"Oh dear," thought Pitcher. "The boss has forgotten!" Business continued. Orders to buy and sell flew about like birds. Maxwell still worked like a machine. He worked quickly and exactly. This was the world of business and money. There was no time for feelings.

At one o'clock the clerks went out to get something to eat. The office was a little calmer. Maxwell did not go out. Businessmen do not have time to eat in the middle of a working day. He stood by his desk. His hands were full of letters and telegrams. His pen was behind his ear. His hair hung untidily all over his face.

The window of his office was open. Spring was coming to the city. Through the window came the soft, sweet smell of spring flowers. For a second Maxwell stood still. He knew that scent. His secretary always wore it. The scent brought Miss Leslie into Maxwell's busy thoughts. Suddenly the world of business appeared very unimportant. She was in the next office and he had something to say to her.

"I'll do it now," Maxwell said to himself. "Why didn't I do it long ago?" He hurried into his secretary's office. She looked up at him with a smile. Her face was pink and her eyes were honest and kind. Maxwell sat down on the edge of her desk. His hands were still full of papers. His pen was still behind his ear.

"Miss Leslie," he began. "I can't stay here long. I am very busy but I want to say something to you. Will you be my wife? I haven't had time to talk to you about love in the ordinary way but I really do love you. Answer quickly, please. I must get back to work."

"Oh, what are you talking about?" cried the secretary. She looked at him with round, surprised eyes.

"Don't you understand?" went on Maxwell. "I wanted to tell you. I waited for a long time; I was too busy before… Oh, dear. There's another telephone call for me now. Tell them to wait a minute, Pitcher… Miss Leslie, will you marry me?"

The secretary acted in a very strange way. At first she was too surprised to move or speak. Then she cried. Then she smiled, like the sun after rain. One of her arms slipped round the businessman's neck.

"I know now," she said softly. "You're so busy, dear. It really makes you forget everything, doesn't it? Harvey, have you really forgotten? We got married yesterday!"

3.2.1 Vocabulary notes

to arrange – договариваться, устраивать(ся)

fierce – жесткий

to hire – нанимать на работу

3.2.2 Answer the questions

What were Mr. Pitcher, Mr. Maxwell and Miss Leslie's jobs?

What kind of company did they work at?

Why did Mr. Pitcher's face had a look of surprise that morning?

3.3 Text 3. Read and answer the questions

Purcell was a small man. He owned a pet shop. He sold cats and dogs and monkeys, he dealt in fish food, on his shelves there were long rows of cages.

Each morning when he completed the routine of opening his shop he sat down on a high stool behind the counter and read a morning newspaper.

It was a cold rainy day. Mr. Purcell was reading a newspaper as usual, when a customer appeared in the shop.

"Good morning," Purcell said. "What can I do for you?" The customer didn't answer. He looked around the shop. It was a man with short hair, his suit was cheap and very old.

"Good morning," repeated the shopkeeper. "What do you want?"

The man looked at Purcell and answered:

"I want something in a cage."

"Something in a cage?" Mr. Purcell was a bit confused. "You mean some sort of pet?"

"I mean what I said!" answered the man.

"Something in a cage. Something alive that's in a cage."

"I see," said the shopkeeper, not sure that he did.