TASKS for Chapters 15-18

I. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases:

condescending letter – снисходительное письмо

pearl studs – жемчужные запонки

peevish – возбужденный

make head or tail of it – ничего не понимать

fatuous irony – глупая ирония

to get back on sb – отделаться от кого-то

song and dance – сцена, скандал

to spend a lot on green fees – тратиться на аренду поля для гольфа

despicable – презренный

to give sb a treat – доставить кому либо удовольствие

to wheedle sb into –впутывать кого-то во что-то

prudishness – высокомерие

to take liberties with sb – вести себя развязно с кем-то

to grudge sb – завидовать

conspicuous – очевидный

to take the rough with the smooth – стойко переносить превратности судьбы

to have a joke up your sleeve – держать шутку наготове

to mortify sb – усмирять

 disconcerted –смущенный

II. Explain the following metaphors. Who do they refer to?

·  It won't hurt him to discover that I'm not all milk and honey. – This statement refers to Julia while she is thinking about Tom and revenge on him. She wants to prove that she is not weak willed.

·   I'm not the woman to desert a sinking ship. – This metaphor is used by Dolly de Vries, during her conversation with Michael about his wife, Julia, and how her love affairs with Tom which could effect her career in the negative way.

II. Give a character sketch of Dolly de Vries. Pay special attention to the description of hr appearance: "Dolly de Vries was now a woman of sixty. …and a slight cockney accent revealed itself." Dwell on her relationship with Michael and Julia. How did she feel about Tom?

Mrs. de Vries was a widow, brie was a short stout woman with a fine Jewish nose and fine Jewish eyes, a great deal of energy, a manner at once effusive and timid, and a somewhat virile air. She had a passion for the stage. When Julia and Michael had decided to try their luck in London Jimmie Langton, to whose rescue she had sometimes come when it looked as though he would be forced to close his repertory theatre, had written to her asking her to do what she could for them. She had seen Julia act in Middlepool. She gave parties so that the young actors might get to know managers, and asked them to stay at her grand house near Guildford, where they enjoyed a luxury they had never dreamt of. She did not much like Michael. Julia accepted the flowers with which Dolly de Vries filled her flat and her dressing-room, she was properly delighted with the presents she gave her, bags, vanity cases, brooches; but Dolly’s generosity was due to anything but admiration for her talent. When Michael went away to the war Dolly pressed her to come and live in her house in Montagu Square, but Julia, with protestations of extravagant gratitude, refused in such a way that Dolly, with a sigh and a tear, could only admire her the more. When Roger was born Julia asked her to be his godmother. She had a big fortune, more than that she knew a lot of famous people. And Michael and Julia understood that Dolly could be usefull for them.

IV. Speak on Julia's reputation and talent. Do you agree that no one expects an actress to be a pattern of propriety?

Being a really great actress of her time, Julia didn’t find any difficulty for her to think over every detail, every scene of her life, not only on the stage: the way she was dressed, the way she turned her head and what she sayed. The woman was not aware that she deliberately observed people, but when she came to study a new part vague recollections surged up in her from she knew not where, and she found that she knew things about the character she was to represent that she had had no inkling of. It helped her to think of someone she knew or even someone she had seen in the street or at a party; she combined with this recollection her own personality, and thus built up a character founded on fact but enriched with her experience, her knowledge of technique and her amazing magnetism. People thought that she only acted during the two or three hours she was on the stage; they did not know that the character she was playing dwelt in the back of her mind all day long, when she was talking to others with all the appearance of attention, or in whatever business she was engaged.

V. Answer the questions:

1. Why did Julia offer Tom the money for servants' tips? Do you think she made the right decision?

Tom didn’t pay her any attention while they were in Taplow, so it was her revenge on him. She understood well enough that it was very painful for Tom such remaidance about money, attitude to him as a servant.  

2. Did Julia manage to induce Tom to see her again after that?

Yes, Julia managed to induce Tom to see her again after that

3. Did Dolly believe that Julia didn't have a lover? Why?

No, Dolly didn’t believe that Julia didn’t have a lover because of the gossips.

4. Whom did Dolly finally decide to talk to about Julia's cheating?

She chose Michael. She had never liked Michael, but after all he was Julia's husband and it was her duty to tell him at least enough to make him put a stop to whatever was going on.

5. Why did Dolly not confess to Michael that she suspected Julia of having a love affair?

Dolly had no proof; she only had an intuition that she could not mistrust; she wanted to say yes, but she controlled it. The woman couldn’t give Julia away. Her husband might go and tell her and Julia would never speak to her again. He might have Julia watched and catch her out. No one could tell what might happen if she told the truth.

6. Why did Michael suggest buying Dolly's share out?

He thought the woman could suffer from Julia’s broken reputation.

7. What was the reason for Dolly's desperate jealousy?

When Dolly got into her magnificent and very expensive car and drove back to Montagu Square she could not hold back the heavy, painful tears that filled her eyes. She felt old, lonely, unhappy, and desperately jealous, because there was somebody else who loved and wanted to help Julia, her husband Michael.

9. Why couldn't Julia fall asleep after the lunch with Dolly?

Julia was shocked that Dolly blamed her in love affair and she realized that the gossips about her are truth.

VI. Summarize the events of chapters 15-18

On vacation Julia expected to spend a lot of time with her lover Tom but the latter preferred to be with her son Roger who was nearly at the same age as Tom. Julia was so jealous and his actions make her disappointed so much. The woman decided to revenge her lover. She knew that Tom was poor but she left him money. The man gave her money back and Julia realized that she made a mistake. She loved Tom and wanted him to return. Julia met Dolly who told her the gossips about the actress and Nom but Julia tried to make Dolly sure that was not true. However Julia did not believe her and told Michael that.