Page 49 - The English Carnival 7
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4. 4. Two's
T
wo's
Company
Company
Be Ready! UNIT-2 THEME : TWILIGHT WHISPERS
Overconfidence and a refusal to acknowledge the possibility of the unknown
can lead to one’s downfall. It’s important to respect the beliefs and warnings
of others and not to underestimate or dismiss the supernatural or mysterious
forces in the world.
Recite and Understand
They said the house was haunted , but
he laughed at them and said, ‚Tut, tut!
I never heard such tittle-tattle,
as ghosts that groan and chains that rattle;
And just to prove I’m in the right,
please leave me here to spend the night.
They winked absurdly, tried to smother
their ignorant laughter, nudged each other,
and left him just as dusk was falling,
with a hunchback moon and screech owls calling.
Not that this troubled him one bit;
in fact, he was quite glad of it,
knowing it’s every sane man’s mission
to contradict all superstition.
But what is that? Outside it seemed
as if chains rattled, someone screamed!
Come, come, it’s merely nerves, he’s certain
(but just the same, he draws the curtain).
47
The Englsih Carnival-8
