II Give Russian equivalents for the following words and expressions from the text and use them in sentences of your own;

1) complete change of clothing; 2) at (11) o’clock sharp; 3) to scratch one’s head; 4) there is something missing; 5) to pull smth. up.

III Answer the questions, please.

1)Where and when does the story take place?

2)Who are the main characters?

3)What is one of the main characters like?

4)Who is your favourite character? Why?

5)Which part of the story do you like best?

6)What do you remember most about the story?

7)Do you know other stories and books by this author?

8)Would you like to read another book by this author? Why?

IV Act out the dialogues between:

1) Mr. Pratt and his friends;
2) Mr. Pratt and his wife.

V Grammar Task

1) Write out all the verbs from the text. Divide them into regular and irregular. Give 3 forms for the irregular verbs.

Regular Irregular

To start to go—went—gone

………. ………………………

………. ………………………

2) Find in the text all the sentences with Direct Speech and change them into Indirect Speech.

Unit 19

THE LUNCHEON

(After S. Maugham)

It was twenty years ago and I was living in Paris. I had a small apartment in the Latin Quarter and I was earning barely enough money to keep body and soul together. One of my readers, a lady, had read a book of mine and had written to me about it. I answered, thanking her, and soon I received from her another letter saying that she was passing through Paris and would like to have a chat with me. She asked me if I would give her a little lun­cheon at Foyot's. Foyot's is a restaurant at which the French senators eat and it was so far beyond my means that I had never even thought of going there. But I was flattered and I was too young to say no to a woman. So I answered that I would meet her at Foyot's on Thursday at half past twelve.

She was not so young as I expected, and not so attractive in appearance. She was talkative; but since she seemed incli­ned to talk about me I was prepared to be an attentive liste­ner. I was startled when the menu was brought, for the prices were a great deal higher than I had expected. But she reassu­red me. "I never eat anything for luncheon," she said. "Oh, don't say that!" I answered generously. "I never eat more than one thing. I think people eat too much nowadays. A little fish perhaps. I wonder if they have any salmon." Well, it was early in the year for salmon and it was not on the menu, but I asked the waiter if there was any. Yes, they had a beautiful salmon and I ordered it for my guest. The waiter asked her if she wo­uld have something while it was being cooked. "No," she an­swered, "I never eat more than one thing. Unless you had a little caviare. I never mind caviare." My heart sank a little.

I knew I could not afford caviare, but I could not tell her that.

I told the waiter by all means to bring caviare. For myself I chose the cheapest dish on the menu and that was a mutton-chop. "I think you are unwise to eat meat," she said. "I don't know how you can expect to work after eating heavy things like chops."

Then came the question of drink. "I never drink anything for luncheon," she said. "Neit­her do I," I answered promptly. "Except white wine," she went on as though I had not spo­ken. "My doctor won't let me drink anything but champagne." I think I turned a little pale. I ordered half a bottle. I mentioned that my

doctor had absolutely forbidden me to drink champagne. She ate the caviare. She ate the salmon. When my mutton-chop arrived she said: "I see that you're in the habit of eating a heavy luncheon. I'm sure it's a mistake."

The waiter came again with the menu. She waved him aside with a light gesture. "No, no, I can't eat anything more unless they had some of those gi­ant asparagus. I should be sorry to leave Paris without having some of them." My heart sank. I had seen them in the shops and I knew that they were horribly expensive. Panic seized me. It would be terrible to find myself ten francs short and be obliged to borrow from my guest. I could not bring myself to do that. I knew exactly how much money I had and if the bill came to more, I made up my mind that 1 would put my hand into the pocket and with a dramatic cry start up and say my money had been stolen. If she had not money enough to pay the bill then the only thing to do would be to leave my watch and say I would come back and pay later.

" The asparagus appeared. When she finished eating I said: "Coffee?" "Yes, just an ice-cream and coffee," she answered. It was all the same to me now, so I ordered coffee and an ice-cream for her and coffee for myself.

Then a terrible thing happened. The head-waiter came up to us with a large basket full of peaches. Peaches were not in season then. Lord knew what they cost. My guest, going on with her conversation, absent-mindedly took one.

"You see, you've filled your stomach with a lot of meat and you can't eat any more. But I've just had a snack and I shall enjoy a peach."

The bill came and when I paid it I found that I did not have enough for a good tip. When I walked out of the restaurant I had the whole month before meand not a penny in my pocket. "Follow my example," she said as we shook hands, "and never eat more than one thing for luncheon."

"I`ll do better than that," I answered. "I'll eat nothing for dinner to-night." "Humorist, you are quite a humorist," she cried gaily, jumping into a cab.

***

I saw the woman at the play the other day. Now I know that I have had my revenge at last. Today she weighs twenty-one stone.

I Find in the text English equivalents for the following words and expressions:

1) квартира; 2) зарабатывать; 3) лёгкий завтрак; 4) быть польщённым; 5) болтливый; 6) испугаться; 7) предполагать; 8) великодушно, щедро; 9) лосось, сёмга; 10) заказать; 11) икра; 12) позволить себе что-то; 13) в меню; 14) баранья отбивная; 15) оплатить счёт; 16) корзина персиков.