Trudy bore these knives and forks into the dining-room with a sense of having been got rid of with a view to being talked about.

At supper, Mrs. Seeton said, " It seems a bit odd, there only being the three of us. We usually have such jolly Sunday suppers. Next week, Trudy, you must come and meet the whole crowd — mustn't she, Gwen? "

" Oh, yes, " Gwen said, " Trudy must do that."

Towards half past ten Richard's mother said, " I doubt if Richard will be back in time to run you home. Naughty boy, I daren't think what he gets up to."

On the way to the bus stop Gwen said, " Are you happy now that you've met Lucy? "

" Yes, I think so. But I think Richard might have stayed. It would have been nice. I daresay he wanted me to get to know his mother by myself. But in fact I felt the need of his support. "

''Didn't you have a talk with Lucy? "

" Well yes, but not much really. Richard probably didn't realize you were coming to supper. Richard probably thought his mother and I could have a heart-to-heart —

" I usually go to Lucy's on Sunday (я обычно бываю: «хожу к» у Люси по воскресеньям), " Gwen said.

" Why (почему)? "

" Well, she's a friend of mine (ну, она моя подруга). I know her ways (я знаю ее привычки; way — путь, дорога, манера поведения, обычай). She amuses me (она развлекает меня; to amuse — забавлять)."

During the week Trudy saw Richard only once (за всю неделю: «в течение недели» Труди видела Ричарда только раз), for a quick drink (за коротким коктейлем: «быстрым напитком»; drink — питье, напиток, спиртной напиток).

" Exams (экзамены), " he said. " I'm rather busy, darling (я очень занят, дорогая)."

''Exams in November (экзамены в ноябре)? I thought they started in December (я думала, что они начинаются в декабре)."

" Preparation for exams (подготовка к экзаменам), " he said. " Preliminaries (предварительные экзамены; preliminaries — сокр. от preliminary examination). Lots of work (куча работы)." He took her home (он отвез ее домой), kissed her on the cheek (поцеловал ее в щеку) and drove off (и уехал).

She looked after the car (она смотрела вслед: «за» машиной), and for a moment hated his moustache (и какой-то момент ненавидела его усики). But she pulled herself together and (но, она собралась с силами; to pull oneself together — взять себя в руки, собраться с духом), recalling her youthfulness (призвав на помощь свою молодость: «вспомнив о своей молодости»; to recall — возвращать; припоминать), decided she was too young really (решила, что она действительно слишком молода) to judge the fine shades and moods (чтобы судить о всех тонкостях оттенков в смене настроения; to judge — судить, оценивать, составлять мнение; mood — расположение духа, moods — причуды, прихоти, капризы) of a man like Richard (такого мужчины, как Ричард).

He picked her up at four o'clock on Sunday (он заехал за ней в четыре часа, в воскресенье).

" Mother's looking forward to seeing you (мама с нетерпением ожидает встречи с тобой), " he said. " She hopes you will stay for supper (она надеется, что ты останешься на ужин)."

'" You won't have to go out (ты же не уйдешь: «тебе не надо будет уйти»), will you, Richard (так ведь, Ричард)? "

" Not tonight, no (не сегодня, нет)."

But he did have to go out (но ему пришлось уйти) to keep an appointment (чтобы не опоздать на встречу; to keep an appointment — прийти в назначенное место или время) of which his mother reminded him immediately after tea (о которой его мать напомнила ему сразу же после чая; to remind — напоминать, делать напоминание; immediately — незамедлительно, тотчас). He had smiled at his mother and said (он улыбнулся матери и сказал), " Thanks (спасибо)."

busy ['bIzI] preparation [" prepq'reIS(q)n] youthfulness ['ju: Tf(q)lnIs]

appointment [q'pOIntmqnt] immediately [I'mi: dIqtlI]

" I usually go to Lucy's on Sunday, " Gwen said.

" Why? "

" Well, she's a friend of mine. I know her ways. She amuses me."