Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Quest
The Quest

Chapter III

Cover illustration for The Quest
Context Illustration Reading 1/26 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.
Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.
Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.
Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.
It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.
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 Quest

Chapter III

Reading 1/26 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.
Line 2
Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.
Line 3
Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.
Line 4
Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.
Line 5
It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

First noun US /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.”

Help noun US /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.”

Last noun US /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.”

Something pronoun US /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.”

Still noun US /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.”

Would modal verb US /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.”

All words in this reading · 77

Every word is available to listen to. 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 Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

agreed

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

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

apprenticeship

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

better

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

Boarders

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

boy

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

cobbler

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

convinced

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

cost

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

cousin

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

days

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

decided

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

Delightful

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

deterred

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

errands

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

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

FirstnounUS /first/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

give

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

helpnounUS /help/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

hope

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

hoped

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

house

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

husband's

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

Idyll

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

Impressions

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

labour

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

landlady

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

lastnounUS /last/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

learn

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

Lessons

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

Madrid

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

Manuel

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

Manuel's

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

meals

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

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

mother

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

permit

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

Persuading

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

Petra

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

previously

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

relation

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

relative's

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

remain

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

resolution

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

run

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

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

send

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

serve

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

From this reading It was agreed that the boy would run errands and help to serve meals.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

shoe-shop

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

some

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

stillnounUS /still/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

study

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

succeeded

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

From this reading Persuading the landlady to permit Manuel to remain in the house cost Petra no little labour, but at last she succeeded.

Sweet

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

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading First Impressions of Madrid--The Boarders--Idyll--Sweet and Delightful Lessons.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

trade

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

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading Manuel's mother had a relation, her husband's cousin, who was a cobbler.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Petra had decided, some days previously, to give Manuel into apprenticeship at the shoe-shop; but she still hoped the boy would be convinced that it was better for him to study something than to learn a trade, and this hope had deterred her from the resolution to send the boy to her relative's house.