grandeur ['gr& [email protected]], pretty ['prItI], perplexity [ [email protected]'pleksItI]
There have been decorators and furnishers up from Plymouth, and it is evident that our friend has large ideas, and means to spare no pains or expense to restore the grandeur of his family. When the house is renovated and refurnished, all that he will need will be a wife to make it complete. Between ourselves there are pretty clear signs that this will not be wanting if the lady is willing, for I have seldom seen a man more infatuated with a woman than he is with our beautiful neighbour, Miss Stapleton. And yet the course of true love does not run quite as smoothly as one would under the circumstances expect. To-day, for example, its surface was broken by a very unexpected ripple, which has caused our friend considerable perplexity and annoyance.
After the conversation which I have quoted about Barrymore (после разговора о Бэрриморе, который я процитировал) Sir Henry put on his hat and prepared to go out (сэр Генри надел шляпу и собирался выходить). As a matter of course I did the same (естественно, я сделал то же самое; as a matter of course — как и следовало ожидать).
"What, are you coming, Watson (что, вы идете /со мной/, Ватсон)?" he asked, looking at me in a curious way (спросил он, взглянув на меня с любопытством).
"That depends on whether you are going on the moor (это зависит /от того/, идете ли вы на болота)," said I.
"Yes, I am (да, иду)."
"Well, you know what my instructions are (ну, вы же знаете, какие у меня инструкции). I am sorry to intrude (простите за навязчивость; to intrude — вторгаться, входить без приглашения/разрешения; навязывать/ся/, быть назойливым), but you heard how earnestly Holmes insisted (но вы слышали, как Холмс убедительно настаивал) that I should not leave you (чтобы я не оставлял вас), and especially that you should not go alone upon the moor (и в особенности, чтобы вы не выходили один на болота)."
Sir Henry put his hand upon my shoulder, with a pleasant smile (сэр Генри положил мне руку на плечо, весело улыбаясь).
"My dear fellow," said he, "Holmes, with all his wisdom (Холмс со всем своим здравым смыслом), did not foresee some things (не предусмотрел некоторые вещи) which have happened since I have been on the moor (которые произошли с тех пор, как я здесь, на болотах). You understand me (понимаете меня)? I am sure that you are the last man in the world (я уверен, что вы — последний человек в мире) who would wish to be a spoil-sport (который захочет мне в чем-то помешать; spoil-sport — тот, кто портит удовольствие другим; to spoil — портить; наносить ущерб). I must go out alone (я должен пойти один)."
quote [ [email protected]], prepare [prI' [email protected]], shoulder [' [email protected]@]
After the conversation which I have quoted about Barrymore Sir Henry put on his hat and prepared to go out. As a matter of course I did the same.
"What, are you coming, Watson?" he asked, looking at me in a curious way.
"That depends on whether you are going on the moor," said I.
"Yes, I am."
"Well, you know what my instructions are. I am sorry to intrude, but you heard how earnestly Holmes insisted that I should not leave you, and especially that you should not go alone upon the moor."
Sir Henry put his hand upon my shoulder, with a pleasant smile.
"My dear fellow," said he, "Holmes, with all his wisdom, did not foresee some things which have happened since I have been on the moor. You understand me? I am sure that you are the last man in the world who would wish to be a spoil-sport. I must go out alone."
It put me in a most awkward position (это поставило меня в очень неудобное положение). I was at a loss what to say or what to do (я растерялся, /не зная/, что сказать или что делать; to be at a loss — быть в затруднении, растерянности), and before I had made up my mind (и до того, как я принял решение; to make up one’s mind — решиться) he picked up his cane and was gone (он взял свою трость и ушел; to pick up — поднимать, подбирать).
But when I came to think the matter over (но когда я /немного/ поразмыслил над этим вопросом; to come to think — если подумать, по зрелом размышлении) my conscience reproached me bitterly (моя совесть сильно упрекнула меня) for having on any pretext allowed him (за то, что позволил ему под каким-либо предлогом) to go out of my sight (выйти из поля моего внимания: «зрения»). I imagined what my feelings would be (я представил, что бы я чувствовал: «какие бы у меня были бы чувства») if I had to return to you and to confess (если бы мне пришлось вернуться к вам и признаться) that some misfortune had occurred (что произошло какое-то несчастье) through my disregard for your instructions (из-за моего пренебрежения вашими указаниями). I assure you my cheeks flushed at the very thought (уверяю вас, меня бросило в пот: «мои щеки вспыхнули» от одной только мысли /об этом/). It might not even now be too late to overtake him (даже теперь могло быть еще не поздно, /чтобы/ догнать его), so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House (поэтому я сразу же отправился в сторону Меррипит-хаус).
awkward ['O: [email protected]], disregard [,dIsrI'gA:d], assure [@' [email protected]]
It put me in a most awkward position. I was at a loss what to say or what to do, and before I had made up my mind he picked up his cane and was gone.
But when I came to think the matter over my conscience reproached me bitterly for having on any pretext allowed him to go out of my sight. I imagined what my feelings would be if I had to return to you and to confess that some misfortune had occurred through my disregard for your instructions. I assure you my cheeks flushed at the very thought. It might not even now be too late to overtake him, so I set off at once in the direction of Merripit House.
I hurried along the road at the top of my speed (я спешил по дороге с максимальной скоростью, на которую был способен; at the top of one’s speed — полным ходом, во всю прыть) without seeing anything of Sir Henry (не видя сэра Генри), until I came to the point (пока не подошел к тому месту) where the moor path branches off (где начинается тропа, /ведущая/ на болота; to branch off — ответвляться, отделяться; branch — ветвь). There, fearing that perhaps I had come in the wrong direction after all (там, боясь что я все-таки, возможно, пошел в неверном направлении), I mounted a hill from (я поднялся на холм) which I could command a view (с которого я мог /хорошо все/ видеть) — the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry (тот самый холм, в котором /раньше/ была каменоломня). Thence I saw him at once (оттуда я его сразу же увидел). He was on the moor path (он был на тропе, /идущей/ через болота), about a quarter of a mile off (примерно в четверти мили /от меня/), and a lady was by his side (рядом с ним была дама) who could only be Miss Stapleton (которой могла быть только мисс Стэплтон). It was clear that there was already an understanding between them (было очевидно, что между ними уже было = царило полное /взаимо/понимание) and that they had met by appointment (и что они повстречались, договорившись заранее; appointment — назначение; условленная встреча; to appoint — назначать, определять /время, место и т. п./). They were walking slowly along in deep conversation (они медленно прогуливались, увлеченно беседуя), and I saw her making quick little movements of her hands (и я видел, как она производила быстрые короткие движения руками) as if she were very earnest in what she was saying (как будто была очень убеждена в том, что говорила), while he listened intently (тогда как он слушал внимательно), and once or twice shook his head in strong dissent (и несколько раз качнул головой, явно /с чем-то/ не соглашаясь; to shake — трясти; качать; strong — сильно; решительно; dissent — несогласие). I stood among the rocks watching them (я стоял среди камней, наблюдая за ними), very much puzzled as to what I should do next (сильно озадаченный тем, как мне теперь поступить; next — затем, после).
hurry ['hVrI], between [bI'twi:n], dissent [dI'sent]
I hurried along the road at the top of my speed without seeing anything of Sir Henry, until I came to the point where the moor path branches off. There, fearing that perhaps I had come in the wrong direction after all, I mounted a hill from which I could command a view — the same hill which is cut into the dark quarry. Thence I saw him at once. He was on the moor path, about a quarter of a mile off, and a lady was by his side who could only be Miss Stapleton. It was clear that there was already an understanding between them and that they had met by appointment. They were walking slowly along in deep conversation, and I saw her making quick little movements of her hands as if she were very earnest in what she was saying, while he listened intently, and once or twice shook his head in strong dissent. I stood among the rocks watching them, very much puzzled as to what I should do next.
To follow them and break into their intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage (пойти за ними и вмешаться в их интимный разговор казалось возмутительным поступком), and yet my clear duty was never for an instant (но моей обязанностью было никогда, даже на миг; clear — ясный, четкий) to let him out of my sight (не упускать его из виду). To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task (действовать, как шпион = шпионить за другом было ненавистной задачей). Still, I could see no better course (и все же я не видел лучшего решения; course — направление; линия поведения) than to observe him from the hill (чем наблюдать за ним с холма), and to clear my conscience by confessing to him afterwards (и после очистить совесть, признавшись ему) what I had done (/в том, что/ я /это/ делал). It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him (правда, если бы какая-то внезапная опасность угрожала ему) I was too far away to be of use (я был слишком далеко, чтобы быть полезным = чтобы прийти на помощь), and yet I am sure that you will agree with me (но я уверен, вы согласитесь со мной) that the position was very difficult (что положение было очень трудным), and that there was nothing more which I could do (и что ничего более я не мог сделать).
Our friend, Sir Henry, and the lady had halted on the path (наш друг сэр Генри и девушка остановились на тропе) and were standing deeply absorbed in their conversation (и стояли, полностью погруженные в разговор), when I was suddenly aware (когда я вдруг понял) that I was not the only witness of their interview (что я не единственный свидетель их встречи).
outrage ['autreIdZ], conscience [' [email protected]], halt [hO:lt]
To follow them and break into their intimate conversation seemed to be an outrage, and yet my clear duty was never for an instant to let him out of my sight. To act the spy upon a friend was a hateful task. Still, I could see no better course than to observe him from the hill, and to clear my conscience by confessing to him afterwards what I had done. It is true that if any sudden danger had threatened him I was too far away to be of use, and yet I am sure that you will agree with me that the position was very difficult, and that there was nothing more which I could do.
