Oscar Wilde: The Canterville Ghost

earnest [`ə:nist ] request [rik`west ] quaint [kweint ]

Standing on the steps to receive them was an old woman, neatly dressed in black silk, with a white cap and apron. This was Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper, whom Mrs. Otis, at Lady Canterville's earnest request, had consented to keep in her former position. She made them each a low curtsey as they alighted, and said in a quaint, old-fashioned manner, "I bid you welcome to Canterville Chase."

Following her(следуя за ней), they passed through the fine Tudor hall into the library(они прошли через прекрасный тюдорианский холл в библиотеку), a long, low room, panelled in black oak(длинную, /с низким потолком/ комнату, обитую панелью из черного дуба), at the end of which was a large stained glass window(в конце которой находилось широкое витражное окно; stained glass — цветное стекло; stain — пятно; to stain — пятнать; красить; набивать рисунок). Here they found tea laid out for them(там они обнаружили чай, сервированный для них; to find — находить; обнаруживать; to lay out — выкладывать, выставлять), and, after taking off their wraps(и, после того как они сняли накидки; to take off), they sat down and began to look round(они уселись и начали осматриваться; to sit down; to begin), while Mrs. Umney waited on them(в то время как миссис Амней прислуживала им).

through [θru: ] oak [əυk ] wrap [ræp ]

Following her, they passed through the fine Tudor hall into the library, a long, low room, panelled in black oak, at the end of which was a large stained glass window. Here they found tea laid out for them, and, after taking off their wraps, they sat down and began to look round, while Mrs. Umney waited on them.

Suddenly Mrs. Otis caught sight of a dull red stain on the floor just by the fireplace(внезапно миссис Отис заметила темно-красное пятно на полу как раз возле камина; to catch sight — заметить: «поймать вид»), and, quite unconscious of what it really signified(и, совсем не подозревая, чтό все это значит; unconscious — не осознающий /что-либо/), said to Mrs. Umney(сказала миссис Амней), "I am afraid something has been spilt there(я боюсь, там что-то пролили; to spill)."

caught [ko:t ] sight [sait ] unconscious [λn`kon∫əs ]

Suddenly Mrs. Otis caught sight of a dull red stain on the floor just by the fireplace, and, quite unconscious of what it really signified, said to Mrs. Umney, "I am afraid something has been spilt there."

"Yes, madam," replied the old housekeeper in a low voice(«Да, мадам», тихо ответила старая экономка; in a low voice — тихим: «низким» голосом), "blood has been spilt on that spot(кровь была пролита на этом месте)."

low [ləυ ] voice [vois ] blood [blλd]

"Yes, madam," replied the old housekeeper in a low voice, "blood has been spilt on that spot."

"How horrid(как ужасно)!" cried Mrs. Otis(воскликнула); "I don't at all care for blood-stains in a sitting-room(я вовсе не люблю пятен крови в гостиной). It must be removed at once(оно должно быть удалено немедленно)."

horrid [`horid ] cried [kraid ] care [kεə ]

"How horrid!" cried Mrs. Otis; "I don't at all care for blood-stains in a sitting-room. It must be removed at once."

The old woman smiled(старая женщина улыбнулась), and answered in the same low mysterious voice(и ответила тем же тихим, таинственным голосом), "It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville(это кровь леди Элеоноры де Кентервиль), who was murdered on that very spot by her own husband(которая была убита на этом самом месте ее собственным мужем), Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575(сэром Саймоном де Кентервиль в 1575 году). Sir Simon survived her nine years(сэр Саймон пережил ее на девять лет), and disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances(и исчез внезапно при очень странных обстоятельствах). His body has never been discovered(его тело /так и/ не было найдено; never — никогда; употр.для выражения эмоционального отрицания), but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase(но его /отягощенный виной/ дух все еще бродит по усадьбе; guilty — виновный; guilt — вина). The blood-stain has been much admired by tourists and others, and cannot be removed(пятном крови весьма восхищаются туристы и другие /посетители/ и его нельзя удалить: «не может быть удалено»)."

answer [`α:nsə ] murdered[`mə:dəd] guilty [`gilti ]

The old woman smiled, and answered in the same low, mysterious voice, "It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville, who was murdered on that very spot by her own husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, in 1575. Sir Simon survived her nine years, and disappeared suddenly under very mysterious circumstances. His body has never been discovered, but his guilty spirit still haunts the Chase. The blood-stain has been much admired by tourists and others, and cannot be removed."

"That is all nonsense(это все чепуха)," cried Washington Otis; "Pinkerton's Champion Stain Remover and Paragon Detergent will clean it up in no time(первоклассный пятновыводитель Пинкертона и моющее средство «Идеал» отчистят его тотчас же; paragon — образец, совершенство)," and before the terrified housekeeper could interfere(и прежде чем ужаснувшаяся экономка смогла вмешаться), he had fallen upon his knees(он опустился на колени; to fall — падать, опускаться), and was rapidly scouring the floor(и /начал/ быстро очищать пол)with a small stick of what looked like a black cosmetic(/чем-то/ похожим на маленький черный косметический карандаш; a small stick — маленькая палочка; to look like — выглядеть как /что-либо, кто-либо/). In a few moments no trace of the blood-stain could be seen(через несколько секунд от пятна не осталось и следа; could be seen — можно было видеть).