A good start

Bill liked painting more that anything else in life. He started painting when he was 15 and people said that as a painter he had quite a lot of talent and had mastered most of the technical requirements. At twenty-two he had his first one-man show when he was discovered by the critics and his pictures were sold out. With the money he could afford to marry Leila, rent a studio and stop being a student. To complete his education he went to Italy but after five months all the money was spent and he had to return.

Bill never had another show like the first one although he became a better painter. The critics and the groups whose opinion mattered were dissatisfied with him as they did not think him modern enough and said he was too academic. From time to time he managed to sell his paintings, but in the last two years things had got very tight and Bill had to apply for a job at eleven pounds a week which his uncle could give him. The job was promised and he was to start next Monday.

The day before he went for an interview with his uncle Bill was specially gloomy. In the morning he went up to one of his unfinished pictures in the studio but he felt he could not paint. He threw down his brush and a bright red spot appeared on the board already covered with black and yellow paint from his previous work. The board had been used to protect the floor and was at that moment a mixture of bright colours.

When Bill left Leila got down to cleaning the studio. She took up the board and put it against the wall to clean the floor. At that moment Garrard Bill’s dealer came in. Bill had been asking him to come and look at his work and arrange a show but the dealer had for some time been uncertain on the matter. He said he had come because Mrs. Spencer, a rich American lady was interested in having a small portrait of her daughter and for some reson or other wanted Bill to paint it. He was looking round the studio, explaining how the gallery was booked up for a year and how he could not really promise Bill a show yet for two years or so. Suddenly the board against the wall attracted his attention.

“Leila, my dear,” he exclaimed “I thought, I felt that there must be some thing like this. Tell me, why is he keeping it away from us?”

Leila was too shocked to answer. But Garrard went on: “I think it’s wonderful. I never doubted Bill would catch up with the modern trend. It can’t be compared with his earlier work. Now, Leila, my dear, are there many more pictures like this one? Is there enough for a full show? I want you to know how splendid, how really splendid this development is in your husband^’s work. I must go now but tell him I^’ll be ringing him up. I’m going to change my whole plan and show his new work in the autumn. Tell him not to waste time with the portrait. It’s not worth doing it. As to this one if he wants to sell it, I’ll buy it myself.”

Leila stayed in the studio till Bill came back. She was too excited to tell him the story clearly and Bill could not understand anything at first. When he realized what had happened he shook with laughter. “You didn’t tell him about the board, did you?” he managed to say at last.

“No, I didn’t. I couldn’t really, I believe I should have, but it would have made him look too foolish. I just said I didn’t think you’d sell it”.

What was Bill to do? What a thing, he thought, to find waiting for you on your return from taking a job at eleven pounds a week. He could paint more for an exhibition that very evening and show them to Garrard the next day. After all, why not use it as a start for a good painter’s career?

Exercise 6. Point out sentences in the above text where “to have” performs the functions of: a) notional verb; b) modal verb; c) auxiliary verb.

Exercise 7. Answer the question based on the text:

1). What was Bill? 2). When did he begin painting? 3). Was he a professional painter? 4). When did he have his one man show? 5). Was it successful? 6). When did the critics become dissatisfied with him? 7). Why did he have to apply for a job? 8). What picture did Bill’s dealer like in Bill’s studio? 9). Why did Garrard visit Bill? 10). Who was Leila? 11). What did she do in Bill’s studio? 12). Will Bill accept Garrard’s proposition? 13). What did Garrard propose? 14). What modern trend was Garrard talking about?

Exercise 8. Read and dramatize the imaginary dialogue between Leila and MR. Garrard:

G. Good morning, Leila. Glad to see you. Is Bill in?

L. Good morning, Mr. Garrard. I haven’t seen you for ages, Bill is out at the moment, I’m afraid.

G. What a pity! You see, Mrs. Spenser, a rich American lady, wants to have a small portrait of her daughter painted. And she wants Bill to do it.

L. Oh, really. How kind of her.

G. Yes, yes and what’s this Leila, my dear. I thought, I felt that there must be something like this.

L. Well, I can’t say.

G. Are there many pictures like this? Is there enough for a full show?

L. But you’ve just said that the gallery has been booked up for a year.

G. Oh, don’t worry. I^’ll change everything. I was always sure that Bill would catch up with the modern trend. I must go but I’ll ring him up. Tell him not to waste time with the portrait. It’s not worth doing it.

L. I will.

G. As to this picture, if he wants to sell it, I’ll buy it myself.

L. Will you?

G. Good bye, Leila.

L. Good bye, Mr. Garrard.

Exercise 9. Reproduce in the form of a dialogue the conversation between Bill and Leila after his returning from the interview:

Exercise 10. Read the text and answer the question given after it. Be sure you know these words and word combinations:

on board – на борту

to put of – відкласти

to protest – протестувати

to take no notice – не замітити

to appear – появитися

arrival – приїзд

except – за винятком

to take pictures – фотографувати

terrible – жахливий

representative – представник

to offer – пропонувати

to realize – зрозуміти

to be at a loss – бути розгубленим

to allow – дозволяти

advice – порада

couldn’t help laughing – я не зміг не розсміятися

signature – підпис

to laugh – сміятися

a coat of white paint – пласт білої фарби

clever – розумний

to make friends – подружитись

to mention – згадувати

probably – ймовірно

to touch – торкатись

invitation – запрошення

guest – гість

enjoyable – приємний

fence – тин

Text 2