Уильям Моэм - Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы

"Gilbert says I mustn’t acknowledge to more than forty-nine for his sake," she answered blandly.

Mrs. Tower’s hands trembled slightly, but she found a retort.

"There is of course a certain disparity of age between you," she smiled.

"Twenty-seven years," said Jane. "Do you think it’s too much? Gilbert says I’m very young for my age. I told you I shouldn’t like to marry a man with one foot in the grave."

I was really obliged to laugh (я действительно был обязан = мнепришлось засмеяться; to oblige — обязывать ), and Gilbert laughed too (и Гилберт тоже засмеялся). His laughter was frank and boyish (его смех был искренним и мальчишеским; boy — мальчик ). It looked as though he were amused at everything Jane said (выглядело = казалось , будто он смеялся/забавлялся над всем, что говорила Джейн; to amuse — забавлять ). But Mrs. Tower was almost at the end of her tether (но терпение миссис Тауэр было почти на исходе: «была на грани терпения»; tether — привязь/дляпасущегосяживотного/;перен. предел; граница ), and I was afraid that unless relief came (и я боялся, что если обстановка не разрядится: «если не придет облегчение») she would for once forget that she was a woman of the world (она забудет, что она — светская женщина; world — мир; общество;свет ). I came to the rescue as best I could (я поспешил на выручку, стараясь изо всех сил: «так лучше, как только мог»; torescue— спасать;rescue— спасение ).

"I suppose you’re very busy buying your trousseau (полагаю, вы /сейчас/ очень заняты покупкой приданого)," I said.

"No. I wanted to get my things from the dressmaker in Liverpool (я хотела приобрести себе вещи у портнихи в Ливерпуле) I’ve been to ever since I was first married (у которой я бывала с тех пор, как впервые вышла замуж). But Gilbert won’t let me (но Гилберт не позволил мне). He’s very masterful (он очень властный/своенравный), and of course he has wonderful taste (и конечно же, у него прекрасный вкус)."

She looked at him with a little affectionate smile (она посмотрела на него с легкой любящей улыбкой), demurely (застенчиво), as though she were a girl of seventeen (словно она была семнадцатилетней девушкой).

oblige [q'blaIG], rescue ['reskjH], trousseau ['trHsqu], affectionate [q'fekSnIt]

I was really obliged to laugh, and Gilbert laughed too. His laughter was frank and boyish. It looked as though he were amused at everything Jane said. But Mrs. Tower was almost at the end of her tether, and I was afraid that unless relief came she would for once forget that she was a woman of the world. I came to the rescue as best I could.

"I suppose you’re very busy buying your trousseau," I said.

"No. I wanted to get my things from the dressmaker in Liverpool I’ve been to ever since I was first married. But Gilbert won’t let me. He’s very masterful, and of course he has wonderful taste."

She looked at him with a little affectionate smile, demurely, as though she were a girl of seventeen.

Mrs. Tower went quite pale under her make-up (миссис Тауэр совсем стала бледной = побледнела под макияжем; to go — идти; всочетаниисприл. означаетпереходвкакое-либосостояние: to go pale — побледнеть ).

"We’re going to Italy for our honeymoon (свой медовый месяц мы собираемся провести в Италии; tobegoingtodosmth. — собираться что-либо сделать ). Gilbert has never had a chance of studying Renaissance architecture (у Гилберта никогда не было возможности изучить/исследовать архитектуру Ренессанса; chance— шанс; возможность ), and of course it’s important for an architect to see things for himself (и конечно, для архитектора очень важно увидеть все самому). And we shall stop in Paris on the way and get my clothes there (а по пути мы остановимся в Париже и там купим мне одежду; toget— получать; покупать )."

"Do you expect to be away long (и надолго вы едете: «вы предполагаете/рассчитываете долго отсутствовать»; toexpect— ожидать; предполагать, рассчитывать )?"

"Gilbert has arranged with his office to stay away for six months (Гилберт договорился на работе, что сможет не приходить = отсутствовать шесть месяцев). It will be such a treat for him (для него это будет таким развлечением), won’t it (не так ли)? You see (понимаете), he’s never had more than a fortnight’s holiday before (раньше у него не было отпуска больше двух недель: «двухнедельного отпуска»)."

"Why not (почему же)?" asked Mrs. Tower in a tone that no effort of will could prevent from being icy (спросила миссис Тауэр тоном, в котором никаким усилием воли нельзя было скрыть холодность: «в /таком/ тоне, что никакое усилие воли не могло предотвратить того, что он был ледяным»).

"He’s never been able to afford it (он никогда не мог позволить себе этого), poor dear (бедняжка)."

"Ah!" said Mrs. Tower (ах, — сказала миссис Тауэр), and into the exclamation put volumes (и в это восклицание вложила всю /свою/ экспрессию; toputvolumes=tospeakvolumes— говорить очень выразительно/экспрессивно ).

honeymoon ['hAnImHn], Renaissance [re'neIsqns], exclamation [eksklq'meISqn]

Mrs. Tower went quite pale under her make-up.

"We’re going to Italy for our honeymoon. Gilbert has never had a chance of studying Renaissance architecture, and of course it’s important for an architect to see things for himself. And we shall stop in Paris on the way and get my clothes there."

"Do you expect to be away long?"

"Gilbert has arranged with his office to stay away for six months. It will be such a treat for him, won’t it? You see, he’s never had more than a fortnight’s holiday before."

"Why not?" asked Mrs. Tower in a tone that no effort of will could prevent from being icy.

"He’s never been able to afford it, poor dear."

"Ah!" said Mrs. Tower, and into the exclamation put volumes.

Coffee was served and the ladies went upstairs (был подан кофе = подаликофе , и дамы поднялись наверх). Gilbert and I began to talk in the desultory way (мы с Гилбертом начали беседовать в той бессвязной манере) in which men talk who have nothing whatever to say to one another (в которой говорят мужчины, которым нечего сказать друг другу); but in two minutes a note was brought in to me by the butler (но через две минуты дворецкий принес мне записку; to bring — приносить ). It was from Mrs. Tower and ran as follows (она была от миссис Тауэр и гласила следующее; torun— бегать; гласить /о письме, документе/ ):

Come upstairs quickly and then go as soon as you can (быстро поднимайтесь наверх, а потом уходите, как только сможете). Take him with you (возьмите его с собой). Unless I have it out with Jane at once I shall have a fit (если я не выясню все с Джейн сейчас же, то меня хватит удар; tohaveout— выяснить, обсудить;tohaveafit— страдать от приступа ).

I told a facile lie (я легко солгал: «сказал легкую ложь»).

"Mrs. Tower has a headache and wants to go to bed (у миссис Тауэр болит голова, и она хочет прилечь). I think if you don’t mind we’d better clear out (я думаю, если вы не возражаете, нам лучше уйти: «внезапно уйти»; to clear out — внезапноуходить, уезжать )."

"Certainly (конечно)," he answered.

We went upstairs and five minutes later were on the doorstep (мы поднялись наверх и через пять минут были уже на улице: «у порога»). I called a taxi and offered the young man a lift (я вызвал такси и предложил молодому человеку подвезти его; lift — поднятие, подъем; to give a lift — подбросить, подвезти ).

"No, thanks (нет, спасибо)," he answered." I’ll just walk to the corner and jump on a bus (я просто пройдусь до угла и заскочу = сяду на автобус; to jump on — вскочить )."

desultory ['desqltqrI], facile ['fxsaIl], headache ['hedeIk]

Coffee was served and the ladies went upstairs. Gilbert and I began to talk in the desultory way in which men talk who have nothing whatever to say to one another; but in two minutes a note was brought in to me by the butler. It was from Mrs. Tower and ran as follows:

Come upstairs quickly and then go as soon as you can. Take him with you. Unless I have it out with Jane at once I shall have a fit.

I told a facile lie.

"Mrs. Tower has a headache and wants to go to bed. I think if you don’t mind we’d better clear out."

"Certainly," he answered.

We went upstairs and five minutes later were on the doorstep. I called a taxi and offered the young man a lift.

"No, thanks," he answered." I’ll just walk to the corner and jump on a bus."

Mrs. Tower sprang to the fray as soon as she heard the front door close behind us (миссис Тауэр ринулась в драку = полезласрасспросами , как только услышала, что за нами закрылась входная дверь; to spring — прыгать; бросаться; fray — шумнаяссора, драка ).