At the Manor House

The Rolls-Royce drove through the gates of the Manor House and up a long driveway lined with tall oaks. Harry had counted six gardeners even before he 30 ______ eyes on the house.

31 ______ during their time at the boarding school Harry had learned a little about how Giles lived, but nothing had prepared him for this. When he saw the house for the first time, his mouth opened and 32 ______ open. “Early eighteenth century would be my guess,” said Deakins. “Not bad,” said Giles. “1722, built by Vanbrugh”. The car came to a halt in front of a three-storey mansion built from golden Cotswold stone. Giles jumped out before the chauffeur had a chance to open the back door. He ran up the steps and made his 33 ______ through the front door and into a large, highly polished wood-panelled hall. His two friends followed him.

As soon as Harry stepped into the hall, he found himself transfixed by the portrait of an old man. He appeared to be staring directly down at Harry. Giles 34 ______ the man in the portrait - he had inherited the man’s beak-like nose, fierce blue eyes and square jaw. Harry looked 35 ______ at the other paintings that adorned the walls. He was looking at a landscape by an artist called Constable, when a woman swept into the hall wearing what Harry could only have described as a ball gown.

“Happy birthday, my darling,” she 36 ______ . “Thank you, Mum,” replied Giles as she bent down to kiss him. She gave Harry such a warm smile that he immediately felt at ease.

Грамматика и Лексика

At the Manor House (30-36)