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A Dill PickleKatherine Mansfield About the Author Katherine Mansfield An outstanding short story writer. She was born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1888. She studied at Queens College, London, where she met D.H. Lawrence and John Middleton Murry, a famous critic, whom she later married. After years of ill-health and struggle as a freelance writer and reviewer, she achieved success with Bliss and Other Stories (1920) and The Garden Party (1922). Just as she won world fame, however, her health grew worse. She died of tuberculosis in 1923. About the Author Katherine Mansfield Critics praised her for her capturing the essence of Chekhov’s art for stories emphasizing atmosphere and actual life rather than exciting plot, and for her “refreshing originality” and “ sensitivity to beauty”. About the Text Main Idea This is a story about a young man and a young woman who had been lovers once and now meet again after six years of separation, and as they reminisce, we begin to know what happened six years ago that finally led to the end of their relationship. In the story, the author artfully points up Vera, the heroine’s sensitivity and the man’s insensitivity to others— their feeling, attitudes and motivations,and the man’s self-involvement. About the Text Word Study egoist: n. a person who is always thinking about themselves or what is best for themselves. egoism n. egoistic/egoistical adj. luxury n. sth that is expensive and enjoyable, but not essential, e.g. a luxury hotel/flat; live in luxury; live/lead a life of luxury luxurious adj. About the Text Word Study exasperate: n. annoy, vex, irritate very much, e.g. She was exasperated at/by his stupidity. haunt: vi. to visit (said of ghosts) regularly; Here: to return repeatedly to the mind, e.g. a haunting melody About the Text Word Study maniac n. (1) mad person;wild and foolish person (2) (derog or joc) person with extreme l