III. Questions for discussion:

1. Explain and comment on the following:

What were the relations between governors and St. Bride’s teachers?

Mor “was almost annihilated by the presence of so much happiness” (p.177)

Why didn’t Mor tell Nan that he was going to leave her?

Why did he feel nervous on the day of the presentation dinner of Demoyte’s picture?

Why did Nan speak about Mor’s political plans as she was supporting them?

Why did Rain leave the room during Nan’s speech?

Why didn’t Mor follow her?

Why did Demoyte leave the room in fury slamming the door?

2. Speak on the following situations. Give your point of view on the discussed items:

Mor’s anxiety about Donald. Felicity’s grief. How did it change the domestic atmosphere in

Mor’s family?

Rain’s misgivings and nervousness before the presentation dinner. Mor’s state of mind. Did he

feel nervous? Comment on Mor’s thoughts “…it was he who was to be pitied, he who had to

act the murderer and the traitor.” (p.181). How do they characterize him?

The presentation dinner. Demoyte’s speech. Point out his wisdom and dignity.

Nan’s answer to the toast proposed by Demoyte. Was it an ingenious act on her part or an act

of despair and hatred? What is the underlying idea of her speech? Whom was it directed

against?

Mor’s reaction to Nan’s speech. How did Rain take that Mor had not spoken to her about his

ambitions and political plan? Account for Demoyte’s fury after Rain’s departure. What do you

think of Mor’s behaviour?

Chapter 19, 20

I. Active vocabulary:

• to apply paint to the canvas

• palette

• to be taken in

• to misrepresent

• to give up (plans)

• to abandon

• to be beyond bearing

• to make a sacrifice of

• inevitable

• to betray

• to bear resemblance to smb.

• to cheat smb. (out of smth)

• to take on the candidature

• the prodigal’s return

VOCABULARY PRACTICE:

1. Make up your own sentences based on the active vocabulary.

2. Ask your fellow-students fact-finding questions stimulating the use of the active vocabulary

II. Exercises:

1. Agree or disagree with the following. Explain:

 Nan decided to support Mor’s political plans.

Rain had never showed Mor the sketch which she made of him.

Rain decided to leave Mor.

Mor thought he would be able to return Rain back if he spoke to her.

Felicity was of the opinion that Donald should be reprimanded for disappearing and causing so

much worry and anxiety.

Mor was afraid that Nan would not keep her word and would be against him becoming a Labour candidate.

2. Complete the following:

Mor found Rain on the very top of the step-ladder in the Master’s dining-room where…

Mor tried to assure Rain that she was tricked by Nan, that Nan told a lie when she said that he wanted to be an M. P.

When Mor was given Rain’s letter he saw there…

Rain had never shown the sketch to Mor as…

When Mor learnt that Rain had gone…

When the Mors learnt that Donald was returning home, Felicity asked her father …

When Tim Burke and Donald were approaching Mor’s house, Donald…

3. Recount the situations from the book and give reasons underlying the following facts or utterances:

“You are a growing tree, I am only a bird…”

“You’ve made me exist for the first time.”

“It was inevitable,” – he said dully “Coward and fool!”- said Demoyte- “Nothing was inevitable here. You have made your own future.”

He (Mor) looked at Nan…She looked very tired and like an old woman.

Everything was all right.

4. Comprehension questions:

Why did Rain repaint the head in Demoyte’s portrait? Is it in full accord with her conception of portrait painting (reflection of self in chapters 5, 7)

Why did Rain decide to part with Mor?

Why did Nan finally decide to support Mor’s decision to be a politician?

What was in the envelope which Rain had left for Mor?

Did rain leave, because she did not love Mor? Do you think they were really in love?

Why did Mor leave the sketch at Demoyte’s house?

Why did Rain say “Yes” to Mor’s suggestion to speak about the matter on the following day though she evidently was going to leave.

Why was Mor near to tears while speaking to Felicity?

Why was Felicity crying if “everything was all right.”