GIR. U4. Commentary p.2
Дата публикации: Sep 19, 2016 6:1:45 PM
see GIR. U4. Liberty Hall by Ring Lardner. p.2
About a quarter to four Mr. Thayer insisted on taking him around the place and showing him the shrubbery.
"I'll have to go to business tomorrow," said Mr. Thayer, "and you will be left to amuse yourself. I thought you might enjoy this planting more if you knew a little about it. Of course it's much prettier in the spring of the year."
"I can imagine so."
"You must come over next spring and see it."
"I'm usually busy in the spring," said Ben.
"Before we go in," said Mr. Thayer, "I'd like to ask you one question: Do tunes come into your mind and then you write them down, or do you just sit at the piano and improvise until you strike something good?"
"Sometimes one way and sometimes the other," said Ben.
"That's very interesting," said Mr. Thayer. "I've often wondered how it was done. And another question: Do you write the tunes first and then give them to the men who write the words, or do the men write the words first and then give them to you to make up the music to them?"
"Sometimes one way and sometimes the other," said Ben.
"That's very interesting," said Mr. Thayer. "It's something I'm glad to know. And now we'd better join the ladies or my wife will say I'm monopolizing you."
They joined us, much to my relief. I had just reached a point where I would either have had to tell "Hilda" (Mrs. Thayer) exactly how much Ben earned per annum or that it was none of her business.
"Well!" said Mrs. Thayer to Ben. "I was afraid Ralph had kidnapped you."
"He was showing me the shrubbery," said Ben.
"What do you think of it?"
"It's great shrubbery," said Ben, striving to put some warmth into his voice.
"You must come and see it in the spring."
"I'm usually busy in the spring."
"Ralph and I are mighty proud of our shrubbery."
"You have a right to be."
Ben was taking a book out of the bookcase.
"What book is that?" asked Mrs. Thayer.
"'The Great Gatsby", said Ben. "I've always wanted to read it but never got around to it."
"Heavens!" said Mrs. Thayer as she took it away from him. "That's old! You'll find the newest ones there on the table. We keep pretty well up to date. Ralph and I are both great readers. Just try any one of those books in that pile. They're all good."
Ben glanced them over and selected "Chevrons." He sat down and opened it.
"Man! Man!" exclaimed Mrs. Thayer. "You've picked the most uncomfortable chair in the house!"
"He likes straight chairs," I said.
"That's on the square," said-Ben.
"But you mustn't sit there," said Mrs. Thayer. "It makes me uncomfortable just to look at you. Take this chair here. It's the softest, nicest chair you've ever sat in."
"I like hard straight chairs," said Ben, but he sank into the soft, nice one and again opened the book.
"Oh, you never can see there!" said Mrs. Thayer. "You'll ruin your eyes! Get up just a minute and let Ralph move your chair by that lamp."
"I can see perfectly well."
"I know better! Ralph, move his chair so he can see."
"I don't believe I want to read just now anyway," said Ben, and went to the phonograph. "Bess," he said, putting on a record, "here's that 'Oh! Miss Hannah!' by the Revelers."
Mrs. Thayer nearly leaped to his side, and herded Miss Hannah back into her stall.
"We've got later ones than that," she said. "Let me play you the new Gershwins."
I won't go into details regarding the dinner except to relate that three separate items were highly flavored with cheese, and Ben despises cheese.
"Don't you care for cheese, Mr. Drake?" asked Mr. Thayer, noticing that Ben was not exactly bolting his food.
"No," replied the guest of honour.
"He's spoofing you, Ralph," said Mrs. Thayer. "Everybody likes cheese."
There was coffee, and Ben managed to guzzle a cup before it was desecrated with pure cream.
We sat down to bridge.
"Do you like to play families or divide up?"
"Oh, we like to play together," said I.
"I'll bet you don't," said Mrs. Thayer. "Suppose Ralph and you play Mr. Drake and me. I think it's a mistake for husbands and wives to be partners. They're likely to criticize one another and say things that leave a scar."
Well, Mr. Thayer and I played against Ben.and:Mrs. Thayer arid I lost sixty cents at a tenth of a cent a point. Long before the evening was over I could readily see why Mrs. Thayer thought it was a mistake to play with her husband and if it had been, possible I'd have left him a complete set of scars.
Just as we were getting to sleep, Mrs. Thayer, knocked on our door.
"I'm afraid you haven't covers enough," she called.
"Thanks," I said. "We're as warm as toast."
"I'm afraid you aren't," said Mrs. Thayer.
"Lock the door," said Ben, "before she comes in and feels our feet."
All through breakfast next morning we waited in vain for the telephone call that would yield Irene's message. The phone rang once and Mrs. Thayer answered, but we couldn't hear what she said. At noon Ben signaled me to meet him upstairs and there he stated grimly that I might do as I choose, but he was leaving Liberty Hall ere another sun had set.
"You haven't any excuse," I reminded him.
"I'm a genius," he said, "and geniuses are notoriously eccentric."
"Geniuses' wives sometimes get eccentric, too," said I and began to pack up.
Mr. Thayer had gone to Philadelphia and we were alone with our hostess at luncheon.
"Mrs. Thayer," said Ben, "do you ever have premonitions or hunches?"
She looked frightened. "Why, no. Do you?"
"I had one not half an hour ago. Something told, me that I positively must be in New York tonight. I don't know whether it's business or illness or what, but I've just got to- be ihere!"
"That's the strangest thing I ever heard of," said Mrs. Thayer. "It scares me to death:"
"It's nothing you need be scared of," said Ben. "It only concerns me."
"Yes, but listen," said Mrs. Thayer. "A telegram came for you at breakfast time this morning. I wasn't going to tell you about it because I had promised that you wouldn't be disturbed. And it didn't seem so terribly important. But this hunch of yours puts the matter in a different light. I'm sorry now that I didn't give you the message when I got it, but I memorized it and can repeat it word for word: 'Mr. Ben Drake, care of Mr. Ralph Thayer, Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, In Nile song, second bar of refrain, bass drum part reads A flat which makes discord. Should it be A natural? Would appreciate your coming to theatre tonight to straighten this out as harmony must be restored in orchestra if troupe is to be success. Regards, Gene Buck.
"It sounds silly, doesn't?" said Ben. "And yet I have known productions to fail and lose hundreds of thousands of dollars just because an author or composer left town too soon. I can well understand that you considered the message trivial. At the same time I can thank my stars that this instinct, or devination, or whatever you' want to call it, told me to go home."
Just as the trainsmen were shouting "Board!" Mrs. Thayer said: "I have one more confession to make. I answered Mr. Buck's telegram. I wired him. "Mr. Ben Drake resting at my home. Must not be bothered. Suggest that you keep bass drums still for a week." And I signed my name. Please forgive me if I have done something terrible. Remember, it was for you."
NOTES
1. ... how much Ben earned per annum
Per annum (Lat.)
The preposition per is a Latin word meaning by, through. It entered the English literary language in combination with certain Latin nouns, e. g.
per annum by the year
per centum by the hundred
per capita by the head
Later per began to be used in English with the meanings by, by means of, through, by the action of, e. g.
per head с головы, на душу
per year в год
per man на человека
per post почтой
per К- Smith через К. Смита
The old Latin word combinations are rarely used today except in legal or official documents.
2. Mr. Drake, care of Mr. Ralph Thayer ...
Care of (c/o) is usually written on letters (telegrams, packages, etc) before the name of the person to whose house (office, etc) a letter (a telegram, etc) to another person is sent.
Mr. Smith c/o Brown & Co. Фирме Браун и Кo для передачи мистеру Смиту.
3. AE vs. BE
AE BE
faucet tap
phonograph record-player
gramophone
favor favour
stay home stay at home
The examples above illustrate some lexical (1), spelling (2) and grammatical (3) peculiarities of American English (AE) as compared with British English (BE).
British and American English are considered to be variants of the same language. They display a number of differences in pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and spelling. But obvious as they are, these differences in no way violate the whole system of the English language.
The differences in pronunciation are of a most systematic character. They immediately identify a speaker as belonging to the one community or to the other, Yet even so, there is no doubt that the phonetic system is essentially identical for the two variants.
The greater proportion of English vocabulary is also common to both variants of English. There are, however, quite a large number of cases in which different words are used in BE and AE to denote similar ideas and objects, e. g.
AE BE
fall autumn
guy chap
sick ill
wheat corn
to guess to think
to telephone to ring
to call
vacation holidays
freshman first year student
Spelling differences are fairly systematic too.
The following list includes examples of the main types of spelling differences.
AE BE
color colour
humor humour
program programme
cigaret cigarette
theater theatre
center centre
traveling travelling
marvelous marvellous
The number of grammatical differences turns out to be rather small. They have to do with some verbal forms, prepositions, articles, e. g.
AE BE
Do you have .,.? (In the meaning "Do you own or possess at this moment?") Have you got ...?
to start work Friday to start work on Friday
He is in the hospital He is in hospital
The examples given above do not cover every possible difference in vocabulary, grammar, spelling between BE and AE. What is important to bear in mind is that these differences are not so numerous and fundamental as to consider British and American English two separate languages. The more so that nowadays the differences are getting fewer due to the extensive penetration of Americanisms into BE and vice versa.
STRUCTURAL PATTERNS
1. Sentences with so that-clauses
move his chair so that he can see
The predicate in adverbial clauses of purpose introduced by the conjunctions so, so that, in order that is generally expressed by can/could + infinitive or may/might + infinitive .
Professor Fox invited Erik to his house so that he could meet the other members of the staff.
Профессор Фокс пригласил Эрика к себе, чтобы тот встретился с другими сотрудниками лаборатории.
He decided to see Dennis home so that they might talk in private.
Он решил проводить Денниса, чтобы поговорить с ним наедине.
Note: In negative sentences should + infinitive is more common.
"I won't invite anyone so that you should not be disturbed," said Mrs. Thayer.
«Я не буду никого приглашать, чтобы вас не беспокоили», - сказала миссис Тейер.
2. This (no, any, which) ... of yours (ours, etc)
... this hunch of yours puts the matter in a different light.
In Modern English a demonstrative (negative,, interrogative, etc) and a possessive pronoun cannot be used together. When they are both needed, the possessive pronoun in its absolute form is placed after the noun and is preceded by the preposition of.
This dog of yours barked all through the night. Эта ваша собака лаяла всю ночь.
This is no fault of his. Это не его вина.
We may also find a noun in the possessive case in place of the possessive pronoun.
I don't like this friend of Allan's. Мне не нравится этот друг Аллана.
Note: The structure this ... of yours, Allan's is often used to lend the phrase negative emotional colouring; it may express irritation, displeasure or dissatisfaction.
This aunt of yours is spying on us. Эта ваша тетка за нами шпионит.
Note: When the indefinite article stands before a noun followed by of + possessive, the phrase has the meaning of one of ... .
I thught he was a friend of your sister. Я думала, он друг вашей сестры (один из друзей).
A neighbour of mine has seen the film. He liked it very much. Один мой сосед видел этот фильм. Он ему очень понравился.
3. Absence of Article in Set Phrases
I memorized it and can repeat it word for word.
In set phrases consisting of noun + prep + noun when the nouns are the same, no article is necessary.
hand in hand держась за руки
arm in arm под руку
day by day изо дня в день
side by side рядом
shoulder to shoulder плечом к плечу
face to face лицом к лицу
see Артикуляция 2016
VOCABULARY
1. ... taking him around the place and showing him his shrubbery.
to take around (a place) - сопровождать, показывать достопримечательности
I'll take him around and then bring him back. Я похожу с ним и все ему покажу, а потом приведу его обратно.
2. ... you will be left to amuse yourself.
"You just think you've got to entertain us!" (See Text 1)
to amuse vt - make time pass pleasantly for - забавлять, развлекать
I know my pictures are not good. But I paint because it amuses me. ... я рисую потому, что получаю удовольствие от этого.
How will you amuse yourself while I'm away? Чем ты будешь заниматься, пока меня не будет?
She amused herself by mimicking Joe to them. Она развлекалась тем, что передразнивала Джо перед ними.
//Syn: to entertain vt - amuse or interest - развлекать, забавлять кого-л. The verb is not frequent in this meaning.//
To entertain is mostly used in the meaning of to receive people as guests; to show hospitality - принимать гостей; оказывать гостеприимство; устраивать приемы (гостей).
We seldom entertain. У нас редко бывают гости.
They liked to entertain. Они гостеприимны. Они очень любят принимать гостей.
They entertained a great deal last year. У них постоянно бывали гости в прошлом году.
3. ... but he sank into the soft, nice chair and again opened the book.
to sink vi - allow oneself to fall - опускаться, падать; (also fig) замереть, упасть, ёкнуть и т. п.
She sank into a chair and burst out crying. Она опустилась (упала) на стул и расплакалась.
His heart sank at the thought of failure. У него замерло (упало, ёкнуло) сердце при мысли о неудаче.
Her spirits (her courage) sank. Она упала духом (мужество покинуло ее).
4. I won't go into details regarding the dinner ... detail n - деталь, подробность
Today's paper gives further details of the accident. Сегодняшняя газета дает дальнейшие подробности происшествия.
to go into details - describe every little thing - вдаваться в подробности
Tell me what happened in a few words. You needn't go into details.Расскажите в нескольких словах, что произошло. Не нужно вдаваться в подробности.
in detail - очень подробно, детально, обстоятельно
Не loves to talk about his travels in great detail.Он очень любит подробно (обстоятельно, детально) рассказывать о своих путешествиях.
5. "Don't you care for cheese, Mr. Drake?"
to care for smb, smth - have a liking, fondness or affection for (usually in neg & inter sentences) - питать интерес, любовь к кому-л., к чему-л.
Do you think she really cares for him? Вы полагаете, она действительно его любит?
If she had cared for him she wouldn't have left him.Если бы она действительно его любила, она бы не оставила его.
I don't care for such books. Я не интересуюсь такими книгами.
to care to do smth - like, wish to do (usu in neg & inter sentences) - хотеть сделать что-л.
Would you care to read this article? Вы хотите прочесть эту статью?
I don't care to hear your excuses. Я не намерен выслушивать ваши извинения.
to care (about) - feel concern, anxiety, or interest, etc (usu in neg & inter sentences, the preposition about is omitted before a clause) - беспокоиться, тревожиться, волноваться, интересоваться, обращать внимание
I don't care much about going there. Мне не так уж хочется туда идти.
I don't care (about) what he thinks about me. Мне безразлично, что он думает обо мне.
He failed in the examination, but he doesn't care. Он провалился на экзамене, но это его не тревожит (трогает).
6. "I'll bet you don't," said Mrs. Thayer.
I'll bet - держу пари, бьюсь об заклад
I'll bet you wouldn't dare to go there alone. Держу пари, вы 'бы не осмелились пойти туда одна!
to bet smb smth. - спорить, держать пари с кем-л. на что-л.
I bet you a bar of chocolate that Tom will win the race. Спорю с тобой на плитку шоколада, что. Том выиграет скачки.
bet n
to make a bet - заключать пари, держать пари
Не made a bet that he would reach the top of the hill before any of the others. Он поспорил (заключил пари), что доберется до вершины холма раньше всех.
Higgins made a bet with Pickering that Eliza would speak perfect English in six months. Хиггинс заключил пари с Пиккерингом, что Элиза будет прекрасно говорить по-английски через шесть месяцев.
to win (lose) a bet - выиграть (проиграть) пари
Не lost his bet. Он проиграл пари.
Higgins had no doubt that he would win the bet. Хиггинс не сомневался, что выиграет пари.
7. "You haven't any excuse," I reminded him.
"Please forgive me if I have done something terrible." excuse n [iks'kju:s, eks'kju:s] - извинение, оправдание
There is no excuse for it. Это непростительно.
That's not much of an excuse. Это не оправдание.
What is your excuse for being late? Чем вы можете объяснить ваше опоздание?
to make (offer) excuses - оправдываться, находить отговорки, оправдания
Не had numerous excuses to offer for being late. У него нашлось много отговорок, чтобы оправдать свое опоздание.
a lame (poor, thin) excuse - слабая, неубедительная отговорка to excuse vt (pardon, overlook) - извинять, прощать
Excuse me for coming late (my coming late). Извините меня за опоздание.
I find it hard to excuse his conduct. Трудно найти оправдание его поведению.
to forgive vt & i - pardon more serious offences, as personal insults, sins, etc - прощать
I'll forgive you this time. Such things are not easily forgiven. На этот раз я вас прощаю. Такие вещи не так легко прощаются.
to forgive smb, smth - прощать кому-л. что-л.
to forgive smb for (doing) smth
She never forgave him the insult. Она так и не простила ему этого оскорбления.
He was forgiven for speaking rudely to his sister. Его простили за то, что он грубо разговаривал с сестрой.
to apologize vi - offer an excuse or say that one is sorry for having dorie something wrong or said something unkind - извиниться, принести извинения
to apologize to smb for (doing) smth - извиниться перед кем-л. за что-л.
Elsie apologized to her teacher for coming to school late. Элси извинилась перед учителем, что опоздала на занятия. .
I must apologize (to you). I forgot to ring you up yesterday, as I had promised.Я должен извиниться (перед вами). Я забыл позвонить вам вчера, как обещал.
If it is necessary for a person to apologize for what he has said or done, he says "Please, excuse me (for) ..." or "I (must) apologize, I didn't mean that." When speaking of the incident later, he or someone else uses only the verb to apologize.