Элинор Портер - Поллианна / Pollyanna

“Guess! What do you want?”

The sick woman frowned.

“Why, I don’t WANT anything,” she sighed. “After all, they all taste alike!”

Pollyanna chuckled.

“If you DID want something, what would it be?”

The woman hesitated.

“Well, of course, there’s lamb broth – ”

“I’ve got it!” crowed Pollyanna.

“ But that’s what I DIDN’T want, [53] But that’s what I DIDN’T want. – Нет, это как раз то, чего я не хотела. ” sighed the sick woman. “It was chicken I wanted.”

“Oh, I’ve got that, too,” chuckled Pollyanna.

The woman turned in amazement.

“Both of them?” she demanded.

“Yes – and calf’s-foot jelly,” triumphed Pollyanna. “I was just bound you should have what you wanted for once; so Nancy and I fixed it. “I’ll leave them all,” announced Pollyanna.

Suddenly Milly appeared at the door.

“ Your aunt is wanting you, [54] Your aunt is wanting you – Ваша тетушка желает вас видеть Miss Pollyanna.

Pollyanna rose.

“All right,” she sighed. “Goodbye, I’m awfully sorry about the hair – I wanted to do it. But maybe I can next time!”

One by one the July days passed. To Pollyanna, they were happy days, indeed. She often told her aunt, joyously, how very happy they were. Her aunt usually replied:

“Very well, Pollyanna. I am gratified, of course, that they are happy; but I trust that they are profitable, as well – otherwise I should have failed signally in my duty. [55] otherwise I should have failed signally in my duty – иначе я решу, что плохо выполняю свой долг ”

“Is just being glad isn’t pro-fi-ta-ble?” asked Pollyanna, a little anxiously.

“Certainly not.”

“Oh dear! I’m afraid, now, you won’t ever play the game, Aunt Polly.”

“Game? What game?”

“Why, that father – ” Pollyanna clapped her hand to her lips. “N-nothing,” she stammered. Miss Polly frowned.

It was that afternoon that Pollyanna, coming down from her attic room, met her aunt on the stairway.

“Why, Aunt Polly,” she cried. “You were coming up to see me! Come right in. I love company,” said Pollyanna, “ especially since I’ve had this room, [56] especially since I’ve had this room – особенно с тех пор, как у меня есть эта комната all mine, you know. And of course NOW I just love this room, even if it hasn’t got the carpets and curtains and pictures – ” With a painful blush Pollyanna stopped.

“What’s that, Pollyanna?”

Pollyanna blushed still more painfully.

“I ought not to have, of course, Aunt Polly,” she apologized. “It was only because I’d always wanted them and hadn’t had them, I suppose.”

Miss Polly rose suddenly to her feet. Her face was very red.

“ That will do, [57] That will do – Довольно Pollyanna,” she said.

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ma’am– мэм (краткая форма обращения к женщине; в настоящее время практически не используется)

Nancy had never worked for anybody before– До этого Нэнси ни на кого не работала

Oh, won’t that be nice!– Ну разве это не здорово!

she had received– она получила

were not on the best of terms– не очень ладили

she had said she would take the child– она сказала, что возьмет ребенка

The man’s jaw fell.– У мужчины упала челюсть.

As if ever anybody could be fond of her!– Можно подумать, найдется кто-то, кому она понравится!

She used to be real handsome – and she would be now, if she’d let herself be.– Она была настоящей красавицей, и сейчас бы была, если бы захотела.

I hoped you would.– Я надеялась, что вы придете.

The Ladies’ Aid– Организация «Женская помощь», одно из благотворительных обществ в США

I knew it was going to be pretty– Я знала, что будет очень красиво!

you’ve made an awful mistake, dear– ты ошибаешься, дорогая

You bet your life there is– Еще как есть (о существовании тети Полли)

face fell– лицо вытянулось от изумления

My!– О боже!

How can I be proud of any gift the Lord has sent me?– Как я могу гордиться дарами, которые посылает мне господь?

There, there, you, poor lamb– Ну-ну, бедненькая ты моя овечка

she will have to suffer the consequences– ей придется смириться с обстоятельствами

that blessed child’s gone– это чудесное дитя пропало

what a scare you did give me– как же вы меня напугали

Yes; the ‘just being glad’ game.– Да, игра заключается в том, чтобы всегда радоваться, быть довольной.

You mustn’t count too much– Ты не должна на меня серьезно рассчитывать

I’m very sorry, Pollyanna, to have been obliged so soon to send you into the kitchen to eat bread and milk.– Мне очень жаль, что пришлось отправить тебя на кухню есть хлеб с молоком.