Мюриэль Спарк - Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

tubercular [tju:'bq: kjVlq] grief [gri: f] bugger ['bAgq] knitting ['nItIN]

Their prayers for the return of faith to Henry Pierce were so far answered in that he took a tubercular turn, which was followed by a religious one. He was sent off to a sanatorium in Wales with a promise from Lou and Raymond to visit him before Christmas. Meantime, they applied themselves to Our Lady for the restoration of Henry's health.

Oxford St. John, whose love affair with the red-haired girl had come to grief, now frequented their flat, but he could never quite replace Henry in their affections. Oxford was older and less refined than Henry. He would stand in front of the glass in their kitchen and tell himself. "Man, you just a big black bugger." He kept referring to himself as black, which of course he was, Lou thought, but it was not the thing to say. He stood in the doorway with his arms and smile thrown wide: "I am black but comely. O ye daughters of Jerusalem." And once, when Raymond was out, Oxford brought the conversation round to that question of being black all over, which made Lou very uncomfortable and she kept looking at the clock and dropped stitches in her knitting.

Three times a week (три раза в неделю) when she went to the black Our Lady (когда она шла к черной /статуи/ Пресвятой Девы) with her rosary to ask for the health of Henry Pierce (со своими четками, чтобы помолиться: «попросить» о здоровье Генри Пирса), she asked also that Oxford St. John (она просила также, чтобы Оксфорд Сент-Джон) would get another job (получил бы другую работу) in another town (в другом городе), for she did not like to make objections (так как ей не хотелось выдвигать обвинения; objection — возражение, нелюбовь, неприязнь ), telling her feelings to Raymond (говорить о своих чувствах Раймонду); there were no objections to make (/кроме того/, не было возражений) that you could put your finger on (которые были бы доказуемы/реальны: «которые могут быть обнаружены»; to put one's finger on — раскрывать, распознавать ). She could not very well complain (она не могла просто пожаловаться на то) that Oxford was common (что Оксфорд был простоват; common — общий, обыкновенный, грубый ); Raymond despised snobbery (Раймонд презирал снобизм), and so did she (да и она тоже), it was a very delicate question (это был очень щекотливый: «деликатный» вопрос). She was amazed when (она была удивлена, когда), within three weeks (через три недели), Oxford announced (Оксфорд объявил) that he was thinking (что он подумывает) of looking for a job in Manchester (поискать работу в Манчестере; to look for — искать, подыскивать, присматривать ).

Lou said to Raymond (Лу сказала Раймонду), ''Do you know (ты знаешь), there's something in what they say (есть что-то в том, что /они/ говорят) about the bog-oak statue in the church (о статуе из мореного дуба в церкви)."

"There may be (да, может быть)," said Raymond. "People say so (люди говорят, /что это/ так)."

Lou could not tell him (Лу не могла сказать ему) how she had petitioned (как она молила о; topetition— подавать прошение, ходатайствовать, просить ) the removal of Oxford St. John (переезде Оксфорда Сент-Джона; removal— перемещение, переезд; устранение ). But when she got a letter from Henry Pierce (но когда она получила письмо от Генри Пирса) to say he was improving (/в котором/ говорил, что поправляется; toimprove— улучшать, совершенствовать ), she told Raymond (она сказала Раймонду): "You see (/ты/ видишь), we asked for Henry to get back the Faith (мы просили, чтобы Генри вернулся к Вере ;togetback— вернуться ), and so he did (и он вернулся: «сделал это»). Now we ask for his recovery (сейчас мы просим о его выздоровлении; recovery— исцеление ) and he's improving (и его состояние: «он» улучшается)."

rosary ['rqVz(q)rI] snobbery ['snOb(q)rI] announce [q'naVns]

petition [pI'tIS(q)n]

Three times a week when she went to the black Our Lady with her rosary to ask for the health of Henry Pierce, she asked also that Oxford St. John would get another job in another town, for she did not like to make objections, telling her feelings to Raymond; there were no objections to make that you could put your finger on. She could not very well complain that Oxford was common; Raymond despised snobbery, and so did she, it was a very delicate question. She was amazed when, within three weeks, Oxford announced that he was thinking of looking for a job in Manchester.

Lou said to Raymond, ''Do you know, there's something in what they say about the bog-oak statue in the church."

"There may be," said Raymond. "People say so."

Lou could not tell him how she had petitioned the removal of Oxford St. John But when she got a letter from Henry Pierce to say he was improving, she told Raymond. ; 'You see, we asked for Henry to get back the Faith, and so he did. Now we ask for his recovery and he's improving."

"He's having good treatment (он получает хорошее лечение; treatment — обращение; лечение, уход ) at the sanatorium (в санатории)," Raymond said. But he added (но он добавил), "Of course (конечно) we'll have to keep up the prayers (мы должны будем продолжать молитвы; prayer — молитва, просьба, мольба )." He himself (он сам), though not a rosary man (хотя и не читал усердно молитвы: «не был человеком с четками»), knelt before the Black Madonna (преклонял колени перед Черной Мадонной; to kneel — становитьсянаколени, knee — колено ) every Saturday evening after Benediction (каждым субботним вечером, после благословения) to pray for Henry Pierce (чтобы помолиться за Генри Пирса).

Whenever they saw Oxford (каждый раз, когда они видели Оксфорда) he was talking of leaving Whitney Clay (он говорил о том, что /собирается/ покинуть Уитни Клэй; to leave — оставлять, уезжать ). Raymond said: "He's making a big mistake (он делает большую ошибку; mistake — ошибка, заблуждение ) going to Manchester (что собирается в Манчестер). A big place can be very lonely (большой город: «место» может быть очень одиноким; lonely — одинокий, унылый ). I hope he'll change his mind (я надеюсь, что он передумает; tochange— менять, переделывать;mind— ум, рассудок )."