- •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
In previous numbers, various references to the Black Madonna, how she had
granted this or that favour. Lou had heard that people sometimes came from
neighbouring parishes to pray at the Church of the Sacred Heart because of
the statue. Some said they came from all over England, but whether this was
to admire the art-work or to pray, Lou was not sure. She gave her attention
to the article in the parish magazine:
While not wishing (пока, не желая) to make excessive claims (делать
чрезмерные утверждения) ... many prayers answered (многие молитвы
услышаны: «отвечены») and requests granted (и просьбы выполнены:
«одарены») to the Faithful (верующих) in an exceptional way (исключительным
образом) ... two remarkable cures effected (два замечательных случая
исцеления осуществлены; cure — лекарство, лечение, излечение), but medical
evidence is, of course, still in reserve (но медицинское подтверждение,
конечно, все еще необходимо подождать: «в запасе»), a certain lapse of time
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being necessary(определенный промежуток времени необходим) to ascertain
permanency of cure (чтобы убедиться в окончательности излечения;
permanency — постоянство, неизменность). The first of these cases was a child
of twelve (первым из этих случаев был ребенок двенадцати лет) suffering from
leukaemia (страдающий лейкемией)... The second (второй) ... While not
desiring to create a cultus (пока не желая создать религиозный культ) where
none is due (пока: «где» не все еще /получило/ должное подтверждение) we
must remember (мы должны помнить) it is always our duty (что это всегда
наша обязанность) to honour Our Blessed Lady (почитать Богородицу:
«Нашу Благословенную Госпожу»; to bless — благославлять), the dispenser of
all graces (подательницу всех милостей), to whom we owe (которой мы
обязаны) ...
Another aspect of the information (другой аспект в информации) received by
the Father Rector (полученной приходским священником) concerning our "Black
Madonna" (и имеющей отношение к нашей «Черной Мадонне») is one
pertaining to childless couples (это аспект, относящийся к бездетным парам)
of which three cases (из которых три случая) have come to his notice (попали в
его поле зрения; to come to notice — привлечь внимание). In each case (в
каждом случае) the couple claim (пара утверждала, что) to have offered
constant devotion to the "Black Madonna" (возносили молитвы с особым
рвением к «Черной Мадонне»; to offer —предлагать, выражать; devotion —
набожность), and in two of the cases (и в двух случаях) specific requests were
made (особые просьбы были сделаны; request — просьба, заявка) for the
favour of a child (о даровании ребенка; favour — благосклонность, одолжение,
милость). In all cases (во всех случаях) the prayers were answered (молитвы
были услышаны: «отвечены»). The proud parents (гордые родители) ... It
should be the loving duty (это должно стать преданной обязанностью) of
every parishioner (каждого прихожанина) to make a special thanksgiving
(произнесение: «делание» специальной благодарственной молитвы;
thanksgiving — благодарение, благодарственный молебен) ... The Father
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Rector will be grateful (Приходской священник будет благодарен) for any
further information (за любую дополнительную информацию) ...
excessive [Ik'sesIv] ascertain ["xsq'teIn] permanency ['pq:mqnqnsI]
cultus ['kAltqs] pertaining [pq'teInIN]
While not wishing to make excessive claims ... many prayers answered and
requests granted to the Faithful in an exceptional way ... two remarkable cures
effected, but medical evidence is, of course, still in reserve, a certain lapse of time
being necessary to ascertain permanency of cure. The first of these cases was a
child of twelve suffering from leukaemia... The second... While not desiring to
create a cultus where none is due, we must remember it is always our duty to
honour Our Blessed Lady, the dispenser of all graces, to whom we owe ...
Another aspect of the information received by the Father Rector concerning our
"Black Madonna" is one pertaining to childless couples of which three cases have
come to his notice. In each case the couple claim to have offered constant devotion
to the "Black Madonna," and in two of the cases specific requests were made for
the favour of a child. In all cases the prayers were answered. The proud parents ...
It should be the loving duty of every parishioner to make a special thanksgiving ...
The Father Rector will be grateful for any further information ...
"Look, Raymond (смотри, Раймонд)," said Lou. "Read this (прочитай это)."
They decided (они решили) to put in for a baby to the Black Madonna
(обратиться за ребенком к Черной Мадонне; to put in for smth. —
ходатайствовать, подавать заявку на что-либо).
The following Saturday (в следующую субботу), when they drove to the
church for Benediction (когда они ехали в церковь на Благословение; to drive
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— водить машину, ехать), Lou jangled her rosary (Лу бренчала своими: «ее»
четками). Raymond pulled up outside the church (Раймонд остановился у
церкви). "Look here, Lou (послушай, Лу)," he said, "do you want a baby in any
case (ты хочешь ребенка при любых обстоятельствах: «в любом случае»)?"
for he partly thought (так как он отчасти: «частично» думал, что) she was only
putting the Black Madonna to the test (она только /хотела/ испытать /силу/
Черной Мадонны: «она только подвергала Черную Мадонну испытанию»;
test — испытание, проверка) "Do you want a child (ты /действительно/
хочешь ребенка), after all these years (после всех этих лет)?"
This was a new thought to Lou (это была новая для Лу мысль). She
considered her neat flat (она задумалась о своей аккуратной квартирке) and
tidy routine (регулярной уборке; to tidy — прибирать, наводить порядок), the
entertaining with her good coffee cups (приемы гостей и кофе из дорогих
чашечек: «приемы гостей с ее хорошими кофейными чашками»; to entertain
— принимать гостей, развлекать), the weekly papers (еженедельные газеты;
paper — бумага, документ, газета) and the library books (и книги из
библиотеки), the tastes which they would not have been able to cultivate
(привычки, которые они не могли бы развивать) had they had a family of
children (если бы имели /семейство/ детей). She thought of (она подумала о)
her nice young looks (ее приятной моложавой внешности; looks —
наружность, внешний вид) which everyone envied (которой все: «каждый»
завидовали; to envy — завидовать), and her freedom of movement (и ее
свободе передвижения).
jangle ['GxNg(q)l] routine [ru:'ti:n] entertaining ["entq'teInIN] envy ['envI]
"Look, Raymond," said Lou. "Read this."
They decided to put in for a baby to the Black Madonna.
The following Saturday, when they drove to the church for Benediction.
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Lou jangled her rosary. Raymond pulled up outside the church. "Look here.
Lou," he said, "do you want a baby in any case?" for he partly thought she
was only putting the Black Madonna to the test — "Do you want a child,
after all these years?"
This was a new thought to Lou. She considered her neat flat and tidy
routine, the entertaining with her good coffee cups, the weekly papers and the
library books, the tastes which they would not have been able to cultivate had
they had a family of children. She thought of her nice young looks which
everyone envied, and her freedom of movement.
"Perhaps we should try (возможно мы должны попробовать),'' she said
(сказала она). "God won't give us a child (Бог не пошлет: «не даст» нам
ребенка) if we aren’t meant to have one (если нам не предназначено иметь его;
to mean — намереваться, подразумевать, предназначать)."
"We have to make some decisions for ourselves (мы должны принять:
«сделать» некоторые решения для самих себя)," he said. "And to tell you the
truth (и сказать тебе по правде) if you don't want a child, I don't (если ты не
хочешь ребенка, /то и/ я не хочу)."
"There's no harm (нет никакого вреда; harm — ущерб, беда) in praying for
one (в /наших/ молитвах о /ребенке/)," she said.
'"You have to be careful (ты должна быть осторожной; careful —
внимательный, тщательный, осмотрительный) what you pray for (о чем ты
молишься)," he said. "You mustn’t tempt Providence (ты не должна искушать
судьбу; to tempt — уговаривать, соблазнять, Providence — провидение,
промысел Божий)."
She thought of her relatives (она подумала о своих родственниках), and
Raymond's (и /родственниках/ Раймонда), all married with children (всех
женатых и с детьми). She thought of her sister Elizabeth (она подумала о своей
сестре Элизабет) with her eight (с ее восьмью /детьми/), and remembered that
one (и вспомнила ту /малышку/) who cheeked up to the teachers (что дерзила
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учителям), so pretty and sulky and shabby (такую хорошенькую и надутую и в
поношенной одежде), and she remembered the fact baby Francis (она
вспомнила, как малыш Фрэнсис) sucking his dummy (сосет «его» пустышку)
and clutching Elizabeth's bony neck (и крепко прижимается к худой:
«костлявой» шее Элизабет; to clutch — схватить, стиснуть, ухватиться).
"I don't see why I shouldn't have a baby (я не вижу /причин/, почему я не
должна иметь ребенка)," said Lou.
truth [tru:T] child [CaIld] providence ['prOvId(q)ns] sulky ['sAlkI] shabby ['SxbI]
"Perhaps we should try,'' she said. "God won't give us a child if we aren't
meant to have one."
"We have to make some decisions for ourselves," he said. "And to tell you
the truth if you don't want a child, I don't."
"There's no harm in praying for one," she said.
"You have to be careful what you pray for," he said. "You mustn't tempt
Providence."
She thought of her relatives, and Raymond's, all married with children. She
thought of her sister Elizabeth with her eight, and remembered that one who
cheeked up to the teachers, so pretty and sulky and shabby, and she
remembered the fact baby Francis sucking his dummy and clutching
Elizabeth's bony neck.
"I don't see why I shouldn't have a baby," said Lou.
Oxford St. John departed (Оксфорд Сент-Джон уехал; to depart — уходить,
покидать) at the end of the month (в конце месяца). He promised to write (он
обещал писать), but they were not surprised (но они не были удивлены) when
weeks passed (когда недели прошли) and they had no word (а они не получили:
ни строчки: «не имели ни слова»). 'I don't suppose (/я/ не думаю) we shall ever
hear from him again (что бы услышим о нем: «от него» снова)," said Lou.
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Raymond thought (Раймонд думал, что) he detected satisfaction in her voice (он
заметил удовлетворение в ее голосе; to detect — находить, расследовать,
обнаруживать), and would have thought she was getting snobbish (и уже
подумал бы, что она превращается в сноба; snobbish — снобистский,
чванливый) as women do as they get older (какими становятся женщины: «как
женщины делают», когда стареют), losing sight of their ideals (забывая о своих
идеалах; to lose sight of — упустить из виду, не учесть), had she not gone on to
speak of Henry Pierce (если бы она не продолжала говорить о Генри Пирсе).
Henry had written to say (Генри написал, чтобы сообщить: «сказать») he was
nearly cured (что он почти излечился), but had been advised to return to the West
Indies (но ему посоветовали вернуться в Вест-Индию /на родину/; to advise —
советовать, рекомендовать).
"We must go and see him (мы должны поехать навестить его; go and see —
приходить, навещать)", said Lou. "We promised (мы обещали). What about the
Sunday after next (как насчет воскресенья, через неделю: «воскресенья после
следующего»)?"
"O. K (хорошо)." said Raymond.
It was the Saturday before that Sunday (/это было/ в субботу перед именно
этим воскресеньем) when Lou had her first sick turn (когда Лу впервые
почувствовала тошноту; sick — чувствующий тошноту, болезненный). She
struggled out of bed to attend Benediction (она с трудом встала с кровати, чтобы
присутствовать на Благословении; to struggle —бороться, сражаться), but
had to leave suddenly during the service (но вынуждена была внезапно
покинуть службу: «во время службы»; service — работа, служба,
богослужение) and was sick behind the church (и ее вырвало за церковью; to be
sick — чувствовать себя больным, вырвать) in the presbytery yard (во дворе
дома священника). Raymond took her home (Раймонд отвез: «забрал» ее
домой), though she protested against (хотя они и протестовала против) cutting
out her rosary to the Black Madonna (прерывания ее молитв /по четкам,
обращенным/ к Черной Мадонне).
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satisfaction ["sxtIs'fxkS(q)n] snobbish ['snObIS] Saturday ['sxtqdI]
Oxford St. John departed at the end of the month. He promised to write,
but they were not surprised when weeks passed and they had no word. "I
don't suppose we shall ever hear from him again," said Lou. Raymond
thought he detected satisfaction in her voice, and would have thought she was
getting snobbish as women do as they get older, losing sight of their ideals,
had she not gone on to speak of Henry Pierce. Henry had written to say he
was nearly cured, but had been advised to return to the West Indies.
"We must go and see him", said Lou. "We promised. What about the
Sunday after next?"
"O. K." said Raymond.