Мюриэль Спарк - Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

As we paid the farm-hand, George said, "I'll walkback with you part of the way. But I mustn't stop, myold cousin's without any milk for her tea. How's Kathleen?"

"She was kept in London. She's coming on later,about seven, she expects."

We had reached the end of the first field. George'sway led to the left and on to the main road.

"We'll see you tonight, then?" I said.

"Yes, and talk about old times."

"Grand," I said.

But George got over the stile with me.

"Look here," he said, "i'd like to talk to you,Needle."

"We'll talk tonight, George (мы поговорим сегодня вечером, Джордж). Better not keep your cousin (лучше не заставлять: «держать» твою кузину) waiting for the milk (ждать молоко)." I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child (я обнаружила, что разговариваю с ним, почти как с ребенком: «если бы он был ребенком»).

"No, I want to talk to you alone (нет, я хочу поговорить с тобой наедине). This is a good opportunity (это хорошая возможность = удобный случай)."

We began to cross the second field (мы уже шли: «начали пересекать» по второму полю). I had been hoping (я надеялась) to have the house to myself (что побуду в доме одна: «иметь дом для себя») for a couple more hours (еще пару часов) and I was rather petulant (и была довольно раздражена).

"See (смотри)," he said suddenly (сказал он неожиданно), "that haystack (тот стог сена)."

"Yes," I said absently (да, — сказала я рассеянно; absent — отсутствующий, рассеянный ).

field [fi: ld] petulant ['petjVlqnt] absently ['xbs(q)ntlI]

"We'll talk tonight, George. Better not keep yourcousin waiting for the milk." I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child.

"No, I want to talk to you alone. This is a good opportunity."

We began to cross the second field. I had beenhoping to have the house to myself for a couple morehours and I was rather petulant.

"See," he said suddenly, "that haystack."

"Yes," I said absently.

"Let's sit there and talk (давай посидим там и поговорим). I'd like to see you up on a haystack again (я хочу снова увидеть тебя на стоге сена). I still keep that photo (я все еще храню: «держу» то фото). Remember that time when — (помнишь, в тот раз: «в то время», когда)"

"I found the needle (я нашла иголку)," I said very quickly (сказала я очень быстро), to get it over (чтобы покончить с этим; to get over — закончить, разделаться ).

But I was glad to rest (но я была рада чуть отдохнуть). The stack had been broken up (стог был разбросан; to brake up — ломать ), but we managed to find (но нам удалось найти; to manage — управлять, справляться ) a nest in it (удобное местечко: «гнездо в нем»). I buried (я закопала; to bury — хоронить, зарывать ) my bottle of milk (свою бутыль молока) in the hay for coolness (в соломе для охлаждения; cool — прохладный ). George placed his carefully (Джордж аккуратно положил свою) at the foot of the stack (у подножия, у основания: «ноги» стога; foot — feet = нога ).

nest [nest] coolness ['ku: lnIs] bury ['berI] buried ['berId]

"Let's sit there and talk. I'd like to see you up on a haystack again. I still keep that photo. Remember that time when—"

"I found the needle," I said very quickly, to get itover.

But I was glad to rest. The stack had been brokenup, but we managed to find a nest in it. I buried my bottle of milk in the hay for coolness. George placedhis carefully at the foot of the stack.

"My old cousin is terribly vague (моя старая кузина ужасно рассеянная; vague — неясный, неопределенный ), poor soul (бедняжка: «бедная душа»). A bit hazy in her head (немного не от мира сего: «немножко туманна в своей голове»). She hasn't the least sense of time (у нее нет ни малейшего чувства времени). If I tell her (если я скажу ей) I've only been gone ten minutes (что меня не было только десять минут) she'll believe it (она поверит в это; to believe — верить )."

I giggled (я хихикнула), and looked at him (и взглянула на него). His face had grown much larger (его лицо стало гораздо больше: «выросло»; to grow — расти ), his lips full (его губы полные), wide (широкие), and with a ripe colour (насыщенного: «зрелого» цвета) that is strange in a man (что довольно странно для мужчины). His brown eyes (его карие глаза) were abounding (были наполнены; to abound — иметься в большом количестве ) as before (как и раньше) with some inarticulate plea (какой-то бессловесной мольбой; (in)articulate — (не)членораздельный; plea — просьба, заявление ).

vague [veIg] hazy ['heIzI] inarticulate ["InQ:'tIkjVlIt] plea [pli:]

"My old cousin is terribly vague, poor soul. A bithazy in her head. She hasn't the least sense of time. IfItell her I've only been gone ten minutes she'llbelieve it."

I giggled, and looked at him. His face had grown much larger, his lips full, wide, and with a ripe colourthat is strange in a man. His brown eyes wereabounding as before with some inarticulate plea.

"So you're going to marry Skinny (так ты собираешься замуж за Скинни) after all these years (после всех этих лет)?"

"I really don't know (я правда не знаю), George."

"You played him up properly (ты всячески использовала его; to play up — поддерживать; использовать; properly — должным образом, как следует )."

"It isn't for you to judge (не тебе судить; to judge — судить ). I have my own reasons for what I do (у меня есть собственные мотивы для моих поступков; reason — причина )."

"Don't get sharp (не заводись: «не становись резкой»; sharp — острый, крутой )," he said, "I was only funning (я всего лишь шутил: to fun — дурачиться; fun — веселье )." To prove it (чтобы доказать это; to prove ), he lifted a tuft of hay (он поднял пучок сена; to lift — поднимать ) and brushed my face with it (и прошелся им: «пригладил» по моему лицу; to brush — причесывать щеткой ).