The Canterville Ghost
Шрифт:
еnthusiastic [in"ju:zi`aestik] egotism [e`gtizm] vengeance [`vendns]
With the enthusiastic egotism of the true artist, he went over his most celebrated performances, and smiled bitterly to himself as he recalled to mind his last appearance as "Red Reuben, or the Strangled Babe," his d'ebut as "Guant Gibeon, the Blood-sucker of Bexley Moor," and the furore he had excited one lovely June evening by merely playing ninepins with his own bones upon the lawn-tennis ground. And after all this some wretched modern Americans were to come and offer him the Rising Sun Lubricator, and throw pillows at his head! It was quite unbearable. Besides, no ghost in history had ever been treated in this manner. Accordingly, he determined to have vengeance, and remained till daylight in an attitude of deep thought.
III
The next morning, when the Otis family met at breakfast (на другое утро, когда семья Отисов встретилась за завтраком; to meet), they discussed the ghost at some length (они некоторое
injury [`indri] polite [p`lait] laughter [`l:ft]
The next morning, when the Otis family met at breakfast, they discussed the ghost at some length. The United States Minister was naturally a little annoyed to find that his present had not been accepted. "I have no wish," he said, "to do the ghost any personal injury, and I must say that, considering the length of time he has been in the house, I don't think it is at all polite to throw pillows at him,"—a very just remark, at which, I am sorry to say, the twins burst into shouts of laughter. "Upon the other hand," he continued, "if he really declines to use the Rising Sun Lubricator, we shall have to take his chains from him. It would be quite impossible to sleep, with such a noise going on outside the bedrooms."
For the rest of the week, however (однако до конца недели), they were undisturbed (их никто не беспокоил; to disturb — беспокоить), the only thing that excited any attention (и единственная вещь, которая привлекла их внимание) being the continual renewal of the blood-stain on the library floor (было постоянное появление: «возобновление» пятна крови на полу библиотеки). This certainly was very strange (это было, конечно, очень странно), as the door was always locked at night by Mr. Otis (так как дверь всегда запиралась на ночь мистером Отисом), and the windows kept closely barred (а окна были забраны частой решеткой; to keep — держать; хранить). The chameleon-like colour, also, of the stain excited a good deal of comment (хамелеоноподобный цвет пятна также вызвал много замечаний). Some mornings it was a dull (almost Indian) red (иногда он был тусклого, почти красного цвета), then it would be vermilion (иногда ярко-красного), then a rich purple (затем ярко-пурпурного), and once when they came down for family prayers (а однажды, когда они спустились вниз для /произнесения/ семейных молитв), according to the simple rites of the Free American Reformed Episcopalian Church (в соответствии с простыми обычаями Свободной американской реформированной епископальной церкви {The Free American Reformed Episcopalian Church — одно из направлений в американской протестантской церкви, которое не признает иерархии священнослужителей и призывает к упрощению религиозных обрядов}), they found it a bright emerald-green (они обнаружили, что оно было яркого изумрудно-зеленого цвета). These kaleidoscopic changes naturally amused the party very much (эти изменения, /происходящие как в калейдоскопе/, конечно, весьма забавляли их), and bets on the subject were freely made every evening (и каждое утро делались ставки на этот предмет; freely — свободно, вольно). The only person who did not enter into the joke was little Virginia (единственный человек, который не принимал участия в этих шутках, была Вирджиния), who, for some unexplained reason (которая, по какой-то необъяснимой причине; to explain — объяснять), was always a good deal distressed at the sight of the blood-stain (была всегда очень расстроена при виде пятна крови), and very nearly cried the morning it was emerald-green (и чуть не заплакала в то утро, /когда/ оно оказалось изумрудно-зеленым).
excited [ik`saitid] colour [`kl] purple [p:pl]
For the rest of the week, however, they were undisturbed, the only thing that excited any attention being the continual renewal of the blood-stain on the library floor. This certainly was very strange, as the door was always locked at night by Mr. Otis, and the windows kept closely barred. The chameleon-like colour, also, of the stain excited a good deal of comment. Some mornings it was a dull (almost Indian) red, then it would be vermilion, then a rich purple, and once when they came down for family prayers, according to the simple rites of the Free American Reformed Episcopalian Church, they found it a bright emerald-green. These kaleidoscopic changes naturally amused the party very much, and bets on the subject were freely made every evening. The only person who did not enter into the joke was little Virginia, who, for some unexplained reason, was always a good deal distressed at the sight of the blood-stain, and very nearly cried the morning it was emerald-green.
The second appearance of the ghost was on Sunday night (следующее
appearance [`pirns] armour [`:m] agony [`aegni]
The second appearance of the ghost was on Sunday night. Shortly after they had gone to bed they were suddenly alarmed by a fearful crash in the hall. Rushing down-stairs, they found that a large suit of old armour had become detached from its stand, and had fallen on the stone floor, while seated in a high-backed chair was the Canterville ghost, rubbing his knees with an expression of acute agony on his face.
The twins, having brought their pea-shooters with them (близнецы, /которые/ принесли с собой свои трубочки для стрельбы горохом), at once discharged two pellets on him (тут же оба выстрелили в него; pellet — дробинка /из хлеба, бумаги и т.д./), with that accuracy of aim (с таким метким попаданием в цель; accuracy — правильность, соответствие, точность; aim — цель) which can only be attained by long and careful practice on a writing-master (которое могло быть достигнуто лишь в результате долгой и тщательной практики на учителе чистописания), while the United States Minister covered him with his revolver (в то время как посол Соединенных штатов направил на него свой револьвер), and called upon him (и обратился к нему), in accordance with Californian etiquette (в соответствии с калифорнийским этикетом {Californian etiquette — имеются в виду культ грубой силы и жестокие нравы, характерные для золотоискателей Калифорнии}), to hold up his hands (чтобы тот поднял руки вверх)! The ghost started up with a wild shriek of rage (привидение подскочило с диким пронзительным криком ярости), and swept through them like a mist (и пронеслось сквозь них как дымка тумана; to sweep — мести; нестись, мчаться, проноситься), extinguishing Washington Otis's candle as he passed (затушив на своем пути: «когда он проходил мимо» свечу Вашингтона Отиса; to pass — проходить /мимо/), and so leaving them all in total darkness (и оставив их, таким образом, в полной темноте).
discharge [dis`t:d] careful [`kfl] shriek [ri:k]
The twins, having brought their pea-shooters with them, at once discharged two pellets on him, with that accuracy of aim which can only be attained by long and careful practice on a writing-master, while the United States Minister covered him with his revolver, and called upon him, in accordance with Californian etiquette, to hold up his hands! The ghost started up with a wild shriek of rage, and swept through them like a mist, extinguishing Washington Otis‘s candle as he passed, and so leaving them all in total darkness.
On reaching the top of the staircase (поднявшись вверх по лестнице: «достигнув верха лестницы»; to reach — достигать, доходить) he recovered himself (он пришел в себя) and determined to give his celebrated peal of demoniac laughter (и решил разразиться своим знаменитым демоническим смехом; peal — звон колоколов; трезвон; взрыв /смеха/). This he had on more than one occasion found extremely useful (это /средство/ он не один раз находил исключительно полезным; to find). It was said to have turned Lord Raker's wig grey in a single night (говорили,что это заставило парик лорда Рейкера поседеть за одну ночь; to turn — поворачивать; менять состояние, превращать), and had certainly made three of Lady Canterville's French governesses give warning (и совершенно точно вынудило трех французских гувернанток леди Кентервиль подать предупреждение /об уходе/; to warn — предупреждать) before their month was up (прежде, чем закончился их месяц = месяц их службы).