George said that the same kind of thing, only worse (Джордж сказал, что то же самое, только еще хуже), had happened to him some eighteen months ago (произошло с ним где-то восемнадцать месяцев назад), when he was lodging by himself in the house of a certain Mrs. Gippings (когда он снимал комнату в доме некой миссис Гиппингс). He said his watch went wrong one evening, and stopped at a quarter-past eight (что его часы испортились однажды вечером и остановились в четверть девятого: «после восьми»). He did not know this at the time because, for some reason or other (он не знал этого в то время, потому что, по той или иной причине), he forgot to wind it up when he went to bed (an unusual occurrence with him) (он забыл завести часы, когда ложился спать /необычный случай с ним = для него/; to forget), and hung it up over his pillow without ever looking at the thing (и повесил их над подушкой, даже не взглянув на них; to hang up).

It was in the winter when this happened, very near the shortest day (это случилось зимой, перед самым коротким днем), and a week of fog into the bargain (и к тому же в туманную неделю = погоду; into the bargain — кроме того, вдобавок; bargain — сделка), so the fact that it was still very dark when George woke in the morning was no guide to him as to the time (поэтому то, что было еще очень темно, когда Джордж проснулся утром, не было указанием для него в отношении времени = ничего не говорило о времени). He reached up, and hauled down his watch (он протянул руку и потянул /к себе/ часы). It was a quarter-past eight (было четверть девятого).

eighteen [e'ti:n] hauled [h:ld] quarter ['kw:t]

George said that the same kind of thing, only worse, had happened to him some eighteen months ago, when he was lodging by himself in the house of a certain Mrs. Gippings. He said his watch went wrong one evening, and stopped at a quarter-past eight. He did not know this at the time because, for some reason or other, he forgot to wind it up when he went to bed (an unusual occurrence with him), and hung it up over his pillow without ever looking at the thing.

It was in the winter when this happened, very near the shortest day, and a week of fog into the bargain, so the fact that it was still very dark when George woke in the morning was no guide to him as to the time. He reached up, and hauled down his watch. It was a quarter-past eight.

"Angels and ministers of grace defend us (ангелы и святители небесные, защитите нас; minister — министр, посланник; священник; grace — изящество; благосклонность; милость, милосердие: by the grace of God — по Божьей милости)!" exclaimed George (воскликнул Джордж); "and here have I got to be in the City by nine (да ведь мне надо быть в Сити к девяти). Why didn't somebody call me (почему никто не разбудил меня)? Oh, this is a shame (безобразие; shame — стыд, позор)!" And he flung the watch down, and sprang out of bed (он бросил часы и выскочил из постели; to fling; to spring), and had a cold bath, and washed himself (и принял холодную ванну, и умылся), and dressed himself, and shaved himself in cold water (и оделся, и побрился в холодной воде) because there was not time to wait for the hot (потому что не было времени ждать горячей), and then rushed and had another look at the watch (а потом бросился и еще раз взглянул на часы).