Q Speaking Work in pairs. Clifford and Hepzibah decide to go to church. Act out the scene from Chapter Four. Student A: You are Clifford. Student B: You are Hepzibah. T: GRADE 7 Q Speaking: early memories In Chapter Four Clifford is happy blowing soap bubbles. "He had often blown soap bubbles with his sister when they were children." Prepare a talk about your early memories of games and toys which you played with. Remember to mention: • the different types of games/toys that were available • which of these are still used today • the types of toys and games available today that weren't available when you were a child • which you particularly enjoyed/didn't enjoy • whether you think children are better off today with an even greater variety of toys and games, or whether it was better in the past. Give your reasons. Q Discussion Discuss the relationships in Chapter Four between the following characters. 1 Clifford and Phoebe 2 Hepzibah and Clifford 3 judge Pyncheon and Clifford 0 A Clifford is having problems adjusting to the world. Why do you think this is? He sometimes acts like a child. Find the events in this chapter in which Clifford appears child-like. B Talk about the following questions in small groups. 1 What do you think will happen to Clifford? 2 If he were to come out of prison in today's world, do you think he would adjust better? 3 Would he receive any specialist help? Before you read Q Prediction The following sentences come from Chapter Five. Who do you think they refer to? Choose from the names in the box. Phoebe Clifford Holgrave Hepzibah Judge Pyncheon 1 She was not as carefree and cheerful as she had been in the past 2 He did not like or respect traditions................................ 3 "He's as happy as a child."............................... 4 "His mood changes without any reason."............................... 5 "He's very similar to his ancestor."............................... mk 6 "You're the only light in this gloomy house."........,...................... 7 "... has lost all contact with society."............................... 8 "He's clever and powerful."............................... Now read the chapter and check if you were right. 64 65 CHAPTER 5 The Daguerreotypist Clifford went to sleep early in the evening, as children usually do. He was always tired, but not by physical exercise. It seemed like he needed a lot of energy to do very simple things. While he slept, Phoebe was free to do whatever she wanted. This freedom was necessary for her health. She needed to get out of the house and breathe fresh air because the air inside was unhealthy for her. As time went by Phoebe changed. She was not as carefree and cheerful as she had been in the past. She began to understand Clifford more, and her eyes became darker and their expression deeper. Holgrave, the daguerreotypist, was the only young person Phoebe knew and talked to. He told her many things about The Daguerreotypist himself. He was twenty-two years old and came from a poor family He had already worked as a school teacher, a salesman and an editor of a country newspaper. He had also traveled to parts of Europe — Italy, France and Germany. His present job was, in his opinion, a temporary one. For him it was only a way to earn money to be able to live. Phoebe recognized Holgrave's strong personality, as Hepzibah had done. It was difficult not to. But he did not like or respect traditions and felt that new ideas should take their place. And this sometimes worried Phoebe. Phoebe noticed that he was interested in Hepzibah and Clifford, and he studied them carefully. "Is Clifford still happy?" he asked Phoebe one day. "He's as happy as a child," answered Phoebe. "But like a child, he's easily disturbed." "Disturbed by what?" asked Holgrave. "I can't see his thoughts," said Phoebe. "His mood 1 changes without any reason, just as a cloud comes over the sun. But I don't think it's right to search in his mind." "1 would!" answered Holgrave excitedly. "Why?" asked Phoebe. "What's Clifford to you?" "Oh, nothing, nothing!" answered the young man, smiling. "This is such a strange world with such strange people. Lo*k at judge Pyncheon! Clifford! And look at this gloomy old house. It's ugly and unhealthy. It should be burnt!" "Burnt!" exclaimed Phoebe, visibly disturbed. "Then why do you live in it?" "Oh, I'm studying it. To me, this house represents a terrible past. 1. mood : the way one feels at a particular time. 66 67 The House of the Seven Gabies CHAPTER 5 And I'm living in it so that I can learn to hate it. Do you know the story of Maule the wizard, and his curse on your ancestor?" "Yes, of course," said Phoebe. "I've heard it several times. My father told me about it when I was a child and cousin Hepzibah has spoken about it two or three times in the short time that I've been here. She believes that all the bad luck of the Pyncheons began with that curse." "I believe it, too," said Holgrave seriously, and looked up at the roof. "Think about it! Under these seven gables over hundreds of years, there has been misery, suspicion, conflict and strange death. Old Colonel Pyncheon wanted to cultivate a family here, but the many generations of the Pyncheon family are all touched by madness." "You aren't very polite about my family," said Phoebe. "But the truth is as I say! The curse lives on and Colonel Pyncheon is with us again. Do you remember the daguerreotype I showed you of Judge Pyncheon? He's very similar to his ancestor. You know, I'm writing a history of the Pyncheon family and I'm going to publish it in a magazine." "Really?" asked Phoebe, who was surprised. "Yes, do you want to hear it?" Holgrave asked. "Well, yes, if it's not too long or boring!" she replied. Holgrave went to get a notebook and started reading it out aloud to Phoebe. It was a long story about beautiful Alice Pyncheon and her meeting with a descendant of the Maule family who put a mysterious spell over her. It seems that she was a victim of this spell and died mysteriously at a young age. In the story Holgrave also talked about a hidden map and a deed 2 for 2. deed : an important document of ownership. 68 The House of the Seven Gables CHAPTER 5 The Daquerreotypist land in the eastern part of Maine. Phoebe listened but her eyes were heavy and they began to close. Holgrave looked over at Phoebe and closed his notebook. "Miss Phoebe! You're sleeping!" he exclaimed. "Me sleeping? Oh, no! I listened to all of your story. It's full of trouble and tragedy," she answered. By this time the sky was dark and there was a big moon. In the silver light of the moon the house looked less cold and gloomy. A gentle wind was blowing the plants in the garden, playing games with the moonlight. "What a beautiful evening!" Holgrave said. "Yes, but 1 must go home now and help cousin Hepzibah with her work," said Phoebe. "Miss Hepzibah told me you're going to the country tomorrow." "Only for a few days. My cousins need me here. I feel that this is my home now." "Yes, you're the only light in this gloomy house. Miss Hepzibah has lost all contact with society. She's already dead. And your cousin Clifford is, too. If you go away, neither will survive. They both exist because of you, Phoebe." "How very sad," said Phoebe slowly. "But I want to help them as much as possible. You know, Mr Holgrave, sometimes I think that you don't like them and don't care about them." "You don't understand. I do care about Miss Hepzibah and Clifford, but not in the way you do. I don't want to help them but I don't want to hurt them either. I only want to watch them, to study them, to understand the tragic life that has gone on in this cursed house for almost two hundred years. I'm only a spectator, but I feel the end is near for them." "I'd understand if you spoke more clearly," said Phoebe, who was disturbed. "And I wish you were more of a human being. How can you watch people suffer without wanting to help and comfort them? This old house is like a theater for you, and Hepzibah and Clifford are the actors of a tragedy. I don't like this, Mr Holgrave!" "Forgive me, Phoebe," he said, taking her hand, "but I'm attracted by the occult."3 "You said the end is near. Do you know something that you're not telling me?" "I know nothing, but I see that Judge Pyncheon still keeps an eye on Clifford. He has already done a lot to ruin the poor man's life. The judge is a mystery to me. He's clever and powerful, but I don't know what he wants from Clifford." "I don't understand you, Mr Holgrave," said Phoebe. "It's time for me to go. Goodnight!" "Goodnight, my friend," he answered. 3. occult : witchcraft, magic. 70 71 s The text and beyond Q Comprehension check What happened in Chapter Five? Are these sentences true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false statements. T F 1 Clifford's bedtime was typical of an adult's. QJ d 2 Phoebe became different during her stay. 3 Holgrave was a very traditional man. Q 4 Phoebe thought Clifford's behavior should be investigated. O |_| 5 Holgrave was particularly interested in learning about the House of the Seven Gables. [_] [~.] 6 He had already published the history of the Pyncheons. | [ | | 7 His story contained information about one of Phoebe's ancestors. 8 Holgrave felt that Hepzibah and Clifford could no longer survive without Phoebe. ] [~J 9 Phoebe wasn't sure that Holgrave liked Clifford and Hepzibah. □ O 10 Phoebe was happy about the interest Holgrave showed in Hepzibah and Clifford. Q Vocabulary A Read these definitions of words from Chapter Five. Find the correct words in the text. 1 liberty .................................. 2 might cause illness.................................. 3 without any worries or troubles.................................. 4 not permanent .................................. 5 worried or anxious .................................. 6 dark 7 ancestor .................................. 8 destroy .................................. 72 B Complete the following sentences with the words you found in the text. 1 My stay in this town is just a...................one. I'll be moving on soon. 2 Don't let those children play on the grass! They'll...................it. 3 Jake is a...................young man. He's lucky not to have to worry about his future. 4 Every individual has a right to.................... 5 They walked along the...................corridor until they finally came to a room full of light. 6 We were very...................by her bad news. 7 If you don't exercise regularly, you'll lead a very.................life. 8 She's a...................of the most important family in the area. Q Speaking Work in pairs. Make notes on the conversation starting from when Holgrave finished reading his manuscript. Then act out the conversation. Student A: You are Phoebe. Student B: You are Holgrave. Q Discussion Work in pairs. Holgrave has worked as a schoolteacher, a salesman and an editor of a newspaper. What type of job would you like to have in the future? Why? 0 Writing Write a story for a magazine. Your story must begin with the following words: The witch cast a spell... Write your story in 120-180 words. 73 FCE Discussion Holgrave is a daguerreotype artist who takes pictures of people. How do people take pictures like these today? What do they use? Which method is easier, do you think? Why? Are they equally effective? What are the advantages and disadvantages of methods used in the past, compared with what is used today? Use the pictures to help you. Before you read Q Listening PQg- Listen to the first part of Chapter Six and complete the following sentences. 1 The weather was bad so Clifford couldn't go into the............. 2 Fewer............came to the shop after Phoebe left. 3 judge Pyncheon says that Clifford is always............. 4 Hepzibah says that Clifford went to............because of Judge Pyncheon. Q Reading pictures Look at the pictures on pages 77 and 80/81. Who can you see in the picture? What's happening in the picture? What do you think will happen next? 74 CHAPTER 6 History Repeats Itself Phoebe's stay at the House of the Seven Gables changed her young heart; she became familiar with sadness and regret.1 But on the morning that she left the big old house in Pyncheon Street, there were tears in her eyes as she looked at the garden from her bedroom window. She asked herself how, in such a short time, she had won so much love from Hepzibafa. and attention from Clifford. She went downstairs and said goodbye to her cousins, who were sad to see her leave. Then she left the house and went to her mother's house in the country. Soon after she left the weather got worse and it started raining heavily. The dark sky and the rain made the house even 1. regret : being sorry or disappointed about something that has or has not happened. 75 The House of the Seven Gables CHAPTER 6 gloomier. Phoebe was gone, the weather was bad and it was impossible to go out into the garden. Clifford became very sad and Hepzibah was certainly not good company for him. To make things worse, the shop lost many of its customers. One day Judge Pyncheon came to visit the shop. "How are you, cousin Hepzibah? And how's dear Clifford?" he asked with a friendly smile. "Can I do anything to help you and Clifford? Do you need anything?" "You can do nothing for us," Hepzibah answered coldly. "We don't need anything." "Let me see Clifford," said the judge. "He's always alone." "Clifford is in bed and you can't see him." "What! Is he ill? I must see him then. What if he dies?" "He isn't in danger of death," said Hepzibah bitterly. "Cousin Hepzibah, your bitterness against me is unfair. You know nothing about my kind and generous heart. I want to help dear Clifford. I'm not his enemy — I'm his friend." "in God's name, you can't say these false things!" cried the old woman angrily. "You hate Clifford! Have the courage to say it! You put Clifford in prison and ruined his life," Hepzibah finally had the courage to speak the truth. Judge Pyncheon remained calm and said, "Are you too blind to see the truth? Remember, Hepzibah, I opened the prison door for him. I set him free! And now I can decide whether he will remain free." Hepzibah's face became white. "What do you mean? What do you want from Clifford? Why can't you just leave us to continue our lives?" The judge looked at his cousin with cold eyes. "Before my uncle's death, Clifford told me he knew where the secret map 76 The House of the Seven Gafjles HAPTER 6 History Repeats Itself and land deed were hidden. Whoever finds the secret map and land deed will become very, very rich. The papers belonged to my uncle, and so they're mine. Clifford knows this secret and he must tell me." "Clifford? — Clifford know of any hidden wealth? — Clifford have the power to make you rich?" cried Hepzibah, with a sense of ridicule. "But why would he have hidden it for so long? And what if he refuses to tell you?" "My dear cousin," said the judge calmly, "I've watched Clifford's strange behavior since he returned from prison. And your neighbors have noticed it too. If he refuses to tell me his secret, I'll send him to a mental hospital for the rest of his life!" "I don't believe it!" cried Hepzibah. "Cousin Jaffrey, you are mentally ill, not Clifford. Where is your heart? You are an old man; the hair on your head is white. Why do you want more money? You are already very rich, but you are horribly greedy. You want to do the same thing your ancestor Colonel Pyncheon did hundreds of years ago — you want to hurt a poor person who has already suffered a lot because you are so greedy." "Woman, you don't know what you're saying!" said the judge loudly. "Now I must either see Clifford or I must do something worse... you are responsible for your brother's future." "You have no pity!" cried Hepzibah. "Clifford isn't mad, but if he meets you he could become mad. However, I'll call him now. Be kind to him. Remember, Jaffrey Pyncheon, God is watching you!" The judge followed his cousin from the shop into the living room, where he sat down in an old chair. The chair had been in the old house since it was built and many of the judge's 78 ancestors had sat in it before him, He took out his pocket-watch 2 and held it in his hand, wondering how much time would pass before Clifford appeared. Hepzibah went to look for Clifford with a heavy heart. The house had never seemed so miserable to her. Judge Pyncheon's energy, intelligence and greed had left her without hope. She had a strange feeling about the three of them — the judge, Clifford and herself — being in the house together. She felt nervous and before going to her brother's room she stopped at the window and looked down at the street. She saw the wet street and a carriage traveling on it. Among the people she saw Mr Venner walking slowly down the street. She turned away from the window and finally went to her brother's room. However, Clifford was not there. "Clifford!" she called, but there was no answer. She looked out of the window into the garden, and then she looked in the gable which Holgrave had temporarily made his home. But the Daguerreotypist was not there and neither was Clifford. She called her brother again and again there was no answer. Had he gone out to get away from the judge? She couldn't imagine him out in the city alone. She went back to the living room to tell Judge Pyncheon that she could not find Clifford anywhere. "Clifford is gone," she said as she went into the room. "You must help me look for him." But the judge didn't reply. Instead, she found Clifford there. His face was white and his eyes were wild. 2. pocket-watch : 79 "Hepzibah," he said. "Look!" He pointed to the dead judge sitting in his ancestor's chair, holding his pocket-watch. Hepzibah could not believe what she saw. "Now we can dance!" said Clifford happily. "We can sing and play. We're free!" He started laughing. But Hepzibah wasn't laughing. She was very frightened. "Be quiet, Clifford!" ordered Hepzibah. "What will happen to us now?" "Let's leave this old house. He can have it now." Hepzibah noticed that Clifford had his old coat on. "Why are you waiting?" he asked excitedly. "Put on yoyj^coat, get your money and let's go!" She looked at the dead judge and then suddenly obeyed Clifford. Surely none of this was real — soon she would wake up. But she didn't wake up and they left the house and went out into the street, leaving jaffrey Pyncheon in his ancestor's chair. Clifford took his sister's hand and they walked to the train station. 80 81 The text and beyond FCE O Comprehension check For questions 1-10, read the text below and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each gap. After Phoebe (1)..........for her mother's house, the weather got (2)..........worse and the house seemed gloomier than (3)........... Without Phoebe, Clifford became (4)..........and the shop lost many of its customers. Judge Pyncheon arrived at the shop and asked Hepzibah if he could see Clifford. Hepzibah refused at first and finally was (5)..........to tell him what she thought of him. The judge got very angry and insisted (6)..........seeing Clifford. He told Hepzibah that he would send Clifford to a mental hospital forever (7)..........he told the judge where the secret map and land deed were (8)........... Hepzibah told the judge that he was as evil as his ancestor had been. She then went off, unhappily, to (9)..........Clifford. The judge went to sit down and wait in the living room with his pocket-watch in his hand. Hepzibah couldn't find Clifford anywhere and went back to tell the judge. But she found Clifford in the living room instead. He was (10)..........at the Judge who was sitting in a chair, dead. Clifford told Hepzibah they were now free and they left the house together. 1 A had gone B went C had left D leaving 2 A many B much C more D very 3 A never B already C once D ever 4 A cheerful B friendly C unhappy D aggressive 5 A brave enough B braver C such brave D so brave 6 A on B to C in D for 7 A because B SO C if D unless 8 A hiding B being C hidden D brought 9 A search B look for C discover D inspect 10 A seeing B pointing C directing D watching 82 FCE © Sentence transformation Here are some sentences from Chapter Six. For questions 1-8, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between two and five words, including the word given. There is an example at the beginning (0). 0 She went to her mother's house after saying goodbye to her cousins. said She ..?.?i?..9f?.?.^.Y.?... to her cousins and went to her mother's house. 1 Soon after she left the weather got worse, departure Just............................the weather got worse.' 2 He's always alone, himself He's............................. 3 What will they do if he dies? could What............................to them if he dies? 4 Have the courage to say it! brave Be............................to say it! 5 I set him free, released t............................. 6 I've watched Clifford's strange behavior since he returned from prison. acting I've watched how............................since he returned from prison. 7 I'll send him to a mental hospital for the rest of his life! have I'll............................mental hospital for the rest of his life! 8 However Clifford was not there, sign However,............................Clifford. 83