Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы
Шрифт:
He did not quite know how to answer (он не совсем знал, как ответить).
"I have noticed a change in them (я заметил в них некую перемену)," he admitted (согласился он: «признал он»). "He seems to have lost that high seriousness (кажется, он утратил ту благородную серьезность; to lose;high— высокий; возвышенный, благородный) which I admired so much in him (которой я так в нем восхищался). One would almost think that the things that matter — well, don't matter (можно даже подумать, что вещи, имеющие значение — ну /как бы сказать/, не важны /для него/)."
Isabel did not reply (Изабелла не ответила). She was vaguely uneasy (ей было слегка не по себе; uneasy— неудобный; смущенный, неловкий).
incomprehensible [In" comprehensibly(q)l], hesitatingly ['hezIteItINlI], queer [kwIq], vaguely ['veIglI]
"Oh, my dear, don't, don't," he said. "I can't bear to see it."
She was so unstrung that she let her hand rest in his. He tried to console her.
"It's incomprehensible, isn't it? It's so unlike Edward, I can't help feeling there must be some mistake."
She did not say anything for a while, and when she spoke it was hesitatingly.
"Has it struck you that there was anything queer in his letters lately?» she asked, looking away, her eyes all bright with tears.
He did not quite know how to answer.
"I have noticed a change in them," he admitted. "He seems to have lost that high seriousness which I admired so much in him. One would almost think that the things that matter — well, don't matter."
Isabel did not reply. She was vaguely uneasy.
"Perhaps in his answer to your letter he'll say when he's coming home (может
Another letter came from Edward for each of them (от Эдварда пришли следующие письма каждому из них), and still he made no mention of his return (и опять он не упомянул о своем возвращении); but when he wrote he could not have received Bateman's inquiry (но /в тот момент/, когда он писал, он не мог еще получить письма с вопросом от Бейтмана; inquiry — наведение справок; вопрос, запрос). The next mail would bring them an answer to that (на это письмо ответ должен был прибыть со следующей почтой). The next mail came, and Bateman brought Isabel the letter he had just received (доставили следующую почту, и Бейтман принес Изабелле письмо, которое он только что получил); but the first glance of his face was enough to tell her that he was disconcerted (но единственного: «первого» взгляда на его лицо было достаточно, чтобы сказать ей, что он был обескуражен; to disconcert— приводить в замешательство, смущать). She read it through carefully (она внимательно прочла его до конца; carefully— осторожно; тщательно, внимательно) and then, with slightly tightened lips, read it again (а потом, слегка поджав губы, перечитала его снова; to tighten— сжимать).
mention ['menS(q)n], inquiry [In'kwaI(q)rI], disconcerted ["dIskqn'sWtId], tighten [taItn]
"Perhaps in his answer to your letter he'll say when he's coming home. All we can do is to wait for that."
Another letter came from Edward for each of them, and still he made no mention of his return; but when he wrote he could not have received Bateman's inquiry. The next mail would bring them an answer to that. The next mail came, and Bateman brought Isabel the letter he had just received; but the first glance of his face was enough to tell her that he was disconcerted. She read it through carefully and then, with slightly tightened lips, read it again.
"It's a very strange letter (очень странное письмо)," she said. "I don't quite understand it (я его не вполне понимаю)."
"One might almost think that he was joshing me (можно
"It reads like that, but it must be unintentional (так оно и звучит, но это, наверное, случайно/непреднамеренно; tread— читать; читаться). That's so unlike Edward (это так не похоже на Эдварда)."
"He says nothing about coming back (он ничего не говорит о возвращении)."
"If I weren't so confident of his love I should think (если бы я не была так уверена в его любви, я бы подумала)… I hardly know what I should think (я даже и не знаю, что бы я подумала)."
josh [dZOS], unintentional ["AnIn'tenS(q)nql], unlike [An'laIk]
"It's a very strange letter," she said. "I don't quite understand it."
"One might almost think that he was joshing me," said Bateman, flushing.
"It reads like that, but it must be unintentional. That's so unlike Edward."
"He says nothing about coming back."
"If I weren't so confident of his love I should think… I hardly know what I should think."
It was then that Bateman had broached the scheme (именно тогда Бейтман завел разговор о том самом плане; to broach — делать прокол; огласить, начать обсуждение/вопроса/) which during the afternoon had formed itself in his brain (который сложился у него в голове еще днем; to form — придавать форму; создавать, формулировать, оформляться; brain — мозг). The firm, founded by his father, in which he was now a partner (фирма, основанная его отцом, и в которой он сейчас был компаньоном), a firm which manufactured all manner of motor vehicles (фирма, которая производила всякого рода автомобили: «механические транспортные средства»), was about to establish agencies in Honolulu, Sidney, and Wellington (намеревалась открыть представительства в Гонолулу, Сиднее и Веллингтоне; to establish — основывать, учреждать); and Bateman proposed that himself should go instead of the manager who had been suggested (и Бейтман предложил, что он сам поедет вместо назначенного управляющего: «управляющего, который был выдвинут /кандидатом/»). He could return by Tahiti (он мог бы вернуться через Таити); in fact, travelling from Wellington, it was inevitable to do so (на самом деле, отправляясь из Веллингтона, это оказалось бы неизбежным); and he could see Edward (он мог бы повидаться с Эдвардом).
broach [brqutS], scheme [ski: m], vehicle ['vi: Ik(q)l], inevitable [I'nevItqb(q)l]
It was then that Bateman had broached the scheme which during the afternoon had formed itself in his brain. The firm, founded by his father, in which he was now a partner, a firm which manufactured all manner of motor vehicles, was about to establish agencies in Honolulu, Sidney, and Wellington; and Bateman proposed that himself should go instead of the manager who had been suggested. He could return by Tahiti; in fact, travelling from Wellington, it was inevitable to do so; and he could see Edward.
"There's some mystery and I'm going to clear it up (в этом какая-та тайна, и я собираюсь ее раскрыть; to clear up — проясниться; выяснить, раскрыть). That's the only way to do it (это единственный путь сделать это)."
"Oh, Bateman, how can you be so good and kind (о, Бейтман, какой же ты хороший и добрый: «как ты можешь быть таким хорошим и добрым»)? " she exclaimed (воскликнула она).
"You know there's nothing in the world I want more than your happiness, Isabel (ты же знаешь, Изабелла, что в мире нет ничего, чего бы я желал больше, чем твое счастье)."