NCERT Book Class 10 English Words and Expressions Two Stories About Flying

READING COMPREHENSION

TEXT I

Let’s now read the story of a bus conductor and his passengers with a dog. The story is written by A.G Gardiner.

All about a Dog

It was a bitterly cold night, and even at the far end of the bus the east wind that raved along the street cut like a knife. The bus stopped and two women and a man got in together and filled the vacant places. The young woman was dressed in sealskin, and carried one of those little Pekinese dogs that women in sealskin like to carry in their laps. The conductor came in and took the fares. Then his eyes rested with old malice on the beady eyed toy dog. I saw trouble brewing. This was the opportunity for which he had been waiting and he intended to make the most of it. I had marked him as the type of what Mr. Wells has called the Resentful Employee, the man with a great vague grievance against everything and a particular grievance against passengers who came and sat in his seat while he shivered at the door.

“You must take that dog out,” he said with sour venom.

“I shall certainly do nothing of the kind. You can take my name and address,” said the woman, who had evidently expected the challenge and knew the reply.

“You must take the dog out— that’s my orders.”

“I won’t go on the top in such weather. It would kill me,” said the woman.

“Certainly not,” said her lady companion, “You’ve got a cough as it is.” 

“It’s nonsense,” said her male companion.