Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

Besides her geraniums, Mrs. Harris remarked, she also received cut flowers from time to time with which to brighten her little basement flat from clients about to leave for a week-end in the country, or who received presents of fresh flowers and would make it a point to present Mrs. Harris with their old and half-wilted blooms. "I get them 'ome as fast as ever I can," she explained, "cut off their stems and put them in a fresh jug of water with a penny at the bottom."

The marquis looked astounded at this piece of intelligence (маркиз выглядел изумленным услышав про эту уловку: «эту часть рассудительности»).

"Ow, didn't you know (о, разве вы не знали)?" Mrs. Harris said. "If you put a copper in the water with wilted flowers (если вы положите медную монетку в воду с увядшими цветами) it brings them right back (это воскрешает их; to bring back — восстанавливать, воскрешать)".

The marquis (маркиз), full of interest (полный заинтересованности), said (сказал): "Well now, it is indeed true that one is never too old to learn (ну вот, действительно верно, век живи — век учись: «что человек никогда не бывает слишком стар, чтобы учиться»)". He went on to another subject (он перешел к другой теме; subject — предмет; тема разговора) that had interested him (которая интересовала его). "And you say that Mademoiselle Natasha has become your friend (и вы говорите, что мадмуазель Наташа стала вашей подругой)?"

astounded [qs'taundId], true [tru:], mademoiselle ["mxdqm'zel]

The marquis looked astounded at this piece of intelligence.

"Ow, didn't you know?" Mrs. Harris said. "If you put a copper in the water with wilted flowers it brings them right back."

The marquis, full of interest, said: "Well now, it is indeed true that one is never too old to learn." He went on to another subject that had interested him. "And you say that Mademoiselle Natasha has become your friend?"

"She's a dear (она душка)," said Mrs. Harris, "not at all like you might expect (совсем не такая, как вы могли бы ожидать), high and mighty with all the fuss (/можно ожидать, что она была бы/ высокая = недоступная и могучая = использующая свое влияние из-за всей этой суеты) that's made over her (которая делается = происходит над ней/по поводу ее). She's as unspoiled as your own daughter would be (она такая же неиспорченная, как была бы ваша собственная дочь). They're all me friends (они все мои друзья), I do believe (я действительно верю) — that nice young Monsieur Fauvel (этот добрый молодой мсье Фовель), the cashier (кассир) — it's his 'ouse I am stopping at (это в его доме я остановилась) — and that poor Madame Colbert (и эта бедная мадам Кольбер)…"

"Eh," said the marquis (сказал маркиз), "and who is Madame Colbert (а кто это — мадам Кольбер)?"

mighty ['maItI], daughter ['dO:tq], cashier [kx'SIq]

"She's a dear," said Mrs. Harris, "not at all like you might expect, high and mighty with all the fuss that's made over her. She's as unspoiled as your own daughter would be. They're all me friends, I do believe — that nice young Monsieur Fauvel, the cashier — it's his 'ouse I am stopping at — and that poor Madame Colbert…"

"Eh," said the marquis, "and who is Madame Colbert?"

It was Mrs. Harris' turn to look surprised (теперь была очередь миссис Харрис смотреть удивленно). "Ow, surely you know Madame Colbert (ах, конечно, вы знаете мадам Кольбер) — the manageress (управляющую) — the one who tells you whether you can come in or not (ту, которая говорит вам, можете ли вы прийти или нет). She's a real love (она настоящая прелесть). Imagine putting Ada 'Arris right in with all the toffs (представьте — посадить Аду Харрис прямо со всеми сливками общества; to put — поместить)".

"Ah yes (ах, да)," said the marquis with renewed interest (сказал маркиз с возобновленным интересом), "that one (эта). A rare person (редкая особа), a woman of courage and integrity (женщина мужества и честности = обладающая мужеством и честностью). But why poor (но почему бедная)?"

surprised [sq'praIzd], surely ['SuqlI], manageress [mxnIdZq'res]

It was Mrs. Harris' turn to look surprised. "Ow, surely you know Madame Colbert — the manageress — the one who tells you whether you can come in or not. She's a real love. Imagine putting Ada 'Arris right in with all the toffs."

"Ah yes," said the marquis with renewed interest, "that one. A rare person, a woman of courage and integrity. But why poor?"