went in the open door. Only she was there in the kitchen with the twig in her hand sweeping the hearth and she saw him, and as he looked into her eyes he knew it was no good, no good at all. Just one look and he knew it was no good, just like before one look and he knew that he loved her.

No talk at all. He just turned out with his shoulders bowed and came back to the valley.

He's much older now and his curly hair is very grey and he is a very hard worker and people like him a lot, but many disappointed hearts still wonder why Coleman never married. Never at all. Now you know.

Answer thefollowing questions.

1.Why was Coleman so popular with villagers?

2.What was the attitude of people to Maggie? Why?

3.What happened one day to Coleman when he was going shooting?

4.What surprised Coleman in Maggie? Why did he keep on thinking about her?

5.What was their second meeting like?

6.What surprised him this time?

7.What did-Coleman understand dancing with Maggie?

8.How can you prove that he was sincere?

9.What did he promise to Maggie?

10.Why couldn’t he keep his word?

11.Why did he understand that it was no good when he came to her the next

morning?

12.Why did Coleman never marry?

13.Do you approve of Maggie's action? What made her behave like that?

14.What features of Maggie's character seem especially appealing to you? Why?

15.Can a strong character be a guarantee of happiness?

A FABLE COLUMN

A fable is a traditional story usually about animals that teaches a moral lesson. And these animals have various characteristic features ofpeople. Read the fables and say which traits o f human character are revealed in them.

The Hare And The Tortoise

A hare was continually poking fun at a tortoise because of the slowness of his pace. The tortoise tried not to be annoyed by the jeers of the hare, but one day in the presence of the other animals he was goaded into challenging the hare to a foot race.

"Why, this is a joke," said the hare. "You know that I can run circles around you." "Enough of your boasting," said the tortoise. "Let's get on with the race."

So the course was set by the animals, and the fox was chosen as judge. He gave a sharp bark and the race was on. Almost before you could say "scat" the hare was out of sight. The tortoise plodded along at his usual unhurried pace.

After a time the hare stopped to wait for the tortoise to come along. He waited for a long, long time until he began to get sleepy. "I'll just take a quick nap here in this soft grass, and then in the cool of the day I'll finish the race." So he lay down and closed his eyes.

Meanwhile, the tortoise plodded on. He passed the sleeping hare, and was approaching the finish line when the hare awoke with a start. It was too late to save the race. Much ashamed, he crept away while all the animals at the finish line acclaimed the winner.

MORAL: Slow and steady wins the race

A grasshopper, half perishing from hunger, came limping by. Seeing what the indus­ trious ant was doing, he asked for a morsel from the ant's store to save his life.

"What were you doing all during the summer while I was busy harvesting?" inquired the ant.

"Oh," replied the grasshopper, "I was not idle. I was singing and chirping all day

long."

"Well," said the ant, smiling grimly as he locked his granary door, "since you sang all summer, it looks as though you will have to dance all winter."

MORAL: It is thrifty to prepare todayfor the wants o f tomorrow.

Now read the story and compare its moral with the fable having the same title. The questions after the text will help you to do it.

The Ant And The Grasshopper

After W.S. Maugham

When I was. a small boy I was made to learn by heart some fables of La Fontaine and the moral of each was carefully explained to me. Among them was "The Ant and the Grasshopper". In spite of the moral of this fable my sympathies were with the grasshopper and for some time I never saw an ant without putting my foot on it.

I couldn't help thinking of this fable when the other day I saw George Ramsay lunching in a restaurant. I never saw an expression of such deep gloom. He was staring into space. I was sorry for him: I suspected at once that his unfortunate brother had been causing trouble again.

I went up to him. "How are you?" I asked. "Is it Tom again?" He sighed. "Yes, it's Tom again."

I suppose every family has a black sheep. In this family it had been Tom. He had begun life decently enough: he went into business, married and had two children. The Ram­ says were respectable people and everybody supposed that Tom would have a good carrier. But one day he announced that he didn't like work and that he wasn't suited for marriage. He wanted to enjoy himself.

He left his wife and his office. He spent two happy years in the various capitals of Europe. His relations were shocked and wondered what would happen when his money was spent. They soon found out: he borrowed. He was so charming that nobody could refuse him. Very often he turned to George. Once or twice he gave Tom considerable sums so that he could make a fresh start. On these Tom bought a motor-car and some jeweller}'. But when George washed his hands of him, Tom began to blackmail him. It was not nice for a respectable lawyer to find his brother shaking cocktails behind the bar of his favourite res­ taurant or driving a taxi. So George paid again.

For twenty years Tom gambled, danced, ate in the most expensive restaurants and dressed beautifully. Though he was forty-six he looked not more than thirty-five. He had high spirits and incredible charm. Tom Ramsay knew everyone and everyone knew him. You couldn't help liking him.

Poor George, only a year older than his brother, looked sixty. He had never taken more than a fortnight's holiday in the year. He was in his office every morning at nine-thirty and never left it till six. He was honest and industrious. He had a good wife and four daughters to whom he was the best of fathers. His plan was to retire at fifty-five to a little house in the country. His life was blameless. He was glad that he was growing old because Tom was growing old, too. He used to say: "It was all well when Tom was young and good-looking. In four years he'll be fifty. He won't find life so easy then. I shall have

thirty thousand pounds by the time I'm fifty. We shall see what is really best to work or to be idle."

Poor George! I sympathized with him. I wondered now what else Tom had done. George was very much upset. I was prepared for the worst. George could hardly speak. "A few weeks ago," he said, "Tom became engaged to a woman old enough to be his mother. And now she has died and left him everything she had: half a million pounds, a yacht, a house in London and a house in the country. It is not fair, I tell you, it isn't fair!"

I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter as I looked at George's face, I nearly fell the floor. George never forgave me. But Tom often asks me to dinners in his charming house and if he sometimes borrows money from me, it is simply from force of habit.

Answer thefollowing questions.

1.Who are the main characters of the story?

2.What sort of family were the Ramsays?

3.Why was Tom considered a black sheep?

4.What was the difference between the brothers' way of live? Who is an ant and who is a grasshopper in the story?

5.Tom's life was pleasure and entertainment. George's life was honesty and labour. Is the end of the story fair?

6.Who is your sympathy with?

7.Why couldn't people help liking Tom?

8.Do you think each is rewarded according to his deeds?

9.Why, then, should people still follow the moral principles of human society?

Character Or Appearance?

What is more important in a person: his character or his appearance? Most often you will hear that both are. Many people say that beauty is a harmonious combination of outward appearance and high moral qualities. Others think that character is the main thing, and there is an old English saying "Judge not according to the appearance". The importance of character is also expressed in the following lines written many years ago.

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; When health is lost, something is lost; When character is lost, all is lost.

Appearance And Character

Smallface

You don't enjoy people intruding into your personal life and invading your privacy. Reflective and intelligent, you are a passionate but firm personality, although you find these two traits in conflict at times. A tendency to be cautious means you don't trust too easily, but you do value a circle of close friends and family members.

Ovalface

A good decision-maker, you have strength of character, lots of energy, and usually finish what you start. Affectionate and outgoing by nature, you can be a bit gullible.

Squareface

You expect a lot from other people, but give as much in return. You're stubborn, strong-willed and quick to learn, but your staying power runs out when you lose interest. Highly sensitive to criticism, you're aggressive under pressure.