Mutual Feelings

Mrs. Jones

Oh, look! It's snowing, Mrs. Smith!

Mrs. Smith

So it is! I can't remember when it last snowed.

Mrs. Jones

It snowed in April two years ago. It was Easter week; I remember it well.

Mrs. Smith

Oh yes! So it did. It must have been the second week in April — my sister from Scotland was here at the time.

Mrs. Jones

What about the fire at the Williams' house last Saturday! Did you see it?

Mrs. Smith

Yes. Terrible, wasn't it? The fire-engine woke me up at about three in the morning. They were lucky the whole house didn't burn down. Their living-room was in an awful mess next morning.

Mrs. Jones

Well, it serves them right. They were throwing another of those wild parties, weren't they? They must have been blind drunk; they should have been more careful.

Mrs. Smith

You know, I think they may have set fire to the place on purpose — just to claim new furniture and carpets from the insurance company.

Mrs. Jones

I wouldn't be surprised at anything they did. I've always been suspicious of them, and the longer I know them the more I dislike them. I'm glad I didn't go to their party.

Mrs. Smith

Why didn't you go, Mrs. Jones?

Mrs. Jones

Well we weren't invited actually, but I had to go to my sister's that evening anyway.

Mrs. Smith

We weren't invited either. I suspect that the longer they live here the less they like us too, Mrs. Jones.

mutual

обоюдный, взаимный

burn down

сжигать дотла

in a mess

в беспорядке

it serves (them) right

поделом им

throw a party

устраивать вечеринку

blind drunk

мертвецки пьяный

set fire to

поджигать

on purpose

нарочно, намеренно

claim from

требовать возмещения убытков

the insurance company

страховая компания

surprised at

удивленный, пораженный чем-либо

suspicious of

подозрительный

1. If the fire brigade doesn't come soon, the whole house will burn down.

2. My room is in a mess. I must tidy it up today.

3. "I've lost my wallet." "It serves you right. You're too careless."

4. We usually throw a party just after Christmas.

5. "Bill was blind drunk at the party, and could hardly stand."

6. Some people enjoy setting fire to property.

7. I'm sorry I broke your plate, but I didn't do it on purpose.

8. "Don't worry about the cost — I'll claim my expenses from the firm."

9. We were surprised at the election results.

10. I'm very suspicious of people who talk too much.