Insurance manager. The successful kind."

"I can’t very well leave Mother at Christmas," Richard said, "but I'd love

to meet your father some other time.'' His tan had worn off, and Trudy

thought him more distinguished and at the same time more unattainable than

ever.

'"I think it only right," Trudy said in her young young way," that one

should introduce the man one loves to one's parents" — for it was agreed

between them that they were in love.

But still (но все еще), by the end of October (в конце октября), Richard had

not asked her to meet his mother (Ричард так и не позвал ее познакомиться со

своей матерью).

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"Does it matter all that much (неужели это так важно: «много значит»; to

matter — иметь значение)?" Gwen said. "Well, it would be a definite step

forward (ну, это был бы определенный шаг вперед; definite — ясный, точный,

конкретный)," Trudy said. ''We can't go on being just friends like this (мы не

можем продолжать /наши отношения/ просто как друзья; to go on — идти

дальше, продолжать путь). I'd like to know where I stand with him (я хочу

знать, в каких мы отношениях: «где я стою с ним»; to stand — стоять,

вставать, находиться, to stand with smb. — быть в каких-либо отношениях с

кем-либо). After all (в конце концов), we're in love (мы любим друг друга) and

we're both free (и мы оба свободны). Do you know (ты знаешь), I'm beginning

to think he hasn't any serious intentions after all (я начинаю думать, что у него

не такие уж серьезные: «у него нет любых серьезных» намерения, в конце

концов; intention — намерение, умысел, стремление, цель). But if he asked me

to meet his mother (но если бы он позвал меня познакомиться со своей

матерью) it would be a sort of sign, wouldn’t it (это было бы определенным

знаком, так ведь; sort — вид, род, сорт, разновидность; sign — признак,

примета)?"

"It certainly would (это точно /будет знаком/)," Gwen said.

matter ['mxtq] serious ['sI(q)rIqs] sign [saIn]

But still, by the end of October, Richard had not asked her to meet his

mother.

"Does it matter all that much?" Gwen said.

"Well, it would be a definite step forward," Trudy said. ''We can't go on

being just friends like this. I'd like to know where I stand with him. After all,

we're in love and we're both free. Do you know, I'm beginning to think he

hasn't any serious intentions after all. But if he asked me to meet his mother it

would be a sort of sign, wouldn't it?"

"It certainly would," Gwen said.

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"I don't even feel (я даже не чувствую, что; to feel — трогать, щупать,

ощущать) I can ring him up at home (я могу звонить ему домой; to ring up —

звонить по телефону) until I've met his mother (до тех пор, пока я не

познакомлюсь с его матерью). I'd feel shy of talking to her on the phone (я буду

смущаться: «чувствовать себя смущенной» при разговоре с ней по телефону;

shy — застенчивый, стыдливый, робкий). I must meet her (я должна

встретиться с ней). It's becoming a sort of obsession (это становится просто-

таки навязчивой идеей; obsession — неотступная мысль, одержимость)."

"It certainly is (это действительно так)," Gwen said. "Why don't you just say

to him (почему ты просто не скажешь ему), ‘I’d like to meet your mother' (я

хотела бы познакомиться с твоей матерью)?"

"Well, Gwen, there are some things a girl can't say (ну, Гвен, есть же вещи,

которые девушка не может говорить)."

"No, but a woman can (да, но женщина может). "

"Are you going on about my age again (ты опять /продолжаешь/ про мой

возраст; to go on — продолжать, age — возраст) I tell you, Gwen, I feel

twenty-two (я скажу тебе, Гвен, я чувствую себя на двадцать два). I think

twenty-two (я думаю, как двадцатидвухлетняя). I am twenty-two so far as

Richard's concerned (мне двадцать два, когда дело касается Ричарда; to

concern — иметь отношение, затрагивать). I don't think really you can help

me much (я не думаю, что ты действительно можешь мне помочь). After all,

you haven't been successful with men yourself, have you (в конце концов, ты же

сама не имела успеха с мужчинами, так ведь)? "

"No," Gwen said. "I haven't (не имела). I've always been on the old side (я

всегда была старовата; сравните: to be on the large, sickly side — быть

великоватым, хилым)."

obsession [qb'seS(q)n] certainly ['sq:tnlI] concerned [kqn'sq:nd]

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"I don't even feel I can ring him up at home until I've met his mother. I'd

feel shy of talking to her on the phone I must meet her. It's becoming a sort of

obsession."

"It certainly is," Gwen said. "Why don't you just say to him, ‘I’d like to

meet your mother'?"

"Well. Gwen, there are some things a girl can't say."

"No, but a woman can."

"Are you going on about my age again? I tell you, Gwen, I feel twenty-two.