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The three strings
The three strings

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The three strings is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Natalie Sumner Lincoln • Curated US English Learning Edition
Cover illustration for The three strings
Context Illustration Reading 1/32 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.
For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.
“Matilda!”
Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.
“Thank God you are here!”
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
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 three strings

Chapter III

Chapter 3 of The three strings is here in full — 160 sentences across 32 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/32 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.
Line 2
For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.
/fɔːr ə ˈbreθləs ˈsekənd ʃiː klʌŋ tuː ðə ˈnuːkʌmər ɪn ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Line 3
“Matilda!”
Line 4
Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.
Line 5
“Thank God you are here!”
/θæŋk ɡɑːd juː ɑːr hiːr/

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.

breathless adjective US /ˈbreθləs/

not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty

From this reading “For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
complications noun US /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating

From this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doorstep noun US /ˈdɔːrstep/

the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

From this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housekeeper noun US /ˈhaʊskiːpər/

a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household

From this reading “Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
neatly adverb US /ˈniːtli/

with neatness

From this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
newcomer noun US /ˈnuːkʌmər/

any new participant in some activity

From this reading “For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stress noun US /stres/

the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)

From this reading “Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
vestibule noun US /ˈvestɪbjuːl/

a large entrance or reception room or area

From this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1

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.

neatly dressed adverb + adjective

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

616 times in 426,211 chapters
front door noun + noun

exterior door (at the entrance) at the front of a building

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

13,813 times in 426,211 chapters
on the doorstep preposition + article + noun counted as “on … doorstep”

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

1,821 times in 426,211 chapters
into the vestibule preposition + article + noun counted as “into … vestibule”

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

314 times in 426,211 chapters
fell into verb + particle

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

20,296 times in 426,211 chapters
in silence preposition + noun

In this reading “For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.”

37,829 times in 426,211 chapters
into the arms preposition + article + noun counted as “into … arms”

In this reading “COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.”

2,337 times in 426,211 chapters

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
addressverbUS /ˈædres/

speak to

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading “Thank God you are here!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
armsnounUS /ɑːrmz/

weapons considered collectively

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
breathlessadjectiveUS /ˈbreθləs/

not breathing or able to breathe except with difficulty

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
COMPLICATIONSnounUS /ˌkɑːmpləˈkeɪʃənz/

plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dashedadjectiveUS /dæʃt/

having gaps or spaces

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

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

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
doornounUS /dɔːr/

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
doorstepnounUS /ˈdɔːrstep/

the sill of a door; a horizontal piece of wood or stone that forms the bottom of a doorway and offers support when passing through a doorway

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
dressedadjectiveUS /drest/

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
EVELYN

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Pending verification
everadverbUS /ˈevər/

at any time

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
fellverbUS /fel/

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
frontnounUS /frʌnt/

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
GodnounUS /ɡɑːd/

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading “Thank God you are here!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
hereadverbUS /hiːr/

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Thank God you are here!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
housekeepernounUS /ˈhaʊskiːpər/

a servant who is employed to perform domestic task in a household

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
how

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Pending verification
inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
knewverbUS /nuː/

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
Matilda

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

From this reading “Matilda!”

Pending verification
momentsnounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
mother'snounUS /ˈmʌðərz/

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
nameverbUS /neɪm/

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
neatlyadverbUS /ˈniːtli/

with neatness

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
newcomernounUS /ˈnuːkʌmər/

any new participant in some activity

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
OnlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/

and nothing more

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
reachedverbUS /riːtʃt/

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
secondnounUS /ˈsekənd/

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

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
shepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

Velmora curated lexicon
standingadjectiveUS /ˈstændɪŋ/

having a supporting base

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
stressnounUS /stres/

the relative prominence of a syllable or musical note (especially with regard to stress or pitch)

From this reading Only in moments of stress did Evelyn ever address her mother’s housekeeper by her first name.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
talladjectiveUS /tɔːl/

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
ThankverbUS /θæŋk/

express gratitude or show appreciation to

From this reading “Thank God you are here!”

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading For a breathless second she clung to the newcomer in silence.

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary
vestibulenounUS /ˈvestɪbjuːl/

a large entrance or reception room or area

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
womannounUS /ˈwʊmən/

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading COMPLICATIONS EVELYN never knew how she reached the front door, but as she dashed out into the vestibule she almost fell into the arms of a tall neatly dressed woman standing on the doorstep.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary · Princeton WordNet 3.1
youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Thank God you are here!”

Velmora grammar entry · CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Chapter 3 of The three strings by Natalie Sumner Lincoln holds 160 sentences, grouped into 32 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 3 of The three strings contain?

Chapter 3 holds 160 sentences of The three strings, unabridged, divided into 32 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 3 of The three strings by Natalie Sumner Lincoln exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 160 sentences, grouped into 32 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 three strings?

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Each of the 32 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.

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Chapter 1
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Chapter 3
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