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    Toady's Adventure

    Uploaded by

    Sanvi Singh

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF or read online from Scribd
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    wy a 7 Adventure at Toad Hall Ratty and his neighbour Mole were enjoying the warm sunshine on the river bank Hele ‘So Ratty, when are you going to visit Toady? I’ve heard so much about him, and | do so want to make his acquaintance,’ said Mole. ‘Why, certainly,’ said good-natured Ratty, jumping to his feet. ‘Get the boat out, and we'll paddle up there at once. It’s never the wrong time to call on Toady. Early or late he’s always the same fellow. Always good-tempered, always glad to see you always sorry when you go!’ ‘He must be a very nice animal’ observed Mole, as he got into the boat and took thé Sars, while Ratty settled himself comfortablylin the stern. ‘He is indeed the best of animals, replied Ratty, ‘So simple, so affectionate. Perhaps he’s not very clever—we can’t all be geniuses; and it may be that he is both boastful and conceited. But he has got some gfSat qualities, our Toady’ They came in sight of a handsome, dignified old house of mellowed red brick, with well-kept lawns reaching down to the water's edge. ‘There's Toad Hall,’ said Ratty; ‘and that creek. the left, where the notice-board says/“Private. 3 9g allowed, leads to his Boat? tEHOUSE, Whére, viLleave the b oat Toady is rich, you know, and” is 1S s really one of the nicest houses in these parts, though we never admit as much to Toady. > Ake They glided up the creek, and Mole shipped his oars as they passed int into the shadow of a large boat-house. Here they saw many handsome boats turned upside down but none in the water; the cS had an unused ¢ and deserted air about it., z Ratty looked around him. ‘He seems tired of ~ boating. (wonder what new fad he has taken up now. Come along and let's look him up. We shall _ hear all about it soon enough.’ nbarked, and strolled across the gay lawns in search of Toady, whom they Ir garden-chair, a large his knees, while he traced a anlar, Kelty ping up on seeing then them, ‘this é of fthem F Tad > be veoncei ted. j thinga mote > waded sobty « the fore holon (ure fur Toody Hot be wok beads, warmly, not waiting for an introduction to Mole. ‘How KIND of you to come!’ he went on, dancing round them. ‘I was just going to send a boat down the river for you, Ratty, with strict orders that you were to be fetched up here at once, whatever you were doing. | want you badly—both of you. Now what will you take? Come inside and have something! You don’t know how lucky it is, your turning up just now! ‘Let's sit a bit, Toady!’ said Ratty, throwing himself into an easy chair, while Mole took another by the side of him and made some civil remark about _ Toady’s ‘delightfu | residence.” ‘Finest house on the whole river,’ cried Toady boisterousiy. ‘Or anywhere else, for that matter, he could not help adding. Ratty nudged Mole. Unfortunately Toady saw him do it, and turned very red. There was a moment's ' silence. Then Toady burst out laughing. ‘All righ Ratty,’ he said. ‘It’s only my way, you know. S not such a very bad house, is it? You know ike it yourself. Now, look here. Let’s be Toady, in great I've given that up occupation for a life time. Come with me dear Ratty, and your amiable friend also,4f he will be so very good) just as far as the yard, and you shall see what “you shall see!’ He led the way to the yard accordingly, Ratty following with a most mistrustful expression; and there in the open, they saw a gipsy caravan, shining with newness, painted a canary-yellow with green and red wheels. ‘There you are!’ cried Toady swelling with pride. ‘There’s real life for you, embodied in that little cart. The open road, the dusty highway, the rolling downs! Camps, villages, towns, cities! Here to-day, up and Off to somewhere else to-morrow! Travel, change, interest, excitement! The whole world before you, and.c-horizon.that’s always changing! And mind! a. . This is the very finest cart of its kind that was ever built, without any exception. Come inside and look at the arrangements. Planned ’em all myself, | diar Mole was tremendously interested and excited, and followed him eagerly up the steps and into the interior of the caravan. Ratty only snorted and \ thrust his hands deep into his pockets, remaining 4 where he was. | | It was indeed very compact and comfortable. Little sleeping bunks—a little table that folded up against the wall—a cooking-stove, cabinets, bookshelves, a bird-cage with a bird in it; and pots, pans, jugs, and kettles of every size and variety. ‘All complete! said Toady triumphantly, pulling Open a cabinet. ‘You see—biscuits, fish, jam, butter— everything you can possibly want. Letter-paper, cards, and dominoes,’ he continued, as they scended the steps, ‘you'll find that nothing latever has been forgotten, when we make our this afternoon’ J your pardon,’ said Ratty slowly, as he chewed straw, ‘but did | overhear you say something “WE,” and “START,” and “THIS AFTERNOON", ‘ am ae you dear old Ratty,’ said Toady, on iim on’t ause you know you've GOT Manage without you, sO d don’t argue—it’s the x rely don’t mean to Iver all your life, and just ed live in a hole in a bank, and BOAT? | want to show you the world!’ ‘| don’t care, said Ratty, doggedly. ‘I’m not coming, and that’s flat. And | AM going to stick to my old river, AND live in a hole, AND boat, as I’ve always my done. And what’s more, Mole’s going to stick to me , and do as | do, aren't you, Mole?’ . ‘Of course | am,’ said Mole, loyally. ‘Ill always stick to you, Ratty, and what you say is to be—has got to be. All the same, it sounds as if it might have been— well, rather fun, you know! he added, wistfully. Poor Mole! The prospect was so new a thing to him, and so thrilling; and the canary-coloured cart and all its little fitments sent his imagination soaring. _ Ratty saw what was passing in his mind, and wavered. He hated disappointing people, and he was fond of Mole, and would do almost anything to oblige him. long in, and have some lunch, he said, atically, ‘and we'll talk it over. We meecr phant Toady led his at the reigns, for off leisurely, sasant conversation about the possible adventures that awaited them. About a mile down the road Mole cocked his head Qs if listening for something. ‘What's that sound,’ he asked. From far in the distance they could hear a sound that was much like the droning of bees. Glancing back, they saw a small cloud of dust, advancing on them at incredible speed. A faint “Poop-; f wailed like an uneasy animal in pain. Disregarding it, they turned to resume their Conversation, when in an instant the peaceful scene was changed. With a blast of wind anda whirl of sound, it was on them! The startled occupants jumped out of the caravan in haste, while the ‘Poop- gy ee rang with a brazen shout in their ears, and eet magnificent motor-car, with its pilot tense and a. the wheel, flung an enveloping cloud of 4 etwas blinded and enwrapped them utterly, and © then dwindled to o speck in.the.distance The old grey,ho horse, in a new situation such as this, simply abandoned himself to his fear. Rearing, : plunging, b backing steadily, in spite of Ratty’s efforts . to cally n him, he drove the cart backwards towards | t, their ide and thet jou, h, an irredeemable wreck. dream cart—the embodiment of adventure —lay shattered in the dust. Abridged from The Wind in the Willows by Kennet GraHame Know the author Kenneth Grahame (1859-1932) was a Scottish writer, most famous as the author of The Wind in the Willows, aclassic children’s novel. He also wrote ‘The Reluctant Dragon’. Both books were later adapted into Disney films. Glossary d (verb): got out of a vehicle or craft (adverb): with noisy excitement Understand and answer is 1. Mark the following statements true (T) or false (F). Q) Toady was a famous person in the eighbourhood. M4 Y agreed to Mole’s request because ime was the right time to visit Toady. was known to be very clever and i ASD. Ra ally nudged Vile a ices? Ubi d) Toady had the finest residence in the Ses). neighbourhood. Oriel Rens [A* e) Toady had a board put up to pic ouicos. vi visitors. ~ com ho © ana ae Pa 5» Aided wt ovy! fe ‘ : 5. phx as,. 2. el ont questions. F aha dg coenytions es metetoy What did-Ratty Eonctee ‘pecause Toddy’s place ‘ - « had_a deserted and unused air about ite What r does this tell you about Ratty? ""! we 2 ea b) How did Toady respond when he saw his visitors? s* i rEnte) When and why did Ratty, ‘nudge’ Mole? ; eo) od) What do you think Toady meant when hé said a ‘It’s only my way, you know’? fac hot a "0 .e) What was the ‘new fad” Toady introduced them to?, Se ca ..« f) What made Toady feel ‘triumphant’, when he led eherG his companions to the cart? ity __ 3. Find words in the text for the meanings given below. me a) become familiar with (page 34) linn b) the back part of a boat (page 34) €) moved very smoothly (page 35) «ax* ‘ 1) friendly (page 37) Raltoh,. + ag to request earnestly (page 38) }« became less gradually (page 20) ee , Oe One’s personality with the text. What aspects ) you like best? __ tl B) Coromandel Fishers ., J r a 1 sep ~ ' ; Rise, brothers rise: the wakening skies-pray to the = morning light, The wind lies‘asleep in the arms of the dawn likea . : child that has cried all night. t Come, let us gather our nets from the shore and set our catamarans free, * To capture the leaping wealth of the tide, for we are 1 the kings of the sea! hot wa ? te Ky ca No longer delay, let us hasten away in the track of the sea gull’s call, The sea is our mother, the cloud is our brother, the * waves are our. comrades all. What though we toss at the fall of the’ sun where the/ shand of the sea-god drives? us (ane vw Margot 4 /Hewhoholds the storm by the hair, will hide inthis eT breast our lives. i "4 And sweétiare-the-sands at the full o’ the moon with the sound of the voices we love; But sweeter, O brothers, the kiss of the spray and uv the dance of the wild foam’s glee; Row; ‘brothersprow to the edge of the verge; where ‘the low sky mates with the sea. aang SaroJini Naipu Know the author F<: Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was an Indian poet-writer and political leader. She was the first Indian woman to be president of the Indian National Congress and to be appointed the governor of an Indian state. She is sometimes referred to as ‘the Nightingale of India’ i F Glossary ol eS fi ei i OV th Marans (noun): fishing boats des (oun): fellow workers y (noun): Open space between trees Y: a border Caw Understand and answer - 14. Complete these statements based on your understanding of the text. a) The fishermen call out to each other to “4+ 7 ‘ b) The presence of helps the fishermen to find fish. » ¢) The fishermen will not be harmed because ‘teh Gragg ith thes, 2. Answer these questions. Q) Pick out a sentence that shows the morning is Sil and calm. } 4 ¢ b) In what way are the fishermen the ‘kings of the ‘ sea’? 247 j eff, na £ ©) Which line suggests that the fishermen know the ee? sea like they know their own family? d) Why are the fishermen confident that ee will be protected? ag # soy f ie e) When would the shore become beautiful? ae they t Think and appreciate fm The poet has used a lot of imagery or word pictures to help the reader create a visual image of the scenic beauty of the Coromandel shore at the break of dawn. ie andifstonped b byo a little. river-side inn, for q rest, and other things. «« : We went into the parlour and sat down. There was an old fellow w there smoking a long clay pipe, and we naturally began. chatting. 7 - As it turned out, we were all strangers in the neighbourhood and going away the next morning after a leisurely weekend. A pause ensued in the conversation, during which Our eyes wandered round the room. They finally rested upon a dusty old glass-case, fixed very high a, wv nage : up above the chimney- piece, and containing a trout it rather fascinated fhe, that trout; it was such a “monstrous | fish, In fact, at first glance, | thought it was a cod,’ ‘Ah!’ said the old gentleman, following the direction of my gaze, ‘fine fellow that isn't he?’ puURcOMMON,’ | murmured; and George asked the old man how much he thought it weighed ‘Eighteen pounds six ounces,’ said our friend, rising and taking down his coat. ‘Yes,’ he continued, ‘it was Sixteen years ago, that | landed him. | caught him just below the bridge with a minindw. You don’t see Many fish that size about here now, I’m sure. Well, it's getting late for me gentlemen, good-night.’ He went out and we: were left alone in the room, We could not take our eyes off the fish—it really was a remarkably fine fish. We were still looking at it, when the local carrier, who had just stopped at the inn, came to the door of the room with a mug of tea in his hand, and he also looked at the fish. ‘Good-sized trout that is,’ said George, turning round fom — 5 on ‘Ah! You may well say that, sir,’ replied the man; and then, after a gulp of his tea, he added, ‘Maybe you weren't here, sir, when that fish was caught?’ ‘No,’ we told him. ‘We are strangers in the neighbourhood.’ ‘Ah!’ said the carrier, ‘then, of course, how should you? It was nearly five years ago that | caught that trout’ shal Fuses thea: Ardiqe, % voeit - ‘Oh! Was it you who uae it, then?’ said |. ‘Yes, sir,’ replied the génial fellow. ‘| caught him just below the lock one Friday afternoon; and the remarkable thing about it is that | caught him with a fishhook. I'd gone out fishing, mind you, never, thinking of a trout, and when | saw that whopper on the end of my line, | was really taken aback, Well, u_see, he weighed twenty-six pounds. | better be goingeld Harry is waiting for his poultry. Good- night, gentlemen, good-night.’ Five minutes afterwards, a third man came in, and described how he had caught it early one morning, and then he left, and a stolid, solemn-looking, middle-aged individual came in, and sat down over by the window. None of us spoke for a while; but, at length, George turned to the newcomer, and said: ‘| beg your pardon, | hope you will forgive the liberty that we—perfect strangers in the neighbourhood— are taking, but my friend here and muself would be much obliged if you would tell us how you caught that trout up there.’ ‘Why, who told you | caught that trout!’ was the surprised query. We said that nobody had told us so, but we felt instinctively that it was he who had done It. Il it's a most remarkable thing—most able, answered the stolid stranger, laughing; | , AS G matter of fact, you are quite right. | | : / “oO Mem rr ~catenlad « theud did catch it. But fancy your guessing it like that, tt really is a most remarkable thing. Id us how it had taken 1 then he went on, and to! Pec an hour to land it, and how it had broken ‘His fod. He said he had weighed it carefully when he ‘reached home, and it had turned the scale at thirty- four pounds. i He went in his turn, and when he was gone, the | landlord came in to us. We told him the various | histories we had heard about his trout, and he was immensely amused, and we all laughed very heartily. Hah WAKE Bondy boot! ‘Fancy viftrand Joe anes Jones and old Billyall | @> "telling you that they had caught it. Ha! Ha! Hal Well, | TP that is-good,’ said the honest old fellow, laughing heartily. ‘Yes, they are the sort to give it to me, to put up in my parlour, if they had caught it, they are!’ he roared with laughter...» hing j | ** ‘And then he told us the real history of the fish. It seemed that he had ca ht it, himself, years ago, : when he was quite offs; by any art or skill, but at by that unaccountable luck that Appears to always wait upon a boy when he plays*truant from school, and goes out fishing on a sun ly afternoon, with a bt of string tied on to the / He said that brin ing that trout had saved 19,and that even his school- had said i Was an incredible catch. this point, and upon the fish. d of a tree. ate F as an astonishing trout. The more wercotes €d at , the more we marvelled at it. ‘tt excited George so much that he cli a q climbed back of a chair to get a better view of it Up on the _ And then the chair slipped. George clutched wild| t the trout-case to save himself, and down it ae with a crash, George and the chair on top of it. E eP a You haven't injured the fish, have you?'Téried in alarm, rushing up. ‘|hope not, said George, rising cautiously and ae looking about. But he had. That trout lay utterly shattered in a thousand fragments of white shimmery pieces! haps there lay nine hundred and ninety-nine, but n't bother to count. “Kxctyeuctin _ We thought it strange and unaccountable that a fed trout should break up into little pieces so it would have been strange and ountable, if it had been a stuffed trout, but it ‘out was plaster-of-Paris. An extract from Three Men ina Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) by Jerome K. JEROME (1859-1927) was an English whose humorous style made him “His books The idle Thoughts aw em as for & “yy of an Idle Fellow and Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) achieved great success and were translated into many languages. Glossary uy Es p): happened after or as a result of another event ‘ in): a very small freshwater fish tive): friendly and cheerful 1 section of a canal closed off with gates where | can be raised or lowered to allow boats to pass in): something that is very big for its type (phrase): shocked or surprised tive): a calm person, not showing any emotion, Understand and answer “93 1. Mark the statements true (T) or false (F). Q) The writer and his friend were on a tour. a b) The inn was famous for the fish it served, F ©) The second man said he caught the fish below the bridge. F d) Five people claimed to have caught the fish in the showcase, 4 €) All of them told the same story. Pe i ale : ate landlord amazed at the four stories? is story about the trout? d words and expressions in the text to match thi __meanings given below. 7 a) natural ability to understand without being told aie p) to find something very funny shibiroim g = ©) going out of the school q without permission d) small pieces Lit psy i aber Think and appreciate ces) irony is the use of words that say the opposite of what they really mean, often as a joke. Satire is a way of criticizing a person or an idea by using imour to show their faults or weaknesses. is a form of satire. y Jim, Joe, Jack and Billy telling you they had e landlord definitely means the opposite of what in the second line—they are not the sort who will ory, what impression do you get of human weakness is the author The Two Friends 6D A Spider and a Centipede went out to take a walk: The Centipede said frankly, ‘I will listen while you talk, But | may pppecr distracted, or assume a vacdfit Sere at. 4 7 Because sep my feet in Step requires my constant care,’ po» te many Loos _SeIgARE Spier.” | appreciate your most peculiar ‘¢ case, And your feet must be quite handy when you want toPOaraee; oll: But though you gain in some ways, in some other Ways you lose, But now I'll say good-morning; for, my friend, | haye to stop To get my boots blacked"neatly at this little boot. black’s shop; And, as you may imagine, it will keep me here some time, But, what is worse, I'll have to pay him many a hard. earned dime.’ ioe sh sa The Spider said good-morning, and pursued his way alone, And as he went he murmured, in a thoughtful undertone: 2 aim a happy little Spider, and I'm very glad indeed, e That! was born an octoped and not a centipede!’ CAROLYN WeLLs Carolyn Wells (1862-1942) was an American writer remembered largely for her popular mysteries, children’s books, and humorous verse. Glossary Understand and answer es 4. Answer these questions. a) Why did the centipede offer to be the listener in the conversation? “4! ° “° ib b) Who spoke more—the spider or the centipede? “"".. « ¢) Why did the centipede sigh heavily at the mention Bienes? bur he hawt OT hand »taduuel Moni ole obo hove bo d) List the things that make the centipede’s life difficult. e) Why would the centipede take a long time to have his boots polished? f) Why does being an octoped make the spider Happy? eee Q) Write three different questions for this answer: Because he had a hundred feet! a 2. Choose the options that best explain the idioms from the poem. a) You gain in some ways; in some ways you lose i) You can’t always win. A0’You will have advantages and disadvantages. iii) Your loss will be more than your gain. b) | put my best foot forward ____ i) used the most healthy leg used the prettiest leg aved very well one foot in the grave D do work as a grave digger become old, weak, and likely to die soon i) sit near a grave with one foot hanging down wo expressions (in stanzas 1 and 4) that bk n walk or dance toa beat or rhythm. Saget ™ ft SE Pukey deat ‘some words you can use with the prefix oto. Think and appreciate .- my is the humorous use of a word in such a way [© meanings can be drawn from the word or lent; it’s beneath me. | Was @ hair-raising | The Model Millienaire Hughie Erskine was wonderfully good-looking, with his crisp brown hair, clear-cut profile, and grey eves. He was as popular with men as he was with women and he had every accomplishment to boast of, except that of making money. He had tried everything—the Stock Exchange, tea trading, wine trading but business was too dry. Ultimately he became nothing, just a delightful young man with a perfect profile and no profession. To make matters worse, he was in love. The girl he loved was Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired ./; Colonel who had lost his temper and his digestion in India, and had never found either of them again. | Laura adored Hughie, and he was ready to kiss her shoe-strings. They were the handsomest couple in London, and no money between them. The Colonel ! was very fond of Hughie, byt would not hear of om engagement. ren ‘ts pn fogged” ‘Come to me, my boy, when you have got ten thousand pounds of your own, and we will see about it,” he used to say. Hughie looked very glum in gaorning on his way to Holland Park, where the lived, he dropped in to see a great friend of Trevor. Trevor was a painter. Personally he e rough fellow, with a freckled face and beard. However, when he took up the brush he was a real master, and his pictures were eagerly sought after. _—— When Hughie came in he found Trevor putting the finishing touches to a wonderful life-size picture of a beggar-man. The beggar himself was standing ona raised platform in a corner of the studio. Bs, Pile was a wizened old man, with a face like wrinkled parchment, and a most piteous expression. Over his shoulders was flung a coarse brown cloak, all tears and tatters; his thick boots were patched and bbled“and with one hand he leant on a rough. stick, while with the other he held out his battered hot for aime, ‘what an amazing modell’ whispered Hughie, as he shook hands with his friend. azing-medel” shouted Trevor at the top of joice; ‘Tsfiould think Sor Such beggars as he are not to be met with every day, My stars! What an etching Rembrandt would have made of him!’ “Poor old chap!’ said Hughie, ‘How miserable he looks! But | suppose, to you painters, his face is beth Yo rooted, poster Eee ‘Certainly, replied Trevor, ‘you don’t want a beggar $s to look happy, do you” ‘How much does a model get for sitting?’ asked Hughie, as he found himself a comfortable seat on _ adivan. 4 shilling an hour’ [how much do you get for your picture, Alan?’ ould have a percentage,’ “4 work quite as hard as ‘Nonsense, nonsense! Why, look at the trouble of pe laying on, the paint alone, and standing all day long °°" » at one’s 6aséil It’s all very well, Hughie, for you to talk, but | assure you that there are moments when Art almost attains to the dignity of rnanual labour. But you mustn't chatter; I'm very busy. Have a | coffee, and keep quiet’ After some time the servant carne in, and told Trevor that the frame maker wanted to speak to hirn ‘Don't run away, Hughie,’ he said, as he went out, ‘ will be back in a moment,’ The old beggar-rman took advantage of Trevor's absence to rest for a mornent on a wooden bench that was behind him, He looked so forlorn and wretched that Hughie could not help pitying him, and felt in his pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a Sovereign and some coins of Il value, ‘Poor old fellow,’ he thought to himself, he wants it more than | do, but it means carriages © ortnight’; and he walked across the studio and | the sovereign into the beggar’s hand. MAN started, and a faint smile flitted across d lips. ‘Thank you, sir’ he said, ‘thank you.’ or arrived, and Hughie took his leave, little at what he had done. He spent the Ira, Gc ‘a'char hin Scolding for his 3d to walk home. That night he -lub about nine o'clock, and the room sipping yp “well, Alan, did you get the picture finished all right?” he said, as he lowered himself into an armchair. “Finished and framed, my boy! answered Trevor; ‘and, by-the-bye, you have made a conquest. That old model you saw is quite devoted to you. | had to tell him all about you—who you are, where you live, what your income is, what prospects you have—’ ‘My dear Alan, cried Hughie, ‘| shall probably find him waiting for me when | go home. But of course you're only joking. Poor old wretch! | wish | could do something for him. | think it is dreadful that any one should be so miserable. | have got heaps of old clothes at home—do you think he would care for ony of them? er rags eT oa wouldn't paint him in a dress tbat for Spetaina! What you call rags | call romance. What seems poverty to you, is picturesqueness to me. However, lll tell him of your offer’ ‘Alan, said Hughie seriously, ‘you painters are a heartless lot.’ ___‘Anartist’s heart is fis head, replied Trevor; ‘and, besides, our business is to reveal ‘the world as we See it, not to reform it as we know it. And now tell me, how’s Laura. The old model was quite interested In to say you talked to him about mapr slink ows all about the relentless and the 10,000 pounds. a gar all my private affairs! How hie, looking very red and angry, “My dear boy,’ said Trevor, smiling, ‘that old beggar, Os you call him, is one of the richest men in Europe, He could buy all London to-morrow without Overdrawing his account. He has a house in every Capital, dines off gold crockery, and can prevent Russia going to war when he chooses,’ ‘You told that old beg Could you?’ cried Hug ‘What on earth do you mean?’ exclaimed Hughie, ‘What | Say,’ said Tr €vor. ‘The old man YOu saw to- day in the studio w ‘as Baron Hausberg. He is a great S all my pictures and that sort of O9s, Or perhaps | should Say in my rags; they are an old Suit | got in Spain, ‘Baron Hausberg!’ Cried Hughie, ‘Good heavens! I gave hima Sovereign! and he sank into his armchair the picture of dismay. vil 4 aA “Gave him a sovereign!’ into a roar of laughter. see it again’ ‘I think you might have told sulkily, ‘and not have let me NYSElE Seine shouted Trevor, and he burst ‘My dear boy, you'll never me, Alan,’ said Hughie make such a fool of with, Hughie,’ said Trevor, ‘it never d that you went about distributing °S Way. | can understand your but your giving a sovereign =, NO! Besides, when you Je, wh te came in | didn’t know whether Hausberg would like his name mentioned. You know he wasn’t in full dress.” ‘What a duffer he must think mel’ said Hughie. ‘Not at all! He was in the h ighest spirits after you left; kept chuckling to himself and rubbing his old wrinkled hands together. | couldn’t make out why he was so interested to know all about you; but | see it all now. He'll invest your s Overeign for you, Hughie, My You the interest every six months, and have a to tell after dinner’ ‘Tam an unlucky devil; growled Hughie. ‘The best thing | can do is to go to bed; and, my dear Alan, You mustn't tell anyone. | shouldn't dare show my fdcein the Row? = 4 ps ‘Nonsense! It reflects the highest credit on your philanthropic spirit, Hughie. And don’t run away. Have a latte, and you can talk about Laura as much as you like.’ However, Hughie wouldn't stay, but walked home, feeling very unhappy, an of laughter. d leaving Alan Trevor in fits The next morning, at breakfast, the servant brought him up a card on which was written, ‘Monsieur Gustave Naudin, on behalf of M. le Baron Hausberg.’ re —— Prone Huy i “Tsuppose-he has come form Gpology, said Hughie to himself: and he told th visitor up. hair came into the room, @ servant to show the An old gentleman with gold spectacles and grey and said, in a slight French accent, ‘Have | the honour of addressing Monsieur Erskine?’ Hughie bowed. ~‘¢ ‘| have come from Baron Hausberg,’ he continued ‘The Baron—’ ‘| beg, sir, that you will offer him my sincerest apologies,’ stammered Hughie. ‘The Baron,’ said the old gentleman with a smile, ‘has commissioned me to bring you this letter’; and he extended a sealed envelope. On the outside was written, ‘A wedding present to Hugh Erskine and Laura Merton, from an old beggar,’ and inside was a cheque for 10,000 pounds. When they were married Alan Trevor was the best man, and the Baron made a speech at the wedding breakfast. oe ai “Millionaire models, remarked Alan, ‘are rare enough; but believe me, model millionaires are rarer still! Oscar WILDE Know the author Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet and dramatist. He authored one novel and several comic stories, and lectured on many topics of arts and beauty Glossary ‘accomplishment (noun): achievement glum (adjective): sad, quiet, and unhappy « wizened (adjective): old and wrinkled parchment (noun): material made from the skin of a sheep or Gost, used in the past for writing on etching (noun): a picture painted from a metal plate with a design cut into it Rembrandt (noun): a very famous seventeenth century Dutch Painter and etcher forlorn (adjective): sad and lonely withered (adjective): dried up philanthropic (adjective): generous towards hi umanity, very charitable : Understand and answer fm ” oe And as Bun night 9 grew dearer,’ : ~‘Adown nthe g glen ‘rode ‘armed: men, ae thei te trampling sounded rae Pabe op aero the lady ¢r cries, — ‘Though terpests round us gather; tov» Pll meet the radi fig 0 of the Kies) \ But not an angry father’— ay! ” es mn ShacThe boat has left a ‘stormy ‘land hora Meu wrath Shy A _Astormy seo before hers When, O! Too strong for eG hand, The eorest val d o’er fer. His wrath was changed to watling. paar shark tot stron bury coy de ti For, sore dismay’d through storm eae Shade, ‘His child | he did discover— we Wy ory One lovely hand she cic for aid, And one was rouftd her lover eer /come back! he cried in grief Birger inven

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