case that were in the rack to the carriage madame had just left. 22 страница

должен проводить ее домой)."

impress [Im'pres] pierce [pIqs] questioning ['kwestS(q)nIN]

"D'you really think there's a chance for me?" Through her self-assurance, through

the country-house manner she assumed in order to impress Julia, there pierced an

anxious eagerness. "If you'd put in a word for me it would help so much."

Julia gave her a reflective look.

"I take my husband's advice more often than he takes mine," she smiled.

When they left the dressing-room so that Avice Crichton might change for the

third act, Julia caught the questioning glance she gave Tom as she said good-bye to

him. Julia was conscious, though she saw no movement, that he slightly shook his

head. Her sensibility at that moment was extraordinarily acute and she translated

the mute dialogue into words.

"Coming to supper afterwards?"

"No, damn it, I can't, I've got to see her home."

Julia listened to the third act grimly (Джулия слушала третий акт мрачно). That

was in order (это выглядело естественно; in order — зд. уместный,

естественный, логичный) since the play was serious (так как пьеса была

серьезная; since — зд. поскольку, раз уж). When it was over (когда она

закончилась) and a pale shattered author had made a halting speech (и бледный

потрясенный автор произнес, запинаясь, речь: «речь бесконечными

заминками и паузами»; to shatter — разбивать, разрушать, расшатывать),

Tom asked her where she would like to go for supper (Том спросил у нее, куда

она хотела бы пойти поужинать).

"Let's go home and talk (давай поедем домой, и поговорим)," she said. "If you're

hungry I'm sure we can find you something to eat in the kitchen (если ты голоден,

я уверена, мы сможем найти тебе что-нибудь съедобное: «поесть» на кухне)."

"D'you mean to Stanhope Place (ты имеешь в виду Стэнхоуп-плейс»)?"

"Yes."

"All right (хорошо)."

She felt his relief (она почувствовала его облегчение) that she did not want to go

back to the flat (от того, что она не выразила желание: «не захотела» поехать

назад в /его/ квартиру). He was silent in the car (он был молчалив в машине)

and she knew that it irked him to have to come back with her (и она знала, что его

это раздражало, что /он/ вынужден возвращаться назад с ней; to irk —

утомлять, докучать, надоедать). She guessed that someone was giving a

supper party (она предположила, что кто-то устраивал званный ужин) to which

Avice Crichton was going (на который собиралась Эвис Крайтон) and he

wanted to be there (и он хотел быть там). The house was dark and empty when

they reached it (дом был темным и пустым, когда они приехали: «добрались»

в него). The servants were in bed (слуги уже легли спать: «были в постели»).

Julia suggested that they should go down to the basement and forage (Джулия

предположила, что им следует отправиться вниз, в цокольный этаж, и найти

что-нибудь из еды; to forage — фуражировать, разыскивать

продовольствие, рыться).

author ['O:Tq] speech [spi:tS] forage ['fOrIdZ]

Julia listened to the third act grimly. That was in order since the play was serious.

When it was over and a pale shattered author had made a halting speech, Tom

asked her where she would like to go for supper.

"Let's go home and talk," she said. "If you're hungry I'm sure we can find you

something to eat in the kitchen."

"D'you mean to Stanhope Place?"

"Yes."

"All right."

She felt his relief that she did not want to go back to the flat. He was silent in the

car and she knew that it irked him to have to come back with her. She guessed that

someone was giving a supper party to which Avice Crichton was going and he

wanted to be there. The house was dark and empty when they reached it. The

servants were in bed. Julia suggested that they should go down to the basement and

forage.

"I don't want anything to eat unless you do (я не хочу ничего есть, если только

ты хочешь)," he said. "I'll just have a whisky and soda and go to bed (я буду

только виски с содовой и отправлюсь спать). I've got a very heavy day

tomorrow at the office (у меня завтра очень тяжелый день в конторе)."

"All right (хорошо). Bring it up to the drawing-room (приноси его /виски/ в

гостиную). I'll go and turn on the lights (я пойду и включу свет)."

When he came up (когда он вошел) she was doing her face in front of a mirror

(она приводила в порядок лицо перед зеркалом; to do one’s face —

попудрится, накраситься, сделать макияж) and she continued (и она

продолжила /делать это/) till he had poured out the whisky and sat down (до тех

самых пор, когда он налил виски и присел). Then she turned round (тогда она

повернулась). He looked very young (он выглядел очень молодым), and

incredibly charming (и невероятно обаятельным), in his beautiful clothes (в

своей красивой одежде), sitting there in the big armchair (сидящий /там/, в

большом кресле), and all the bitterness she had felt that evening (и вся та горечь,

которую она испытала в тот вечер), all the devouring jealousy of the last few

days (вся та пожирающая ревность последних нескольких дней; to devour —

пожирать, поглощать, уничтожать), were dissipated on a sudden by the

intensity of her passion (растворились внезапно от силы: «интенсивности» ее

страсти; to dissipate — рассеивать, разгонять, разлагать). She sat down on the

arm of his chair (она присела на подлокотник его кресла) and caressingly passed

her hand over his hair (и ласково провела рукой по его волосам). He drew back

with an angry gesture (он сердито дернулся: «отодвинулся с сердитым

жестом»).

mirror ['mIrq] devouring [dI'vaVqrIN] dissipate ['dIsIpeIt]

caressingly [kq'resINlI]

"I don't want anything to eat unless you do," he said. "I'll just have a whisky and

soda and go to bed. I've got a very heavy day tomorrow at the office."

"All right. Bring it up to the drawing-room. I'll go and turn on the lights."

When he came up she was doing her face in front of a mirror and she continued till

he had poured out the whisky and sat down. Then she turned round. He looked

very young, and incredibly charming, in his beautiful clothes, sitting there in the

big armchair, and all the bitterness she had felt that evening, all the devouring

jealousy of the last few days, were dissipated on a sudden by the intensity of her

passion. She sat down on the arm of his chair and caressingly passed her hand over

his hair. He drew back with an angry gesture.

"Don't do that (не делай этого)," he said. "I do hate having my hair mussed about

(я просто ненавижу, когда мои волосы треплют; to muss — приводить в

беспорядок, пачкать)."

It was like a knife in her heart (слова были: «это было» как нож в /ее/ сердце).

He had never spoken to her in that tone before (он никогда раньше не говорил с

ней в подобном тоне). But she laughed lightly (но она беспечно рассмеялась)

and getting up took the whisky he had poured out for her (и поднявшись, взяла

виски, который он налил ей: «для нее») and sat down in a chair opposite him (и

опустилась: «села» в кресло напротив него). The movement he had made

(движение, которое он сделал), the words he had spoken (слова, которые он

произнес:

«говорил»),

were

instinctive

(были

безотчетными:

«инстинктивными») and he was a trifle abashed (и он /сам/ был слегка

сконфужен). He avoided her glance (он избегал ее взгляда) and his face once

more bore a sulky look (и снова на его лице было надутое угрюмое выражение;

to bear (bore, born) — переносить, иметь, выдерживать; to bear look —

выглядеть). The moment was decisive (момент был решающим; decisive —

окончательный, решительный, бесспорный). For a while they were silent

(какое-то мгновение, они молчали). Julia's heart beat painfully (сердце Джулии

болезненно колотилось; to beat — бить, ударять, избивать), but at last she

forced herself to speak (но, наконец, она заставила себя заговорить).

"Tell me (скажи мне)," she said, smiling (сказала она, улыбаясь), "have you

been to bed with Avice Crichton (ты спал: «был в постели» с Эвис Крайтон)?"

"Of course not (конечно же, нет)," he cried (вскричал он).

"Why not (почему же нет)? She's pretty (она миленькая)."

"She's not that sort of girl (она не такая девушка). I respect her (я уважаю ее)."

muss [mAs] pour [pO:] abashed [q'bxSt] decisive [dI'saIsIv]

"Don't do that," he said. "I do hate having my hair mussed about."

It was like a knife in her heart. He had never spoken to her in that tone before. But

she laughed lightly and getting up took the whisky he had poured out for her and

sat down in a chair opposite him. The movement he had made, the words he had

spoken, were instinctive and he was a trifle abashed. He avoided her glance and his

face once more bore a sulky look. The moment was decisive. For a while they were

silent. Julia's heart beat painfully, but at last she forced herself to speak.

"Tell me," she said, smiling, "have you been to bed with Avice Crichton?"

"Of course not," he cried.

"Why not? She's pretty."

"She's not that sort of girl. I respect her."

Julia let none of her feelings appear on her face (Джулия не позволила ни

одному из /ее/ чувств отразится: «появиться» на /ее/ лице). Her manner was

wonderfully casual (ее манера осталась: «была» удивительно небрежной); she

might have been talking of the fall of empires or the death of kings (/так/ она

могла бы говорить о падении империй или гибели: «смерти» королей).

"D'you know what I should have said (знаешь ли ты, что я бы сказала)? I should

have said you were madly in love with her (я бы сказала, что ты безумно

влюблен в нее)." He still avoided her eyes (он все еще избегал ее глаз). "Are

you engaged to her by any chance (ты случайно не помолвлен ли с ней; by any

chance — случайно)?"

"No."

He looked at her now (теперь он смотрел на нее), but the eyes that met Julia's

were hostile (но глаза, которые смотрели в глаза Джулии: «встретили глаза

Джулии», были враждебны).

"Have you asked her to marry you (ты просил ее выйти за тебя замуж)?"

"How could I (как я могу)? A damned rotter like me (такой чертов подлец, как

я)."

He spoke so passionately that Julia was astonished (он говорил с такой страстью,

что Джулия была поражена; to astonish — удивлять, изумлять).

"What are you talking about (о чем это ты говоришь)?"

"Oh what's the good of beating about the bush (о, что проку в том, что ходить

вокруг да около; to beat about the bush — вилять, подходить к делу издалека,

bush — куст, кустарник)? How could I ask a decent girl to marry me (как я могу

просить у порядочной девушки выйти за меня замуж)? I'm nothing but a kept

boy (я не кто иной, как юнец на содержании) and, God knows (и, видит Бог),

you have good reason to know it (у тебя все основания знать это)."

casual ['kxZVql] empire ['empaIq] hostile ['hOstaIl]

Julia let none of her feelings appear on her face. Her manner was wonderfully

casual; she might have been talking of the fall of empires or the death of kings.

"D'you know what I should have said? I should have said you were madly in love

with her." He still avoided her eyes.

"Are you engaged to her by any chance?"

"No."

He looked at her now, but the eyes that met Julia's were hostile.

"Have you asked her to marry you?"

"How could I? A damned rotter like me."

He spoke so passionately that Julia was astonished.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh what's the good of beating about the bush? How could I ask a decent girl to

marry me? I'm nothing but a kept boy and, God knows, you have good reason to

know it."

"Don't be so silly (не глупи: «не будь таким глупым»). What a fuss to make

(поднимать такую суету) over a few little presents I've given you (из-за

нескольких маленьких подарков, что я сделала: «подарила» тебе)."

"I oughtn't to have taken them (мне не следовало принимать: «брать» их). I

knew all the time it was wrong (я знал, все это время, что это было ошибкой:

«неправильным»). It all came so gradually (все это происходило так

постепенно) that I didn't realize what was happening (что я и не понимал, что же

происходит) till I was in it up to my neck (пока я не оказался во всем этом по

самую шею; up to one's neck — по самое горло, по самые уши). I couldn't afford

to lead the life you made me lead (я не мог себе позволить вести ту жизнь,

которую ты заставила меня вести); I was absolutely up against it (мне

совершенно не хватало денег на нее; to be up against it — быть в трудном

положении, особ. материальном). I had to take money from you (и мне

пришлось брать деньги у тебя)."

"Why not (почему нет)? After all, I'm a very rich woman (в конце концов, я

очень богатая женщина)."

"Damn your money (черт побери твои деньги)."

He was holding a glass in his hands (он держал бокал в руках) and yielding to a

sudden impulse (и, поддавшись внезапному импульсу; to yield — производить,

отступать, соглашаться), he flung it into the fireplace (он швырнул его в

камин; to fling (flung) — метать, бросать). It shattered (он разбился

вдребезги).

gradually ['grxdZVqlI] absolutely ["xbsq'lu:tlI] yielding ['ji:ldIN]

"Don't be so silly. What a fuss to make over a few little presents I've given you."

"I oughtn't to have taken them. I knew all the time it was wrong. It all came so

gradually that I didn't realize what was happening till I was in it up to my neck. I

couldn't afford to lead the life you made me lead; I was absolutely up against it. I

had to take money from you."

"Why not? After all, I'm a very rich woman."

"Damn your money."

He was holding a glass in his hands and yielding to a sudden impulse, he flung it

into the fireplace. It shattered.

"You needn't break up the happy home (нет нужды ломать счастливый дом),"

said Julia ironically (сказала Джулия с иронией).

"I'm sorry (извини). I didn't mean to do that (я не хотел: «не собирался» делать

этого)." He sank back into his chair (он опустился обратно, в кресло) and turned

his head away (и отвернулся: «отвернул свою голову в сторону»). "I'm so

ashamed of myself (я так стыжусь себя). It's not very nice to have lost one's self-

respect (не очень-то приятно потерять самоуважение)."

Julia hesitated (Джулия колебалась). She did not quite know what to say (она не

совсем знала, что /на это/ сказать).

"It seemed only natural to help you (это казалось таким естественным —

помочь тебе) when you were in a hole (когда ты был в полной дыре; to be in a

hole — быть в безвыходном положении, без гроша, в долгах). It was a pleasure

to me (это доставляло мне такое удовольствие)."

"I know, you were wonderfully tactful about it (я знаю, ты была удивительно

тактична, во всем этом /деле/). You almost persuaded me (ты почти что

убедила меня) that I was doing you a service (что я оказываю тебе услугу) when

you paid my debts (когда ты заплатила мои долги). You made it easy for me to

behave like a cad (/ты сделала все так/, что мне стало легко вести себя как

скотина; to make it easy — облегчить)."

"I'm sorry you should feel like that about it (мне очень жаль, если ты так это

воспринимаешь: «чувствуешь таким образом об этом»)."

hesitate ['hezIteIt] pleasure ['pleZq] debt [det]

"You needn't break up the happy home," said Julia ironically.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that." He sank back into his chair and turned his

head away. "I'm so ashamed of myself. It's not very nice to have lost one's self-

respect."

Julia hesitated. She did not quite know what to say.

"It seemed only natural to help you when you were in a hole. It was a pleasure to

me."

"I know, you were wonderfully tactful about it. You almost persuaded me that I

was doing you a service when you paid my debts. You made it easy for me to

behave like a cad."

"I'm sorry you should feel like that about it."

She spoke rather tartly (она говорила довольно резко; tartly — колко, ядовито,

саркастически). She was beginning to feel a trifle irritated (она начинала

чувствовать легкое раздражение: «чувствовать себя чуточку раздраженной»).

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about (тебе не о чем жалеть: «нет ничего

для тебя, о чем жалеть»). You wanted me and you bought me (ты хотела меня и

ты купила меня; to buy (bought) — покупать). If I was such a skunk as to let

myself be bought (и, если я был таким подлецом, что позволил себя купить:

«позволил себе быть купленным»; skunk — скунс /млекопитающее семейства

куньих/, вонючка) that was no business of yours (так это не имело к тебе

отношения: «не твое дело»)."

"How long have you been feeling like this (и как долго ты чувствуешь это:

«так»)?"

"From the beginning (с самого начала)."

"That isn't true (это не правда)."

She knew that what had awakened his conscience (она знала, что тем, что

пробудило его совесть) was the love that had seized him (была любовь, которая

охватила его) for a girl who he believed was pure (к девушке, которая, как он

верил, была целомудренной; pure — чистый, беспримесный, невинный,

непорочный). The poor fool (бедный дурак)! Didn't he know that Avice Crichton

would go to bed with an assistant stage manager (неужели он не понимает, что

Эвис Крайтон ляжет в постель с ассистентом помощника режиссера) if she

thought it would get her a part (если бы думала, что это принесет: «добудет» ей

роль)?

trifle ['traIf(q)l] skunk [skANk] awaken [q'weIkqn]

She spoke rather tartly. She was beginning to feel a trifle irritated.

"There's nothing for you to be sorry about. You wanted me and you bought me. If I

was such a skunk as to let myself be bought that was no business of yours."

"How long have you been feeling like this?"

"From the beginning."

"That isn't true."

She knew that what had awakened his conscience was the love that had seized him

for a girl who he believed was pure. The poor fool! Didn't he know that Avice

Crichton would go to bed with an assistant stage manager if she thought it would

get her a part?

"If you're in love with Avice Crichton (если ты влюблен в Эвис Крайтон) why

don't you tell me so (почему же ты не сказал мне об этом)?" He looked at her

miserably (он посмотрел на нее жалко), but did not answer (но не ответил).

"Are you afraid it'll crab her chances (ты боишься, что это испортит ее шансы;

to crab — разг. жаловаться, находить недостатки, губить) of getting a part

in the new play (на получение роли в новом спектакле)? You ought to know me

well enough by now (тебе бы следовало уже узнать меня достаточно хорошо;

by now — к настоящему времени) to know that I would never let sentiment

interfere with business (чтобы понимать, что я никогда не позволю чувствам

мешать делу)."

He could hardly believe his ears (он с трудом верил своим ушам).

"What do you mean by that (что ты этим хочешь сказать: «имеешь в виду»)?"

"I think she's rather a find (я думаю, что она почти находка). I'm going to tell

Michael that I think she'll do very well (и я собираюсь сказать Майклу, что я

думаю, что она справится; to do very well — показать себя с лучшей

стороны)."

"Oh, Julia, you are a brick (о, Джулия, ты молодчина; brick — кирпич, разг.

славный парень, «молоток»). I never knew what a wonderful woman you were (я

и не представлял: «никогда не знал», кокая ты удивительная женщина)."

"You should have asked me and I'd have told you (тебе следовало спросить у

меня, и я бы рассказала тебе)."

He gave a sigh of relief (он с облегчением вздохнул).

miserably ['mIz(q)rqblI] sentiment ['sentImqnt] brick [brIk]

"If you're in love with Avice Crichton why don't you tell me so?" He looked at her

miserably, but did not answer. "Are you afraid it'll crab her chances of getting a

part in the new play? You ought to know me well enough by now to know that I

would never let sentiment interfere with business."

He could hardly believe his ears.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I think she's rather a find. I'm going to tell Michael that I think she'll do very

well."

"Oh, Julia, you are a brick. I never knew what a wonderful woman you were."

"You should have asked me and I'd have told you."

He gave a sigh of relief.

"My dear, I'm so terribly fond of you (моя дорогая, я так безумно люблю тебя)."

"I know (я знаю), and I'm terribly fond of you (и я безумно люблю тебя). You're

great fun to go about with (с тобой так забавно встречаться; to go about —

расхаживать, знаться, общаться) and you're always so well turned out (ты

всегда так хорошо одет; to turn out — зд. украшать, наряжать, снаряжать),

you're a credit to any woman (тобой может гордиться любая женщина; credit —

зд. честь, заслуга). I've liked going to bed with you (мне нравилось спать с

тобой) and I've a sort of notion (и мне так кажется: «у меня есть некоторое

убеждение») you've liked going to bed with me (что тебе нравилось спать со

мной). But let's face it (но, давай смотреть /фактам/ в лицо), I've never been in

love with you (я никогда не была влюблена в тебя) any more (не больше, чем)

than you've been in love with me (ты был влюблен в меня). I knew it couldn't last

(я знала, что это не может длиться долго). Sooner or later you were bound to

fall in love (раньше или позже, но ты не мог не влюбиться; to be bound to do

smth. — обязательно сделать что-либо) and that would end it (и что это

положит конец /нашим отношениям/). And you have fallen in love, haven't you

(и вот, ты влюбился, не так ли)?"

"Yes."

She was determined to make him say it (она твердо решилась, что заставит его

сказать это; determined — полный решимости, непреклонный), but when he did

(но когда он сказал: «сделал») the pang it gave her was dreadful (та боль,

которую это /слово/ ей причинило, была ужасна). Notwithstanding (не смотря

на это), she smiled good-humouredly (она улыбалась добродушно).

"We've had some very jolly times together (мы провели очень веселые времена

вместе), but don't you think the moment has come to call it a day (но, не думаешь

ли ты, что настал момент положить всему конец; to call it a day — покончить

с чем-либо)?"

credit ['kredIt] notion ['nqVS(q)n] dreadful ['dredf(q)l]

"My dear, I'm so terribly fond of you."

"I know, and I'm terribly fond of you. You're great fun to go about with and you're

always so well turned out, you're a credit to any woman. I've liked going to bed

with you and I've a sort of notion you've liked going to bed with me. But let's face

it, I've never been in love with you any more than you've been in love with me. I

knew it couldn't last. Sooner or later you were bound to fall in love and that would

end it. And you have fallen in love, haven't you?"

"Yes."

She was determined to make him say it, but when he did the pang it gave her was

dreadful. Notwithstanding, she smiled good-humouredly.

"We've had some very jolly times together, but don't you think the moment has

come to call it a day?"

She spoke so naturally (она говорила так естественно), almost jestingly (почти

шутя), that no one could have guessed (что никто бы и не догадался) that the

pain at her heart seemed past bearing (что боль в ее сердце казалась

невыносимой: «за пределами того, что можно вынести»). She waited for his

answer (она ожидала его ответа) with sickening dread (с тошнотворным

ужасом).

"I'm awfully sorry, Julia (мне ужасно жаль, Джулия); I must regain my self-

respect (я должен вновь обрести самоуважение)." He looked at her with

troubled eyes (он посмотрел на нее обеспокоенными глазами). "You aren't

angry with me (ты не сердишься на меня)?"

"Because you've transferred your volatile affections from me to Avice Crichton

(из-за того, что ты перенес свои изменчивые чувства с меня на Эвис Крайтон;

volatile — непостоянный, ветреный)?" Her eyes danced with mischievous

laughter (в ее глазах танцевал шаловливый смех; to dance — танцевать,

плясать, кружить). "My dear, of course not (мой дорогой, конечно нет). After