Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора
Шрифт:
The seat to Mrs. Harris' right (место справа от миссис Харрис) was occupied by a fierce-looking old gentleman (было занято энергичным на вид пожилым джентльменом) with snow-white hair and mustaches (с белоснежными волосами и усами), tufted eyebrows that stood out like feathers from his face (с хохлатыми бровями, которые выступали, как перья, на его лице; tuft — пучок) and dark pouches under his eyes (и темными мешками под глазами; pouch — сумка; мешочек; анат. мешок: pouches under the eyes — мешки под глазами) which were, however, of a penetrating blue and astonishingly alert and young-looking (которые были, однако, пронзительно голубого цвета и удивительно живыми и молодыми: «молодо выглядящими»; alert — тревога, сигнал
fierce [fIqs], mustache [mqs'tQ:S], lapel [lq'pel]
The seat to Mrs. Harris' right was occupied by a fierce-looking old gentleman with snow-white hair and mustaches, tufted eyebrows that stood out like feathers from his face and dark pouches under his eyes which were, however, of a penetrating blue and astonishingly alert and young-looking. His hair was combed down over his brow in a sort of fringe; his boots were magnificently polished; his vest was edged with white, and in the lapel of his dark jacket was fastened what seemed to Mrs. Harris to be a small rosebud which both fascinated and startled her, since she had never seen a gentleman wearing such before, and so she was caught by him staring at it.
The thin beak nose aimed itself at her (тонкий клювовидный нос нацелился на нее; beak — клюв); the keen blue eyes scrutinized her (проницательные голубые глаза /пристально/ рассматривали ее), but the voice that addressed her in perfect English (но голос, который обратился к ней на безупречном английском) was sere and tired (был сухим и уставшим; sere — засохший, сухой, увядший). "Is there something wrong, madame (что-нибудь не так, мадам)?"
It was not in the nature of Mrs. Harris (миссис Харрис было несвойственно) to be abashed or put out of countenance by anyone (быть смущенной или приведенной в замешательство: «выведенной из спокойствия» кем бы то ни было; countenance — сдержанность; хладнокровие, спокойствие), but the thought that she might have been rude (но мысль, что она, должно быть, была невежлива) stirred her to contrition (подвигла ее к раскаянию) and she favored the old gentleman with a self-deprecating smile (и она наградила пожилого джентльмена самоосуждающей улыбкой).
abash [q'bxS], countenance ['kauntInqns], rude [ru:d]
The thin beak nose aimed itself at her; the keen blue eyes scrutinized her, but the voice that addressed her in perfect English was sere and tired. "Is there something wrong, madame?"
It was not in the nature of Mrs. Harris to be abashed or put out of countenance by anyone, but the thought that she might have been rude stirred her to contrition and she favored the old gentleman with a self-deprecating smile.
"Fancy me gawking at you like you was a waxworks (кажется, я таращу на вас глаза, как будто вы восковая фигура)," she apologized (извинилась она). "Where's me manners (где мои манеры)? I thought that was a rose in yer button 'ole (я думала, это роза в вашей петлице; 'ole = hole — отверстие, дыра; button — пуговица). Jolly good idea, too (очень хорошая идея, кстати; jolly — веселый, радостный; приятный; чудный, замечательный)." Then in explanation she added (затем в оправдание: «в объяснение» она добавила): "I'm very fond of flowers (я очень люблю
gawk [gO:k], apologize [q'pOlqdZaIz], explanation ["eksplq'neISqn]
"Fancy me gawking at you like you was a waxworks," she apologized. "Where's me manners? I thought that was a rose in yer button 'ole. Jolly good idea, too." Then in explanation she added: "I'm very fond of flowers."
"Are you (в самом деле)," said the gentleman (сказал джентльмен). "That is good (это хорошо)." Whatever hostility had been engendered by her stare (всякая враждебность, порожденная ее пристальным взглядом) was dispelled by the engaging innocence of her reply (была рассеяна обаятельной простотой ее ответа; innocence — невинность). He looked upon his neighbor with a new interest (он посмотрел на свою соседку с новым интересом) and saw now that she was a most extraordinary creature (и увидел теперь, что она была самым необычным/экстраординарным созданием) and one he could not immediately place (и тем, кого он не мог сразу узнать/вспомнить: «разместить = определить ее место в уме, памяти»). "Perhaps (возможно)," he added (он добавил), "it would be better (было бы лучше) if this were indeed a rose instead of a — rosette (если бы это была действительно роза, а не розетка/орденская ленточка)."
engender [In'dZendq], innocence ['Inqsqns], extraordinary [Iks'trO:dnrI]
"Are you," said the gentleman. "That is good." Whatever hostility had been engendered by her stare was dispelled by the engaging innocence of her reply. He looked upon his neighbor with a new interest and saw now that she was a most extraordinary creature and one he could not immediately place. "Perhaps," he added, "it would be better if this were indeed a rose instead of a — rosette."
Mrs. Harris did not understand this remark at all (миссис Харрис не поняла его замечания вовсе), but the pleasant manner in which it had been delivered (но приятная манера, в которой оно было высказано; to deliver — освобождать, доставлять; высказывать) showed her that she had been forgiven for her rudeness (показала, что она была прощена за свою невежливость) and the tiny shadow that had fallen across her mood was dispelled (и крохотная тень, которая упала на ее настроение, была рассеяна). "Ain't it loverly 'ere (разве здесь не прекрасно; loverly = lovely)?" she said by way of keeping the conversation going (спросила она, чтобы продолжить разговор; to keep — держать; поддерживать).
pleasant [pleznt], dispel [dIs'pel], rudeness ['ru:dnIs]
Mrs. Harris did not understand this remark at all, but the pleasant manner in which it had been delivered showed her that she had been forgiven for her rudeness and the tiny shadow that had fallen across her mood was dispelled. "Ain't it loverly 'ere?" she said by way of keeping the conversation going.
"Ah, you feel the atmosphere too (ах, вы тоже чувствуете атмосферу)". Puzzled, the old gentleman was racking his brain (озадаченный пожилой джентльмен напрягал мозги), trying to catch or connect with something that was stirring there (пытаясь уловить или связать с чем-то, что делалось = происходило там), something that seemed to be connected vaguely with his youth and his education (чем-то, казалось, связанным неопределенно с его молодостью и его образованием), which had been rounded out by two years at a British university (которое было дополнено: «округлено» двумя годами в Британском университете). He was remembering a dark and dingy closet (он вспоминал темную и грязную клетушку; closet — чулан; келья; уст. кабинет), dark-paneled (обшитую темными панелями), that had been his bedroom and study (которая была его спальней и кабинетом), cold and austere (холодную и аскетическую), opening off a dark hallway (открывавшуюся в темный коридор), and incongruously (и неуместно = почему-то), as the picture formed in his mind (как картина, возникшая в его сознании), there was a slop pail standing in the hall (там было помойное ведро, стоящее в коридоре) at the head of the stairs (на верхней площадке лестницы).