19Th August

Dear Daddy-Long-Legs,

My window looks out on the loveliest landscape – ocean-scape, rather – nothing but water and rocks.

The summer goes. I spend the morning with Latin and English and algebra and my two stupid girls. I don't know how Marion is ever going to get into college, or stay in after she gets there. And as for Florence, she is hopeless – but oh! such a little beauty. I don't suppose it matters in the least whether they are stupid or not so long as they are pretty? One can't help thinking, though, how their conversation will bore their husbands, unless they are fortunate enough to obtain stupid husbands. I suppose that's quite possible; the world seems to be filled with stupid men; I've met a number this summer.

In the afternoon we take a walk on the cliffs, or swim, if the tide is right. I can swim in salt water with the utmost ease you see my education is already being put to use!

A letter comes from Mr. Jervis Pendleton in Paris, rather a short concise letter; I'm not quite forgiven yet for refusing to follow his advice. However, if he gets back in time, he will see me for a few days at Lock Willow before college opens, and if I am very nice and sweet and docile, I shall (I am led to infer) be received into favour again.

Also a letter from Sallie. She wants me to come to their camp for two weeks in September. Must I ask your permission, or haven't I yet arrived at the place where I can do as I please? Yes, I am sure I have – I'm a Senior, you know. Having worked all summer, I feel like taking a little healthful recreation; I want to see the Adirondacks; I want to see Sallie; I want to see Sallie's brother – he's going to teach me to canoe – and (we come to my chief motive, which is mean) I want Master Jervie to arrive at Lock Willow and find me not there.

I MUST show him that he can't dictate to me. No one can dictate to me but you, Daddy – and you can't always! I'm off for the woods.

Judy

CAMP MCBRIDE,

6Th September

Dear Daddy,

Your letter didn't come in time (I am pleased to say). If you wish your instructions to be obeyed, you must have your secretary transmit them in less than two weeks. As you observe, I am here, and have been for five days.

The woods are fine, and so is the camp, and so is the weather, and so are the McBrides, and so is the whole world. I'm very happy!

There's Jimmie calling for me to come canoeing. Goodbye – sorry to have disobeyed, but why are you so persistent about not wanting me to play a little? When I've worked all the summer I deserve two weeks. You are awfully dog-in-the-mangerish.

However – I love you still, Daddy, in spite of all your faults.

Judy

TASKS

1. Read the text and find in it the words and word combinations from the list, supply them with Russian equivalents.

to omit sth

to stray from home

to have confidence in sth

miscellaneous

an exemption from sth

to blush

to coincide

second thoughts

to be a strain on sb

a matter of course

to support oneself

temptation

2. Learn these words and expression by heart and be ready for the oral translation of sentences with them.

3. Translate the underlined passages.

4. Paraphrase the following using the words above.

- to wander away from home

- a matter of fact

- a thing which attracts you

- to earn one’s living

- to trust sth

- various

- to get red in the face with emotion

- to happen at the same time

5. Complete the sentences with the words in ex. 1

1. You can’t cut classes like that, you’d better get an _________________if you want to leave school.

2. Here I want to ___________ a few details and tell you the end of the story.

3. At first I wanted to stay at the same hotel as Jack but then I began to have __________.

4. Please, don’t. Your compliments make me _____________.

6. Write an essay on one of the following topics:

26. Do you agree with the statement that ‘goods are not distributed evenly’?

27. Dwell upon Judy’s words: “People accept happiness as a matter of course. The World, they think, owes them everything they want”.

28. It doesn’t matter whether the girls are stupid or not so long as they are pretty.

7. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using the words from ex.1

1. Мы не должны принимать подарки судьбы как должное, мы должны быть за них благодарны.

2. Если ты опустишь некоторые незначительные детали, твоя история будет намного лучше.

3. Не красней, это приглашение на танец - настоящее искушение, ведь твой парень за тобой наблюдает.

4. В нашей школе запрещалось прогуливать занятия, не получив освобождения.

5. Если ты уверен в своих знаниях, тебе следует принять участие в этом конкурсе.

6. Когда подростки не хотят быть лишней нагрузкой для родителей, они сбегают из дома и начинают жить на свои средства.

7. Погода в Англии действительно непредсказуемая, разнообразная. Особенно сложно приходится людям, работающим на улице.

8. Наше мнение совпадает с Вашим, но только по одному вопросу.

9. Хорошенько все обдумав, я решила стать учителем, так как мне нравится общаться с различными людьми и мне нравиться делиться с ними моими знаниями.

10. - Вы знаете, что экзамен по английскому совпадает с моим днем рождения? - Давай отпразднуем его попозже.

11. Если твоя учеба является для тебя большой нагрузкой, уходи из университета и найди себе другое занятие.