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13.Comment on the table manners of Mrs. Thayer and Mr.Drake.

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(After

... But presently we were summoned downstairs to luncheon. I had
warned Mrs, Thayer in advance and Ben was served with coffee. He
drinks it black.
"Don't you take cream, Mr. Drake?"
"No, never.
"But that's because you don't get good cream in New York,"
”
"No. It's because I don't like cream in coffee
"You would like our cream. We have our own cows and the
cream is so rich that it's almost like butter. Won't you try just
a little?"
"No, thanks."
"But Just a little, to see how rich it is."
She poured about a tablespoon of cream into his coffee-cup and
for a second I was afraid he was going to pick up the cup and throw it in
her face. But he kept hold of himself, forced a smile and declined a
second chop.
"You haven't tasted your coffee," said Mrs. Thayer.
"Yes, I have," lied Ben. "The cream is wonderful. I'm sorry it
doesn't agree with me."
"I don't believe coffee agrees with anyone," said Mrs. Thayer.
"While you are here, not doing any work, why don't you try to give it
up?"
"I'd be so irritable you wouldn't have me in the house. Besides, it
isn't plain coffee that disagrees with me; it's coffee with cream."
"Pure, rich cream like ours couldn't hurt you," said Mrs.Thayer,
and Ben, defeated, refused to answer.
He started to light a Jaguar cigaret, the brand he had been smoking
for years.
"Here! Wait a minute!" said Mrs. Thayer. "Try one of mine."
"What are they?" asked Ben.
"Trumps," said our host, holding out his case. "They're mild and
won't irritate the throut."
"I'll sample one later," said Ben.
"You've simply got to try one now," said Mrs. Thayer. "You may
as well get used to them because you'll have to smoke them all the time

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Друкується за виданням Учебник английского языка. - М.: Высшая
школа. 1980

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