Le Petit Chose - Part 41
Library

Part 41

XII (pp. 56-60)

1. You must redouble your efforts, or else you will never pull through.

2. When you want any books, you will only have to come and take them.

3. Tell him that he can believe me, for I have been through it all.

4. Thereupon he resumed his reading and let me go out without even looking at me.

5. I had entered without anyone suspecting my presence.

6. At last the appointed day came, and it was high time, for I could stand it no longer.

7. Stretched out in his arm-chair, he was listening to his neighbours with an absent-minded air.

8. A few bald gentlemen were mopping their heads with flame-coloured silk handkerchiefs.

9. As soon as he had finished his speech, there was a general uproar.

10. "Which way must we go?"-"Come this way."

11. Do not allow yourself to be so easily discouraged.

12. The children had gone bird-catching with a bird-call.

13. Being quite alone, I spent nearly all my time reading.

14. As usual he answered "Thank you!" without taking his eyes off his book.

15. The little patient dreamt of it every night, he could sleep no longer for it.

XIII (pp. 61-65)

1. He lost his head, and added in a trembling voice: "I thank you for all your kindness to me."

2. I promise you that it shall be done without fail not later than to-morrow.

3. At last, in utter despair, he made up his mind to write to them.

4. Prepare your letter beforehand and hand it over to him as soon as he arrives.

5. n.o.body came on that day, or on the next either.

6. To crown our misfortunes, it soon began to snow.

7. How short the holidays have been this summer!

8. The whole house was being repaired from top to bottom.

9. Here he comes; you must mind your p's and q's.

10. Neither the masters nor the pupils felt in the mood for working.

11. After two whole months' rest, the college found it difficult to resume its ordinary routine.

12. For my own part illness had made me unable to bear anything.

13. We no longer had any ammunition to fight the rioters with.

14. Sometimes, as a last resource, I called my neighbour to my aid.

15. They were all so quiet that you could have heard a pin drop.

16. It was evident that I had an awkward customer to deal with.

XIV (pp. 66-70)

1. I soon saw that I was getting involved in a nasty business.

2. You should have seen the air he put on in answering me.

3. I raised my arm as if to seize him by the coat-collar.

4. All the spectators at once clapped their hands.

5. Just fancy! the marquess brought to his senses by this slip of an usher!

6. My friend has not yet arrived, but I expect him every moment.

7. I was beginning to think that I should get off with a good fright.

8. What penalty do you think it your duty to inflict upon him?

9. The child had been confined to his bed for the last three days.

10. You do not know what sort of man you have to deal with.

11. During this fine speech we were all laughing in our sleeves.

12. I might have answered, but took good care not to.

13. When they were hard up for something more to say, they at last retired.

14. The interesting victim was made to repeat his story twenty times running.

15. It would have been much better for me to have been dismissed at once.

XV (pp. 71-75)

1. I should pity him more if he did not complain so often.

2. Although it was spring, a good deal of snow had fallen during the night 3. Even if (_do not use 'si'_) they had utterly demolished the house I should not have noticed it.

4. I was far from suspecting that they had been in England for the last fortnight.

5. Taking everything into account, I hope I shall be able to send you something from time to time out of my savings.

6. What a beautiful town Paris is!

7. Here at any rate it is not always foggy as in Lyons.

8. I had come to that part of the letter when I suddenly heard a dull noise.

9. In the playground the children were shouting at the top of their voices.

10. Why do you not want us to mention it to them?

11. A monotonous plain stretched as far as the eye could see.

12. I was longing to be alone in my room.

13. We have not seen them yet, but they will not be long in coming.

14. I began to go up the stairs four steps at a time.

15. The new secretary was beside himself with joy.

XVI (pp. 76-80)

1. Before going in, I stopped an instant to recover my breath.

2. The head master in his dressing-gown was standing near him, with his velvet cap in his hand.

3. I did not know what it was all about, but on hearing these words I blushed for shame.

4. Turning to me, he took from the mantel-piece a little bundle of papers I had not yet noticed.

5. Instead of answering him, he hung down his head and remained silent.

6. One word might have exculpated me, but that word I did not utter.

7. I was ready to suffer anything rather than betray my friend.

8. It is half-past ten already; they must have missed the train.

9. All my courage suddenly failed me, and, without saying a word, I hurriedly went out.

10. I saw his face brighten as I spoke.

11. "Listen to this before I go," said he in a low voice.

12. You must promise me to write to them when everything is over.

13. When I was in the army, I vowed that, if ever I came to be drummed out, I would not survive my dishonour.

14. I would rather lose my situation than be the cause of his death.

15. The very least we can do is to wait till the last moment before coming to such a decision.

XVII (pp. 81-85)

1. If the poor man happened to die, what would become of his children?