Complete classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The wooing of Rosamond Fayre
The wooing of Rosamond Fayre

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre is here in full — 248 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The wooing of Rosamond Fayre
Context Illustration Reading 1/49 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.
"Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.
"Can't!
Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.
She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!
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 wooing of Rosamond Fayre

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre is here in full — 248 sentences across 50 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/49 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.
Line 2
"Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.
Line 3
"Can't!
Line 4
Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.
Line 5
She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

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.

benighted adjective US /bɪˈnaɪtɪd/

overtaken by night or darkness

From this reading “Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.”

biting adjective US /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

capable of wounding

From this reading “"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.”

blotter noun US /ˈblɑːtər/

absorbent paper used to dry ink

From this reading “"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.”

dipped adjective US /dɪpt/

having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)

From this reading “"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.”

ink noun US /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading “"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.”

philanthropic adjective US /ˌfɪlənˈθrɑːpɪk/

generous in assistance to the poor

From this reading “Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.”

pro noun US /proʊ/

an athlete who plays for pay

From this reading “"DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.”

realise verb US /ˈriːəlaɪz/

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading “Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.”

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.

quite impossible adverb + adjective

In this reading “Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.”

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.

alikeadverbUS /əˈlaɪk/

equally

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

AnybodypronounUS /ˈenibədi/

any person at all

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

benightedadjectiveUS /bɪˈnaɪtɪd/

overtaken by night or darkness

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

bitingadjectiveUS /ˈbaɪtɪŋ/

capable of wounding

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

blotternounUS /ˈblɑːtər/

absorbent paper used to dry ink

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

can't

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

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

DARLINGnounUS /ˈdɑːrlɪŋ/

a special loved one

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

decisionnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒən/

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

desknounUS /desk/

a piece of furniture with a writing surface and usually drawers or other compartments

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

dippedadjectiveUS /dɪpt/

having abnormal sagging of the spine (especially in horses)

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

doauxiliary verbUS /duː/

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

Eleanor

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

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

Eleanor's

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

endnounUS /end/

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

Handwritings

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

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

inknounUS /ɪŋk/

a liquid used for printing or writing or drawing

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

innocentadjectiveUS /ˈɪnəsənt/

free from evil or guilt

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

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

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

OhnounUS /oʊ/

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

pennounUS /pen/

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

PERprepositionUS /pɜːr/

for each

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

philanthropicadjectiveUS /ˌfɪlənˈθrɑːpɪk/

generous in assistance to the poor

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

PROnounUS /proʊ/

an athlete who plays for pay

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

realiseverbUS /ˈriːəlaɪz/

earn on some commercial or business transaction; earn as salary or wages

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

reallyadverbUS /ˈrɪli/

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

Rosamond

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

saidadjectiveUS /sed/

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

ShepronounUS /ʃiː/

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

From this reading She really is--'Handwritings so alike,' she said!

SittingnounUS /ˈsɪtɪŋ/

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

staringadjectiveUS /ˈsterɪŋ/

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading "Oh, I can't do this," was her first decision.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading "DARLING" PER PRO Sitting there at Eleanor's desk, staring at Eleanor's blotter and biting the end of her pen, it was long before Rosamond so much as dipped that pen in the ink.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Anybody but that benighted little philanthropic innocent of an Eleanor would realise that it was quite impossible.

Chapter 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre by Berta Ruck holds 248 sentences, grouped into 50 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 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre contain?

Chapter 2 holds 248 sentences of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre, unabridged, divided into 50 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre by Berta Ruck exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 248 sentences, grouped into 50 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 2 of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre?

Work through the 50 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 50 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 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 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 wooing of Rosamond Fayre

Common questions about reading The wooing of Rosamond Fayre by Berta Ruck on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre?

Yes. All 0 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #? are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre is used?

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

How long does The wooing of Rosamond Fayre take to read?

About 5 minutes of reading across 0 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The wooing of Rosamond Fayre section by section

How to work through The wooing of Rosamond Fayre section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 0 chapters of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre 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 wooing of Rosamond Fayre

Words and structures a reader meets early in The wooing of Rosamond Fayre, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Chapter 1
One of the 0 chapters of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 2
One of the 0 chapters of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.
Chapter 3
One of the 0 chapters of The wooing of Rosamond Fayre, divided into 5-sentence reading sections.