The cup of tea

П You must stop these mistakes creeping into your work! creeps (n) an unpleasant sensation of fear П The old castle gives me the creeps.

clutch (v) hold tightly

□ The mother clutched her baby in her arms. clutch at try to hold

□ He clutched at the branch but could not reach it. clutch (n) the act of clutching; a tight hold

□ His clutch was not tight enough and he fell from the branch. in the clutch of in the control or power of

П Once he was in the clutches of the enemy he knew he'd never escape.

stammer (v) speak or say with pauses and repeated sounds, either habitually or because of excitement, fear П She stammers when she feels nervous.

skim (v) 1. (off) remove (floating fat or solids) from the surface of a liquid

П Every morning the farmer's wife skimmed (off) the cream from the milk.

2. read (through) quickly to get the main idea

D As he had little time he only skimmed the book.

3. (cause to) move swiftly over

О When a boy he liked skimming stones over a lake.

gasp (v) 1. make a sudden noise when breathing quickly

□ I came out of the water and gasped for breath.

2. catch the breath suddenly, esp. because of surprise, shock, etc.

□ I gasped with/in surprise at the unexpected news.

pick up (v) 1. lift (smth. or someone), as from the floor or furniture

□ Jim dropped his pen and bent to pick it up.

2. gather together, collect

П Please pick up all your books when you've finished studying.

3. improve

П Trade is picking up again.

4. give (someone) a ride in a vehicle

D He used to stand at the roadside hoping to be picked up by passing motor­ists

5. collect; arrange to go and get П Pick me up at the hotel.

П I'm going to pick up my coat from the cleaner's.

6. meet, become friendly with (someone)

П I didn't iike him: he was just trying to pick me up.

7. catch

□ The escaped prisoners were picked up by the police.

□ We picked up signals for help from the burning plane

268 THE CUP OF TEA

pick-up (n) act of picking up

ueeze in (v) 1. press (smth., things or people) tightly in something; crowd

together in a place

□ The case is full 1 can't squeeze any more clothes in. О The car was full but I squeezed in anyway. 2 find time with difficulty, to see (someone) or do (smth.)

П The doctor was busy but he could squeeze John in between two other people, as the case was urgent.

COMPREHENSION

Ex. 1. Answer the following questions.

1. What did you learn about Rosemary's life? How did she spend her time?

2. What shop did Rosemary like and why?

3. What was the weather like when she once visited the antique shop?

4. Whom did she meet after leaving the shop that winter afternoon?

5. What did the girl look like?

6. Why did Rosemary decide to take the girl home?

7. What did the girl think of Rosemary's proposal?

8. What was Rosemary going to prove to this girl?

9. How did Rosemary's wealth impress the girl?

10. How did Rosemary herself behave in that situation?

11. Who came some time later?

12. Did Philip love his wife?

13. What was Philip's reaction to his wife's rash action?

14. What did Rosemary do after her talkwith Philip?

15. Why did she act so?

Ex. 2. Find Russian equivalents to the following.

Exquisitely well-dressed; amazingly well-read; looked like; dim cavern of his mind; bitter taste; hateful umbrellas; strange pang; emerges from shelter; clutched at her coat-coilar; peered through the dusk; thrilling; skim through the dusk; little captive; protecting, embracing movement; mounted the stairs; seemed dazed; leant over her; rushed to the bell; little creature; nourishing; «nguid figure; listless figure; a pick-up; ghastly mistake; bowled over; dazzled Saze; wasteful.