Илья Франк - Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

escalator ['eskqleItq], relief [rI'li:f], righteousness ['raItSqsnIs]

Mrs. Harris picked up her bag and walked — not ran, though it was a great effort not to bolt — to the exit and down the escalator to freedom. She was filled not only with a sense of relief, but righteousness as well. She had told the truth. If, as Mme. Colbert had said, the customs officer chose not to believe her, that was not her fault.

THIRTEEN (13)

Thus it was that at four o'clock in the afternoon (итак, это было в четыре часа пополудни) of a lovely London spring day (прекрасного лондонского весеннего дня), the last obstacle hurdled (последнее препятствие /было/ преодолено), and with "Temptation" safe and sound in her possession (и с «Искушением», невредимым и неиспорченным = целым и невредимым /было/ в ее владении), Mrs. Harris found herself standing outside of Waterloo Air Station (миссис Харрис оказалась стоящей за пределами аэропорта Ватерлоо = вышла из аэропорта) home at last (дома наконец). And but one thing was troubling her conscience (но одно обстоятельство тревожило ее совесть). It was the little matter of Miss Pamela Penrose (это было небольшое дело мисс Памелы Пэнроуз), the actress, and her flat (актрисы, и ее квартиры).

obstacle ['Obstqkl], hurdle [hq:dl], conscience ['kOnSqns]

Thus it was that at four o'clock in the afternoon of a lovely London spring day, the last obstacle hurdled, and with "Temptation" safe and sound in her possession, Mrs. Harris found herself standing outside of Waterloo Air Station home at last. And but one thing was troubling her conscience. It was the little matter of Miss Pamela Penrose, the actress, and her flat.

Her other clients were all wealthy (ее другие клиенты были все богатыми), but Miss Penrose was poor and struggling (а мисс Пенроуз была бедной и пробивающейся = стремящейся чего-то достичь). What if Mrs. Butterfield hadn't coped properly (что если миссис Баттерфилд не справилась должным образом)? It was yet early (было еще рано). The keys to the flat were in her new crocodile handbag (ключи от квартиры были в ее новой сумке из крокодиловой кожи), now emerged from the suitcase (теперь вынутой из чемодана). Mrs. Harris said to herself (миссис Харрис сказала себе): "Lord love the poor dear (Господь да благословит: «любит» эту бедняжку). It's early yet (еще рано). Maybe she's got to entertain some nobs (возможно, она готовится принимать каких-либо влиятельных людей). I'll just drop by 'er flat (я только зайду в ее квартиру: to drop by — зайти ) and surprise 'er by tidying up a bit (и удивлю ее, прибравшись немного)". She caught the proper bus (она успела на нужный автобус; to catch — поймать ) and shortly afterwards was in the mews (и вскоре после этого была на месте: «в конюшне, переделанной под жилье»), inserting her key in the door (вставляя свой ключ в дверь).

emerged [I'mq:dZd], early ['q:lI], entertain ["entq'teIn]

Her other clients were all wealthy, but Miss Penrose was poor and struggling. What if Mrs. Butterfield hadn't coped properly? It was yet early. The keys to the flat were in her new crocodile handbag, now emerged from the suitcase. Mrs. Harris said to herself: "Lord love the poor dear. It's early yet. Maybe she's got to entertain some nobs. I'll just drop by 'er flat and surprise 'er by tidying up a bit". She caught the proper bus and shortly afterwards was in the mews, inserting her key in the door.

No sooner had she the street door open (едва она открыла парадную дверь) than the sound of the girl's sobs reached to her (как звук рыданий девушки донесся до нее; to reach — достигать ), causing Mrs. Harris to hurry up the stairs (заставив миссис Харрис поторопиться вверх по лестнице) and into the tiny living room (и в крохотную гостиную), where she came upon Miss Penrose lying face down upon her couch (где она натолкнулась на мисс Пенроуз, которая лежала лицом вниз на кушетке) crying her eyes out (и горько рыдала: «выплакивая свои глаза»).

Mrs. Harris went to her (миссис Харрис подошла к ней), laid a sympathetic hand upon a shaking shoulder and said (положила сочувствующую руку на сотрясающееся плечо и сказала): "Now, now, dearie, what's the matter (ну, ну, милочка, в чем дело)? It can't be as bad as all that (не может быть все плохо до такой степени). If you're in trouble (если вы в беде) maybe I can help you (может быть, я могу помочь вам)."

causing ['kLzIN], sympathetic ["sImpq'TetIk], trouble [trAbl]

No sooner had she the street door open than the sound of the girl's sobs reached to her, causing Mrs. Harris to hurry up the stairs and into the tiny living room, where she came upon Miss Penrose lying face down upon her couch crying her eyes out.

Mrs. Harris went to her, laid a sympathetic hand upon a shaking shoulder and said: "Now, now, dearie, what's the matter? It can't be as bad as all that. If you're in trouble maybe I can help you."

Miss Penrose sat up (мисс Пенроуз села). "YOU help me (ВЫ поможете мне)!" she repeated (повторила она), looking through tear-swollen eyes (глядя опухшими от слез глазами; to swell — надуваться, набухать, опухать ). Then in a kindlier tone she said (затем, более любезным тоном, она сказала): "Oh, it's you, Mrs. Harris (ах, это вы, миссис Харрис). Nobody in the whole world could help me (никто в целом мире не мог бы мне помочь). Oh, I could die (ох, я готова умереть). If you must know (если хотите знать), I've been invited to dine at the Caprice with Mr. Korngold the producer (я приглашена обедать = на обед в ресторан «Каприз» с мистером Корнголдом, продюсером). It's my one and only chance (это мой уникальный: «один-едиственный» шанс) to impress him (произвести на него впечатление) and get ahead (и продвинуться /в карьере/). Nearly ALL of Mr. Korngold's girls (почти ВСЕ девушки мистера Корнголда) — I mean friends (я имею в виду — друзья) — have become stars (стали звездами) —"

caprice [kq'pri:s], ahead [q'hed], nearly ['nIqlI]

Miss Penrose sat up. "YOU help me!" she repeated, looking through tear-swollen eyes. Then in a kindlier tone she said: "Oh, it's you, Mrs. Harris. Nobody in the whole world could help me. Oh, I could die. If you must know, I've been invited to dine at the Caprice with Mr. Korngold the producer. It's my one and only chance to impress him and get ahead. Nearly ALL of Mr. Korngold's girls — I mean friends — have become stars —"

"Well, now I don't see anything to cry about there (ну, я не вижу, о чем здесь плакать)," declared Mrs. Harris (заявила миссис Харрис). "You ought to be a star, I'm sure (вы должны стать звездой, я уверена)."

Miss Penrose's heart-rending grief turned momentarily to rage (душераздирающая печаль мисс Пенроуз обратилась мгновенно в гнев). "Oh, don't be STUPID (о, не будьте ДУРОЙ; stupid — глупый )!" she stormed (горячилась она). "Don't you see (разве вы не видите)? I can't go (я не могу пойти). I haven't anything to wear (мне нечего надеть). My one good dress is at the cleaner's (мое единственное хорошее платье в чистке) and my other one has a stain (а на другом — пятно). Mr. Korngold is absolutely particular about what the girls wear he takes out (мистер Корнголд невероятно: «абсолютно» разборчив относительно /того/, что носят девушки, которых он приглашает; particular — особенный; привередливый/разборчивый; to take out — приглашать куда-л. )".

declare [dI'kleq], ought [O:t], momentarily ['mqumqntqrIlI]

"Well, now I don't see anything to cry about there," declared Mrs. Harris. "You ought to be a star, I'm sure."

Miss Penrose's heart-rending grief turned momentarily to rage. "Oh, don't be STUPID!" she stormed. "Don't you see? I can't go. I haven't anything to wear. My one good dress is at the cleaner's and my other one has a stain. Mr. Korngold is absolutely particular about what the girls wear he takes out."

Could you (могли бы вы), had you been Mrs. Harris (будь вы миссис Харрис), with what she had in her plastic suitcase on the landing (с тем, что она имела = что было у нее было в пластиковом чемодане при посадке), have been able to resist the temptation to play fairy godmother (устоять перед искушением сыграть добрую фею; fairy godmother — покровительница; сравните: fairy godfather покровитель, меценат, спонсор — например, театральной труппы и т. п.; fairy — сказочный, волшебный; godfather — крестный отец )? Particularly (особенно) if you were still under the spell of the sweet gentleness and simplicity of Natasha (если вы были все еще под обаянием милой доброты и скромности Наташи), and the crusted kindness of Mme. Colbert (и скрытой доброты мадам Кольбер; crusted — покрытый коркой ) and all their people (и всех их служащих; people — люди; служащие ), and knew what it was like to want something dreadfully (и знали, на что это было похоже, хотеть что-либо очень сильно), something you did not think you were ever going to get (что-то, что получить вы и не надеялись)?

particularly [pq'tIkjulqlI], simplicity [sIm'plIsItI], dreadfully ['dredfulI]

Could you, had you been Mrs. Harris, with what she had in her plastic suitcase on the landing, have been able to resist the temptation to play fairy godmother? Particularly if you were still under the spell of the sweet gentleness and simplicity of Natasha, and the crusted kindness of Mme. Colbert and all their people, and knew what it was like to want something dreadfully, something you did not think you were ever going to get?