Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы
Шрифт:
When the time came for them to start working they decided (когда /им/ пришло время начать работать, они решили) that they would go into the same firm (что они будут работать в одной и той же фирме); but that was not so easy (но это оказалось не так-то просто; easy — легкий, нетрудный); Jean tried to get Riri a job in the exporting house that had engaged him (Жан попытался найти Рири работу в экспортной фирме, которая наняла его), but could not manage it (но ему это не удалось; to manage — руководить; суметь/сделать/,справиться), and it was not till a year later that Riri got something to do (и только год спустя Рири нашел какую-то работу; to do — делать; заниматься/чем-либо/;работать). But by then trade was as bad at Le Havre as everywhere else (но к тому времени
job [dZOb], exporting [Ik'spO: tIN], employment [Im'plOImqnt]
When the time came for them to start working they decided that they would go into the same firm; but that was not so easy; Jean tried to get Riri a job in the exporting house that had engaged him, but could not manage it, and it was not till a year later that Riri got something to do. But by then trade was as bad at Le Havre as everywhere else, and in a few months he found himself once more without employment.
Riri was a light-hearted youth, and he enjoyed his leisure (Рири был беспечным молодым человеком и получал удовольствие от ничегонеделания; leisure — досуг; свободноевремя). He danced, bathed and played tennis (он танцевал, купался и играл в теннис). It was thus that he made the acquaintance of a girl (именно таким образом от познакомился с одной девушкой) who had recently come to live at Le Havre (которая недавно переехала: «приехала» жить в Гавр). Her father had been a captain in the colonial army (ее отец был капитаном в колониальной армии) and on his death her mother had returned to Le Havre (и после его смерти ее мать вернулась в Гавр), which was her native place (который был ее родным городом: «городом, в котором она родилась»). Marie-Louise was then eighteen (Марии-Луизе тогда было восемнадцать лет). She had spent almost all her life in Tonkin (она провела почти всю свою жизнь в Тонкине). This gave her an exotic attraction for the young men who had never been out of France in their lives (это делало ее необычайно привлекательной для молодых людей, которые никогда в своей жизни не бывали за /пределами/ Франции; exotic — экзотический; необычный, эксцентричный; attraction — притяжение, тяготение; привлекательность), and first Riri, then Jean, fell in love with her (и сперва Рири, а затем и Жан влюбились в нее).
light-hearted ["laIt'hQ: tId], leisure ['leZq], captain ['kxptIn], colonial [kq'lqunIql], exotic [Ig'zOtIk]
Riri was a light-hearted youth, and he enjoyed his leisure. He danced, bathed and played tennis. It was thus that he made the acquaintance of a girl who had recently come to live at Le Havre. Her father had been a captain in the colonial army and on his death her mother had returned to Le Havre, which was her native place. Marie-Louise was then eighteen. She had spent almost all her life in Tonkin. This gave her an exotic attraction for the young men who had never been out of France in their lives, and first Riri, then Jean, fell in love with her.
Perhaps that was inevitable (возможно, это было неизбежным); it was certainly unfortunate (и уж определенно это было к несчастью; unfortunate — несчастный; неудачный). She was a well-brought-up girl, an only child (она была хорошо воспитанной девушкой, единственным ребенком; to bring up — воспитывать, растить), and her mother, besides her pension, had a little money of her own (и у ее матери, помимо пенсии, были и немного своих собственных денег). It was evident that she could be pursued only with a view to marriage (было очевидно, что искать ее /расположения/ можно было только с намерением жениться; topursue— преследовать /кого-либо/; искать, добиваться;view— вид; цель, намерение). Of course Riri, dependent for the while entirely on his father (конечно же Рири, который в то время полностью находился на иждивении своего отца; dependent— зависимый; получающий помощь /от кого-либо/, живущий за счет /чего-либо/), could not make an offer that there was the least chance of Madame Meurice, Marie-Louise’s mother, accepting (не
inevitable [I'nevItqb(q)l], pursue [pq'sju: ], marriage ['mxrIdZ]
Perhaps that was inevitable; it was certainly unfortunate. She was a well-brought-up girl, an only child, and her mother, besides her pension, had a little money of her own. It was evident that she could be pursued only with a view to marriage. Of course Riri, dependent for the while entirely on his father, could not make an offer that there was the least chance of Madame Meurice, Marie-Louise’s mother, accepting; but having the whole day to himself he was able to see a great deal more of Marie-Louise than Jean could.
Madame Meurice was something of an invalid (мадам Мерис была, в некотором роде, инвалидом), so that Marie-Louise had more liberty than most French girls of her age and station (поэтому у Марии-Луизы было больше свободы, чем у большинства французских девушек ее возраста и положения; station — место, местоположение; общественноеположение). She knew that both Riri and Jean were in love with her (она знала, что и Рири, и Жан влюблены в нее), she liked them both and was pleased by their attentions (они оба нравились ей, и ей были приятны их ухаживания; attention — внимание, внимательность; внимание, благосклонность, ухаживание), but she gave no sign that she was in love with either (но она не подавала вида, что она была влюблена в кого-нибудь из них; sign — признак, примета). It was impossible to tell which she preferred (было невозможно сказать, кого /из них/: «которого» она предпочитала). She was well aware that Riri was not in a position to marry her (ей было хорошо известно, что у Рири не было возможности жениться на ней; tobeinapositiontodosmth. — иметь возможность /быть в состоянии/ сделать что-либо).
invalid ['InvqlId], liberty ['lIbqtI], prefer [prI'fW]
Madame Meurice was something of an invalid, so that Marie-Louise had more liberty than most French girls of her age and station. She knew that both Riri and Jean were in love with her, she liked them both and was pleased by their attentions, but she gave no sign that she was in love with either. It was impossible to tell which she preferred. She was well aware that Riri was not in a position to marry her.
"What did she look like (как она выглядела)?" I asked Jean Charvin.
"She was small, with a pretty little figure (она была невысокого роста, с изящной фигуркой), with large grey eyes (с большими серыми глазами), a pale skin and soft, mouse-coloured hair (бледной кожей и мягкими волосами мышиного цвета). She was rather like a little mouse (она была довольно похожа на маленькую мышку). She was not beautiful, but pretty, in a quaint demure way (она не была красавицей, но была хорошенькой, неким изящным скромным образом; quaint — причудливый; уст. изящный, искусный); there was something very appealing about her (было в ней что-то очень привлекательное; to appeal — апеллировать, взывать; привлекать, интересовать). She was easy to get on with (с ней было так легко ладить). She was simple and unaffected (она была искренней и естественной; simple— простой, нетрудный; простодушный, бесхитростный). You couldn’t help feeling that she was reliable (невозможно было не почувствовать, что на нее можно положиться; reliable— надежный) and would make anyone a good wife (и /любому/ будет хорошей женой)."
figure ['fIgq], quaint [kweInt], demure [dI'mjuq], unaffected ["Anq'fektId]
"What did she look like?" I asked Jean Charvin.
"She was small, with a pretty little figure, with large grey eyes, a pale skin and soft, mouse-coloured hair. She was rather like a little mouse. She was not beautiful, but pretty, in a quaint demure way; there was something very appealing about her. She was easy to get on with. She was simple and unaffected. You couldn’t help feeling that she was reliable and would make anyone a good wife."