- •4. On the East Side
- •I. Translate the following phrases and sentences from the text:
- •II. Give the principal forms of the following verbs:
- •III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences. Use them in situations based on the text:
- •IV. Respond to the following questions or statements and correct them(if necessary). When expressing disagreement make sure you begin your answers with such commonly accepted phrases as:
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •VI. Find evidence in the text to support the following statements:
- •VII. Talk about: a) Erik's summer experience; b) Erik's interview with Professor Fox; c) Professor Fox's first impression of Erik Gorin.
- •VIII. Make up dialogues between:
- •XVIII. Give English equivalents for the following short sentences (see Vocabulary and Ex. Ill):
- •XIX. Suggest Russian equivalents for the word combinations in bold type and explain the use of the synonyms in the following sentences:
- •XX. Read the following sentences paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Suggest their Russian equivalents:
- •XXI. Translate the following situations paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type:.
- •XXII. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •XXIII. Read the text and retell it following the points in the outline given below. Make a list of the words and word combinations in the text which you could use to develop each point:
- •XXIV. Make up situations based on the episode from the autobiography of Charlie Chaplin using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •1. Clauses of Unreal Condition
- •II. Give the principal forms of the following verbs:
- •III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences. Use them in situations based on the text:
- •IV. Respond to the following questions or statements and correct them if necessary (see Unit One, Ex. IV, p. 22):
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •VI. Find evidence in the text to support the following statements:
- •VII. Quote sentences which prove that it is a humorous story.
- •VIII. Make up stories as they might have been told by:
- •XVI. Form as many questions as possible on the topics given below using the pattern to have smth done. Ask your comrades to answer your questions:.
- •XVII. Make up short situations using the following pairs of structural patterns:
- •XVIII. Read (he text and retell it in the form of a story retaining the sentences of unreal condition:
- •XIX. Give English equivalents for the following short sentences (see Vocabulary and Ex. Hi):
- •XX. Suggest Russian equivalents for the words and word combinations in bold type and explain the use of the synonyms in the following sentences:
- •XXI. Read the following sentences paying careful attention to 'he words and word combinations in bold type. Suggest their Russian equivalent:
- •XXII. Translate the following situations. Use the active vocabulary of Unit Two for the words and word combinations in bold type:
- •XXIII. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •XXIV Read the story and retell it following the outline given below. Make a list of the words and word combinations in the text which you could use to develop each point:
- •XXV. Make tip situations based on the story "The-Legend of Sleepy Hollow" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •I. Translate the following sentences and situations:
- •II. Render into English:
- •Vocabulary extension
- •1. Sentences with /Is-clauses
- •2. Had better, would rather
- •3. The Absense of Article with Nouns in Apposition
- •Vocabulary
- •I wonder who he is, what he wants, why he is here, whether he will come again:
- •I. Translate the following sentences from the text:
- •II. Give the principal forms of the following verbs?
- •III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences and use them in situations based on the text:.
- •IV. Respond to the following questions or statements and correct them if necessary (see Unit One, Ex. IV, p. 22):
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •VI Find evidence in the text to support the following statements:
- •VII Make up stories as they might have been told by:
- •VIII Make up dialogues between:
- •XV. Respond to the following statements, questions or requests using had better or would rather. Give two variants wherever possible. Add a sentence or two to make the situation clear:
- •XVI. Give English equivalents for the following short sentences (see Vocabulary and Ex. Ill):
- •XVII. Read the following sentences paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type and suggest their Russian equivalents:
- •XVIII.Analyse the use of the tenses in the following sentences. Translate them .Into Russian:.
- •XIX. Translate the following situations. Use the active vocabulary of Unit Three for the words and word combinations in bold type;
- •XX. Read the story and retell it Following the outline given below. Make a list of the words in the text which you could use to develop each point:.
- •XXI. Make up situations based on the story "The Tattoo" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •XXII. Make up sentences based on the story "The Tattoo" using clauses of unreal condition.
- •I. Use one of the patterns - to do smth, to have smth done, to want/need doing smth - in your answers to the question: What would you do or say or ask if....:
- •II. Translate the following sentences and situations a) into Russian::
- •III. Render into English:
- •Vocabulary extension
- •1. Read the following text and translate the word combinations given below each point of the outline. Retell the text following the points:
- •II. Read the text and retell it in the form of a story. Enlarge on the story making use of the words and word combinations from the previous text "Being hi";
- •III. Read the text and write down the words and word combinations connected will; dentistry giving their Russian equivalents. Retell the text in brief;
- •Vocabulary
- •I. Translate the following phrases and sentences from the text:;
- •II. Give the principal forms of the following verbs:
- •III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and use them in situations based on the text:;
- •IV. Develop the thought expressed in each sentence to bring out the meaning of the words in bold type:
- •V. Give a neutral variant for each of the following:
- •VI. Answer the following questions:
- •VII. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •VIII. Give English equivalents for the following short sentences (see Vocabulary and Ex. Ill):
- •IX. Read the following sentences paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Suggest their Russian equivalents:
- •X. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •1. Sentences with so fAaf-clauses ... Move his chair so that he can see
- •Vocabulary
- •I. Translate the following phrases and sentences from the text:
- •VI. Find evidence in the texts (in both parts) to support the following statements:
- •VII. Give a detailed description of each of the following episodes in the third person (Texts 1, 2)I
- •VIII. Make up stories as they might have been told by:
- •IX. Make up character-sketches of Mr. Drake and Mrs. Thayer. Make a list of words and word combinations to help you describe the characters.
- •X. Suggest a title for the story and give your reasons.
- •XI. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns?
- •XII. Give English equivalents for the following Russian short sentences (see Vocabulary and Ex. III):
- •XIII. Read the following sentences paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Suggest their Russian equivalents:
- •XIV. Translate the following situations. Use the active vocabulary of Unit Four for the words and word combinations in bold type;
- •XV. Read the story and give full answers to the questions that follow the text. Make a list of the words in the text which you could use in your answers:
- •XVI. Make up situations based on the text "One Coat of White" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •XVII. Read (he story and write out English and American equivalents for the Russian words given after the text:
- •Vocabulary extension
- •I. Read the text paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Give their Russian equivalents. Get ready to discuss the problem:
- •III. Comment on the following statements concerning visiting, tact, manners (use facts from the texts to prove, illustrate or refute them):
- •IV. Topics for discussion:
- •V. Read the text and retell it:
- •VI. Give a talk on the difference between be and ae, Make up a written outline to guide you.
- •VII. Read the poem. Try to trace the similarity in the views of the author of the poem and the main character of the story "Liberty Hall". Could you accept this attitude towards life?
- •I. Interpret the words given in bold type:
- •II. Answer the following questions:
- •III. Point out the main thought expressed by the poet in each of the three stanzas of the poem.
- •IV. Memorize the poem.
- •V.Read extracts from the following poems. Point out their lexical and syntactical peculiarities using the commentary given to the poem "The Song of the Wage-Slave":
- •VI. State what kinds of relations form the basis for each case of metonymy in the text of the poems "To the Men of England", 'The Song of the Shirt" and "Sons of Poverty".
- •Vocabulary
- •II. Give (he principal forms of the following verbs?
- •III. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences and use them in situations based on the text:
- •IV. Answer the following questions.
- •V. Mke up stories as they might have been told by:
- •VI. Find evidence in the text to support the following statements:
- •VII. Suggest a title for the text and give reasons for your choice.
- •VIII. Give ail possible Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type;
- •IX. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •X. Give English equivalents for the following short sentences (see Vocabulary and; Ex. Ill):
- •XI. Suggest Russian equivalents for the word combinations in bold type and explain the use of the synonyms in the following sentences:
- •XII. Translate the following situations. Use the active vocabulary of Unit Six for the words and word combinations in bold type:
- •XIII. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •XV. Make up situations based on the story "Patients Needed" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •Vocabulary extension
- •I. Reproduce the following situations based on the works of famous English and American authors. Make sure that you use the active vocabulary:
- •II. Insert prepositions if necessary:
- •III. Read the story and retell it. Then, using it as a basis, think of sentences which will contain clauses of unreal condition:
- •IV. Read the text and translate it into Russian paying careful attention to the use of the modal verbs. Make up another dialogue with the same structural patterns:
- •V. Respond to the following statements expressing probability, doubt, incredulity or near certainty;
- •VI. Change the following sentences using didn't have to or needn't have done to express absence of necessity:
- •VII. Revise the texts included in Units One-Six. Get ready to answer the following questions:
- •VIII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:
- •IX. Translate the following situalions in written form:
- •Vocabulary
- •II. Look up the synonyms to snatch, to seize, to grip (схватить) in an English-English dictionary or a reference book and explain the difference between them.
- •I. Translate the following sentences or parts of sentences from the text:)
- •II. Find English equivalents in the text for the following Russian word combinations, phrases and sentences:
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following word combinations:
- •IV. Make up disjunctive questions or wrong statements covering the contents of the story and ask your comrades to respond to them (see Unit One, Ex. IV, p. 22).
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •VI. Find evidence in the text to support the following statements:
- •VII. Make up stories as they might have been told by:
- •VIII. Make up dialogues between:
- •IX. Make up character-sketches of Mrs. Packletide and Miss Mebbin.
- •I. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •II. Make up short situations suggested by the following sentences paying careful attention to the word combinations in bold type:
- •III. Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the parts in bold type:
- •IV. Read the sentences and explain the use of the synonyms to snatch, to seize, to grip:
- •V. Read the story and retell it following the outline given below. Make a list of the words in the text to develop each point:
- •VI. Make up situations based on the story "His Wedded Wife" using the following word combinations:
- •VII. Render into English:
- •VIII. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type:
- •1. Sentences with before-clauses
- •2. Infinitive of Subsequent Action
- •Vocabulary
- •I. Translate the following sentences into Russian paying careful attention to the word combinations in bold type:
- •II. Look up the verb to change in an English-English dictionary and write down its meanings. In which of the meanings is it synonymous to the verb to alter? Explain the difference. Give examples.
- •I. Translate into Russian passages from the text which begin and end as follows:
- •II. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and senr tences:
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following word combinations
- •IV. Make up disjunctive questions or wrong statements covering the contents of the story and ask your comrades to respond to them (see Unit One, Ex. IV, p. 22).
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •II. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •III. Make op situations suggested by the following sentences paying careful attention to the word combinations in bold type:
- •IV. Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the parts in bold type:
- •V. Read the following sentences paying carefuJ attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Suggest their Russian equivalents:
- •VI. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •VII. Read the story and retell it following the outline given below. Make a list of the words and word combinations in the text which you could use to develop each point:
- •VIII. Make up sentences based on the story "The Pendulum" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •IX. Render into English:
- •X. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type:
- •1. Absolute Nominative Constructions
- •2. There's not a...
- •3. Participle I as Adverbial Modifier
- •Vocabulary
- •I. Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type. Give possible variants:
- •II. Look up the meanings of the verbs to divide and to share as used in the following sentences and say how they differ:
- •I. Translate into Russian passages from the text which begin and end as follows;
- •II. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences:
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following words and word combinations:
- •IV. Make up disjunctive questions or wrong statements covering the contents of the story and ask your comrades to respond to them (see Unit One, Ex. IV, p. 22).
- •V. Answer the following questions:
- •II. Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the absolute nominative constructions:
- •III. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •IV. Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the parts in bold type:
- •V. Read the following sentences carefully and suggest Russian equivalents for the word combinations in bold type:
- •VI. Translate the following sentences using the verbs to share and to divide:
- •VII. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:
- •VIII. Read the story and retell it following the outline given below. Make a list of the words in the text which you could use to develop each point:
- •IX. Make up situations based on the story "The Boy Next Door" using the following word combinations and structural patterns:
- •X. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type:
- •I. Translate the following situations paying careful attention to the words and word combinations in bold type:
- •II. Render into English:
- •I. Interpret the following sentences:
- •II. Ahswer the following questions:
- •III. Learn the poem by heart.
- •IV. The following are three translations of John Barleycorn. Which variant do you prefer? Give reasons for your choice:
- •V. Give the metrical scheme used in the following verses. Point out all the violations of the metre;
- •2. Clauses of Real Condition
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Translate the following phrases and sentences from the text:
- •II. Find in the text English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences:
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following words and word combinations:
- •IV. Answer the following questions:
- •II. Make up situations suggested by the following sentences paying careful attention to the word combinations in bold type:
- •III Translate the following sentences paying careful attention to the parts in bold type:.
- •IV. Make up short dialogues using the following structural patterns:".
- •V. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type:
- •1. Sentences with while-clauses
- •Vocabulary
- •1. Translate the following sentences from the text:
- •II. Give English equivalents for the following sentences:
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following words and word combinations:
- •IV. Answer the following questions:
- •V. Find evidence in the text to support tfie following statements:
- •VI. Make an outline of the text and retell it following your points.
- •VII. Read the sentences with while-clauses. State the meaning of while and the time relations of the actions:
- •VIII. Translate the following sentences using the structural patterns:
- •IX. Make up short situations using the following gerundial phrases?
- •XI. Make up situations suggested by the following sentences paying careful attention to the word combinations in bold type:
- •XII. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equivalents for the parts in bold type:
- •XIII. Render into English:
- •XIV. Read the following excerpt and retell it in brief:
- •I. Translate into Russian the following sentences and passages from the text which begin and end as follows:
- •II. Find English equivalents for the following Russian phrases and sentences;
- •III. Reproduce situations from the text using the following word combinations!
- •IV. Answer the following questions:
- •IX. Read the following sentences and commeqf on the character of the semantic relations between the components of the verb-postpositive phrases in bold type. Give their Russian equivalents:
- •X. Translate the Following sentences paying careful attention to the parts in bold type:
- •XI. Read the following sentences and suggest Russian equisralents for the verb-postpositive phrases in bold type:
- •XIV. Read the following excerpts and retell them in brief:
- •1. Translate the following sentences and situations:
- •III. Read the end of the story and retell it using the following verb-postpositive phrases wherever possible. Reread the whole story and discuss the title:
- •I. Reproduce the following situations. Make sure that you use the active vocabulary:
- •II. Fill in prepositions and postpositives:
- •III. Point out the structural patterns and explain their use. Translate the sentences into Russian:
- •IV. Revise the texts included in Units Seven-Thirteen. Get ready to answer the following questions:
- •VI. Choose any 10 word combinations out of the following list and "rite sentences (or short situations) in Russian based on the story "The Boatswain's Mate". Discuss the sentences in class:
- •VII. Make up dialogues on the following topics:
- •VIII. Translate the following situations in written form:
- •I. Supply a title to the story and give reasons for your choice.
- •II. Pick out sentences in the story illustrating the various types of if-clauses.
- •III. Make up 5 Russian sentences with clauses of unreal condition based on the story. Ask your comrades to translate them into English.
- •I. What helps you guess the author of the passage? What is the author's name?
- •II. How do you know that it is a passage from a detective story?
- •III. Have you read any short stories by the author? Tell one of them.
- •I. What do we learn from the extract about the author's way of reading? What did he gain from such reading?
- •II. Why did he call himself a bad reader?
- •I. What book does the passage come from?
- •II. What do you think of the man? What made him such an extraordinary person? Why did he attract other people?
- •I. What is the title of the story? Who is its author?
- •Il. What state do you think Johnsy was in? Why did she watch the dry leaves falling?
- •III. What happened later?
- •I. What book does the extract come from? Comment on the language.
- •II.How did the man happen to find himself in the gloomy passages alone and half-dressed?
- •III. Write a simplified version of the passage using your active whenever possible.
- •I. Pick out all the proverbs in the story and give their Russian equivalents.
- •II. Write an end to the story using some of the following proverbs;
- •I. What story does the passage fit into?
- •II. What do you think the cause of Mr. Jones's illness was?
- •I. How does (he passage fit info the story "One Coat of White"?
- •II. Bring out the meaning of "People don’t often look their business". Do you agree to the statement? Give examples to justify jour point of view.
- •I. How does the author characterize a modern disease the name of which is travel? Are you taken with a similar disease when your summer or winter vacations are coming?
- •II. What aim do you set yourself when you travel or go hiking?
- •III. What thoughts in the extract strike you as most humorous?
- •I. What efforts at self-improvement have you ever made? Were they successful?
- •II. Write a short story about one of your efforts at self-improvement and what came of it.
- •III. Pick out words and word combinations in the story which you think are used by the author to achieve a humorous effect.
- •I. Make up a few questions on the passage and ask your comrades to answer them.
- •II. Think of a number of statements concerning events in the text and ask your comrades to find evidence in the text to support them.
- •I. What story is the passage taken from? How does it fit into it?
- •II. What did the girl look like as she hurried to the painter's studio? What do you know about her from the rest of the story?
- •III. What city is described in the passage? What similes help you guess? What do you know about the city?
- •I. Read and translate the text.
- •II. Give English equivalents for the following Russian word combinations and phrases:
- •III. Answer the following questions. Make use of the word combinations listed in brackets:
- •IV. Translate the following sentences using words and word combinations from the text:
- •V. Make a written translation of the following passages:
- •VI. Reproduce the following passages:
- •VII. Speak on the Soviet Union's achievements in different spheres of life. Make use of the text and the additional passages given in Exercises V, VI.
III. Point out the structural patterns and explain their use. Translate the sentences into Russian:
1. Enid looked up to find her husband still standing in the doorway. 2. Ben had started another cigarette and was coughing to show how much he disliked it. 3. Grace hurried indoors, even before the young man had time to turn round. 4. "I don't much like the prospect of getting involved in all this," thought Peter Donnelly. 5. "Mr. Day has just phoned," said the station master. "He suggests, you should go to the hotel. He'll get in touch with you." 6. They hadn't been out of Simon's bedroom five minutes before the door bell rang. 7. After Mrs. Milburn had gone, Merry Ann changed - she was no longer the "lovely" girl, a model of the younger generation. 8. "Oh, that boy," Sladen's mother used to say, "he will refuse to wash his face unless he is forcibly led to the bathroom." 9. All Erik had had as an undergraduate were the usual courses in mechanics, light, thermodynamics and electricity.
IV. Revise the texts included in Units Seven-Thirteen. Get ready to answer the following questions:
1. What memories (and emotions) would the words "big game shooting in India" arouse in Mrs. Packletide? 2. Who do you think is the main character of the story "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger"? 3. What did Enid mean when she sard that Gordon had been "captured by the place" like the other inhabitants, like his father? Why did she fear that this might happen to her too? 4. Did she return to the village with old Day, do you think? What was her life like after that (if she returned with him or if she didn't)? 5. What made John Har-court call Grace a snob? 6. Why did the Resistance leaders disagree as to what had happened to Spitfire Johnny? 7. What strikes you most in Mozart's life? 8. What do you think was the predominant feature in Rodin's character?
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У. Write an outline of the following story. Make a list of the words for each point of the outline. Retell the story following your points:
THE BOATSWAIN'S MATE
By W. W. Jacobs
Mr. George Benn, retired boatswain, sighed noisily, and with a despondent gesture, turned to the door and stood with the handle in his hand; Mrs. Waters, sitting behind the tiny bar, eyed him with some heat.
"My feelings' Il never change," said the boatswain.
"Nor mine either," said the landlady, sharply.' "It's a strange thing, Mr. Benn, but you always ask me to marry you after the third mug."
"It's only to get my courage up," pleaded the boatswain. "Next time I'll do it before I've had a drop; that'll prove to you I'm in earnest."
He stepped outside and closed the door before the lady could make a selection from the many retorts that crowded to her lips.
The boatswain walked for two miles deep in thought, and then, coming to a shady bank, took a seat upon an inviting piece of turf and lit his pipe. The heat and the drowsy hum of bees made him nod; his pipe hung from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes closed. He opened them at the sound of approaching footsteps, and, feeling in his pocket for matches, gazed lazily at the intruder. He saw a tall man carrying a small bundle over his shoulder, and in the erect carriage, the keen eyes, and bronzed face had little difficulty in detecting the old soldier.
"Got a pipe o'baccy, mate?" he inquired.
The boatswain handed him the small metal box in which he kept that luxury.
The old soldier thanked him, and with the air of one disposed to conversation, dropped his bundle and took a seat beside the boatswain.
"I've got plenty of time," he remarked.
Mr. Benn nodded, and for a while smoked on in silence. A dim idea which had been in his mind for some time began to clarify. He stole a glance at his companion - a man of about thirty-eight, clear eyes, with humorous wrinkles at the corners, a heavy moustache, and a cheerful expression.
"What's your name?" asked the boatswain.
"Ned Travers."
"And mine's Benn. Would you like a job?"
"What job?"
"Now listen," said the boatswain, lighting his pipe again. "Two miles from here, where I live, there's a little public-house called the Beehive, kept by a lady what I've got my eye on. She's a lone widow, and the Beehive is in a lonely place." - "Silly place for a pub," commented Mr. Travers.
289
"I've been telling her how unsafe it is," said the boatswain. "I've been telling her that she wants a man to protect her, and she only laughs at me. My idea is," continued the boatswain, slightly raising his voice, "to kill two birds with one stone - prove to her that she does want being protected, and that I'm the man to protect her. My opinion is that she loves me without knowing it. Do you understand what I'm driving at?"
"Go on," said Mr. Travers, "I'm listening."
The boatswain gazed at him fixedly. "You meet me here in this spot at eleven o'clock tonight," he said solemnly, "and I'll take you to her house and put you through a little window I know of. You go' upstairs and alarm her, and she screams for help. I'm watching the house, faithful-like and hearing her scream, I dash in at the window, knock you down, and rescue her. In her gratitude, and, proud of my strength and pluck, she marries me ..."
"And I get a five years' honeymoon," said the soldier.
He rose to his feet and stretched himself. "Time I was toddling," he said, with a yawn. "Thanks for amusing me, mate."
"You won't do it?" said the boatswain, eyeing him with much concern. "I - I'll pay," said the boatswain, trembling with eagerness. "I've taken a fancy to you; you're just the man for the job."
The soldier adjusted the bundle, glanced at him over his shoulder. "Thankee," he said, with mock gratitude.
"Look here," said the boatswain, springing up and catching him by the sleeve, "I'll give it to you in writing. Come, you aren't fainthearted."
Mr. Travers hesitated, then he seated himself again and let his bundle fall to the ground. "Go on," he said, slowly. "Write it out fair and square and sign it, and I'm your man."
The document was finished after several failures, and the boatswain heaved a sigh of relief, and handing it over to the soldier leaned back with a complacent air while he read it.
"Seems all right," said the soldier, folding it up and putting it in his waistcoat pocket. "I'll be here at eleven tonight."
"Eleven it is," said the boatswain, briskly, "and here's half a dollar to go on with."
At eleven o'clock Mr. Travers greeted the boatswain cheerfully and, honestly attributing the fact to the good food and a couple of pints of beer he had had since he left the boatswain, said that he was ready for anything.
Soon they came to a small inn standing just off the road. "How do you feel?" said Mr. Travers. "I feel as if I've been burgling all my life. How do you feel?"
"Nervous," said Mr. Benn, pausing under a small window at the rear of the house. "This is the one."
Mr. Travers slipped inside and, following the instructions of Mr. Benn, made his way to the stairs and mounted noiselessly.
He pushed the door open slowly and started as it creaked. Nothing happening, he pushed again, and standing just inside, he saw that
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he was in a bedroom. He listened for the sound of breathing, but in vain. "Quiet sleeper," he reflected, "or perhaps it is an empty room. J wonder ..."
The sound of an opening door made him start violently, and he stood still, scarcely breathing, with ears on the alert. A light shone on the landing, and peeping round the door he saw a woman coming along the corridor - a younger and better looking woman than he had expected to see. In one hand she held a candle, in the other she bore a double-barrelled gun. Mr. Travers withdrew into the room and, as the light came nearer, slipped into a big cupboard by the side of the fireplace and, standing bolt upright, waited. The light came into the room.
"Must have been my fancy," said a pleasant voice.
His trained ear recognized the sound of cocking triggers, the next moment a heavy body bumped against the door of the cupboard and the key turned in the lock.
"Got you!" said the voice, triumphantly. "Keep still; if you try and break out I shall shoot you."
"All right," said Mr. Travers, hastily; "I won't move." He began to think it was time for the boatswain to appear on the scene.
"Why don't you call for help? I'll go like a lamb."
"I don't want your advice," was the reply. "I know what to do. Now, don't you try and break out. I'm going to fire one barrel out of the window, but I've got the other one for you if you move."
"Stop!" he said earnestly. "Don't do any thing rash. I'm not a burglar. I'm doing this for a friend of yours - Mr. Benn."
"What?" said an amazed voice.
"True as I stand here," asserted Mr. Travers. "Here's my instructions."'He rustled the paper under the door and it was at once snatched from his fingers ... He stood listening to the startled and indignant exclamations of his goaler as she read the boatswain's permit: "This is to give notice that I, George Benn, being of sound mind and body, have told 'Ned Travers to pretend to be a burglar at Mrs. Waters's. He ain't a burglar, and I shall be outside all the time." (signed) George Benn.
"Where is her
"Out at the back," replied Mr. Travers. "If you go to the window you can see him."
A board creaked. He waited for what seemed a long time, and then the board creaked again.
"Did you see him?" he inquired.
"I did," was the sharp reply. "You both ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You ought to be punished."
"What are you going to do?" said Mr. Travers, somewhat uneasily. "You look too nice to do anything hard; leastways, so far as I can see through this crack."
"Mfrid your own business," said the voice, sharply. "Now, if I let you out, will you promise to do exactly as I tell you? I'm going to give Mr. Benn a lesson he won't forget," proceeded the woman, grimly.
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"I'm going to fire off this gun, and then run down and tell him I've killed you."
Mr. Travers burst into laughter.
"Hush! Stop that laughing!" commanded the voice. "He'll hear you. Be quiet."
The key turned in the lock, and Mr. Travers, stepping forth, clapped his hand over his mouth and endeavoured to obey.
She fired the gun into the hearth-rug, the walls shook with the explosion, and, with a shriek that set Mr. Travers's teeth on edge, she rushed downstairs and, drawing back the bolts found herself in the arms of the agitated boatswain.
"Oh! Oh! Oh!" she cried.
"What's the matter?" gasped the boatswain.
The widow struggled in his arms. "A burglar," she said, in a tense whisper. "But it's all right; I've killed him."
"Kill ─ ─ " stuttered the poor boatswain. "Kill - killed him?"
"First shot," she said with a satisfied air. "Now, you stay where you are," commanded Mrs. Waters. "I don't want any witnesses. I don't want this house to have a bad name. The first thing to do is to get rid of the body. I'll bury him in the garden, I think. There's a spade in the tool-house."
The boatswain reeled and then fumbled with trembling fingers at his collar. Like a man in a dream he stood watching as she ran to the tool-house and returned with a spade and a pick; like a man in a dream he followed her into the garden.
"Be careful," she said sharply. "You're treading down my potatoes."
The boatswain stopped dead and stared at her. Apparently unconscious of his gaze, she began to pace out the measurements and then placing the tools in his hands, urged him to lose no time.
"I'll bring him down when you're gone," she said, looking towards the house.
She re-entered the house and leaning out of the back window watched with simple pleasure the efforts of the amateur sexton. Mr. Benn was digging like one possessed, only pausing at intervals to straighten his back and to cast a fearsome glance about him.
At about two o'clock Benn was through with his job.
"That will do, I think," said Mrs. Waters, stepping up to the hole and regarding it critically. "Now you'd better go straight off home, and, mind, not a word to a soul about thi's."
She put her hand on his shoulder and noting with pleasure that he shuddered at her touch led the way to the gate. The boatswain paused for a moment, as though about to speak, and then, apparently thinking better of it, bade her good-bye in a hoarse voice and walked feebly up the road. Mrs. Waters stood watching until his steps died away in the distance, and then, returning to the garden, took up the spade, regarding with some dismay the mountainous result of his industry, began to fill up the hole.
Mr. Travers joined her. "Let me," he said gallantly.
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Day was breaking as he finished his task. The clean sweet air and the exercise had given him an appetite to which the smell of cooking bacon and hot coffee that came from the house had set a sharper edge. He took his coat and put it on. Mrs. Waters appeared at the door.
"You'd better come in and have some breakfast before you go," she said; "there's no more sleep for me now."
Mr. Travers obeyed with alacrity, and after a satisfying wash in the scullery, came into the big kitchen with his face shining and took a seat at the table. The cloth was neatly laid, and Mrs. Waters, fresh and cool, with a pleasant smile upon her pleasant face, sat behind the tray. -She looked at her guest curiously.
"Why don't you get some settled work?" she inquired with gentle severity, as he imparted snatches of his history between bites.
"Easier said than done," said Mr. Travers, serenely. "There's only one job that-I'm really fit for, now that I'm too old for the Army," he said confidentially.
"Playing at burglars?" hazarded Mrs. Waters.
"Landlord of a little country public-house," said Mr. Travers, simply.
Mrs. Waters fell back and regarded-him with open-eyed amazement.
"Good morning," she said, as soon as she could trust her voice.
"Good-bye," said Mr. Travers, reluctantly. "I should like to hear how old Benn takes this joke, though."
"If you're passing this way again and like to look in - I'll tell you," she said, after a long pause. "Good-bye."
"I'll look in in a week's time," said Mr. Travers.
He took the proffered hand and shook it warmly. "It would be the best joke of all," he said, turning away.
"What would?"
The soldier confronted her again.
"For old Benn to come round here one evening and find me landlord. Think it over." :
Mrs. Waters met his gaze soberly.
"I'll think it over when you have gone," she said, softly. "Now go."
(Abridged)