The Engagement PART 1 My mother never came to meet me at Burnsley station when I arrived from London. So I always w to my mother’s house. And so tonight I had time to think. I had some very important news for my mother, but 1 Q what to say to her. I wrote to my mother every week. But it’s difficult to 3 think Agnes likes me, or ‘I’m in love with her,’ or ‘I think she’s in lave with me.’ ‘Lwant to ask Agnes (4) : ‘Well, I couldn't do it. And yesterday I asked Agnes to marry me, and she said yes. My mother was a widow. I was her only child ~ and now () and he didn’t know. I was ready for a difficult evening, | walked up to the front door. (6) - She smiled and put her arms around me. There was something different about her smile. [ thought, ‘She knows about Agnes!’ But I said nothing. 9 Ashort story ~ The Engagement 1 Read part 1 of the short story. Complete the text with the words in the box. to marry me write in a letter Twas engaged ‘There was my mother Iran to open it Thad a surprise walked alone from didn’t know the station Answer the questions, 1 Where did Philip live? 2. Why did he go by train to Burnsley? 3. How did he get from the station to the house? 4 What news did he have for his mother? 5 Did he have any brothers or sisters? 6 Why did he think that his mother knew about Agn 7 Why did he have surprise in the dining room? 8 What do you think? Was Agnes at the door? I went into the dining room and here @ There were three chairs, three plates, and three glasses. Was Agnes here? Was it a surprise for me? There was a knock at the door, ‘It's Agnes!” I thought and 8) 40 Unit 8 ~ A date to remember3 Read part 2 of the story. ‘Me Nixon is here for dinner, Philip,’ said my mother I liked him, but I wasn’t very happy to see him tonight, because I wanted to talk to my mother. We started our dinner, but we didn’t say very much. At the end of the meal I told my mother that I wanted to go to the post office. I had an important letter to post. ‘A letter to a girl?” laughed Mr Nixon, "Yes,’ I said When I got back home Mr Nixon was still there, ‘Come and sit down, Philip,’ he said. Can I talk to you” Isat down, ‘Well, my boy,’ he said. ‘I want to marry your mother’ Iwas surprised. ‘Lasked her to marry me yesterday, and she said yes. Did she tell you about me in her letters! No? Well, it’s difficult to write about that in a letter, of course.’ Laughed, ‘Yes, itis, This is wonderful news." Then my mother came in, a little red in the face, Iwas something new to me that my mother could fall in Jove. Pethaps, like all sons, I only thought about my own life. So I decided to say nothing about my news. That evening my mother came first for me. I could tell her about Agnes tomorrow ern 4 Answer the questions. 1 Who was Mr Nixon? ‘Why wasn’t Philip happy when he saw him? Why did Philip want to go to the post office? ‘Who was the letter for? What did Mr Nixon tell Philip? Did Philip know about this? ‘What did he think about this news? Did he tell his mother about Agnes that evening? Now read and listen to the complete story. St i i , 10 Translation ‘Translate these sentences. 1. When were cars invented? 2. My parents got married thirty years ago. 3. They got engaged when they were both 25. 4 Lwent out with my boyfriend for a year 5 Congratulations! When's the big day? 6 Thank goodness! It's Friday! Tl Listening — Special occasions Listen to the conversations. Number the occasions in the correct order, (J) NewYear’s Eve [] Thanksgiving (birthday (-] engagement Christmas Unit 8 + Adate to remember 41