Chapters 23-24

Words and expressions to remember

• to be in no mood to do

• to ignore

• a vanity table

• a bedside table

• barefooted

• to handle work

• there is speculation about sth

• to say the least

• ungracious

• in terms of money

• to be jammed

• to spare an hour for

• to break the ice

• to come up with an idea / an objection

• to be stunned

• to be replete with

• to challenge to do

• to buy sth out

• to have a handshake on the deal

• to be in on (options)

• tongue-tied

• can’t stand sb doing sth

• to catch up on one’s/sb’s doing

• to turn on the ignition

• a holdup

• the emergency ward

• to sort out (understand)

• to give oneself up

• to indulge in sth

• swanky

• to tease sb

• considerate

• output

• vulnerability

1. Reproduce the situations from the chapters where these lexical items are used.

2. Comment on or paraphrase the following sentences from the chapters.

• Whoever would finally marry her would marry a woman with sound nerves;

• I am not opposed to larceny in a good cause;

• I stick out like a lighthouse among Europeans;

• ….to go to any extra lengths to impress the first friend of mine she had ever met;

• She was not one of those American women who believe that the Constitution guarantees that they will never be required to carry anything heavier that a handbag;

• I do like a woman who knows her own mind;

• Congratulating myself for having had the good sense to marry a woman who came complete with a house on a beach;

• I didn’t try to analyze my feelings as I stood beside my son, but when I went out of the room, I was smiling;

• It was amazing how much litigation went on in this peaceful part of the world;

• In the fourteen months since we had been married, I had become addicted to domesticity;

• No, I can’t say that you’ve steered me wrong up to now;

• People are interested in art here and they have the dough to invest in it;

• I wasn’t quite sure whether my refusal was influenced by modesty or fear of ridicule;

• If stealing a hundred thousand dollars from a dead old man could put the expression that I saw now on Henry’s face, felony became a virtue and I would steal ten times over from ten dead men.

3. Answer the questions.

• What happened to the boat when they set out on a boat trip?

• What made them leave Italy suddenly?

• Why do you think Grimes gave him away to Evelyn in France?

• Why did Grimes come to see Pat?

• In what way did Grimes feel about Pat and their relationship? Why did he decide against speaking with her?

• What were Grimes’s reasons for staying in the USA?

• Why did Fabian want to meet Evelyn?

• What were Evelyn’s conclusions about Fabian?

• What do you think was Fabian’s impression of Evelyn?

• Why didn’t Grimes want anybody to know about his cooking at home?

• How did Grimes feel about being a married man?

• Can you guess what Grimes’s everyday routine was like?

• Why didn’t Evelyn stop her law practice?

• What changes took place as far as the relations between Fabian and Evelyn are concerned?

• What kind of plan did Fabian outline to Grimes?

• What arguments did Fabian provide to persuade Grimes to run the gallery?

• Why did Grimes refuse to give his name to the gallery?

• What changes took place in Henry’s life?

• What kind of offer did Henry make to Grimes?

• Was the gallery business a success?

• What happened to Grimes and Fabian on the way home after opening the gallery?

• What was so new for Grimes about Fabian’s past (war background)?