I. Reproduce the following situations. Make sure that you use the active vocabulary:

I

1. It so happened that the cook of the schooner Curlew wai taken ill. The captain had no time to look for a good cook and he was obliged to take on the first man who offered him his services with-

"out even making inquiries about him.

The man turned out to be none other than Mr. Letts, a former carpenter. Mr. Letts had very little experience in cooking, but he hoped to be able to manage the job.

His first efforts were not very successful, but the captain did not pay attention to the crew's complaints. Soon, however, Mr. Letts' experiments began to tell on the sailors' health, and the captain had no choice but to sack the unfortunate cook.

2. Thus Mr. Letts found himself in an unknown town, without work or friends. He sat down on a bench overlooking the sea and began to think of the future. He must have dozed off because when he opened his eyes he saw a middle-aged woman sitting at the other end of the bench. She was looking him over carefully.

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"Excuse me for disturbing you," she said, "but you look exactly like my son, whom I lost nine years ago ..." and tears filled her eyes.

Mr. Letts had a kind heart and could not help sympathizing with her. He cleared his throat.

"Don't give way to despair. He may turn up yet. You should not lose hope."

The woman shook her head.

"It's very nice of you to say so, but that is impossible, he was drowned ..."

3. There was a silence, then she continued.

"My second husband is treating me and my daughter badly. He must have married me only for my money. If my son were alive, things would be different." Suddenly she said: "Would you help me take the better of my husband for his cruel treatment of me? His name is Green. Suppose you come round and pretend to be my son?"

Mr. Letts stared at her in amazement, and then began to laugh.

"You don't run any risk. Nobody will know you," continued the woman quickly. "We only came to this place just before my son sailed, and his sister was only ten at the time. She doesn't remember clearly what her brother looked like."

"I doubt very much whether that will help you in the long run," said Mr. Letts after a moment's hesitation, "I'd rather not do it. I'm sure nothing good will come of it. Besides, I have no experience in acting and I'd give myself away at once."

4. He was about to say something more, but at that moment they saw a young girl coming towards them. Mrs. Green gave a startled cry and the next minute was heartily embracing the young man.

Mr. Letts had not recovered from his astonishment when Mrs. Green exclaimed:

"Here comes your sister, Betty! I want you to like her!" '

5. On seeing the'pretty girl Mr. Letts' heart softened. Now it did not take Mrs. Green long to persuade him to agree to her plan.

If Mrs. Green had known what joke Ш. Letts would play on her, she would never have talked to him.

II

1. Miss Posie Carrington was the star, of the theatre. She was a gifted actress but a very difficult person to deal with.

And now Mr. Goldstein, manager of the theatre, found himself in a difficult position. He had just offered Miss Posie the leading part in a new play about country life but she had turned down the proposal saying that none of the actors in his company would be able to play the part of a country fellow.

Mr. Goldstein tried to convince her that she was wrong, and that there were many talented actors in his theatre, but his efforts were in vain.

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"The person you choose will have to convince me of his ability to play the part," she repeated. "Then I will consent to have him as my partner."

Mr. Goldstein gave in. He felt that if he continued arguing it would make things worse. He would have liked to give her notice there and then, but he realized that it would be madness to lose her.

2. That evening he was sitting in his office reading the evening newspaper when there was a knock at the door. His secretary showed in a tall, handsome young man of about 25. Mr. Goldstein looked up.

"Good-evening, Mr. Goldstein,", said the young man. "My name is Highsmith. I hear you need actors. I would like to work for you very much. Though I am a beginner and I have very little experience in acting, I would do my best to add to the popularity of your theatre ..."

When Mr. Goldstein saw the young man, it struck him that Miss Posie might like the handsome young actor.

"Sit down, please. Tell me about yourself," said the manager.

3. When Mr. Goldstein offered to introduce the young man to Miss Posie, the latter said:

"I'd better do it myself."

"What do you mean?"

"I've heard a lot about Miss Posie and first of all I must convince her that I'm able to play the role of a country fellow."

"What do you suggest?" the manager asked, brightening.

"A brilliant idea has occurred to me," answered the young man. "I hope you will agree to let me try it," and the young man told Mr. Goldstein in detail everything he intended to do.

Having heard the young man, the manager said:

"The plan is original, but I very much doubt whether it will work. But you can try it. I wish you good luck."

4. Miss Posie Carrington was having supper in a restaurant in the company of Mr. Goldstein and some actors when everybody's attention was attracted by an awkward young country fellow. He had entered the hall a few minutes before and was now standing in the middle of the hall gazing around as if he did not notice that he was being looked at.

"Evidently he has never been to a restaurant," said someone jokingly.

"I wish he would come nearer, he looks so funny," said another actor.

Suddenly the fellow made for their table, as- if he had heard the actor's word.

"You're Miss Carrington," said the fellow pointing at her.

"1 wonder how he knows my name," flashed through her mind. "Somebody must have sent him to rne."

"What can I do to help you?"

"My name is Bill. Don't you remember me? We come from the same village ..." and he drew a pathetic picture of the village, Posie's

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former friends and her parents. "I was at your people's home just two or three days ago ... I have been asked to tell you that your mother is longing for you to return. Every evening she sits at the window and stares down the road you went away on ..."

Miss Posie was gripped by a strange feeling. The colour left her face. She felt giddy. With an effort she pulled herself together and smiled at Bill. "Thank you very much for coming. I shall go back home at once."

III

1. In the evening Mark Twain and his companion arrived at Salamanca, a small station, where they were to change for the New York train. Mark Twain was astonished to see crowds of people at the station and on the platform. The whole town seemed to be movirtg off somewhere. Soon they learned that there was no room left in the sleepers, so Mark Twain's companion suggested spending the night at a hotel in Salamanca. "In the morning we are sure to get tickets for the next train," he said, trying to persuade Mark Twain to give up the idea of going by the evening train. But the latter seemed to be annoyed at the suggestion. He said he was sure that as soon as he told them who he was they would give him tickets.

"I have grave doubts about it," his companion said. "I bet you a hundred dollars that your plan will not work. We've1 got to think of something-else." - "All right. You stay here on the platform and think of something else, and I'll go to the booking-office and get the tickets," Mark Twain said and left.

2. "I'm Mark Twain, could you give me two tickets for a sleeping car on the New York train," Mark Twain said cheerfully when he came to the booking-office. The next minute he was unpleasantly surprised. His name did not seem to have made any impression on the clerk in the booking-office. The latter looked at Mark Twain indifferently and said: "All the tickets have been sold."

Mark Twain went to another booking-office, hoping that he would be recognized there, but he was not successful there either. His surprise gave way to anger. "I'll get even with them as soon as I get to New York. I'll find a way to do it," Mark Twain kept saying to himself as he walked back to the platform where he had left his companion.

3. Meanwhile his companion stood thinking hard of what to do. Suddenly an idea struck him. Without losing a moment he went over to the conductor of the sleeper and got into conversation with him. Nobody heard what they were talking about. But when Mark Twain came back, his companion was standing on the platform with a blank expression on his face as if nothing had happened.

4. "What can I do for you?" the conductor asked Mark Twain when the latter appeared on the platform. - "Have you got any vacant berths on your sleeper?" Mark Twain asked. - "Certainly.

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There's a vacant family compartment in the car. I'm sure you'll like it. This way, please," said the conductor.

Mark Twain's anger gave way to utter surprise. "No doubt he's recognized me," said Mark Twain, getting into the carriage. "It's a pity I didn't turn to the conductor sooner. To tell you the truth, I would have been hurt if nobody had recognized me." His companion made no answer, but a knowing smile appeared on his face.

5. As soon as Mark Twain made himself comfortable in the compartment, he said: "You've lost the bet. You owe me a hundred dollars." - "On the contrary. I'm the one who's won the bet; I am sure the conductor has taken you for somebody else." - "Impossible! He can't have taken me for anyone other than Mark Twain." - "Let's find out."

Mark Twain called the conductor and asked him whether he had read any of his books. To his surprise the conductor answered: "I know you're the Mayor of New York, and this year I have not missed any of your speeches ..." Mark Twain's companion could not help bursting into laughter.

"It serves you right for being so conceited," he said.