Opal 小姐将 Mrs Ballito 的信息告知 Mr Ballito 后，要 Melita 电话告知 Mrs Ballito 已将信息转达。下面是Opal 在教 Melita 电话礼节。

OPAL: Now I want you to ring Mrs Ballito and tell her that her husband has received the message.

MELITA: Right, What's her telephone number?

OPAL: How would you find the telephone number if I wasn't here?

MELITA: I'd look it up in the telephone directory¹.

OPAL: That would take too long. Names and numbers that we often use are in the office address book. Here it is.

MELITA: Thank you. Oh yes, it's much easier to look up numbers in the address book than in the directory. Here we are B... Ballito 75381. Right.

OPAL: Hey, hold on a minute. Before you dial² the number you should decide what you are going to say.

MELITA: Yes, that's a good idea. Shall³ I say "Mr Ballito's got your message, Mrs Ballito?"

OPAL: Well, you could say that, but it would sound better if you told her that we have given Mr Ballito the message, and that he will collect their daughter from school on his way home at lunch time.

MELITA: I hope I can remember all that,

OPAL: Why don't you write it down?

MELITA: Right, I'll say, "We have given Mr Ballito your message and he will collect your daughter from school on his way home at lunch time." How about that?

OPAL: Yes, that's all right. But first of all you must say who is speaking.

MELITA: Shall I say "This is Melita"?

OPAL: No, Mrs Ballito may not know who you are. Say "This is Mr Ballito's office."

MELITA: Right. 75381

MRS BALLITO: 75381

MELITA: Good morning, this is Mr Ballito's office. Who's that?

MRS BALLITO: Mrs Ballito.

MELITA: We have given Mr Ballito your message, Mrs Ballito, and he will collect you daughter from school on his way home at lunchtime.

MRS BALLITO: Oh thank you for phoning me.

MELITA: Goodbye.

MRS BALLITO: Goodbye.

MELITA: Was that all right?

OPAL: Fine, but you must never say "Who's that?" Melita. It's much better to say something like "Who's speaking, please?" or "Would you mind telling me your name please?" or "Is that Mrs Ballito speaking?" Not "Who's that?" It sounds impolite⁴.