The river

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of The river is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Ednah Aiken • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

“Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

“The first shake!”

“The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

Narrator

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.

Chapter XIII Reading 1/22

The river

Chapter XIII

Chapter 13 of The river is here in full — 112 sentences across 23 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/22 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

Line 2

In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

Line 3

“Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

/huː kʊd rɪˈmɛm.bər æn ˈɜːrθkweɪk ɪn ðæt ˈdezərt/

Line 4

“The first shake!”

/ðə fɜːrst ʃeɪk/

Line 5

“The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

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.

bath noun US /bæθ/

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

discussing verb US /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/

-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing

From this reading “In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.”

earth's noun US /ɜːrθs/

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

earthquake noun US /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/

shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

intimation noun US /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/

an indirect suggestion

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

lapping noun US /ˈlæpɪŋ/

covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

shock noun US /ʃɑːk/

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

uneasiness noun US /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

Word partnerships in these lines

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.

TWO days noun + noun

In this reading “HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.”

In the dining-room preposition + article + noun counted as “in … dining-room”

In this reading “In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.”

say about verb + particle

In this reading ““The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.”

All words in this reading · 47

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 HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading “Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

bathnounUS /bæθ/

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading “Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

daysnounUS /deɪz/

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

desertverbUS /ˈdezərt/

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading “Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

dining-roomnoun

a room used for dining

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/

-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

earth'snounUS /ɜːrθs/

possessive form of “earth” — the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

earthquakenounUS /ˈɜːrθkweɪk/

shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane or from volcanic activity

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “The first shake!”

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

HARDIN'S

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

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

IndiansnounUS /ˈɪndiənz/

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

intimationnounUS /ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/

an indirect suggestion

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

lappingnounUS /ˈlæpɪŋ/

covering with a design in which one element covers a part of another (as with tiles or shingles)

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

lateradverbUS /ˈleɪtər/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

LUCKnounUS /lʌk/

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the dining-room, later, he found every one discussing it.

rememberverbUS /rɪˈmɛm.bər/

To recall to mind.

From this reading “Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

Rickard

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

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

Rickard's

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

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

sayverbUS /seɪ/

express in words

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

shakeverbUS /ʃeɪk/

move or cause to move back and forth

From this reading “The first shake!”

shocknounUS /ʃɑːk/

the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

slightnounUS /slaɪt/

a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading “The Indians might have something to say about that,” thought Rickard.

TWOnounUS /tuː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

uneasinessnounUS /ˌʌˈniːzinəs/

feelings of anxiety that make you tense and irritable

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading HARDIN’S LUCK TWO days later, there was a shock of earthquake, so slight that the lapping of the water in Rickard’s bath was his intimation of the earth’s uneasiness.

WhopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading “Who could remember an earthquake in that desert?”

Chapter 13 of The river by Ednah Aiken holds 112 sentences, grouped into 23 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.

What does chapter 13 of The river contain?

Chapter 13 holds 112 sentences of The river, unabridged, divided into 23 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of The river by Ednah Aiken exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 112 sentences, grouped into 23 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 13 of The river?

Work through the 23 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 23 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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.

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Chapter XIII

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