English for Everybody - Intermediate reading comprehension

Dracula

Page 61

Gettng Lucy Home

 

She did not seem surprised to see me because of course, she did not yet realize where she was. Lucy always wakes prettily, and even now she remained a lady, even though she must have been somewhat appalled at waking up in her night-clothes in a churchyard at night. Her body must have been chilled with cold, and she trembled a little, and clung to me. When I told her to come home at once with me, she stood up without a word, as obedient as a child. As we went along the path, the gravel hurt my feet, and Lucy noticed me wince. She stopped and wanted me to take back my shoes, but I would not.

However, when we got outside the churchyard there was a puddle of water remaining from the storm. I covered my feet with mud so that as we went home, no one (in case we met anyone), would notice my bare feet. We were lucky and got home without meeting anyone. Once we saw a man, who seemed not quite sober, walking down the street in front of us. But we hid in a doorway until he had gone. My heart beat so loud all the time that sometimes I thought I would faint. I was very worried about Lucy, not just about her health because she had been out in the cold for a long time, but for her reputation if the story should get out.

Vocabulary:

Appalled: Shocked and horrified
Tremble: To shake from cold or fear
Clung: Past tense of 'cling' - to hold tightly
Gravel: Small sharp stones used on pathways
Wince: Twist your face from pain
Puddle: A small patch of water
Remain: To stay behind
Not Sober: Affected by drinking alcohol
Faint: To lose consciousness from fear or tiredness
Reputation: What people think of you

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