The Three Furlongers

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Three Furlongers is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Sheila Kaye-Smith • Curated US English Learning Edition

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FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

Then she tore the envelope.

The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter IV Reading 1/41

The Three Furlongers

Chapter IV

Chapter 4 of The Three Furlongers is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

Line 2

Then she tore the envelope.

/ðen ʃiː tɔːr ðə ˈenvəloʊp/

Line 3

The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

Line 4

It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

Line 5

But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

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.

afterthought noun US /ˈæftərθɑːt/

thinking again about a choice previously made

From this reading “FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.”

Brighton noun US /ˈbraɪtən/

a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex

From this reading “The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.”

brothers noun US /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading “FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.”

Curse noun US /kɜːrs/

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading “The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.”

envelope noun US /ˈenvəloʊp/

a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.

From this reading “Then she tore the envelope.”

farm verb US /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading “FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.”

Saturday noun US /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading “The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.”

tore noun US /tɔːr/

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading “Then she tore the envelope.”

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.

too many adverb + adjective

In this reading “It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.”

touch of verb + particle

In this reading “But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.”

in case preposition + noun

if there happens to be need

In this reading “It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.”

All words in this reading · 64

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 But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

AFTERTHOUGHTnounUS /ˈæftərθɑːt/

thinking again about a choice previously made

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

askverbUS /æsk/

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

billnounUS /bɪl/

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

BrightonnounUS /ˈbraɪtən/

a city in East Sussex in southern England that is a popular resort; site of the University of Sussex

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

brothersnounUS /ˈbrʌðərz/

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

CursenounUS /kɜːrs/

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

daren't

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

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

envelopenounUS /ˈenvəloʊp/

a flat (usually rectangular) container for a letter, thin package, etc.

From this reading Then she tore the envelope.

farmverbUS /fɑːrm/

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

FATE'S

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

goverbUS /ɡoʊ/

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/

destroyed or killed

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

I'm

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

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

It's

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

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

Janet

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

JANEY

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

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

metverbUS /met/

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

monthnounUS /mʌnθ/

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

nearlyadverbUS /ˈnɪrli/

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

objectnounUS /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

openverbUS /ˈoʊ.pən/

To move from a closed position.

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

questionsnounUS /ˈkwestʃənz/

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

ranverbUS /ræn/

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

SaturdaynounUS /ˈsætərdi/

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading Then she tore the envelope.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

sightnounUS /saɪt/

an instance of visual perception

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/

from a time in the past until now

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

SWEETadjectiveUS /swiːt/

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading The bill ran-- "JANEY SWEET, "Curse it!--I have to go to Brighton on Saturday.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

ThenadverbUS /ðen/

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then she tore the envelope.

tillprepositionUS /tɪl/

up to a particular time

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading FATE'S AFTERTHOUGHT Janet did not open her bill till her brothers had gone out to the farm.

tooadverbUS /tuː/

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It's for my father, so I daren't object, in case he should ask too many questions.

torenounUS /tɔːr/

commonly the lowest molding at the base of a column

From this reading Then she tore the envelope.

touchverbUS /tʌtʃ/

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading But I must see you, dear one--it's nearly a month since we met, and I'm dying for the sight of you and the touch of you.

Chapter 4 of The Three Furlongers by Sheila Kaye-Smith holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Three Furlongers contain?

Chapter 4 holds 207 sentences of The Three Furlongers, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 4 of The Three Furlongers by Sheila Kaye-Smith exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 4 of The Three Furlongers?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 4 be read aloud to me?

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.

Questions about reading The Three Furlongers

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Is this the complete text of The Three Furlongers?

Yes. All 4859 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #56161 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Three Furlongers is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #56161, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Three Furlongers take to read?

About 404 minutes of reading across 972 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Three Furlongers

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

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Chapter IV

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