O. Henry - 7 shorts stories more by O. Henry. Книга для чтения на английском языке

Madame was alone in the Hotel Lotus. She was alone as a queen is alone, because of her high position. She rose from bed late in the morning. She was then a sweet, soft person who seemed to shine quietly.

But at dinner she was different. She would wear a beautiful dress. I cannot find words fine enough to tell about it. Always there were red flowers at her shoulder. When the head waiter|главный официант| saw a dress like this, he met it at the door. You thought of Paris when you saw it, and of the theater and of old romances.

A storyabout Madame Beaumont was told| история рассказывалась | among the guests in the Hotel Lotus. It was said|Поговаривали… Стандартная фраза в английском, когда надо сказать, что что-то обсуждалось, но неважно кем именно| that she was a woman who had traveled| объездила . Had traveled – это время значит , что мир она объездила к моменту, когда заселилась в отель | all over the world. It was said that she knew the most important people everywhere. It was said that in her white hands she held the future of certain| некоторых | nations.

It was no surprise, they said, that such a lady should choose the Hotel Lotus. It was the most desirable and the most restful place in America during the heat of summer.

On the third day of Madame Beaumont’s stay in the hotel, a young man entered as a guest. His clothes were quiet| здесь – скромная | but good. His face was pleasant. His expression was that of a man who had traveled and could understand the world. He said that he would remain three or four days. He asked about the sailing of certain ships| отплытии некоторых кораблей |. He seemed to like this hotel the best of all he had known.

The young man put his name on the list of hotel guests: Harold Farrington. It was a name with a fine sound. And the young man belonged perfectly in the quiet life of the Lotus. In one day he became like all the other guests. Like them he had his table and his waiter. He also had the same fear that the wrong people might suddenly discover this hotel and destroy its peace.

After dinner on the next day, Madame Beaumont dropped something as she passed| когда проходила мимо | Harold Farrington’s table. He picked it up and, following her, returned it. He spoke only a few quiet words as he did this, and she was pleased| ей понравились | by his good manners. She knew that he was a gentleman.

Guests of the Lotus seemed to understand each other very easily. Perhaps it was the result of having discovered this Broadway hotel. Guests felt sure that only especially fine people would enjoy the cool delights of the Lotus. Now, very quickly, a sudden friendship grew between Farrington and Madame Beaumont. They stood and talked for a few moments.

“I have seen too much of the usual summer hotels,” said Madame Beaumont, with a small but sweet smile. “Why go to the mountains or the seashore| морской берег |? We cannot escape noise and dust there. The people who make noise and dust follow us there.”

“Even on the ocean,” said Farrington, sadly, “those same people are all around us. What shall we do| Что же нам следует сделать | when they discover the Lotus?”

“I hope they don’t discover the Lotus this week,” said Madame. “I know only one other place I like as well| так же как и это . В большинстве случаев фраза as well в конце предложения значит «заодно» или «также» |. It is the beautiful home of a princein the mountains in Europe.”

“The best people,” said Farrington, “are seeking for the quiet places, like this one, where they can escape the crowds| сбежать от толпы |.”

“I promise myself three more days of this delightful rest,” said Madame Beaumont. “The next day my ship sails.”

Harold Farrington’s eyes showed that he was sorry| ему было жаль |. “I too must leave then,” he said. “But I am not sailing for Europe.”

“We cannot stay here forever, though it is so delightful,” said Madame Beaumont. “ I like it better| Здесь мне нравится больше | than my usual life, which is too full of people. I shall| у shall в английском два значения : 1) будущего времени (как в этом предложении) , 2) «следует». В современном английском shall как указатель будущего времени давно уже вытеснен will, однако смысл «c ледует» до сих пор актуален: Shall I open the window? – а не следует ли мне открыть окно ?| never forget my week in the Hotel Lotus.”

“ Nor shall I,” | Я тоже не забуду. Nor это русское «ни» , который используется в предложениях типа «я тоже не» или «я не пью ни кофе, ни чая»: I drink neither coffee nor tea или (без neither): I don’t drink coffee nor tea | said Farrington in a low voice. “And I shall never like the ship that carries you away| увезет вас в дальние края |.”

On their last evening the two sat together at a little table. A waiter brought them something cool| прохладное. Не крутое. Во времена О.Генри такого смысла у слова cool еще не было | to eat.

Madame Beaumont was wearing the same beautiful dress. She seemed thoughtful| задумчивой |.

When she had finished eating, she took out a dollar.

“Mr. Farrington,” she said, with the smile that everyone in the Lotus loved, “I want to tell you something. I’m going to leave early tomorrow morning because I must go back to work. I work selling| продавая | women’s clothes at Casey’s shop. That dollar is all the money I have. I won’t have more until I get paid| мне заплатят | at the end of the week. You’re a real gentleman and you’ve been good to me. I wanted to tell you before I went.

“For a year I’ve been planning to come here. Each week I put aside| откладывала | a little of my pay, so that I would have enough money. I wanted to live one week like a rich lady. I wanted to get up in the morning when I wished. I wanted to be served by waiters. I wanted to have the best of everything. Now I’ve done it, and I’ve been happier than I ever was before. And now I’m going back to work.

“I wanted to tell you about it, Mr. Farrington, because I – I thought you liked me, and I – I liked you. This week I’ve told you many things that weren’t true. I told you things I’ve read about. They never happened to me. I’ve been living in a story| Эту неделю я жила в выдуманной истории |. It wasn’t real. I wanted you to think I was a great lady.