The Stranger

MACMILLAN READERS

ELEMENTARY LEVEL

NORMAN WHITNEY

The Stranger

MACMILLAN READERS

ELEMENTARY LEVEL

Founding Editor: John Milne

The Macmillan Readers provide a choice of enjoyable reading materials for learners of English. The series is published at six levels - Starter, Beginner, Elementary, Pre.. intermediate, Intermediate and Upper.

Level control Information, structureand vocabulary are controlled to suit the students' ability at each level. The number of words at each level:
Starter Beginner Elementary Pre..intermediate Intermediate Upper about 300 basic words about 600 basic words about 1100 basic words about 1400 basic words about 1600 basic words about 2200 basic words

Vocabulary Some difficult words and phrases in this book are important forunderstanding the story. Some of these words are explained in the story and some are shown in the pictures. From Pre..intermediate level upwards, words are marked with a number like this: ... '. These words are explained in the Glossary at the end of the book.

Contents
The People in This Story
1 A Stranger in Woodend 2 The Village Meeting 3 The Corner Shop 4 A Beautiful Customer 5 A Page in 'FilmNews' 6 A Quick Kiss 7 Another Special Order 8 The Football Match 9 A Secret Weekend 10 A Quarrel 11 Arthur Riseman 12 Anna Waits for News 13 The Special Orders Room 14 The Special Customers 15 31st October

4 6
9

12 14 18 20 23 27 31 33 36 40 46 49

52 55

Points for Understanding

The People in This Story

Dave Slatin

Anna

Peter

4

Greta Gordon

Mike Bailey

ArthurRiseman

5

1

A Stranger in Woodend
On Saturday, 31st October, 1964, a man arrived in the village. It was late in the evening. He was looking for some.. where to stay the night. He knocked at a door and a woman opened it. 'Good evening, madam,' the man said. 'I'm sorry it's so late. But can you help me, please? Is there a hotel in this village? I want to stay here tonight.' The womanlaughed. 'A hotel? Here in Woodend? No, sir, I'm afraid there isn't.' 'What a pity,' said the man. 'I'm a stranger here. And I want to see your village tomorrow.' The stranger was very polite. He was tall and had dark hair. And he had strange green eyes. 'Perhaps Mrs Harrison can help you,' the woman said. 'She has a room. Perhaps you can stay with her. Wait a minute. I'll get my coat, and I'll take youthere.' The woman took the stranger to Mrs Harrison's house. Mrs Harrison gave him a room for the night. He was very glad. It was the last night of October and it was cold. The next day was Sunday. The man looked round the village. He was very interested in the history of the village. He met some of the villagers and asked them their names. But he did not visit the church. That was unusual. Thechurch in Woodend was the most beautiful building in the village. But the stranger was not interested in it. He did not go to church that night with all the villagers. It was the first Sunday evening of November. When the villagers came out of the church, the man had

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They had all liked him. The ladies had thought he very good~looking. A few weeks later, he came back. It was the first Sundayin l)ecember. The villagers were coming out of church. It \\'as cold and dark. 'Hello he said.' 'I'm back again. It's nice to see you all once 1l10re.' His next words surprised everyone. 'Perhaps you can help me,' he said. 'I'm looking for (3 house. I want to buy a house here.' 'Here?' someone said. 'But why here? There's no work in Woodend for a young man. All the young people leave thE village.They find work in Lidney, the nearest town.' 'I'll get a job somewhere,' the stranger said. 'Perhaps ir Lidney.' Then one of the villagers told him about old Mr Smith'~ house. Mr Smith had died in the summer. His house wa~ crl1pty. It was for sale. The house was on the corner of Mair Street and Church Lane. 'I'll ask about the house tomorrow,' said the young man 'Perhaps I'll be lucky. Goodbye....