Unit 48: I think it's awful
1. What do you think of it?
(Miss Prim comes and teaches the girls to talk to people—to men.)
| Miss Prim | Good morning, girls. |
| Florence & Edith | Good morning, Miss Prim. |
| Miss Prim | Sit down, please. Your mother tells me you have a problem, girls. You cannot talk to people— to men. I am going to teach you to talk, girls. Florence! What do you think of the new book by Mr. Dickens? |
| Florence | I—er — haven't read it, Miss Prim. |
| Miss Prim | What do you think of Edinburgh, Florence? |
| Florence | I haven't been there, Miss Prim. |
| Miss Prim | What do you think of Mr. Dacre's new song? |
| Florence | I haven't heard it, Miss Prim. |
| Miss Prim | Oh dear, oh dear. I understand your mother now. You have a problem. Let us begin again, and this time, say something. You, Florence, will say you like it very much. You, Edith, will say that you don't like it. Ready? What do you think of the new book by Mr. Dickens? |
| Florence | I like it very much, Miss Prim. |
| Edith | I don't like it at all, Miss Prim. |
| Miss Prim | Very good, girls. Now—what do you think of Edinburgh? |
| Florence | I think it's very nice, Miss Prim. |
| Edith | I think it's awful. |
| Miss Prim | Good. What do you think of Mr. Dacre's new song? |
| Florence | I like it very much. I think it's very nice. |
| Miss Prim | Very good, Florence. |
| Edith | I don't like it at all. I think it's awful. |
| Miss Prim | That's very good, too, Edith. But we must do a lot of work, girls—a lot of work. |
2. I agree, but ...
| Miss Prim | Florence, what do you think of Mr. Dickens' new book? |
| Florence | I think it's very exiting and interesting. I like the way it begins. |
| Miss Prim | Edith? |
| Edith | Yes, I agree, but things happen rather slowly. It takes too long to get into the story. |
| Miss Prim | And what do you think of Mr. Dacre's song —Daisy Belli? |
| Florence | I like it. It's a very happy song. |
| Edith | Yes, that's true, but I don't like the singer very much. He doesn't sing—he shouts. |
| Miss Prim | And what do you think of Edinburgh? |
| Florence | I think it's very beautiful. I like the castle. |
| Edith | Yes, I agree, but it's a very grey city, and it rains a lot. |
| Miss Prim | And Mr. Wilde's new play? |
| Florence | I like it very much. I think it's very funny. |
| Edith | I don't like it at all. I think it's terrible. |
| Miss Prim | Very good, girls, very good indeed. I think you're ready now. Tomorrow you can meet some young men! |
3. I think it's very funny.
| Walter | Yes, I was in Paris last week. Wonderful place. What do you think of it, Ernest? |
| Ernest | Oh—er—very nice. |
| Florence | I think it's very beautiful. I like the castle. |
| Walter | Castle? In Paris? |
| Edith | Yes, I agree, but it's a very grey city, and it rains a lot. |
| Walter | Oh, does it? |
| Ernest | You're very sporty today, Walter. New? |
| Walter | Yes. |
| Ernest | Very good. What do you think of it, Miss Florence? |
| Florence | Pardon? |
| Ernest | It's new. What do you think of it? |
| Florence | I like it very much. I think it's very funny. |
| Walter | Funny! |
| Edith | I don't like it at all. I think it's terrible. |
| Ernest | What about Mr. Dacre's new song? What do you think of that? |
| Walter | Oh, yes. "Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer, do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you." |
| Florence | I like it. It's a very happy song. |
| Edith | Yes, that's true, but I don't like the singer very much. He doesn't sing—he shouts. Oh! |
| Walter | Mr. Dickens' new novel. What do you think of it? |
| Florence | I think it's very exciting and interesting. I like the way it begins. |
| Edith | Yes, I agree, but things happen rather slowly. It takes too long ... |
* * *
| Miss Prim | Well, is everything all right, girls? |
4. Teach them to talk.
| Miss Prim | Very nice, my dears. I hope you'll be very happy. And if you have daughters—teach them to talk. It's important! |