In the book, the shopkeeper (say),
«Mr X (be) a nice man, and I (be) very happy to see his friends.»
But our man (say), «I (not/know) him.»
George (look) in his book again and (find) another phrase, «My friend (say) that you (sell) boots here.»
For the first time the man (look) at us. He (begin) to speak getting more and more angry,
«You (think) I (keep) boots to look at them? You (think) I (work) in the shop because I (like) it? What you (think) I (be) – a book collector? You (hear) of a man working in the boot shop and not selling boots? You (think) I (be) an idiot?»
He still (shout) when George (find) the best sentence for the situation and (say),
«I (come) later. Good bye.»
When we (leave) the shop, the man (stand) at the door. He (shout) something that we (not/hear), but people around him (find) it interesting.
Answer the questions:
1. How did George want to use the phrase book?
2. Where did their experiment begin?
3. What made the shopkeeper angry?
4. What was the shopkeeper doing when the friends were leaving the shop?
17. «Three Men on a Bummel» by Jerome K. Jerome
Vocabulary: enemy – враг, irritate – раздражать.
Tenses to use: Present Simple, Past Simple, Past Continuous, Future Simple.
We (get) on the train a minute before it (leave), and I (remember) Uncle Podger. The way from his house to the railway station (take) about eight minutes. My Uncle always (say), «Leave home fifteen minutes before the train, and everything (be) all right.»
What he always (do) (be) to start five minutes before the train and run. I (not/know) why, but it (be) a tradition. Many fat City gentlemen (live) in Ealing in those days and (take) morning trains, and they all (start) late. When we (look) out of the window, they (run) to the station (carry) a black bag and a newspaper in one hand and an umbrella in the other.
My Uncle (not/get) up late. But something always (happen) to him at the last moment.
When he (be) about to leave, he usually (lose) his newspaper.
«I (have) it in my hand a minute ago!» he (exclaim). From his tone you could think that he (be) surrounded by the enemies that (hide) his things just to irritate him.
«You (leave) it in the garden?» my Aunt (ask).
«God bless this woman! I (not/want) a paper in the garden. I (want) it on the train.»
Here somebody (exclaim), «What (be) this?» and (give) him the newspaper. Uncle (open) the bag to put it in, and looking at it, (get) speechless.
