Maugham_Theatre_M

short a while before (что такой короткий период времени тому назад) she had passed through such a tempest of weeping (она прошла через такие бурные рыдания; tempest — буря, потрясение). They each had a whisky and soda and a cigarette (каждый из них выпил по виски с содовой и /выкурили/ по сигарете) and looked at one another with fond eyes (и смотрели друг на друга влюбленными глазами).

"He's a sweet little thing (он такой милый малыш)," she thought (думала она).

perceptible [pq'septqb(q)l] exhausted [Ig'zO:stId] whisky ['wIskI]

With a scarcely perceptible movement she pressed her body to his and gradually her arms found their way round his neck. She lay in his arms, not exactly inert, but as though all the strength, all the vitality, had gone out of her. In his mouth he tasted the saltness of her tears. At last, exhausted, clinging to him with soft arms she sank back on the sofa. His lips clung to hers.

You would never have thought had you seen her a quarter of an hour later, so quietly gay, flushed a little, that so short a while before she had passed through such a tempest of weeping. They each had a whisky and soda and a cigarette and looked at one another with fond eyes.

"He's a sweet little thing," she thought.

It occurred to her (ей пришло в голову) that she would give him a treat (что она доставит ему удовольствие).

"The Duke and Duchess of Rickaby are coming to the play tonight (герцог и герцогиня Рикби придут сегодня вечером на спектакль) and we're going to have supper at the Savoy (а потом мы пойдем ужинать в «Савой»). I suppose you wouldn't come, would you (я полагаю, что ты не захочешь пойти /с нами/,

или пойдешь)? I want a man badly to make a fourth (мне просто необходим мужчина, который составит мне компанию: «станет четвертым»)."

"If you'd like me to, of course I will (если ты хочешь, чтобы я пошел, я конечно

согласен: «пойду»)."

The heightened colour on his cheeks (проявившийся румянец на его щеках; to heighten — повышать, усиливать, делать цвет более ярким) told her how excited he was (сказал ей, как взволнован он был /возможностью/) to meet such distinguished persons (встретиться с такими знатными персонами). She did not tell him (она не сказала ему) that the Rickabys would go anywhere for a free meal (что супруги Рикби пошли бы куда угодно, за бесплатное угощение; free —

свободный, вольный, открытый, даровой). Tom took back the presents (Том забрал назад все подарки) that he had returned to her (что он до этого вернул ей) rather shyly, but he took them (почти что робко, но он взял их).

heighten [haItn] distinguished [dIs'tINgwISt] anywhere ['enIweq]

It occurred to her that she would give him a treat.

"The Duke and Duchess of Rickaby are coming to the play tonight and we're going to have supper at the Savoy. I suppose you wouldn't come, would you? I want a man badly to make a fourth."

"If you'd like me to, of course I will."

The heightened colour on his cheeks told her how excited he was to meet such distinguished persons. She did not tell him that the Rickabys would go anywhere for a free meal. Tom took back the presents that he had returned to her rather shyly, but he took them.

When he had gone (когда он ушел) she sat down at the dressing-table (она села к туалетному столику) and had a good look at herself (и внимательно себя оглядела).

"How lucky I am (как удачно: «какая я счастливая») that I can cry without my eyelids swelling (что я могу плакать, а мои веки не опухают: «без распухания век»; without — зд. указывает на отсутствие чего-либо)" she said (сказала она). She massaged them a little (она слегка их помассировала). "All the same,

what mugs men are (и все таки, какие же мужчины простофили)."

She was happy (она была счастлива). Everything would be all right now (теперь все будет хорошо). She had got him back (она заполучила его назад). But somewhere, at the back of her mind (но где-то, в глубине души: «сознания, ума») or in the bottom of her heart (или в глубине ее сердца), was a feeling of ever so slight contempt for Tom (/у нее/ было чувство легкого презрения к Тому) because he was such a simple fool (из-за того, что он был таким простым дурачком).

swelling ['swelIN] massage ['mxsQ:Z] bottom ['bOtqm]

When he had gone she sat down at the dressing-table and had a good look at herself.

"How lucky I am that I can cry without my eyelids swelling," she said. She massaged them a little. "All the same, what mugs men are."

She was happy. Everything would be all right now. She had got him back. But somewhere, at the back of her mind or in the bottom of her heart, was a feeling of ever so slight contempt for Tom because he was such a simple fool.

16

THEIR quarrel (их ссора), destroying in some strange way the barrier between them (разрушив неким странным образом барьер между ними), brought them closer together (еще больше сблизил их; to bring (brought) — приносить,

приводить, влечь за собой). Tom offered less resistance (Том сопротивлялся меньше: «оказал меньше сопротивления») than she had expected (чем она ожидала) when she mooted once more the question of the flat (когда она снова

подняла вопрос о квартире; once more — еще раз). It looked as though (было похоже, что: «это выглядело как если бы»), after their reconciliation (после их примирения), having taken back her presents (забрав назад ее подарки) and consented to forget the loan (и согласившись забыть /свой/ долг; loan — заем, ссуда, что-либо данное взаймы), he had put aside his moral scruples (он отбросил: «отложил в сторону» свои /моральные/ угрызения совести). They had a lot of fun furnishing it (они здорово повеселились, пока обставляли ее

/квартиру/). The chauffeur's wife kept it clean for him (жена шофера поддерживала ее в чистоте /для него/) and cooked his breakfast (и готовила его завтрак). Julia had a key (у Джулии был ключ) and would sometimes let herself in (и /она/ иногда заходила: «открывала дверь и входила») and sit by herself in the little sitting-room (и сидела одна, в маленькой гостиной; by oneself — в

одиночестве, без посторонней помощи) till he came back from his office (до тех пор, пока он не возвращался из конторы: «офиса»).

destroy [dIs'trOI] resistance [rI'zIstqns] reconciliation ["rekqnsIlI'eIS(q)n]

THEIR quarrel, destroying in some strange way the barrier between them, brought them closer together. Tom offered less resistance than she had expected when she mooted once more the question of the flat. It looked as though, after their reconciliation, having taken back her presents and consented to forget the loan, he had put aside his moral scruples. They had a lot of fun furnishing it. The chauffeur's wife kept it clean for him and cooked his breakfast. Julia had a key and would sometimes let herself in and sit by herself in the little sitting-room till he came back from his office.

They supped together two or three times a week and danced (они ужинали вместе два или три раза в неделю и танцевали), then drove back to the flat in a taxi (и

затем ехали назад, в квартиру, на такси). Julia enjoyed a happy autumn (Джулия наслаждалась этой счастливой осенью). The play they put on was a

success (спектакль, который они поставили, был успешен). She felt alert and young (она чувствовала себя живой и молодой; alert — бдительный,

настороже, резвый). Roger was coming home at Christmas (Роджер должен был приехать домой на Рождество), but only for a fortnight (но всего на две недели), and was then going to Vienna (и затем уезжал в Вену). Julia expected him to monopolize Tom (Джулия ожидала, что он полностью завладеет /вниманием/ Тома: «монополизирует Тома») and she was determined not to mind (и она была решительно настроена не обращать на это внимания). Youth naturally appealed to youth (молодость естественно влечет к молодости) and she told herself (сказа она себе) that there was no reason for her to feel anxious (и

не было ни какой причины, чтобы она чувствовала беспокойство) if for a few days (если на несколько дней) the two of them were so wrapped up in one another (эти двое будут настолько поглощены друг другом; to wrap —

укутывать, обертывать, to wrap up — зд. полностью отдаваться чему-

либо) that Tom had no thought for her (что Том не будет о ней думать). She held him now (теперь она имела над ним власть: «она держала его сейчас»). He was proud to be her lover (он гордился тем, что был ее любовником), it gave him confidence in himself (это придавало ему уверенность в себе), and he was pleased to be on familiar terms (и он был доволен, что был на дружеской ноге; to be on familiar terms with smb. — быть в приятельских отношениях, familiar

— близкий, интимный, давно знакомый), with a large number of more or less distinguished persons (с большим числом более или менее известных людей) whom after all he only knew through her (которых, в конце концов, он знал благодаря ей: «через нее»).

autumn ['O:tqm] Christmas ['krIsmqs] familiar [fq'mIlIq]

They supped together two or three times a week and danced, then drove back to the flat in a taxi. Julia enjoyed a happy autumn. The play they put on was a success. She felt alert and young. Roger was coming home at Christmas, but only for a

fortnight, and was then going to Vienna. Julia expected him to monopolize Tom and she was determined not to mind. Youth naturally appealed to youth and she told herself that there was no reason for her to feel anxious if for a few days the two of them were so wrapped up in one another that Tom had no thought for her. She held him now. He was proud to be her lover, it gave him confidence in himself, and he was pleased to be on familiar terms with a large number of more or less distinguished persons whom after all he only knew through her.

He was anxious now to join a good club (он страстно стремился теперь стать членом какого-нибудь хорошего клуба; to join — соединять, присоединять,

входить в компанию) and Julia was preparing the ground (и Джулия подготавливала почву). Charles had never refused her anything (Чарльз никогда ей ни в чем не отказывал), and with tact she was certain (и, применив весь такт, она была уверена) that she could wheedle him (что она сможет подольстится к нему и уговорить) into proposing Tom for one of those to which he belonged (поручиться за Тома в одном из тех /клубов/, к которым он сам принадлежал; to propose — вносить предложение, предлагать чью-либо кандидатуру). It was a new and delicious sensation for Tom (новым и восхитительным ощущением для Тома была /возможность/) to have money to spend (тратить деньги: «иметь деньги, которые тратить»); she encouraged him to be extravagant (она поощряла его быть расточительным); she had a notion that he would get used to living in a certain way (она держалась того мнения, что он привыкнет к определенному образу жизни: «жить определенным образом») and then would realize that he could not do without her (и затем поймет, что он не может без нее обойтись; to do without smb., smth. — обходиться без кого-

либо, чего-либо).

"Of course it can't last (конечно же, это не может продолжаться /долго/)," she told herself (говорила она себе), "but when it comes to an end (но, когда это подойдет к концу) it will have been a wonderful experience for him (это будет прекрасным опытом для него). It'll really have made a man of him (это

действительно сделает из него мужчину)."

ground [graVnd] wheedle ['wi:dl] encourage [In'kArIdZ]

He was anxious now to join a good club and Julia was preparing the ground. Charles had never refused her anything, and with tact she was certain that she could wheedle him into proposing Tom for one of those to which he belonged. It was a new and delicious sensation for Tom to have money to spend; she encouraged him to be extravagant; she had a notion that he would get used to living in a certain way and then would realize that he could not do without her.

"Of course it can't last," she told herself, "but when it comes to an end it will have been a wonderful experience for him. It'll really have made a man of him."

But though she told herself that it could not last (но, хотя они и говорила себе, что это не может продолжаться долго) she did not see really why it shouldn't (она не видела причин, почему бы этому и не /продолжаться/). As the years went by and he grew older (когда пройдут года, и он постареет) there wouldn't be any particular difference between them (не будет такой уж особенной разницы между ними). He would no longer be so very young (он больше не будет таким уж /очень/ молодым) in ten or fifteen years (через десять или пятнадцать лет) and she would be just the same age as she was now (а она останется в том же самом возрасте, что и сейчас). They were very comfortable together (им вместе было так хорошо: «удобно»). Men were creatures of habit (мужчины — это рабы привычки; creature — создание, творение, существо); that gave women such a hold on them (и это давало женщинам такую власть над ними; hold — удерживание, захват, влияние). She did not feel a day older than he (она не чувствовала себя и на день старше, чем он), and she was convinced (и она была убеждена) that the disparity in their ages (что разница в

/их/ возрасте; disparity — несоответствие, неравенство) had never even occurred to him (никогда ему даже в голову не приходила). It was true that on

this point (было однако, правдой то, что по этому поводу) she had once had a moment's disquietude (был у нее однажды момент беспокойства).

particular [pq'tIkjVlq] creature ['kri:tSq] disparity [dIs'pxrItI] disquietude [dIs'kwaIItju:d]

But though she told herself that it could not last she did not see really why it shouldn't. As the years went by and he grew older there wouldn't be any particular difference between them. He would no longer be so very young in ten or fifteen years and she would be just the same age as she was now. They were very comfortable together. Men were creatures of habit; that gave women such a hold on them. She did not feel a day older than he, and she was convinced that the disparity in their ages had never even occurred to him. It was true that on this point she had once had a moment's disquietude.

She was lying on his bed (она лежала на его постели). He was standing at the dressing-table (он стоял у туалетного столика), in his shirt sleeves (без пиджака; shirt sleeve — рукав рубашки), brushing his hair (причесывая волосы). She was stark naked (она была в чем мать родила: «совершенно голой») and she lay in the position of a Venus by Titian (и /она/ лежала в позе Венеры /с картины/ Тициана) that she remembered to have seen in a country house (которую, как она помнила, видела в каком-то загородном: «сельском» доме) at which she had stayed (в котором она останавливалась /ранее/). She felt that she made really a lovely picture (она чувствовала, что она представляла собой действительно очаровательное зрелище: «картину»), and in complete awareness of the charming sight she offered (и, /пребывая/ в полной уверенности очаровательности позы, которую она являла собой: «предлагала»), held the pose (/она/ держала позу = не меняла своего положения). She was happy and satisfied (она была счастлива и удовлетворена).

"This is romance (вот это романтика)," she thought (думала она), and a light, quick smile hovered over her lips (и легкая, быстрая улыбка блуждала на ее губах; to hover — парить, кружить, нависать).

He caught sight of her in the mirror (он увидел ее в зеркале), turned round (повернулся) and without a word, twitched the sheet over her (и, безо всяких слов: «без единого слова», резко набросил на нее простыню; to twitch —

дергать, тащить).

sleeve [sli:v] romance [rq(V)'mxns] twitch [twItS]

She was lying on his bed. He was standing at the dressing-table, in his shirt sleeves, brushing his hair. She was stark naked and she lay in the position of a Venus by Titian that she remembered to have seen in a country house at which she had stayed. She felt that she made really a lovely picture, and in complete awareness of the charming sight she offered, held the pose. She was happy and satisfied.

"This is romance," she thought, and a light, quick smile hovered over her lips.

He caught sight of her in the mirror, turned round and without a word, twitched the sheet over her.

Though she smiled at him affectionately (хотя она и улыбнулась ему ласково), it gave her quite a turn (это ее взволновало: «испугало»; a turn — поворот,

оборот, зд. /разг./ потрясение, шок). Was he afraid that she would catch cold (боялся ли он, что она простудится; cold — холод, стужа; простуда; to catch

— поймать) or was it that his English modesty (или, скромный, как /все/

англичане: «его английская скромность») was shocked at her nakedness (был шокирован ее обнаженностью)? Or could it be (или, не могло ли быть так) that, his boyish lust satisfied (что, удовлетворив свою мальчишескую страсть: «похоть»), he was a trifle disgusted (он испытывал некое отвращение) at the sight of her ageing body (при виде ее стареющего тела)? When she got home

(когда она приехала домой) she again took all her clothes off (она снова сняла всю свою одежду) and examined herself in the looking-glass (и тщательно осмотрела себя в зеркале; to examine — рассматривать, обследовать,

экзаменовать). She determined not to spare herself (она твердо решилась не жалеть себя; to spare — зд. беречь, оберегать). She looked at her neck (она посмотрела на свою шею), there was no sign of age there (там не было признаков возраста), especially when she held her chin up (особенно, когда она держала подбородок высоко поднятым); and her breasts were small and firm (и ее груди были маленькими и упругими; firm — крепкий, твердый); they might have been a girl's (они могли бы быть девичьими). Her belly was flat (ее живот был плоским), her hips were small (ее бедра были узкими: «небольшими»), there was a very small roll of fat there (там был очень небольшой валик жира; roll — рулон, свиток), like a long sausage (наподобие длинной сосиски: «колбасы»), but everyone had that (но у каждого был там жир: «было это»), and anyhow Miss Phillips could have a go at it (и, в любом случае, мисс Филлипс может попытаться /убрать его/; to have a go at smth — попытать счастья, рискнуть).

modesty ['mOdIstI] ageing ['eIdZIN] breast [brest]

Though she smiled at him affectionately, it gave her quite a turn. Was he afraid that she would catch cold or was it that his English modesty was shocked at her nakedness? Or could it be that, his boyish lust satisfied, he was a trifle disgusted at the sight of her ageing body? When she got home she again took all her clothes off and examined herself in the looking-glass. She determined not to spare herself. She looked at her neck, there was no sign of age there, especially when she held her chin up; and her breasts were small and firm; they might have been a girl's. Her belly was flat, her hips were small, there was a very small roll of fat there, like a long sausage, but everyone had that, and anyhow Miss Phillips could have a go at it.