Introduction
Arthur Huntingdon is drunken, unfaithful and abusive, and teaching his young son to be like him. His wife Helen has had enough, and plans to take little Arthur to America, supporting herself as an artist of some talent. Unwisely, she has committed her plans to her secret journal, and her husband has just read it.
“I’LL trouble you for your keys, my dear.’
“What keys?’
“The keys of your cabinet, desk, drawers, and whatever else you possess,’ said he, rising and holding out his hand.
“I’ve not got them,” I replied. The key of my desk, in fact, was at that moment in the lock, and the others were attached to it.
“Then you must send for them,” said he; “and if that old devil, Rachel, doesn’t immediately deliver them up, she tramps bag and baggage tomorrow.”
“She doesn’t know where they are,” I answered, quietly placing my hand upon them, and taking them from the desk, as I thought, unobserved. “I know, but I shall not give them up without a reason.”
“And I know, too,” said he, suddenly seizing my closed hand and rudely abstracting them from it. He then took up one of the candles and relighted it by thrusting it into the fire.
Précis
After learning that his wife Helen intends to leave him, Arthur Huntingdon demands all her keys. Helen plays for time by protesting that she does not have them, while trying to palm them from her nearby desk; but Arthur spots her sleight-of-hand, and wrings them violently from her hand. (49 / 60 words)
After learning that his wife Helen intends to leave him, Arthur Huntingdon demands all her keys. Helen plays for time by protesting that she does not have them, while trying to palm them from her nearby desk; but Arthur spots her sleight-of-hand, and wrings them violently from her hand.
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Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 45 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, besides, despite, just, otherwise, ought, until, whether.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Where were the keys that Arthur demanded from his wife?
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Helen planned to leave her husband. Arthur found out. He demanded Helen’s keys.