1 IT WAS on the ebook counter within the division retailer that John Harcourt, the coed, caught a glimpse of his father. At first he couldn’t make sure within the crowd that pushed alongside the aisle, however there was one thing in regards to the shade of the again of the aged man’s neck, one thing in regards to the light felt hat, that he knew very properly. Harcourt was standing with the woman he beloved, shopping for a ebook for her. All afternoon he had been speaking to her, eagerly, however with an anxious diffidence, as if there nonetheless remained in him an harmless marvel that she must be delighted to be with him.
From beneath her wide-brimmed straw hat, her face, so truthful and superbly sturdy with its expression of cool independence, saved turning as much as him and typically smiled at what he stated. That was the best way they at all times talked, by no means daring to indicate a lot full, sturdy feeling. Harcourt had simply purchased the ebook, and had reached into his pocket for the cash with a free, prepared gesture to make it seem that he was accustomed to purchasing books for younger girls, when the white-haired man within the light felt hat, on the different finish of the counter, turned half-toward him, and Harcourt knew he was standing just a few ft away from his father.
2 The younger man’s simple phrases trailed away and his voice turned little greater than a whisper, as if he have been afraid that everybody within the retailer would possibly acknowledge it. There was rising in him a dreadful uneasiness; one thing very valuable that he wished to carry appeared near destruction. His father, standing on the finish of the cut price counter, was planted squarely on his two ft, turning a ebook over thoughtfully in his palms. Then he took out his glasses from an previous, worn leather-based case and adjusted them on the top of his nostril, wanting down over them on the ebook. His coat was thrown open, two buttons on his vest have been undone, his hair was too lengthy, and in his moderately shabby garments he regarded very very similar to a workingman, a carpenter maybe. Such a resentment rose in younger Harcourt that he wished to cry out bitterly, “Why does he costume as if he by no means owned a good swimsuit in his life? He doesn’t care what the entire world thinks of him. He by no means did. I’ve informed him 100 instances he should put on his good garments when he goes out. Mom’s informed him the identical factor. He simply laughs. And now Grace may even see him. Grace will meet him.”
three So younger Harcourt stood nonetheless, along with his head down, feeling that one thing very painful was impending. As soon as he regarded anxiously at Grace, who had turned to the cut price counter. Amongst these individuals drifting aimlessly by with sizzling crimson faces, getting in one another’s method, utilizing their elbows however preserving their faces indifferent and wood, she regarded tall and splendidly alone. She was so positive of herself, her relation to the individuals within the aisles, the clerks behind the counters, the books on the cabinets, and every part round her. Nonetheless preserving his head down and transferring shut, he whispered uneasily, “Let’s go and have tea someplace, Grace.” four 5 6 7 eight 9 “In a minute, expensive,” she stated. “Let’s go now.” “In only a minute, expensive,” she repeated absently. “There’s not a breath of air in right here. Let’s go now.” “What makes you so impatient?” “There’s nothing however previous books on that counter.”
10 “There could also be one thing right here I’ve wished all my life,” she stated, smiling at him brightly and never noticing the uneasiness in his face. 11 So Harcourt needed to transfer slowly behind her, getting nearer to his father on a regular basis. He might really feel the area that separated them narrowing. As soon as he regarded up with a imprecise, sidelong look. However his father, red-faced and completely satisfied, was nonetheless studying the ebook, solely now there was a meditative expression on his face, as if one thing within the ebook had stirred him and he supposed to remain there studying for a while. 12 Previous Harcourt had plenty of time to amuse himself, as a result of he was on a pension after working arduous all his life. He had despatched John to the college and he was desirous to have him distinguish himself. Each evening when John got here residence, whether or not it was early or late, he used to enter his father and mom’s bed room and activate the sunshine and speak to them in regards to the attention-grabbing issues that had occurred to him through the day.
They listened and shared this new world with him. They each sat up of their evening garments and, whereas his mom requested all of the questions, his father listened attentively along with his head cocked on one aspect and a smile or a frown on his face. The reminiscence of all this was in John now, and there was additionally a determined longing and a ache inside him rising tougher to bear as he glanced fearfully at his father, however he thought stubbornly, “I can’t introduce him. It’ll be simpler for everyone if he doesn’t see us. I’m not ashamed. However will probably be simpler. It’ll be extra smart. It’ll solely embarrass him to see Grace.” By this time he knew he was ashamed, however he felt that his shamewas justified, for Grace’s father had the graceful, assured method of a person who had lived all his life amongst individuals who have been wealthy and positive of themselves.
Usually when he had been in Grace’s residence speaking politely to her mom, John had saved on pondering of the plainness of his own residence and of his dad and mom’ laughing, good-natured untidiness, and he resolved desperately that he should make Grace’s individuals admire him. 13 He regarded up cautiously, for they have been about eight ft away from his father, however at that second his father, too, regarded up and John’s look shifted swiftly far over the aisle, over the counters, seeing nothing.
As his father’s blue, calm eyes stared steadily over the glasses, there was an on the spot when their glances may need met. Neither one might have been sure, but John, as he turned away and commenced to speak hurriedly to Grace, knew absolutely that his father had seen him. He knew it by the regular calmness in his father’s blue eyes. John’s disgrace grew, after which humiliation sickened him as he waited and did nothing. 14 His father turned away, taking place the aisle, strolling erectly in his shabby garments, his shoulders very straight, by no means as soon as wanting again. His father would stroll slowly down the road, he knew, with that meditative expression deepening and changing into grave.
15 Younger Harcourt stood beside Grace, brushing towards her mushy shoulder, and made faintly conscious once more of the fragile scent she used. There, so shut beside him, she was holding inside her every part he wished to achieve out for, solely now he felt a pointy hostility that made him sullen and silent. 16 “You have been proper, John,” she was drawling in her mushy voice. “It does get insufferable in right here on a sizzling day. Do let’s go now. Have you ever ever seen that department shops after a time could make you actually hate individuals?” However she smiled when she spoke, so he would possibly see that she actually hated nobody. 17 18 “You don’t like individuals, do you?” he stated sharply. “Folks? What individuals? What do you imply?”
19 “I imply,” he went on irritably, “you don’t just like the type of individuals you stumble upon right here, for instance.” 20 “Not particularly. Who does? What are you speaking about?”
21 “Anyone might see you don’t,” he stated recklessly, filled with a savage eagerness to harm her. “I say you don’t like easy, sincere individuals, the type of individuals you meet everywhere in the metropolis.” He blurted the phrases out as if he wished to shake her, however he was longing to say, “You wouldn’t like my household. Why couldn’t I take you residence to have dinner with them? You’d flip up your nostril at them, as a result of they’ve no pretensions. As quickly as my father noticed you, he knew you wouldn’t wish to meet him. I might inform by the best way he turned.” 22 His father was on his method residence now, he knew, and that night at dinner they might meet. His mom and sister would speak quickly, however his father would say nothing to him, or to anybody. There would solely be Harcourt’s reminiscence of the extent look within the blue eyes, and the information of his father’s ache as he walked away.
23 Grace watched John’s gloomy face as they walked by means of the shop, and he or she knew he was nursing some non-public rage, and so her personal resentment and exasperation saved rising, and he or she stated crisply, “You’re entitled to your moods on a sizzling afternoon, I suppose, but when I really feel I don’t prefer it right here, then I don’t prefer it. You wished to go your self. Who likes to spend very a lot time in a division retailer on a sizzling afternoon? I start to hate each silly individual that bangs into me, all people close to me. What does that make me?” 24 25 “It makes you a snob.” “So I’m a snob now?” she requested angrily.
26 “Actually you’re a snob,” he stated. They have been on the door and going out to the road. As they walked within the daylight, within the crowd transferring slowly down the road, he was groping for phrases to explain the key ideas he had at all times had about her. “I’ve at all times identified the way you’d really feel about individuals I like who didn’t match into your non-public world,” he stated. “You’re a really silly particular person,” she stated. Her face was flushed now, and it was arduous for her to 27 specific her indignation, so she stared straight forward as she walked alongside. 28 That they had by no means talked on this method, and now they have been each rapidly keen to harm one another. With a move of phrases, she began to argue with him, then she checked herself and stated calmly, “Pay attention, John, I think about you’re bored with my firm. There’s no sense in having tea collectively. I believe I’d higher depart you proper right here.” 29 30 31 “That’s wonderful,” he stated. “Good afternoon.” “Good-by.” “Good-by.”
32 She began to go, she had gone two paces, however he reached out desperately and held her arm, and he was frightened, and pleading, “Please don’t go, Grace.”
33 All of the anger and irritation had left him; there was only a determined anxiousness in his voice as he pleaded, “Please forgive me. I’ve no proper to speak to you want that. I don’t know why I’m so impolite or what’s the matter. I’m ridiculous. I’m very, very ridiculous. Please, you should forgive me. Don’t depart me.” 34 He had by no means talked to her so brokenly, and his sincerity, the depth of his feeling, started to stir her. Whereas she listened, feeling all of the craving in him, they appeared to have been introduced nearer collectively, by opposing one another, than ever earlier than, and he or she started to really feel virtually shy. “I don’t know what’s the matter. I suppose we’re each irritable. It should be the climate,” she stated. “However I’m not indignant, John.”
35 He nodded his head miserably. He longed to inform her that he was positive she would have been charming to his father, however he had by no means felt so wretched in his life. He held her arm tight, as if he should maintain it or what he wished most on the earth would slip away from him, but he saved pondering, as he would ever suppose, of his father strolling away quietly along with his head by no means turning. Reproduced with permission of the property of © Morley Callaghan.
QUESTIONS
1 Which phrases from paragraph 15 Help the reader perceive the that means of the phrase sullen? A faintly conscious B delicate scent C sharp hostility D brushing towards 2 Paragraph 12 is principally about — F the curiosity that John’s dad and mom have in his life on the college G John’s resentment of his father for sporting shabby garments H the variations John perceives between his household and Grace’s household J John’s want to have Grace’s dad and mom settle for and admire him three John first acknowledges his father by his — A neck B coat C eyeglasses D hair four Paragraph 34 is principally about — F John’s worry that Grace received’t forgive him G Grace’s response to John’s plea for forgiveness H John’s apology to Grace for his habits J Grace’s emotions of shyness towards John 5 What do the daddy’s garments symbolize on this story?
A The bond between John and his father B John’s disgrace about his household C The father’s want to reside prior to now D Grace’s rejection of John’s dad and mom 6 Which sentence supplies a clue about John’s inside battle? F “You don’t like individuals, do you?” he stated sharply. G “You’re a really silly particular person,” she stated. H He had by no means talked to her so brokenly, and his sincerity, the depth of his feeling, started to stir her. J He longed to inform her that he was positive she would have been charming to his father, however he had by no means felt so wretched in his life.
