Shaking off the shadow (стряхивая уныние;
champagne [Sxm'peIn], course [kO:s], athwart [q'TwO:t]
The band beat out a tingling cha-cha-cha. A bottle of champagne stood opened by the table. They were between courses, awaiting the arrival of a super Chateaubriand. All about them voices were raised in merriment and laughter, and the three sat enveloped in thick silence.
Shaking off the shadow that had fallen athwart her and feeling the wonderful excitement of life and beauty that was all about them, Mrs. Harris suddenly became aware of the condition of her two companions and tried to do something about it. "Ain't you two going to dance?" she asked.
M. Fauvel blushed (мсье Фовель покраснел) and mumbled something about not having danced for a long time (и пробормотал что-то о том, что не танцевал долгое время). He would have loved nothing better (он не желал бы ничего лучшего), but he had no wish to compel Natasha to endure an embrace (но не имел желал заставлять Наташу терпеть объятия) that must be repulsive to her (которые, должно быть, неприятны для нее;
"I do not feel like dancing (мне не хочется танцевать)", said Mlle. Petitpierre (сказала м-ль Петипьер). She would have given everything (она бы отдала все) to have been on the floor with him at that moment (чтобы быть на полу =
endure [In'djuq], repulsive [rI'pAlsIv], reluctance [rI'lAktqns]
M. Fauvel blushed and mumbled something about not having danced for a long time. He would have loved nothing better, but he had no wish to compel Natasha to endure an embrace that must be repulsive to her.
"I do not feel like dancing," said Mlle. Petitpierre. She would have given everything to have been on the floor with him at that moment, but would not embarrass him after his obvious reluctance to have anything to do with her beyond the normal requirements of duty and politeness.
But Mrs. Harris' keen ears (но чуткие уши миссис Харрис) had already caught the hollowness of their voices (уже уловили неискренность их голосов;
"Look 'ere (послушайте)," she said (сказала она), "wot's the matter wiv you two (что с вами такое;
"But nothing (да ничего)".
"Of course, nothing (конечно, ничего)".
hollowness ['hOlqunIs], shrewd [Sru:d], appraising [q'preIzIN]
But Mrs. Harris' keen ears had already caught the hollowness of their voices with the unmistakable note of misery contained therein, and her shrewd little eyes darted from one to the other, appraising them.
"Look 'ere," she said, "wot's the matter wiv you two?"
"But nothing."
"Of course, nothing."