain?

Chapter 12 holds 30 sentences of The Princess and the Goblin, unabridged, divided into 6 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 12 of The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 30 sentences, grouped into 6 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 12 of The Princess and the Goblin?

Work through the 6 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 6 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 12 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 12 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 Princess and the Goblin

Common questions about reading The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Princess and the Goblin?

Yes. All 3267 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #708 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Princess and the Goblin is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #708, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Princess and the Goblin take to read?

About 272 minutes of reading across 654 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Princess and the Goblin section by section

How to work through The Princess and the Goblin section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 32 chapters of The Princess and the Goblin 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 Princess and the Goblin

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Princess and the Goblin, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Princess
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Princess and the Goblin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Story
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Princess and the Goblin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Little
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Princess and the Goblin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Whose
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Princess and the Goblin; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Cover illustration for The Princess and the Goblin
Context Illustration Reading 1/6 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A Short Chapter About Curdie
Curdie spent many nights in the mine.
His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.
But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.
Mrs. Peterson was such a nice good mother!
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 Princess and the Goblin

Chapter XII · Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of The Princess and the Goblin is here in full — 30 sentences across 6 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/6 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A Short Chapter About Curdie
Line 2
Curdie spent many nights in the mine.
Line 3
His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.
Line 4
But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.
Line 5
Mrs. Peterson was such a nice good mother!

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.

Nights noun US /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading “Curdie spent many nights in the mine.”

Velmora curated lexicon
Secret noun US /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading “His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.”

Velmora curated lexicon
All words in this reading · 56

Every word is available to listen to. 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 A Short Chapter About Curdie

Pending verification
About

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

From this reading A Short Chapter About Curdie

Pending verification
all

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
and

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
be

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
But

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
Chapter

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

From this reading A Short Chapter About Curdie

Pending verification
could

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
Curdie

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

From this reading A Short Chapter About Curdie

Pending verification
did

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
earning

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
every

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
father

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
for

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
good

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

From this reading Mrs. Peterson was such a nice good mother!

Pending verification
had

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
he

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
her

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
His

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
hold

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
in

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

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Pending verification
into

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
it

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
knew

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
many

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

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Pending verification
mine

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

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Pending verification
miners

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
more

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
mother

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
Mrs

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
new

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
nice

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

From this reading Mrs. Peterson was such a nice good mother!

Pending verification
night

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
nightsnounUS /naɪts/

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Velmora curated lexicon
not

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
of

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
part

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
Peterson

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
petticoat

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
red

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
said

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
secretnounUS /ˈsiː.krət/

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Velmora curated lexicon
Short

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

From this reading A Short Chapter About Curdie

Pending verification
spent

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

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Pending verification
such

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

From this reading Mrs. Peterson was such a nice good mother!

Pending verification
taken

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
tell

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
than

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
that

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
the

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

From this reading Curdie spent many nights in the mine.

Pending verification
they

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
tongue

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
was

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
went

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

From this reading But Curdie did not tell her that every night he spent in the mine, part of it went in earning a new red petticoat for her.

Pending verification
which

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification
wives

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

From this reading His father and he had taken Mrs. Peterson into the secret, for they knew mother could hold her tongue, which was more than could be said of all the miners' wives.

Pending verification