Чтение онлайн

T. (In his sleep.) Give it back, do you hear?

G. He’s talking in his sleep. (Shaking him.) Tom, get up, you —.

T. Eh! What the —. Oh, that(’s) you, George!

G. No other. When do you intend to get up, I should like to know?

T. Get up? Why, what’s the time, anyway?

G. It’s time to get up, that’s what it is. You haven’t forgotten, I hope, that we are to be at the station for the 8.30 train?

Mrs. H. Well, Tom, be quick about it. I’ll make you a hasty breakfast while you wash and dress. Will you join Tom with the breakfast, George?

G. I don’t mind if I do. I didn’t have it at home. Thought I’d be late.

T. Switch on the radio, George, will you?

G. I say, Tom, here’s no time for any jerks now. You get along and wash yourself.

T. All right, (After some minutes Tom comes in. He begins to dress.)

G. You are a heavy sleeper, Tom, you are.

T. Well, I went to bed late last night, you know.

G. I suppose you think you never snore.

T. I know I don’t.

G. My aunt!

(Mrs. H. comes into the room)

Mrs. Hamilton, did you hear what —?

Mrs. H. I did indeed, but I don’t think you have time to argue about that now. Come, breakfast is ready.

VI. At Home

1. THE HOUSE

In many parts of England cottages are built in a long row, each house joined to the next one, and each with a small yard at the back, and a still smaller one at the front. On the ground floor there are generally two rooms, and on the upper one, the first floor, two. In the bigger of the lower rooms food is prepared, meals are eaten and guests are received. Such a room is called a kitchen or simply a living-room.

Here is the description of such a living-room.

It has three doors: the one in the centre leads out on to the street, the one on the right — to the stairs landing to the first floor, and the one on the left — to a bedroom on the ground floor. There is a fireplace on the right. Dark curtains cover the window at the back.

The room contains a table, some chairs and a comfortable rocking chair placed by the fireplace. On the left there is a cupboard with a shelf above it on which are a few dishes. A birdcage hangs in the window. On the wall near the fireplace hangs a large calender with a bright coloured picture of some cows drinking at a stream. Over the table hangs a gas-lamp and by the fireplace is a small gas-ring with a little tin kettle on it.

The cottages of the well-to-do people, however, are a little larger, pretty and comfortable. They stand a little way back from the road and some have a rather big garden round it and a smooth lawn in front of the house.

You go through the garden gate and walk along a path leading to the house. Mounting a few steps you get on to a verandah and right in front of you is the entrance door. Passing through this door you find yourself in the hall where in the comer is a sort of a cloakroom with racks to hang your coat and hat on.

There are some 3—4 doors (depending upon the plan of the house) which lead to the kitchen, study, dining-room and lounge or sitting-room. The sitting-room is a big room some 20—25 feet long and about 15—18 feet wide. In the sitting-room there might be a thick carpet on the floor, one or two good water-colours on the walls, a piano on one side of the room, a radio (television) set on the other side, a bookcase standing against the wall, a small table near the window with a beautiful bowl of flowers, and a couch.

The dining-room is also a pleasant-looking room with a carpet, a dark oak dining-table, which, being unfolded might seat 10—12 persons, six chairs and a side-board. A red lamp-shade hanging down from the ceiling gives a warm colour to the room, and a central (or electric) heating system keeps it warm and comfortable.

Upstairs are the bedrooms, a bathroom and a lavatory, though the latter two might be in some cottages on the ground flood as well.

2. MOVING

PETER. I say, Nick, you are not moving, are you?

NICK. Yes, we are. We have been given a flat.

PETER. Really! You are lucky, you know.

NICK. We are indeed. Three rooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, gas, a balcony overlooking the main street, a —.

PETER. Even in the main street! By gosh!

NICK. Yes. Isn’t that fine! A four-storey house with a shop in the ground storey. You just go out into the street through the main door and here you are, almost in the shop.

PETER. It’s not that house at the corner of N. and M. streets, is it?

NICK. Just so. You can’t imagine how Mother will be surprised. PETER. Why, doesn’t she know?

NICK. No, she doesn’t. She’s gone to our relatives in N. I say, Peter, couldn’t you lend a hand in loading the lorry?

PETER. To be sure. Come on. What’s there to load?

NICK. Why, everything!

(In the new house. Nick, his father, his sister, Ann and Peter)

NICK. What a marvellous flat!

FATHER. Yes, it’s a fine flat indeed. The house is the last word of comfort.

NICK. Which room will be mine, Father?

FATHER. Now, let’s have a look round. This small room will be —. NICK. Will be mine, won’t it, Daddy?

FATHER. Now stop prattling, and be a sensible girl, Ann. So this small room will be our bedroom. One of these communicating rooms will be the dining-room and the other will be yours.

NICK. Am I going to be with her again, Dad? You can’t imagine what a bother she is. I can never get through with my exercises when she is round about.

ANN. That’s not true, Daddy! He always starts teasing me first.

FATHER. Tut, tut! Well, all right. Let this small room be yours, Nick. Ann will be with us.

NICK. Oh, that’s fine. I’ve always dreamt to have a room of my own. Well, let’s start arranging the furniture. Come on, Peter, help me with this bookcase, will you?

PETER. Yes, for sure.

3. RENTING

(Tenant and Landlady.)

T. Have you a room to let?

L. Yes, sir. What room do you require? A double-bedded room or single?