Too well
Date: 2015-10-07; view: 2557.
(after O'Henry)
Miss Rouse Carrington was a famous actress. She began her life in a little village named Cranberry. But that was long ago. Now she was at the height of her fame, and in the coming season was to perform the leading part in a newly-written comedy. But was to perform the male character in the play?
One day a capable young actor by the name of Highsmith called on Mr. Timothy Goldstein, the manager. Highsmith dreamed of being Miss Carrington's partner in the new play.
“My boy”, said the Goldstein, “take the part if you con get it. Miss Carrington does not want to listen to any my suggestions. She say's that all our best actors won't do. You know it is the part of a young farmer. She wants something genuine, a real imitation of county manners. If you want to play the part, you must convince Miss Carrington. I wish you luck, my boy”.
Next day Highsmith took the train for Cranberry. He remained there for three days. He found Miss Carrington's family and collected many facts concerning life and people at Cranberry. Then he returned to the city.
That same night a small party was sitting at a table in one of the restaurants where actors used to gather when performance was over. The star of that small party was Miss Carrington – gay , happy, at the height of her fame.
At half past twelve a plain-dressed flaxen-haired youth entered the restaurant. He seemed very shy and awkward. The moment he entered he upset a chair, and sat awkwardly in another one. He looked shyly around, and then suddenly saw Miss Carrington. He rose and went to her table with a shining smile on his face.
“How are you, Miss Rose?”, he said. “Don't you remember me—Bill Summers—the Summers that lived near the blacksmith's shop? I think I have grown a little since you left Cranberry. Eliza Perry told me I might see you in the city while I was here”, he went on, “You know, Eliza married Benny, and she says…”
“You don't say so!” interrupted Miss Carrington. “Eliza Perry is married!”
“She married in June”, Grinned the young man, “and the youngest of the Walton girls ran away with a music teacher last arch. Matilda Hockins died from pricking her finger with a needle, and Tom is courting Sally”.
“You don't say so!”, exclaimed Miss Carrington. “Excuse me a while, gentlemen, this is an old friend of mine. Come here, Mr.… What is your name? Oh, yes, Mr. Summers—I shall call you Billy, may I? Come here Billy, and tell me some more”.
She led him to an isolated table in a corner. She sat down in front of him and laid her chin upon her hands.
“I don't recollect any Bill Summers”, she said thoughtfully, gazing straight into the innocent blue eyes of the rustic young man.
“Miss Rouse”, said he “I called on your family just two or three days ago”.
“How is ma?” asked Miss Carrington.
Highsmith understood that a bit of pathos was necessary.
“She is older than she was, Miss Rouse. When I saw her last she was sitting at the door and looking at the road.
“Billy”, she said, ”I'm waiting for Rosie. She went away down that road and something tells me that she will come back that way again.” When I was leaving”, the young man went on, “I took this rose from a bush by the front door, I thought I might see you in the city and I knew that you would like to have something from Cranberry”.
Miss Carrington took the rose with a smile, and got up. “Come to the hotel and see me before you leave city”, she said. “I'm awfully glad to see you. Well, good night. I'm a little tired. It's tune to go to bed”. When she had left the restaurant, Highsmith approached Goldstein, the manager.
“It was a brilliant idea”, said the smiling actor, “I'm sure I shall get the part in that play. Miss Carrington will have to confess that my performance was genuine, and that I was a good actor.”
“I didn't hear your conversation”, said Goldstein, “but your make up and acting were O.K. Here's to your success! Call on Miss Carrington early tomorrow, tell her all, and I hope that she will agree to take you as her partner in the play”.
Next morning Mr. Highsmith, handsome, dressed in the latest fashion, called on Miss Carrington at the hotel. “Is Miss Carrington at home?” he asked the maid.
“Miss Carrington has left,” the maid answered, “and will not come back. She has cancelled all her engagements on the stage, and has returned to live in that—what do you call that village? Oh, yes,-- Cranberry”.
Highsmith understood that he had acted too well.
Vocabulary
Village äåðåâíÿ
at the height íà âåðøèíå, â çåíèòå
leading part ãëàâíàÿ ðîëü
male ìóæñêîé
character ïåðñîíàæ, ðîëü
capable ñïîñîáíûé
suggestion ïðåäëîæåíèå
genuine èñêðåííèé, íàñòîÿùèé
real íàñòîÿùèé
imitation ïîäðàæàíèå
country manners äåðåâåíñêèå ìàíåðû
black smith's shop êóçíåöà
since ñ òåõ ïîð
marry æåíèòüñÿ, âûéòè çàìóæ
grin óõìûëÿòüñÿ
needle èãîëêà
court óõàæèâàòü
isolated îòäåëüíûé, èçîëèðîâàííûé
innocent íåâèííûé, íàèâíûé
brilliant áëåñòÿùèé
maid ãîðíè÷íàÿ
cancel àííóëèðîâàòü
engagement àíãàæåìåíò
stage ñöåíà
Exercises
I. Íàéäèòå â òåêñòå è âûïèøèòå àíãëèéñêèå ýêâèâàëåíòû ê ýòèì ñëîâàì è ñëîâîñî÷åòàíèÿì:
Çíàìåíèòàÿ àêòðèñà; â ðàñöâåòå ñëàâû; ïðåäñòîÿùèé ñåçîí; ãëàâíàÿ ðîëü; ìóæñêîé ïåðñîíàæ; ïî èìåíè; ìå÷òàë ñòàòü ïàðòí¸ðîì; íàñòîÿùåå ïîäðàæàíèå; äåðåâåíñêèå ìàíåðû; îáû÷íî ñîáèðàëèñü; ïðîñòî îäåòûé; îí êàçàëñÿ çàñòåí÷èâûì è íåóêëþæèì; äåðåâåíñêèé; “íå ìîæåò áûòü”; òðè äíÿ íàçàä; óåçæàòü èç ãîðîäà.
II.Ïðîâåðüòå ñåáÿ, ïðàâèëüíî ëè âû çàïîìíèëè ðàññêàç. Çàêîí÷èòå ýòè ïðåäëîæåíèÿ â ñîîòâåòñòâèè ñ òåêñòîì (ïðè ãðóïïîâîì çàíÿòèè – óñòíî):
1. She began her life…
2. One day a capable young actor…
3. She wants something…
4. Next day Highsmith…
5. The same night a small party…
6. The moment he entered…
7. Eliza Perry told me…
8. She led him to an isolated table…
9. When I saw her last she …
10. When I was leaving, I…
11. Come to the hotel and…
12. It was a brilliant idea…
III.Ïåðåñêàæèòå ÷àñòè òåêñòà, èñïîëüçóÿ ýòè ñëîâà è ñëîâîñî÷åòàíèÿ â êà÷åñòâå êëþ÷åâûõ:
1. a famous actress; to perform the leading part; dreamed of being Miss Carrington partner; must convince; collected many facts; returned to the city.
2. Used to gather; the star of that small party; a plain-dressed flaxen-hair youth; upset a chair; “how are you?”; I have grown a little; “you don't say so”; an old friend of mine; an isolated table.
3. Recollect' I called on your family; ma; was sitting at the door; I am waiting for; I took this rose from a bush; a little tired; a brilliant idea; she will have to confess; she didn't guess; he called on Miss Carrington; she will agree; handsome; cancelled all her engagements; Highsmith understood.
IV. Âûðàçèòå ñîãëàñèå èëè íåñîãëàñèå ñî ñëåäóþùèìè óòâåðæäåíèÿìè. Ïðè íåîáõîäèìîñòè èñïðàâüòå íåâåðíûå âàðèàíòû. Èñïîëüçóéòå âûðàæåíèÿ:
I'm afraid that's wrong. Áîþñü, ÷òî ýòî íåâåðíî.
That's not quite true to the fact. Ýòî íå ñîâñåì ñîîòâåòñòâóåò ôàêòó.
That's (quite) right. Ñîâåðøåííî âåðíî.
According o the story… Ñîãëàñíî ðàññêàçó…
1. Miss Carrington lived in a small town named Cranberry.
2. She was a good actress, and she wanted to play a leading part in a newly written comedy.
3. Highsmith, the young actor, was to perform the male character in the play.
4. Highsmith collected many facts concerning life and the people at the village where he lived.
5. At half past twelve a young handsome man entered the restaurant.
6. “I'm Mr. Highsmith”,- the plain-dressed youth said to Miss Rosie.
7. “When I was leaving “,- the young man went on,- “your mother took tills rose from a bush by the front door”.
8. Next morning Mr. Highsmith called on Miss Carrington at her hotel.
V.Îòâåòüòå íà âîïðîñû. Ñòàðàéòåñü íå ñìîòðåòü â òåêñò:
1. What was Miss Carrington by profession?
2. Where did she begin her life?
3. Was she a good or a bad actress?
4. What part did she to perform in the coming season?
5. Who called on Mr. Goldstein one day?
6. What did Mr. Highsmith dream of?
7. To whose suggestions didn't Miss Carrington want to listen?
8. What sort of part was it?
9. What did Miss Carrington want?
10. Where did Mr. Highsmith go next day?
11. How long did he remain at Cranberry?
12. What facts did he collect where?
13. Where was a small party of actors sitting when the performance was over?
14. Was Miss Carrington among them?
15. Who entered the restaurant at half past twelve?
16. What was the youth like?
17. What did he do as sat down in a chair?
18. Whom did he “suddenly” see?
19. By what name did he introduce himself?
20. Was Miss Carrington interested in the news from Cranberry?
21. Did she recollect Bill Summers?
22. Whom Miss Carrington asks about?
23. What did Mr. Highsmith understand at that moment?
24. What did he say about her mother?
25. Why did a young man take the rose?
26. Did Miss Carrington ask a young man to come and see her?
27. Whom did Highsmith approach when Miss Carrington had left the restaurant?
28. What did Mr. Goldstein say about his acting?
29. Was Miss Carrington at the hotel next morning?
30. Where had she gone?
31. What did Highsmith understand then?
VI.Ïåðåñêàæèòå òåêñò:
1. îò èìåíè àâòîðà;
2. îò èìåíè Õàéñìèòà;
3. îò èìåíè Ðîóçè Êàððèíãòîí, àêòðèñû.
The Two Gifts
(after O'Henry)
Jim and Della were very poor. They lived in New York In a small room on the top floor of a high building. Jim was twenty-two years old, Della was twenty-one.
Both husband and wife worked very hard, but there never was any money in the house; for all they got went to pay the grocer, the bother, and the baker. And the rent was $8 a week.
And yet they owned two treasures of which they were very proud. These treasures were—Jim's gold watch, which he received from his father, and Della's beautiful hair.
It was the eve of New-Year's Day. Della wanted to give Jim a present. She counted her money. One dollar and eighty-seven cents. That was all she had. Only $1.87 to buy a present for Jim. So she sat down on the sofa and wept. Suddenly she got up and went to the looking – glass. Her eyes shone brillia tly. Quickly she undid her hair. It reached below her knees and covered her like a cloak. And then she did it again quickly and nervously. She put on her old brown hat. Then she ran out of the door and down the stairs to the street.
She stopped before a sign and read the words: “M-me Sofranie. Hairgoods of all kinds”. Then she entered the shop. She saw Madame sitting at the counter. She was fat and red cheeked.
“Will you buy my hair?”, asked Della.
“Let me see it,” said Madame.
Della took of her hat and undid her hair.
“Twenty dollars”, said Madame, lifting the mass of Della's golden hair with a practiced hand.
“Give me a money”, said Della…
The next two hours were like a happy dream. Della hurried from shop looking for Jim's present.
She found it at last. It was a watch chain for which she paid $21. And then she hurried home with the chain and the remaining 87 cents.
Jim was not at home. Della got out of curling irons and lighted the gas and went to work. In forty minutes her head was covered with tiny curls. She looked like a schoolboy. She said to herself: “I hope Jim not kill me. But what could I do – oh, what could I do with one dollar and 87 cents.
At seven o'clock the coffee was ready. Della sat waiting for Jim. She heard his steps on the stairs, and she turned white for jus one moment. The door opened and Jim entered the room. He looked thin and very serious… and suddenly Jim stopped. His eyes were fixed upon Della, and there was an expression in them that terrified her.
“Jim, darling! She cried, “don't look at me like that: I sold my hair because I wanted to give you present. My hair will grow again. It grows very fast. Say ‘A Happy New Year', Jim, and let us be happy. You don't know what a beautiful present I have for you”.
Jim sighed. He drew a package from his overcoat pocket and threw it on the table.
“If you open that package, you will understand,” he said.
Della took off the paper and string. There lay the beautiful combs that Della saw in a Broadway shop window. Now they were hers, but her hair was gone.
Suddenly Della jumped and cried:
“Oh, Jim, I shall give you your beautiful present.” She held it out to him upon her open palm.
“Isn't it a beautiful chain? Give me your watch: I want to see how it looks on it.”
Jim did not obey. He fell on the sofa and put his hands behind his head and smiled.
“Della”, said he,” I sold the watch to get the money to buy your combs. It the coffee ready?”
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