It had been long agreed, with all the delicacy that might be expected from his

good breeding and Julia's good heart, in no definite words, but with guarded

hints and remote allusiveness, that if anything happened to Michael, Lady

Charles should somehow or other be disposed of and they would then marry.

But Michael had perfect health.

On this occasion (в этот раз: «по этому случаю») Julia had much enjoyed

lunching at Hill Street (Джулия просто таки наслаждалась ланчем на Хилл-

стрит). The party had been very grand (прием был просто великолепным). Julia

had never encouraged Charles (Джулия никогда не поощряла Чарльза) to

entertain any of the actors or authors (оказывать гостеприимство актерам или

писателям) he sometimes came across (с которыми он иногда встречался:

«пересекался»), and she was the only person there (и она была единственной

среди присутствующих: «единственным человеком там») who had ever had to

earn a living (которой приходилось зарабатывать себе на жизнь; to earn one's

living — зарабатывать на жизнь). She had sat between an old, fat, bald and

loquacious Cabinet Minister (она сидела между старым, толстым, лысым,

говорливым кабинетным министром) who took a great deal of trouble to

entertain her (который изо всех сил старался развлечь ее; to take trouble —

стараться, брать на себя труд, заботу), and a young Duke of Westreys (и

молодым герцогом Уэстри) who looked like a stable-boy (который был похож

на помощника конюха; stable — конюшня, хлев) and who flattered himself (и

который льстил себе тем) that he knew French slang better than a Frenchman

(что он знал французский сленг лучше, чем любой француз). When he

discovered that Julia spoke French (когда он узнал, что Джулия говорит на

французском) he insisted on conversing with her in that language (он настоял на

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том, чтобы разговаривать с ней на этом языке).

loquacious [lq(V)'kweISqs] stableboy ['steIb(q)lbOI]

On this occasion Julia had much enjoyed lunching at Hill Street. The party

had been very grand. Julia had never encouraged Charles to entertain any of

the actors or authors he sometimes came across, and she was the only person

there who had ever had to earn a living. She had sat between an old, fat, bald

and loquacious Cabinet Minister who took a great deal of trouble to entertain

her, and a young Duke of Westreys who looked like a stable-boy and who

flattered himself that he knew French slang better than a Frenchman. When

he discovered that Julia spoke French he insisted on conversing with her in

that language.

After luncheon (после ланча) she was persuaded to recite a tirade from Phиdre (ее

уговорили продекламировать тираду /законченный стихотворный отрывок/

из «Федры») as it was done at the Comedie Franзaise (как это было бы сделано

в «Комеди Франсез») and the same tirade (и тот же самый отрывок), as an

English student, at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art would deliver it (как

английский студент Королевской академии театрального искусства произнес

бы его). She made the company laugh very much (она здорово рассмешила

собравшихся: «заставила компанию много смеяться») and came away from the

party (и ушла с приема) flushed with success (опьяненная успехом; to flush —

выходить из берегов, затоплять, переливаться через край). It was a fine

bright day (день был прекрасный и ясный) and she made up her mind (и она

решила) to walk from Hill Street to Stanhope Place (пройтись пешком от Хилл-

стрит до Стэнхоуп-плейс). A good many people recognized her (многие:

«большое количество людей» узнавали ее) as she threaded her way through the

crowd in Oxford Street (пока она пробиралась сквозь толпу на Оксфорд-стрит;

to thread one's way — прокладывать путь), and though she looked straight

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ahead of her (и хотя она смотрела строго перед собой) she was conscious of

their glances (она чувствовала их взгляды; to be conscious of — осознавать,

понимать).

"What a hell of a nuisance it is (как это чертовски неприятно; nuisance —

досада, неприятность, помеха) that one can't go anywhere (что нельзя никуда

пойти) without people staring at one (чтобы люди /на тебя/ не пялились)."

tirade [t(a)I'reId] flush [flAS] thread [Tred]

After luncheon she was persuaded to recite a tirade from Phиdre as it was

done at the Comedie Franзaise and the same tirade as an English student at

the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art would deliver it. She made the company

laugh very much and came away from the party flushed with success. It was a

fine bright day and she made up her mind to walk from Hill Street to

Stanhope Place. A good many people recognized her as she threaded her way

through the crowd in Oxford Street, and though she looked straight ahead of

her she was conscious of their glances.

"What a hell of a nuisance it is that one can't go anywhere without people

staring at one."

She slackened her pace a little (она чуть замедлила шаг). It certainly was a

beautiful day (это определенно был прекрасный день).

She let herself into her house with a latch-key (она вошла в дом: «впустила себя

в дом» /открыв американский замок/ с помощью ключа) and as she got in (и,

как она вошла) heard the telephone ringing (услышала, что звонит телефон).

Without thinking (не задумываясь) she took up the receiver (она подняла

трубку; receiver — получатель; приемник; телефонная трубка).

"Yes?"

She generally disguised her voice (она обычно изменяла свой голос; to disguise

— маскировать, изменять внешность, искажать) when she answered (когда

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она отвечала /по телефону/), but for once forgot to (но /именно/ сейчас забыла

/сделать это/).

"Miss Lambert (мисс Лэмберт)?"

"I don't know if Miss Lambert's in (не знаю, дома ли Мисс Лэмберт). Who is it

please (кто говорит, пожалуйста)?" she asked (спросила она), assuming quickly

a cockney accent (мгновенно используя акцент кокни; to assume —

принимать, притворяться).

The monosyllable had betrayed her (/однако/ то короткое: «односложное»

словечко, выдало ее). A chuckle travelled over the wire (в трубке раздался

смешок: «смешок переместился по проводу»).

"I only wanted to thank you for writing to me (я просто хотел поблагодарить вас

за то, что написали мне). You know you needn't have troubled (знаете, не

стоило брать на себя такой труд). It was so nice of you to ask me to lunch (но

это было так мило с вашей стороны — пригласить меня к ланчу), I thought I'd

like to send you a few flowers (и я подумал, что мне хотелось бы послать вам

цветы)."

slacken ['slxkqn] latchkey ['lxtSki:] cockney ['kOknI]

monosyllable ['mOnq"sIlqb(q)l]

She slackened her pace a little. It certainly was a beautiful day.

She let herself into her house with a latch-key and as she got in heard the

telephone ringing. Without thinking she took up the receiver.

"Yes?"

She generally disguised her voice when she answered, but for once forgot to.

"Miss Lambert?"

"I don't know if Miss Lambert's in. Who is it please?" she asked, assuming

quickly a cockney accent.

The monosyllable had betrayed her. A chuckle travelled over the wire.

"I only wanted to thank you for writing to me. You know you needn't have

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troubled. It was so nice of you to ask me to lunch, I thought I'd like to send

you a few flowers."

The sound of his voice (звук его голоса) and the words told her who it was (и

слова объяснили ей, кто это был). It was the blushing young man (это был тот

самый краснеющий молодой человек) whose name she did not know (чьего

имени она не знала). Even now, though she had looked at his card (даже сейчас,

хотя она глянула раньше на его карточку), she could not remember it (она не

могла вспомнить его /имя/). The only thing that had struck her (единственное,

что на нее произвело впечатление) was that he lived in Tavistock Square (так

это то, что он жил на Тэвисток-сквер).

"It was very sweet of you (это было очень мило с вашей стороны)," she

answered in her own voice (ответила она теперь уже своим голосом).

"I suppose you wouldn't come to tea with me one day (полагаю, вы не

согласитесь прийти и выпить чаю со мной, как-нибудь: «однажды»), would

you (так ведь)?"

The nerve of it (какая наглость; nerve — зд. разг. наглость, нахальство)! She

wouldn't go to tea with a duchess (она не пошла бы пить чай даже с

герцогиней); he was treating her like a chorus girl (он обращался с ней, как с

какой-то хористкой). It was rather funny (это было даже забавным) when you

came to think of it (если подумать хорошенько).

"I don't know why not (не вижу причины отказаться: “не знаю, почему бы и

нет»)."

"Will you really (вы действительно /придете/)?" his voice sounded eager (его

голос звучал с нетерпением). He had a pleasant voice (у него /был/ приятный

голос). "When (когда)?"

blushing ['blASIN] nerve [nq:v] funny ['fAnI]

The sound of his voice and the words told her who it was. It was the blushing

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young man whose name she did not know. Even now, though she had looked

at his card, she could not remember it. The only thing that had struck her was

that he lived in Tavistock Square.

"It was very sweet of you," she answered in her own voice.

"I suppose you wouldn't come to tea with me one day, would you?"

The nerve of it! She wouldn't go to tea with a duchess; he was treating her like

a chorus girl. It was rather funny when you came to think of it.

"I don't know why not."

"Will you really?" his voice sounded eager. He had a pleasant voice.

"When?"

She did not feel at all like going to bed that afternoon (она совершенно не

чувствовала желания отдыхать: «ложиться в постель» в этот день).

"Today (сегодня)."

"O.K. I'll get away from the office (хорошо, я улизну из офиса). Half-past four (в

половине пятого)? 138, Tavistock Square (Тэвисток-сквер, 138)."

It was nice of him (было очень мило с его стороны) to have suggested that

(предложить именно это). He might so easily have mentioned some fashionable

place (он мог совершенно легко упомянуть какое-нибудь модное местечко)

where people would stare at her (где люди бы пялились на нее). It proved (это

доказывало) that he didn't just want to be seen with her (что он не хотел, чтобы

его просто увидели с ней).

away [q'weI] half [hQ:f] fashionable ['fxS(q)nqb(q)l]

She did not feel at all like going to bed that afternoon.

"Today."

"O.K. I'll get away from the office. Half-past four? 138, Tavistock Square."