3.You see.I wrote to my mother regularly every week,telling her most of my doings.She knew all my friends by name:I am sure she formed in her mind notions of what sort of people they were.Thus I had often mentioned Agnes and her family in my letters.But you can't write even to your mother and say:"I think I am beginning to fall in love with Agnes,""I think Agnes likes me,”"I love her,,”"I feel certain she loves me too,.”I shall propose to her some day."You can't do that.At least I couldn't.Therefore it had happened that on the 20th of December I had proposed to Agnes and she agreed to marry me,and my mother had no suspicion that my happiness was so near.And on the 22nd of December I came to spend Christmas with my mother
3. You see, I wrote to my mother regularly every week, telling her most of my doings. She knew all my friends by name; I am sure she formed in her mind notions of what sort of people they were. Thus I had often mentioned Agnes and her family in my letters. But you can’t write even to your mother and say: “I think I am beginning to fall in love with Agnes,” “I think Agnes likes me,” “I love her,” “I feel certain she loves me too,” “I shall propose to her some day.” You can’t do that. At least I couldn’t. Therefore it had happened that on the 20th of December I had proposed to Agnes and she agreed to marry me, and my mother had no suspicion that my happiness was so near. And on the 22nd of December I came to spend Christmas with my mother
4.I was the only son of a widow;I was all that my mother had.And I had gone and engaged myself to a girl she had never seen,and I had not told her anything about it.She would certainly be very much surprised,and she might be a little hurt-just at first.Anyhow,the situation was very delicate. 5.I walked up the white front steps of my mother's little house,just opposite where the electric cars stop,but before I could put my hand on the bell,my little mother, in her black silk and her gold brooch opened to me, having doubtless watched me down the road from the window,as usual,and she said,as usual,kissing me
4. I was the only son of a widow; I was all that my mother had. And I had gone and engaged myself to a girl she had never seen, and I had not told her anything about it. She would certainly be very much surprised, and she might be a little hurt—just at first. Anyhow, the situation was very delicate. 5. I walked up the white front steps of my mother’s little house, just opposite where the electric cars stop, but before I could put my hand on the bell, my little mother, in her black silk and her gold brooch opened to me, having doubtless watched me down the road from the window, as usual, and she said, as usual, kissing me
"Well,Philip!How are you?" And I said. "Oh!I'm all right,mother.How are you?" 6.I noticed at once that she was more excited than my arrival usually made her.There were tears in her smiling eyes,and she was as nervous as a young girl. And indeed she looked remarkably young for a woman of forty-five,with twenty-five years of widowhood and a short but stormy married life behind her. 7.The thought flashed across my mind:"By some means or other she has some information about my engagement.But how?
“Well, Philip! How are you?” And I said, “Oh! I’m all right, mother. How are you?” 6. I noticed at once that she was more excited than my arrival usually made her. There were tears in her smiling eyes, and she was as nervous as a young girl. And indeed she looked remarkably young for a woman of forty-five, with twenty-five years of widowhood and a short but stormy married life behind her. 7.The thought flashed across my mind: “By some means or other she has some information about my engagement. But how?
But I said nothing.I too,was rather nervous. "I'll tell her at supper,"I decided and went upstairs. 8.At the moment there was a ring at the door.She ran to the door,instead of letting the servant go.It was a porter with my bag. 9.Just as I was coming downstairs again there was another ring at the door.And my mother appeared out of the kitchen,but I was before her,and with a laugh I insisted on opening the front door myself this time.A young woman stood on the step
But I said nothing. I too, was rather nervous. “I’ll tell her at supper,” I decided and went upstairs. 8. At the moment there was a ring at the door. She ran to the door, instead of letting the servant go. It was a porter with my bag. 9.Just as I was coming downstairs again there was another ring at the door. And my mother appeared out of the kitchen, but I was before her, and with a laugh I insisted on opening the front door myself this time. A young woman stood on the step
10."Please,Mrs.Dawson wants to know if Mrs. Durance can kindly lend her half-a-dozen knives and forks?" "Eh,with pleasure,"said my mother,behind me. “Just wait a minute,Lucy.Come inside.” 11.I followed my mother into the drawing-room, in tissue paper,and then went out and gave it to the servant,saying:"There!And the compliments of the season to your mistress,Lucy
10. “Please, Mrs. Dawson wants to know if Mrs. Durance can kindly lend her half-a-dozen knives and forks?” “Eh, with pleasure,” said my mother, behind me. “Just wait a minute, Lucy. Come inside.” 11. I followed my mother into the drawing-room, where she took some silver out of the cabinet, wrapped it in tissue paper, and then went out and gave it to the servant, saying: “There! And the compliments of the season to your mistress, Lucy