Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
The Wouldbegoods
The Wouldbegoods

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wouldbegoods
Context Illustration Reading 1/75 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.
They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.
So then Oswald said-- All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.
Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.
Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.
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 Wouldbegoods

Chapter VI · Chapter 6

Chapter 6 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 378 sentences across 76 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/75 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.
Line 2
They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.
Line 3
So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.
Line 4
Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.
Line 5
Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

All words in this reading · 93

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 They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

about

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

account

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

act

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

again

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

All

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

an

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

and

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

anything

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

at

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

be

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

began

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

begin

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

book

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

bother

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

bottom

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

but

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

Daisy

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

Deed

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

did

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

does

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

done

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

down

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

draw

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

each

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

earnest

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

end

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

endeavour

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

every

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

everybody's

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

everything

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

Father

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

for

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

go-in

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

Golden

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

had

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

help

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

high

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

in

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

ink

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

is

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

it

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

Let's

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

like

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

lines

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

noble

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

not

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

of

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

one

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

ones

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

Oswald

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

others

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

ought

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

out

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

over

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

really

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

red

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

right

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

said

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

Seekers

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

shall

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

single

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

So

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

Society

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

speaking

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

started

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

that

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

The

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

their

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

then

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

there

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

From this reading So then Oswald said-- ‘All right; but there ought to be an end to everything.

They

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

thing

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

think

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

this

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

time

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

to

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

Treasure

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

two

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

unselfish

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

us

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

was

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

we

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

we'll

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

week

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

were

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

when

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

who

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

with

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

work

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

From this reading Let’s each of us think of one really noble and unselfish act, and the others shall help to work it out, like we did when we were Treasure Seekers.

worth

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

From this reading They said we had not done anything really noble--not worth speaking of, that is--for over a week, and that it was high time to begin again--‘with earnest endeavour’, Daisy said.

Wouldbegoods

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

From this reading The ones of us who had started the Society of the Wouldbegoods began, at about this time, to bother.

write

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

From this reading Then when everybody’s had their go-in we’ll write every single thing down in the Golden Deed book, and we’ll draw two lines in red ink at the bottom, like Father does at the end of an account.

Chapter 6 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit holds 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 6 of The Wouldbegoods contain?

Chapter 6 holds 378 sentences of The Wouldbegoods, unabridged, divided into 76 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 378 sentences, grouped into 76 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 6 of The Wouldbegoods?

Work through the 76 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 76 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 6 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 6 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.