In the beginning, Tracy was not impressed with Charles Stanhope even though she was aware that he was considered Philadelphia’s prize catch. Charles was thirtyfive and a rich and successful member of one of the oldest families in Philadelphia. Five feet ten inches, with thinning sandy hair, brown eyes, and an earnest, pedantic manner, he was, Tracy thought, one of the boring rich.
As though reading her mind, Charles leaned across the table and said, “My father is convinced they gave him the wrong baby at the hospital.”
“What?”
“I’m a throwback. I don’t happen to think money is the end-all and be-all of life. But please don’t ever tell my father I said so.”
There was such a charming unpretentiousness about him that Tracy found herself warming to him. I wonder what it would be like to be married to someone like him – one of the establishment. And what am I going on about like an idiot?
Talk about ego. A man asks me out to dinner and I’m deciding whether I want to marry him. We’ll probably never even see each other again.’ Charles was saying, “I hope you’re free for dinner tomorrow…?” Philadelphia was a dazzling cornucopia of things to see and do. On Saturday nights Tracy and Charles went to the ballet or watched Riccardo Muti conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra. During the week they explored New Market and the unique collection of shops in Society Hill. They ate cheese steaks at a pavement table at Geno’s and dined at the Cafe Royal, one of the most exclusive restaurants in Philadelphia. They shopped at Head House Square and wandered through the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum.
4.1.1 Vocabulary notes
guest speaker – приглашенный докладчик
to run – управлять, руководить
investment house – инвестиционная компания
to found – основать
ability – способность, возможность
staggering sums of money – огромные суммы денег
to be aware – понимать, осознавать
to consider – рассматривать
to convince – убеждать
to wonder – хотеть знать
to wander – бродить
leisure – досуг
cornucopia – рог изобилия
4.1.2 Fill in the gaps with the following prepositions: with, by, of, from, after, in
1 His company did a good deal … business … the Philadelphia Trust and Fidelity Bank.
2 The investment house was founded … his great-grandfather.
3 Third-world nations borrow money … commercial banks worldwide and western governments.
4 … the beginning Tracy was not impressed … Charles Stanhope. 5 … Charles’s lecture Tracy went up to disagree with his analysis.
4.1.3 Fill in the gaps with the following words: beautiful, at first, financial, business, investment, successful
1 Charles was amused, then intrigued.
2 Tracy was a … woman of her mid-twenties with lovely, intelligent face. 3 Tracy met Charles at a… symposium.
4 Charles was a rich and … member of one of the oldest families in Philadelphia.
5 Charles ran the … house.
6 His company did a good deal of… with the bank Tracy worked for.
4.1.4 Answer the questions
1 Where did Tracy meet Charles Stanhope?
2 What company did Charles Stanhope run?
3 What bank did Charles’ company do a good deal of business with?
4 Why did Tracy go to Charles Stanhope after his lecture at the financial symposium?
5 What sums of money did third-world nations borrow from commercial banks worldwide and western governments?
6 How did Tracy and Charles spend their leisure?
4.1.5 What do you think about the main characters of the extract?
