Remember the Lovely Lady Learn English through story level 1

chapter one

beach house

the children and their father remember

miranda of course

and they talk about her sometimes

miranda’s sister often visits us

and she always tells the children a

story about their mother

nick remembers miranda

i know he does

and

in the hospital

grandma remembers too

they all remember miranda

i never met miranda

but every day

i look at her photograph

next to the telephone in the kitchen

the picture of her with her children

every day

i look at her beautiful dark eyes and

her long dark hair

i first saw miranda’s photograph two

years ago

it was a cold october day

and i left london for my new job with a

family in norfolk

i drove north

past norwich

and it began to rain

it was dark

and there was a strong wind

so i drove slowly and carefully

i wanted to see the harvey children

before they went to bed

but because of the weather

it was eight o’clock before i arrived in

cromer

i drove through the town

along the sea road

suddenly i stopped

there was a tree across the road

i got out of my car

it was a big tree and i couldn’t move it

just then

a car drove up behind me and a man got

out

what’s the matter

oh

a tree across the road

he was a tall man about 30 years old

where are you going

he asked

not far

i said

it’s a house along this road near the

sea

it’s called beach house

oh i know beach house

the man said

it’s the last house along this road

but you can’t drive there tonight with

this tree across the road

he stopped for a minute

i’m nick watson

and i live at the farm along the road

we can go back to my house and then walk

across the fields to beach house

are you visiting for the weekend

no no

i’m going to work in the house

and look after mr harvey’s children

their mother died two years ago and

their grandmother has arthritis in her

legs and can’t walk much now

so

i’m going to look after the children and

the house

i told him

i met old mrs harvey in london six weeks

ago

and she gave me the job

do you know the harvey’s

the man laughed

his laugh was warm and friendly

oh

yes i know them

he said

we drove back down the road and into the

farm

then

we walked across the fields

it was dark and windy and cold

after 10 minutes we arrived at a big

white house

the lights were on downstairs

and the house looked friendly

i had no home

because my mother and father died a long

time ago

and i had no brothers or sisters

this was my first job

and i wanted to be happy in this house

a man opened the door

he looked tired and there was no smile

on his face

hello

i’m kathy wilson

i began

i’m very late i know

it’s because the weather’s so bad

there’s a tree down across the road

nick said

so kathy left her car at the farm and we

walked here

duncan harvey looked at nick

you always want to help

he said coldly

and you’re always there at the right

time

ready to help

his face was angry

and i didn’t understand

why

the wind’s very strong

i began

it doesn’t matter

nick said

he smiled at me

and his eyes were very blue

goodbye cathy

come and get your car tomorrow

duncan said nothing

i went into the house and he took me

through into the kitchen

mother

here’s kathy

he said

old mrs harvey sat near the window

hello my dear she said warmly

what a wind come and have something to

eat

she stood up and walked slowly across

the room

her hair was white

and she had a stick because of her bad

legs

i sat down and began to eat

duncan is angry because he doesn’t like

nick

mrs harvey told me quietly

he’s not angry with you

why didn’t duncan like nick

i thought

i didn’t understand

but i didn’t like to ask mrs harvey

the next morning i met the children

tim was five years old

he ran up and down the garden with a

football susan was seven years old

a quiet little girl with big brown eyes

she watched me carefully

but she didn’t smile

the weather changed and the sun was warm

in the afternoon i walked with the

children by the sea

the sky was blue

and the sea was beautiful

i cooked dinner and we all ate in the

kitchen

after dinner

juliet arrived

i left my cart nyx

she said

there’s a tree across the road

juliet had long black hair and dark eyes

she was miranda’s

sister miranda was wonderful

she told me

wonderful and beautiful

yes

i know

i said quietly

i saw the photograph of her next to the

telephone with tim and susan

miranda is our mummy

susan said

she died a long time ago

let’s go to the cinema

juliet said suddenly

i want to take susan and tim

kathy you come with us

tim began to shout

let’s go to the cinema let’s go to the

cinema

be quiet tim

duncan said

he looked angry

no juliet

it’s school tomorrow

and the children must go to bed early

tim began to cry

i want to go with juliet

he said

no tim

duncan said

we can go to the cinema next weekend

i said quickly

let’s play with your little cars now

and soon tim stopped crying

the days went quickly

duncan went to stay in london for three

weeks for his work

he had a job with a big london company

he often worked on his computer at home

but he went away a lot too

i liked the children and i liked old mrs

harvey

but i had no friends

one day

i came out of a shop in chroma and there

was juliet

hello

she said

it’s good to see you

let’s go and have a coffee

and we can talk

and we did

juliet told me about her teaching job

and she talked about susan and tim

and she talked about her sister

i often visited miranda at beach house

because she wasn’t happy there

juliet said quietly

duncan is a difficult man

you can see that

he loved her of course but he was often

away in london

she loved the children

and grandma

but she was very lonely

i was lonely too at beach house

juliet stood up and smiled warmly

i must go now

let’s go to the cinema this weekend with

the children

ask grandma tonight and ring me

and so

i found a friend

[Music]

chapter 2

the first secret

the weather changed and that autumn was

warm and beautiful

nearly every day i walked with the

children along the beach

the sea was blue and friendly

and the trees with their red and yellow

autumn colors

looked beautiful in the sunlight

one afternoon we walked across the field

and down the hill to the beach

susan ran in front of tim

they sang and laughed because they liked

playing on the beach

hello kathy how are you

someone said behind me

i stopped

it was nick

the tall farmer with the blue eyes

i’m well

thank you

you look lonely he said

and smiled

you need some friends

shall we meet in chroma one day and have

dinner

and so the next evening i drove to

nick’s farm

and we went into chroma for dinner

and then we walked through the town to

the gardens near the beach

i liked nick

he was friendly and interesting

we didn’t talk about the harvey family

all evening

but

before we said good night

nick asked about duncan

are you going to tell duncan about this

evening

no

i said quickly

then i stopped

duncan is in london this month

i went on slowly

mrs harvey told me

you

and duncan

nick laughed quietly

so

you have a secret now

he said

be careful kathy

at beach house

i don’t understand

i said

why don’t you like duncan

i can’t talk about it

nick said

i didn’t tell mrs harvey about nick

and perhaps that was wrong

but i did tell juliet

i like nick very much

i told her

i want to see him again

but juliet was quiet and didn’t talk

much that afternoon

that evening

i put the children to bed and read them

a story

then i went slowly downstairs

i thought about nick

i wanted to see him again

mrs harvey sat quietly in her big chair

in the kitchen

kathy

i must talk to you my dear

she said

come and sit down here

i sat down near her

i didn’t want to talk

i wanted to finish my work in the

kitchen and go upstairs to watch tv in

my room

you’re a good girl

mrs harvey began kindly

susan and tim like you

and i’m very happy with your work in the

house

i smiled and waited for the butt

it arrived immediately

but i must talk to you about nick watson

perhaps you are lonely here with the

children and me

duncan is very quiet i know that

and he’s in london much of the time

but nick doesn’t like duncan

and duncan hates nick

it’s a long story and i don’t want to

talk about it

i’m not going to tell duncan about your

evening with nick

but

i don’t want you to see nick again

my face felt hot and my hands felt cold

mrs harvey knew about my dinner with

nick

who told her

and why

i felt angry with mrs harvey because i

wanted to see nick again

but i didn’t want to lose my job

i don’t understand

i began

quietly mrs harvey stood up

why must you understand

she asked angrily

don’t see nick watson again

do you hear me

grandma

we looked up

and saw susan and tim on the stairs

children

what are you doing

mrs harvey said

she took her stick and began to walk

slowly across the room

tim was afraid

susan said

he couldn’t sleep and so we came to call

cathy i wasn’t afraid you were afraid

because of nick

tim said

and he pushed susan

no tim

mrs harvey shouted

her face went white

don’t do that cathy please

go upstairs and put them back to bed

i ran upstairs and took the children

back to their room

tim put his little hands on my face

and kissed me

good night kathy

he said

i like you

i smiled

i like you too

i said

i said good night to susan

i don’t want grandma to be angry with

you she said quietly

why are you afraid of nick

i asked

i don’t know

susan said

daddy hates him

but i don’t know why

he’s a bad man

tim said

grandma told me

and so

i didn’t see nick again

for a long time

[Music]

chapter 3

a terrible accident

duncan came back

and worked at home again

why did he hate nick

i wanted to understand

but i couldn’t ask because i was a

little afraid of duncan

he didn’t talk much

and he worked for hours in his room

old mrs harvey liked to cook

but because of her arthritis she

couldn’t cook much and she couldn’t look

after the children and the house

she often felt upset because of this

but she was much happier with duncan at

home

she smiled more and she cooked breakfast

for him nearly every day

sometimes she made bread

duncan was kind to his mother

and he played with the children every

day

he drove them to school every morning

and i drove them home in the afternoons

one friday afternoon

i drove away from beach house past

nick’s farm

just then i saw nick’s land rover on the

farm road

he’s driving very fast

i thought

oh no he’s not going to stop

and he didn’t he drove out of the farm

road and very nearly hit my car

i couldn’t stop so i drove off the road

and the land rover went past only

centimeters away

the land rover stopped

nick got out

ran back to my car and opened the door

kathy are you alright

then

i saw a girl in the land rover

it was juliet

she got out and came up to us

you must drive more carefully nick

she said angrily

you nearly hit kathy then

she wore a beautiful red coat and black

trousers

her dark eyes were angry but they looked

at nick and not at me

kathy’s all right

he said to her

he put his hand on her arm

his blue eyes were kind

but they looked at juliet and not at me

we don’t want more accidents

juliet said quietly

remember miranda

please move your land rover

i said coldly

i must get to school for the children

i’m going to be late

don’t be angry

nick smiled at me

i’m very sorry

he got back into the land rover and

moved it

juliet stood by my car

so

you and nick are friends

i said to her

you didn’t tell me about that

juliet said nothing for a minute

you don’t understand

she said in the end

it’s very difficult

i drove back onto the road i nearly

cried

and i felt very angry

juliet was my friend

i had coffee with her and went to the

cinema with her

but she said nothing about nick

why not

i had dinner with nick and we talked all

evening

but he said nothing about juliet

why not

i felt angry with juliet and with nick

that evening mrs harvey’s arthritis was

bad

and she went to bed early

duncan cooked dinner

and i ate with him and the children

duncan talked and laughed with the

children

and i felt happy to be with them

once

i felt duncan’s eyes on me

and suddenly my face felt hot

i didn’t want to think about juliet and

nick

but

later in my room

i remembered juliet’s angry face and

eyes

we don’t want more accidents

remember miranda

then

i remembered old mrs harvey in london

the children’s mother died two years ago

she told me that

but she didn’t tell me about an accident

perhaps it was a car accident

perhaps nick killed miranda with his

land rover

duncan hates nick

mrs harvey told me that too

did duncan hate nick because nick killed

miranda

i slept in the end

but i didn’t sleep well

the next day was saturday

and i was free in the morning

duncan went to the shops with the

children

and i went to the library in kromer

miranda died on the 30th of september

two years ago

i knew that

perhaps the town’s newspaper wrote about

her after she died

i must find something about her

because i wanted to understand the

harvey family

i found the old newspapers

and began to read

the newspaper of the 1st of october told

me everything

young mother dies in terrible accident

miranda harvey aged 26

fell down the stairs at her home and

died later in hospital

miranda lived with her husband and two

children not far from chroma

duncan harvey’s mother lives with them

this is a terrible day for the harvey

family

she said

we all loved miranda very much and now

her two little children are without a

mother

juliet age 24 miranda’s sister is a

teacher at one of the schools in cromer

my sister was a wonderful mother

she said

and a loving sister to me

i sat with my head in my hands

i could not move

we don’t want more accidents

remember miranda

it wasn’t a car accident

miranda that wonderful mother

fell down the stairs at beach house

and i ran up and down those stairs six

or seven times a day

then

i looked at some of the later newspapers

police questioned duncan harvey

harvey aged 34

was at home on the day of his wife’s

accident

he was upstairs with her before she fell

then he went downstairs to the kitchen

how did the accident happen

harvey does not know

he heard nothing

he

says the police questioned duncan for

two days i read

but in the end he went home to his

children

it wasn’t nick in his land rover

miranda died at home and the police

questioned duncan

my hands were cold

my legs were cold

and i felt afraid

things were different at beach house

after my visit to the library

the house was a house with a secret

and the harveys were a family with a

secret

i thought about miranda and the accident

every day

i wanted to talk to someone about it but

i was afraid

why did the police question duncan

be careful at beach house

why did nick say that to me

was it because of miranda’s accident

there were more questions in my head now

and the biggest question was this

did miranda fall

or did someone push her

[Music]

chapter four

not one of the family

winter came

the weather was cold and windy

but sometimes when the weather was a

little better

i walked on the beach with the children

or three times i saw nick

and he smiled

and we talked a little

i liked nick but i was angry with him

because of juliet

and he didn’t ask me to dinner again

school finished for christmas

and i drove the children to a farm near

chroma to buy a christmas tree

after my mother and father died

christmas was a bad time for me because

i was lonely

but this year

i thought

i’m going to be with the harvey family

perhaps i can forget about miranda’s

accident

and feel happy at christmas

christmas is coming christmas is coming

the children sang

they were very happy about christmas

we walked through the farm

and looked at the christmas trees

tim ran up and down

i want this tree kathy he called

then he ran up and down again

i won this tree kathy

he called again

suddenly

he ran into a tree

and then fell over

when he fell his head hit a second tree

he began to cry

i ran to him

there was a long cut on his head

and a lot of blood

don’t cry tim

you’re going to be all right

i said quietly

let’s go to the hospital and see the

doctor

oh no

cried susan

the hospital

is tim going to die

no

no

tim’s going to be all right

but the doctor must look at this cut on

his head

i said

i carried tim to the car

and drove quickly to the hospital

after we saw the doctor

i phoned duncan

and he came to the hospital

susan ran to him

daddy

there was an accident

and there was a lot of blood

is he going to die

duncan sat down

his face was white

but he smiled at susan and tim

tim’s going to be okay look at him

he’s feeling much better now

duncan put his arm around me

thank you kathy

he said

you’re very good with the children

house is a happier home now with you

there

slowly we walked out of the hospital

please

come home in the car with us

duncan said

we can come back later for your car

please

i liked duncan then

and i wanted to go with him and the

children

but i was afraid too

because of miranda’s accident

i didn’t want to talk to him

and so i went home in my car

the next day

juliet came to see tim

she played with the children and then

she stayed for dinner

after the children went to bed

she came to see me in my room

i’m sorry kathy

she began

i wanted to see you but

i was afraid because you’re angry with

me

yes

i am angry i said slowly

you were my friend

i went to dinner with nick and i told

you everything

but you didn’t tell me about you and

nick

why not

juliet looked at me

but said nothing

why didn’t nick tell me about you

did he tell you about our dinner

yes

i was upset

but nick likes to talk to women

he likes you

and he wanted to take you to dinner

but he loves me and nothing is going to

change that

she stopped

i told grandma about your dinner with

nick

because i didn’t want you to be friends

with nick

you don’t want her to know about you and

nick

but you told her about my dinner with

nick

why

i don’t understand

i’m sorry

i love him very much he’s everything to

me

but our love is a secret

duncan hates nick

and i don’t want him to know about our

love

there are a lot of secrets in this

family

i said

secrets about you and nick

secrets about miranda

why didn’t you tell me about miranda’s

accident

how do you know about that

juliet asked

i went to the library and read about it

in the newspapers

juliet stood up

nobody talks about miranda’s accident

she said

nobody saw her when she fell down the

stairs

i wanted to ask about duncan

i wanted to ask

why did the police question duncan

but

i was afraid of the answer

well

i don’t like living with all these

secrets

i said

every time i go downstairs i remember

miranda

juliet laughed then

and it was a cold laugh

we all live with that kathy

you’re not one of the family

you’re not going to fall

downstairs tim felt better the next day

and in the afternoon duncan took the

children back to the farm to buy the

christmas tree

and then

i phoned nick

i want to talk to you

i said quietly

i need to talk to someone

hmm

said nick

let’s meet on the beach

at three o’clock

i waited in my room

and listened to the sea

and the wind

perhaps juliet was with nick

i didn’t know

but i needed to talk to someone about

the harvey family

i walked slowly across the field and

down the hill to the beach

it was a cold afternoon

and there was a strong wind

the sea was dark

nick wasn’t there

perhaps he didn’t want to talk to me

but in the end he arrived

what’s the matter

he asked

i talked to juliet last night

i began

about miranda

i don’t know why

but i feel afraid

what do you know about miranda’s

accident

the police questioned duncan

nick said

his blue eyes looked past me

suddenly his face changed

duncan’s here did you tell him to come

no i didn’t

he left the house before i called you

duncan ran down the hill

cathy

he called

what are you doing here

nick said angrily

kathy wants to talk to me

kathy

come home

duncan said quietly

she’s not going back with you

she’s afraid of you

afraid of me

why

i said nothing

duncan’s face was

angry

why don’t you tell us about miranda

nick asked

his face was angry too

i want to ask you something

the police questioned you duncan

what did you tell them

about that night

so you’re asking me about miranda

duncan

shouted you remember miranda then

well

i remember too

i remember her every day

duncan looked at me

and then back at nick

you think i killed miranda

go to the police then and tell them that

yes

i hated her

and i hated you too nick

she wanted to leave me and the children

because of you

she loved you

she told me that

but did you

love her nick

of course i didn’t

nick said

his face was red

i liked miranda

we went to dinner four or five times

that’s all

she was lonely

he looked at me

his eyes were very blue

but suddenly i didn’t like his eyes

and i didn’t like his face

she wanted to leave me

and her children

but you didn’t love her

duncan said

you loved her sister

i know that

but miranda didn’t know about you and

juliet

why didn’t you tell her

i didn’t want to listen

i felt ill

and very cold

and i began to walk back up the hill

i wanted to go home

but where was my home

i didn’t have one

[Music]

chapter five

home

kathy

wait for me

it was duncan

he ran up behind me

i want to talk to you kathy

listen

all women like nick

i know that

but he’s not a good friend for you to

have

you heard him on the beach

he likes to have lots of women friends

how can you be happy with a man like

that

you’re wrong

i said slowly

i stopped liking nick weeks ago

nick wasn’t important to me now

i knew that

but duncan was important to me

and i couldn’t tell him

for a minute or two i said nothing

but the questions were still there

in the end i said

why didn’t you tell me about miranda’s

accident

why was it a secret

i feel very upset about all this

i wanted to forget all about it duncan

said slowly

it was a very

difficult time

miranda

and juliet loved nick

juliet hated miranda

she was afraid because miranda wanted to

live with nick

juliet told me about miranda and nick

because she wanted me to stop miranda

juliet told me about her love for nick

it was a secret she said

a secret

duncan laughed angrily

well

miranda never knew about it it’s true

juliet’s very careful

she never talks about nick

but it wasn’t difficult to see

i saw her car at his farm

and i often see it there now

the sky was darker now

was

juliet here

the night miranda died

i asked

perhaps juliet killed her sister i

thought

no

no

juliet wasn’t here

nick wasn’t here

duncan said

i was upstairs and the children were in

bed

then

miranda called me into our bedroom and

said

i’m going to leave you duncan

i’m going to live with nick

i was very angry and upset

but i ran downstairs into the kitchen

before she fell

kathy

nobody killed miranda

it was an accident

terrible accident

duncan put his hand on my arm

can’t you forget about miranda now

can’t we begin again

but i couldn’t answer then

we arrived at beach house

there was a light downstairs in the

kitchen

and a light in the sitting room

the children are watching television

duncan said

we went into the house and duncan opened

the sitting room door

we’re home now

he told children we’re going to the

kitchen to make dinner

the kitchen was warm and quiet

old mrs harvey sat in her chair

suddenly

i felt afraid

there was something terrible about old

mrs harvey’s face

i stood by the kitchen door

i couldn’t go into the room

we’re back mother

duncan said

kathy’s with me

everything’s all right

mrs harvey’s eyes were dark in her white

face

i was afraid

duncan i was afraid

the children love kathy and you love

cathy

i can see that

but kathy loves nick

she’s going to leave you and the

children

remember miranda it’s all happening

again i can see that

mother it’s not true

don’t talk like this

remember miranda mrs harvey said again

don’t be upset duncan

i’m always here you know that

i can’t look after you because of my

arthritis

but i love you most

you know that

and i’m going to help you again

suddenly i understood it all

tell us about miranda i said quietly

what did you do that night

mrs harvey looked at me then

i don’t want you to leave kathy

i want you to stay with the children and

be happy with duncan

let me tell you about that night

she said

and then you must stay here with us

the room was very quiet

duncan held my hand

and his hand was warm

and strong

miranda wanted to leave duncan

i was upstairs in my room

and i heard her

duncan ran downstairs

and i came out of my room and talked to

miranda

she hated duncan

and she didn’t want to think about her

children

mrs harvey began to cry

i

pushed her

she was on the stairs

and

i

pushed her with my stick

she fell down the stairs

and i went back into my room

i didn’t want to kill her

i wanted to break her legs

i wanted her to stay at home with duncan

but she died

and

in the end

i was happy

because she didn’t go and live with nick

mrs harvey talked and talked

and in the end we stopped listening to

her

kathy

this is all going to be very difficult

duncan said tiredly

i must call the police

and tell them about mother

then

i must talk to the children

it’s going to be difficult for you too

are you going to leave beach house

i smiled

there were no more questions in my head

i knew everything now about the harvey

family

there was nothing more to be afraid of

no duncan

i’m not going to leave

the children need you

he said

you know that

but i need you too

i want you to be with me

but can we be happy after all this

of course we can

i told him

things are going to get better now

for all of us

he put his arms around me

he kissed me then

and i found my home

in his arms

[Music]

you