Ex. VIII, p. 294

I

1. Finally the three of them rose and made for Mr. Green's house. Mr. Letts. Telt uncomfortable (ill at ease). He doubted whether he should have fallen in with Mrs. Green's scheme at all. "I wish I knew where I stood," he thought.

"I'm so glad that my brother has been found," said Betsy happily. "Now I have somebody to confide my troubles to." - "Yes," said Mrs. Green, with a sigh of relief, "now we have somebody who will always be a good friend (a support) to us." She caught Mr. Letts's eye and the latter said promptly: "Don't worry, Mother. Now' that I've come back home, things will be different. I'll always stand by you. It's-a shame how Green has been treating you all these years!":

2. Mr. Green gave Mr. Letls a cold welcome, but the latter did not seem to take offence (to take it too much to heart, to be hurt by that). He did not even try to make a good impression on Mr. Green.

3. Though Mr. Green doubted the truth of his wife's story he was obliged to give (had no choice but to give) Mr. Letts the best room in the house. At supper Mr. Green asked him question after question, trying to confuse him: "How did you happen to get to our town? What prevented you from coming home earlier? What have you been doing all this time? You didn't write a single letter to your mother.' Why didn't 'you? You can't have forgotten the address..."

Mrs. Gre;n interrupted her husband: "He lost his memory (his memory failed

him) after he was shipwrecked. He has been having treatment (under treatment) all this time. Now he's better." But Mr. Green was not to be convinced like this. He felt there was something up. "I don't believe a single word... He does not look as if he'd been ill all those years." Mr. Letts rose. He said he was very tired, he had not had a wink of sleep (had not slept a wink) for three nights, but he would gladly talk to his stepfather when he had had a good rest.

4. The next morning Mr. Green said to Mr. Letts: "Why don't you go somewhere else and hunt for a job? There are a lot of unemployed in our town." - "I'd rather not go anywhere yet," answered Mr. Letts. "As things stand now, I don't want to leave my sister and my mother, I can't neglect my duties towards them."

5. Mr. Green decided to make inquiries about the young man. A week later he got an answer. No wonder he flew into a rage when he learned the truth. "What a fool 1 am to be taken in by this improbable story!" He rushed home to turn the imposter out, but it was too late. Mr. Letts had married Betsy that very day:

II

1. As you remember, Rip met a very strange little man in the mountains. For a while he stared at the strange man, unable to utter a word. "Who are you? What do you want with me?" he said at last.The little man seemed to pay no attention (did not seem to pay the least attention) to the questions. He told Rip to come up to him and take the keg of wine from him. Though Rip was no coward, he could not help trembling with fear. He could do nothing but obey the stranger (had no choice but to obey the stranger).

2. They had been walking for an hour and a half when they saw a group of strange little men playing ninepins. On seeing the keg of wine the strange little men at once stopped their game and ran towards Rip. A few minutes later all of them were sitting around the keg enjoying the wine, which appeared to be excellent. Rip also took some. Very soon, however, Rip felt sleepy. His head began to nod and he fell into a deep sleep.

3. When Rip awoke (woke up), it was a bright sunny morning. For a long time he could not understand where he was and what had happened to him. "I can't have dreamed it all! Where are these strange little men? I'd better go home before they come back."

4. As he walked through the village he could not help wondering at the changes which had taken place in his absence. "What does it all mean? Can I still be sleeping?"

5. Rip's clothes attracted the attention of everybody in the village. He saw that he was being looked at with curiosity and wonder. Nobody seemed to recognize him. Near a house which very much resembled his own house (looked exactly like his own house) he saw a nice-looking young woman with a child in her arms. "What has happened to my relatives? Where's my house? Where are my friends?" Rip nearly fainted when he learned that he had slept more than twenty years.

III

1. John Perkins sat by the window staring into space. His cigarette had long gone oyt, buthe did not stir. Only now did he realize that he had treated Kate badly all these years." "I wish I hadn't left her alone every evening. She must have been suffering all the time, but she never complained. I've got to turn over a new leaf and make up for my mistake. When she comes back things will be different." He felt as if he had not seen ber for ages, though only a few hours had passed since she had left. '-...'

2. John gave a startled cry when the door was flung open and his wife walked hurriedly in. He stared at her as if he had seen (saw) a ghost. He had not expected her to turn up so soon.

"John, dear, I'm so glad to be home again!" said Kate cheerfully. "What have you been doing all this time? Have you had your supper? You must have been astonished to see the flat in such terrible disorder. If I had bad more time I would certainly have tidied it up (cleaned the flat). DJdjypu read my note? You know that Mother has been taken ill. I got the telegram soon after you left for work. 1 had to hurry

to catch the 9 o'clock train. Fortunately Mother felt (was) much better by the time I arrived. Of course, she was glad to see me, but she didn't want me to stay in the village for her sake. "They needn't have sent you that telegram. They should not have worried (troubled) you," she said. "And please don't treat me as a sick person, I'll soon get well again."

"I tried to convince her that my presence would do her a lot of good, but she insisted on my taking the next train back."

3. There was a silence in the room. By this time John had recovered from his astonishment. He sprang to his feet and said: "Oh,it's fine you've comebackso soon... Would you like a cup of coffee?" But then John glanced at his watch. It showed a quarter to eight. "It can't be as late as that! I should have left the house at seven. The chaps must be waiting for me..." He reached for his hat and said, as if nothing had happened: "Sorry, but I must be off (must be going). I'm three quarters of an hour late already. They must have lost all hope of ever seeing me today... They must be wondering what has happened to me... I wouldn't go if I hadn't promised the chaps I'd come..." He was groping for words, "One should keep one's promises, shouldn't one?"

4. Kate had never been cross with John and she had always forgiven him everything. But this time she felt her patience was running out. "I must make him draw the line somewhere," she said to herself. "Why should he always have it his own way? Tomorrow I'll have it out with him."

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