Vocabulary Notes

1. It was their fat that had brought them together... — Именно потому, что они были полные, они завязали знакомство ...

2. ... if they had not needed a fourth at bridge. — ... если бы им не нужен был четвёртый для игры в бридж.

3. 'You bet your life she does.' — «Бьюсь об заклад, что да.»

4. We should be absolutely independent of outsiders. — Мы бы совершенно не зависели от посторонних.

5. The grossest indecency would not have fallen on the ears of those three women. — Ничего более неприличного уши этих трёх женщин не слышали.

6. ... which was miraculously produced. — ... которое появилось чудесным образом.

7. She helped herself liberally. — Она положила себе щедрую порцию.

8. 'You have a very sweet tooth,' said Arrow in a tone which she straggled to keep friendly. — «Вы большая сладкоежка», — ска­зала Эрроу, изо всех сил пытаясь говорить дружелюбным тоном.

9. pâte de foie gras — (фр.) паштет из гу­синой печёнки

10. ... he leapt at the opportunity afforded him ... —...он ухватился за представившуюся ему возможность ...

11. The butler disclosed the fact that ... — Дворецкий признался, что ...

12. ... she heaved such a vast sigh of relief... — ... она так глубоко и с таким облегчением вздохнула ...

13. ... stopped dead still. — ... остановилась как вкопанная.

14. croissant — (фр.) круассан (Прим.: булочка в виде полумесяца из воздушного сдобного теста)

15. ... plunged а vindictive dagger into the heart of the monstrous Lena. — ... в отместку вонзила кинжал в сердце вероломной Лины.

Comprehension Check

1. What were Mrs. Richman, Mrs. Sutcliffe and Miss Hickson?

2. Why did they need the fourth person in their company?

3. Where were they staying and why?

4. What did, Frank suggest one morning?

5. How did Lena Finch and the ladies meet?

6. Where did the ladies go from the Monkey House?

7. What terrified the ladies at luncheon?

8. What did the ladies have for luncheon?

9. How did Lena's dishes and the ladies' food differ during her stay?

10. What kind of talents did the chef and the butler disclose?

11. How did Lena and Frank part?

12. When did Frank stop dead still?

13. What was Beatrice eating?

14. What did Frank suddenly do?

15. How did Arrow react when she saw the two ladies eating?

16. What else did the ladies order?

17. Did the ladies eat calmly or not?

18. What was Frank's revenge upon Lena like?

EXERCISES

Exercise 1

I. Pick out from the text words and expressions denoting:

a) food,

b) drinks,

c) adjectives used to describe dishes. Try to explain their meaning in English or translate them into Russian.

II. Pick out from the text: a) all phrases used to denote quantities of foodstuffs, i.e. "a lump of sugar", etc.; b) all words used to denote the ways food may be cooked, i.e. "boil — boiled", etc.

Exercise 2

Find in the text words or phrases similar in meaning to the following. Read aloud the sentences containing them.

To make someone thinner; juicy and delicious; food making people fat easily; to drink; to cut into two parts; to put some­thing on one's plate; to put butter on top; to like sweet things; to use hands when eating; to eat noisily; to eat fast, swallowing large quantities.

Exercise 5

Find the English equivalents to the following Russian phrases.

A.

Сухарик; пить напитки; положить рядом с тарелкой; длинный батон с хрустящей корочкой; разрезать попо­лам; попробовать (о пище); удалить жир; положить побо­льше; подать кофе; быть сладкоежкой; вкусно приготов­ленный; повар; намазывать масло толстым слоем; жадно есть; обжора; принести то же, что у кого-либо; погло­щать; ложка варенья; грызть с хрустом; принести три по­рции жареной картошки; есть руками; выпить одним глотком; засунуть целиком в рот.

В.

Скрепить союз; по этой причине; по предложению; всё шло по плану; широко улыбнуться; прийти в себя; не­ловкое молчание; появиться чудесным образом; человек слаб; ухватиться за предоставленную возможность; вздох­нуть с облегчением; сидеть в одиночестве; выразительный жест; не верить глазам; в мгновение ока.

Exercise 6

Put in the missing prepositions looking for help in the text.

1. It was strange that a quiet restaurant round the comer was crowded ... people at this late hour.

2. Young people just starting their life always want to be independent... their parents.

3. The teacher said the phrase ... a tone which could not be misinterpreted.

4. The boys were so hungry that they did not notice the forks lying ... the sides of their plates and started eating the fish... their fingers.

5. The hostess wanted to introduce a new chef... all the other cooks in the restaurant.

6. Something was wrong with the lady's health and so spicy dishes were never served ... her table.

7. The girl gave up dieting and ordered two cakes ... a moment's hesitation.

8. The news fell... my ears like a bolt from the blue.

9. The English certainly know how to eat buns: they slit them ... two, plaster ... butter, and put jam and cream on top.

10. At the sound all the readers in the reading-room im­mediately lifted their heads ... their books.

11. You should spread pate ... butter, then your sandwich will taste better.

12. In the restaurant we ordered salad, steaks, fried potatoes and ice-cream ... three.

13. In Great Britain they never drink whiskey or vodka ... a gulp; they sip it.

14. When we were seated ... the tables, I suddenly caught sight ... my old friends passing by.

Exercise 9

Speak about the three ladies' stay at Antibes:

1. in the third person;

2. in the person of any of the fat women;

3. in the person of Lena;

4. in the person of the butter.

Exercise 10

Discussion points.

1. Why could none of the three fat women slim on her own? Why did all of them need company?

2. Did the three fat ladies have good table manners? Prove your point.

3. Did Lena ruin the fat women's plan on purpose or by chance?

4. Do you think that human nature is weak?

5. Why did the three fat women give way to their feelings?

6. What do you think of the last remarks of the ladies about Lena's bridge playing?

Exercise 11

Study the list of English verbs and group the ones close in meaning matching them with the Russian verbs. Comment upon the difference in their meanings.

English:to swallow, to crunch, to champ, to hog, to munch, to gobble (up), to nibble at something, to gnaw, to gulp, to chew, to devour, to bolt, to bite.

○ Exercise 17

I. Read the dialogue in pairs.