- •I wrapped my hanky round my thumb and got myself organized. George
- •I was known as Needle.
- •I stood silently among the people, watching. As you will see, I wasn't in a
- •I took a good look at this man accompanying Kathleen. It was her husband.
- •It was not for me to speak to Kathleen, but I had a sudden inspiration which
- •I must explain that I departed this life nearly five years ago. But I did not
- •Inspired to it. Indeed it's one of the things I can't do now — to speak out,
- •I taught in a private school in Kensington, for almost three months, very
- •I didn't love Skinny so I gave him back the ring.
- •I accompanied the party as a sort of secretary. Skinny vouched for me, he
- •I had broken off our engagement, lectured me about this, but still he took me
- •I'm busy in the hat-shop and being presented. You would think he hadn't
- •I must say I was myself a bit off-put by this news about the brown woman. I
- •Intelligent than a mule and sturdier than a horse. But I'm not having any
- •I was able to live on the fee I got for writing a gossip column in a local
- •I met George once more in a hotel in Bulawayo. We drank highballs and
- •I had half a mind to marry Skinny; perhaps, I thought, when his studies
- •I had already heard about the baby girl. Coal black, by repute, with
- •Impotence and need I secreted a venom which infected all my life for days on
- •I was nearly sick. One, because of my Scottish upbringing. Two, because of
- •I returned to England with Skinny's party just before the war.
- •I did not see George again till just before my death, five years ago.
- •I was waiting to write about life and it seemed to me that the good fortune lay in
- •I thought of my type of luck after I became a Catholic and was being
- •I visited Skinny twice in the two years that he was in the sanatorium. He was
- •Very close friends. We met several times each week, and after our Saturday-
- •If we had felt moved to do so.
- •I ought to get in touch with poor George. But then I think he would write
- •I did not speak of George's marriage, nor of any of his confidences in the
- •Impatience with him in former days; she said,
- •In the course of the morning he had told her of his wartime nightclub in
- •I was curious to see this version of George, but I was leaving for Scotland
- •Visited at week-ends; this old lady lived a few miles from Kathleen's aunt,
- •I should go ahead of her in the early afternoon to see to the provisions for our
- •I said no, I liked an empty house.
- •It was like a treasure hunt as I followed clue after clue through the cool silent
- •I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child.
- •I giggled, and looked at him. His face had grown much larger, his lips full, wide,
- •I still kept up. They referred to her as "George's Dark Lady" and of course
- •I said, "If Kathleen intends to marry you, I shall tell her that you're already
- •Vest year. Unfortunately, the byreman's hands were even brawnier and
- •If I hadn't been wearing my long-sleeved cardigan, it was said, the bruises
- •I dashed his hopes. I said, "Hallo, George!"
- •In that convivial street. I thought to myself. "He looks as if he had a mouthful
- •I might have been inspired to say more on that agreeable morning, but he
- •I doubt if George will ever see me again in the Portobello Road. He broods
- •Its few drooping tenants. They huddled together like birds in a storm; their
- •I was waiting for friends to come and pick me up on their way to Venice.
- •Importance was permitted to dawn upon strangers.
- •In the garden, strangely standing on a path between the flowers for
- •I climbed the lower slopes of the mountains while the experts in their boots
- •I was moved by the sight. The girl called Mitzi was watching me as I stood
- •In the kitchen doorway. "Coffee?'' she said.
- •I saw a black lacquered cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and just
- •I went into the polished dining-room, and Mitzi brought my coffee there.
- •It was that very day that the nuisance occurred. The double windows of my
- •It was a cold day. I sat in my room writing letters. I glanced out of the
- •I looked up a few moments later, and this time Herr Stroh was seated on a
- •I left my room and went down to complain to Frau Lublonitsch.
- •I returned to my room. Herr Stroh still sat in position, the field-glasses in
- •In his doorway blinking up at the roof of the Guest-house Lublonitsch. He
- •I didn't want to draw his attention by following the line of his gaze but I
- •In Frau Lublonitsch's splendid bedroom.
- •I turned the comer just as Herr Stroh gave up his gazing; he went indoors,
- •It while I waited for someone to come. I did not have to wait long, for two
- •Indeed were there, but invisible.
- •In the peeling pastel stucco of the little town, the unnecessary floral balconies,
- •Intrigued her.
- •Impassive neck.
- •Is she —"
- •Insurance manager. The successful kind."
- •I think twenty-two. I am twenty-two so far as Richard's concerned. I don't
- •If you want to be successful with men you have to hang on to your youth."
- •Invitation must come from Richard."
- •Valley.
- •I felt the need of his support. "
- •Including Gwen. The one called Grace was quite pretty, with a bewildered
- •I put on my dark glasses to shield my eyes from the sun and conceal my
- •It is discouraging to put on sun glasses in the middle of someone's intimate
- •I was sent to have my eyes tested. He took me into the darkened interior
- •I had seen Miss Simmonds once before, at a garden fete, where she stood on
- •I stopped looking round. I said. "Read what?" for I had been told I would
- •I recall reading the letters correctly down to the last few lines, which were
- •I broke the glasses by sitting on them during my school holidays two years
- •I washed my hair the night before and put a wave in it. Next morning at
- •I smiled and put my hand in my blazer pocket.
- •I formed an idea of his private life. "Dorothy" I speculated, "and Basil." I let
- •Is it to her?"
- •I invented for myself a recurrent scene in which brother and sister
- •I was sent for to try on my new reading glasses. I had the hat-pin with me I
- •I said, "Grandmother said to inquire after your mother."
- •I took to giving Basil a charming smile when I passed him in the street on
- •I took walks before supper round the back lanes, ambling right round the
- •Visible from the window. He laid it side by side with another sheet of paper
- •Ink and started writing on the bottom of the sheet of paper before him,
- •I shivered in my soaking wet clothes. Dorothy looked with her eye at the
- •I took them into Mr. Simmonds early that afternoon.
- •I had smeared them with cold cream first.
- •Interrupted:
- •I noted her correct phrase, "Are these they?" and it seemed just over the
- •Vicious, in the wrong.
- •I started screaming when I got home, and was given a sedative. By evening
- •It was put down to an accident. There was a strong hope that Miss
- •I said, "The bottle may have been tampered with, have you thought of
- •I was attended by our woman doctor, the widow of the town's former
- •I saw Dr. Gray leaving the Simmonds' at six o'clock one evening. She must
- •I walked on, certain that he had known my guilty suspicions all along.
- •I had come to the summer school to lecture on history and she on
- •Inmost lives. This is probably because they spend so much time hearing out
- •It and myself looked back at myself through the dark water. I looked at Dr.
- •I took them off for a moment. I rather liked her for her innocence in not
- •I had my glasses on again, and was walking on.
- •I thought, neither had I.
- •I said, "He might have stopped seeing eyes if you'd taken him at his word."
- •I could hardly believe she was shouting, who previously had been so calm.
- •I think it was then she recognised me.
- •It there and then. You see, he had to do it while it was still wet."
- •Vestments, or at least lace veil.
- •Vestments.
- •Instance, when a local Town Councillor resigned his office Raymond said,
- •In this particular, from the prejudices of that middle class to which they as
- •Introduce them to so many people." For the dark pair had, within a month,
- •In eyes, skin, teeth, which made him seem all the more eager. He called out
- •Irritated Lou, though she kept her peace.
- •Very well by Elizabeth." They had pulled up outside the house where
- •I'm not going to leave my kids in no nursery. I'm not going to send them to no
- •In that he took a tubercular turn, which was followed by a religious one. He
- •Very delicate question. She was amazed when, within three weeks, Oxford
- •In previous numbers, various references to the Black Madonna, how she had
- •It was the Saturday before that Sunday when Lou had her first sick turn.
- •In the next parish magazine. "Another case has come to light of the kindly
- •In fact, it was a very easy birth, a girl. Raymond was allowed in to see Lou
- •In the late afternoon. She was half asleep. "The nurse will take you to see the
- •In the other cots. "Far more so than the others."
- •Isn't hers, which is ridiculous."
- •Very long chance. I've never known it happen in my experience, but I've
- •Inquire after Lou. He rather regretted smashing up the cot in his first fury.
- •It white."
- •It must be back in the olden days the nigro some ansester but it is only nature.
- •I thank the almighty it has missed my kids and your hubby must think it was
Very well by Elizabeth." They had pulled up outside the house where
Elizabeth lived on the ground floor. Lou looked at the chipped paint, the dirty
windows, and torn grey-white curtains and was reminded with starting
clarity of her hopeless childhood in Liverpool from which, miraculously, hope
had lifted her, and had come true, for the nurse had got her that job; and she
had trained as a nurse among white-painted beds, and white shining walls,
and tiles, hot water everywhere, and Dettol without stint. When she had first
married she had wanted all white-painted furniture that you could wash and
liberate from germs; but Raymond had been for oak, he did not understand
the pleasure of hygiene and new enamel paint, for his upbringing had been
orderly, he had been accustomed to a lounge suite and autumn tints in the
front room all his life. And now Lou stood and looked at the outside of
Elizabeth's place and felt she had gone right back.
On the way back to the hotel (на обратном пути: «по пути назад» в отель)
Lou chattered with relief (Лу болтала с облегчением; to chatter — болтать,
трещать, тараторить) that it was over (от того, что все закончилось; to be
over — окончиться, завершиться). "Poor Elizabeth (бедняжка: «бедная»
Элизабет), she hasn't had much of a chance (у нее не было слишком много
шансов). I liked little Francis (мне понравился малыш: «маленький» Франсис),
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what did you think of little Francis, Ray (что ты думаешь о маленьком
Франсисе, Рэй)?"
Raymond did not like being called Ray (Раймонду не нравилось, что /она/
называла его Рэй), but he made no objection (но он не возражал, to object —
протестовать, противиться) for he knew (так как знал) that Lou had been
under a strain (что Лу перенесла огромное напряжение; strain — напряжение,
нагрузка, перегрузка). Elizabeth had not been very pleasant (Элизабет не очень
приятно себя вела: «была»; pleasant — милый, славный). She had expressed
admiration (она выразила восхищение) for Lou's hat (шляпкой Лу), bag
(сумочкой), gloves (перчатками), and shoes (и туфлями), which were all navy
blue (которые были все темно-синего цвета; navy blue — цвет формы
морских офицеров), but she had used an accusing tone (но она использовала
обвиняющий тон; to accuse — обвинять, винить, придираться). The house
had been smelly and dirty (в доме дурно пахло: «дом был вонючим» и он был
грязным). "I'll show you round (я тебе все покажу; to show round —
сопровождать, показывать кому-либо что-либо)," Elizabeth had said in a tone
of mock refinement (тоном ложной утонченности; mock — фальшивый,
мнимый, refinement — утонченность, изысканность) and they were forced (и
они были вынуждены) to push through a dark narrow passage (проталкиваться
по темному узкому коридору: «проходу») behind her skinny form (за ее тощей
фигурой) till they came to the big room where the children slept (до тех пор,
пока они /не/ пришли в большую комнату, где спали дети; to sleep — спать).
A row of old iron beds (ряд старых железных кроватей) each with a tumble of
dark blanket rugs (на каждом: «каждый с» груда темных одеял и пледов), no
sheets (без простыней). Raymond was indignant at the sight (Раймонд был
возмущен увиденным: «видом») and hoped (и надеялся) that Lou was not
feeling upset (что Лу не чувствует себя очень расстроенной; upset —
расстроенный, встревоженный). He knew very well (он очень хорошо знал,
что) Elizabeth had a decent living income (Элизабет имела приличный доход;
income — доход, поступления, прибыль) from a number of public sources (от
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значительного числа общественных организаций: «источников»), and was
simply a slut (и была просто неряхой), one of those who would not help
themselves (одной из тех, кто не могут помочь самим себе).
objection [qb'GekS(q)n] admiration ["xdmq'reIS(q)n] refinement [rI'faInmqnt]
blanket ['blxNkIt] indignant [In'dIgnqnt]
On the way back to the hotel Lou chattered with relief that it was over.
"Poor Elizabeth, she hasn't had much of a chance. I liked little Francis, what
did you think of little Francis, Ray?"
Raymond did not like being called Ray, but he made no objection for he
knew that Lou had been under a strain. Elizabeth had not been very pleasant.
She had expressed admiration for Lou's hat, bag, gloves, and shoes, which
were all navy blue, but she had used an accusing tone. The house had been
smelly and dirty. "I'll show you round," Elizabeth had said in a tone of mock
refinement, and they were forced to push through a dark narrow passage
behind her skinny form till they came to the big room where the children
slept. A row of old iron beds each with a tumble of dark blanket rugs, no
sheets. Raymond was indignant at the sight and hoped that Lou was not
feeling upset. He knew very well Elizabeth had a decent living income from a
number of public sources, and was simply a slut, one of those who would not
help themselves.
"Ever thought of taking a job, Elizabeth (когда-нибудь думала том, чтобы
пойти работать, Элизабет; to take a job — устроиться на работу)?" he had
said, and immediately realized his stupidity (и немедленно осознал глупость
/сказанного/: «свою глупость»). But Elizabeth took her advantage (но Элизабет
тут же воспользовалась этим; to take advantage — воспользоваться случаем,
преимуществом). "What d'you mean (что ты имеешь в виду)? I'm not going to
leave my kids (я не собираюсь оставлять своих: «моих» детей) in no nursery
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(ни в каких яслях; in no nursery = in any nursery). I'm not going to send them to
no home (я не собираюсь отсылать их ни в какие приюты:
«благотворительные дома»). What kids need these days (что детям нужно
сегодня: «в эти дни») is a good home-life (так это хорошая домашняя жизнь)
and that's what they get (и это именно то, что они получают)." And she added (и
она добавила), "God's eyes are not shut (глаза Господа не закрыты)," in a tone,
which was meant for him, Raymond (тоном, который предназначался для него,
Раймонда), to get at him (чтобы пройтись на его счет) for doing well in life (за
то, что он преуспевает в жизни; to do well — процветать, преуспевать).
Raymond distributed half-crowns (Раймонд раздал по полкроны; to distribute
— распределять, разносить, half-crowns — полкроны (английская монета в 2
шиллинга 6 пенсов; имела хождение до 1970 г.)) to the younger children
(младшим детям) and deposited on the table (и положил на столе) half-crowns
for those who were out playing in the street (по полкроны для тех, кто играли на
улице; to play — играть, резвиться).
"Goin' already (уже уходите; Goin' = going)?" said Elizabeth in her tone of
reproach (сказала Элизабет с упреком: «в своем тоне упрека»). But she kept
eyeing Henry with interest (но она продолжала рассматривать Генри с
интересом; to keep doing smth. — продолжать делать что-то; to eye —
разглядывать, взирать), and the reproachful tone was (и упрекающий тон был)
more or less (более или менее) a routine affair (привычным делом; routine —
заведенный порядок, рутина).
stupidity [stju:'pIdItI] advantage [qd'vQ:ntIG] distributed [dIs'trIbju(:)tId]
reproachful [rI'prqVCf(q)l]
"Ever thought of taking a job, Elizabeth?" he had said, and immediately
realized his stupidity. But Elizabeth took her advantage. "What d'you mean?