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Рассказы О.Генри. Рассказы О. Книга предназначена для учащихся 10 классов средних школ, гимназий, лицеев. Ббк 81. 2Англ93 удк811. 111(075) isbn 9785811246649 ООО Издательство айрис пресс
Imagine that you are:
a few words about your work;
what you feel about Hartley.
what you feel about Robbins;
what you feel about Vivienne;
what you feel about your wife;
what you feel about Helen.
what you feel about Hartley;
what you feel about Townsend;
what you feel about Hartley’s wife;
what you feel about Helen.
what you feel about your husband;
what you feel about Helen.
What do you think?
Which of the characters do you like (dislike, feel sorry for)? Say why.
Why do you think Helen is often drunk?
Do you think Vivienne will be happy at Hartley’s house? Give reasons for your answer.
WITCHES’ LOAVES1
Miss Martha Meacham had a small bakery. She was neither very rich nor very poor. She had two thousand dollars in the bank.
Miss Martha was forty years old. She had a kind heart, and only two of her teeth were false. Although she was still unmarried she hoped to get married some time2.
Two or three times a week a customer came in to buy some bread. He was a middle-aged man with a beard and he wore glasses.
Soon Miss Martha began to take an interest1 in him. He spoke English with a strong German accent. His clothes were old but clean and he had good manners.
He always bought two loaves of stale bread. Fresh bread was five cents a loaf. Stale bread was two loaves for five cents. The customer never bought fresh bread.
Once Miss Martha saw red and brown stains on his hands. She was sure then that he was an artist and very poor. She was sure he lived in a cold room where he painted his pictures. He ate stale bread and thought of the good things that were sold in Miss Martha’s bak ery. When she sat down to dinner or had tea and jam, she used to think of the poor artist with good manners and feel sorry for him. She wanted to share all the good things she had with the well-mannered man. I have told you already that Miss Martha had a kind heart.
One day she brought from her room a picture that she had bought many years before. With its help she hoped to find out whether the man was really an artist.
It was a Venetian scene2. There was a beautiful pal ace in the picture, gondolas, young ladies, the moon and the stars. She hung the picture on the wall of her bak ery so that the artist could notice it.
Two days passed. The customer came in for bread.
“Two loaves of stale bread, blease3!”
“You have here a fine picture, madam,” he said tak ing the bread from her.
Miss Martha was very happy to hear these words. “Do you think it is a good picture?” she said. “Well...” he said, “the palace is not so good. The perspective is not true. Good morning1, madam.” He took his bread and left.
Yes, he must be an artist! Miss Martha was sure of it now. She took the picture back to her room. How kindly
is eyes shone behind his glasses! How clever he was!
He saw the perspective at once. And he has to eat Htale bread only! But artists often have to struggle be fore they become famous.
How she wanted to be of some help2 to him! She wanted to keep house for him, to share with him all the K<>od things she had in her bakery. She was even ready to share her two thousand dollars with him!
Time went on. Sometimes he talked to her for a few minutes. He bought only stale bread as before. He never bought a cake, or a loaf of fresh bread.
She thought he began to look thinner. It was clear to her he did not eat enough, he was starving! How нЬе wished to add something good to the stale bread he ate. But she knew, poor artists were proud and she was nfraid to make him angry3.
Miss Martha began to wear her new dress in the bak ery. She also bought some cold cream4 in order to make her face a little more beautiful.
One day the customer came in as usual and asked for Htale loaves. While Miss Martha was getting them from the shelf the siren of a fire-engine was heard.
The customer ran to the door to look. Suddenly n bright idea came to Miss Martha. On one of the shelve
there was a pound of butter she had bought in the morn ing. With her bread knife Miss Martha made a deep cut in each of the stale loaves. Then she quickly put a big piece of butter into each cut and pressed the loaves together again. When the customer turned from the door she was wrapping the loaves in paper. As usual he said a few pleasant words to her and left. After he had gone, Miss Martha smiled to herself. But she was not sure... Had she the right to do such a thing?.. Who knows? Artists have their pride. Will he be angry with her? Still, the more she thought of it the more she became sure 1 that the customer would not be angry 2. For a long time she thought about him: now he comes home and sits down to his dinner of stale bread and water... Now he cuts into a loaf... ah! Miss Martha blushed. Will he think of the hand that put the butter in the bread? Will he thank her in his heart?.. Suddenly the front door bell rang loudly. Somebody was coming in making a lot of noise 3. Miss Martha hurried to the door. Two men were there. One was a young man smoking a pipe. She had never seen him before. The other was her artist. His face was very red. His hat was on the back of his head. His eyes looked at her angrily. He raised his fists and shook them in Miss Martha’s face. In Miss Martha's face!“Dummkopf 1!” he shouted very loudly and angrily. Then “Tausendonfer!” 2 or something like that 3 in German. The young man tried to pull him away. “I will not go,” the artist shouted, “I want to tell her all!” “You have spoiled everything,” he cried, “I want to tell you. You were a MEDDLESOME OLD CAT 4!” Miss Martha was silent. She could not say a word. She put her hand to her heart. The young man took the artist by the arm. “Let’s go,” he said. “You have said too much.” He dragged the angry artist out into the street. Then he came back to the bakery. “I want to explain everything,” he said. “That man’s name is Blumberger. He is an architectural draftsman.
work in the same office with him.
“It took him three months to draw a plan for a new building. It was for a prize competition 5. That’s why he worked so hard at it. He finished inking the lines yes terday. You know a draftsman always makes his drawing in pencil first 6. After that he inks the line. When it’s done he rubs out the pencil lines with stale bread. It is better than India-rubber 7. “Blumberger has always bought stale bread here. To day he tried to rub out the pencil lines of his plan with
the bread he bought in your bakery... Well, you know that butter is not good for paper... You must understand that his plan can now be used only as paper for sandwiches.” Miss Martha went to her room. She took off her new dress. She put on the old brown one she used to wear. Then she threw the cold cream out of the window.
Exercises
Checking Comprehension
Answer the following questions.
How many persons are mentioned in this story?
What were their names and occupation?
What kind of a woman was Miss Martha?
What kind of a man was the customer?
What did the customer always buy?
How much did it cost him?
What did he need it for?
What seemed unusual about him to Miss Martha?
In what way was she sorry for him?
What action did she take?
How did Miss Martha feel about what she had done?
What effect did this have on the customer?
In what way was the customer angry?
What effect did this have on Miss Martha?
Did she escape from his fists?
Who tried to explain the situation?
What is the end of the story?
Say whether the statement is true or false. Correct the false one.
Miss Martha owned a large bakery.
She was in good health and was going to get married soon.
One of the customers got interested in Miss Martha.
The customer had good manners and spoke good English.
He always bought a loaf of bread in Miss Mar tha’s bakery.
One day he brought her a picture of an Italian master.
His manners told her that he was an artist.
Miss Martha made good use of various creams to look younger
She managed to put butter into his loaves be cause he was short-sighted.
Miss Martha was sure she had done the right thing.
The customer brought a young man to encourage him since he was too shy to thank Miss Martha.
The young man explained the situation.
The customer had hoped to win the prize compe tition.
Miss Martha gave up the idea of getting married.
Put the sentences in the right order.
Miss Martha thought he was a poor artist.
She was ready to share everything she had with him.
She was almost sure that the customer would thank her in his heart.
The young man dragged the angry artist out into the street.
He explained the situation.
6) Miss Martha was shocked to see his raised fists by her face.
Miss Martha realised that she had spoilt every thing.
When the moment came Miss Martha put a piece of butter into his loaves.
To make sure of that Miss Martha hung a pic ture on the wall of the bakery.
She got interested in one of her customers.
Miss Martha had a bakery, two thousand dollars in the bank, and a kind heart.
4 Say what you have learned about:
Miss Martha;
Mr. Blumberger;
the young man.
Working with Vocabulary and Grammar
Say what the italicized words mean.
Two of her teeth were false.
He usually bought two loaves of stale bread.
She saw red and brown stains on his hands.
Miss Martha wanted to share with him all the good things she had.
She wrapped the loaves in paper.
He raised his fists and shook them in her face.
He dragged the angry man out into the street.
He finished inking the lines.
Draftsmen always make their drawing in pencil first.
Make the sentences complete:
1,She brought a picture to her bakery so that….
____________________________________.
2. She wanted to do something good for him so that….
____________________________________.
She wrapped the loaves in paper so that _____
The young man pulled the angry artist by the arm so that _____________________________________
Mr. Blumberger worked hard at his plan so that _____
He bought only stale bread so that
Report the sentences in indirect speech.
“Two loaves of stale bread, please,” he said.
“Do you think it is a good picture?” she asked.
“Good morning, Madam,” he said and left.
“Let’s go,” he said. “You have said too much.”
“I will not go,” he shouted. “I want to tell her all.”
Fill in the gaps with prepositions:
Soon Miss Martha took an interest the cus tomer.
He spoke English a strong German accent.
Miss Martha was very sorry the artist
good manners.
Miss Martha wanted to be some help
him, to share him everything she had.
She made a deep cut each the loaves
her bread knife and put a piece butter
each cut, then she wrapped the loaves paper.
THE COUNT AND THE WEDDING GUEST 5
? Checking Comprehension 21
3Put the sentences in the right order. 23
Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 24
Discussing the Story 26
6What do you think? 28
GIRL 29
Exercises ? Checking Comprehension 39
Ш Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 43
Discussing the story 46
WITCHES’ LOAVES 49
Exercises 57
Checking Comprehension 57
3Put the sentences in the right order. 59
Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 60
14)Discussing the Story 63
18)SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS 66
76)IV 75
111)V 79
117)Exercises 80
118)? Checking Comprehension 80
3Fill in the blanks with the link-words from the box. Use each only once. 84
152) Discussing the Story 87
153)I Say why: 87
167)LOST ON DRESS PARADE1 91
212)Exercises 98
213)? Checking Comprehension 98
227) Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 100
228)1 Find in the text the English for: 100
240) Discussing the Story 104
246)THE TRIMMED LAMP 109
315)Exercises ? Checking Comprehension 119
317) Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 122
2Prove that: 126
3Add more information to these: 126
4Make up and act out the talk between: 127
5Imagine that you are: 127
335)NO STORY 129
390)Exercises ? Checking Comprehension 137
406) Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 141
3) Discussing the Story 146
2Prove that: 147
3Add more information to the following: 147
4Make up and act out the talk between: 148
5Imagine that you are: 148
7)THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF 150
97)Exercises ? Checking Comprehension 163
7)Working with Vocabulary and Grammar 168
23) Discussing the Story 174
5Imagine that you are: 178
6What do you think? 179
34)CUPID A LA CARTE 179
129)Exercises 193
130)? Checking Comprehension 193
5Complete the following sentences using the infinitive of purpose from the box below. 200
bakery.
He said he worked the same office
the artist.
He worked hard the plan a new
building first making it pencil.
He bought stale bread to rub the pencil
lines it.
Discussing the Story
Say why:
Miss Martha took an interest in the customer who bought stale bread at her bakery.
She was sure that the customer was a poor artist.
She hung a picture on the wall of her bakery.
She was ready to share everything she had with him.
She began to wear a new dress, and she bought some cold cream.
She put butter into his stale loaves of bread.
The customer did not notice what she had done.
Miss Martha was sure that the customer would not be angry with her.
The customer soon returned making a lot of noise.
He came accompanied by a young man.
The customer was angry.
The customer cursed in German.
The customer always bought only stale bread.
Miss Martha changed her new dress for the old one and threw her cold cream out of the window.
Prove that:
Miss Martha was rather rich.
Mr. Blumberger was too busy to notice Miss Mar tha’s new dress.
3)
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Miss Martha had a kind heart.
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4)
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Miss Martha might be a good wife.
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5)
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Mr. Blumberger was too angry to think of manners.
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his
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6)
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Miss Martha meant well putting butter into loaves of bread.
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the
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7)
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Miss Martha’s heart was broken.
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Add more information to these:
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Miss Martha was not young.
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2)
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A middle-aged man always bought bread at bakery.
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her
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3)
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Miss Martha saw red and brown stains on hands.
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his
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4)
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Miss Martha brought a picture to her bakery.
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5)
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Miss Martha often thought about the artist.
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6)
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The customer heard the siren of a fire-engine.
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7)
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Suddenly Miss Martha heard the door bell ring
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ing loudly.
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8)
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Miss Martha could not recognize her good-man-
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nered artist.
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9)
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The young man explained the situation.
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10) Miss Martha went to her room.
Make up and act out the talk between:
Miss Martha and the customer (discussing the picture).
Miss Martha and the young man (explaining the situation).
Imagine that you are:
Miss Martha. Say:
what told you that the customer was an artist;
what you thought about him;
why you wanted to share your life with him;
what you felt seeing him angry and hearing him cursing;
what you felt after realising the situation.
why you bought bread at Miss Martha’s bakery;
why you bought only stale bread;
why you never talked much with her;
what kind of work you did.
why you accompanied Mr. Blumberger to Miss Martha’s bakery;
what you thought of Miss Martha;
why you dragged Mr. Blumberger out into the street.
What do you think?
If you were Miss Martha, of her age, with her kind heart, would you do the same to help the artist? If not, what would you do? Why wouldn’t you do the same?
If you were the customer, and somebody, like Miss Martha, had done the same to you. What would your reaction have been?
Do you think the customer will forgive Miss Martha some day? Give your reasons.
What do you think Miss Martha’s life will be like after this?
Say what you like about Miss Martha, Mr. Blum berger, and the young man.
Say what you do not like about them. Give rea sons for your answers. Don’t hesitate if you have no reasons. Sometimes people can’t explain their likes and dislikes.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOLS1
I
Old Jerome Warren lived in a hundred-thousand dol lar house in East Fiftieth Street. He was so rich that he could allow himself to walk to his office for his health.
His wife was dead and he had no children. But his wife’s niece Barbara lived in his house. He also had an adopted son, — the son of an old friend — named Gil bert. Gilbert was an artist and had a studio a little way from2 old Jerome’s house.
Gilbert and Barbara were friends. People hoped that some day they would marry1 and spend the old man’s money together. But here I have to introduce some dif ficulties2.
Thirty years ago when old Jerome was young, he had a brother named Dick. Dick went West hoping to find gold. Nothing was heard of him3 for many years. Then one day old Jerome got a letter from his brother. It was clear that the man who wrote it was very ill. In fact Dick wrote that he was dying and was writing with great difficulty. In his letter he asked his brother to take care of Nevada, his nineteen-year-old daughter, the only child he had4. He was going to send her to Jerome at once. Old Jerome could not say ‘no’ to his dying brother. So he said ‘yes’.
Old Jerome, Barbara and Gilbert met Nevada Warren at the station.
She was not a very big girl, but strong and good- looking.
“I’m sure we shall be the best of friends,” said Bar bara, kissing Nevada.
“I hope so,” said Nevada.
“Dear little niece,” said old Jerome, “you are wel come5 to my house. It is your house now.”
“Thanks,” said Nevada.
“And I am going to call you ‘cousin’,” said Gilbert.
When we hear about any difficulties between one man and two women, or one woman and two men, we call such situations triangles. Very soon Nevada, Barbara and Gilbert formed such a triangle. And Barbara formed the hypotenuse of this triangle1.
One morning old Jerome sat a long time after break fast, reading his newspaper. A servant brought in a note for Miss Nevada.
“A messenger has brought it,” she said. “He is wait ing for an answer.”
Nevada took the letter. She knew it was from Gilbert before she opened it because of2 the little gold palette In the left-hand corner of the envelope. All of Gilbert’s envelopes had such palettes. Nevada opened the envelope and looked at the note attentively. She looked at it for ноте time and then went up to her uncle.
“Uncle Jerome,” she said. “Is Gilbert a nice boy?” “Oh, yes, of course, he is,” said old Jerome, who was very fond of both Gilbert and Nevada3. He is a very nice boy. I raised4 him myself. Why do you ask?”
“Are you sure, uncle Jerome, that Gilbert will never write anything that is not nice5?”
1 Barbara formed the hypotenuse of this triangle — в этом
треугольнике Барбара занимала место гипотенузы
2 because of — из-за, по причине того
3 was very fond of both Gilbert and Nevada — очень любил и Гилберта, и Неваду (to be fond of — любить кого-л. или что-л.)
4 to raise — воспитывать
5 Gilbert will never write anything that is not nice — Гилберт не может написать что-нибудь неподходящее (нехоро шее)
“Of course I am, my dear,” said old Jerome. “I am sure that Gilbert cannot write anything that is not nice. But I don’t understand why you ask me that.”
“Read this note and see for yourself,” said Nevada. Do you think that everything in it is all right? I don’t know much about city people and their manners. That’s why I am asking you.”
Old Jerome took Gilbert’s note and looked at it at tentively. He read it twice, and then a third time.
“Why1, child,” he said at last, “I was sure of the boy and I have not made a mistake. There is nothing bad in the note. He only asks you and Barbara to be ready at four o’clock this afternoon for an automobile drive. I don’t see anything bad in it. I hope you will have a good time2.”
“Will it be all right to go?3” asked Nevada.
“Yes, yes, yes, child, of course. Why not? Go and have a good time!”
“Will you come with us, uncle?” said Nevada.
“I? No, no, no! I’ve gone once in a car that Gilbert was driving. Never again! But never mind me4! You and Barbara go! Yes, yes. But I will not. No, no, no, no!” Nevada ran to the door and said to the servant:
“Of course, we’ll go! I’m sure Miss Barbara will be glad to go too. Tell the messenger-boy to tell Mr. Warren that we will go.”
“I’m sorry, Nevada my dear,” said the old man, “but are you not going to send Gilbert a note? Only a line or two.”
“No,” said Nevada, “it will take me too much time1 to write a note, and the boy is waiting for an answer. Gilbert will understand, I’m sure. I have never ridden In an automobile in my life, but, uncle, I used to pad dle a canoe down Little Devil River2 and it was not easy!
III
Two months passed.
Barbara was sitting in the study of her uncle’s house.
She was alone. Uncle Jerome and Nevada had gone to the theatre. Barbara had not wanted to go. She wanted to stay at home. I’ve told you before that Bar bara was the hypotenuse of the triangle. It usually takes a hypotenuse a long time to discover that it is the longest side of the triangle. But at last Barbara began to un derstand that the beautiful Western Witch was getting a lasso on the young man she herself wanted.
Barbara sat at the writing table holding a letter in her hand. The letter was not addressed to her. It was addressed to Nevada Warren. In the left-hand corner of the envelope was Gilbert’s gold palette. The letter had been brought at nine o’clock, after Nevada had left. What was in the letter? Barbara could not guess. But, oh, how she wanted to know!
She could not open the envelope by means of1 steam, or by any other method. She was a lady and ladies do not do such things. We all know that. She had held theenvelope up to a strong light in order to2 read the lines. But no, — she could not read a word.
At eleven-thirty old Jerome and Nevada returned from the theatre. Old Jerome was tired and went to bed at once. Nevada came into the study where Barbara was still sitting. She sat down in an armchair trying to un button her long gloves. She began telling Barbara about the play she had just seen.
“Here is a letter for you, dear,” said Barbara. “It came just after you had gone.”
“Who is it from?3” asked Nevada struggling with a button on her glove.
“I don’t know,” said Barbara with a smile. “I think it is from Gilbert because the envelope has a little gold palette in the corner. You can see it for yourself.4” “What can he write to me about?” said Nevada.
“We are all alike5,” said Barbara. “All women try to guess what is in a letter before they open it. So they study the envelope. And it is not of great help6. Open it and read it, dear. Here it is!” She was going to throw the letter to Nevada but the girl said: “I can’t take these gloves off. It is always so difficult. Oh, Barbara, open the envelope and read the letter, please!”
“Why, dear, the letter is for you! How can you ask other people to read Gilbert’s letter?”
Nevada raised her beautiful blue eyes from her gloves and said:
“Nobody writes me anything that everybody can’t read. Read it, Barbara! Maybe Gilbert wants to take us for a drive again tomorrow.”
“All right, dear,” said Barbara, “I’ll read it if you like!”
She opened the envelope and quickly read the letter. Then she read it again and looked at Nevada who was still looking at her gloves.
Suddenly she smiled. “Nevada,” she said: “Why did you ask me to read this letter? I am sure it was written for your eyes only, and not for mine!”
Nevada forgot her gloves for a moment.
“Read it aloud,” she said, “you have already read it, so you can read it again. If Mr. Warren has written something bad to me, — everybody should know it1.”
“Well,” said Barbara, “this is what the letter says: ‘Dearest Nevada, — Come to my studio at twelve o’clock to-night. Do not be late. I shall be waiting for you!”’
Barbara rose and gave the letter to Nevada.
“I’m very sorry that I have read it,” she said. “It isn't like Gilbert.2 There must be some mistake.3 I don’t understand how he could write such a letter. I hope he will explain everything. Let’s forget it. And now I must go to bed. Good night.”
IV
Nevada looked at her watch. It said a quarter to twelve. She went out of the room and ran quickly to the
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