2. Tommy at lunch

MOTHERTommy, lunch is ready.

TOMMY.^on't want to eat, Mummy.

MOTHER. But you must, Tommy. ,

TOMMY. No.

MOTHER. I insist upon your eating. Just a little bit, my boy.

TOMMY. No.

MOTHER. Now, Tommy, be a good boy. Just sit down here and have a little bit offish.

TOMMY. I want Grannie to sit next to me.

MOTHER, (to Grandmother), Sit down with him, Mother dear, and try to make him eat.

GRANDMOTHER. Well, here, Tommy. Have some fish. There's a dear.

TOMMY. That's too much.

MOTHER, (takes away some). Will that do now, Tommy?

TOMMY. I want the cat to sit here.

MOTHER. Oh, my! What a troublesome boy you are, Tommy! (Places the cat on another chair.} There now. Eat,

will you?

TOMMY. The cat wants to eat too.

MOTHER. What am I to do with this boy? Well, give it some then, but do eat, will you? (Tom begins feeding the

cat.) Are you ever going to eat anything yourself, Tommy?.

TOMMY. The cat hasn't eaten enough yet.

MOTHER. You make my blood boil, Tommy, the way you behave. (To Grandmother.} Mother dear, can you do

anything with that boy? He is altogether out of hand. I can't stand it any more. (Goes away.) .

GRANDMOTHER. Now, Tommy, stop trifling with the fish, will you? .

TOMMY. I am picking out the bones, Grannie. The cat won't eat bones, will it? .

GRANDMOTHER.But there is hardly anything left there now. You have given it all away to the cat!.

TOMMY.But I don't want any, Grannie, really not..

GRANDMOTHER. Well, drink your coffee then. It has already grown cold.

TOMMY. Coffee? I want some milk.

GRANDMOTHER. But there is no milk left, Tommy.

TOMMY. All the better. I want to play.

AT DINNER

ANN. Good morning, John. Come in, please.

JONH.Thank you. Is Fred at home?

ANN. Yes, he's in his study. This way, please.

JONH. Hello, old chap. How goes the world with you?

FRED. Fine. So nice of you to have come. We are about to have dinner.

ANN. Will you dine with us, John?

JONH. With the greatest pleasure. I'm ever so hungry.

ANN. That's fine. Well, I'm off to lay the table. Excuse me, please.

JONH. By all means.

At Table

FRED. Say, John, what about a drink?

JONH. Will a duck swim?'

FRED. Here, down this.

JONH. To you, Ann. But you are not—

ANN. No, thank you. I never take wine.

FRED. Well, here's something for you, Ann. Hand me your tumbler, please. Well, John, be good. Ann? (They

drink.) JONH. It's good to be in a company like this. ANN. Let me help you to some salad, John. JONH. Please do. That's quite enough, thank you. ANN. Some soup, John?

JONH. Why, yes! I think I could manage a plateful. ANN. How do you find it?

JONH. Awfully nice, really. Don't you think so, Fred? FRED. Yes, it is indeed. Pass me the salt, Ann, will you? ANN. Here you are. Some more bread, Fred? FRED, yes, please. What comes next, Annie? . ANN. Chops with roast potatoes, fish— FRED. And what follows that? ANN. Wouldn't you like to make a guess? FRED. Stewed apricots as usual, I suppose.

ANN. There you are wrong, Fred. It's apple dumpling with whipped cream! JONH. Apple dumpling, and with whipped cream! My, isn't that fine! ANN. I am happy that I've suited your taste, John. And do you like it, Fred? FRED. Oh, yes. You know I do. ANN. Do you take milk in your coffee, John? JOHN. Yes, I do. (Ann hands him a cup of coffee.) Thank you. FRED. Well, John, what about a cigar? JOHN. With great pleasure.

In a Restaurant

Mr Jones: I've booked a table in the corner. It's very comfortable there. Peirov. It's delightful here. Waiter: Here's the menu, sir. Mr Jones: I wish they'd use English in menus.² Peirov: Personally, I prefer good, simple English cooking. Mr Jones: Mr Petrov, what will you have?

Peirov. I can't see it on the menu but I think I'll have a steak and chips. Mr Jones: And so will I. Do you want soup first? Peirov: Yes. Waiter: May I take your order, sir? (Mr Jones orders food and drinks.)

(After dinner.)

Petrov: Thank you for a very enjoyable evening. It was a wonderful meal in spite of the menu.

In a Pub

Mr Dodd: Shall we have a snack lunch in a pub for a change? There are a lot of interesting pubs round here. Petrov: That's a good idea. I haven't been to any pub yet. Mr Dodd: What about this one? It's called "George and Vulture" ³.

(In the pub)

Peirov: It must be very old.

Mr Dodd: Over a hundred and fifty years, I think. It was mentioned by Dickens in one of his novels. He hirr used to have lunch here. I like it because there are not many people here at lunch time. Now what would you to drink? Bitter? That's a strong beer.

Petrov: Yes, please, if that's what you drink; but let me order it. (To the waiter.) Two pints of bitter, please.

Waiter: Anything to eat, sir?

Petrov: Just a snack. What can you offer us?

Waiter: There's cheese, sausages, and pickles and meat pies...

Petrov: I'll have bread and cheese with pickles for two, and two sausages.

DIALOGUES

1

Waiter. Good morning, Mr. S.

Mr. S. Good morning. Bring me the menu, please.

Waiter. Here it is.

Mr. S. Some thick soup first, then a mutton chop with potatoes, carrots and green peas. Waiter. Anything to drink? Mr. S. Yes, a glass of tomato juice, please.

Waiter. Here is your soup.

Mr. S. Waiter, pass me the cruet, please, this soup needs more salt and pepper, it is tasteless, and there is no water on the table.

Waiter. Here you are. Anything else?

Mr. S. Yes, some dessert. Have you any sweet cherries? Waiter. No, sir, but we have very fine strawberries.

Mr. S. If they are good, bring me Some. Waiter. Sugar and cream too?

Mr. S. Oh, yes; I don't like strawberries without sugar and cream. Waiter. Very well, sir. Any coffee?

Mr. S. Yes, a cup of black coffee, please, and bring me the bill. Waiter. Here you are.

Mr. S. How much is it?

Waiter. Three roubles twelve copecks.

.Mr. S. Charge it to my hotel account, please.

Waiter. Very well, sir.

Mr. S. Thank you. Good afternoon.

Waiter. Thank you. Good day, Mr. S.

2

Mr. A. Is the table in the corner reserved?

Waiter. No, it is vacant.

Mr. A. All right, then I'll take it. Give me the menu, please.

Waiter. Here you are.

Mr. A. Is there any particular dish you would recommend?

Waiter. The beefsteak is very good tonight. We also have several good chicken dishes, if you like chicken, or

maybe you prefer fish?

Mr. A. I think I'll try a steak. For vegetables, give me fried potatoes. I'd also like a tomato and cucumber salad.

What appetizers have you?

Waiter. The appetizers are there at the top of the page. You can have...

Mr. A. Yes, I see. And I'll take tomato juice and mushroom soup.

Waiter Anything else?

Mr.A.No, thank you. My bill, please. 'What does it come to.

Waiter. Two roubles ten copecks.

Mr.A. Here is a three rouble note, keep the change.

Waiter. No tipping here, sir. Here is the change ninety copecks.

Mr.A. Thank you, good night.

Waiter. Thank you, good night.

3

Mr. A. Good evening. Table for two, please.

Waitress. This way, please. Will you eat a la carte or do you want to have table d'hote?

Mr. B. We are not in a hurry, let us see the menu.

Waitress. Here you are.

Mr. A. We'll have omelette for-one, fried eggs for one, one steak and one chop.

Waitress. Any drinks?

Mr. B. A bottle of mineral water, a glass of orange juice and a glass of claret.

Waitress. Any vegetables? We've got cabbage, potatoes and carrots.

Mr. A. A little of everything, please.

Waitress. I'll repeat your order: omelette and steak for one; fried eggs and chop for one; a bottle of mineral water,

a glass of orange juice and a glass of claret.

Mr. A. That's right.

Waitress. Separate bills or one bill?

Mr. B. One bill, please.