Английский язык с Ф. Скоттом Фитцджеральдом. Алмаз величиной в отель «Риц» / Francis Scott Fitzgerald. The Diamond As Big As The Ritz

John's first two years there passed pleasantly. The fathers of all the boys were money-kings, and John spent his summer visiting at fashionable resorts. While he was very fond of all the boys he visited, their fathers struck him as being much of a piece, and in his boyish way he often wondered at their exceeding sameness. When he told them where his home was they would ask jovially, "Pretty hot down there?" and John would muster a faint smile and answer, "It certainly is." His response would have been heartier had they not all made this joke — at best varying it with, "Is it hot enough for you down there?" which he hated just as much.

In the middle of his second year at school (в середине его второго года в школе), a quiet, handsome boy named Percy Washington had been put in John's form (в класс Джона был определен тихий/спокойный красивый мальчик по имени Перси Вашингтон; to put — класть, ставить; помещать, определять). The new-comer was pleasant in his manner (новичок был приятен в обхождении; manner — способ, метод; образ действий; манера, поведение) and exceedingly well dressed (очень/чрезвычайно хорошо одет; to exceed — выходить за пределы; превышать; превосходить /кого-л. в чем-л./; доминировать) even for St. Midas's (даже для школы св. Мидаса), but for some reason he kept aloof from the other boys (но по какой-то причине он держался в стороне от остальных учеников; to keep aloof — оставаться вдалеке; держаться в стороне, особняком). The only person with whom he was intimate was John T. Unger (единственным человеком, с кем он близко сошелся, был Джон Т. Ангер; intimate — внутренний; глубоко личный, интимный; близкий, близко знакомый), but even to John he was entirely uncommunicative (но даже с Джоном он отнюдь не откровенничал: «был совершенно скрытным»; to communicate — говорить, сообщать; общаться) concerning his home or his family (касательно = о том, что касалось его дома и семьи; to concern — затрагивать, касаться, иметь отношение). That he was wealthy went without saying (/то/ что он богат, разумелось само собой: «без словесного выражения»; to go without saying — быть несомненным, очевидным, само собой разумеющимся), but beyond a few such deductions John knew little of his friend (но, помимо немногих таких/подобных умозаключений, Джон мало знал о своем друге/товарище; to know), so it promised rich confectionery for his curiosity (так что для его любопытства ожидался: «это обещало» настоящий праздник; rich — богатый; роскошный; обильный; confectionery — кондитерская, кондитерский магазин; кондитерские изделия) when Percy invited him to spend the summer at his home "in the West (когда Перси пригласил его провести лето у него дома "на Западе")." He accepted, without hesitation (согласился без колебаний; to hesitate — колебаться; сомневаться, не решаться, медлить).

quiet ['kwaIqt], handsome ['hxn(d)sqm], curiosity ["kjVqrI'OsItI]

In the middle of his second year at school, a quiet, handsome boy named Percy Washington had been put in John's form. The new-comer was pleasant in his manner and exceedingly well dressed even for St. Midas's, but for some reason he kept aloof from the other boys. The only person with whom he was intimate was John T. Unger, but even to John he was entirely uncommunicative concerning his home or his family. That he was wealthy went without saying, but beyond a few such deductions John knew little of his friend, so it promised rich confectionery for his curiosity when Percy invited him to spend the summer at his home "in the West." He accepted, without hesitation.