Part 1 - Pages 1-51

Question 1

We will repeat yesterday’s lesson

Answer 1

But I don’t like German. It isn’t at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German lesson.

Question 2

Indeed, he always lays stress on your German grammar when he is leaving for town.

Answer 2

Dear Uncle Jack is so very serious! Sometimes he is so serious that I think he cannot be quite well.

Question 3

I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility.

Answer 3

I suppose that is why he often looks a little bored when we three are together.

Question 4

You must remember his constant anxiety about that unfortunate young man his brother

Answer 4

I wish uncle Jack would allow that unfortunate young man his brother to come down here sometimes. We might have a good influence over him, Ms. Prism. I am sure you certainly would. You know German and geology and things of that kind influence a man very much.

Question 5

I really don’t see why you should keep a diary at all

Answer 5

I keep a diary in order to enter the wonderful secrets of my life. If I didn’t write them down, I should probably forget all about them.

Question 6

Memory, my dear Cecily, is the diary that we all carry about with us.

Answer 6

Yes, but it usually chronicles the things that have never happened, and couldn’t possibly have happened. I believe that memory is responsible for nearly all the 3 volume novels that Mudie sends us.

Question 7

I wrote one myself in earlier days.

Answer 7

Did you really, Ms. Prism? How wonderfully clever you are! I hope it did not end happily? I don’t like novels that end happily. They depress me so much.

Question 8

That is what fiction means.

Answer 8

I suppose so. But it seems very unfair. And was your novel ever published?

Question 9

To your work, child, these speculations are profitless.

Answer 9

But I see dear Dr. Chasuble coming up through the garden.

Question 10

Ms. Prism, you are, I trust, well?

Answer 10

Ms. Prism has just been complaining of a slight headache. I think it would do her so much good to have a short stroll with you in the park, Dr. Chasuble.

Question 11

Cecily, I haven’t mentioned anything about a headache.

Answer 11

No, dear Ms. Prism, I know that, but I felt instinctively that you had a headache. Indeed I was thinking about that, and not about my German lesson, when the rector came in.

Question 12

I hope, Cecily, you are not inattentive.

Answer 12

Oh I am afraid I am.

Question 13

Even these metallic problems have their melodramatic side.

Answer 13

Horrid Political Economy, horrid Geography! horrid, horrid German!

Question 14

He has brought his luggage with him.

Answer 14

Mr. Ernest Worthing, B4, the Albany, W. Uncle Jack’s brother! Did you tell him Mr. Worthing was in town?

Question 15

He said he was anxious to speak to you privately for a moment.

Answer 15

Ask Mr. Ernest Worthing to come here. I suppose you had better talk to the housekeeper about a room for him.

Question 16

Yes, Miss.

Answer 16

I have never met a really wicked person before. I feel rather frightened. I am so afraid he will look just like everyone else. He does!

Question 17

You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure.

Answer 17

You are under some strange mistake. I am not little. In fact, i believe i am more than usually tall for my age. But i am your cousin cecily. You, i see from your card, are uncle jack’s brother, my cousin Ernest, my wicked cousin Ernest.

Question 18

…you mustn’t think that i am wicked

Answer 18

If you are not, then you have certainly been deceiving us all in a very inexcusable manner. I hope you have not been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time. That would be hypocrisy.

Question 19

..i have been rather reckless

Answer 19

I am glad to hear it

Question 20

..very bad in my own small way

Answer 20

I don’t think you should be so proud of that, though i am sure it must have been very pleasant.

Question 21

It is much pleasanter being here with you

Answer 21

I can’t understand how you are here at all. Uncle Jack won’t be back til Monday afternoon.

Question 22

..i have a business appointment that I am anxious to miss

Answer 22

Couldn’t you miss it anywhere but in London?

Question 23

No, the appointment is in London

Answer 23

Well, I know, of course, how important it is not to keep a business engagement, if one wants to retain any sense of the beauty of life, but still i think you had better wait til uncle Jack arrives. I know he wants to speak to you about your emigrating

Question 24

About my what?

Answer 24

Your emigrating. He has gone up to buy your outfit

Question 25

..no taste in neckties at all

Answer 25

I don’t think you will require neckties. Uncle Jack is sending you to Australia.

Question 26

I’d sooner die

Answer 26

Well, he said at dinner on Wednesday night, that you would have to choose between this world, the next world, and Australia.

Question 27

..this world is good enough for me, cousin cecily

Answer 27

Yes, but are you good enough for it?

Question 28

..your mission if you don’t mind, cousin cecily

Answer 28

I’m afraid I’ve no time this afternoon

Question 29

..my reforming myself this afternoon?

Answer 29

It is rather quixotic of you. But I think you should try

Question 30

I feel better already

Answer 30

You are looking a little worse

Question 31

..because i am hungry

Answer 31

How thoughtless of me. I should have remembered that when one is going to lead an entirely new life, one requires regular and wholesome meals. Won’t you come in?

Question 32

..unless i have a buttonhole first

Answer 32

A marechal niel?

Question 33

..I’d sooner have a pink rose

Answer 33

Why?

Question 34

..you are like a pink rose cousin cecily

Answer 34

I don’t think it can be right for you to talk to me like that. Ms. Prism never says such things to me.

Question 35

..you are the prettiest girl i ever saw

Answer 35

Ms. Prism says that all good looks are a snare

Question 36

..that every sensible man would like to be caught in

Answer 36

Oh, i don’t think i would care to catch a sensible man. I shouldn’t know what to talk to him about.

Question 37

..a blessing of an extremely obvious kind

Answer 37

Uncle jack! Oh, i am pleased to see you back. But what horrid clothes you have got on! Do go and change them

Question 38

My child, my child,

Answer 38

What is the matter, uncle Jack? Do look happy? You look as if you had toothache, and i have got such a surprise for you. Who do you think is in the dining room? Your brother!

Question 39

Who?

Answer 39

Your brother Ernest. He arrived about half an hour ago

Question 40

..I haven’t got a brother

Answer 40

Oh, don’t say that. Howver badly he may have behaved to you in the past he is still your brother. You couldn’t be so heartless as to disown him. I’ll tell him to come out. And you will shake hands with him, won’t you, uncle jack?

Question 41

..i intend to lead a better life in the future

Answer 41

Uncle Jack, you are not going to refuse your own brother’s hand?

Question 42

..he knows perfectly well why

Answer 42

Uncle Jack, do be nice. There is some good in everyone. Ernest has just been telling me about his poor invalid friend mr Bunbury whom he goes to visit so often. And surely there must be much good in one who is kind to an invalid, and leaves the pleasures of London to sit by a bed of pain

Question 43

..talking about Bunbury, has he?

Answer 43

Yes, he has told me all about poor mr. Bunbury and his terrible state of health

Question 44

..it is the first time i have come here

Answer 44

Uncle Jack, if you don’t shake hands with Ernest i will never forgive you

Question 45

Never forgive me?

Answer 45

Never never never!

Question 46

Cecily you will come with us

Answer 46

Certainly ms. Prism. My little task of reconciliation is over

Question 47

..premature in our judgements

Answer 47

I feel very happy