Unit 42: What do you know about him?

1. I'm not sure, but I think ...

(Betty and Joan meet in the library when they were looking for books.)

Joan	Oh, hello, Betty. It's you?
Betty	Yes. Hello, Joan. How are you?
Joan	Fine, thanks.
Betty	Have the new people come yet, next door?
Joan	Yes. Two days ago. In fact, that's our new neighbour over there. He's the man next door.
Betty	Oh! Do you know anything about him?
Joan	Well. I know he's married, and his wife looks very nice. And I know they've got two children—two girls.
Betty	Do you know where they come from?
Joan	I'm not sure, but I think they used to live in Oxford.
Betty	And do you know what he does? What's his job?
Joan	I don't know.
Betty	Perhaps ... perhaps he hasn't got a job.
Joan	Oh, I'm sure he has. Why do you say that, Betty?
Betty	Well, he is here, isn't he? In the library, I mean. He's not at work.
Joan	Oh, yes. I see what you mean.
Betty	Perhaps he has a special kind of job, or he had a job in Oxford, but hasn't got one here. How old is he, do you think?
Joan	I don't know. Forty. Perhaps forty-five.
Betty	That's difficult.
Joan	Difficult?
Betty	If he's looking for a new job.
Joan	Oh. But we don't know if he's looking for a new job.
Betty	What about his wife? Are you sure she is his wife?
Joan	Betty! Really!
Betty	Have you talked to her yet?
Joan	No. But I'm sure she's a very nice woman. I'm going to ask her to come and have coffee.
Betty	Look. Come on.
Assistant	You've found something, then, Mrs. James.
Betty	Yes, thanks. These three.
Joan	And I'll take these, please.
Assistant	Right. Oh, by the way, this is Mr. Castle, the new librarian. This is Mrs. James and Mrs. Archer.
Castle	Good morning, ladies.
Joan	The new librarian!
Castle	I see you like stories, Mrs. James.
Joan	Yes, she does. She even invents them.

2. There's no one else like him.

Librarian	Good heavens!
Assistant	Sorry?
Librarian	Who's that?
Assistant	Oh, it's all right. He comes here every day.
Librarian	Do you know who he is?
Assistant	Yes. Mr. Williams.
Librarian	How old is he?
Assistant	I don't know how old he is. It's difficult to say, isn't it? Perhaps he's fifty—perhaps he's eighty.
Librarian	Are you sure that he's—er—all right?
Assistant	Oh, yes. He's never a problem.
Librarian	What's he like?
Assistant	He's very quiet, really. He comes in every day, just for a minute or two, and looks for a book. His book.
Librarian	His book?
Assistant	Yes.
Librarian	You mean, he wrote it?
Assistant	No. I don't think he's written any books. I'm not sure, but I don't think he ever went to school.
Librarian	Ah! But you said "his book".
Assistant	Well, it's our book, really. He gave it to us about two years ago. I think it's the only book he's ever read.
Librarian	And now he comes here and borrows it?
Assistant	Oh no. He never takes it home. But he wants to know if someone else has it.
Librarian	I see.
Assistant	He's a nice man, and I'm sure he's happy when the book isn't there.
Librarian	Yes.
Assistant	You see, he says the book is very good. He liked it, and he wants other people to read it.
Librarian	Well, all right. Tell me, are there any more readers — like Mr. Williams, I mean?
Assistant	Oh no. There's no one else like him.
Mr. Williams	It's not there today, Miss Jones.
Assistant	Good. By the way, Mr. Williams, this is Mr. Castle, the new librarian.
Librarian	Hello, Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams	Hello. My book's not there today.
Librarian	Er—good.
Mr. Williams	I'll be in tomorrow.
Assistant	Yes, all right, Goodbye.
Librarian	Goodbye. What is his book, by the way? I must read it.
Assistant	You can read it now. Well, I know it makes him happy, so why not?
Librarian	As you say, Miss Jones, why not?