A landmark for the new millennium 1 страница

Mark’s Visit to Ravenscar

Mark and Fenella were the first to arrive at Ravenscar. Mark had not been to Ravenscar for a long time, but even so he had not forgotten the spectacular A22 ______ from the library windows. As he and Fenella were ushered into the room by Cecily Deravenel, he A23 ______ his bestnot to rush over to the windows to enjoy the view.

“It’s lovely to see you both,” Cecily was A24 ______, and then her facebroke into smiles. “Ah, here’s Bess, your greatest admirer, Fenella. And Nanny with the other children.”

A moment later Fenella and Cecily were surrounded by the youngsters, all clamoring for attention, and Mark tookthe opportunity to walk to the other end of the room. Mark always thought that A25 ______ up children was so boring.

Turning around Mark allowed his eyes to sweep the room for an admiring moment, taking inlong shelves of books, several memorable paintings, and the handsome antiques, made of dark, ripe woods. There were A26 ______ sofas and chairs arranged near the huge stone fireplace. A27 ______the warm weather, a log fire was blazing. It was a pleasure to be in such a nice room.

His eyes settledon Fenella, who was momentarily preoccupied with the youngsters, and he had to admit he had never seen such beautiful children in his life. They might have just stepped out of a portrait by one of the greatest artists of the eighteenth century, Thomas Gainsborough, George Romney, Sir Joshua Reynolds. Suddenly he A28 ______ he had had children.

Vicky

Vicky Forth was an optimist, and she had been for all of her life; even when she was a child, her A22 ______ had been positive.

Her glass was always half full, never half empty; tomorrow would be a much better day than today; the future was full of promise and success. She A23 ______ her best to look at the bright side of things.

How right she had been to encourage her daughter to be optimistic, to set her sights on Oxford University. Women were not yet admitted to membership of the University, but they could A24 ______lectures, take courses, and sit for examinations. Grace Rose would be able to do all of these things, and would be well A25 ______ after by Vicky’s dear old friend Millicent, now widowed, who had a lovely new house in Oxford. It had been an inspired idea to write to her. Vicky was relieved and happy for her daughter, who was a wonderful student. She hoped to be a historian one day. Vicky always thought that A26 ______ up children was so exciting.

She remembered that her husband was waiting for her downstairs. After A27 ______ on her dress and stepping into matching rose-colored shoes, Vicky went back to her dressing-table and selected a pair of diamond earrings and a matching brooch made of silver. She looked at herself in the large looking glass in one corner of the room. Vicky A28 ______ she liked her appearance.