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Contents
Chapter One: Ripley and His House
Chapter Two: The New Tenants
Chapter Three: A Secret Morning
Chapter Four: Cora Knows
Chapter One
Ripley and His House
Ripley was a young man who lived in a large country house near the small town of Boynton.
He was an orphan. He had no brothers or sisters, so he lived alone. He had lived in the house for two years, and he was very happy there.
The house was beautiful. There were large rooms, comfortable furniture, and many books. Around the house there were green lawns, trees, flowers, and gardens.
Ripley also had horses, cows, chickens, and other animals. He loved his home very much.
Every day, he worked in the garden. He planted flowers and vegetables. He also took care of his animals.
After two years, Ripley felt that his house was ready. Everything was clean and comfortable.
Then he began to think about traveling.
“I have lived here for two years,” he thought. “Perhaps I should see Europe. I can visit new places and learn new things.”
He decided to travel to Europe during the summer. There was one problem, however. Ripley did not want to leave his house empty.
He spoke to his business agent, Mr. Barker.
“I want to rent the house while I am away,” Ripley said.
“That is a good idea,” Barker answered. “I am sure we can find a family who will rent it.”
Ripley wanted to leave almost everything in the house. The new family could use the furniture, books, horses, cows, and chickens.
Only Ripley’s clothes and personal things would go with him. But finding the right family was not easy.
Some people thought the house was too large. Others thought it was too small. Some people had too many horses, and Ripley did not have enough space for them.
Weeks passed. Ripley’s trip to Europe was getting closer. Then, one afternoon, a family came to see the house.
Ripley personally showed them around.
The family had three people: a father, a mother, and their young daughter.
The girl’s name was Cora Vincent. She was about twenty years old. Ripley noticed her immediately. Cora looked around the house with interest.
“This is a beautiful place,” she said.
Ripley smiled.
“Yes. I have spent a lot of time making it comfortable.”
Cora looked at the garden.
“I like the flowers very much.”
Ripley looked at her.
“So do I.”
They walked through the rooms together. Ripley showed the family the library, the garden, the stable, and the fields. He wanted to show Cora every beautiful place on the property.
Finally, Cora’s parents decided to rent the house.
“I am very happy,” Cora said. “I think I will enjoy living here.”
Ripley felt happier than he had felt for a long time. After the family left, he quickly went to see Barker.
“I have found the right tenants,” he said.
Barker looked surprised.
“You seem very happy about it.”
“I am,” Ripley answered.
But Barker did not know the real reason. Ripley was happy because Cora Vincent was going to live in his house.
That evening, Ripley thought about her again and again. He had planned to travel to Europe. Now he was not so sure. He had only met Cora that afternoon. But something had already changed.
Chapter 1 – Vocabulary
- Country house — a large house in the countryside
Ripley was a young man who lived in a large country house. - Orphan — a child whose parents have died
He was an orphan. - Comfortable — pleasant and easy to live in
There were large rooms, comfortable furniture, and many books. - Garden — an area where flowers, vegetables, or plants grow
Every day, he worked in the garden.
- Travel — to go from one place to another
Perhaps I should see Europe. - Rent — to pay to use a house or room for a period of time
I want to rent the house while I am away. - Tenant — a person who rents a house or room
I have found the right tenants. - Notice — to see or become aware of something
Ripley noticed her immediatel
Chapter 1 – Comprehension Questions
- Where did Ripley live?
- Why did Ripley live alone?
- What did Ripley have around his house?
- What did Ripley like doing every day?
- Why did Ripley decide to travel to Europe?
- Why did Ripley want to rent his house?
- Who came to see Ripley’s house?
- What was the young girl’s name?
Chapter 1 – Grammar Exercises
1. Ripley ___ in a large country house.
A) live
B) lives
C) living
D) lived
2. He ___ alone.
A) live
B) living
C) lived
D) lives
3. Ripley wanted ___ to Europe.
A) travel
B) traveling
C) to travel
D) traveled
4. There ___ many books in the house.
A) was
B) were
C) is
D) be
5. Ripley ___ the garden every day.
A) worked in
B) work in
C) working in
D) works in
6. He wanted to ___ the house.
A) rented
B) renting
C) rent
D) rents
7. Cora ___ around the house with interest.
A) look
B) looked
C) looking
D) looks
8. Ripley ___ Cora immediately.
A) notice
B) notices
C) noticed
D) noticing
Answers
1-B, 2-D, 3-C, 4-B, 5-A, 6-C, 7-B, 8-C
Chapter Two
The New Tenants
A few days later, the Vincent family moved into Ripley’s house. Ripley was supposed to leave for Europe soon. He had already made his travel plans.
His ship was waiting for him. But now he had a problem. He did not want to leave. He wanted to see Cora again. He told himself that he could stay for a few more days.
Then he would travel. But every day he found a new reason to stay.
One day, he wanted to check something in the house. Another day, he wanted to speak to Barker. Then he wanted to make sure that the animals were well.
He also wanted to show Cora some of the walks around the property. Soon Ripley understood the truth. He did not want to go to Europe. He wanted to stay near Cora. But he could not simply live in his own house.
The house now belonged to the Vincent family for the summer. So Ripley found a room at the house of a local miller. The miller was a friendly man.
“You can stay here as long as you need,” he told Ripley.
Ripley thanked him. But he did not tell the miller the real reason he wanted to stay in the area.
Every morning, before the Vincent family woke up, Ripley quietly left the miller’s house.
He walked toward his old home. The mornings were beautiful. The sky was light gray and blue. The grass was wet with morning dew. Birds were singing in the trees.
Ripley walked quietly through the garden. Nobody saw him. At least, he thought nobody saw him. He looked at the flowers. He checked the vegetables.
He visited his animals. He even gave some food to Sappho, one of his animals. Then he returned to the miller’s house before the family woke up.
At first, Ripley was careful. He did not want anyone to see him. But after several mornings, he became less careful. He began to enjoy his early visits.
The garden looked different in the early morning. Everything was quiet. Everything seemed fresh. And Cora was sleeping somewhere inside the house.
Ripley liked being close to her, even when he could not see her.
One morning, he looked at the flower beds. He thought about Cora.
“I am sure she likes flowers,” he said to himself.
He began to take special care of them. He planted new flowers. He cleaned the flower beds. He watched the plants carefully. He wanted the garden to look beautiful for Cora.
One afternoon, Cora saw Ripley in town.
“Mr. Ripley, are you still here?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said.
“I thought you were going to Europe.”
“I changed my plans.”
“Why?”
Ripley smiled.
“I have some business to finish.”
Cora nodded. She did not ask any more questions. But Ripley felt nervous. He wondered if she understood why he had stayed. He hoped she did. At the same time, another man sometimes visited the Vincent family.
His name was Mr. Barker. Barker was Ripley’s business agent. He was a good businessman, and he often spoke with the Vincent family about the house.
Ripley began to feel jealous. He knew Barker was not interested in Cora.
But Ripley was in love. Even a simple conversation between Cora and Barker made him uncomfortable.
One evening, Ripley sat alone at the miller’s house.
“I must stop being foolish,” he thought.
“I cannot stay here forever.”
But the next morning he went back to the garden.
Again.
Chapter 2 – Vocabulary
- Tenant — a person who rents a house
The Vincent family moved into Ripley’s house. - Ship — a large boat used for travel
His ship was waiting for him. - Stay — to remain in a place
He did not want to leave. - Reason — something that explains why something happens
Every day he found a new reason to stay.
- Quietly — without making much noise
Ripley quietly left the miller’s house. - Morning dew — small drops of water on grass in the morning
The grass was wet with morning dew. - Jealous — unhappy because someone may love or like another person
Ripley began to feel jealous. - Agent — a person who manages business for another person
Barker was Ripley’s business agent.
Chapter 2 – Comprehension Questions
- When did the Vincent family move into Ripley’s house?
- Where was Ripley supposed to travel?
- Why did Ripley change his plans?
- Where did Ripley find a room?
- When did Ripley leave the miller’s house?
- What did Ripley do in the garden?
- Why did Ripley take special care of the flowers?
- Why did Ripley feel jealous of Barker?
Chapter 2 – Grammar Exercises
1. The Vincent family ___ into the house.
A) move
B) moved
C) moving
D) moves
2. Ripley ___ to leave.
A) didn’t want
B) doesn’t wanted
C) not wanted
D) wasn’t want
3. He ___ a room at the miller’s house.
A) find
B) finds
C) found
D) finding
4. Ripley ___ the garden every morning.
A) visited
B) visit
C) visiting
D) visits
5. He wanted ___ near Cora.
A) stay
B) staying
C) stayed
D) to stay
6. Barker ___ Ripley’s business agent.
A) were
B) was
C) be
D) is
7. Ripley felt jealous ___ Barker.
A) at
B) on
C) of
D) with
8. Cora ___ any more questions.
A) didn’t ask
B) doesn’t asked
C) didn’t asked
D) not ask
Answers:
1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-A, 5-D, 6-B, 7-C, 8-A
Chapter Three
A Secret Morning
Ripley continued his secret morning visits. He usually arrived before seven o’clock. The Vincent family usually slept until seven.
This gave Ripley almost two quiet hours. During these hours, he worked in the garden.
He checked the trees. He looked at the vegetables. He visited the animals. He watched the chickens. He looked at the horses.
He also thought about Cora.
Sometimes he imagined what it would be like to live in the house with her. Then he remembered that she was only a tenant.
He was the owner. And he was supposed to be in Europe.
One morning, Ripley went to the flower garden. He noticed a group of old-fashioned pink flowers.
They were not growing well. Ripley was not happy.
“These flowers should be better,” he thought.
He remembered that the miller’s wife had beautiful pink flowers in her garden. He decided to ask her for some.
That afternoon, he spoke to her.
“Could I have some of your pink flowers?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said. “You can take some.”
Ripley thanked her.
The next morning, he planted the flowers in his own garden.
He worked carefully. He wanted them to grow well. He imagined Cora walking through the garden and seeing them.
Perhaps she would like them. Perhaps she would think about him. He smiled at the thought. But Ripley did not know that someone was watching him.
Cora had started to notice strange things. Sometimes she saw that flowers had been moved. Sometimes the garden looked different in the morning.
She also heard that someone was walking around the property very early.
One morning, she looked out of the window. She saw a man in the garden. At first, she did not know who he was. Then she recognized Ripley.
She was surprised.
“Why is Mr. Ripley here?” she wondered.
She did not tell her parents. She wanted to understand the situation first. The next morning, Ripley returned. He did not know that Cora had seen him.
He was now very comfortable in the garden. He walked around the flower beds. He touched the leaves. He checked the new pink flowers.
Then he saw a hammock near the edge of the garden. He liked the quiet place. He sat down and rested. For a few minutes, he closed his eyes.
He thought about Cora. He thought about his future. He wondered if he should tell her the truth.
Then he heard footsteps. Ripley opened his eyes. Someone was coming. The footsteps became louder.
He stood up. A young woman walked into the garden. It was Cora. Ripley was shocked.
“Good morning, Mr. Ripley,” she said.
“Cora!”
He did not know what to say. Cora looked at him calmly.
“You surprised me,” she said.
“I think I should say the same thing,” Ripley answered.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Cora looked at the garden. Then she looked at Ripley.
“You come here very early,” she said.
Ripley became red.
“Yes.”
“Do you often come here?”
“Yes.”
Cora smiled.
“Why?”
Ripley looked away.
He could not invent another excuse. He had already used too many excuses. He knew he had to tell her the truth.
“Cora,” he said, “you do not understand why I come here.”
She waited.
“You think I come here because I am worried about the house.”
Cora smiled.
“I thought perhaps you wanted to make sure everything was safe.”
“No,” Ripley said.
He took a deep breath.
“That is not the reason.”
Cora looked at him.
“Then why are you here?”
Ripley knew that the moment he had feared had arrived. He had to tell her.
Chapter 3 – Vocabulary
- Secret — something that other people do not know
He continued his secret morning visits. - Flower bed — a part of a garden where flowers grow
He looked at the flower beds. - Vegetable — a plant or part of a plant used as food
He checked the vegetables. - Plant — to put a seed or flower into the ground
He planted the flowers in his own garden.
- Carefully — with attention and without making mistakes
He worked carefully. - Notice — to see something and become aware of it
Cora had started to notice strange things. - Hammock — a soft bed made of cloth or rope, hanging between two places
He saw a hammock near the edge of the garden. - Footsteps — the sound of someone walking
Then he heard footsteps.
Chapter 3 – Comprehension Questions
- What time did Ripley usually arrive?
- What did Ripley do during his morning visits?
- What did Ripley think about while he worked?
- Why did he want to plant pink flowers?
- Where did he get the pink flowers?
- Who started to notice strange things in the garden?
- Where did Ripley sit to rest?
- Who came into the garden at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 3 – Grammar Exercises
1. Ripley ___ before seven o’clock.
A) usually arrived
B) usually arrive
C) arriving usually
D) arrive usually
2. He ___ the trees every morning.
A) checked
B) checking
C) checks
D) check
3. Cora ___ Ripley in the garden.
A) see
B) saw
C) seeing
D) sees
4. Ripley ___ to the miller’s garden for flowers.
A) go
B) goes
C) went
D) going
5. He planted the flowers ___ .
A) careful
B) carefully
C) care
D) caring
6. Cora wanted ___ what was happening.
A) understand
B) understanding
C) understood
D) to understand
7. Ripley ___ his eyes when he heard footsteps.
A) opened
B) opens
C) opening
D) open
8. Someone ___ coming toward him.
A) were
B) are
C) was
D) be
Answers
1-A, 2-A, 3-B, 4-C, 5-B, 6-D, 7-A, 8-C
Chapter Four
Cora Knows
Ripley looked at Cora. He was nervous. For several weeks, he had hidden his feelings.
Now he could not hide them anymore.
“I did not go to Europe because of you,” he said.
Cora was quiet. Ripley continued.
“When I first met you, I wanted you to live in my house.”
Cora smiled.
“I know you wanted us to rent the house.”
“Yes,” Ripley said. “But that was not the whole reason.”
He looked at the flowers.
“I wanted you to be here.”
Cora did not answer. Ripley continued.
“I tried to leave. I really did. But I could not.”
“Why?” Cora asked.
“Because I wanted to be near you.”
Cora looked at him for a long moment. Ripley felt his heart beating quickly.
“I thought you did not understand,” he said.
“I understand more than you think.”
Ripley looked surprised.
“You do?”
Cora smiled.
“Yes.”
“Then you know why I come here every morning?”
“Yes.”
“You know why I did not go to Europe?”
“Yes.”
Ripley could hardly believe it.
“How long have you known?”
Cora laughed softly.
“For some time.”
Ripley felt embarrassed.
“But I thought I was being very careful.”
“You were careful,” Cora said. “But not as careful as you thought.”
They both laughed. Then Cora looked at the flowers.
“You have changed the garden.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ripley smiled.
“Because I thought you would like it.”
Cora looked at him.
“I do like it.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Ripley said:
“Cora, I want to ask you something.”
“What?”
“Would you like me to stay?”
Cora smiled.
“Why don’t you stay with us?”
Ripley was surprised.
“With your family?”
“Yes.”
“I thought you might be angry because I have been coming here secretly.”
“Why should I be angry?”
“Because I have been hiding.”
Cora shook her head.
“I am not angry.”
Ripley smiled. He felt much happier. But there was still one problem. Cora’s father.
Ripley wanted to ask him for permission to marry Cora. He knew he had to speak to him honestly. The next morning, Ripley went to the house.
Cora’s father was sitting outside. When he saw Ripley, he smiled.
“Good morning, Mr. Ripley.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Please sit down.”
Ripley sat beside him. He was nervous again.
“I want to speak to you about something important,” he said.
“I think I know what it is.”
Ripley looked surprised.
“You do?”
The older man smiled.
“Yes.”
Ripley did not know what to say. Then Cora’s father began to explain.
“My wife and I noticed your interest in Cora very soon.”
Ripley looked at him.
“When?”
“From the beginning.”
Ripley was surprised.
“But how?”
The older man laughed.
“You gave us the house for a very good price.”
Ripley said nothing.
“You also changed your travel plans.”
Ripley looked down.
“And our worker saw a gentleman walking around the property early every morning.”
Ripley felt embarrassed.
“I did not want to disturb anyone,” he said.
“We know,” Cora’s father answered.
“We saw that you behaved honestly. You did not try to meet Cora secretly or write secret letters to her.”
Ripley felt better.
“But why did you say nothing?”
“We wanted to wait,” the older man said. “We wanted to see what you would do.”
Ripley took a deep breath.
“Then I want to tell you now. I love Cora. I would like to marry her.”
Cora’s father was silent. Ripley waited. Then the older man smiled.
“My wife and I have already talked about this.”
Ripley’s heart began to beat faster.
“If Cora wants to marry you,” he continued, “we have no reason to say no.”
At that moment, the front door opened. Cora stood there. She looked at Ripley. Then she smiled.
“Are you going to stay to breakfast?” she asked.
Ripley smiled.
“Yes.”
But before he could enter the house, Cora’s father stopped him.
“There is still one person you must ask.”
“Cora?”
“Yes.”
Ripley looked at Cora. She was smiling.
Chapter 4 – Vocabulary
- Nervous — worried or afraid about something
He was nervous. - Hide — to keep something from being seen or known
He had hidden his feelings. - Feeling — an emotion such as love, happiness, or sadness
He had hidden his feelings. - Truth — the real facts about something
He knew he had to tell her the truth.
- Embarrassed — feeling uncomfortable or ashamed
Ripley felt embarrassed. - Permission — the act of allowing someone to do something
Ripley wanted to ask him for permission to marry Cora. - Marry — to become husband and wife
I would like to marry her. - Honestly — in a truthful way
You behaved honestly.
Chapter 4 – Comprehension Questions
1. Why was Ripley nervous when he talked to Cora?
2. Why did Ripley stay instead of going to Europe?
3. What did Ripley tell Cora about his feelings?
4. Did Cora already know that Ripley loved her?
5. How did Cora know that Ripley came to the garden every morning?
6. Why did Ripley change the garden and plant new flowers?
7. Who did Ripley want to speak to about marrying Cora?
8. What did Cora’s father already know about Ripley?
Chapter 4 – Grammar Exercises
1. Ripley ___ very nervous.
A) feel
B) felt
C) feeling
D) feels
2. He ___ his feelings for several weeks.
A) hide
B) hides
C) had hidden
D) hiding
3. He wanted ___ Cora the truth.
A) tell
B) told
C) telling
D) to tell
4. Cora ___ that Ripley loved her.
A) knew
B) know
C) knowing
D) knows
5. Ripley ___ to Europe because he wanted to stay near Cora.
A) didn’t go
B) doesn’t went
C) not go
D) wasn’t go
6. Cora ___ at him for a long moment.
A) look
B) looked
C) looking
D) looks
7. Ripley wanted ___ Cora.
A) marry
B) married
C) to marry
D) marrying
8. Cora’s father ___ about Ripley’s feelings.
A) already knew
B) already know
C) knowing already
D) knows already
Chapter Five
The Question
Ripley walked toward Cora. He had never felt so nervous. Cora stood near the door.
“Your father says I must ask you something,” Ripley said.
“I know.”
“Then I will ask.”
Cora waited.
“Cora, would you marry me?”
She looked at him. For a few seconds, she said nothing. Ripley waited.
Then she smiled.
“Yes.”
Ripley could not believe how simple the answer was.
“Yes?”
“Yes,” Cora repeated.
Ripley laughed.
“I am very happy.”
“So am I.”
Cora’s parents were also happy. Her mother came into the room. She already knew what had happened.
She smiled at Ripley.
“Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you,” Ripley said.
The family sat down for breakfast. Ripley looked around the room. Only a short time before, he had been planning to travel to Europe.
Now everything had changed. He was going to marry Cora. He was going to stay in his own home. And Cora would no longer be a tenant.
She would become the mistress of the house. During breakfast, they talked about the summer. Cora’s father asked Ripley about his travel plans.
“I still want to travel,” Ripley said.
“Will you go to Europe?”
“Yes. But not alone.”
Cora smiled. Ripley looked at her.
“We can travel together later.”
“That sounds good,” Cora said.
Everyone laughed. After breakfast, Ripley went outside. He walked into the garden.
The morning sun was shining on the flowers. He looked at the pink flowers. They were small, but they were healthy. Soon they would become beautiful.
Cora came outside.
“You really love these flowers,” she said.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Ripley smiled.
“They remind me of you.”
Cora laughed.
“Then we must take good care of them.”
“We will.”
They walked together through the garden. For Ripley, the garden looked different now.
Before, it had been his garden. Then it had become Cora’s garden. Now it was their garden. He felt that everything was finally in the right place. But Ripley remembered something.
“What about Mr. Barker?” he asked.
“What about him?”
“I was jealous of him.”
Cora laughed.
“Why?”
“I thought perhaps you liked him.”
“Mr. Barker?”
“Yes.”
“He is your business agent.”
“I know that now.”
Cora smiled.
“Then you were jealous for no reason.”
“I know.”
Ripley laughed. They continued walking. The garden was quiet. The birds were singing. The morning was warm and bright.
Ripley thought about his first meeting with Cora. He remembered the day she came to see the house. At that time, he had wanted to rent the house to her family.
He had not expected to fall in love. Now everything was different.
Chapter 5 – Vocabulary
1. ask — to say something because you want an answer
“Your father says I must ask you something,” Ripley said.
2. marry — to become husband and wife
“Cora, would you marry me?”
3. answer — something you say when someone asks you a question
She looked at him before giving her answer.
4. family — parents, children, and other close relatives
“Welcome to the family,” Cora’s mother said.
5. future — the time that comes after the present
They talked about their future together.
6. favorite — liked more than other things
“These are my favorite flowers,” Cora said.
7. jealous — unhappy because you think someone may like another person
“I was jealous of him,” Ripley said.
8. laugh — to make a happy sound when something is funny
Ripley laughed.
Chapter 5 – Comprehension Questions
1. What did Ripley ask Cora?
2. What was Cora’s answer?
3. How did Ripley feel after Cora said yes?
4. What did Cora’s mother say to Ripley?
5. What did the family talk about during breakfast?
6. Did Ripley still want to travel to Europe?
7. Why did Ripley like the pink flowers?
8. Why had Ripley been jealous of Barker?
Chapter 5 – Grammar Exercises
1. Ripley ___ Cora to marry him.
A) ask
B) asked
C) asking
D) asks
2. Cora ___ yes.
A) say
B) says
C) said
D) saying
3. Ripley ___ very happy.
A) was
B) were
C) be
D) are
4. They ___ about their future.
A) talked
B) talk
C) talking
D) talks
5. Ripley said that he ___ travel later.
A) can
B) could
C) is
D) was
6. Cora ___ his hand.
A) take
B) took
C) taking
D) takes
7. The flowers ___ beautiful.
A) was
B) is
C) were
D) be
8. Ripley ___ jealous for no reason.
A) was
B) were
C) be
D) being
Answers:
1-B, 2-C, 3-A, 4-A, 5-B, 6-B, 7-C, 8-A
Chapter Six
Breakfast at Home
Some time later, Ripley was living in his own house again. But the house was not the same.
It was no longer the home of a lonely young man. Cora was now the mistress of the house.
She helped arrange the rooms. She cared about the flowers. She enjoyed the garden. She also liked the animals.
Ripley was very happy.
The Vincent family planned to spend another summer at the house in the future. Ripley and Cora also planned to travel.
Mr. Barker continued to manage Ripley’s business. He was still a good friend and a very good businessman. Ripley sometimes remembered how jealous he had been of Barker.
Now he could laugh about it.
One morning, Ripley and Cora walked through the garden. They stopped near the bed of pink flowers. The flowers had grown very well.
They were beautiful. Cora looked at them.
“These are my favorite flowers,” she said.
Ripley smiled.
“They were not my favorite before.”
“Why not?”
“I did not have a good reason to grow them.”
“And now?”
“Now I have the best reason.”
Cora smiled.
“What is that?”
“You.”
Cora laughed.
“You are very different from the man I first met.”
“How?”
“You were always thinking about your house.”
“That is true.”
“And now?”
“Now I think about you.”
Cora took his hand.
They walked slowly through the garden. Ripley remembered his secret mornings. He remembered leaving the miller’s house before sunrise.
He remembered walking quietly around his old home. He remembered sitting in the hammock. He remembered the moment Cora found him.
At that time, he had been afraid. Now he was happy that she had found him. His secret was no longer a secret. His love was no longer hidden.
And the house that he once wanted to leave was now the place where he wanted to stay. There was one thing Ripley sometimes joked about.
“I almost went to Europe,” he said.
“Yes,” Cora answered.
“And if I had gone?”
“I would have lived here without you.”
“That would have been terrible.”
“For you or for me?”
“For me, certainly.”
Cora laughed.
Then she looked at the flowers again.
“They are growing very well.”
“Yes,” Ripley said.
“They came from the miller’s garden, didn’t they?”
“Yes.”
Ripley remembered the miller and his wife. They had helped him without knowing the real reason. He was grateful to them.
The pink flowers were now one of the most beautiful parts of the garden. They reminded Ripley of the strange beginning of his love story.
He had wanted to travel.
Instead, he found love.
He had wanted to rent his house. Instead, he found a new family. He had wanted to leave before breakfast. Instead, he stayed for breakfast.
And that breakfast changed his life. Ripley looked at Cora.
“Are you happy?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“So am I.”
They walked back toward the house together. The morning was bright. Breakfast was waiting for them.
And this time, Ripley was exactly where he wanted to be.
The End
Read the original story: americanliterature.com
Chapter 6 – Vocabulary
1. ask — to say something because you want an answer
“Your father says I must ask you something,” Ripley said.
2. marry — to become husband and wife
“Cora, would you marry me?”
3. answer — something you say after someone asks you a question
She looked at him before giving her answer.
4. family — a group of people who are related to each other
“Welcome to the family,” Cora’s mother said.
5. future — the time that comes after the present
They talked about their future.
6. favorite — liked more than all the others
“These are my favorite flowers,” Cora said.
7. jealous — unhappy because you think someone may like another person
“I was jealous of him,” Ripley said.
8. travel — to go from one place to another
“Will you go to Europe?”
Chapter 6 – Comprehension Questions
1. Who became the mistress of Ripley’s house?
2. What did Cora like doing in the house and garden?
3. What did Ripley and Cora plan to do later?
4. Why did Ripley laugh when he remembered Barker?
5. Why were the pink flowers important to Ripley?
6. What did the flowers remind Ripley of?
7. What did Ripley almost do at the beginning of the story?
8. Where did Ripley finally want to be?
Chapter 6 – Grammar Exercises
1. Where did Ripley live?
A) In Europe
B) In a country house
C) In a hotel
D) In a city apartment
2. Why did Ripley first plan to leave his house?
A) He wanted to work
B) He wanted to visit Europe
C) He wanted to sell it
D) He wanted to meet Barker
3. Who was Cora?
A) Ripley’s sister
B) Barker’s daughter
C) A member of the Vincent family
D) The miller’s wife
4. Why did Ripley stay near his house?
A) He was sick
B) He wanted to be near Cora
C) He had no money
D) Barker asked him to stay
5. Where did Ripley stay after the Vincent family rented his house?
A) At a hotel
B) At Barker’s house
C) At the miller’s house
D) In Europe
6. What did Ripley do early every morning?
A) He traveled
B) He worked in the garden
C) He went shopping
D) He visited Barker
7. What did Cora discover?
A) Ripley was secretly coming to the garden
B) Barker was leaving town
C) The house was for sale
D) The flowers were dead
8. What did Ripley finally tell Cora?
A) He wanted to sell the house
B) He loved her
C) He wanted to travel alone
D) He disliked the garden
Answers:
1-B, 2-B, 3-C, 4-B, 5-C, 6-B, 7-A, 8-B,