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The Story of an African Farm
The Story of an African Farm

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of The Story of an African Farm is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Story of an African Farm
Context Illustration Reading 1/34 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
Letter.
It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.
Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.
He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.
He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Story of an African Farm

Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

Chapter 18 of The Story of an African Farm is here in full — 173 sentences across 35 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/34 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
Letter.
/ˈletər/
Line 2
It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.
Line 3
Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.
/ˈveri ˈneroʊli ʃiː sərˈveɪd hɪm æz ˈsloʊli hiː əˈproʊtʃt/
Line 4
He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.
Line 5
He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

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.

attired adjective US /əˈtaɪrd/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading “He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.”

bespoke adjective US /bʊˈspoʊk/

(of clothing) custom-made

From this reading “He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.”

concealing noun US /kənˈsiːlɪŋ/

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading “He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.”

crepe noun US /kreɪp/

paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations

From this reading “He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.”

horseman noun US /ˈhɔːrsmən/

a man skilled in equitation

From this reading “It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.”

narrowly adverb US /ˈneroʊli/

in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions

From this reading “Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.”

relieving verb US /rɪˈliːvɪŋ/

-ing form of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading “He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.”

uppermost adjective US /ˈʌpərmoʊst/

at or nearest to the top

From this reading “He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.”

All words in this reading · 98

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 It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/

later than; following

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

airnounUS /er/

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

approachedverbUS /əˈproʊtʃt/

past form of “approach” — move towards

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

attirenounUS /əˈtaɪər/

clothing of a distinctive style or for a particular occasion

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

attiredadjectiveUS /əˈtaɪrd/

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

bespokeadjectiveUS /bʊˈspoʊk/

(of clothing) custom-made

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

blackadjectiveUS /blæk/

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

breezenounUS /briːz/

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

chinnounUS /tʃɪn/

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

concealingnounUS /kənˈsiːlɪŋ/

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

cornernounUS /ˈkɔːrnər/

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

crepenounUS /kreɪp/

paper with a crinkled texture; usually colored and used for decorations

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

dazzlingadjectiveUS /ˈdæzəlɪŋ/

amazingly impressive; suggestive of the flashing of lightning

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

deepestadjectiveUS /ˈdiːpəst/

superlative of “deep” — relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

driving-lesson

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

enjoyverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪ/

derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/

divisible by two

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

eveningnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋ/

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

feltverbUS /felt/

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/

at or to or toward the front

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

funerealadjective

suited to or suggestive of a grave or burial

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

gentlyadverbUS /ˈdʒentli/

in a gradual manner

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

hatnounUS /hæt/

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

HeavennounUS /ˈhevən/

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

horsemannounUS /ˈhɔːrsmən/

a man skilled in equitation

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

housenounUS /haʊs/

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

justadverbUS /dʒʌst/

and nothing more

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

leanverbUS /liːn/

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

LetternounUS /ˈletər/

a written message addressed to a person or organization

From this reading Letter.

Lyndall

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

meekadjectiveUS /miːk/

humble in spirit or manner; suggesting retiring mildness or even cowed submissiveness

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

mourningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/

state of sorrow over the death or departure of a loved one

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

narrowlyadverbUS /ˈneroʊli/

in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

relievingverbUS /rɪˈliːvɪŋ/

-ing form of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

restingverbUS /ˈrestɪŋ/

-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

returnedverbUS /rɪˈtɜːrnd/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

roadnounUS /roʊd/

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

rodeverbUS /roʊd/

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

roundnounUS /raʊnd/

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

saddleverbUS /ˈsædəl/

put a saddle on

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

sawverbUS /sɔː/

cut with a saw

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

shirt-front

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

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

shirt-studs

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

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

slowlyadverbUS /ˈsloʊli/

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

steednounUS /stiːd/

(literary) a spirited horse for state of war

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

storenounUS /stɔːr/

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

strangeadjectiveUS /streɪndʒ/

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

subjectionnoun

forced submission to control by others

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

sunsetnounUS /ˈsʌnset/

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

surveyedverbUS /sərˈveɪd/

past form of “survey” — consider in a comprehensive way

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

tonenounUS /toʊn/

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

totallyadverbUS /ˈtoʊtəli/

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading He was attired in the deepest mourning, the black crepe round his tall hat totally concealing the black felt, and nothing but a dazzling shirt-front relieving the funereal tone of his attire.

uppermostadjectiveUS /ˈʌpərmoʊst/

at or nearest to the top

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

urgedverbUS /ɜːrdʒd/

past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

VeryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/

precisely as stated

From this reading Very narrowly she surveyed him, as slowly he approached.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

whatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading He rode much forward in his saddle, with his chin resting on the uppermost of his shirt-studs, and there was an air of meek subjection to the will of Heaven, and to what might be in store for him, that bespoke itself even in the way in which he gently urged his steed.

womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading It was just after sunset, and Lyndall had not yet returned from her first driving-lesson, when the lean coloured woman standing at the corner of the house to enjoy the evening breeze, saw coming along the road a strange horseman.

Chapter 18 of The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner holds 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 18 of The Story of an African Farm contain?

Chapter 18 holds 173 sentences of The Story of an African Farm, unabridged, divided into 35 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 18 of The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 173 sentences, grouped into 35 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 18 of The Story of an African Farm?

Work through the 35 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 35 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 18 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 18 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 Story of an African Farm

Common questions about reading The Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Story of an African Farm?

Yes. All 6299 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #1441 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Story of an African Farm is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #1441, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Story of an African Farm take to read?

About 524 minutes of reading across 1260 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Story of an African Farm section by section

How to work through The Story of an African Farm section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 27 chapters of The Story of an African Farm 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 Story of an African Farm

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Story of an African Farm, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Watch
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of an African Farm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
African
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of an African Farm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Poured
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of an African Farm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Light
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Story of an African Farm; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.