countenance ['kauntqnqns], gesture ['dZestSq], employ [Im'plOI]
His path crossed that of the charwoman, a smile broke out over his countenance and he raised his homburg with the same gesture he would have employed doffing it to a queen. "Ah," he said, "our neighbor from London who likes flowers. So you have found your way here."
Mrs. Harris said: "It's like a bit of 'Eaven, ain't it (это как кусочек Рая, не правда ли)? I wouldn't have believed it (я бы не поверила этому) if I 'adn't seen it with me own eyes (если бы я не видела своими собственными глазами)." She looked down at a huge jar (она взглянула вниз на огромный кувшин) bulging with crisp white lilies (наполненный до отказа свежими белыми лилиями; to bulge — выдаваться, выпячиваться, оттопыриваться) and another with firm (и на другой с крепкими), smooth (гладкими), yet unopened gladioli (еще нераскрывшиеся гладиолусами; to open — открывать) with but a gleam of mauve (с одним только проблеском розовато-лилового), crimson (темно-красного), lemon or pink (лимонного или розового цвета) showing at the stalks (показавшимся на стеблях) to indicate what colors they would be (чтобы указать, какого цвета они будут). Drops of fresh water glistened on them (капли чистой воды блестели на них). "Oh Lor' (о Боже)!" murmured Mrs. Harris (пробормотала миссис Харрис), "I do 'ope Mrs. Butterfield won't forget to water me geraniums (я надеюсь, миссис Баттерфилд не забудет поливать мои герани)".
believe [bI'li:v], bulging ['bAldZIN], mauve [mquv]
Mrs. Harris said: "It's like a bit of 'Eaven, ain't it? I wouldn't have believed it if I 'adn't seen it with me own eyes." She looked down at a huge jar bulging with crisp white lilies and another with firm, smooth, yet unopened gladioli with but a gleam of mauve, crimson, lemon or pink showing at the stalks to indicate what colors they would be. Drops of fresh water glistened on them. "Oh Lor'!" murmured Mrs. Harris, "I do 'ope Mrs. Butterfield won't forget to water me geraniums."
"Ah, madame, you cultivate geraniums (ах, мадам, вы выращиваете герань)?" the marquis inquired politely (маркиз спросил вежливо).
"Two window boxes full (два полных оконных ящика) and a dozen or so pots (и дюжина или около того горшков) wherever I can find a place to put one (везде, где я могу найти место, чтобы поставить горшок). You might say as it was me 'obby (вы могли бы сказать, что это мое хобби)".
"Epatant (потрясающе /фр./)!" the marquis murmured to himself (маркиз прошептал сам себе), and then inquired (и затем спросил): "And the dress you came here to seek (а платье, /которое/ вы прибыли сюда искать = за которым вы сюда приехали; to seek — искать, разыскивать). Did you find it (вы нашли его)?"
cultivate ['kAltIveIt], dozen [dAzn], politely [pq'laItlI]
"Ah, madame, you cultivate geraniums?" the marquis inquired politely.
"Two window boxes full and a dozen or so pots wherever I can find a place to put one. You might say as it was me 'obby."
"Epatant!" the marquis murmured to himself, and then inquired: "And the dress you came here to seek. Did you find it?"
Mrs. Harris grinned like a little imp (миссис Харрис усмехнулась, как маленький бесенок; imp — уст. росток, побег, отросток, черенок; шутл. чертяка, бес /о человеке/; бесенок, постреленок; сорванец /о ребенке/). "Didn't I just (не нашла ли я)! It's the one called 'Temptytion,' remember (это платье, именуемое «Искушение», помните)? It's black velvet (оно черного бархата) trimmed with black bugle beads (обшитое черным бисером) and the top is some sort of pink soft stuff (а верх из какого-то розового и мягкого материала).
The marquis reflected for a moment and then nodded (маркиз задумался на мгновение и затем кивнул). "Ah yes, I do remember (ах, да, я помню). It was worn by that exquisite young creature (оно было надето на этом изящном юном создании; to wear — носить / быть одетым во что-л./)…"
"Natasha," Mrs. Harris concluded for him (миссис Харрис закончила за него). "She's me friend (она моя подруга). It's being myde for me (его делают = шьют для меня; myde = made). I've got three more days to wait (мне надо еще три дня ждать)".
exquisite ['ekskwIzIt], creature ['kri:tSq], conclude [kqn'klu:d]
Mrs. Harris grinned like a little imp. "Didn't I just! It's the one called 'Temptytion,' remember? It's black velvet trimmed with black bugle beads and the top is some sort of pink soft stuff.
The marquis reflected for a moment and then nodded. "Ah yes, I do remember. It was worn by that exquisite young creature…"
"Natasha," Mrs. Harris concluded for him. "She's me friend. It's being myde for me. I've got three more days to wait."
"And so (и поэтому), with infinite good sense (с бесконечно здравым смыслом = поступая весьма разумно), you acquaint yourself with the genuine attractions of our city (вы знакомитесь с истинными/исконными прелестями нашего города; genuine — истинный, подлинный)".
"And you (а вы)…" Mrs. Harris began (начала), and broke off in the middle of her sentence (но оборвала на середине ее предложения), for intuitively she knew the answer to the question (потому что интуитивно она знала ответ на вопрос) she had been about to ask (/который/ она собиралась задать).
But the Marquis de Chassagne was not at all put out (но маркиз де Шассань не был ничуть смущен; to put out — смущать), and only remarked gravely (и только заметил серьезно): "You have guessed it (вы догадались об этом). There is so little time left for me to enjoy the beauties of the earth (так мало времени осталось у меня, чтобы наслаждаться красотами земли). Come, let us sit on this seat in the sun a little (ну, давайте посидим на этой скамье: «сиденье» на солнце немного), you and I, and talk (вы и я, и побеседуем)".
infinite ['InfInIt], acquaint [q'kweInt], intuitively [In'tju:ItIvlI]
"And so, with infinite good sense, you acquaint yourself with the genuine attractions of our city."
"And you…" Mrs. Harris began, and broke off in the middle of her sentence, for intuitively she knew the answer to the question she had been about to ask.
But the Marquis de Chassagne was not at all put out, and only remarked gravely: "You have guessed it. There is so little time left for me to enjoy the beauties of the earth. Come, let us sit on this seat in the sun a little, you and I, and talk."
They sat then (они сели затем), side by side on the green wooden bench (бок о бок на зеленую деревянную скамейку), in the midst of the sensuous colors and ravishing perfumes (в центре чувственных цветов /оттенков/ и восхитительных ароматов), the aristocrat and the charwoman (аристократ и уборщица), and conversed (и разговаривали). They were worlds apart in everything but the simplicity of their humanity (они были очень далеки во всем, кроме простоты своей человечности; worlds apart — очень далеко: «миры врозь»), and so they were really not apart at all (и поэтому они в действительности не были далеки вовсе). For all of his title and eminent position (при всем его титуле и высоком/знатном положении), the marquis was a lonely widower (маркиз был одиноким вдовцом), his children married and scattered (его дети женились и разъехались). And what was Mrs. Harris but an equally lonely widow (а кем была миссис Харрис, если не такой же одинокой вдовой), but with the courage to embark upon one great adventure (но со смелостью отправиться в большое приключение) to satisfy her own craving for beauty and elegance (чтобы удовлетворить свое собственное страстное стремление к красоте и элегантности). They had much in common (у них было много общего), these two (у этих двух).
sensuous ['sensjuqs], simplicity [sIm'plIsItI], equally ['i:kwqlI]
They sat then, side by side on the green wooden bench, in the midst of the sensuous colors and ravishing perfumes, the aristocrat and the charwoman, and conversed. They were worlds apart in everything but the simplicity of their humanity, and so they were really not apart at all. For all of his title and eminent position, the marquis was a lonely widower, his children married and scattered. And what was Mrs. Harris but an equally lonely widow, but with the courage to embark upon one great adventure to satisfy her own craving for beauty and elegance. They had much in common, these two.
Besides her geraniums (кроме ее герани), Mrs. Harris remarked (заметила миссис Харрис), she also received cut flowers (она также получала срезанные цветы) from time to time (время от времени) with which to brighten her little basement flat (чтобы ими украсить свою маленькую квартиру на цокольном этаже) from clients about to leave for a week-end in the country (/получала их она/ от клиентов, собирающихся уехать на уикенд = выходные за город: «в деревню»), or who received presents of fresh flowers (или кто получал подарки = в подарок свежесрезанные цветы) and would make it a point to present Mrs. Harris (и имел за правило дарить миссис Харрис; to make a point — иметь за правило) with their old and half-wilted blooms (их старые и наполовину увядшие цветки). "I get them 'ome as fast as ever I can (я приношу их домой как можно скорее)", she explained (объяснила она), "cut off their stems (подрезаю их стебли) and put them in a fresh jug of water (и ставлю их в свежий кувшин воды) with a penny at the bottom (с пенни на дне)".
brighten [braItn], wilt [wIlt], bottom ['bOtqm]
Besides her geraniums, Mrs. Harris remarked, she also received cut flowers from time to time with which to brighten her little basement flat from clients about to leave for a week-end in the country, or who received presents of fresh flowers and would make it a point to present Mrs. Harris with their old and half-wilted blooms. "I get them 'ome as fast as ever I can," she explained, "cut off their stems and put them in a fresh jug of water with a penny at the bottom."
The marquis looked astounded at this piece of intelligence (маркиз выглядел изумленным услышав про эту уловку: «эту часть рассудительности»).
"Ow, didn't you know (о, разве вы не знали)?" Mrs. Harris said. "If you put a copper in the water with wilted flowers (если вы положите медную монетку в воду с увядшими цветами) it brings them right back (это воскрешает их; to bring back — восстанавливать, воскрешать)".
The marquis (маркиз), full of interest (полный заинтересованности), said (сказал): "Well now, it is indeed true that one is never too old to learn (ну вот, действительно верно, век живи — век учись: «что человек никогда не бывает слишком стар, чтобы учиться»)". He went on to another subject (он перешел к другой теме; subject — предмет; тема разговора) that had interested him (которая интересовала его). "And you say that Mademoiselle Natasha has become your friend (и вы говорите, что мадмуазель Наташа стала вашей подругой)?"
astounded [qs'taundId], true [tru:], mademoiselle ["mxdqm'zel]
The marquis looked astounded at this piece of intelligence.
"Ow, didn't you know?" Mrs. Harris said. "If you put a copper in the water with wilted flowers it brings them right back."
The marquis, full of interest, said: "Well now, it is indeed true that one is never too old to learn." He went on to another subject that had interested him. "And you say that Mademoiselle Natasha has become your friend?"
"She's a dear (она душка)," said Mrs. Harris, "not at all like you might expect (совсем не такая, как вы могли бы ожидать), high and mighty with all the fuss (/можно ожидать, что она была бы/ высокая = недоступная и могучая = использующая свое влияние из-за всей этой суеты) that's made over her (которая делается = происходит над ней/по поводу ее). She's as unspoiled as your own daughter would be (она такая же неиспорченная, как была бы ваша собственная дочь). They're all me friends (они все мои друзья), I do believe (я действительно верю) — that nice young Monsieur Fauvel (этот добрый молодой мсье Фовель), the cashier (кассир) — it's his 'ouse I am stopping at (это в его доме я остановилась) — and that poor Madame Colbert (и эта бедная мадам Кольбер)…"
