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The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance
The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance
Context Illustration Reading 17/46 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.
Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.
There was little more for the train-bands to do.
Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.
Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.
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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 Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance is here in full — 234 sentences across 47 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 17/46 · 5 reading units · Lines 81–85

Line 1
Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.
Line 2
Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.
Line 3
There was little more for the train-bands to do.
Line 4
Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.
/tʃɑːrlz hæd fled piːs wɑːz rɪˈstɔːrd ðə lɔːŋ ˈpɑːrləmənt wɑːz dɪˈzɑːlvd ˈkrɑːmwəl wɑːz lɔːrd prəˈtektər/
Line 5
Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.
/ˈaʊtwərdli ðə jʌŋ ˈraʊndhed wɑːz nɑːt ˈɔːltərd baɪ ðə kæmˈpeɪn/

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.

campaign noun US /kæmˈpeɪn/

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading “Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.”

Cromwell noun US /ˈkrɑːmwəl/

English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)

From this reading “Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.”

Cromwell's noun US /ˈkrɑːmwɪlz/

possessive form of “cromwell” — English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)

From this reading “Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.”

dissolved adjective US /dɪˈzɑːlvd/

(of solid matter) reduced to a liquid form

From this reading “Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.”

fells noun US /felz/

plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading “Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.”

Outwardly adverb US /ˈaʊtwərdli/

with respect to the outside

From this reading “Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.”

Protector noun US /prəˈtektər/

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading “Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.”

Roundhead noun US /ˈraʊndhed/

a brachycephalic person

From this reading “Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.”

All words in this reading · 54

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.

1650

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

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

afterwardsadverbUS /ˈæftərwərdz/

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

alteredadjectiveUS /ˈɔːltərd/

changed in form or character without becoming something else

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

armynounUS /ˈɑːrmi/

a permanent organization of the military land forces of a nation or state

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

BetweenprepositionUS /bɪˈtwiːn/

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

campaignnounUS /kæmˈpeɪn/

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

CharlesnounUS /tʃɑːrlz/

King of France from 1560 to 1574 whose reign was dominated by his mother Catherine de Medicis (1550-1574)

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

citynounUS /ˈsɪti/

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

CromwellnounUS /ˈkrɑːmwəl/

English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

Cromwell'snounUS /ˈkrɑːmwɪlz/

possessive form of “cromwell” — English general and statesman who led the parliamentary army in the English Civil War (1599-1658)

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

dissolvedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzɑːlvd/

(of solid matter) reduced to a liquid form

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

Dunbar

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

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

fellsnounUS /felz/

plural of “fell” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

fledverbUS /fled/

inflected form of “flee” — run away quickly

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

lifenounUS /laɪf/

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

LongadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

LordnounUS /lɔːrd/

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

OutwardlyadverbUS /ˈaʊtwərdli/

with respect to the outside

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/

a legislative assembly in certain countries

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

peacenounUS /piːs/

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

ProtectornounUS /prəˈtektər/

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

Ralph

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

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

RaynounUS /reɪ/

a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

restoredverbUS /rɪˈstɔːrd/

past form of “restore” — return to its original or usable and functioning condition

From this reading Charles had fled, peace was restored, the Long Parliament was dissolved, Cromwell was Lord Protector.

resumedverbUS /rɪˈzuːmd/

past form of “resume” — take up or begin anew

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

RoundheadnounUS /ˈraʊndhed/

a brachycephalic person

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading Ralph Ray joined Cromwell's army against the second Charles at Dunbar, in 1650.

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

threenounUS /θriː/

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

train-bands

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

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

twonounUS /tuː/

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading There was little more for the train-bands to do.

Wythburn

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

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

yearsnounUS /jɪrz/

a late time of life

From this reading Between two and three years afterwards he returned to Wythburn city and resumed his old life on the fells.

youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Outwardly the young Roundhead was not altered by the campaign.

Chapter 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance by Hall, Sir Caine holds 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance contain?

Chapter 1 holds 234 sentences of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance, unabridged, divided into 47 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance by Hall, Sir Caine exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 234 sentences, grouped into 47 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 1 of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance?

Work through the 47 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 47 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 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 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 Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance

Common questions about reading The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance by Hall, Sir Caine on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance?

Yes. All 8078 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #14262 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #14262, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance take to read?

About 600 minutes of reading across 1616 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Tar-ry
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Begin
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Ballad
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Wythburn
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Shadow of a Crime: A Cumbrian Romance; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.