Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

patron ['peItrqn], fashionable ['fxSnqbl], square [skweq]

Since there were just so many hours in a day her patrons were limited to some six or eight and she herself organized that the area of her labors was restricted to the fashionable sector of Eaton and Belgrave squares known as Belgravia. For once she had arrived in that neighborhood in the morning she was then able to walk quickly from house to flat to mews.

There was a Major Wallace, her bachelor (там /в числе клиентов/ был майор Уоллис, ее холостяк), whom naturally she spoiled and in whose frequent and changing love affairs she took an avid interest (которому она естественно потворствовала и чьими частыми и изменчивыми любовными делами она жадно интересовалась).

She was fond of a Mrs. Schreiber, a somewhat muddled person (она любила миссис Шрайбер, несколько бестолковую особу; to muddle — мутить, взбалтывать; перемешивать), the wife of a Hollywood film representative living in London (жену представителя голливудcкой кинопромышленности, проживающего в Лондоне), for her American warmth and generosity which displayed itself in many ways (за ее американскую сердечность и великодушие/щедрость, которые проявлялись по-разному: «многими способами»), but chiefly by her interest in and consideration for Mrs. Harris (но, главным образом, в ее участии и уважительном отношении к миссис Харрис; consideration — вежливость, предупредительность; почет, уважение).

bachelor ['bxCqlq], representative ["reprI'zentqtIv], generosity ["Genq'rOsItI]

There was a Major Wallace, her bachelor, whom naturally she spoiled and in whose frequent and changing love affairs she took an avid interest.

She was fond of a Mrs. Schreiber, a somewhat muddled person, the wife of a Hollywood film representative living in London, for her American warmth and generosity which displayed itself in many ways, but chiefly by her interest in and consideration for Mrs. Harris.

She "did" for fashionable Lady Dant (она «делала» = работала у светской Леди Дант), the wife of a wealthy industrial baron (жены состоятельного промышленного магната), who maintained a flat in London as well as a country manor (который содержал квартиру в Лондоне, а заодно и загородное поместье) — Lady Dant was always getting her picture in The Queen or The Tatler at hunt balls and charity affairs (Леди Дант всегда получала свою фотографию = ее фотографии всегда были в /журналах/ «Квин» или «Татлер» /где она была снята/ на охотничьих балах и благотворительных делах), and this made Mrs. Harris proud (и это наполняло миссис Харрис гордостью: «делало ее гордой»).

fashionable ['fxSnqbl], wealthy ['welTI], charity ['CxrItI]

She "did" for fashionable Lady Dant, the wife of a wealthy industrial baron, who maintained a flat in London as well as a country manor — Lady Dant was always getting her picture in The Queen or The Tatler at hunt balls and charity affairs, and this made Mrs. Harris proud.

There were others (были и другие): a White Russian Countess Wyszcinska (русская белоэмигрантка графиня Вышинская), whom Mrs. Harris liked because she was divinely mad (которую миссис Харрис любила, потому что она была божественно/изумительно безумна); a young married couple (молодая супружеская пара); a second son, whose charming flat she loved because there were pretty things in it (средний: «второй» сын, чью очаровательную квартиру она любила, потому что там было много прелестных вещиц/безделушек); Mrs. Fford Foulks, a divorcee (миссис Ффорд Фоулкс, разведенная женщина), who was a valuable mine of gossip as to what the idle rich were up to (которая была ценным источником = кладезем слухов о том, что живущие в праздности богачи замышляли: be up to — замышлять что-л.); and several others, including a little actress, Miss Pamela Penrose (и несколько других, включая небольшую = начинающую актрису, мисс Памелу Пенроуз), who was struggling to gain recognition from her base in a two-room mews flat (которая старалась изо всех сил добиться признания из своей базы в двухкомнатной квартире, переделанной из конюшен; mews — конюшни).

All of these establishments Mrs. Harris looked after quite on her own (за всеми этими домами миссис Харрис смотрела/ухаживала полностью сама: establishment — учреждение; дом; to look after — ухаживать/заботиться).

couple [kApl], divorcee [dI"vO'sI], valuable ['vxljuqbl]

There were others: a White Russian Countess Wyszcinska, whom Mrs. Harris liked because she was divinely mad; a young married couple; a second son, whose charming flat she loved because there were pretty things in it; Mrs. Fford Foulks, a divorcee, who was a valuable mine of gossip as to what the idle rich were up to; and several others, including a little actress, Miss Pamela Penrose, who was struggling to gain recognition from her base in a two-room mews flat.

All of these establishments Mrs. Harris looked after quite on her own.

Yet she was not without assistance and someone to fall back on in case of emergency (однако она не обходилась без поддержки того, /к чьей/ помощи /могла/ прибегнуть в случае крайней необходимости) in the person of her friend and alter ego Mrs. Violet Butterfield (в лице ее подруги и единомышленницы миссис Вайолет Баттерфилд), like herself a widow and a char (такой же, как она сама, вдовы и уборщицы), and inclined to take the gloomy aspect of life and affairs wherever there was any choice (и склонной воспринимать жизнь и ее дела с мрачной стороны по любому поводу: «брать /именно/ мрачные стороны жизни и дел, где бы ни был выбор = когда был какой-либо выбор»; wherever — где бы ни, при любых обстоятельствах).

Mrs. Butterfield, who was as large and stout as Mrs. Harris appeared to be thin and frail (миссис Баттерфилд, которая была настолько же крупной и крепкой, насколько миссис Харрис казалась худощавой и хрупкой), naturally had her own set of clients, fortunately likewise in the same neighborhood (конечно, имела собственный набор клиентов, также, к счастью, в том же районе; neighborhood — сопредельность, соседство). But they helped one another out (но они выручали друг друга; to help out — выручать) with a nice bit of teamwork whenever the necessity arose (с приятным взаимодействием = с завидной слаженностью в работе всякий раз, когда возникала необходимость: to arise; teamwork — коллективная работа; согласованная работа; совместные усилия; взаимодействие; team — команда, коллектив).

inclined [In'klaInd], naturally ['nxCrqlI], necessity [nq'sesItI]

Yet she was not without assistance and someone to fall back on in case of emergency in the person of her friend and alter ego Mrs. Violet Butterfield, like herself a widow and a char, and inclined to take the gloomy aspect of life and affairs wherever there was any choice.

Mrs. Butterfield, who was as large and stout as Mrs. Harris appeared to be thin and frail, naturally had her own set of clients, fortunately likewise in the same neighborhood. But they helped one another out with a nice bit of teamwork whenever the necessity arose.

If either one of them was ill or had pressing business elsewhere (если одна из них была больна или имела срочные дела где-либо в другом месте; to press — жать, нажимать; торопить), the other would manage to pinch enough time from her clients (другая умудрялась выкроить достаточно времени от /обслуживания/ своих клиентов: to pinch — щипать; урезать/брать понемногу) to make the rounds of the other's customers sufficiently to keep them quiet and satisfied (чтобы сделать обход клиентов другой достаточно, чтобы сохранить их спокойными и довольными = обеспечить их покой и удовлетворенность). Were Mrs. Harris to be bedded with some malaise (если бы /случилось/ миссис Харрис лежать в постели с каким-либо недугом; malaise — недомогание), as rarely happened (как изредка случалось), she would telephone her clients to advise them of this catastrophe (она звонила своим клиентам, /чтобы/ сообщить им об этой беде: to advise — советовать; сообщать) and add (и добавляла): "But don't you worry mу friend Mrs. Butterfield will look in on you and I'll be around again tomorrow (но не переживайте — моя подруга, миссис Баттерфилд, зайдет к вам, а я появлюсь снова завтра = а завтра я снова появлюсь)," and vice versa (и наоборот).

either ['aI'Dq], enough [I'nAf], worry ['wArI], malaise [mq'leIz]

If either one of them was ill or had pressing business elsewhere, the other would manage to pinch enough time from her clients to make the rounds of the other's customers sufficiently to keep them quiet and satisfied. Were Mrs. Harris to be bedded with some malaise, as rarely happened, she would telephone her clients to advise them of this catastrophe and add: "But don't you worry my friend Mrs. Butterfield will look in on you and I'll be around again tomorrow," and vice versa.

Although they were different as night and day in character (хотя они были разными как день и ночь по характеру), they were firm (они были надежными), loving and loyal friends (любящими и верными друзьями), and considered covering one another a part of their duty in life (и считали взаимовыручку частью своего долга в жизни: to cover — накрывать; защищать/ оберегать; выручать). A friend was a friend and that was that (друг был другом, и в этом было дело). Mrs. Harris' basement flat was at No. 5 Willis Gardens (квартира миссис Харрис на цокольном этаже была № 5 по Уиллис-Гарденз), Mrs. Butterfield lived in No. 7 (миссис Баттерфилд жила в /квартире/ № 7), and rare was the day that they did not meet or visit one another (и редко выдавался такой день, /чтобы/ они не встретились или не навестили друг друга) to exchange news or confidences (чтобы обменяться новостями или секретами; confidence — вера, доверие; конфиденциальное сообщение, секретная информация).

although [Ll'Dqu], exchange [Iks'CeInG], confidence ['kOnfIdqns]

Although they were different as night and day in character, they were firm, loving and loyal friends, and considered covering one another a part of their duty in life. A friend was a friend and that was that. Mrs. Harris' basement flat was at No. 5 Willis Gardens, Mrs. Butterfield lived in No. 7, and rare was the day that they did not meet or visit one another to exchange news or confidences.

The taxicab crossed a big river (такси пересекло большую реку), the one Mrs. Harris had seen from the air (ту, которую миссис Харрис видела с воздуха), now gray instead of blue (теперь серую, а не голубую; instead of — вместо). On the bridge the driver got himself into a violent altercation with another chauffeur (на мосту водитель ввязался в ссору/перебранку с другим шофером: to get in — входить; вносить; вводить). They shouted and screamed at one another (они кричали и вопили = сильно кричали друг на друга) Mrs. Harris did not understand the words but guessed at the language and the import and smiled happily to herself (миссис Харрис не понимала слова, но попыталась отгадать язык и смысл и весело улыбнулась сама себе; import — импорт; значение, смысл). This time her thoughts returned to Miss Pamela Penrose (на этот раз ее мысли вернулись к Памеле Пенроуз) and the fuss she had kicked up when informed of Mrs. Harris' intention to take a day off (и шуму, который она подняла, когда узнала о намерении миссис Харрис взять выходной; to kick — пинать, лягаться; to kick up — поднимать /скандал, шум/). Mrs. Harris had made it a special point with Mrs. Butterfield (миссис Харрис дала особое указание миссис Баттерфилд) to see that the aspiring actress was not neglected (проследить, чтобы честолюбивая актриса не осталась безнадзорной = чтобы о ней позаботились; to aspire — стремиться, домогаться, устремляться; to neglect — пренебрегать; не заботиться).

altercation ["Lltq'keISqn], chauffeur ['Squfq], neglected [nI'glektId]

The taxicab crossed a big river, the one Mrs. Harris had seen from the air, now gray instead of blue. On the bridge the driver got himself into a violent altercation with another chauffeur. They shouted and screamed at one another. Mrs. Harris did not understand the words but guessed at the language and the import and smiled happily to herself. This time her thoughts returned to Miss Pamela Penrose and the fuss she had kicked up when informed of Mrs. Harris' intention to take a day off. Mrs. Harris had made it a special point with Mrs. Butterfield to see that the aspiring actress was not neglected.

Curiously, for all her shrewdness and judgment of character (странно, несмотря на всю прозорливость и рассудительность характера; shrewd — проницательный, прозорливый; рассудительный), Mrs. Harris' favorite of all her clients was Miss Penrose (любимицей миссис Харрис из всех ее клиентов была мисс Пенроуз).

The girl (девушка) — whose real name, as Mrs. Harris had gleaned from superficially inspecting letters (чье настоящее имя, как миссис Харрис выяснила из беглого осмотра писем; to glean — подбирать колосья /после жатвы/; тщательно подбирать, собирать /факты, сведения; по мелочам, обрывкам/) that occasionally came so addressed (которые порой приходили адресованные таким образом), was Enid Snite (было Энида Снайт) — lived untidily in a one-story walk-up mews flat (жила неопрятно в квартире в одноэтажном, выходящем на улицу доме — / бывших/ конюшнях, переделанных под жилые помещения), the headquarters for her precarious existence (штаб-квартира для ее шаткого/ненадежного существования).

curiously ['kjuqrIqslI], shrewdness ['SrHdnIs], occasionally [q'keIZnqlI]

Curiously, for all her shrewdness and judgment of character, Mrs. Harris' favorite of all her clients was Miss Penrose.

The girl — whose real name, as Mrs. Harris had gleaned from superficially inspecting letters that occasionally came so addressed, was Enid Snite — lived untidily in a one-story walk-up mews flat, the headquarters for her precarious existence.

She was a small, smooth blonde (она была невысокой, привлекательной блондинкой: smooth — гладкий; приятный/привлекательный) with a tight mouth and curiously static eyes (со сжатыми губами: «ртом» и удивительно неподвижными: «статичными» глазами) that seem fixed greedily upon but one thing — herself (которые, кажется, были алчно прикованы лишь к одному — к ней самой). She had an exquisite figure and clever tiny feet (у нее была изящная фигура и проворные миниатюрные ножки: clever — умный; проворный) that never once had tripped upon the corpses she had climbed over on her way up the ladder of success (которые ни разу не споткнулись о трупы, по которым она поднималась/карабкалась на своем пути к успеху: «по лестнице успеха»). There was nothing she would not do to further (не было ничего, /что/ она бы не сделала, /чтобы/ продвинуться дальше) what she was pleased to call her career (/по/ тому, что ей нравилось называть своей карьерой), which up to that time had included a year or two in the chorus line (которая к тому времени включала год или два /работы/ в хоре), some bit parts in a few pictures (какие-то эпизодические роли в нескольких фильмах) and several appearances on television (и несколько появлений на телевидении). She was mean (она была недоброжелательной), hard (черствой), selfish and ruthless (эгоистичной и беспощадной), and, of course, her manners were abominable as well (и, конечно, ее манеры были также отвратительны).

curiously ['kjuqrIqslI], exquisite ['ekskwIzIt], abominable [q'bOmInqbl]

She was a small, smooth blonde with a tight mouth and curiously static eyes that seem fixed greedily upon but one thing — herself. She had an exquisite figure and clever tiny feet that never once had tripped upon the corpses she had climbed over on her way up the ladder of success. There was nothing she would not do to further what she was pleased to call her career, which up to that time had included a year or two in the chorus line, some bit parts in a few pictures and several appearances on television. She was mean, hard, selfish and ruthless, and, of course, her manners were abominable as well.

One would have thought (можно было подумать; to think) that Mrs. Harris would have penetrated the false front of this little beast and abandoned her (что миссис Харрис проникнет за обманчивую внешность этой маленькой бестии и оставит/покинет ее), for it was so that when something about a client displeased Mrs. Harris (потому что так бывало, когда что-либо в клиенте вызывало недовольство миссис Харрис) she simply dropped the key through the mailbox and did not return (она просто бросала ключ в почтовый ящик и не возвращалась). Like so many of her sisters who did not char for charring's sake alone (как многие ее сестры, которые не занимались поденной работой/уборкой только ради уборки), even though it was her living (даже если это было ее средством к существованию; living — средства к существованию), she also brought a certain warmth to it (она также вносила некоторую сердечность в нее; to bring — приносить). She had to like either the person or the person's home where she worked (ей должен был нравиться либо сам человек, либо дом человека, где она работала).

penetrate ['penItreIt], through [TrH], certain [sWtn]

One would have thought that Mrs. Harris would have penetrated the false front of this little beast and abandoned her, for it was so that when something about a client displeased Mrs. Harris she simply dropped the key through the mailbox and did not return. Like so many of her sisters who did not char for charring's sake alone, even though it was her living, she also brought a certain warmth to it. She had to like either the person or the person's home where she worked.

But it was just the fact (в действительности: «это было просто фактом») that Mrs. Harris had pierced the front of Miss Snite to a certain extent that made her stick to her (миссис Харрис проникла за внешний вид мисс Снайт в некоторой степени, что привязало ее к ней), for she understood the fierce (потому что она поняла неистовое), wild (необузданное), hungry craving of the girl to be something, to be somebody (страстное желание девушки быть чем-то, быть кем-то; hungry — голодный), to lift herself out of the ruck of everyday struggle (подняться из толчеи ежедневной борьбы; ruck — куча, груда; кипа; толпа, толчея) and acquire some of the good things of life for herself (и достичь некоторых благ для себя).

pierce [pIqs], fierce [fIqs], acquire [qk'waIq]

But it was just the fact that Mrs. Harris had pierced the front of Miss Snite to a certain extent that made her stick to her, for she understood the fierce, wild, hungry craving of the girl to be something, to be somebody, to lift herself out of the ruck of everyday struggle and acquire some of the good things of life for herself.

Prior to her own extraordinary craving which had brought her to Paris (до того, как ее собственное незаурядное страстное желание привело ее в Париж: to bring; prior — прежний, бывший; предшествующий; to crave — страстно желать, жаждать), Mrs. Harris had not experienced this in herself (миссис Харрис не замечала этого в себе) though she understood it very well (хотя понимала это очень хорошо). With her (с ней = в ее случае) it had not been so much the endeavor to make something of herself (это было не столько стремлением сделаться кем-либо) as it had been the battle to survive (как = сколько битвой за выживание), and in that sense these two were not unalike (и в этом смысле обе они были похожи: «эти две не были непохожи»).

extraordinary [Iks'trLdnrI], experienced [Iks'pIqrIqnst], endeavor [In'devq]

Prior to her own extraordinary craving which had brought her to Paris, Mrs. Harris had not experienced this in herself though she understood it very well. With her it had not been so much the endeavor to make something of herself as it had been the battle to survive, and in that sense these two were not unalike.

When Mrs. Harris' husband had died some twenty years past and left her penniless (когда муж миссис Харрис умер около двадцати лет назад и оставил ее без гроша: «без пенни»), she simply had to make a go of things (она просто должна была справиться с положением; to make a go of it — добиться успеха), her widow's pension being insufficient (/так как/ ее вдовьей пенсии было недостаточно).

And then too there was the glamour of the theater (а еще ведь было очарование театра; glamour — волшебство, чары; чарующая сила) which surrounded Miss Snite (которое окружало мисс Снайт), or rather Penrose, as Mrs. Harris chose to think of her, and this was irresistible (или, вернее, Пенроуз, как миссис Харрис предпочитала думать о ней, и это было неотразимо; to resist — сопротивляться).

husband ['hAzbqnd], glamour ['glxmq], irresistible ["IrI'zIstqbl]

When Mrs. Harris' husband had died some twenty years past and left her penniless, she simply had to make a go of things, her widow's pension being insufficient.

And then too there was the glamour of the theater which surrounded Miss Snite, or rather Penrose, as Mrs. Harris chose to think of her, and this was irresistible.

Mrs. Harris was not impressed by titles (миссис Харрис не впечатляли звания), wealth (богатство), position (положение), or family (или родство), but she was susceptible to the enchantment that enveloped anything or anyone that had to do with the stage (но она была чувствительна/восприимчива к очарованию, которое окружало все или всякого, кто имел дело со сценой), the television (телевидением), or the flicks (или кино).

She had no way of knowing how tenuous and sketchy was Miss Penrose's connection with these (у нее не было возможности знать = она не представляла, как незначительна и поверхностна была связь миссис Пенроуз с ними; tenuous — тонкий; незначительный, слабый, бедный, скудный), that she was not only a bad little girl but a mediocre actress (что она была не только плохой девчонкой, но и посредственной актрисой).

susceptible [sq'septqbl], tenuous ['tenjuqs], mediocre ['mJdIqukq]

Mrs. Harris was not impressed by titles, wealth, position, or family, but she was susceptible to the enchantment that enveloped anything or anyone that had to do with the stage, the television, or the flicks.

She had no way of knowing how tenuous and sketchy was Miss Penrose's connection with these, that she was not only a bad little girl but a mediocre actress.