Мюриэль Спарк - Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

ground [graVnd] curtain ['kq: tn] furniture ['fq: nICq] germ [Gq: m]

autumn ['O: tqm] hygiene ['haIGi: n]

"You can't take everything on your shoulders," said Raymond. "You do very well by Elizabeth." They had pulled up outside the house where Elizabeth lived on the ground floor. Lou looked at the chipped paint, the dirty windows, and torn grey-white curtains and was reminded with starting clarity of her hopeless childhood in Liverpool from which, miraculously, hope had lifted her, and had come true, for the nurse had got her that job; and she had trained as a nurse among white-painted beds, and white shining walls, and tiles, hot water everywhere, and Dettol without stint. When she had first married she had wanted all white-painted furniture that you could wash and liberate from germs; but Raymond had been for oak, he did not understand the pleasure of hygiene and new enamel paint, for his upbringing had been orderly, he had been accustomed to a lounge suite and autumn tints in the front room all his life. And now Lou stood and looked at the outside of Elizabeth 's place and felt she had gone right back.

On the way back to the hotel (на обратном пути: «по пути назад» в отель) Lou chattered with relief (Лу болтала с облегчением; to chatter — болтать, трещать, тараторить ) that it was over (от того, что все закончилось; to be over — окончиться, завершиться ). "Poor Elizabeth (бедняжка: «бедная» Элизабет), she hasn't had much of a chance (у нее не было слишком много шансов). I liked little Francis (мне понравился малыш: «маленький» Франсис), what did you think of little Francis, Ray (что ты думаешь о маленьком Франсисе, Рэй)?"

Raymond did not like being called Ray (Раймонду не нравилось, что /она/ называла его Рэй), but he made no objection (но он не возражал, to object — протестовать, противиться ) for he knew (так как знал) that Lou had been under a strain (что Лу перенесла огромное напряжение; strain — напряжение, нагрузка, перегрузка ). Elizabeth had not been very pleasant (Элизабет не очень приятно себя вела: «была»; pleasant — милый, славный ). She had expressed admiration (она выразила восхищение) for Lou's hat (шляпкой Лу), bag (сумочкой), gloves (перчатками), and shoes (и туфлями), which were all navy blue (которые были все темно-синего цвета; navy blue — цветформыморскихофицеров ), but she had used an accusing tone (но она использовала обвиняющий тон; to accuse — обвинять, винить, придираться ). The house had been smelly and dirty (в доме дурно пахло: «дом был вонючим» и он был грязным). "I'll show you round (я тебе все покажу; toshowround— сопровождать, показывать кому-либо что-либо )," Elizabeth had said in a tone of mock refinement (тоном ложной утонченности; mock— фальшивый, мнимый, refinement— утонченность, изысканность ) and they were forced (и они были вынуждены) to push through a dark narrow passage (проталкиваться по темному узкому коридору: «проходу») behind her skinny form (за ее тощей фигурой) till they came to the big room where the children slept (до тех пор, пока они /не/ пришли в большую комнату, где спали дети ;tosleep— спать ). A row of old iron beds (ряд старых железных кроватей) each with a tumble of dark blanket rugs (на каждом: «каждый с» груда темных одеял и пледов), no sheets (без простыней). Raymond was indignant at the sight (Раймонд был возмущен увиденным: «видом») and hoped (и надеялся) that Lou was not feeling upset (что Лу не чувствует себя очень расстроенной; upset— расстроенный, встревоженный ). He knew very well (он очень хорошо знал, что) Elizabeth had a decent living income (Элизабет имела приличный доход; income— доход, поступления, прибыль ) from a number of public sources (от значительного числа общественных организаций: «источников»), and was simply a slut (и была просто неряхой), one of those who would not help themselves (одной из тех, кто не могут помочь самим себе).

objection [qb'GekS(q)n] admiration ["xdmq'reIS(q)n] refinement [rI'faInmqnt]

blanket ['blxNkIt] indignant [In'dIgnqnt]

On the way back to the hotel Lou chattered with relief that it was over. "Poor Elizabeth, she hasn't had much of a chance. I liked little Francis, what did you think of little Francis, Ray?"

Raymond did not like being called Ray, but he made no objection for he knew that Lou had been under a strain. Elizabeth had not been very pleasant. She had expressed admiration for Lou's hat, bag, gloves, and shoes, which were all navy blue, but she had used an accusing tone. The house had been smelly and dirty. "I'll show you round," Elizabeth had said in a tone of mock refinement, and they were forced to push through a dark narrow passage behind her skinny form till they came to the big room where the children slept. A row of old iron beds each with a tumble of dark blanket rugs, no sheets. Raymond was indignant at the sight and hoped that Lou was not feeling upset. He knew very well Elizabeth had a decent living income from a number of public sources, and was simply a slut, one of those who would not help themselves.

"Ever thought of taking a job, Elizabeth (когда-нибудь думала том, чтобы пойти работать, Элизабет; to take a job — устроитьсянаработу )?" he had said, and immediately realized his stupidity (и немедленно осознал глупость /сказанного/: «свою глупость»). But Elizabeth took her advantage (но Элизабет тут же воспользовалась этим; totakeadvantage— воспользоваться случаем, преимуществом ). "What d'you mean (что ты имеешь в виду)? I'm not going to leave my kids (я не собираюсь оставлять своих: «моих» детей) in no nursery (ни в каких яслях ;innonursery=inanynursery ). I'm not going to send them to no home (я не собираюсь отсылать их ни в какие приюты: «благотворительные дома»). What kids need these days (что детям нужно сегодня: «в эти дни») is a good home-life (так это хорошая домашняя жизнь) and that's what they get (и это именно то, что они получают)." And she added (и она добавила), "God's eyes are not shut (глаза Господа не закрыты)," in a tone, which was meant for him, Raymond (тоном, который предназначался для него, Раймонда), to get at him (чтобы пройтись на его счет) for doing well in life (за то, что он преуспевает в жизни; todowell— процветать, преуспевать ).