17. Little May is a lovely and beautiful girl, but she had one (1) habit. If you asked her to do anything, she would say, "In a(n) (2) ." If her mother said, "May, dear, (3) me my coat," she would say, "Yes, mother, in a minute."And even if (即使) her father called her (4) a ride, it was not (5) . She (6) did what she was told (被告诉) to do at once.
One day May's bird was flying around the room. May's father went out and left the (7) open. May's mother said, "Close the door, my dear." "Yes, mother, in a minute," said May. "I only want to (8) this story." (9) the cat did not wait. She came in, and with one jump had the bird in her (10) .
The book went on the floor, and May (11) the cat. Soon poor May came back crying with the dead (死的) bird in her hand. Her mother was (12) sad. But she said, "My dear little girl, you (13) that many things may happen (可能发生) in a minute. "It was a sad (14) for May, but it was one she would not (15) . Now she is different. She never says "In a minute."again.