Including Gwen. The one called Grace was quite pretty, with a bewildered

air. The one called Iris was well over forty and rather loud in her manner.

"Where's Richard tonight, the old cad?" said Iris.

"How do I know?" said his mother "Who am I to ask?"

"Well, at least he's a hard worker during the week. A brilliant teacher,"

said doe-eyed Grace.

"Middling as a schoolmaster," Gwen said.

"Oh, Gwen! Look how long he's held down the job," his mother said.

"I should think," Grace said, "he's wonderful with the boys."

"Those Shakespearean productions at the end of the summer term are

really magnificent," Iris bawled. "I’ll hand him that, the old devil."

"Magnificent," said his mother. "You must admit. Gwen —"

"Very middling performances," Gwen said.

"I suppose you are right, but, after all, they are only schoolboys. You can't

do much with untrained actors, Gwen," said Mrs. Seeton very sadly.

"I adore Richard (я обожаю Ричарда)," Iris said, "when he's in his busy,

occupied mood (/особенно/ когда он в своем занятом, озабоченном

расположении духа). He's so (он такой) —"

"Oh, yes," Grace said, "Richard is wonderful (Ричард великолепен) when he's

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got a lot on his mind (когда он погружен в раздумья: «он имеет много в

мыслях»; on one’s mind — на уме, в мыслях)."

"I know (я знаю)," said his mother. "There was one time (было время) when

Richard had just started teaching (когда Ричард только начал преподавать) — I

must tell you this story (я должна рассказать вам эту историю) — he ..."

Before they left Mrs. Seeton said to Trudy (перед уходом: «перед тем, как

они ушли» миссис Ситон сказала Труди). "You will come with Gwen next

week, won't you (ты же придешь с Гвен на следующей неделе, да)? I want you

to regard yourself as one of us (я бы хотела, чтобы ты почувствовала себя

одной из нас; to regard — рассматривать, считать). There are two other

friends of Richard's (есть еще две другие подруги Ричарда) I do want you to

meet (с которыми я бы хотела тебя познакомить). Old friends (старые

подруги)."

On the way to the bus Trudy said to Gwen (по дороге к автобусу Труди

спросила у Гвен), "Don't you find it dull going to Mrs. Seeton's every Sunday

(тебе не скучно: «ты не находишь это скучным» ходить к миссис Ситон

каждое воскресенье)?"

"Well, yes, my dear young thing, and no (ну, да, моя дорогая молодая

подруга: «юное создание», и нет). From time to time one sees a fresh face

(время от времени можно встретить новое: «свежее» лицо), and then it's quite

amusing (и тогда это даже забавно)."

"Doesn’t Richard ever stay at home on a Sunday evening (неужели Ричард

никогда не остается дома воскресным вечером; ever — когда бы то ни было,

всегда)?"

"No, I can't say he does (нет, не могу сказать, что он /остается/: «делает

это»). In fact, he's very often away for the whole week-end (на самом деле, он

очень часто отсутствует все выходные). As you know (как ты /сама/ знаешь)."

"Who are these women (кто эти женщины)?" Trudy said, stopping in the street

(спросила Труди, останавливаясь /посреди/ улицы).

"Oh, just old friends of Richard's (о, просто старые знакомые Ричарда)."

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"Do they see him often (а они часто его видят)?"

"Not now (теперь нет). They've become members of the family (они стали

членами семьи)."

regard [rI'gQ:d] fresh [freS] amusing [q'mju:zIN]

"I adore Richard," Iris said, "when he's in his busy, occupied mood. He's

so —"

"Oh, yes," Grace said, "Richard is wonderful when he's got a lot on his

mind."

"I know," said his mother. "There was one time when Richard had just

started teaching — I must tell you this story — he..."

Before they left Mrs. Seeton said to Trudy. "You will come with Gwen next

week, won't you? I want you to regard yourself as one of us. There are two

other friends of Richard's I do want you to meet. Old friends."

On the way to the bus Trudy said to Gwen, "Don't you find it dull going to

Mrs. Seeton's every Sunday?"

"Well, yes, my dear young thing, and no. From time to time one sees a

fresh face, and then it's quite amusing."

"Doesn't Richard ever stay at home on a Sunday evening?"

"No, I can't say he does. In fact, he's very often away for the whole week-

end. As you know."

"Who are these women?" Trudy said, stopping in the street.

"Oh, just old friends of Richard's."

"Do they see him often?"

"Not now. They've become members of the family."

Темные Очки

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The Dark Glasses

Coming to the edge of the lake (подойдя к берегу озера; edge — острие,

кромка, край) we paused to look at our reflections in the water (мы

остановились, чтобы посмотреть на свое: «наши» отражение в воде; to pause

— сделать паузу, перерыв, остановиться, reflection — отражение, отблеск).

It was then I recognized her (именно тогда я узнала ее; to recognize —

узнавать, опознавать, признавать) from the past (из прошлого) her face

looking up from the lake (ее лицо выглядывало из озера). She had not stopped

talking (она не переставая говорила).

I put on my dark glasses (я надела /мои/ темные очки; to put on — надевать)

to shield my eyes from the sun (чтобы защитить свои глаза от солнца; to shield

— защищать, прикрывать, заслонять) and conceal my recognition from her

eyes (и скрыть то, что я ее узнала: «мое узнавание» от ее глаз; to conceal —

прятать, укрывать, скрывать).

"Am I boring you (я вас утомляю; to bore — надоедать, наскучить)?" she

said (сказала она).

"No, not a bit (нет, совсем нет; a bit — немного, чуть-чуть). Dr Gray

(доктор Грэй; Dr. = Doctor — доктор, ученая степень)."

“Sure (точно: «уверены»)?"

It is discouraging (это обескураживает; to discourage — приводить в

уныние; препятствовать) to put on sun glasses (когда надевают солнечные

очки; glasses — очки, glass — стекло, стеклянная посуда) in the middle of

someone's intimate story (/прямо/ посередине чьей-нибудь очень личной

истории; intimate — сокровенный, интимный, личный). But they were

necessary (но они были необходимы), now that I had recognized her (теперь,

когда я узнала ее) and was excited (и была взволнована), and could only

honourably hear what she had to say from a point of concealment (и только

скрыв, кто я такая, я могла слушать ее с достоинством: «и могла только

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честно слушать, что она хотела мне сказать, с позиции сокрытия /факта/;

honourably — честно, благородно, с честью, a point — точка, пункт, суть,

цель).

recognized ['rekqgnaIzd] discouraging [dIs'kArIGIN] sunglasses ['sAn"glQ:sIz]

honourably ['On(q)rqblI]

Coming to the edge of the lake we paused to look at our reflections in the

water. It was then I recognized her from the past her face looking up from the

lake. She had not stopped talking.