case that were in the rack to the carriage madame had just left. 40 страница

dote on you." "You're so strange today."

She realized that he was disappointed. Poor little thing, she didn't want to hurt his

feelings. He was very sweet really.

"With the first night before me I'm not really myself today. You mustn't mind."

When she came to the conclusion, quite definitely now, that she no longer cared

two straws for him she could not help feeling a great pity for him. She stroked his

cheek gently.

"Sweetie pie. (I wonder if Michael remembered to have tea sent along to the

queues. It doesn't cost much and they do appreciate it so enormously.) You know, I

really must get up. Miss Phillips is coming at six. Evie will be in a state, she won't

be able to think what's happened to me."

She chattered brightly while she dressed (она болтала живо, пока она

одевалась). She was conscious, although she did not look at him (она осознавала,

хотя и не глядела на него), that Tom was vaguely uneasy (что Том был слегка

смущен). She put her hat on (она надела /свою/ шляпку), then she took his face

in both her hands (затем она взяла его лицо в /обе свои/ руки) and gave him a

friendly kiss (и дружески поцеловала его). "Good-bye, my lamb (до свидания,

мой ягненок). Have a good time tonight (хорошо тебе провести вечер)."

"Best of luck (желаю успеха)."

He smiled with some awkwardness (он улыбнулся нескладно: «с

неловкостью»). She perceived that he did not quite know what to make of her

(она поняла, что он не совсем знает, что о ней и думать; to make — зд.

считать, полагать). Julia slipped out of the flat (Джулия выскользнула из

квартиры), and if she had not been England's leading actress (и, если бы она не

была ведущей актрисой Англии), and a woman of hard on fifty (и женщиной

под пятьдесят; hard — сильно, настойчиво, зд. близко, на небольшом

расстоянии, около), she would have hopped on one leg all the way down

Stanhope Place (она бы проскакала на одной ножке всю дорогу до Стэнхоуп-

плейс) till she got to her house (до того, как она добралась бы до своего дома).

She was as pleased as punch (она была преисполнена самодовольства). She let

herself in with her latchkey (она сама открыла дверь ключом /от американского

замка/: «она сама впустила себя с помощью своего ключа») and closed the

front door behind her (и закрыла парадную дверь за собой; front — передний).

"I dare say there's something in what Roger said (я полагаю, что что-то есть в

том, что сказал Роджер). Love isn't worth all the fuss they make about it (любовь

не стоит того шума, что /они/ поднимают вокруг нее)."

vaguely ['veIglI] punch [pAntS] latchkey ['lxtSki:]

She chattered brightly while she dressed. She was conscious, although she did not

look at him, that Tom was vaguely uneasy. She put her hat on, then she took his

face in both her hands and gave him a friendly kiss. "Good-bye, my lamb. Have a

good time tonight."

"Best of luck."

He smiled with some awkwardness. She perceived that he did not quite know what

to make of her. Julia slipped out of the flat, and if she had not been England's

leading actress, and a woman of hard on fifty, she would have hopped on one leg

all the way down Stanhope Place till she got to her house. She was as pleased as

punch. She let herself in with her latchkey and closed the front door behind her.

"I dare say there's something in what Roger said. Love isn't worth all the fuss they

make about it."

FOUR hours later it was all over (четыре часа спустя все было кончено; to be

over — зд.окончится, завершиться). The play went well from the beginning

(спектакль принимали хорошо с самого начала; to go — зд. пройти, быть

принятым); the audience, notwithstanding the season, a fashionable one (зрители,

не смотря на сезон, модные: «светские» зрители), were pleased after the

holidays to find themselves once more in a playhouse (были рады, после каникул

= летнего перерыва оказаться снова в драматическом театре), and were ready

to be amused (и были готовы к развлечению: «чтобы их веселили»). It was an

auspicious beginning for the theatrical season (это было очень благоприятное

начало для театрального сезона). There had been great applause after each act

(оглушительные аплодисменты звучали: «были» после каждого акта) and at

the end a dozen curtain calls (и по окончании: «в конце» /состоялась/ дюжина

вызовов на поклон); Julia took two by herself (Джулию выходила два раза

лично; to take the curtain — /театр./ выходить на аплодисменты), and even

she was startled by the warmth of her reception (и даже она была поражена:

«напугана» теплотой приема). She had made the little halting speech (она

произнесла короткую: «небольшую» запинающуюся речь; halting —

спотыкающийся,

хромающий,

нескладный),

prepared

beforehand

(заготовленную заранее), which the occasion demanded (которую требовало

это /важное/ событие). There had been a final call of the entire company

(состоялся: «была» последний вызов на аплодисменты всей труппы) and then

the orchestra had struck up the National Anthem (и затем оркестр заиграл

Государственный Гимн; to strike (struck, stricken) up — начинать что-либо,

заиграть).

fashionable ['fxS(q)nqb(q)l] auspicious [O:'spISqs] orchestra ['O:kIstrq]

anthem ['xnT(q)m]

FOUR hours later it was all over. The play went well from the beginning; the

audience, notwithstanding the season, a fashionable one, were pleased after the

holidays to find themselves once more in a playhouse, and were ready to be

amused. It was an auspicious beginning for the theatrical season. There had been

great applause after each act and at the end a dozen curtain calls; Julia took two by

herself, and even she was startled by the warmth of her reception. She had made

the little halting speech, prepared beforehand, which the occasion demanded. There

had been a final call of the entire company and then the orchestra had struck up the

National Anthem.

Julia, pleased, excited and happy, went to her dressing-room (Джулия, довольная,

возбужденная и счастливая пошла в свою грим-уборную). She had never felt

more sure of herself (она никогда не чувствовала себя более уверенной; sure —

уверенный, твердый, убедившийся). She had never acted with greater brilliance

(она никогда не играла с большим блеском), variety and resource

(разнообразием и изобретательностью; resource — запасы, ресурсы,

средство, способ). The play ended with a long tirade (спектакль заканчивался

длинной тирадой) in which Julia, as the retired harlot (в которой Джулия, как

удалившаяся от дел проститутка), castigated the flippancy, the uselessness, the

immorality of the idle set (бичевала легкомыслие, бесполезность и

безнравственность той беззаботной группы людей) into which her marriage

had brought her (в которую ее привел ее брак). It was two pages long (она

/тирада/ была длиной в две страницы), and there was not another actress in

England (и не было другой актрисы в Англии) who could have held the attention

of the audience while she delivered it (которая могла бы удерживать внимание

публики, пока она произносила ее). With her exquisite timing (с ее

изысканным чувством ритма), with the modulation of her beautiful voice (с

модуляцией ее прекрасного голоса), with her command of the gamut of

emotions (с ее способностью контролировать всю гамму чувств; command —

приказ, команда, господство; gamut — диапазон, полнота), she had succeeded

by a miracle of technique (она преуспела с помощью чуда ее технического

мастерства) in making it a thrilling, almost spectacular climax to the play (в

превращении этой /тирады/ в захватывающую, глубоко впечатляющую

кульминацию спектакля). A violent action could not have been more exciting

(неистовая сюжетная линия не могла бы быть более волнующей; action —

действие, поступок; развертывание событий в романе, пьесе и т.п.) nor an

unexpected denouement more surprising (так же как и неожиданная развязка /не

могла бы быть/ более поразительной).

resource [ |

] tirade [t(a)I'reId] flippancy ['flIpqnsI]

climax ['klaImqks] denouement [deI'nu:mQ:N]

Julia, pleased, excited and happy, went to her dressing-room. She had never felt

more sure of herself. She had never acted with greater brilliance, variety and

resource. The play ended with a long tirade in which Julia, as the retired harlot,

castigated the flippancy, the uselessness, the immorality of the idle set into which

her marriage had brought her. It was two pages long, and there was not another

actress in England who could have held the attention of the audience while she

delivered it. With her exquisite timing, with the modulation of her beautiful voice,

with her command of the gamut of emotions, she had succeeded by a miracle of

technique in making it a thrilling, almost spectacular climax to the play. A violent

action could not have been more exciting nor an unexpected denouement more

surprising.

The whole cast had been excellent with the exception of Avice Crichton (весь

состав актеров был великолепен, с одним исключением — Эвис Крайтон).

Julia hummed in an undertone as she went into her dressing-room (Джулия

напевала /что-то/ вполголоса, пока она шла в свою грим-уборную).

Michael followed her in almost at once (Майкл вошел почти что сразу вслед за

ней; to follow — следовать, сопровождать).

"It looks like a winner all right (похоже, что спектакль то, что надо: «высший

класс», несомненно; winner — победитель, первый призер)." He threw his arms

round her and kissed her (он обвил ее руками и поцеловал ее; to throw (threw,

thrown) — бросать, кидать). "By God, what a performance you gave (ей-богу,

как ты играла: «какое представление ты дала»)."

"You weren't so bad yourself, dear (ты и сам-то был не плох, дорогой)."

"That's the sort of part I can play on my head (такие роли: «этот сорт ролей» я

могу играть с закрытыми глазами; to do smth. on one's own head — сделать

что-либо с легкостью, без труда)," he answered carelessly, modest as usual

about his own acting (ответил он беспечно, скромно /оценивая/, как обычно,

свою собственную игру).

"Did you hear them during your long speech (ты слышала их во время твоей

долгой речи)? That ought to knock the critics (это должно сразить критиков; to

knock — стучать, бить, сбивать)."

"Oh, you know what they are (о, ты же знаешь, какие они). They'll give all their

attention to the blasted play (они уделят все свое внимание этой чертовой

пьесе) and then three lines at the end to me (и затем, три строчки в конце —

мне)."

"You're the greatest actress in the world, darling (ты величайшая актриса в мире,

дорогая), but by God, you're a bitch (но, Бог ты мой, ну ты и сука)."

undertone ['AndqtqVn] critic ['krItIk] blasted ['blQ:stId]

The whole cast had been excellent with the exception of Avice Crichton. Julia

hummed in an undertone as she went into her dressing-room.

Michael followed her in almost at once. "It looks like a winner all right." He threw

his arms round her and kissed her. "By God, what a performance you gave."

"You weren't so bad yourself, dear."

"That's the sort of part I can play on my head," he answered carelessly, modest as

usual about his own acting. "Did you hear them during your long speech? That

ought to knock the critics."

"Oh, you know what they are. They'll give all their attention to the blasted play and

then three lines at the end to me."

"You're the greatest actress in the world, darling, but by God, you're a bitch."

Julia opened her eyes very wide (Джулия распахнула: «открыла» /свои/ глаза

очень широко) in an expression of the most naive surprise (с выражением

самого наивного удивления).

"Michael, what do you mean (Майкл, что ты имеешь в виду)?"

"Don't look so innocent (не изображай невинность: «не выгляди такой

невинной»; to look — смотреть, глядеть, иметь вид). You know perfectly well

(ты знаешь очень хорошо). Do you think you can cod an old trooper like me

(неужели ты думаешь, что ты можешь одурачить такого старого вояку, как я;

trooper — танкист, кавалерист, солдат-десантник)?"

He was looking at her with twinkling eyes (он смотрел на нее /со/ сверкающими

глазами), and it was very difficult for her not to burst out laughing (и ей было

очень трудно не расхохотаться).

"I am as innocent as a babe unborn (я также невинна, как сущий младенец:

«еще не рожденный младенец»)."

"Come off it (да брось). If anyone ever deliberately killed a performance you

killed Avice's (если кто-нибудь когда-нибудь намеренно погубил чье-либо

выступление, как ты погубила /выступление/ Эвис; to kill — убить, погубить;

провалить, помешать успеху). I couldn't be angry with you (я не могу

сердиться на тебя), it was so beautifully done (это было так красиво сделано)."

naive [nQ:'i:v] innocent ['Inqs(q)nt] unborn ["An'bO:n]

Julia opened her eyes very wide in an expression of the most naive surprise.

"Michael, what do you mean?"

"Don't look so innocent. You know perfectly well. Do you think you can cod an

old trooper like me?"

He was looking at her with twinkling eyes, and it was very difficult for her not to

burst out laughing. "I am as innocent as a babe unborn."

"Come off it. If anyone ever deliberately killed a performance you killed Avice's. I

couldn't be angry with you, it was so beautifully done."

Now Julia simply could not conceal the little smile that curled her lips (теперь

Джулия просто не смогла скрыть легкой улыбки, что скривила ее губы).

Praise is always grateful to the artist (похвала всегда приятна артисту). Avice's

one big scene was in the second act (самая большая сцена Эвис была во втором

акте). It was with Julia (она /сцена/ была вместе с Джулией), and Michael had

rehearsed it so as to give it all to the girl (и Майкл репетировал ее так, что бы

отдать ее /сцену/ полностью девушке). This was indeed what the play demanded

(это было как раз то, что требовалось по пьесе) and Julia, as always, had in

rehearsals accepted his direction (и Джулия, как всегда, на репетициях

принимала /все/ его указания). To bring out the colour of her blue eyes (чтобы

подчеркнуть цвет ее голубых глаз; to bring out — зд. выявлять,

обнаруживать) and to emphasize her fair hair (и акцентировать:

«подчеркнуть» ее белокурые волосы) they had dressed Avice in pale blue (они

одели Эвис в бледно голубое /платье/). To contrast with this Julia had chosen a

dress of an agreeable yellow (для контраста /с этим/ Джулия выбрала платье

подходящего желтого /цвета/).

praise [preIz] emphasize ['emfqsaIz] agreeable [q'gri:qb(q)l]

Now Julia simply could not conceal the little smile that curled her lips. Praise is

always grateful to the artist. Avice's one big scene was in the second act. It was

with Julia, and Michael had rehearsed it so as to give it all to the girl. This was

indeed what the play demanded and Julia, as always, had in rehearsals accepted his

direction. To bring out the colour of her blue eyes and to emphasize her fair hair

they had dressed Avice in pale blue. To contrast with this Julia had chosen a dress

of an agreeable yellow.

This she had worn at the dress rehearsal (именно в этом платье она была: «это

платье она носила» на генеральной репетиции). But she had ordered another

dress at the same time (но она заказала другое платье, в то же самое время), of

sparkling silver (сверкающего серебряного цвета), and to the surprise of Michael

(и к удивлению Майкла) and the consternation of Avice (и к ужасу Эвис) it was

in this that she made her entrance in the second act (именно в этом /платье/ она

появилась: «осуществила свой выход» во втором акте). Its brilliance (его

блеск), the way it took the light (то, как свет играл на нем: «то, как оно

светилось»), attracted the attention of the audience (привлекло внимание

публики). Avice's blue looked drab by comparison (голубое платье Эвис

выглядело грязно-серым по сравнению /с платьем Джулии/). When they

reached the important scene they were to have together (когда они дошли до

важной сцены, которую они играли вместе: «которая у них была вместе»)

Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat (Джулия извлекла,

как фокусник извлекает кролика из шляпы; to produce — предъявлять,

создавать, производить), a large handkerchief of scarlet chiffon (большой

/носовой/ платок из алого шифона) and with this she played (и с ним она

играла). She waved it (она помахивала им), she spread it out as though to look at

it (она расправляла его, как будто бы для того, чтобы взглянуть на него), she

screwed it up (она скручивала его), she wiped her brow with it (она

прикладывала его ко лбу: «вытирала свой лоб»; brow — бровь; лоб, чело), she

delicately blew her nose (она деликатно сморкалась; to blow (blew, blown) —

дуть, развевать, продувать, прочищать).

sparkling ['spQ:klIN] consternation ["kOnstq'neIS(q)n]

comparison [kqm'pxrIs(q)n] conjurer ['kAndZqrq]

This she had worn at the dress rehearsal. But she had ordered another dress at the

same time, of sparkling silver, and to the surprise of Michael and the consternation

of Avice it was in this that she made her entrance in the second act. Its brilliance,

the way it took the light, attracted the attention of the audience. Avice's blue

looked drab by comparison. When they reached the important scene they were to

have together Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat, a large

handkerchief of scarlet chiffon and with this she played. She waved it, she spread it

out as though to look at it, she screwed it up, she wiped her brow with it, she

delicately blew her nose.

The audience fascinated (плененная публика) could not take their eyes away from

the red rag (не могла отвести глаз от красного лоскута; rag — тряпка, отрез

ткани). And she moved up stage so (и она ушла в глубину сцены; to move up —

пододвинуться, продвинуться) that Avice to speak to her (так, что Эвис, чтобы

говорить с ней) had to turn her back on the audience (была вынуждена

повернуться спиной к публике), and when they were sitting on a sofa together

(и, когда они сидели на диване вместе) she took her hand (она взяла ее за

руку), in an impulsive way that seemed to the public exquisitely natural (так

импульсивно, что показалось публике изысканно естественным), and sitting

well back herself (и, сама сидя откинувшись назад) forced Avice to turn her

profile to the house (вынудила Эвис повернуться профилем ко зрителям). Julia

had noticed early in rehearsals (Джулия заметила еще раньше, на репетициях)

that in profile Avice had a sheep-like look (что в профиль Эвис напоминает

овцу).

fascinate ['fxsIneIt] impulsive [Im'pAlsIv] exquisite [Ik'skwIzIt]

The audience fascinated could not take their eyes away from the red rag. And she

moved up stage so that Avice to speak to her had to turn her back on the audience,

and when they were sitting on a sofa together she took her hand, in an impulsive

way that seemed to the public exquisitely natural, and sitting well back herself

forced Avice to turn her profile to the house. Julia had noticed early in rehearsals

that in profile Avice had a sheep-like look.

The author had given Avice lines to say (автор дал /героине/ Эвис такие строки

/для произнесения/) that had so much amused the cast at the first rehearsal

(которые настолько сильно развеселили актерский состав на первых

репетициях) that they had all burst out laughing (что они все разражались

смехом). Before the audience had quite realized how funny they were (до того,

как публика вполне осознала, насколько забавны они были) Julia had cut in

with her reply (Джулия встряла со своим ответом; to cut in — вмешиваться в

разговор, прерывать, to cut — резать, разрезать), and the audience anxious to

hear it suppressed their laughter (и публика, страстно желая услышать ее ответ,

подавила /свой/ смех). The scene which was devised to be extremely amusing

(сцена, рассчитанная быть крайне смешной; to devise — придумывать,

изобретать) took on a sardonic colour (приобрела сардонический оттенок:

«цвет»), and the character Avice played acquired a certain odiousness (и героиня,

которую играла Эвис, приобрела определенную одиозность; odious —

гнусный, мерзкий, ненавистный). Avice in her inexperience, not getting the

laughs she had expected, was rattled (Эвис, в своей неопытности, не услышав

ожидаемого смеха: «не получив того смеха, который она ожидала»,

смутилась); her voice grew hard and her gestures awkward (ее голос стал

напряженным, а жесты неуклюжими).

suppress [sq'pres] sardonic [sQ:'dOnIk] odious ['qVdIqs]

The author had given Avice lines to say that had so much amused the cast at the

first rehearsal that they had all burst out laughing. Before the audience had quite

realized how funny they were Julia had cut in with her reply, and the audience

anxious to hear it suppressed their laughter. The scene which was devised to be

extremely amusing took on a sardonic colour, and the character Avice played

acquired a certain odiousness. Avice in her inexperience, not getting the laughs she

had expected, was rattled; her voice grew hard and her gestures awkward.

Julia took the scene away from her (Джулия отобрала сцену у нее) and played it

with miraculous virtuosity (и сыграла ее с удивительной виртуозностью). But

her final stroke was accidental (но ее окончательный удар был неожиданным:

«случайным»). Avice had a long speech to deliver (Эвис должна была

произнести длинную речь), and Julia nervously screwed her red handkerchief

into a ball (и Джулия нервно скомкала свой красный платок в шар); the action

almost automatically suggested an expression (это самое действие почти что

автоматически подсказало ей выражение /лица/); she looked at Avice with

troubled eyes (она смотрела на Эвис беспокойными глазами) and two heavy

tears rolled down her cheeks (и две тяжелые слезы скатились /вниз/ по ее

щекам). You felt the shame with which the girl's flippancy affected her (каждый

чувствовал ее стыд, который вызвало легкомыслие девушки; to affect —

воздействовать, волновать, вредить), and you saw her pain (и каждый видел

ее боль) because her poor little ideals of uprightness (из-за того, что ее скромные

идеалы справедливости), her hankering for goodness (ее страстное желание

доброты), were so brutally mocked (были так жестоко осмеяны). The episode

lasted no more than a minute (этот эпизод длился не более чем минуту), but in

that minute (но в эту самую минуту), by those tears and by the anguish of her

look (этими слезами и этими муками в ее взоре), Julia laid bare the sordid

misery of the woman's life (Джулия обнажила отвратительные/жалкие

страдания женской доли: «жизни женщины»; to lay bare — раскрывать,

разоблачать, bare — голый, разоблаченный, неприкрашенный). That was the

end of Avice (это было концом Эвис).

virtuosity ["vq:tSV'OsItI] accidental ["xksI'dentl] handkerchief ['hxNkqtSIf]

Julia took the scene away from her and played it with miraculous virtuosity. But

her final stroke was accidental. Avice had a long speech to deliver, and Julia

nervously screwed her red handkerchief into a ball; the action almost automatically

suggested an expression; she looked at Avice with troubled eyes and two heavy

tears rolled down her cheeks. You felt the shame with which the girl's flippancy

affected her, and you saw her pain because her poor little ideals of uprightness, her

hankering for goodness, were so brutally mocked. The episode lasted no more than

a minute, but in that minute, by those tears and by the anguish of her look, Julia

laid bare the sordid misery of the woman's life. That was the end of Avice.

"And I was such a damned fool (и я был таким чертовым дураком), I thought of

giving her a contract (я еще думал о том, чтобы дать ей контракт)," said

Michael.

"Why don't you (почему же тебе /не дать его сейчас/)?"

"When you've got your knife into her (после того: «когда» как ты вонзила в нее

нож)? Not on your life (ни в коем случае). You're a naughty little thing to be so

jealous (ты, гадкая малышка, /разве можно/ быть такой ревнивой). You don't

really think she means anything to me, do you (ты же не думаешь, что она что-

то для меня значит, так)? You ought to know by now (тебе бы уже пора знать:

«тебе следует знать к этому моменту») that you're the only woman in the world

for me (что ты единственная женщина в мире для меня)."

Michael thought that Julia had played this trick (Майкл думал, что Джулия