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The Roadmender
The Roadmender

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Roadmender is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Roadmender
Context Illustration Reading 1/18 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.
First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.
Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.
When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.
I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.
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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 Roadmender

Chapter III · Chapter 3

Chapter 3 of The Roadmender is here in full — 92 sentences across 19 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/18 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.
Line 2
First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.
Line 3
Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.
Line 4
When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.
Line 5
I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

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.

Stood verb US /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.”

Worn verb US /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading “When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.”

All words in this reading · 66

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.

a

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

after

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

and

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

as

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

ask

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

at

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

away

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

bared

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

belt

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

bicycle

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

burnt

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

came

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

clothes

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

day

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

dirty

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

disfigured

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

down

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

dressguard

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

dusty

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

early

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

encounters

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

face

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

First

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

for

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

from

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

girl

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

had

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

hand

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

hat

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

head

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

Her

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

hill

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

I

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

in

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

it

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

laid

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

looked

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

looking

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

loose

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

me

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

morning

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

my

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

Niphetos

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

of

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

on

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

palm

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

piece

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

road

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

rode

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

rose

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

she

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

shyly

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

stoodverbUS /stʊd/

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

stopped

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

string

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

the

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

then

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

tied

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

to

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

From this reading Her dressguard was loose, and she stopped to ask for a piece of string.

took

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

up

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

From this reading I bared my head, and stood hat in hand looking after her as she rode away up the hill.

was

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

When

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

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

wornverbUS /wɔːrn/

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading When I had tied it for her she looked at me, at my worn dusty clothes and burnt face; and then she took a Niphetos rose from her belt and laid it shyly in my dirty disfigured palm.

YESTERDAY

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

From this reading YESTERDAY was a day of encounters.

young

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

From this reading First, early in the morning, a young girl came down the road on a bicycle.

Chapter 3 of The Roadmender by Michael Fairless holds 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 3 of The Roadmender contain?

Chapter 3 holds 92 sentences of The Roadmender, unabridged, divided into 19 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The Roadmender by Michael Fairless exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 92 sentences, grouped into 19 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 3 of The Roadmender?

Work through the 19 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 19 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 3 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 3 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 Roadmender

Common questions about reading The Roadmender by Michael Fairless on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Roadmender?

Yes. All 859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #705 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Roadmender is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #705, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Roadmender take to read?

About 71 minutes of reading across 172 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Roadmender section by section

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

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 16 chapters of The Roadmender 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 Roadmender

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

Attained
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Roadmender; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ideal
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Roadmender; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Roadmender
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Roadmender; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stonebreaker
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Roadmender; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.