Array Коллектив авторов - 20 лучших повестей на английском / 20 Best Short Novels

The Duke and Duchess, after the honeymoon was over, went down to Canterville Chase, and on the day after their arrival they walked over in the afternoon to the lonely churchyard by the pine-wood. There had been a great deal of difficulty at first about the inscription on Sir Simon’s tombstone, but finally it had been decided to engrave on it simply the initials of the old gentleman’s name, and the verse from the library window. The Duchess had brought with her some lovely roses, which she strewed upon the grave, and after they had stood by it for some time they strolled into the ruined chancel of the old abbey. There the Duchess sat down on a fallen pillar, while her husband lay at her feet smoking a cigarette and looking up at her beautiful eyes. Suddenly he threw his cigarette away, took hold of her hand, and said to her, ‘Virginia, a wife should have no secrets from her husband.’

‘Dear Cecil! I have no secrets from you.’

‘Yes, you have,’ he answered, smiling, ‘you have never told me what happened to you when you were locked up with the ghost.’

‘I have never told any one, Cecil,’ said Virginia gravely.

‘I know that, but you might tell me.’

‘Please don’t ask me, Cecil, I cannot tell you. Poor Sir Simon! I owe him a great deal. Yes, don’t laugh, Cecil, I really do. He made me see what Life is, and what Death signifies, and why Love is stronger than both.’

The Duke rose and kissed his wife lovingly.

‘You can have your secret as long as I have your heart,’ he murmured.

‘You have always had that, Cecil.’

‘And you will tell our children some day, won’t you?’

Virginia blushed.

Oxford Street – one of the main streets in central London, a shopping centre of London

pot-boy – a boy who works in a pub

phenomena – pl. from phenomenon – an unusual or remarkable thing, event, person, etc.

coroner – an official who investigates the cause of death if the circumstances of it seem unnatural

the Company – the East India Company formed in 1600 for the development of trade with India and Southeast Asia; later the Company became involved in politics as a British agent in the region

bureau – a writing desk with drawers

Macaulay – Thomas Bebington Macaulay (1800–1859); an English politician, historian and essayist; he is best known for his ‘History of England’

jugglers – persons who perform tricks to amuse people

attics – an attic is a space under the roof of the house

balusters – construction details supporting a handrail

hydrophobia – strong fear of water

medium – a person who is able to receive information from the spirits of the dead

mesmerizm – a sort of hypnotism; named after Franz Mesmer (1734–1815) who was the first to use hypnotic trance in medical treatment

mesmerize= hypnotize

mesmerizer= hypnotizer

Will-o’-the Wisp – a meteorological effect, a mysterious light seen over marshes due to ignition of methane, produced by the decomposition of plants

simulacra – pl. from simulacrum – shadowy likeness that is deceiving

phantasm – a phantom

phantom – a ghost, or smth. seen in a vision

larvae – insects in the first stage of their life cycle

Liverpool – a city and port in the historic county of Lancashire in northwestern England

Melbourne – an important city and port on the southeastern coast of Australia

Walworth – a historic village in Southwark, an inner borough of London; a borough is an incorporated town or district with special privileges.

mesmeric – hypnotic

rapport= relationship

en rapport= in close relationship

Paracelsus(1493–15410) – a Swiss doctor and alchemist who was the first to widely use the achievements of chemistry for treating patients

eidolon – a ghost or phantom ( Greek )

Bacon – Francis Bacon (1561–1626), a famous English philosopher, statesman, essayist and speaker

Plato(428 BC–348 BC) – an ancient Greek philosopher, founder of the Academy; he was the pupil of Socrates and the teacher of Aristotle.

the Almighty= God

crotchet – a strange and unreasonable idea

hobgoblins – in English and Scottish folklore, small malicious fairies which inhabit houses, mislead travelers, frighten people, spoil things, etc.

pentacle – a magic geometrical figure

vellum – parchment

anathema – a formal declaration of the Church condemning smb. or smth.; a curse

Somersetshire – a historic county in the southwest of England

Methodist – a member of the Methodist Church which separated from the Church of England in the 18th century and later developed into an autonomous church

chaise – a low carriage with two or four wheels

Cambridgeshire – a historic county in eastern England

brogue – a local way of speaking English; a dialect

was dead against smth.= was strongly against smth.

Providence – God or some power that intervenes in human lives and affairs of the world

the Eesraelites – the Israelites, people of Jewish origin, members of the twelve tribes of Israel; in the 10th century BC, ten tribes established the Kingdom of Israel, and two tribes the Kingdom of Judah

the West-end – the fashionable part of London known for its palaces, mansions, parks and shops

laudanum – a sedative made from opium