Уильям Коллинз - Английский с Уилки Коллинзом. Женщина из сна / Wilkie Collins. The Dream Woman

I own I was proud of Alicia when I led her into our little parlor at the appointed time. She had never, to my mind, looked so beautiful as she looked that day. I never noticed any other woman’s dress – I noticed hers as carefully as if I had been a woman myself! She wore a black silk gown, with plain collar and cuffs, and a modest lavender-colored bonnet, with one white rose in it placed at the side. My mother, dressed in her Sunday best, rose up, all in a flutter, to welcome her daughter-in-law that was to be. She walked forward a few steps, half smiling, half in tears – she looked Alicia full in the face – and suddenly stood still.

Her cheeks turned white in an instant(ее щеки побледнели в один миг; to turn – поворачивать/ся/; становиться ) ; her eyes stared in horror(глаза смотрели в ужасе) ; her hands dropped helplessly at her sides(руки беспомощно упали /по бокам/; to drop – ронять; падать, опускаться ) . She staggered back(она отшатнулась назад; to stagger – шататься; идти шатаясь ) , and fell into the arms of my aunt, standing behind her(и упала в руки тетушки, стоявшей позади нее).

It was no swoon – she kept her senses(это был не обморок – она сохраняла сознание) . Her eyes turned slowly from Alicia to me(она медленно перевела взгляд с Алисии на меня) . “Francis,” she said, “does that woman’s face remind you of nothing(Фрэнсис, тебе ни о чем не напоминает лицо этой женщины) ?”

Before I could answer(прежде чем я мог ответить) , she pointed to her writing-desk on the table at the fireside(она указала на свой несессер на столе у камина) . “Bring it!” she cried, “bring it(принеси его! – крикнула она, – принеси его) !”

At the same moment I felt Alicia’s hand on my shoulder(в то же мгновение я почувствовал руку Алисии на своем плече) , and saw Alicia’s face red with anger – and no wonder(и увидел ее лицо, красное от гнева, – и ничего удивительного)!

Her cheeks turned white in an instant; her eyes stared in horror; her hands dropped helplessly at her sides. She staggered back, and fell into the arms of my aunt, standing behind her.

It was no swoon – she kept her senses. Her eyes turned slowly from Alicia to me. “Francis,” she said, “does that woman’s face remind you of nothing?”

Before I could answer, she pointed to her writing-desk on the table at the fireside. “Bring it!” she cried, “bring it!”

At the same moment I felt Alicia’s hand on my shoulder, and saw Alicia’s face red with anger – and no wonder!

“What does this mean?” she asked(что это значит? – спросила она) . “Does your mother want to insult me(твоя мать хочет меня оскорбить) ?”

I said a few words to quiet her(я сказал несколько слов, чтобы ее успокоить) ; what they were I don’t remember(что это были за слова – не помню) – I was so confused and astonished at the time(я был так смущен и удивлен в то время; to confuse – смущать, приводить в замешательство; to astonish – удивлять, изумлять ) . Before I had done, I heard my mother behind me(прежде чем я закончил, я услышал матушку позади меня).

My aunt had fetched her desk(тетушка принесла несессер) . She had opened it(матушка открыла его) ; she had taken a paper from it(она достала из него листок бумаги; paper – бумага; лист бумаги ) . Step by step, helping herself along by the wall(шаг за шагом, придерживаясь за стенку; to help – помогать; содействовать ) , she came nearer and nearer, with the paper in her hand(она подходила все ближе и ближе, держа в руке листок) . She looked at the paper – she looked in Alicia’s face(она взглянула на листок – /потом/ заглянула в лицо Алисии) – she lifted the long, loose sleeve of her gown(она подняла длинный свободный/широкий рукав ее платья) , and examined her hand and arm(и вгляделась в ее руку и кисть; to examine – рассматривать; исследовать, изучать ) . I saw fear suddenly take the place of anger in Alicia’s eyes(я видел, как страх внезапно появился вместо гнева в глазах Алисии; to take the place of – занимать /чье-л./ место, сменять ).

“What does this mean?” she asked. “Does your mother want to insult me?”

I said a few words to quiet her; what they were I don’t remember – I was so confused and astonished at the time. Before I had done, I heard my mother behind me.

My aunt had fetched her desk. She had opened it; she had taken a paper from it. Step by step, helping herself along by the wall, she came nearer and nearer, with the paper in her hand. She looked at the paper – she looked in Alicia’s face – she lifted the long, loose sleeve of her gown, and examined her hand and arm. I saw fear suddenly take the place of anger in Alicia’s eyes.

She shook herself free of my mother’s grasp(она вырвалась из рук матушки; to shake – трясти/сь/, сотрясать/ся/; сделать рывок; free – свободный, независимый; вольный; grasp – крепкое сжатие; хватка ) . “Mad!” she said to herself(сумасшедшая! – тихо сказала она: «сказала себе») , “and Francis never told me(а Фрэнсис мне никогда не рассказывал) !” With those words she ran out of the room(с этими словами она выбежала из комнаты).