20. A. would B.
was able to C.
could D.
might
C
When the Misses Norris
called on little Mr. Fosdyke at her house in Parker Street, she ___1____ the
door, dressed for going out. They ____2____ in their quiet, well-bred way and
said they would ____3____ again. But Mrs. Fosdyke asked them ____4____ the
house. “ Actually, I’ve just come in, “ she said. “ A minute or two ___5____
and you ___6___ me in the street.”
It was ____7___ that the Misses Norris
realized that Mrs. Fosdyke was dressed in black, the hat bought from a shop but
the coat probably ____8___ on her own machine.
As if reading
their ___9____, she said, “I’ve just been to a funeral,” and the Misses Norris
murmured “Oh?” for no one they knew ____10___ during the past week.
They sat down,
the elder Miss Norris on the edge of the armchair ___11___ the table, her legs
____12____ by her skirt; the younger Miss Norris upright on a chair by the
window. Mrs. Fosdyke took off her coat and busied herself ___13___ the kettle
and teapot at the gas stove ___14____ the corner.
“ You will have a
cup of tea?” she asked, ___15____ the spoon in her hand.
“ Well...” the
younger Miss Norris began, and her sister said, with the self-confidence of her
extra years. “It’s very kind of you.”
“I hate
funerals,” Mrs. Fosdyke said conversationally as she ___16____ boiling water
into the pot. “ If they are for somebody you like, you have a heavy ___17____ ;
and it’s someone you don’t like, you have to ___18____ to be sorry.”
“ ____19____ a
relative of you?” the younger Miss Norris asked shyly. Mrs. Fosdyke ___20___
her head. “ No, a friend, a good friend.”