I stopped, and my hand in my pocket.
‘Matthew, I’ve got this I want to give you.’
I took out a small red leather-covered case, and held it out to him.
Matthew’s eyes clouded. His hands did not move.
‘No. Take it,’ I insisted.
He took it reluctantly, and gazed at it dim-eyed. ‘Open it,’ I told him.
He hesitated. Slowly, and even more reluctantly he pressed the catch, and lifted the lid.
The medal glittered in the sunlight.
Matthew looked at it with an indifference that was near to distaste. Suddenly he stiffened, and bent his head forward to examine it more closely. For some seconds he did not move. Then he looked up smiling, though his eyes were overbright.
‘Thank you, Daddy … Oh, thank you … !’ he si and dropped his head to study it again.
They had made a nice job of it. It looked just as if it had always been inscribed:
AWARDED TO
CHOCKY
FOR A VALOROUS DEED
LIst of names
Names of Persons
1. Christian Names
Alan Kenneth
Albert Laurence
Chocky Matthew
Colin Patience
Dennis Paul
Emma Phyl
Janet Simon
2. Surnames
Aycott Newton
Blayde Pcrcell
Bollot Pinkser
Caffer Prost
Clutterbuck Slatson
Einstein Soames
Evans Thorbe
Froome Toach
Gore Trimble
Landis Weston
Geographical Names
Birmingham
Bontgoch
Hindmere
Comments
to page 109
for labours to come – for coming work
do make a day – do is often used to emphasize a statement or a command as in “Do shut up!” (p.115).
he appeared to be cut short – it appeared (seemed) that he was interrupted
to page 110
the consistency of the assumption that a second party was involved – Matthew behaved as though he really believed that he was talking with another person
to page 111
he would often be stopped by a cry of anguish from Polly – would is used here to denote a repeated action in the past (=used to). See also the following few sentences.
to page 112
A Piff can provide … on other, and smaller, boys. – A small child can be satisfied by an imagined creature like Piff, whom she may treat as her junior, but an elevenyear-old boy can use smaller children for these bossing purposes without inventing anyone (to boss – to execise authority over a person).
I’m sure I hope you are right – I do hope you are right
to page 113
I didn’t mean to make heavy weather on it. It just strikes me as odd. – I was’t going to be too serious about it. It just seems strange to me.
on the spur of the moment = hastily, without preparation
to page 115
She won’t leave me alone. Modal would here shows persistance.
Then she rose to the occasion = Then she managed to grasp the situation.
Here is to … – a usual toasting formula
to page 116
Now that Chocky’s existence was out of the bag = Now that Chocky’s existence was no longer a xecret
Wordsworth’s cuckoo – an allusion to a poem by William Wordsworth
(1770-1850)
…O Cuckoo! Shall I call you a bird
Or but a wandering voice?
(To the Cuckoo: O Blithe New-comer)
to page 117
You’re steering close to dangerous waters. – You are touching upon dangerous subject.
sort of…, kind of… – (in Matthew’s speech) practically meaningless expression, correspond to Russian to page 118
Chocky’s balance did on the whole lean more to the F than the M = Chocky was more like a woman than a man (F stands for female, M for male)
to page 119
before Freud was invented – before Freud became popular. Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) – Austrian physician and psychiatrist, founder of psychoanalysis
you turn loose a whole new boxfil of troubles = tou may expect a lot of new troubles
to page 121
I take your Matthew for maths. = I teach your Matthew mathematics.
to page 122
I’d rather didn’t. = I don’t think you should do it.
to page 123
what had got out of gear = what was wrong
to page 124
the binary code – in mathematics: a system of numeration using 2 figures (not 10) as the base
to page 125
Joan of Arc (1412-1431; Fr. Jeanne d’Arc) – French national heroine; defeated the English at Orleans (1429); burned at the stake for witchcraft
to page 126
station-wagon – an automobile with a back end that opens for easy loading of luggage, etc.
to page 127
it was generally voted that the Gore family was entitled to filt its chins a degree or two higher = the general opinion was that now the Gores would have the right to feel a little more proud of themselves
There now, old man. Take it easy. = Don’t worry about it, old man. There now – an exclamation expressing sympathy.
take your time = don’t be in a hurry
to page 128
a here-we-go-again feeling = (here) a feeling that we were returning to the Chocky problem again. In colloquial English a quotation group can be used as an attribute.
all but overwhelmed him = nearly overwhelmed him
to page 129
However, rather than risk a wrong step now, I keep up the front. = However, not wishing to risk a wrong step now, I continued to pretend I believed him.
to page 130
safety-value – (here) something that serves as an outlet for the release of strong emotion
the old boy was an adequate enough pill-pusher = (derogatory) the old man was a good enough physician
the Matthew problem was not in his line = the problem with Matthew was not hos speciality
to have a line on smth. = to have information about smth.
to page 131
we had things under way = (here) we were making progress
to page 132
of his own accord = on his own, voluntarily
school report – written report of a pupil’s marks, behaviour, etc., sent to his parents at regular intervals
to page 133
as becomes a with-it medical man = as a fashionable medical man
Jaguar – an expensive make of a stylish sports car
to page 134
frowned me away = sent me away with a frown
to get smth. off one’s chest = to unburden oneself of some trouble by talking about it
to page 138
It wouldn’t turn into proper words. – Chocky could not find suitable words to express her idea.
to let smb. down = to disappoint smb.
to page 139
Let’s get straight. = Let’s make this thing clean.
to get out of hand = to get out of control
to page 140
out of usual key – unusual for him
to page 142
I’ve nothing against Aycott as a cut-stitcher and measles-spotter, but I don’t feel this kind of thing is up his street. = I’ve nothing against Aycott as an ordinary physician, but I don’t feel this kind of things is in his line.
to page 143
the look she keeps for hair-splitting = a hair-splitting, frightening look
and soon to be nipped = which soon disappeared
to page 144
artteacher = one who teaches drawings at school. Note the difference between Art (=fine arts, i.e. painting, music, architecture, etc.) and Arts ( such as literature, languages, history, etc., as opposed to Sciences). Note also: Arts faculty but the Academy of Fine Arts (or Art)
on the niggly side = with too much attention to details
to page 145
They grew on one, once the first strangeness had worn off. = You started liking them when you had got used to them.
to page 148
time you were off to bed now = now it’s time for you to go to bed
to page 149
Lewis Mumford’s living in Cities – Lewis Mumford (born in 1895) – American author, critic and educationalist; several of his books are devoted to the problems of big cities
much of an age with our own = almost of the same age as our own
to page 150
off the map = beyond the area covered by local maps
near thing = narrow escape, escape at the last moment
Cheers – a usual exclamation before drinking a glass of wine, beer, etc.
The tide was a bit past the turn = The tide was getting lower
to page 151
But for his repeated assurances = If he had’t assured me several times
he’s going to make sure Matthew gets one = he is going to do everything necessary so that Matthew would get a medal
to page 153
It was a memorable overstatement – exaggeration. The author means that in fact Matthew’s words were not at all clear to him.
to page 155
Boy-hero tells of `guardian angel’ rescue. – Note the omission of the article and the peculiar sty;e characteristic of newspaper headings.
to page 156
England could do with more boys like him. – England needs such boys.
to page 157
`Today’ – a BBC daily morning program of current affairs