Негосударственное образовательное учреждение 7 страница

Now, Andrew led such a luxurious life that you might have thought he was the Shah of Persia in disguise. He slept on a silk pillow in Miss Lark’s room; he went by car to the Hairdresser’s twice a week to be shampooed; he had cream for every meal and sometimes oysters, and he possessed four overcoats with checks and stripes in different colours. Andrew’s ordinary days were filled with the kind of things most people have only on birthdays. And when Andrew himself had a birthday he had two candles on his cake for every year, instead of only one.

The effect of all this was (эффект от всего этого был /таков/) to make Andrew very much disliked in the neighbourhood (что Эндрю не взлюбила вся округа: «сделать Эндрю очень сильно нелюбимым по соседству»). People used to laugh heartily (люди обычно смеялись от всего сердца; used to — имели привычку /делать что-либо/) when they saw Andrew sitting up in the back seat of Miss Lark’s car on the way to the Hairdresser’s (когда они видели Эндрю, сидящего на заднем сидении машины мисс Ларк на пути к парикмахеру), with the fur rug over his knees and his best coat on (с меховым ковриком на его лапках: «коленях» и его лучшем пальто, надетым /на нем/). And on the day when Miss Lark bought him two pairs of small leather boots (а в день, когда мисс Ларк купила ему две пары маленьких кожаных ботинок) so that he could go out in the Park wet or fine (за тем, чтобы он мог выходить в парк, /когда/ сыро или хорошо = когда хорошая погода), everybody in the Lane came down to their front gates (все на улице подошли к их парадным: «передним» воротам) to watch him go by and to smile secretly behind their hands (посмотреть на него, проходящего = как он проходит, и улыбнуться тайно за своими ладонями /скрыв улыбку ладонью/).

saw [sO:] bought [bO:t] leather ['leDq]

The effect of all this was to make Andrew very much disliked in the neighbourhood. People used to laugh heartily when they saw Andrew sitting up in the back seat of Miss Lark’s car on the way to the Hairdresser’s, with the fur rug over his knees and his best coat on. And on the day when Miss Lark bought him two pairs of small leather boots so that he could go out in the Park wet or fine, everybody in the Lane came down to their front gates to watch him go by and to smile secretly behind their hands.

“Pooh (уф/тьфу — междометие, выражающее нетерпение, раздражение или презрение)!” said Michael, as they were watching Andrew one day through the fence (когда он смотрели за Эндрю однажды через забор) that separated Number Seventeen from Next Door (который отделял дом номер семнадцать от соседского дома). “Pooh, he’s a ninkypoop (тьфу, он — дурак)!”

“How do you know (откуда: «как» ты знаешь)?” asked Jane, very interested (спросила Джейн, очень заинтересованная = любопытствующая).

“I know (я знаю) because I heard Daddy call him one this morning (потому что я слышал, как папа назвал его так этим утром)!” said Michael, and he laughed at Andrew very rudely (и он засмеялся над Эндрю очень грубо).

“He is not a nincompoop (он не дурак/простофиля),” said Mary Poppins. “And that is that (так-то: «то есть то»).”

And Mary Poppins was right (и Мэри Поппинс была права). Andrew wasn’t a nincompoop (Эндрю не был дураком), as you will very soon see (как вы очень скоро увидите).

You must not think (вы не должны думать) he did not respect Miss Lark (/что/ он не уважал мисс Ларк). He did (он уважал). He was even fond of her in a mild sort of way (он даже любил ее слегка: «мягким образом»; fond — испытывающий нежные чувства /к кому-либо/; mild — мягкий, спокойный /о взгляде, речи и т. п./; умеренный). He couldn’t help having a kindly feeling for somebody (он не мог не иметь добрых чувств к кому-то) who had been so good to him ever since he was a puppy (кто был так добр к нему всегда с тех пор = с тех самых пор, как он был щенком), even if she did kiss him rather too often (даже если она действительно целовала его слишком часто). But there was no doubt about it (но не было сомненья в том) that the life Andrew led bored him to distraction (что жизнь, которую вел Эндрю, навевала на него скуку до отчаяния; distraction — отвлечение внимания; отчаяние, доводящие до безумия; to bore — докучать, донимать, надоедать). He would have given half his fortune (он отдал бы половину своего состояния/богатства), if he had one (если имел его), for a nice piece of raw, red meat (за хороший кусок сырого, красного мяса), instead of the usual breast of chicken or scrambled eggs with asparagus (вместо обычной грудки цыпленка или взбитых яиц со спаржей).

nincompoop ['nInkqmpu:p] doubt [daut] fortune ['fO:t∫(q)n]

“Pooh!” said Michael, as they were watching Andrew one day through the fence that separated Number Seventeen from Next Door. “Pooh, he’s a ninkypoop!”

“How do you know?” asked Jane, very interested.

“I know because I heard Daddy call him one this morning!” said Michael, and he laughed at Andrew very rudely.

“He is not a nincompoop,” said Mary Poppins. “And that is that.”

And Mary Poppins was right. Andrew wasn’t a nincompoop, as you will very soon see.

You must not think he did not respect Miss Lark. He did. He was even fond of her in a mild sort of way. He couldn’t help having a kindly feeling for somebody who had been so good to him ever since he was a puppy, even if she did kiss him rather too often. But there was no doubt about it that the life Andrew led bored him to distraction. He would have given half his fortune, if he had one, for a nice piece of raw, red meat, instead of the usual breast of chicken or scrambled eggs with asparagus.

For in his secret, innermost heart (так как в его тайном, сокровенном сердце), Andrew longed to be a common dog (Эндрю страстно желал быть обыкновенной/простой собакой). He never passed his pedigree (он никогда не проходил мимо своей родословной) (which hung on the wall in Miss Lark’s drawing room (которая висела на стене в гостиной мисс Ларк)) without a shudder of shame (без дрожания /от/ стыда, без дрожи стыда). And many a time he wished (и много раз он желал) he’d never had a father (чтобы он никогда /не/ имел отца), nor a grandfather (ни деда), nor a great-grandfather (ни прадеда), if Miss Lark was going to make such a fuss of it (если мисс Ларк намеревалась поднять: «сделать» такой шум из-за этого).

It was this desire of his to be a common dog (это было его желание быть обыкновенной собакой) that made Andrew choose common dogs for his friends (что заставило Эндрю выбрать обычных собак в свои друзья). And whenever he got the chance (и всякий раз, когда он получал шанс), he would run down to the front gate (он подбегал к парадным воротам) and sit there watching for them (и сидел здесь, смотря на них), so that he could exchange a few common remarks (таким образом, чтобы он мог обмениваться несколькими обычными замечаниями). But Miss Lark (но мисс Ларк), when she discovered him (когда она обнаруживала его), would be sure to call out (наверняка кричала: «была уверена громко крикнуть»):

“Andrew, Andrew, come in, my darling (Эндрю, Эндрю, заходи, мой дорогой)! Come away from those dreadful street arabs (уходи от тех ужасных беспризорников)!”

And of course Andrew would have to come in (и конечно, Эндрю приходилось заходить), or Miss Lark would shame him by coming out and bringing him in (или мисс Ларк опозорила бы его, выйдя и внеся его в дом). And Andrew would blush and hurry up the steps (и Эндрю краснел и спешил по ступенькам) so that his friends should not hear her calling him her Precious (так что его друзья не слышали ее, зовущую его ‘ее драгоценным’), her Joy (‘ее радостью’), her Little Lump of Sugar (‘ее маленьким кусочком сахара’).

innermost ['inqmqust] Darling ['dQ:liŋ] Precious ['pre∫qs]

For in his secret, innermost heart, Andrew longed to be a common dog. He never passed his pedigree (which hung on the wall in Miss Lark’s drawing room) without a shudder of shame. And many a time he wished he’d never had a father, nor a grandfather, nor a great-grandfather, if Miss Lark was going to make such a fuss of it.

It was this desire of his to be a common dog that made Andrew choose common dogs for his friends. And whenever he got the chance, he would run down to the front gate and sit there watching for them, so that he could exchange a few common remarks. But Miss Lark, when she discovered him, would be sure to call out:

“Andrew, Andrew, come in, my darling! Come away from those dreadful street arabs!”

And of course Andrew would have to come in, or Miss Lark would shame him by coming out and bringing him in. And Andrew would blush and hurry up the steps so that his friends should not hear her calling him her Precious, her Joy, her Little Lump of Sugar.

Andrew’s most special friend was more than common (самый особенный друг Эндрю был более чем обычным), he was a Byword (он был притчей во языцех; byword — поговорка; любимое, часто повторяемое словечко; притча во языцех; олицетворение; символ). He was half an Airedale and half a Retriever (он был наполовину Эрдельтерьер и наполовину охотничья/ретривер; to retrieve — находить и приносить охотнику дичь /о собаке/) and the worst half of both (и худшими половинами их обоих). Whenever there was a fight in the road (когда бы ни была драка на дороге) he would be sure to be in the thick of it (он был наверняка в гуще ее); he was always getting into trouble with the Postman or the Policeman (он всегда попадал: «был попадающий» в неприятности с почтальоном и полицейским), and there was nothing he loved better (и не было ничего, что он любил больше: «лучше») than sniffing about in drains or garbage tins (чем рысканье: «обнюхивание вокруг» в канализациях и мусорных баках) He was, in fact, the talk of the whole street (он был, на деле, разговором всей улицы = о нем постоянно говорили), and more than one person had been heard to say thankfully (и более чем один человек был слышен говорящим благодарственно) that they were glad (что они рады) he was not their dog (что он был не их собакой).

But Andrew loved him (но Эндрю любил его) and was continually on the watch for him (и все время подкарауливал его; to be on the watch for — подкарауливать, поджидать /кого-либо/). Sometimes they had only time to exchange a sniff in the Park (иногда они имели только время обменяться обнюхиванием в парке), but on luckier occasions (но в более удачных случаях) — though these were very rare (хотя эти были очень редки) — they would have long talks at the gate (они имели долгие разговоры у ворот). From his friend (от своего друга), Andrew heard all the town gossip (Эндрю слышал все городские сплетни), and you could see by the rude way (и вы могли видеть/понять по грубой манере) in which the other dog laughed as he told it (с которой другая собака смеялась, когда он рассказывал их), that it wasn’t very complimentary (что они не были очень похвальными/лестными).

Then suddenly (затем внезапно), Miss Lark’s voice would be heard calling from a window (голос мисс Ларк был слышен = слышался из окна), and the other dog would get up (и другая собака поднималась), loll out his tongue at Miss Lark (высовывала свой язык на мисс Ларк), wink at Andrew and wander off (подмигивала Эндрю и уходила прочь), waving his hindquarters (махая/виляя своей задней частью) as he went just to show (когда он шел = идя, чтобы просто показать) that he didn’t care (что ему все равно: «он не заботится»).

Airedale ['εqdeIl] occasions [q'keIZ(q)n] hindquarters ['haIndkwO:tqz]

Andrew’s most special friend was more than common, he was a Byword. He was half an Airedale and half a Retriever and the worst half of both. Whenever there was a fight in the road he would be sure to be in the thick of it; he was always getting into trouble with the Postman or the Policeman, and there was nothing he loved better than sniffing about in drains or garbage tins. He was, in fact, the talk of the whole street, and more than one person had been heard to say thankfully that they were glad he was not their dog.

But Andrew loved him and was continually on the watch for him. Sometimes they had only time to exchange a sniff in the Park, but on luckier occasions — though these were very rare — they would have long talks at the gate. From his friend, Andrew heard all the town gossip, and you could see by the rude way in which the other dog laughed as he told it, that it wasn’t very complimentary.

Then suddenly, Miss Lark’s voice would be heard calling from a window, and the other dog would get up, loll out his tongue at Miss Lark, wink at Andrew and wander off, waving his hindquarters as he went just to show that he didn’t care.

Andrew, of course, was never allowed outside the gate (Эндрю, конечно, никогда не позволялось /выходить/ наружу за пределы ворот) unless he went with Miss Lark for a walk in the Park (разве что он ходил с мисс Ларк на прогулку в парк), or with one of the maids to have his toes manicured (или с одной из служанок, чтобы сделать маникюр своим ногтям: «иметь свои ногти маникюренными»).

Imagine, then, the surprise of Jane and Michael (представьте тогда удивление Джейн и Майкла) when they saw Andrew (когда они увидели Эндрю), all alone (совсем одного), careering past them through the Park (несушегося мимо них через парк), with his ears back and his tail up (со своими ушами назад и хвостом вверх) as though he were on the track of a tiger (как будто он напал на след тигра; to be on the track — напасть на след).

Mary Poppins pulled the perambulator up with a jerk (Мэри Поппинс потянула коляску вверх рывком), in case Andrew, in his wild flight (на случай, /если/ Эндрю, в своем диком полете), should upset it and the Twins (перевернет ее и близнецов). And Jane and Michael screamed at him as he passed (и Джейн и Майкл кричали на него, когда он пробегал).

“Hi, Andrew (привет, Эндрю)! Where’s your overcoat (где твое пальто)?” cried Michael (закричал Майкл), trying to make a high, windy voice like Miss Lark’s (пытаясь делать высокий, испуганный/паникующий голос, как у мисс Ларк).

“Andrew, you naughty little boy (Эндрю, ты, озорной маленький мальчик)!‘ said Jane, and her voice (и ее голос), because she was a girl (потому что она была девочкой), was much more like Miss Lark’s (был намного больше похож на голос мисс Ларк).

But Andrew just looked at them both very haughtily (но Эндрю только посмотрел на них обоих очень надменно) and barked sharply in the direction of Mary Poppins (и полаял прямо в направлении Мэри Поппинс).

“Yay-yap (тяф-тяф)!” said Andrew several times very quickly (сказал Эндрю несколько раз очень быстро).

“Let me see (дай подумать: «позволь мне подумать»). I think (я думаю) it’s the first on your right (это первый направо) and second house on the left-hand side (и второй дом слева: «на стороне левой руки»),” said Mary Poppins.

“Yap (тяф)?” said Andrew.

“No — no garden (нет — не сад). Only a back yard (только задний двор). Gate’s usually open (ворота есть обычно открытые).”

Andrew barked again (Эндрю гавкнул снова).

“I’m not sure (я не уверена),” said Mary Poppins. “But I should think so (но я бы так полагала/думала = но, пожалуй, так). Generally goes home at tea time (как правило, идет домой ко времени чая).”

manicured ['mænIkjuqd] perambulator ['præmbjuleItq] first [fq:st]

Andrew, of course, was never allowed outside the gate unless he went with Miss Lark for a walk in the Park, or with one of the maids to have his toes manicured.

Imagine, then, the surprise of Jane and Michael when they saw Andrew, all alone, careering past them through the Park, with his ears back and his tail up as though he were on the track of a tiger.

Mary Poppins pulled the perambulator up with a jerk, in case Andrew, in his wild flight, should upset it and the Twins. And Jane and Michael screamed at him as he passed.

“Hi, Andrew! Where’s your overcoat?” cried Michael, trying to make a high, windy voice like Miss Lark’s.

“Andrew, you naughty little boy!‘ said Jane, and her voice, because she was a girl, was much more like Miss Lark’s.

But Andrew just looked at them both very haughtily and barked sharply in the direction of Mary Poppins.

“Yay-yap!” said Andrew several times very quickly.

“Let me see. I think it’s the first on your right and second house on the left-hand side,” said Mary Poppins.

“Yap?” said Andrew.

“No — no garden. Only a back yard. Gate’s usually open.”

Andrew barked again.

“I’m not sure,” said Mary Poppins. “But I should think so. Generally goes home at tea time.”

Andrew flung back his head (Эндрю откинул голову назад; to fling) and set off again at a gallop (и бросился бежать снова галопом).

Jane’s eyes and Michael’s were round as saucers with surprise (глаза Джейн и Майкла были круглые, как блюдца, от удивления: «с удивлением»).

“What was he saying (что он говорил)?” they demanded breathlessly (они спросили, затаив дыхание: «бездыханно»; to demand — требовать; спрашивать, задавать вопрос), both together (оба вместе).

“Just passing the time of day (просто гуляет: «проводит время дня»)!” said Mary Poppins, and shut her mouth tightly (и закрыла свой рот плотно) as though she did not intend any more words to escape from it (как будто она не намеревалась дать вырваться: «сбежать» из него еще каким-либо словам). John and Barbara gurgled from their perambulator (Джон и Барбара гукали из своих колясок).

“He wasn’t (он не может)” said Michael.

“He couldn’t have been (он не мог бы)!” said Jane.

“Well, you know best, of course (ну, вы знаете лучше, конечно). As usual (как обычно),” said Mary Poppins haughtily (сказала Мэри Поппинс надменно).

“He must have been asking you (он, должно быть, спросил Вас) where somebody lived (где кто-то живет), I’m sure he must (я уверен, он спросил) — ” Michael began (Майкл начал).

“Well (ну), if you know (если ты знаешь), why bother to ask me (зачем надоедаешь мне вопросами: «беспокоиться, чтобы спросить меня»)?” said Mary Poppins sniffing (сказала Мэри Поппинс, фыркая). “I’m no dictionary (я не словарь).”

“Oh, Michael,” said Jane, “she’ll never tell us (она никогда /не/ скажет нам) if you talk like that (если ты будешь разговаривать вот так: «подобно этому»). Mary Poppins, do say (скажите) what Andrew was saying to you (что Эндрю сказал Вам), please (пожалуйста)!”

“Ask him (спроси его). He knows — Mr Know-All (он знает — мистер всезнайка: «знаю все»)!” said Mary Poppins, nodding her head scornfully at Michael (кивая своей головой насмешливо на Майкла).

“Oh no, I don’t (о, нет, я не знаю). I promise I don’t (я обещаю = честное слово, я не знаю), Mary Poppins. Do tell (правда, скажите).”

gurgled ['gq:glt] dictionary ['dIk∫(q)nrI] Know-All ['nqu'O:l]

Andrew flung back his head and set off again at a gallop.

Jane’s eyes and Michael’s were round as saucers with surprise.

“What was he saying?” they demanded breathlessly, both together.

“Just passing the time of day!” said Mary Poppins, and shut her mouth tightly as though she did not intend any more words to escape from it. John and Barbara gurgled from their perambulator.

“He wasn’t!” said Michael.

“He couldn’t have been!” said Jane.

“Well, you know best, of course. As usual,” said Mary Poppins haughtily.

“He must have been asking you where somebody lived, I’m sure he must — ” Michael began.

“Well, if you know, why bother to ask me?” said Mary Poppins sniffing. “I’m no dictionary.”

“Oh, Michael,” said Jane, “she’ll never tell us if you talk like that. Mary Poppins, do say what Andrew was saying to you, please!”

“Ask him. He knows — Mr Know-All!” said Mary Poppins, nodding her head scornfully at Michael.

“Oh no, I don’t. I promise I don’t, Mary Poppins. Do tell.”

“Half past three (половина четвертого: «половина после трех»). Tea time (время пить чай: «чайное время»),” said Mary Poppins, and she wheeled the perambulator round (и она развернула коляску; wheel — колесо; to wheel — катить, везти, толкать /тачку или любой колесный транспорт/) and shut her mouth tight again (и закрыла свой рот плотно снова) as though it were a trap door (как будто это была дверь капкана/ловушки; trap door — /также/ лазейка, потайная дверь). She did not say another word all the way home (она не сказала ни слова: «какого-либо слова» весь путь домой).

Jane dropped behind with Michael (Джейн отстала позади с Майклом; to drop — капать; падать; отставать).

“It’s your fault (это твоя вина)!” she said. “Now we’ll never know (теперь мы никогда не узнаем).”

“I don’t care (мне все равно: «я не беспокоюсь»)!” said Michael, and he began to push his scooter very quickly (и начал толкать свой самокат очень быстро). “I don’t want to know (я не хочу знать).”

But he did want to know very badly indeed (но он хотел знать очень сильно, на самом-то деле). And as it turned out (и так вышло: «и так, как это вышло»), he and Jane and everybody else knew all about it (он, и Джейн, и все остальные/другие узнали все об этом) before tea time (перед временем чая = до чая).

Just as they were about to cross the road to their own house (как раз, когда они собрались пересечь дорогу к их собственному дому; to be about to do smth. — собираться сделать что-либо), they heard loud cries coming from Next Door (они услышали громкие крики, исходящие от соседей), and there they saw a curious sight (и там они увидели любопытное зрелище). Miss Lark’s two maids were rushing wildly about the garden (две горничные мисс Ларк носились бешено/неистово по саду), looking under bushes and up into the trees (заглядывая под кусты и наверх в деревья) as people do who have lost their most valuable possession (как люди, которые потеряли самую ценную собственность: «владение»). And there was Robertson Ay (и здесь был Робертсон Эй), from Number Seventeen (из дома номер семнадцать), busily wasting his time (усердно/деловито тративший свое время) by poking at the gravel on Miss Lark’s path with a broom (вороша гравий на дорожке мисс Ларк; to poke — тыкать) as though he expected to find the missing treasure under a pebble (как будто он ожидал найти пропавшую драгоценность под галькой/камушками). Miss Lark herself was running about in her garden (сама мисс Ларк бегала по своему саду), waving her arms and calling (взмахивая своими руками и призывая): “Andrew, Andrew (Эндрю, Эндрю)! Oh, he’s lost (о, он потерялся: «есть потерявшийся»; to lose — терять). My darling boy is lost (мой дорогой мальчик потерялся)! We must send for the Police (мы должны послать за полицией). I must see the Prime Minister (я должна встретиться с премьер-министром). Andrew is lost (Эндрю пропал)! Oh dear (о, Господи)! Oh dear (о, Господи)!”

fault [fO:lt] busily ['bIzIlI] treasure ['treZq]

“Half past three. Tea time,” said Mary Poppins, and she wheeled the perambulator round and shut her mouth tight again as though it were a trap door. She did not say another word all the way home.

Jane dropped behind with Michael.

“It’s your fault!” she said. “Now we’ll never know.”

“I don’t care!” said Michael, and he began to push his scooter very quickly. “I don’t want to know.”

But he did want to know very badly indeed. And as it turned out, he and Jane and everybody else knew all about it before tea time.

Just as they were about to cross the road to their own house, they heard loud cries coming from Next Door, and there they saw a curious sight. Miss Lark’s two maids were rushing wildly about the garden, looking under bushes and up into the trees as people do who have lost their most valuable possession. And there was Robertson Ay, from Number Seventeen, busily wasting his time by poking at the gravel on Miss Lark’s path with a broom as though he expected to find the missing treasure under a pebble. Miss Lark herself was running about in her garden, waving her arms and calling: “Andrew, Andrew! Oh, he’s lost. My darling boy is lost! We must send for the Police. I must see the Prime Minister. Andrew is lost! Oh dear! Oh dear!”

“Oh, poor Miss Lark (о, бедная мисс Ларк)!” said Jane, hurrying across the road (спеша через дорогу). She could not help feeling sorry (она не могла не чувствовать жалость) because Miss Lark looked so upset (потому что мисс Ларк выглядела такой расстроенной).

But it was Michael (но это был Майкл) who really comforted Miss Lark (кто действительно утешил мисс Ларк). Just as he was going in at the gate of Number Seventeen (прямо когда он входил в ворота дома номер семнадцать), he looked down the Lane (он посмотрел вниз по улице) and there he saw (и там он увидел) —

“Why, there’s Andrew, Miss Lark (да вон же Эндрю, мисс Ларк). See (видите), down there (вон там) — just turning Admiral Boom’s corner (как раз заворачивающий за угол Адмирала Бума)!”

“Where, where (где, где)? Show me (покажите мне)!” said Miss Lark breathlessly (произнесла мисс Ларк с прервавшимся дыханием), and she peered in the direction (и она вперила взгляд в направлении; to peer — вглядываться, вперять взгляд) in which Michael was pointing (в котором Майкл показывал).

And there (и там), sure enough (несомненно/определенно достаточно = на самом деле), was Andrew (был Эндрю), walking as slowly and as casually (идущий так медленно и как ни в чем не бывало; casually — случайно, по воле случая; без предварительного намерения, мимоходом; case — случай, обстоятельство) as though nothing in the world was the matter (как будто ничто в мире не произошло: «как будто ничто было вопросом/проблемой»); and beside him waltzed a huge dog (а рядом с ним приплясывала: «вальсировала» огромная собака) that seemed to be half an Airedale and half a Retriever (которая, казалось, была наполовину эрдельтерьером, а наполовину охотничьей собакой), and the worst half of both (и худшей половиной их обоих).

“Oh, what a relief (о, какое облегчение)!” said Miss Lark, sighing loudly (вздыхая громко). “What a load off my mind (как гора с плеч: «какой груз из моих мыслей»)!”

casually ['kæzju:qlI] walking ['wO:kIŋ] waltzed [wO:lst]

“Oh, poor Miss Lark!” said Jane, hurrying across the road. She could not help feeling sorry because Miss Lark looked so upset.

But it was Michael who really comforted Miss Lark. Just as he was going in at the gate of Number Seventeen, he looked down the Lane and there he saw —

“Why, there’s Andrew, Miss Lark. See, down there — just turning Admiral Boom’s corner!”

“Where, where? Show me!” said Miss Lark breathlessly, and she peered in the direction in which Michael was pointing.

And there, sure enough, was Andrew, walking as slowly and as casually as though nothing in the world was the matter; and beside him waltzed a huge dog that seemed to be half an Airedale and half a Retriever, and the worst half of both.

“Oh, what a relief!” said Miss Lark, sighing loudly. “What a load off my mind!”

Mary Poppins and the children waited in the Lane outside Miss Lark’s gate (Мэри Поппинс и дети ждали на улице за пределами ворот мисс Ларк). Miss Lark herself and her two maids leant over the fence (мисс Ларк сама и ее две горничные наклонились через забор), Robertson Ay, resting from his labours (Робертсон Эй, отдыхающий от своих трудов), propped himself up with his broom-handle (оперся о: «подпирал себя с помощью» ручку метлы), and all of them watched in silence the return of Andrew (и все они наблюдали в тишине возвращение Эндрю):

He and his friend marched sedately up to the group (он и его друг шествовали степенно по направлению к группе), whisking their tails jauntily (виляя своими хвостами весело/беспечно) and keeping their ears well cocked (и держа свои уши торчком: «хорошо поднятыми»), and you could tell by the look in Andrew’s eye that (и вы могли сказать по взгляду в глазах Эндрю, что), whatever he meant (чтобы он не подразумевал), he meant business (он имел в виду дело = что он был настроен серьезно).

“That dreadful dog (эта отвратительная собака)!” said Miss Lark, looking at Andrew’s companion (смотря на спутника Эндрю). “Shoo (кшш)! Shoo (кшш)! Go home (иди домой)!” she cried (она кричала).

But the dog just sat down on the pavement (но собака только села на тротуар) and scratched his right ear with his left leg (и почесала свое правое ухо левой ногой) and yawned (и зевнула).

“Go away (иди прочь)! Go home (иди домой)! Shoo, I say (кшш, я сказала)!” said Miss Lark, waving her arms angrily at the dog (взмахивая своими руками гневно на собаку).

“And you, Andrew (а ты, Эндрю),” she went on (продолжала она), “come indoors this minute (заходи в дом сию же: «эту» минуту)! Going out like that (выходить вот так) — all alone and without your overcoat (совсем один и без своего пальто). I am very displeased with you (я очень недовольна тобой)!”

Andrew barked lazily (Эндрю гавкнул лениво), but did not move (но не пошевелился/двинулся).