Answer the following questions. 1. Why did the author remember so well the occasion when he first met Jane Fowler?

1. Why did the author remember so well the occasion when he first met Jane Fowler? 2. What were the circumstances. of their first meeting? 3. Where did it take place? 4. What sort of person was Mrs Tower? 5. What was Mrs Tower's opin­ion of Jane's looks, clothes and mental abilities? 6. Why did she speak of Jane Fowler as her "cross"? 7. What were the relations between the two women? 8. What was the au­thor's impression of Jane? 9..How did Mrs Tower take the news of Jane's coming marriage? 10. Why did the very idea seem" preposterous to her? 11. What were Jane's reasons.for getting married? 12. What arguments did Mrs Tower use try­ing to dissuade Jane from taking this step? 13. What happen­ed when Gilbert Napier, the prospective husband, appeared on the scene? 14. Why was Mrs Tower shocked beyond words? 15. What made Mrs Tower believe that the marriage would last six months at best? 16. When did the author see Jane next? 17. What was Jane like now? 18. Why did people seek her company? 19. Why did Jane decide to leave Gilbert and marry Sir Reginald Frobisher? 20. Why did Mrs Tower disap­prove of her decision? 21. What made Mrs Tower feel bitter towards Jane? 22. How did Jane herself explain her so­cial success? 23. Why would Jane forever remain a puzzle to people like Mrs Tower?

Paraphrase or explain.

1.... she treated me as her contemporary. 2. Mrs Tower brought me up to date in the scandal of the day. 3. She's worthy, she's dowdy, she's provincial. 4.... in a tea-gown a little too young for her... 5. You could have never thought her anything in the world but the respectable relict of a North-country manufacturer of ample means. 6. I saw then to admiration how bravely good breeding and social usage could combat the instincts of the natural woman. 7. She was measur­ing him. 8. We're only marrying after mature considera­tion. 9. And to complete the impression of an eccentricity in which there was no pose and of an extravagance in which there was no ostentation she wore... a single eyeglass. 10. It was impossible to repeat anything she said, for the fun, like certain wines, would not travel. 11. There was no malice in

her remarks nor sting in her rejoinders (retorts, answers). 12. But notwithstand­ing appearances she never faltered in her opinion that the marriage could not last.

Say what is meant by

an overwhelming sense of family affection; a woman of tact; good breeding; social usage; a practical joke; a perfect hostess; to be in a passion; disparity of age; human nature;

a cutting remark; a trying moment; a woman of fashion; con­ventional remarks; an obscure architect; an artifice; to have a knack for smth.; to take smth. as a matter of course; an in­fallible instinct; a peculiar savour; a fortune-hunter

Express the following more simply.

1. She never sought to conceal the fact; 2. there were few persons who did not look upon it as a treat to be bidden to one of thent. 3. Mrs Tower's face was wonderful to behold.

4. she was conspicuous in that gathering; 5. She was dressed in black and white as no doubt befitted her slightly ambig­uous position...