E) Mr. Carter Buys a Suit
— I'd like to see your men's suits. (Salesman leads way to suit racks.) Right this way, please. What size do you wear? — Size 37. Have you any particular style or colour in mind? I thought I'd like to try something in a grey flannel. (Salesman taking suit from rack.) Will you try this on for size, please? You're pretty tall. It may be that you need a long. This is a 37 regular. The sleeves are a little short, but we can lengthen them easily. How does that feel on you? Have you something a little darker in colour? This seems too light for winter wear. Certainly! I can show you something darker. Here is a darker grey. This is a beautiful piece of material, imported from England. Would you like to try it on? (Mr. Carter trying on coat.) The material is nice but the coat seems a little too narrow in the shoulders. I don't think it fits me quite as well as the last one I had on. Try this next one. This suit has a different cut and may fit you better. I see that you prefer a coat that hangs full and has box lines rather than something which is more fitted. This colour still seems a little light to me. Haven't you anything darker? My wife gave strict instructions to get a dark grey. That's about as dark as we have, I hardly think you'd want anything darker than that unless you want black. Black is an old man's colour. It just happens that I already have a light grey flannel suit at home now. It hangs in the closet and I never wear it. It's so light that I feel conspicuoys in it. And my wife warned me when I bought it. But isn't it better to please yourself as regards the colour? You're the one who is going to have to wear the suit, not your wife. (Joking.) At least at our house I wear the coat and vest. — I'm sure your wife isn't that strict with you. — We get along quite well. We have an understanding. I decide all the big, important things and she decides all the little things. — How have you been doing? — So far no big things have come up. (From "Everyday Dialogues in English" by R. Dixon)
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