Chapter 24 of The Trumpet-Major is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.
Chapter XXIV
Chapter 24 of The Trumpet-Major is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him. How very quick he has been! I certainly wish we could see her.' 'I don't know so much as her name. He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
Chapter 24 of The Trumpet-Major is here in full — 183 sentences across 37 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.
Reading 1/36 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading “'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.”
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading “'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.”
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading “I certainly wish we could see her.'”
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading “He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'”
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading “'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.”
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading “'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.”
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading “How very quick he has been!”
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading “'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.”
Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.
Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading 'I don't know so much as her name.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
elegance by virtue of fineness of manner and expression
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading I certainly wish we could see her.'
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I certainly wish we could see her.'
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'I don't know so much as her name.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading How very quick he has been!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How very quick he has been!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I certainly wish we could see her.'
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How very quick he has been!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading 'I don't know so much as her name.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading 'I don't know so much as her name.
plural of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading How very quick he has been!
on the contrary
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading I certainly wish we could see her.'
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading 'I don't know so much as her name.
not in physical motion
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
express in words
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
a special situation
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
precisely as stated
From this reading How very quick he has been!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
belonging to which person
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I certainly wish we could see her.'
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading 'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
Chapter 24 of The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy holds 183 sentences, grouped into 37 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.
Chapter 24 holds 183 sentences of The Trumpet-Major, unabridged, divided into 37 reading sections.
This page carries chapter 24 of The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 183 sentences, grouped into 37 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.
Work through the 37 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.
Each of the 37 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.
Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 24 can be played aloud in United States English.
Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.
Common questions about reading The Trumpet-Major by Thomas Hardy on this page, its source edition and its audio.
Yes. All 6158 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #2864 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.
Project Gutenberg eBook #2864, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.
About 513 minutes of reading across 1232 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.
How to work through The Trumpet-Major section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.
Choose one of the 34 chapters of The Trumpet-Major to begin.
Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.
Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.
Words and structures a reader meets early in The Trumpet-Major, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.
