5.News of the Engagement Arnold Bennet
5.News of the Engagement Arnold Bennet
Contents Introduction about the Author Text Analysis Questions after Reading Exercises
Contents Introduction about the Author Text Analysis Questions after Reading Exercises
Introduction about the Author Arnold Bennett (1867-1931)was an English novelist,playwright,critic and essayist.He was best known for his novels of“the Five Towns”- the English Potteries.It is the district in Staffordshire,where pottery is the chief industry. He used“the Five Towns'”(the potteries towns)) as background of his major works.The story in the text also takes place in the Five Towns which is a small town in England
Introduction about the Author Arnold Bennett (1867-1931) was an English novelist, playwright, critic and essayist. He was best known for his novels of “the Five Towns”-- - the English Potteries. It is the district in Staffordshire, where pottery is the chief industry. He used “the Five Towns” (the potteries towns) as background of his major works. The story in the text also takes place in the Five Towns which is a small town in England
Text 1.Two days after his proposal to Agnes, Philip has come to spend Christmas with his mother and to tell her about his engagement. He feels excited and a little nervous.To his amazemen达，he notices that his mother is also more excited than usual.Is that because she already knows about his engagement?Or is there another reason?
Text 1.Two days after his proposal to Agnes, Philip has come to spend Christmas with his mother and to tell her about his engagement. He feels excited and a little nervous. To his amazement, he notices that his mother is also more excited than usual. Is that because she already knows about his engagement? Or is there another reason?
2.My mother never came to meet me at Bursley station when I arrived in the Five Towns from London. She always had other things to do;she was"preparing" for me.So I had the little journey from Knype to Bursley,and then the walk up Trafalgar Road,all by myself.And there was enough time to consider how I should break to my mother the tremendous news I had for her.I had been considering that question since I got into the train at Euston,where I had said good- bye to Agnes;but in the atmosphere of the Five Towns it seemed more difficult,though,of course,it wasn't difficult,really
2.My mother never came to meet me at Bursley station when I arrived in the Five Towns from London. She always had other things to do; she was “preparing” for me. So I had the little journey from Knype to Bursley, and then the walk up Trafalgar Road, all by myself. And there was enough time to consider how I should break to my mother the tremendous news I had for her. I had been considering that question since I got into the train at Euston, where I had said goodbye to Agnes; but in the atmosphere of the Five Towns it seemed more difficult, though, of course, it wasn’t difficult, really
3.You see.I wrote to my mother regularly every week,telling her most of my doings.She knew all my friends by name:I am sure she formed in her mind notions of what sort of people they were.Thus I had often mentioned Agnes and her family in my letters.But you can't write even to your mother and say:"I think I am beginning to fall in love with Agnes,""I think Agnes likes me,”"I love her,,”"I feel certain she loves me too,.”I shall propose to her some day."You can't do that.At least I couldn't.Therefore it had happened that on the 20th of December I had proposed to Agnes and she agreed to marry me,and my mother had no suspicion that my happiness was so near.And on the 22nd of December I came to spend Christmas with my mother
3. You see, I wrote to my mother regularly every week, telling her most of my doings. She knew all my friends by name; I am sure she formed in her mind notions of what sort of people they were. Thus I had often mentioned Agnes and her family in my letters. But you can’t write even to your mother and say: “I think I am beginning to fall in love with Agnes,” “I think Agnes likes me,” “I love her,” “I feel certain she loves me too,” “I shall propose to her some day.” You can’t do that. At least I couldn’t. Therefore it had happened that on the 20th of December I had proposed to Agnes and she agreed to marry me, and my mother had no suspicion that my happiness was so near. And on the 22nd of December I came to spend Christmas with my mother
4.I was the only son of a widow;I was all that my mother had.And I had gone and engaged myself to a girl she had never seen,and I had not told her anything about it.She would certainly be very much surprised,and she might be a little hurt-just at first.Anyhow,the situation was very delicate. 5.I walked up the white front steps of my mother's little house,just opposite where the electric cars stop,but before I could put my hand on the bell,my little mother, in her black silk and her gold brooch opened to me, having doubtless watched me down the road from the window,as usual,and she said,as usual,kissing me
4. I was the only son of a widow; I was all that my mother had. And I had gone and engaged myself to a girl she had never seen, and I had not told her anything about it. She would certainly be very much surprised, and she might be a little hurt—just at first. Anyhow, the situation was very delicate. 5. I walked up the white front steps of my mother’s little house, just opposite where the electric cars stop, but before I could put my hand on the bell, my little mother, in her black silk and her gold brooch opened to me, having doubtless watched me down the road from the window, as usual, and she said, as usual, kissing me
"Well,Philip!How are you?" And I said. "Oh!I'm all right,mother.How are you?" 6.I noticed at once that she was more excited than my arrival usually made her.There were tears in her smiling eyes,and she was as nervous as a young girl. And indeed she looked remarkably young for a woman of forty-five,with twenty-five years of widowhood and a short but stormy married life behind her. 7.The thought flashed across my mind:"By some means or other she has some information about my engagement.But how?
“Well, Philip! How are you?” And I said, “Oh! I’m all right, mother. How are you?” 6. I noticed at once that she was more excited than my arrival usually made her. There were tears in her smiling eyes, and she was as nervous as a young girl. And indeed she looked remarkably young for a woman of forty-five, with twenty-five years of widowhood and a short but stormy married life behind her. 7.The thought flashed across my mind: “By some means or other she has some information about my engagement. But how?
But I said nothing.I too,was rather nervous. "I'll tell her at supper,"I decided and went upstairs. 8.At the moment there was a ring at the door.She ran to the door,instead of letting the servant go.It was a porter with my bag. 9.Just as I was coming downstairs again there was another ring at the door.And my mother appeared out of the kitchen,but I was before her,and with a laugh I insisted on opening the front door myself this time.A young woman stood on the step
But I said nothing. I too, was rather nervous. “I’ll tell her at supper,” I decided and went upstairs. 8. At the moment there was a ring at the door. She ran to the door, instead of letting the servant go. It was a porter with my bag. 9.Just as I was coming downstairs again there was another ring at the door. And my mother appeared out of the kitchen, but I was before her, and with a laugh I insisted on opening the front door myself this time. A young woman stood on the step
10."Please,Mrs.Dawson wants to know if Mrs. Durance can kindly lend her half-a-dozen knives and forks?" "Eh,with pleasure,"said my mother,behind me. “Just wait a minute,Lucy.Come inside.” 11.I followed my mother into the drawing-room, in tissue paper,and then went out and gave it to the servant,saying:"There!And the compliments of the season to your mistress,Lucy
10. “Please, Mrs. Dawson wants to know if Mrs. Durance can kindly lend her half-a-dozen knives and forks?” “Eh, with pleasure,” said my mother, behind me. “Just wait a minute, Lucy. Come inside.” 11. I followed my mother into the drawing-room, where she took some silver out of the cabinet, wrapped it in tissue paper, and then went out and gave it to the servant, saying: “There! And the compliments of the season to your mistress, Lucy