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The Wouldbegoods
The Wouldbegoods

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wouldbegoods
Context Illustration Reading 1/69 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.
And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.
This is the English law; at least I think so.
And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.
And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.
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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 Wouldbegoods

Chapter II · Chapter 2

Chapter 2 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 348 sentences across 70 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/69 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.
Line 2
And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.
Line 3
This is the English law; at least I think so.
Line 4
And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.
Line 5
And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

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.

Same adjective US /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading “And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.”

All words in this reading · 113

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.

a

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

able

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

all

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

and

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

animals

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

any

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

at

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

be

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

because

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

been

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

being

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

between

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

Blake

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

bread

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

business

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

by

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

cane

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

cannot

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

From this reading And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.

confinement

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

could

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

country

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

down

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

endured

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

English

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

enough

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

entirely

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

explained

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

fair

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

feel

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

felt

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

for

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

garden

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

get

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

good

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

had

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

him

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

hose

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

I

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

ill-feeling

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

in

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

into

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

is

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

it

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

jungle

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

kindly

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

knew

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

law

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

lawn

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

learn

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

least

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

little

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

making

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

Malacca

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

mice

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

Mrs

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

no

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

not

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

now

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

of

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

offence

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

From this reading And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.

on

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

one

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

only

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

our

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

out

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

prisoners

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

prisons

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

punish

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

punished

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

punishment

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

quite

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

rate

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

rather

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

really

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

right

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

said

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/

Identical; not different.

From this reading And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.

sent

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

so

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

solitary

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

start

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

stuffed

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

suffered

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

taking

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

tame

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

that

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

the

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

them

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

there

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

think

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

This

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

From this reading This is the English law; at least I think so.

thoroughly

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

though

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

three

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

times

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

to

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

twice

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

From this reading And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.

uncle

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

up

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

us

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

was

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

wasn't

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

water

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

way

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

we

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

were

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

what

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

From this reading And what with the bread and water and being prisoners, and not being able to tame any mice in our prisons, I quite feel that we had suffered it up thoroughly, and now we could start fair.

When

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

while

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

wiped

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

with

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

From this reading When we were sent down into the country to learn to be good we felt it was rather good business, because we knew our being sent there was really only to get us out of the way for a little while, and we knew right enough that it wasn’t a punishment, though Mrs Blake said it was, because we had been punished thoroughly for taking the stuffed animals out and making a jungle on the lawn with them, and the garden hose.

would

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

From this reading And at any rate no one would punish you three times, and we had had the Malacca cane and the solitary confinement; and the uncle had kindly explained to us that all ill-feeling between him and us was wiped out entirely by the bread and water we had endured.

you

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

From this reading And you cannot be punished twice for the same offence.

Chapter 2 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit holds 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 2 of The Wouldbegoods contain?

Chapter 2 holds 348 sentences of The Wouldbegoods, unabridged, divided into 70 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 348 sentences, grouped into 70 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 Wouldbegoods?

Work through the 70 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 70 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 Wouldbegoods

Common questions about reading The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Wouldbegoods?

Yes. All 4724 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #794 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Wouldbegoods is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #794, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Wouldbegoods take to read?

About 393 minutes of reading across 945 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Wouldbegoods section by section

How to work through The Wouldbegoods section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 14 chapters of The Wouldbegoods 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 Wouldbegoods

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

Children
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wouldbegoods; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Proper
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wouldbegoods; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Place
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wouldbegoods; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Stand
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Wouldbegoods; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.