In Victorian London ‘mud larks’ were children who (search for) valuable bits and pieces on the shores of the River Thames. They (not/ do) this from boats, but (wait) until the tide (go)      out, and then (crawl) about in the river mud looking for anything valuable. Henry Mayhew, a Victorian writer, (interview) a ‘mud lark’ in his book about poor working people in London in the 1850s. Here’s what he told him: ‘My family is Irish though I was born m London. My father (work) at London Docks. He is a strong-bodied man of 34. In the past I (go) to school with my brothers for about three years and (learn) reading and writing and arithmetic. One of my brothers (be) at sea for the past five years. I (work) in the neighbourhood of Millwall picking pieces of coal and iron, copper and bits of canvas on the surface. When bargemen (carry) coal to the shore some of it (fall) in the mud and we (pick up) it. The most I (ever see) my companions find is one shilling’s worth a day. There are usually thirteen or fourteen mud larks, boys and girls, in the summer, and six boys steadily in the winter. When a bargeman (get hold) of one of us, he generally (throw) him into the river. The police boat (chase) us two or three times. One night I (see) a large piece of copper drop down where they (repair) a ship. That evening as the ship (come) out of the docks, I (strip off) my clothes and (dive) down several feet, (seize) the piece of copper and later (sell) it to a marine dealer’.

Exercise 6. Complete the text using the required past, present or future forms of the verbs in brackets.

Uncle Vernon cleared his throat importantly and (say), ‘Now, as we all know, today (be) a very important day.’ Of course, Harry thought bitterly, Uncle Vernon (talk) about the stupid dinner party. He (talk) of nothing else for a fortnight. Some rich builder and his wife (come) to dinner, and Uncle Vernon (hope) to get a huge order of drills from him.

‘I (think) we should run through the schedule one more time’, (say) Uncle Vernon. ‘Petunia, at eight o’clock you (be) - ?’

‘In the lounge’, (say) Aunt Petunia promptly.

‘And you, Dudley?’

‘I (wait) to open the door. ‘May I take your coats, Mr. and Mrs. Mason?’

‘Excellent, Dudley,’ (say) Uncle Vernon. Then he (round) on Harry. ‘And you?’

‘I (be) in my bedroom, making no noise and pretending I’m not there’.

‘Exactly,’ (say) Uncle Vernon nastily. ‘The Masons (not / know) anything about you, and it’s going to stay that way. When dinner (be) over, you (take) Mrs. Mason back to the lounge for coffee, Petunia, and I (bring) the subject round to drills. With any luck, I (sign) and (seal) the deal before the News at Ten. We (shop) for a holiday home in Majorca this time tomorrow’.

(Abridged from “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets” by J.K. Rowling)

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