Pity he had to wear those modern clothes! If he'd been dressed like Francis I 31 страница

выставил меня чертовой дурой; to make a fool of smb. — одурачить, провести

кого-либо), but if you had any sense of humour (но если у вас было хоть

чуточку чувства юмора) you could hardly help seeing that there was a funny side

to it (то нельзя было не заметить, что в этом была и смешная сторона). She

was sorry that there was nobody to whom she could tell it (ей было жаль, что не

было никого, кому бы она могла рассказать это); even if it was against herself it

would make a good story (даже если это и было не в ее пользу: «против нее»,

из этого бы получилась хорошая история). What she couldn't get over (чего она

не могла вынести; to get over smth. — зд. оправиться, прийти в себя) was that

she had fallen for the comedy (так это было то, что она попалась на эту

 

 

 

 

 

комедию; to fall for smth. — разг. попасться на удочку) of undying passion that

he had played all those years (о той неумирающей страсти, что он разыгрывал

все эти годы); for of course it was just a pose (так как,         конечно же, это было

всего лишь притворство: «поза»); he liked to see himself as the constant adorer

(ему нравилось видеть себя постоянным обожателем), and the last thing he

wanted, apparently, was to have his constancy rewarded (и самое последнее, чего

он хотел, по-видимому, так это /было/ то, чтобы его постоянство было

вознаграждено).

 

titter ['tItq] mortifying ['mO: tIfaIIN] constancy ['kOnstqnsI]

 

Julia began to titter. The situation was mortifying of course, he had made a damned

fool of her, but if you had any sense of humour you could hardly help seeing that

there was a funny side to it. She was sorry that there was nobody to whom she

could tell it; even if it was against herself it would make a good story. What she

couldn't get over was that she had fallen for the comedy of undying passion that he

had played all those years; for of course it was just a pose; he liked to see himself

as the constant adorer, and the last thing he wanted, apparently, was to have his

constancy rewarded.

 

" Bluffed me, he did, completely bluffed me (обманул меня, вот ведь: «он сделал

/это/», полностью обманул меня). " But an idea occurred to Julia and she ceased

to smile (но, /тут/ одна мысль пришла Джулии в голову и она перестала

улыбаться). When a woman's amorous advances are declined by a man (когда

любовные заигрывания женщины отвергнуты мужчиной; advances — зд.

попытки завязать дружбу и т. п. ) she is apt to draw one of two conclusions

(она склонна прийти к одному или двум заключениям); one is that he is

homosexual (одно — что он гомосексуалист) and the other is that he is impotent

(и второе: «другое» — что он импотент). Julia reflectively lit a cigarette

(Джулия задумчиво зажгла сигарету). She asked herself if Charles had used his

 

 

 

 

 

devotion to her (она спросила у себя, не использовал ли Чарльз свою

привязанность к ней) as a cover to distract attention from his real inclinations

(как прикрытие,   чтобы отвлечь внимание  от его действительных

наклонностей). But she shook her head     (но она покачала головой). If he had

been homosexual she would surely have had some hint of it (если            бы он был

гомосексуалистом, она бы непременно заметила хоть какой-то намек на это);

after all, in society since the war they talked of practically nothing else (в конце-то

концов, в обществе, после войны /они/ не говорили, практически, ни о чем

другом).

 

amorous ['xm(q)rqs] homosexual [" hqVmq| 'sekSVql, " hOmq-] 

impotent ['Impqt(q)nt]

 

" Bluffed me, he did, completely bluffed me. " But an idea occurred to Julia and she

ceased to smile. When a woman's amorous advances are declined by a man she is

apt to draw one of two conclusions; one is that he is homosexual and the other is

that he is impotent. Julia reflectively lit a cigarette. She asked herself if Charles

had used his devotion to her as a cover to' distract attention from his real

inclinations. But she shook her head. If he had been homosexual she would surely

have had some hint of it; after all, in society since the war they talked of practically

nothing else.  

 

Of course it was quite possible he was impotent (конечно же, было вполне

возможным, что он был импотентом). She reckoned out his age     (она

подсчитала его возраст). Poor Charles (бедный Чарльз). She smiled again (она

улыбнулась снова). And if that were the case (и, если в этом и было дело; if that

is the case — если дело обстоит именно так) it was he, not she, who had been

placed in an embarrassing and even ridiculous position (так это он, а не она, /был

тем/ кто оказался в стеснительным и даже смешном положении). He must

have been scared stiff, poor lamb (он, должно быть, был напуган до смерти,

 

 

 

 

 

бедный ягненок; stiff — тугой, негибкий, неэластичный, жесткий). Obviously

it wasn't the sort of thing a man liked to tell a woman (очевидно, это не тот сорт

новостей: «вещей», что мужчина хотел бы рассказать женщине), especially if

he were madly in love with her (особенно, если он был безумно влюблен в нее);

the more she thought of it (чем больше она думала об этом) the more probable

she considered the explanation (тем более возможным она считала это

объяснение). She began to feel very sorry for him (ей стало очень жаль его),

almost maternal in fact (почти что по-матерински, на самом деле). " I know what

I'll do (я знаю, что я сделаю), " she said, as she began to undress (сказала она,

когда начала раздеваться), " I'll send him a huge bunch of white lilies tomorrow

(я отправлю его огромный букет белых лилий завтра). "

 

scared [skeqd] consider [kqn'sIdq] explanation [" eksplq'neIS(q)n]

 

Of course it was quite possible he was impotent. She reckoned out his age. Poor

Charles. She smiled again. And if that were the case it was he, not she, who had

been placed in an embarrassing and even ridiculous position. He must have been

scared stiff, poor lamb. Obviously it wasn't the sort of thing a man liked to tell a

woman, especially if he were madly in love with her; the more she thought of it the

more probable she considered the explanation. She began to feel very sorry for

him, almost maternal in fact. " I know what I'll do, " she said, as she began to

undress, " I'll send him a huge bunch of white lilies tomorrow. "

 

 

 

JULIA lay awake next morning for some time before she rang her bell (Джулия

пролежала, проснувшись, на следующее утро, некоторое время до того, как

/она/ позвонила в /свой/ колокольчик). She thought (она думала). When she

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

reflected on her adventure of the previous night (когда она размышляла о своем

приключении прошедшего вечера: «предыдущей ночи») she could not but be

pleased (она не могла не чувствовать удовольствие) that she had shown so

much presence of mind (что она проявила такое: «так много» присутствие

духа; presence of mind — хладнокровие). It was hardly true to say (вряд ли это

было бы правдой — сказать) that she had snatched victory from defeat (что она

вырвала победу, /избежав/ «от» поражения; to snatch a victory — вырвать

победу /из рук противника/), but looking upon it as a strategic retreat (но,

рассматривая это как стратегическое отступление; to look upon smth. as smth.

— рассматривать что-либо в качестве чего-либо) her conduct had been

masterly (ее поведение было мастерским). She was notwithstanding ill at ease

(она была, не смотря на все это, смущена; ill at ease —   неловкий,

обеспокоенный). There might be yet another explanation for Charles's singular

behaviour (могло быть, все еще, другое объяснение странному поведению

Чарльза; singular — исключительный, своеобразный). It was possible that he

did not desire her (/вдруг/ это было возможным, что он не желал ее) because

she was not desirable (из-за того, что она не вызывала желания; desirable —

желанный, соблазнительный).

 

adventure [qd'ventSq] previous ['pri: vIqs] behaviour [bI'heIvIq]

 

JULIA lay awake next morning for some time before she rang her bell. She

thought. When she reflected on her adventure of the previous night she could not

but be pleased that she had shown so much presence of mind. It was hardly true to

say that she had snatched victory from defeat, but looking upon it as a strategic

retreat her conduct had been masterly. She was notwithstanding ill at ease. There

might be yet another explanation for Charles's singular behaviour. It was possible

that he did not desire her because she was not desirable.  

 

The notion had crossed her mind in the night (эта мысль пришла ей в голову

 

 

 

 

 

среди ночи; to cross — пересекать, скрещиваться), and though she had at once

dismissed it as highly improbable     (и, хотя она немедленно отвергла ее как

весьма неправдоподобную), there was no denying it        (нельзя было отрицать

того), at that hour of the morning it had a nasty look (что, в          тот утренний час,

она имела ужасающий вид). She rang (она позвонила). As a rule (как правило),

since Michael often came in while Julia had breakfast      (поскольку Майкл часто

заходил в то время, когда Джулия завтракала), Evie when she had drawn the

curtains (Эви, когда она раздвинув занавески) handed her a mirror and a comb,

her powder and lipstick (вручала ей зеркало, и расческу, /ее/ пудру и помаду).

On this occasion (в этом случае; occasion — событие, основание), instead of

running the comb rapidly through her hair (вместо того, чтобы пробежать

расческой быстро по волосам) and giving her face a perfunctory dab with the

puff (и небрежно пройтись пуховкой по лицу: «легко прикоснуться к ее лицу

невнимательно /с/ пуховкой»), Julia took some trouble (Джулия постаралась:

«приложила определенные усилия»). She painted her lips with care   (она

накрасила /свои/ губы тщательно: «с заботой») and put on some rouge (и

наложила чуть румян); she arranged her hair (она привела в порядок волосы).

 

improbable [Im'prObqb(q)l] occasion [q'keIZ(q)n] perfunctory [pq'fANkt(q)rI]

 

The notion had crossed her mind in the night, and though she had at once

dismissed it as highly improbable, there was no denying it, at that hour of the

morning it had a nasty look. She rang. As a rule, since Michael often came,. in

while Julia had breakfast, Evie when she had drawn j the curtains handed her a

mirror and a comb, her powder and lipstick. On this occasion, instead of running

the comb rapidly through her hair and giving her face a perfunctory dab with the

puff, Julia took some trouble. She painted her lips with care and put on some

rouge; she arranged her hair.

 

" Speaking without passion or prejudice (говоря бесстрастно и непредвзято;

 

 

 

 

 

passion — страсть, энтузиазм; prejudice — предубеждение, предрассудок), "

she said, still looking at herself in the glass (сказала она, все еще глядя на себя в

зеркало), when Evie placed the breakfast tray on her bed (когда Эви поставила

поднос с завтраком на ее постель), " would you say I was by way of being a

good-looking woman, Evie (ты бы сказала, что я в некотором роде, красивая

женщина, а Эви; to be by way of being smb. —       считаться кем-либо,

относиться к какой-либо категории людей)? "

" I must know what I'm letting myself in for     (я должна знать, на что я

напрашиваюсь) before answering that question  (до того, как отвечать на этот

вопрос; to let oneself in for —        впутывать, вовлекать во что-либо

неприятное). "

" You old bitch (ты старая дрянь: «сука»), " said Julia.

" You're no beauty, you know (вы не красавица, и знаете это: «вы знаете»). "

" No great actress ever has been      (ни одна великая актриса никогда не была

/красивой/). "

" When you're all dolled up          (когда вы вся разряженная; to doll up —

вырядиться, прифрантиться, a doll —    кукла) posh like you was last night

(шикарно так, как вы были вчера вечером; posh — классный, роскошный), and

got the light be'ind you (и когда свет будет со спины: «и имеете свет сзади

вас»; be'ind = behind), I've seen worse, you know (я видала и похуже, знаете ли

/вы/). "

(" Fat lot of good it did me last night (куда как много пользы мне это дало вчера

вечером; fat lot — девать некуда — ирон. о малом количестве). " ) " What I want

to say is (вот что я хочу сказать), if I really set my mind on getting off with a

man (если я действительно решу добиться успеха у мужчины; to get off with

smb. — разг. пользоваться успехом у кого-либо), d'you think I could (как ты

думаешь, я смогу)? "

 

prejudice ['predZqdIs] beauty ['bju: tI] light [laIt]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" Speaking without passion or prejudice, " she said, still looking at herself in the

glass, when Evie placed the breakfast tray on her bed, " would you say I was by

way of being a good-looking woman, Evie? "

" I must know what I'm letting myself in for before answering that question. "

" You old bitch, " said Julia.

" You're no beauty, you know. "

" No great actress ever has been. "

" When you're all dolled up posh like you was last night, and got the light be'ind

you, I've seen worse, you know. "

 (" Fat lot of good it did me last night. " ) " What I want to say is, if I really set my

mind on getting off with a man, d'you think I could? "

 

" Knowing what men are (зная каковы мужчины), I wouldn't be surprised (я и не

удивлюсь). Who d'you want to get off with now (с кем это вы хотите загулять:

«кого вы хотите завоевать» нынче)? "

" Nobody (ни с кем). I was only talking generally (я просто говорила в общем). "

Evie sniffed and drew her forefinger along her nostrils (Эви шмыгнула носом и

провела /своим/ указательным пальцем под: «вдоль» /своими/ ноздрями).

" Don't sniff like that (не шмыгай так носом). If your nose wants blowing, blow it

(если у тебя заложен нос: «если твоему носу требуется высморкаться»,

высморкайся). "

Julia ate her boiled egg slowly (Джулия ела медленно /свое/ варенное яйцо;

boiled egg). She was busy with her thoughts (она была занята своими мыслями).

She looked at Evie (она посмотрела на Эви). Funny-looking old thing of course,

but one never knew (смешно выглядит старушка, конечно, но кто знает: «но

один никогда не знает»).

" Tell me, Evie, do men ever try to pick you up in the street (скажи мне, Эви,

мужчины когда нибудь пытаются познакомиться с тобой на улице)? "

" Me (со мной)? I'd like to see 'em try (хотелось бы мне увидеть, как они

пытаются; 'em = them). "

 

 

 

 

 

" So would I, to tell you the truth (мне бы тоже /хотелось/, сказать тебе по

правде). Women are always telling me      (женщины всегда рассказывают мне)

how men follow them in the street (как мужчины идут за ними на улице) and if

they stop and look in at a shop window (и, если они останавливаются и смотрят

на витрину магазина; shop window — витрина: shop (магазин) + window

(окно)) come up and try to catch their eye (подходят и пытаются поймать их

взгляд). Sometimes they have an awful bother (иногда, им причиняют ужасное

беспокойство) getting rid of them (пока избавишься от них). "

" Disgusting, I call it (отвратительно, вот как я это называю). "

 

generally ['dZen(q)rqlI] nostril ['nOstrIl] disgusting [dIs'gAstIN] 

 

" Knowing what men are, I wouldn't be surprised. Who d'you want to get off with

now? "

" Nobody. I was only talking generally. "

Evie sniffed and drew her forefinger along her nostrils.

" Don't sniff like that. If your nose wants blowing, blow it. "

Julia ate her boiled egg slowly. She was busy with her thoughts. She looked at

Evie. Funny-looking old thing of course, but one never knew.

" Tell me, Evie, do men ever try to pick you up in the street? "

" Me? I'd like to see' em try. "

" So would I, to tell you the truth. Women are always telling me how men follow

them in the street and if they stop and look in at a shop window come up and try to

catch their eye. Sometimes they have an awful bother getting rid of them. "

" Disgusting, I call it. "

 

" I don't know about that (/я/ не знаю об этом). It's rather flattering (это довольно

лестно). You know, it's a most extraordinary thing (ты знаешь, это чрезвычайно

необычайное событие), no one ever follows me in the street (никто никогда не

следует за мной на улице). I don't remember a man ever having tried to pick me

 

 

 

 

 

up (я не припомню, чтобы какой-нибудь мужчина хоть когда-нибудь пытался

подцепить меня). "

" Oh well, you walk along Edgware Road one evening (да         уж, пройдитесь: «вы

прогуляйтесь» по Эдвард-роуд однажды вечером). You'll get picked up all right

(вас подцепят, уж конечно). "

" I shouldn't know what to do if I was (я не буду знать что делать, если с мной

/будут знакомиться/). "

" Call a policeman (позовите полисмена), " said Evie grimly (сказала Эви

мрачно).

" I know a girl (я знаю одну девушку) who was looking in a shop window in Bond

Street (которая смотрела в витрину магазина на Бонд-стрит), a hat shop

(шляпного магазина), and a man came up and asked her if she'd like a hat (и

мужчина подошел, и спросил у нее, не хочет ли она шляпку). I'd love one, she

said (мне бы хотелось одну, сказала она), and they went in and she chose one (и

они вошли и она выбрала одну) and gave her name and address (и дала свое

имя и адрес), he paid for it on the nail (он оплатил ее, тут же, немедленно; on

the nail — на месте, сразу же), and then she said, thank you so much, and

walked out while he was waiting for the change (и затем она сказала: «спасибо

вам большое», и вышла, пока он ожидал сдачи). "

 

extraordinary [Ik'strO: d(q)n(q)rI] policeman [pq'li: smqn] change [tSeIndZ]

 

" I don't know about that. It's rather flattering. You know, it's a most extraordinary

thing, no one ever follows me in the street. I don't remember a man ever having

tried to pick me up. "

" Oh well, you walk along Edgware Road one evening. You'll get picked up all

right. "

" I shouldn't know what to do if I was. "

" Call a policeman, " said Evie grimly.

" I know a girl who was looking in a shop window in Bond Street, a hat shop, and a

 

 

 

 

 

man came up and asked her if she'd like a hat. I'd love one, she said, and they went

in and she chose one and gave her name and address, he paid for it on the nail, and

then she said, thank you so much, and walked out while he was waiting for the

change. "

 

" That's what she told you (это то, что она сказал вам). " Evie's sniff was sceptical

(Эви скептически шмыгнула носом: «шмыганье носом Эви было

скептическим»). She gave Julia a puzzled look (она взглянула на Джулию

озабоченно). " What's the idea (в чем дело-то)? "

" Oh, nothing (о, ни в чем). I was only wondering why in point of fact (я просто

размышляла, почему это, фактически) I never have been accosted by a man (ко

мне никогда не приставал никакой мужчина; to accost — заговаривать с кем-

либо, приставать /особ. к проституткам/). It's not as if I had no sex appeal (не

похоже, чтобы у меня не было сексуальной привлекательности). "

But had she (а была ли: «но имела ли»)? She made up her mind to put the matter

to the test (она твердо решила подвергнуть этот вопрос испытанию).

That afternoon, when she had had her sleep (тем же днем, когда она уже

поспала), she got up, made up a little more than usual        (она поднялась,

подкрасилась немного больше, чем обычно), and without calling Evie put on a

dress (и, не позвав Эви, надела платье) that was neither plain nor obviously

expensive (которое не было ни слишком простым, ни явно дорогим) and a red

straw hat with a wide brim (и красную соломенную шляпку с широкими

полями).

" I don't want to look like a tart (я не хочу выглядеть как уличная девка), " she

said as she looked at herself in the glass (сказала она, когда /она/ глядела на себя

в зеркале). " On the other hand (с другой стороны) I don't want to look too

respectable (я не хочу выглядеть слишком приличной: «респектабельной»). "

 

sceptical ['skeptIk(q)l] accost [q'kOst] obviously ['ObvIqslI]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

" That's what she told you. " Evie's sniff was sceptical. She gave Julia a puzzled

look. " What's the idea? "

" Oh, nothing. I was only wondering why in point of fact I never have been

accosted by a man. It's not as if I had no sex appeal. "

But had she? She made up her mind to put the matter to the test.

That afternoon, when she had had her sleep, she got up, made up a little more than

usual, and without calling Evie put on a dress that was neither plain nor obviously

expensive and a red straw hat with a wide brim.

" I don't want to look like a tart, " she said as she looked at herself in the glass. " On

the other hand I don't want to look too respectable. "

 

She tiptoed down the stairs (она спустилась на цыпочках вниз по ступенькам)

so that no one should hear her (так, чтобы никто не услышал ее) and closed the

door softly behind her (и закрыла дверь мягко за собой). She was a trifle nervous

(она немного нервничала), but pleasantly excited  (но /была/ приятно

возбуждена); she felt that she was doing something rather shocking      (она

чувствовала, что она делала нечто совершенно скандальное: «шокирующее»).

She walked through Connaught Square into the Edgware Road (она шла через

Коннаут-сквер на Эдвард-роуд). It was about five o'clock (было около пяти

часов). There was a dense line of buses, taxis and lorries (там была плотная

вереница из автобусов, такси и грузовиков); bicyclists dangerously threaded

their way through the traffic (велосипедисты опасно прокладывали себе дорогу

сквозь движение транспорта). The pavements were thronged (тротуары были

заполнены людьми). She sauntered slowly north (она неторопливо медленно

прогуливалась в северном направлении: «на север»). At first she walked with

her eyes straight in front of her (сперва она прогуливалась, смотря: «с ее

глазами» строго перед собой), looking neither to the right nor to the left (не

смотря ни направо, ни налево), but soon realized that this was useless (но вскоре

поняла, что это было бесполезно). She must look at people (она должна

смотреть на людей) if she wanted them to look at her (если она хотела, чтобы

 

 

 

 

 

они смотрели на нее).  

 

bicyclist ['baIsIklIst] throng [TrON] neither ['naIDq]

 

She tiptoed down the stairs so that no one should hear her and closed the door

softly behind her. She was a trifle nervous, but pleasantly excited; she felt that she

was doing something rather shocking. She walked through Connaught Square into

the Edgware Road. It was about five o'clock. There was a dense line of buses, taxis

and lorries; bicyclists dangerously threaded their way through the traffic. The

pavements were thronged. She sauntered slowly north. At first she walked with her

eyes straight in front of her, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but soon

realized that this was useless. She must look at people if she wanted them to look

at her.  

 

Two or three times when she saw half a dozen persons gazing at a shop window

(два или три раза, когда она видела, как с полдюжины людей уставились на

витрины) she paused and gazed too (она останавливалась и тоже пристально

вглядывалась), but none of them took any notice of her          (но никто из них не

замечал ее). She strolled on (она прогуливалась дальше). People passed her in

one direction and another (люди проходили мимо нее в одном и другом

направлении). They seemed in a hurry (они, казалось, все спешили; in a hurry

— в спешке, второпях). No one paid any attention to her (никто не обращал на

нее никакого внимания). When she saw a man alone coming towards her (когда

она увидела мужчину, в одиночестве идущего по направлению к ней) she

gave him a bold stare (она нагло уставилась на него; bold — храбрый, дерзкий,

самоуверенный), but he passed on with a blank face (но он прошел дальше с

непроницаемым лицом; blank — чистый, невыразительный). It occurred to her

that her expression was too severe (ей пришло в голову, что выражение ее лица

было слишком суровым), and she let a slight smile hover on her lips (и она

позволила легкой улыбке блуждать: «парить» на /ее/ губах). Two or three men

 

 

 

 

 

thought she was smiling at them (двое или трое мужчин подумали, что она

улыбалась им) and quickly averted their gaze           (и быстро отводили свои

взгляды). She looked back as one of them passed her          (она оглянулась, когда

один из них прошел мимо   ее) and he looked back too (и он   оглянулся тоже),

but catching her eye he hurried on (но, поймав ее взгляд, он поспешил дальше).

 

direction [d(a)I'rekS(q)n] hover ['hOvq] avert [q'vq: t]

 

Two or three times when she saw half a dozen persons gazing at a shop window

she paused and gazed too, but none of them took any notice of her. She strolled on.

People passed her in one direction and another. They seemed in a hurry. No one

paid any attention to her. When she saw a man alone coming towards her she gave

him a bold stare, but he passed on with a blank face. It occurred to her that her

expression was too severe, and she let a slight smile hover on her lips. Two or

three men thought she was smiling at them and quickly averted their gaze. She

looked back as one of them passed her and he looked back too, but catching her

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