P1
1. sop: spend most of my time
2. I sopped around: I spent most of my time.
3. dirty and inedible: She felt herself sinful and despised by other.
4. life line: something on which one’s life depends
5. I met…my first life line: I met, and to be more exact, I gradually got myself acquainted with a lady who helped me for the first time see the significance in my life.
P2
1. aristocrat: member of the middle class, much well off; Here it means a member of the middle class.
2. Black Stamps: the part of the town in Stamps where black people lived
3. the grace of control: endowment of control; skill, charm; grace of control: fine control of her movement
4. She had…weather: she had some magic power which made her look warm even in the coldest weather.
5. swirl: whirl, spin, rotate
6. taut: signs of worry and anxiety
7. wiry: rather thin, with strong muscles
8. voile: very fine, thin, almost transparent material of cotton, silk
9. denim: strong cotton clothes (cloth) used esp. for jeans
10. answer: reply, match, rival
P3
1. snag: to catch on a snag if it is torn open by sth sharp; to catch or get esp. by quick action
2. …if snagged: if it is torn open by something sharp
3. ruffle: fold, rumple, crinkle, ruff, wrinkle, disarrange
4. …to Mrs. Flowers to ruffle her dress: to even touch her dress to wrinkle it
5. let alone: to say nothing of
6. She didn’t encourage familiarity: Her appearance and manners were very much serious and she didn’t want others to be in a familiar way with her.
P4
1. I didn’t think I ever saw Mrs. Flowers laugh: to laugh in public is often considered unladylike
2. effortless: smooth and natural
3. the slow effortless closing: a sign of refined manners
4. When she chose to smile on me: “On” is used here instead of “ at” to give a feeling of God-like grace or mercy.
5. inclusively: including everything
6. benign: kind and gentle; kindhearted, gentle, tender, soft, benevolent
7. The action was so graceful and inclusively benign: The smile was so beautiful (lovely) and so much gentle (kind); showing her gentle nature to all.