Chapter 39 of The Return of the Native is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXXIX
Chapter 39 of The Return of the Native is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
“Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin. “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie. He has been very kind to you first and last.” “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole. “It is Mr. Venn, I think?” she inquired.
Chapter 39 of The Return of the Native is here in full — 210 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/42 · 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.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading ““I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.”
an instinctive motive
From this reading ““I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.”
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading ““It is Mr. Venn, I think?” she inquired.”
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading “He has been very kind to you first and last.””
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading ““I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.”
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading ““I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.”
English logician who introduced Venn diagrams (1834-1923)
From this reading ““Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin.”
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading ““I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.”
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.
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
an instinctive motive
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading “It is Mr. Venn, I think?” she inquired.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “It is Mr. Venn, I think?” she inquired.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “It is Mr. Venn, I think?” she inquired.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
immediately past
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
a form of address for a man
From this reading “Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
English logician who introduced Venn diagrams (1834-1923)
From this reading “Mr. Venn,” said Thomasin.
precisely as stated
From this reading He has been very kind to you first and last.”
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
in or at the place that
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
cricket equipment consisting of a set of three stumps topped by crosspieces; used in playing cricket
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I will now,” she said; and, acting on the impulse, went through the wicket to where Venn stood under the Maypole.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You might have asked him to come in, I think, Tamsie.
Chapter 39 of The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy holds 210 sentences, grouped into 42 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.
Chapter 39 holds 210 sentences of The Return of the Native, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 39 of The Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 210 sentences, grouped into 42 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 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 42 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 39 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 Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 8619 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #122 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #122, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 600 minutes of reading across 1724 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Return of the Native section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 40 chapters of The Return of the Native 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 Return of the Native, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
