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And I would say, “How do you do, Mr Gessler? Could you make me a pair of Russian-leather boots?”
Without a word he would leave me retiring whence he came, or into the other portion of the shop, and I would continue to rest in the wooden chair inhaling the incense of his trade. Soon he would come back, holding in his hand a piece of gold-brown leather. With eyes fixed on it he would remark, “What a beaudiful biece!” When I too had admired it, he would speak again. “When do you wand dem?” And I would answer, “Oh! As soon as you conveniently can.” And he would say, “Tomorrow fordnighd?” Or if he were his elder brother: “I will ask my brudder.”
The bootmaker was a quiet man who was always preoccupied with his profession. If the author walked inside Gessler's shop, he would place his order for a pair of Russian leather boots, as he always does, and the bootmaker would leave to bring him the leather piece.
Because he was a workaholic, the bootmaker rarely spoke. He had always responded with the author's request without question. Russian leather is widely used in the manufacture of footwear. These leathers are both strong and flexible, and so it has a longer duration. So, the bootmaker might have used it due to its high quality.
While the bootmaker would be busy looking for the leather piece, the author would relax in a wooden chair, inhaling the leather smell inside the Gessler's shop. And, when the bootmaker would return to the author with the leather piece, the author could hear him appreciating its beauty (the leather piece) with a German accent. Indeed, it would be admired by the author as well. The author's estimated delivery date for the boots would be the next question for him to answer. The author would refuse to give him a deadline for receiving the boots. He'd instead leave it up to the bootmaker.
The bootmaker would promise that the boots would be ready in fifteen days. 'Tomorrow fortnight' means two weeks from tomorrow. If the person looking after the author were his older brother, he would reply that he will inform the author of the boot delivery date after speaking with his brother.
While the bootmaker would be busy looking for the leather piece, the author would relax in a wooden chair, inhaling the leather smell inside the Gessler's shop. And, when the bootmaker would return to the author with the leather piece, the author could hear him appreciating its beauty (the leather piece) with a German accent. Indeed, it would be admired by the author as well. The author's estimated delivery date for the boots would be the next question for him to answer. The author would refuse to give him a deadline for receiving the boots. He'd instead leave it up to the bootmaker.
The bootmaker would promise that the boots would be ready in fifteen days. 'Tomorrow fortnight' means two weeks from tomorrow. If the person looking after the author were his older brother, he would reply that he will inform the author of the boot delivery date after speaking with his brother.
Meaning of difficult words:
S.No | Words | Meaning |
1. | Incense | A substance that produced a pleasant smell |
2. | Fortnight | Fourteen days |
3. | Retiring | Preferring not to spend time with others |
4. | Whence | From where |
5. | Inhale | To breathe in |
6. | Convenient | Suited to your preferences or needs |
7. | Workaholic | A person who enjoys working and works excessively. |
Reference:
National Council of Educational Research and Training (2007). Honeycomb. Quality - John Galsworthy (pp. 71-78). Published at the Publication Division by the Secretary, National Council of Educational Research and Training, Sri Aurobindo Marg, New Delhi.
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