Years ago I arrived one day at Salamanca, New York, where I was to change trains1 and take the sleeper. There were crowds of people on the platform, and they were all trying to get into the long sleeper train which was already packed. I asked the young man in the booking-office if I could have a sleeping berth and he answered: «No.» I went off and asked another local official if I could have some poor little corner somewhere in a sleeping-car, but he interrupted me angrily saying, «No, you can't, every corner is full. Now, don't bother me anymore,» and he turned his back and walked off. I felt so hurt that I said to my companion, «If these people knew who I was, they…» But my companion stopped me there, - «Don't talk such nonsense, we'll have to put up with this,» he said, «If they knew who you were, do you think it would help you to get a vacant seat in a train which has no vacant seats in it?»
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1 Where I was to change trains. - Где я должен был сделать пересадку.
This did not improve my condition at all, but just then I noticed that the porter of a sleeping-car had his eye on me. I saw the expression of his face suddenly change. He whispered to the uniformed conductor, pointing to me, and I realized I was being talked about2. Then the conductor came forward, his face all politeness.
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2 I realized I was being talked about. - Я понял, что меня обсуждают.
«Can I be of any service to you3?» he asked. «Do you want a place in a sleeping-car?»
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3 Can I be of any service to you? - Могу ли я быть вам полезен?
«Yes,» I said, «I'll be grateful to you if you can give me a place, anything will do4.»
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4 Anything will do. - Все подойдет.
«We have nothing left except the big family compartment,» he continued «with two berths and a couple of armchairs in it, but it is entirely at your disposal. Here, Tom, take these suitcases aboard!»
Then he touched his hat, and we moved along. I was eager to say a few words to my companion, but I changed my mind. The porter made us comfortable in the compartment, and then said, with many bows and smiles: «Now, is there anything you want, sir? Because you can have just anything you want.» «Can I have some hot water?» I asked.
«Yes, sir, I'll get it myself.»
«Good! Now, that lamp is hung too high above the berth. Can I have a better lamp fixed just at the head of my bed below the luggage rack, so that I can read comfortably?»
«Yes, sir. The lamp you want is just being fixed in the next compartment. I'll get it from there and fix it here. It'll burn all night. Yes, sir, you can ask for anything you want, the whole railroad will be turned inside out to please you.» And he disappeared.
I smiled at my companion, and said: «Well, what do you say now? Didn't their attitude change the moment they understood I was Mark Twain? You see the result, don't you?» My companion did not answer. So I added, «Don't you like the way you are being served? And all for the same fare.»
As I was saying this, the porter's smiling face appeared in the doorway and this speech followed:
«Oh, sir, I recognized you the minute I set my eyes on you. I told the conductor so.» «Is that so, my boy?» I said handing him a good tip. «Who am I?»
«Mr. McCleilan, Mayor of New York», he said and disappeared again.
VOCABULARY
- booking office - касса
- conductor - проводник
- sleeping-berth - спальное место (полка)
- politeness - вежливость, учтивость
- local official - местный сотрудник
- compartment - купе
- sleeping-car (sleeper) - спальный вагон
- to be entirely at one's disposal - быть в чьемлибо полном распоряжении
- to interrupt - перебивать
- to be eager - гореть желанием, рваться
- to bother - мешать, беспокоить, надоедать
- bow - кивок головой, поклон
- nonsense - чепуха, глупости, вздор
- luggage rack - полка для багажа
- to put up with - смириться с чем-либо
- fare - стоимость
- vacant seat - свободное
- to recognize - узнавать, понимать
- porter - носильщик
- tip - чаевые
- to have eye on - устремить взор на
- mayor - мэр
EXERCISES
1. Are the statements true (T), false (F) or not stated (NS)?
- The author went to London.____
- There were crowds people on the platform.____
- There were lots of vacant seats in the train.____
- The author's companion was young.____
- The author wanted a place in a sleeping- car____
- The author asked for some cold water.____
- The local official made them comfortable in a train.____
- The porter recognized Mark Twain.____
2. Choose the correct preposition.
There were crowds 1_______ people 2__________ the platform. I went 3________ and asked another local officer if I could have some poor little corner 4______ a sleeping car. I noticed that the porter of a sleeping car had his eyes 5_________me. The porter made us comfortable 6_______ the compartment. We could ask 7______ anything we wanted.
3. Match expressions with their meanings.
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1) set eyes on |
a) make someone feelworried |
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2) put up with |
b) return in the direction you have come from |
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3) turn back |
c) taccept something that is unpleasant. |
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4) turn inside out |
d) change one's opinion |
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5) change one's mind |
e) change something completely |
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6) bother |
f) see someone or something for the first time |
4. Match the nouns and the adjectives. Try to make sentences of your own, using these words combinations.
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1) Local |
a) seat |
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2) Sleeping |
b official |
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3) Luggage |
c) compartment |
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4) Good |
d) tip |
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5) Family |
e) car |
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6) Vacant |
f) rack |
5. Put the sentences into the correct order and then retell the text.
- One day Mark Twain arrived at Samanta, New York to change trains.
- The porter recognized in Mark Twain the Mayor of New York.
- There were no vacant seats in the train.
- The porter was ready to do everything to please Mark Twain.
- The expression of the porter's face suddenly changed.
- They have nothing left except big family compartment.
- He wanted a seat in the sleeping car.
- The porter made him comfortable in the compartment.