Vashti

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of Vashti is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans • Curated US English Learning Edition

English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5

"Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

What think you now, my wiseacre?"

"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

"Not with the expectation of living there?"

Narrator

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LEARNER DICTIONARY

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Chapter XIII Reading 1/41

Vashti

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

Chapter 13 of Vashti is here in full — 207 sentences across 42 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/41 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

"Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

Line 2

Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

/wʌns juː læft æt maɪ ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/

Line 3

What think you now, my wiseacre?"

Line 4

"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

/maɪ əˈpɪnjən hæz nɑːt tʃeɪndʒd ɪkˈsept ðæt iːtʃ taɪm aɪ siː ðə pleɪs aɪ ædˈmaɪr ɪt mɔːr ənd mɔːr ənd wɜːr ɪt fɔːr seɪl aɪ ʃʊd ˈsɜːrtənli ˈpɜːrtʃəs ɪt/

Line 5

"Not with the expectation of living there?"

/nɑːt wɪð ðə ˌekspekˈteɪʃən ʌv ˈlɪvɪŋ ðer/

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.

admire verb US /ædˈmaɪr/

feel admiration for

From this reading “"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."”

expectation noun US /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/

belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading “"Not with the expectation of living there?"”

misfortune noun US /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/

unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading “"Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?”

purchase noun US /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/

the acquisition of something for payment

From this reading “"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."”

sale noun US /seɪl/

a particular instance of selling

From this reading “"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."”

Solitude noun US /ˈsɑːlətuːd/

a state of social isolation

From this reading “"Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?”

superstition noun US /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/

an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear

From this reading “Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'”

unlucky adjective US /ənˈlʌki/

having or bringing misfortune

From this reading “"Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

for sale preposition + noun

available for purchase

In this reading “"My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."”

All words in this reading · 53

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.

adeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

admireverbUS /ædˈmaɪr/

feel admiration for

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

changedadjectiveUS /tʃeɪndʒd/

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

convincedadjectiveUS /kənˈvɪnst/

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

dogsnounUS /dɑːɡz/

plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/

apart from; not including

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

expectationnounUS /ˌekspekˈteɪʃən/

belief about (or mental picture of) the future

From this reading "Not with the expectation of living there?"

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/

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

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

homenounUS /hoʊm/

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

IpronounUS /aɪ/

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

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/

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

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

laughedverbUS /læft/

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

livingnounUS /ˈlɪvɪŋ/

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading "Not with the expectation of living there?"

makeverbUS /meɪk/

engage in

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

misfortunenounUS /mɪˈsfɔːrtʃən/

unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

mydeterminerUS /maɪ/

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

nowadverbUS /naʊ/

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading What think you now, my wiseacre?"

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

OnceadverbUS /wʌns/

on one occasion

From this reading Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

opinionnounUS /əˈpɪnjən/

a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

placenounUS /pleɪs/

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

purchasenounUS /ˈpɜːrtʃəs/

the acquisition of something for payment

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

salenounUS /seɪl/

a particular instance of selling

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

seeverbUS /siː/

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

SolitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/

a state of social isolation

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

stepsnounUS /steps/

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

superstitionnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃən/

an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear

From this reading Once you laughed at my 'superstition.'

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Not with the expectation of living there?"

thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading What think you now, my wiseacre?"

timenounUS /taɪm/

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

Ulpian

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

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

unluckyadjectiveUS /ənˈlʌki/

having or bringing misfortune

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

WelladverbUS /wel/

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "My opinion has not changed, except that each time I see the place I admire it more and more; and, were it for sale, I should certainly purchase it."

WhatpronounUS /wʌt/

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What think you now, my wiseacre?"

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

wiseacrenoun

an upstart who makes conceited, sardonic, insolent comments

From this reading What think you now, my wiseacre?"

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading "Not with the expectation of living there?"

youpronounUS /juː/

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Well, Ulpian, are you convinced that 'Solitude' is an unlucky place, and that misfortune dogs the steps of all who make it a home?

Chapter 13 of Vashti by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans holds 207 sentences, grouped into 42 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 13 of Vashti contain?

Chapter 13 holds 207 sentences of Vashti, unabridged, divided into 42 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 13 of Vashti by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 207 sentences, grouped into 42 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 13 of Vashti?

Work through the 42 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 42 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 13 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 13 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 Vashti

Common questions about reading Vashti by Augusta J. (Augusta Jane) Evans on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Vashti?

Yes. All 6667 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #31620 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Vashti is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #31620, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Vashti take to read?

About 555 minutes of reading across 1334 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Vashti

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

Author: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vashti; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Beulah: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vashti; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Macaria: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vashti; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Infelice: A word that appears in the opening chapter of Vashti; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.

Chapter XIII · Chapter 13

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