Lesson 14

LADY S.N : Mr. and Mrs. Sallis. Oh, I am delighted you could come. I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you. I’ve heard a lot about you.
MARIA : Oh, Lady Stoke-Newington. I can’t tell you what a pleasure…
JOHN: How do you do?
LADY S.N : Do let me introduce you. This is Marjorie Gatsby. Marjorie this is  Maria Sallis. And  John, her husband.
MARJORIE : Oh, not Maria Sallis. How exciting! You live close by, don’t you?
BARBARA : Yes– yes, that’s right.
LADY S.N : I just loved your latest book.
MARJORIE : “The Flames of Night’ wasn’t it? I found it absolutely enthralling.
JOHN : I think
LADY S.N : So well done. That terrible moment when the ..shark ripped her bathing costume off and she could only escape by running onto the beach naked. Such a terrible decision to make!
MARIA : Oh dear I-I think there must be some mistake.

JOHN : But Maria has never written a book in her life.
LADY S.N : Oh-oh, really. Are you sure?
JOHN : It-it seems we’re here a little bit under false pretenses.
LADY S.N : Oh, no you mustn’t feel that. It’s all my fault.
MARJORIE : What do you do?
JOHN : Weller actually I make inflatable umbrellas.
MARJORIE : Inflatable what?
JOHN : Er – umbrellas.

LADY S.N : How-how fascinating!
MARIA :  Really, I don’t think we should be here at all.
MARJORIE : Oh, you mustn’t say that. (To a newcomer.) Oh, hello, Freddy . This is er – Harry and Barbara Sallis. Freddy
FREDDY : Not the famous Barbara Sallis! Well, well, well! You’ve certainly got a fertile imagination. I love that latest book.
MARJORIE : No no she doesn’t write books actually.
LADY S.N : Just a case of mistaken identity.
FREDDY : Oh, how silly of me.
MARJORIE : Well
LADY S.N : Lovely weather we’ve been having. Don’t you think so, Mrs. Sallis?
MARIA :  Oh, yes, it’s been quite extraordinary!
MARJORIE : It makes so much difference to one’s morale when the sun’s shining, don’t you think so, Mr. Sallis?
JOHN : Oh, yes. It makes up for everything.

1. Why does Lady Stoke-Newington think she knows a lot about Maria and John?
2. Why is Marjorie Oatesby keen to meet Maria?
3. Why does Maria say it’s a pleasure for her to come?
4. What was the heroine in the novel running away from?
5. What ‘terrible’ decision did she have to make?
6. Did Lady Stoke-Newington mean to invite John and Maria?
7. Why is Maria supposed to have a fertile imagination?
8. Why does Lady Stoke-Newington say that John’s job is fascinating
9. Why does Lady Stoke-Newington talk about the weather?

THE FOLLOWING EXPRESSIONS ARE OFTEN HEARD IN EFFUSIVE SPEECH

I’m delighted : I just love…
I’ve heard such a lot about you : absolutely enthralling
I can’t tell you what a pleasure it is . . : How fascinating
How exciting : Quite extraordinary

1. delight : pleasure, joy
2. close by : near
3. enthralling : to take one’s whole attention
4. shark : dangerous fish
5. false pretenses : act intended to deceive
6. career : profession
7. inflate : blows air into