3. These conversational expressions appear in the text. What do you think they mean?

1. He is a young man of tact.

2. I haven't a notion.

3. Are you a quick study?

4. I always design the sets myself for our plays.

5. The poor lamb's as thin as a rail.

6. I don't eat it because I see no point in it.

7. I'm a great stickler for saying the author's exact words.

h) His admiration made them feel a little larger than life-size.

i) I can be word-perfect in any part in forty-eight hours.

j) He worked his company hard.

k) Michael thought we were getting a bit ragged.

4. Here are some sentences from the text. Explain what the words in bold type mean.

a) ... and having had exactly the bedroom that pleased her in the old house in Regent's Park which they had occupied since the end of the war she brought it over bodily.

b) His face had broadened and was a good deal lined.

c) Since his five years at the war he had adopted a military bearing.

d) I'm afraid we must admit that he's partial where I'm concerned.

e) ... and then raising them gazed at him for a little with that soft expression that people described as her velvet look. She had no object in doing this.

f) She wanted him to have his money's worth.

g) You should just go to a first night and see the society people how they mob the photographers, cabinet ministers and judges and everyone.

h) .. so that one and all they couldn't let him down.

i) He took it as a natural homage, but did not allow it to turn his head.

j) He was easy enough in ordinary dialogue and could say his lines with point...

5. Match the words on the left with their meanings on the right.

tournament	•a to hang loosely and swing to and fro
attache	•b smth. ridiculous in an unpleasant way or extremely ugly or unpleasant
sovereign	•c a person who works in an embassy and has a particular area of responsibility in which they have specialist knowledge
complacency(disapproving)	•d an angel that is represented in art as a beautiful, rather fat naked child with small wings
crest	•e a king or a queen
accountant	•f a formal picture that is used by a family, town, organization, etc. as their particular sign
motto	•g a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities
cherub	•h a competition
burgher (humorous)	•i a short sentence or phrase that expresses a principle of good or correct behaviour
flamboyance	•j a person who keeps, examines the records of money paid, received, etc.
grotesque	•k a person of the middle social classes who lives in a city
upholster	•l great confidence in behaviour
judicious	•m the act of practicing for a performance
dangle	•n having, showing or expressing good sound judgment
rehearsal	•o to cover furniture with fabric covering, cushions and padding
laudable	•p showing too much pride in oneself and too little consideration for others
arrogant	•q be standing or loitering about, doing nothing definite
bellow (v)	•r deserving praise
stagger	•s make a loud deep noise (like a bull), roar, shout
hang about	•t tribute paid (to smb’s merits)
homage	•u to walk or move unsteadily from weakness, heavy burden or drunkenness.