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The Wouldbegoods
The Wouldbegoods

Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 343 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Wouldbegoods
Context Illustration Reading 1/68 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.
As Albert’s uncle said, School now gaped for its prey’.
In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.
(I don’t care for that way of writing very much.
It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)
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 XIV · Chapter 14

Chapter 14 of The Wouldbegoods is here in full — 343 sentences across 69 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/68 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.
Line 2
As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.
Line 3
In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.
Line 4
(I don’t care for that way of writing very much.
Line 5
It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

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.

Shadow noun US /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading “The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.”

All words in this reading · 62

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 In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

Albert's

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

all

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

an

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

and

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

As

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

awful

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

back

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

be

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

Blackheath

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

care

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

country

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

delightfulness

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

descended

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

devoted

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

don't

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

faded

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

flowers

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

for

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

gaped

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

I

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

in

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

It

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

its

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

keep

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

looking

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

memory's

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

much

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

nobs

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

now

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

of

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

only

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

our

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

out

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

preserved

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

prey

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

sable

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

said

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

School

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

short

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

should

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

soon

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

space

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

swot

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

termination

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

that

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

The

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

thunder-clouds

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

time

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

to

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

uncle

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

From this reading As Albert’s uncle said, ‘School now gaped for its prey’.

up

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

upon

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

From this reading The shadow of the termination now descended in sable thunder-clouds upon our devoted nobs.

variegated

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

very

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

way

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

we

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

wending

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

words

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

From this reading It would be an awful swot to keep it up--looking out the words and all that.)

would

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

From this reading In a very short space of time we should be wending our way back to Blackheath, and all the variegated delightfulness of the country would soon be only preserved in memory’s faded flowers.

writing

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

From this reading (I don’t care for that way of writing very much.

Chapter 14 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit holds 343 sentences, grouped into 69 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 14 of The Wouldbegoods contain?

Chapter 14 holds 343 sentences of The Wouldbegoods, unabridged, divided into 69 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 14 of The Wouldbegoods by E. (Edith) Nesbit exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 343 sentences, grouped into 69 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 14 of The Wouldbegoods?

Work through the 69 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 69 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 14 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 14 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.