Oscar Wilde: The Canterville Ghost

statue [`stætju: ] delight [di`lait ] tears [tiəz ]

Miss Virginia E. Otis was a little girl of fifteen, lithe and lovely as a fawn, and with a fine freedom in her large blue eyes. She was a wonderful Amazon, and had once raced old Lord Bilton on her pony twice round the park, winning by a length and a half, just in front of the Achilles statue, to the huge delight of the young Duke of Cheshire, who proposed for her on the spot, and was sent back to Eton that very night by his guardians, in floods of tears.

After Virginia came the twins(после Вирджинии /в семье/ шли близнецы; to come — подходить, приходить; появляться), who were usually called "The Star and Stripes(которых обычно называли «Звезда и полосы» /т.е. «американский флаг»)," as they were always getting swished(так как их всегда секли розгой; to get — получать; доставать, добывать; становиться, делаться; to swish — рассекать воздух со свистом; сечь /розгой/). They were delightful boys(они были чудесные мальчики), and, with the exception of the worthy Minister(и, за исключением уважаемого посла)the only true republicans of the family(единственные республиканцы в семье).

delightful [di`laitfυl] worthy [`wə:ði ] exception [ik`sep∫n ]

After Virginia came the twins, who were usually called "The Star and Stripes," as they were always getting swished. They were delightful boys, and, with the exception of the worthy Minister, the only true republicans of the family.

As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot(так как Кентервиль Чейз находится в семи милях от Эскота {Ascot — деревушка в графстве Беркшир, известная своим ипподромом; место ежегодных скачек близ Виндзора}), the nearest railway station(ближайшей железнодорожной станции), Mr. Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them(телеграфировал, чтобы /за ними/ прислали экипаж; to meet them — встретить их), and they started on their drive in high spirits(и они отправились в поездку в хорошем настроении). It was a lovely July evening(был прекрасный июльский вечер), and the air was delicate with the scent of the pinewoods(и воздух был напоен запахом соснового леса; delicate — изысканный, утонченный; нежный). Now and then they heard a wood-pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice(время от времени они слышали вяхиря, грустящего под свой собственный нежный голосок; over its own sweet voice — «под свой собственный нежный голос»; to brood — высиживать яйца; размышлять /особ. грустно; about, on, over, upon — над чем-л./; вынашивать /в уме, в душе/), or saw, deep in the rustling fern(или видели в глубине шуршащего папоротника), the burnished breast of the pheasant(яркую грудь фазана; to burnish — чистить, полировать; покрывать глянцем, делать блестящим).

wood-pigeon [`wυd"pidζn ] breast [brest ] pheasant [feznt ]

As Canterville Chase is seven miles from Ascot, the nearest railway station, Mr. Otis had telegraphed for a waggonette to meet them, and they started on their drive in high spirits. It was a lovely July evening, and the air was delicate with the scent of the pinewoods. Now and then they heard a wood-pigeon brooding over its own sweet voice, or saw, deep in the rustling fern, the burnished breast of the pheasant.

Little squirrels peered at them from the beech-trees as they went by(маленькие белочки глядели на них с буковых деревьев в то время как они проезжали мимо; to peer — всматриваться, вглядываться), and the rabbits scudded away through the brushwood and over the mossy knolls(и кролики мчались через заросли кустарника и поросшие мхом холмики), with their white tails in the air(и их белые хвостики /мелькали/ в воздухе). As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase, however(однако, когда они въехали на дорогу, ведущую к Кентервиль Чейз), the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds(небо внезапно покрылось тучами; to become — становиться; overcast — покрывать мраком, закрывать; затемнять), a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere(странная тишина, казалось, воцарилась в атмосфере; to hold — держать; владеть), a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads(большая стая грачей пролетела беззвучно над их головами), and, before they reached the house(и прежде чем они достигли дома), some big drops of rain had fallen(упало несколько больших капель дождя).

squirrel [`skwirəl ] curious [`kjυəriəs ] flight [flait ]

Little squirrels peered at them from the beech-trees as they went by, and the rabbits scudded away through the brushwood and over the mossy knolls, with their white tails in the air. As they entered the avenue of Canterville Chase, however, the sky became suddenly overcast with clouds, a curious stillness seemed to hold the atmosphere, a great flight of rooks passed silently over their heads, and, before they reached the house, some big drops of rain had fallen.

Standing on the steps to receive them was an old woman(на ступеньках стояла, встречая их, старая женщина; to stand), neatly dressed in black silk, with a white cap and apron(опрятно одетая в черное шелковое /платье/, в белом чепце и переднике; black silk — черный шелк). This was Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper(это была миссис Амней, экономка), whom Mrs. Otis, at Lady Canterville's earnest request(которую миссис Отис, по искренней просьбе леди Кентервиль), had consented to keep in her former position(согласилась оставить в ее прежней должности). She made them each a low curtsey as they alighted(она сделала каждому из них низкий реверанс, когда они выходили из экипажа; to alight — слезать; спешиваться, сходить)and said in a quaint, old-fashioned manner(и сказала в странной, старомодной манере), "I bid you welcome to Canterville Chase(я приветствую вас /по поводу вашего прибытия/ в Кентервиль Чейз; to bid welcome — /уст./ приветствовать)".