Мюриэль Спарк - Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

sheaf [Si: f] handwriting ['hxnd" raItIN] shelter ['Seltq] thump [TAmp]

convinced [kqn'vInst] forging ['fO: GIN]

After five minutes' long waiting time the shape arose and switched on the light by the door. It was Basil, suddenly looking pink-haired. As he returned to the desk he stooped and took from the safe a sheaf of papers held in the teeth of a large clip. I knew he was going to select one sheet of paper from the sheaf, and that this one document would be the exciting, important one. It was like reading a familiar book: one knew what was coming, but couldn't bear to miss a word. He did extract one long sheet of paper, and hold it up. It was typewritten with a paragraph in handwriting at the bottom on the side visible from the window. He laid it side by side with another sheet of paper which was lying on the desk. I pressed close up to the window, intending to wave and smile if I was seen, and call out that I was sheltering from the rain which was now coming down in thumps. But he kept his eyes on the two sheets of paper. There were other papers lying about the desk; I could not see what was on them. But I was quite convinced that he had been practising handwriting on them, and that he was in the process of forging his mother's will.

Then he took up the pen (затем он поднял ручку). I can still smell the rain (я все еще чувствую запах дождя; to smell — чувствоватьзапах, вдыхать, нюхать ) and hear it thundering about me (и слышу, как он гулко барабанит по мне ; to thunder — греметь, барабанить, гулкобарабанить ) and feel it dripping on my head (и чувствую, как он капает мне на голову; to drip — капать, стекать ) from the bough overhanging above me (с ветки: «сука», нависающей надо мной). He raised his eyes and looked out at the rain (он поднял глаза и стал смотреть на дождь). It seemed his eyes rested on me (казалось, что его глаза остановились: «покоились» на мне), at my station between the tree and the window (в том месте: «на моем местоположении», где я стояла между деревом и окном). I kept still (я не шевелилась; tokeepstill— не шуметь, не двигаться ) and close to the tree like a hunted piece of nature (и прижалась: «и близко» к дереву, как загнанное создание природы; tohunt— охотиться, ловить; гнать, преследовать ) willing myself to be the colour of bark and leaves and rain (желая быть цвета коры, листьев и дождя; colour— цвет, тон, краска ). Then I realised how much more clearly I could see him than he me (потом я поняла, что могу видеть его гораздо более четко, чем он меня; clearly— отчетливо, ясно, понятно ), for it was growing dark (так как становилось темно; togrowdark— темнеть, смеркаться ).

thunder ['TAndq] bough [baV] nature ['neICq]

Then he took up the pen. I can still smell the rain and hear it thundering about me, and feel it dripping on my head from the bough overhanging above me. He raised his eyes and looked out at the rain. It seemed his eyes rested on me, at my station between the tree and the window. I kept still and close to the tree like a hunted piece of nature, willing myself to be the colour of bark and leaves and rain. Then I realised how much more clearly I could see him than he me, for it was growing dark.

He pulled a sheet of blotting paper towards him (он притянул к себе листок промокательной бумаги). He dipped his pen in the ink (он окунул /свою/ ручку в чернила) and started writing on the bottom of the sheet of paper before him (и начал писать внизу листа бумаги, /лежащего/ перед ним), comparing it from time to time (сравнивая его время от времени; to compare — сравнивать, сличать ) with the one he had taken out of the safe (с листком, который он достал /до этого/ из сейфа). I was not surprised (я не удивлялась), but I was thrilled (но была глубоко взволнована; to be thrilled — чувствоватьглубокоеволнение, thrill — нервнаядрожь, трепет, нервноевозбуждение ), when the door behind him slowly opened (когда дверь за его спиной медленно открылась; slow — медленный ). It was like seeing the film of the book (я как будто видела экранизацию книги; film — пленка; кинофильм ). Dorothy advanced on her creeping feet (Дороти приближалась медленно; to advance — продвижение, движениевперед; creeping — ползающий, медленный ), and he did not hear (и он не слышал /ее/), but formed the words he was writing, on and on (но воспроизводил слова, которые он писал, одно за другим; to form — придаватьформу, составлять, формировать, on and on — бесконечно, непереставая ). The rain pelted down regardless (дождь барабанил, несмотря ни на что). She was looking crookedly (она смотрела изогнувшись; crooked— кривой, изогнутый ), through her green glasses with her one eye (сквозь свои зеленые очки своим единственным глазом), over his shoulder at the paper (над его плечом, на бумагу).

compare [kqm'pεq] thrill [TrIl] creeping ['kri: pIN] crooked ['krVkId]

He pulled a sheet of blotting paper towards him. He dipped his pen in the ink and started writing on the bottom of the sheet of paper before him, comparing it from time to time with the one he had taken out of the safe. I was not surprised, but I was thrilled, when the door behind him slowly opened. It was like seeing the film of the book. Dorothy advanced on her creeping feet, and he did not hear, but formed the words he was writing, on and on. The rain pelted down regardless. She was looking crookedly, through her green glasses with her one eye, over his shoulder at the paper.

"What are you doing (что ты делаешь)?" she said.

He jumped up (он подскочил; tojump — прыгать, скакать, вскакивать ) and pulled the blotting paper over his work (и положил: «натянул» лист промокательной бумаги на свою работу). Her one eye through her green glasses glinted upon him (ее один глаз из-за зеленых очков сверкнул на него), though I did not actually see it do so (хотя я и не видела на самом деле этого: «как он сделал это»), but saw only the dark green glass focused with a squint on to his face (но видела только, как темное зеленое стекло уставилось: «сфокусировалось» искоса на его лицо; tofocus — фокусировать, сосредотачиватьвнимание, squint — косоглазие, взглянутьсукрадкой, искоса ).

"I'm making up the accounts (я свожу счета; accounts — расчеты, отчетность, сводка )," he said, standing with his back to the desk (он сказал, стоя спиной к столу), concealing the papers (скрывая документы). I saw his hand reach back and tremble among them (я видела, как он протянул руку назад, она дрожала над бумагами: «среди них»; toreach— протягивать, вытягивать, доставать, брать ).

jumped [GAmpt] glint [glInt] squint [skwInt]

"What are you doing?" she said.

He jumped up and pulled the blotting paper over his work. Her one eye through her green glasses glinted upon him, though I did not actually see it do so, but saw only the dark green glass focused with a squint on to his face.

"I'm making up the accounts," he said, standing with his back to the desk, concealing the papers. I saw his hand reach back and tremble among them.

I shivered in my soaking wet clothes (я дрожала в /набухшей/ мокрой одежде; to shiver — дрожать, вздрагивать, трепетать, wet — мокрый, влажный, сырой ). Dorothy looked with her eye at the window (Дороти взглянула единственным глазом в окно). I slid sideways to avoid her (я осторожно подвинулась, чтобы избежать ее /взгляда/; to avoid — избегать, сторониться ) and ran all the way home (и бежала всю дорогу домой).

Next morning I said (на следующее утро я сказала), "I've tried to read with these glasses (я попыталась читать в этих очках). It's all a blur (все размыто; blur— пятно; потемнение, помутнение ). I suppose I'll have to take them back (я полагаю, мне следует отнести их обратно)?"

"Didn't you notice anything wrong when you tried (неужели ты не заметила, что что-то не так, когда ты примеряла) —

"— tried them on in the shop (— примеряла их в оптике)?"

"No (нет, /не заметила/). But the shop's so dark (но в магазине так темно). Must I take them back (/должна я/ отнести их назад)?"

I took them into Mr. Simmonds early that afternoon (и я отнесла их господину Симмондсу сразу после полудня; early— ранний, начальный, близкий ).

"I tried to read with them this morning (я попыталась читать в них сегодня утром), but it's all a blur (но все размыто)." It was true that I had smeared them with cold cream first (на самом деле: «по правде» я испачкала их холодными сливками сперва; to smear — смазывать; пачкать; cream — сливки, крем; мазь ).

shiver ['SIvq] sideways ['saIdweIz] blur [blq:]

I shivered in my soaking wet clothes. Dorothy looked with her eye at the window. I slid sideways to avoid her and ran all the way home

Next morning I said, "I've tried to read with these glasses It's all a blur. I suppose I'll have to take them back?"

"Didn't you notice anything wrong when you tried —

"— tried them on in the shop?"

"No But the shop's so dark. Must I take them back?"

I took them into Mr. Simmonds early that afternoon.