Читать интересную книгу Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр - Илья Франк

разговор перешел: «повернулся к» на другие темы). But though Julia took part

in it with gaiety (но, хотя Джулия и принимала участие в нем, с оживлением:

«весельем»), though she appeared to be giving her guests all her attention (хотя

она и выглядела так, будто уделяла своим гостям все свое внимание) and even

listened with a show of appreciation (и даже слушала, с благодарным

интересом: «со всеми признаками высокой оценки») to one of Michael's

theatrical stories (одну из театральных историй Майкла) that she had heard

twenty times before (которую она слышала уже раз двадцать раньше), she was

privately holding an animated conversation with Dolly (она про себя: «частным

образом» вела оживленный разговор с Долли). Dolly cowered before her

(Долли вся съежилась перед ней) while she told her exactly what she thought of

her (пока она говорила ей как раз все то, что она думала о ней).

bird [bq:d] gaiety ['geIqtI] cower ['kaVq]

"Well, I'll tell you what I said to the little bird," Michael broke in. "I said to her, as

long as Julia doesn't want me to go to night clubs with her..."

Julia ceased to listen to what he said. Dolly, she thought, and oddly enough she

described her to herself in exactly the words Michael had used a couple of days

before. Dinner was announced and their bright talk turned to other things. But

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though Julia took part in it with gaiety, though she appeared to be giving her guests

all her attention and even listened with a show of appreciation to one of Michael's

theatrical stories that she had heard twenty times before, she was privately holding

an animated conversation with Dolly. Dolly cowered before her while she told her

exactly what she thought of her.

"You old cow (ах ты старая корова)," she said to her (говорила она ей). "How

dare you interfere with my private concerns (как смеешь ты вмешиваться в мои

личные дела)? No, don't speak (нет, молчи: «не говори»). Don't try to excuse

yourself (не пытайся оправдать себя; to excuse — извинять, прощать,

служить оправданием). I know exactly what you said to Michael (я знаю, что

именно ты сказала Майклу). It was unpardonable (это было непростительно). I

thought you were a friend of mine (а я-то думала что ты моя подруга). I thought

I could rely on you (я думала, что могу положиться на себя). Well, that finishes

it (ну так, все кончено: «то заканчивает это»). I'll never speak to you again (я

никогда не заговорю с тобой снова). Never (никогда). Never. D'you think I'm

impressed by your rotten old money (неужели ты думаешь, что меня впечатляет

твое чертово наследное богатство; old money — старая финансовая

аристократия)? Oh, it's no good saying you didn't mean it (о, нечего говорить,

что ты не то имела в виду). Where would you be except for me (да где бы ты

была, если бы не я), I should like to know (хотелось бы мне знать). Any

distinction you've got (известность, которую ты приобрела; distinction —

разница, отличие, известность, исключительность), the only importance you

have in the world (единственная важность, которую ты представляешь в этом

мире), is that you happen to know me (так это то, что тебе посчастливилось

быть знакомой со мной: «что ты, случилось так, знаешь меня»; to happen —

случаться, происходить). Who's made your parties go all these years (кто делал

так, что твои приемы пользовались успехом все эти годы)? D'you think that

people came to them to see you (неужели ты думаешь, что люди приходили на

них, чтобы увидеть тебя)? They came to see me (они приходили, чтобы

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увидеть меня). Never again (никогда больше: «снова»). Never." It was in point

of fact a monologue rather than a conversation (это был, на самом-то деле,

скорее монолог, чем разговор).

cow [kaV] unpardonable [An'pQ:dnqb(q)l] distinction [dIs'tIN(k)S(q)n]

"You old cow," she said to her. "How dare you interfere with my private concerns?

No, don't speak. Don't try to excuse yourself. I know exactly what you said to

Michael. It was unpardonable. I thought you were a friend of mine. I thought I

could rely on you. Well, that finishes it. I'll never speak to you again. Never.

Never. D'you think I'm impressed by your rotten old money? Oh, it's no good

saying you didn't mean it. Where would you be except for me, I should like to

know? Any distinction you've got, the only importance you have in the world, is

that you happen to know me. Who's made your parties go all these years? D'you

think that people came to them to see you? They came to see me. Never again.

Never." It was in point of fact a monologue rather than a conversation.

Later on, at the cinema, she sat next to Tom as she had intended (позже, в

кинотеатре, она сидела рядом с Томом, как она и планировала:

«намеревалась») and held his hand (и держала его за руку), but it seemed to her

singularly unresponsive (но она казалась ей какой-то необыкновенно

безжизненной: «невосприимчивой»). Like a fish's fin (как плавник рыбы). She

suspected (она подозревала) that he was thinking uncomfortably of what Michael

had said (что он раздумывал, испытывая тревогу, о том, что сказал Майкл;

uncomfortable — неудобный, испытывающий стеснение, неловкость). She

wished that she had had an opportunity of a few words with him (как бы ей

хотелось иметь возможность, чтобы парой слов /для него/) so that she might

have told him not to worry (она смогла бы ему сказать, что волноваться не

стоит: «чтобы он не волновался»). After all (в конце-то концов) no one could

have carried off the incident (никто бы не смог справится с этим

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происшествием: «инцидентом»; to carry off — разг. ловко выпутаться) with

more brilliance than she had (с большим блеском, чем она). Aplomb; that was

the word (самоуверенность: «апломб» — вот подходящее слово). She

wondered (ей было интересно) what it was exactly that Dolly had told Michael

(что именно Долли рассказала Майклу). She had better find out (ей бы лучше

выяснить это). It would not do to ask Michael (так не годится — спрашивать у

Майкла), that would look as though she attached importance to it (это будет

выглядеть так, как будто она придала этому значение; to attach importance to

smth. — считать что-либо важным) she must find out from Dolly herself (она

должна выяснить это у самой Долли). It would be much wiser not to have a row

with her (будет гораздо умнее — не ругаться с ней; row — шум, гвалт, ссора,

драка). Julia smiled as she thought of the scene (Джулия улыбнулась, когда она

подумала о том объяснении: «сцене») she would have with Dolly (которое она

устроит /с/ Долли).

singularly ['sINgjVlqlI] unresponsive ["AnrI'spOnsIv] wonder ['wAndq]

Later on, at the cinema, she sat next to Tom as she had intended and held his hand,

but it seemed to her singularly unresponsive. Like a fish's fin. She suspected that

he was thinking uncomfortably of what Michael had said. She wished that she had

had an opportunity of a few words with him so that she might have told him not to

worry. After all no one could have carried off the incident with more brilliance

than she had. Aplomb, that was the word. She wondered what it was exactly that

Dolly had told Michael. She had better find out. It would not do to ask Michael,

that would look as though she attached importance to it; she must find out from

Dolly herself. It would be much wiser not to have a row with her. Julia smiled as

she thought of the scene she would have with Dolly.

She would be sweetness itself (она будет сама кротость: «сладость»), she would

wheedle it all out of her (она выманит из нее это = «содержание разговора с

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Майклом» лестью), and never give her an inkling that she was angry (и никогда,

даже намеком, не покажет ей, что она была рассержена). It was curious

(странно все-таки: «любопытно») that it should send a cold shiver down her

back (что из-за этого у нее холодна дрожь /бежала/ по спине: «что это

вызывало») to think that people were talking about her (подумать, что люди

говорили о ней пустое; to talk — разг. болтать, распускать слухи, судачить).

After all (в конце концов) if she couldn't do what she liked, who could (если ей

нельзя делать, что хочется, то кому же можно: «если она не могла делать, что

ей нравится, то кто может»)? Her private life was nobody's business (ее личная:

«частная» жизнь никого не касается). All the same (тем не менее) one couldn’t

deny that it wouldn't be very nice (невозможно отрицать, что будет не очень-то

приятно) if people were laughing at her (если люди станут смеяться над ней).

She wondered what Michael would do (она подумала/задалась вопросом, что же

сделает Майкл) if he found out the truth (если обнаружит правду). He couldn't

very well divorce her (он не сможет одновременно развестись с ней; very well

— очень хорошо, так и быть, приходится соглашаться) and continue to

manage for her (и продолжать быть ее импресарио). If he had any sense (если

бы он обладал хоть каплей /здравого/ смысла) he'd shut his eyes (он бы закрыл

на это глаза).

shiver ['SIvq] deny [dI'naI] truth [tru:T]

She would be sweetness itself, she would wheedle it all out of her, and never give

her an inkling that she was angry. It was curious that it should send a cold shiver

down her back to think that people were talking about her. After all if she couldn't

do what she liked, who could? Her private life was nobody's business. All the same

one couldn't deny that it wouldn't be very nice if people were laughing at her. She

wondered what Michael would do if he found out the truth. He couldn't very well

divorce her and continue to manage for her. If he had any sense he'd shut his eyes.

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But Michael was funny in some ways (но Майкл был странным в некоторых

отношениях; way — путь, дорога, образ действия, манера поведения); every

now and then (время от времени) he would get up on his hind legs (он бывало,

вставал на дыбы = «показывал характер»; hind — задний, leg — нога от бедра