2. Look through Portion 3 and write out all the words and word-combinations related to general elections in Great Britain and explain their meaning.
3. Complete the following sentences, paying attention to the use of tenses in conditional clauses and wish-clauses.
1) If the Lord Chancellor hadn’t ruled out in Giles’s favour, Giles would not have inherited the title and all therein is, and Harry would have been unable to marry Emma.
2) If Harry had known that his mother had had a dalliance with Emma’s father, he would not have had a child with Emma.
3) If Hugo Barrington had been a real gentleman, he would not have left Miss Olga Petrovska alone with their child.
4) Harry would have never agreed to go to America to promote his book if only he had known what difficulties he would have to face.
5) If Lady Virginia were not so snobbish, Emma would like her.
6) Emma and Harry wished they had known the truth about their bloodline.
7) If Sebastian were not so hyperactive, Harry and Emma would not be that concerned about their bloodline.
8) If Harry and Emma were absolutely sure they didn’t belong to the same bloodline, they would marry each other without any doubts.
9) Emma would have never got in touch with Mitchell if she had not known about her father’s child.
10) Elizabeth Barrington wished Sebastian would be got off her hands.
Reading and Comprehension
1.Look at these sentences or parts of sentences. Match the words in bold with the definitions below. Give their possible equivalents in your native language.
1) Giles was delighted although not surprised to find that the parish church of St Andrew’s, where Elizabeth Harvey had been married, and her three children baptized (to perform a baptism ceremony for someone) and later confirmed (to be formally accepted as a member of a Christian church during a ceremony in which people say they believe what the church teaches: быть крещёным), was packed with family, friends and admirers.
2) He went on to tell the congregation (the people who are attending a church service or who regularly attend a church service: конгрегация, община) just how many people beyond these walls, had benefited from her wisdom.
3) Giles was relieved, as no doubt were most of those present, that the vicar (an Anglican priest who is in charge of a church and the area it is in, which is called a parish: викарий) made no reference to his father.
4) Reverend Donaldson ended his eulogy (a speech, usually at a funeral, in which a person who has just died is praised: панегирик, хвалебное слово) with the words, ‘Elizabeth’s life was cut short by her untimely death at the age of fifty-one, but it is not for us to question the will of our Lord.’
5) After he had returned to his pew (a long wooden seat with a back, which people sit on in church: церковная скамья), Giles and Sebastian each read a lesson (a short piece of text which is read aloud from the bible), ‘The Good Samaritan’ and ‘The Sermon on the Mount’.
2. Explain the meaning of the underlined parts of sentences by paraphrasing and commenting on them.
a) ‘In fact, he’s more likely to befriend a boy from overseas than one who’s lived in Bristol all his life.’
HARRY AND EMMA were surprised when they were invited to join the headmaster for tea at the end of Sebastian’s first term, and quickly discovered it was not a social occasion. ‘Your son’s a bit of a loner,’ declared Dr Hedley, once the maid had poured them a cup of tea and left the room. ‘In fact he’s more likely to befriend a boy from overseas than one who’s lived in Bristol all his life.’ ‘Why would that be?’ asked Emma. ‘Boys from far-flung shores have never heard of Mr and Mrs Harry Clifton, or his famous uncle Giles,’ explained the headmaster. ‘But, as is so often the case, something positive has come out of it because we’ve become aware that Sebastian has a natural gift for languages that in normal circumstances might have been missed. In fact, he is the only boy in the school who can converse with Lu Yang in his native tongue.’
b) ‘Great disappointment would be an understatement,’ said Harry.
‘True, and all very commendable, but unfortunately, at the same time, he languishes near the bottom of his class in history, geography and natural sciences, all of which are compulsory subjects. Should he fail to reach the pass mark in two or more of these, he will automatically be rejected by BGS, which I know would be a great disappointment for both of you, as well as his uncle.’ ‘Great disappointment would be an understatement,’ said Harry. ‘Quite so,’ said Dr Hedley. ‘Do they ever make exceptions to the rules?’ asked Emma. ‘I can only recall one case in my tenure,’ said the headmaster, ‘and that was for a boy who had scored a century every Saturday during the summer term.’
c) The irony is, with his talent for languages, I predict he’ll sail into Oxford. But we still have to make sure he paddles into BGS.’
Harry laughed, having sat on the grass and watched Giles score every one of them. ‘So we’ll just have to make sure he realizes the consequences of dropping below the pass mark in two of the compulsory subjects.’ ‘It’s not that he isn’t bright enough,’ said the headmaster, ‘but if a subject doesn’t appeal to him, he quickly becomes bored. The irony is, with his talent for languages, I predict he’ll sail into Oxford. But we still have to make sure he paddles into BGS.’
d) ‘Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough at some time in the future, but I fear that won’t be soon enough for your mother.’
Emma clenched her fists, something she used to do as a schoolgirl whenever she was nervous or in trouble. ‘Yesterday,’ continued Mr Langbourne, ‘I received the results from the clinical lab. They confirmed Dr Raeburn’s fears: your mother has breast cancer.’ ‘Can she be cured?’ was Emma’s immediate response. ‘There is no cure at present for someone of her age,’ said Langbourne. ‘Scientists are hoping for a breakthrough at some time in the future, but I fear that won’t be soon enough for your mother.’ ‘Is there anything we can do?’ asked Grace. Emma leant across and took her sister’s hand. ‘During this time, she will need all the love and support you and the family can give her. Elizabeth is a remarkable woman, and after all she has been through, she deserves better. But she’s never once complained – not her style. She’s a typical Harvey.’
e) Harry began to believe this might be a turning point, but when he told Sebastian that his grandmother only had a few weeks to live, the boy crept back into his shell.
The shoplifting incident, as it came to be known at St Bede’s, turned Sebastian from a bit of a loner into something of a folk hero, and boys who previously wouldn’t have bothered with him invited him to join their gangs. Harry began to believe this might be a turning point, but when he told Sebastian that his grandmother only had a few weeks to live, the boy crept back into his shell. Jessica had begun her first term at Red Maids’. She worked far harder than Sebastian, but didn’t come top in any subject. The art mistress told Emma it was a pity that painting wasn’t a recognized subject, because Jessica had more talent at the age of eight than she herself had shown in her final year at college.
f) Giles missed several three-line whips, Grace countless tutorials, Harry endless deadlines, and Emma sometimes failed to reply to Cyrus Feldman’s weekly letters.
Jessica painted a new picture for Granny every day, and dropped it off at the hospital the following morning before Harry took her on to school. There were only a few blank spaces left on the walls of her private gallery by the end of term. Giles missed several three-line whips, Grace countless tutorials, Harry endless deadlines, and Emma sometimes failed to reply to Cyrus Feldman’s weekly letters. But it was Sebastian who Elizabeth most looked forward to seeing every day. Harry couldn’t be sure who benefited more from the experience, his son or his mother-in-law.
g) ‘My dear Harry, you always give everyone the benefit of the doubt because you have such a generous nature.
‘The reason you haven’t seen or heard from her for weeks, Harry, is because she wants me to believe it’s all over. It’s not a coincidence that she disappeared from the scene only days after Giles learned I didn’t have long to live.’ ‘I’m sure you’re overreacting, Elizabeth. I don’t believe even Virginia could be that callous.’ ‘My dear Harry, you always give everyone the benefit of the doubt because you have such a generous nature. It was a lucky day for Emma when she met you.’ ‘It’s sweet of you to say so, Elizabeth, but I’m sure that given time—’ ‘That’s the one thing I don’t have.’ ‘Then perhaps we should ask Virginia to come and visit you?’
h) But I still have one card up my sleeve, which I don’t intend to play until I’ve been lowered into my grave, when my spirit will return like an avenging angel.’
‘I’ve made it clear to Giles on several occasions that I’d like to meet her, but each time I’ve been rebuffed with more and more unlikely excuses. Now, why do you think that is? Don’t bother to answer, Harry, because you’ll be the last person to work out what Virginia’s really up to. And you can be sure she won’t make her move until after my funeral.’ A flicker of a smile crossed Elizabeth’s face before she added, ‘But I still have one card up my sleeve, which I don’t intend to play until I’ve been lowered into my grave, when my spirit will return like an avenging angel.’
i) ‘I don’t doubt there is,’ said Garrett, ‘but our new chairman couldn’t be swayed on the matter.’
‘What reason did they give for turning him down?’ ‘That they mustn’t be seen to be making an exception for an old boy’s son when he’d failed to obtain the pass mark in two compulsory subjects.’ ‘And that was their only reason?’ ‘No,’ replied the headmaster. ‘One of the governors raised the matter of your son being cautioned by the police for shoplifting.’ ‘But there’s a perfectly innocent explanation for that incident,’ said Harry, trying not to lose his temper. ‘I don’t doubt there is,’ said Garrett, ‘but our new chairman couldn’t be swayed on the matter.’ ‘Then he’ll be my next call. What’s his name?’ ‘Major Alex Fisher.’
j) Harry couldn’t help thinking that Elizabeth’s prediction was already coming to pass.
As the congregation filed out of the church, several people asked who the attractive woman on Sir Giles’s arm was. Harry couldn’t help thinking that Elizabeth’s prediction was already coming to pass. Dressed entirely in black, Virginia was standing at Giles’s right hand as the pall-bearers lowered Elizabeth’s coffin into the grave. Harry recalled his mother-in-law’s words: I still have one card up my sleeve. After the burial service had been completed, the family and a few close friends were invited to join Giles, Emma and Grace at Barrington Hall for what the Irish would have called a wake. Virginia moved deftly from mourner to mourner, introducing herself as if she were already the lady of the house. Giles didn’t seem to notice, and if he did, clearly didn’t disapprove.
k) ‘And where do you fit in?’
After the burial service had been completed, the family and a few close friends were invited to join Giles, Emma and Grace at Barrington Hall for what the Irish would have called a wake. Virginia moved deftly from mourner to mourner, introducing herself as if she were already the lady of the house. Giles didn’t seem to notice, and if he did, clearly didn’t disapprove. ‘Hello, I’m Lady Virginia Fenwick,’ she said when she met Harry’s mother for the first time. ‘And where do you fit in?’ ‘I’m Mrs Holcombe,’ Maisie replied. ‘Harry’s my son.’ ‘Oh, yes, of course,’ said Virginia. ‘Aren’t you a waitress or something?’
l) ‘One can’t afford to let standards slip,’ volunteered Virginia.
‘Would you mind, old chap,’ Giles said, turning to Harry, ‘if we dressed for dinner? Virginia feels strongly about that sort of thing.’ ‘One can’t afford to let standards slip,’ volunteered Virginia. ‘My father couldn’t have let them slip much further,’ said Grace, which caused Harry to stifle a laugh. ‘But I’m afraid you’ll have to count me out. I have to get back to Cambridge as I have a supervision to prepare. In any case,’ she added, ‘I came dressed for a funeral, not a dinner party. Don’t bother to show me out.’
m) During the meal, Virginia regaled them with stories about her ancestors, making them sound like the backbone of the British Empire.
‘I don’t know about you,’ said Virginia, ‘but I’m famished. Shall we go through?’ Without waiting for a reply, she linked arms with Giles and led them all out of the room. During the meal, Virginia regaled them with stories about her ancestors, making them sound like the backbone of the British Empire. Generals, bishops, cabinet ministers, and of course a few black sheep, she admitted – what family doesn’t have one or two of those? She hardly drew breath until the dessert had been cleared, when Giles dropped his bombshell. He tapped his wine glass with a spoon to ensure he had everyone’s attention. ‘I have some wonderful news to share with you,’ he announced. ‘Virginia has paid me the great honour of consenting to be my wife.’
n) I suppose it’s because I come from Yorkshire that I have a tendency to call a spade a spade.’
‘We look upon Jessica as our daughter,’ said Harry sharply, ‘and treat her as such.’ ‘Half-sister, I think would be more accurate,’ said Virginia. ‘And we mustn’t forget that she’s a Barnardo’s orphan, as well as being Jewish. I suppose it’s because I come from Yorkshire that I have a tendency to call a spade a spade.’ ‘And I suppose it’s because I come from Gloucestershire,’ said Emma, ‘that I have a tendency to call a scheming bitch a scheming bitch.’
o) You’re as bad as that Frank Pakenham fellow, a traitor to your class.’
‘And you can go on hoping, because I won’t be voting for a stuck-up toff.’ ‘But I’m the Labour candidate,’ protested Giles. ‘Doesn’t stop you being a toff. You’re as bad as that Frank Pakenham fellow, a traitor to your class.’ Harry tried not to laugh as the man walked away. ‘Good afternoon, madam, my name is Giles Barrington.’ ‘Oh, how nice to meet you, Sir Giles. I’ve been a great admirer of yours ever since you won the MC at Tobruk.’ Giles bowed low. ‘And although I would normally vote Liberal, on this occasion you can rely on me.’