Мюриэль Спарк - Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

tranquil ['trxNkwIl] yellow ['jelqV] conscious ['kOnSqs]

A house in which thereare no people — but with all the signs of tenancy — canbe a most tranquil good place. People take up space in a house out of proportion to their size. On my previous visits I had seen the rooms overflowing, as it seemed, with Kathleen, her aunt, and the little fat maidservant; they were always on the move. As I wandered through that part of the house which was in use, opening windows to let in the pale yellow air of September, I was not conscious that I, Needle, was taking up any space at all, I might have been a ghost.

The only thing (единственное: «единственная вещь», что) to be fetched (надо было принести; to fetch — пойти и принести ) was the milk (так это молоко). I waited till after four (я подождала, когда наступит четыре: «до после четырех») when the milking should be done (когда дойка уже закончится: «доение должно было быть сделанным»; to milk — доить; milk — молоко ), then set off for the farm (затем отправилась на ферму; set off — отправляться в путь ) which lay across two fields (которая располагалась: «лежала» через два поля; to lay — класть, положить; field — поле ) at the back of the orchard (позади фруктового сада). There, when the byreman (там, когда дояр; byre (коровник) + man (человек) ) was handing me the bottle (вручал мне бутыль; handle — управлять, касаться руками ), I saw George (я увидела Джорджа).

"Hallo, George," I said (привет, Джордж, — сказала я).

"Needle (Игла)! What are you doing here (что ты делаешь здесь)?" he said.

"Fetching milk," I said (забираю молоко, — ответила я).

"So am I (и я тоже). Well, it's good to see you (ну, приятно видеть тебя), I must say (должен сказать)."

fetch [feC] orchard ['O: Cqd] byreman ['baIqmxn]

The only thing to be fetched was the milk. I waitedtillafter four when the milking should be done,then set off for the farm which lay across two fields at the back of the orchard. There, when the byreman was handing me the bottle, I saw George.

"Hallo, George," I said.

"Needle! What are you doing here?" he said.

"Fetching milk," I said.

"So am I. Well, it's good to see you, I must say."

As we paid the farm-hand (когда мы расплатились с помощником на ферме; to pay — платить; farm (ферма) + hand (рука, работник) ), George said (Джордж сказал), "I'll walk back with you (я пройду /назад/ с тобой) part of the way (часть пути). But I mustn't stop (но я не смогу: «не должен» остановиться), my old cousin's without any milk for her tea (моя старая кузина совсем без молока к чаю). How's Kathleen (как Кэтлин)?"

"She was kept in London (она задержалась в Лондоне; to keep — держать ). She's coming on later (она появится позже), about seven, she expects (около семи, она так думает: «ожидает»)."

We had reached the end of the first field (мы добрались: «достигли» до конца первого поля). George's way led to the left (Дорожка Джорджа уходила: «вела» налево; to lead — вести; left — левый ) and on to the main road (и дальше, к главной дороге; main — главный, road — дорога, путь ).

"We'll see you tonight (мы тебя увидим сегодня вечером), then (тогда)?" I said (сказала я).

"Yes, and talk about old times (да, и поговорим о старых временах)."

"Grand," I said (великолепно — сказала я; grand — грандиозный, большой ).

But George got over the stile with me (но Джордж поднялся по приступкам изгороди вместе со мной; to get over — преодолеть препятствие: «перейти через»; stile — ступеньки для перехода через стену, забор ).

"Look here (послушай: «посмотри сюда»)," he said, "I'd like to talk to you, Needle (я хочу поговорить с тобой, Игла)."

cousin ['kAz(q)n] tonight [tq'naIt] grand [grxnd]

As we paid the farm-hand, George said, "I'll walkback with you part of the way. But I mustn't stop, myold cousin's without any milk for her tea. How's Kathleen?"

"She was kept in London. She's coming on later,about seven, she expects."

We had reached the end of the first field. George'sway led to the left and on to the main road.

"We'll see you tonight, then?" I said.

"Yes, and talk about old times."

"Grand," I said.

But George got over the stile with me.

"Look here," he said, "i'd like to talk to you,Needle."

"We'll talk tonight, George (мы поговорим сегодня вечером, Джордж). Better not keep your cousin (лучше не заставлять: «держать» твою кузину) waiting for the milk (ждать молоко)." I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child (я обнаружила, что разговариваю с ним, почти как с ребенком: «если бы он был ребенком»).

"No, I want to talk to you alone (нет, я хочу поговорить с тобой наедине). This is a good opportunity (это хорошая возможность = удобный случай)."

We began to cross the second field (мы уже шли: «начали пересекать» по второму полю). I had been hoping (я надеялась) to have the house to myself (что побуду в доме одна: «иметь дом для себя») for a couple more hours (еще пару часов) and I was rather petulant (и была довольно раздражена).

"See (смотри)," he said suddenly (сказал он неожиданно), "that haystack (тот стог сена)."

"Yes," I said absently (да, — сказала я рассеянно; absent — отсутствующий, рассеянный ).

field [fi: ld] petulant ['petjVlqnt] absently ['xbs(q)ntlI]

"We'll talk tonight, George. Better not keep yourcousin waiting for the milk." I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child.

"No, I want to talk to you alone. This is a good opportunity."

We began to cross the second field. I had beenhoping to have the house to myself for a couple morehours and I was rather petulant.

"See," he said suddenly, "that haystack."

"Yes," I said absently.

"Let's sit there and talk (давай посидим там и поговорим). I'd like to see you up on a haystack again (я хочу снова увидеть тебя на стоге сена). I still keep that photo (я все еще храню: «держу» то фото). Remember that time when — (помнишь, в тот раз: «в то время», когда)"

"I found the needle (я нашла иголку)," I said very quickly (сказала я очень быстро), to get it over (чтобы покончить с этим; to get over — закончить, разделаться ).

But I was glad to rest (но я была рада чуть отдохнуть). The stack had been broken up (стог был разбросан; to brake up — ломать ), but we managed to find (но нам удалось найти; to manage — управлять, справляться ) a nest in it (удобное местечко: «гнездо в нем»). I buried (я закопала; to bury — хоронить, зарывать ) my bottle of milk (свою бутыль молока) in the hay for coolness (в соломе для охлаждения; cool — прохладный ). George placed his carefully (Джордж аккуратно положил свою) at the foot of the stack (у подножия, у основания: «ноги» стога; foot — feet = нога ).

nest [nest] coolness ['ku: lnIs] bury ['berI] buried ['berId]

"Let's sit there and talk. I'd like to see you up on a haystack again. I still keep that photo. Remember that time when—"

"I found the needle," I said very quickly, to get itover.

But I was glad to rest. The stack had been brokenup, but we managed to find a nest in it. I buried my bottle of milk in the hay for coolness. George placedhis carefully at the foot of the stack.

"My old cousin is terribly vague (моя старая кузина ужасно рассеянная; vague — неясный, неопределенный ), poor soul (бедняжка: «бедная душа»). A bit hazy in her head (немного не от мира сего: «немножко туманна в своей голове»). She hasn't the least sense of time (у нее нет ни малейшего чувства времени). If I tell her (если я скажу ей) I've only been gone ten minutes (что меня не было только десять минут) she'll believe it (она поверит в это; to believe — верить )."

I giggled (я хихикнула), and looked at him (и взглянула на него). His face had grown much larger (его лицо стало гораздо больше: «выросло»; to grow — расти ), his lips full (его губы полные), wide (широкие), and with a ripe colour (насыщенного: «зрелого» цвета) that is strange in a man (что довольно странно для мужчины). His brown eyes (его карие глаза) were abounding (были наполнены; to abound — иметься в большом количестве ) as before (как и раньше) with some inarticulate plea (какой-то бессловесной мольбой; (in)articulate — (не)членораздельный; plea — просьба, заявление ).

vague [veIg] hazy ['heIzI] inarticulate ["InQ:'tIkjVlIt] plea [pli:]

"My old cousin is terribly vague, poor soul. A bithazy in her head. She hasn't the least sense of time. IfItell her I've only been gone ten minutes she'llbelieve it."

I giggled, and looked at him. His face had grown much larger, his lips full, wide, and with a ripe colourthat is strange in a man. His brown eyes wereabounding as before with some inarticulate plea.

"So you're going to marry Skinny (так ты собираешься замуж за Скинни) after all these years (после всех этих лет)?"