All Out
A man once called at a house and asked for the master.
"He has gone out," replied the servant.
"Oh, well, then," said the visitor, "I will speak to your mistress."
"But she has gone out, too," replied the servant.
"Well, as it is a cold day, said the visitor then, "I will just come in and sit by the fire for a while."
"Ah, sir, but the fire has gone out too," answered the servant.
The unfortunate visitor decided that he, too, had better go out and he walked away.
to go out - 1. отходить, оставлять (что-то); 2. гаснуть (про свет, огонь)
for a while - немного, некоторое время
that he, too, had better go out - что ему тоже лучше уйти (вон)
Something Missing
A man gazed with a disapproving eye at the soup before him. Presently he pushed it aside.
"I'm sorry you do not think the chicken soup is good, sir," said the landlady. "I told cook how to make it, but perhaps she did not catch the idea."
"No; I think it was the chicken she did not catch," he replied.
to catch the idea - понять (указания), поймать мысль, идею


LI 3.9.25