READING. Ex 41 Read the story, and do the assignments coming after it

Ex 41 Read the story, and do the assignments coming after it.

 

ARRANGEMENT IN BLACK AND WHITE

By Dorothy Parker

 

The woman with the pink velvet poppies turned round, crossed the room, and took hold of the lean arm of her host.

" Now I got you! " she said. " Now you can't get away! "

" Why, hello, " said her host. " Well. How are you? "

" Oh, I'm finely, " she said. " Listen. I want you to do me the most terrible favor. I want to meet Walter Williams. Honestly, I'm just crazy about that man. Oh, when he sings! When he sings those spirituals! I'd really love to meet him. Will you be an angel and introduce me to him? "

" Why, certainly, " said her host. " I thought you'd met him. The party's for him. Where is he anyway? "

" He's over there by the bookcase, " she said. " Let's wait till those people get through talking to him. Well, I think you're simply marvelous, giving this perfectly marvelous party for him and having him meet all these white people, and all. Isn't he terribly grateful? "

" I hope not, " said her host.

" I think it's really terribly nice, " she said. " I do. I don't see why on earth it isn't perfectly all right to meet colored people. I haven't any feeling at all about it — not one single bit. Burton — oh, he's just the other way. Well, you know, he comes from Virginia, and you know how they are."

" Did he come tonight? " said her host.

" No, he couldn't, " she said. " He was just so tired out, he couldn't move. Isn't it a shame? "

" Ah, " said her host.

" Wait till I tell him I met Walter Williams! " she said. " He'll just about die. Oh, we have more arguments about colored people. I talk to him like I don't know what, I get so excited. But I must say for Burton, he's lots broader-minded thin most of these Southerners. He's really awfully fond of colored people. Well, he says himself, he wouldn't have white servants. All he says is, he says he hasn't got a word to say against colored people as long as they keep their place. He's always doing things for them — giving them clothes and I don't know what all. The only thing he says, he says he wouldn't sit down at the table with one for a million dollars. 'Oh, ' I say to him, 'you make me sick, talking like that.' I'm just terrible to him. Aren't I terrible? "

" Oh, no, no, no, " said her lost. " No, no."

" Now this Walter Williams, " she said. " I think a man like that's a real artist. I do. Goodness, I'm so crazy about music or anything. I don't care what color he is. I honestly think if a person's an artist, nobody ought to have any feeling at all about meeting them. That's absolutely what I say to Burton. Don't you think I'm right? "

" Yes, " said her host. " Oh, yes."

" Why, I'd really be glad to have a man like Walter Williams come to my house and sing for us, some time, " she said. " Of course, I couldn't ask him because of Burton, but 1 wouldn't have any feeling about it at all. Oh, can't he sing! Come on, let's go on over and talk to him. Listen, what shall I do when I'm introduced? Ought I to shake hands? Or what? "

" Why, do whatever you want, " said her host.

They reached the tall young Negro, standing by the bookcase. The host performed introductions; the Negro bowed.

" How do you do? " he said.

The woman with the pink velvet poppies put out her hand at the length of her arm and held it for all the world to see, until the Negro took it, shook it, and gave it back to her.

" Oh, how do you do, Mr Williams, " she said. " Well, how do you do. I've just been saying, I've enjoyed your singing so awfully much. I've been to your concerts, and we have you on the phonograph and everything. Oh, I just enjoy it."

She spoke with great distinctness, moving her lips carefully, as if talking to a deaf person.

" I'm so glad, " he said.

" I'm just simply crazy about that 'Water Boy' thing you sing, " she said. " Tell me, where on earth do you ever get all those songs of yours? How do you ever get hold of them? "

" Why, " he said, " there are so many different — "

" I should think you'd love singing them, " she said. " It must be more fun. All those darling old spirituals — oh, I just love them! Well, what are you doing, now? Are you still keeping up your singing? Why don't you have another concert, some time? "

" I'm having one the sixteenth of this month, " he said.

" Well, I'll be there, " she said. " I'll be there, if I possibly can. You can count on me. Goodness, here comes a whole crowd of people to talk to you. You're just a regular guest of honor! Now, don't forget, Mr Williams, I'm going to be at that concert if I possibly can. And if I can't come, I'm going to tell everybody I know to go, anyway. Don't you forget! "

" I don't, " he said. " Thank you so much." The host took her arm and piloted her into the next room. " I liked him, " she said. " I haven't any feeling at all because he's a colored man. I felt just as natural as I would with anybody. Talked to him just as naturally, and everything. But honestly, I could hardly keep a straight face. I kept thinking of Burton. Oh, wait till 1 tell Bur-ton I called him 'Mister'! "

(Adapted)