Chapter 4 of The Sacred Fount is here in full — 403 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter IV
Chapter 4 of The Sacred Fount is here in full — 403 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
"Ah, I feel I can't do that now. I _am_ interested. The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own. I still don't see the logic of her general importunity." "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
Chapter 4 of The Sacred Fount is here in full — 403 sentences across 81 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/80 · 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.
any person at all
From this reading “"The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."”
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading “The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.”
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading “"The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."”
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading “"The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."”
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading “The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.”
the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
From this reading “I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."”
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading “The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.”
a person who is being chased
From this reading “The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.”
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.
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.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I _am_ interested.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
any person at all
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
formal attendance (in court or at a hearing) of a party in an action
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
contribute to the progress or growth of
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
insistent solicitation and entreaty
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading I _am_ interested.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
a person who is being chased
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
and nothing more
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
not in physical motion
From this reading I still don't see the logic of her general importunity."
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading "The logic is simply that she has a terror of appearing to encourage anyone in particular."
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Ah, I feel I can't do that now.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The proof of that is," I pursued, "that I appeal to you for another impression of your own.
Chapter 4 of The Sacred Fount by Henry James holds 403 sentences, grouped into 81 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.
Chapter 4 holds 403 sentences of The Sacred Fount, unabridged, divided into 81 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 4 of The Sacred Fount by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 403 sentences, grouped into 81 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 81 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 81 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 4 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 Sacred Fount by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 4461 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #32939 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #32939, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 371 minutes of reading across 893 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Sacred Fount section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 11 chapters of The Sacred Fount 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 Sacred Fount, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
