Chapters 3-6

1. Explain in English or give definitions of and find contextual synonyms for the following words and phrases:

Asset - a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality (полезное качество)

It was the happy choice one would have expected him to make, for in that part his great beauty was an asset and his lack of warmth no disadvantage.

And the advantage of that would be that one would have had time to read plays.

She found his thrift rather an engaging trait.

a sumptuous supper - splendid and expensive-looking evening meal, typically a light or informal one (роскошный обед)

Her classic features and her size made her at first meeting somewhat imposing, but Julia quickly discovered that she was very shy.

Her movements were stiff and awkward. She was dressed fussily, with a sort of old-fashioned richness which did not suit her.

extravagance - lack of restraint in spending money or use of resources (транжира)

Of course America's expensive, but I ought to be able to live on fifty dollars a week at the outside, they say the Americans are awfully hospitable and I shall get a lot of free meals.

thrift - the quality of using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully (бережливость)

They heard one another their parts and after rehearsals lunched, very modestly, together so that they might talk of them.

He was not exactly mean, but he was not generous.

Julia soon discovered that he did not much like spending money, and when they ate a meal together.

to remonstrate - make a forcefully reproachful protest (возражать)

She began to fear that they knew one another too well for it to seem possible that their relations should change, and she reproached herself bitterly because she had not rushed to a climax when first they came in contact with one another.

Julia, who was entirely without self-consciousness, found the elder woman's deprecating attitude rather touching.

equanimity - mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, esp. in a difficult situation (хладнокровие)

"I shouldn't have thought it very hard to guess that," said Julia dryly

at a loose end – having free time and nothing to do (болтаться без дела)

When some member of the company, momentarily hard up, tried to borrow from him it was in vain.

to jeopardize - put (someone or something) into a situation in which there is a danger of loss, harm, or failure (подвергать опасности)

It was bound to lead to trouble.

Once or twice at restaurants she thought he undertipped the waiter, but he paid no attention to her when she ventured to remonstrate.

alacrity - brisk and cheerful readiness (готовность)

Julia sat in a great leather armchair willing with all her might the American manager to offer a part that Michael would refuse or a salary that he felt it would be beneath his dignity to accept.

The thought of refusing had never even occurred to him.

susceptible to - likely or liable to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing (восприимчивый)

They talked it over at luncheon. Julia did most of the talking while he listened to her with absorbed interest.

"Of course if one did that, one ought to make a point of acting together so that the public got accustomed to seeing the two names on the same bill."

Michael watched the affecting scene with sympathy.

obsequious - obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree (послушный)

Although she knew he took these attentions so lightly she could not help feeling angry and jealous.

a retainer - a fee paid in advance to someone, esp. an attorney, in order to secure or keep their services when required (аванс)

They discussed how much was the least they could start on.

Mrs. Gosselyn told her about India, how strange it was to have all those coloured servants, but how nice the society was, only army people and Indian civilians, but still it wasn't like home, and how glad she was to get back to England.