Lesson57CanIhelpyou,madam?你要买什么,夫人?

　　Awomaninbluejeansstoodatthewindowofanexpensiveshop.Thoughshehesitatedforamoment,shefinallywentinandaskedtoseeadressthatwasinthewindow.Theassistantwhoservedherdidnotlikethewayshewasdressed.Glancingatherscornfully,hetoldherthatthedresswassold.Thewomanwalkedoutoftheshopangrilyanddecidedtopunishtheassistantnextday.Shereturnedtotheshopthefollowingmorningdressedinafurcoat,withahandbaginonehandandalongumbrellaintheother.Afterseekingouttherudeassistantsheaskedforthesamedress.Notrealizingwhoshewas,theassistantwaseagertoserveherthistimewithgreatdifficulty,heclimbedintotheshopwindowtogetthedress.Assoonasshesawit,thewomansaidshedidnotlikeit.Sheenjoyedherselfmakingtheassistantbringalmosteverythinginthewindowbeforefinallybuyingthedressshehadfirstaskedfor.

　　Lesson58Ablessingindisguise?是因祸得福吗?

　　ThetinyvillageofFrinleyissaidtopossessa'cursedtree'.Becausethetreewasmentionedinanewspaper,thenumberofvisitorstoFrinleyhasnowincreased.Thetreewasplantednearachurchfiftyyearsago,butitisonlyinrecentyearsthatithasgainedanevilreputation.Itissaidthatifanyonetouchesthetree,hewillhavebadluck;ifhepicksaleaf,hewilldie.Manyvillagersbelievethatthetreehasalreadyclaimedanumberofvictims.Thevicarhasbeenaskedtohavethetreecutdown,butsofarhehasrefused.Hehaspointedoutthatthetreeisausefulsourceofincomeastouristshavebeencomingfromallpartsofthecountrytoseeit.Inspiteofallthathasbeensaid,thetourists-havebeenpickingleavesandcuttingtheirnamesonthetree-trunk.Sofar,notoneofthemhasbeenstruckdownbysuddendeath!