Gender Readings. Top Ten. Ренц Т.Г - 41 стр.

      He picked her up at four o’clock on Sunday.
      “Mother’s looking forward to seeing you,” he said. “She hopes
you will stay for supper.”
      “You won’t have to go out, will you, Richard?”
      “Not tonight, no.”
      But he did have to go out to keep an appointment of which his
mother reminded him immediately after tea. He had smiled at his
mother and said, “Thanks.”
      Trudy saw the photograph album, then she heard how Mrs
Seeton had met Richard’s father in Switzerland, and what Mrs See-
ton had been wearing at the time.
      At half past six the supper party arrived. These were three wom-
en, including Gwen. The one called Grace was quite pretty, with a
bewildered air. The one called Iris was well over forty and rather loud
in her manner.
      “Where’s Richard tonight, the old cad?” said Iris.
      “How do I know?” said his mother. “Who am I to ask?”
      “Well, at least he’s a hard worker during the week. A brilliant
teacher,” said doe-eyed Grace.
      “Middling as a schoolmaster,” Gwen said.
      “Oh, Gwen! Look how long he’s held down the job,” his moth-
er said.
      “I should think,” Grace said, “he’s wonderful with the boys.”
      “Those Shakespearean productions at the end of the summer term
are really magnificent,” Iris bawled. “I’ll hand him that, the old devil.”
      “Magnificent,” said his mother. “You must admit, Gwen —”
      “Very middling performances,” Gwen said.
      “I suppose you are right, but, after all, they are only school-
boys. You can’t do much with untrained actors, Gwen,” said Mrs
Seeton very sadly.
      “I adore Richard,” Iris said, “when he’s in his busy, occupied
mood. He’s so —”
      “Oh yes,” Grace said, “Richard is wonderful when he’s got a lot
on his mind.”
      “I know,” said his mother. “There was one time when Richard
had just started teaching — I must tell you this story — he...”
      Before they left Mrs Seeton said to Trudy, “You will come with
Gwen next week, won’t you? I want you to regard yourself as one of


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