Three Strangers - Bookworm. Oxford English-Chinese Bilingual Readers (Level 3 suitable for junior high school 3rd grade, first year of senior high school)

Author: (English) Hardy
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: When the shepherd and the stranger were talking, the other guests didn’t pay much attention to the stranger, as they were discussing what piece the violinist should play next. They were about to get up to dance again, when the door was knocked on once more. Hearing the knock, the stranger turned his back to the door, as if busy lighting his pipe. "Come in!" the shepherd Fennel called out again. Soon, another person walked in. Another stranger. This man was quite different from the first one, with a more cheerful demeanor. He was a few years older, with gray hair and a ruddy complexion. Under his long, wet overcoat, he wore dark gray clothes. "Let me rest here for a few minutes, friends," he said, "or I’ll be soaked through by the time I reach Castlebridge." "Please, have a seat, sir," Fennel replied, his attitude less warm than when welcoming the first stranger. The room wasn’t large, with few chairs, and the strangers also brought in the damp chill. The second stranger took off his overcoat and hat, sat heavily down at the table pushed to the fireplace by the dancers. He found himself sitting next to the first stranger. The man smiled politely at him and handed him a cup of honey wine. The second stranger took the cup, raised it to his lips, and drank it down in one gulp. Mrs. Fennel watched him, disapproving of his reckless drinking of her best honey wine. Later, the gray-clad man sighed happily and put down the cup. "This wine is wonderful, shepherd!" he said, "I haven’t had something this good in years." "I’m glad you like it, sir!" Fennel replied. "It’s the finest honey wine," his wife added, somewhat coldly. "Of course, it’s made with our own honey, and it’s quite a lot of work, you know. But we might not make it anymore—honey sells well, and we don’t need much honey wine ourselves." "Oh, you can’t stop making it!" the gray-clad man exclaimed. He picked up the cup again and drank the last drop. "I love honey wine, just like I love going to church on Sundays and giving money to the poor!" "Hahaha!" the man by the fireplace laughed, seemingly amused by the stranger’s little joke. P11-13