Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

Mrs. Harris accepted the fact philosophically (миссис Харрис восприняла этот факт философски) and even with some pleasure (и даже с некоторым удовольствием). It had been years (прошли годы) since she had invested in a new hat (с того времени, как она покупала новую шляпу; to invest in — инвестировать; покупать). "It carn't be 'elped (ничего не поделаешь: «этому не помочь»; carn't = can’t)."

The pair selected the following Saturday afternoon (парочка выбрала послеобеденное время следующей субботы), invading the King's Road to accomplish both errands (вторгнувшись на Кингз-Роуд, чтобы выполнить оба задания) beginning, of course, with the choice of the hat (начав, конечно, с выбора шляпы). There was no doubt (сомнений не было) but that Mrs. Harris fell in love with it immediately she saw it in the window (что миссис Харрис влюбилась в нее тотчас, /как/ увидела ее в витрине), but at first turned resolutely away (но сначала решительно отвернулась от нее) for it was priced at a guinea (потому что она стоила одну гинею = 21 шиллинг), while all about it were others on sale (в то время как везде вокруг нее были другие в продаже), specials at ten and six (экземпляры за десять /шиллингов/ и шесть /пенсов/), and even some at seven and six (и даже некоторые по семь /шиллингов/ и шесть /пенсов/).

errand ['erqnd], doubt [daut], guinea ['gInI]

Mrs. Harris accepted the fact philosophically and even with some pleasure. It had been years since she had invested in a new hat. "It carn't be 'elped."

The pair selected the following Saturday afternoon, invading the King's Road to accomplish both errands, beginning, of course, with the choice of the hat. There was no doubt but that Mrs. Harris fell in love with it immediately she saw it in the window, but at first turned resolutely away for it was priced at a guinea, while all about it were others on sale, specials at ten and six, and even some at seven and six.

But Mrs. Harris would not have been a true London char (но миссис Харрис не была бы истинной лондонской уборщицей) had she not favored the one at a guinea (если бы она не предпочла шляпу за гинею), for it had been thought of (потому что она была придумана), designed and made for members of her profession (разработана и сделана для представителей ее профессии). The hat was a kind of flat sailor affair of green straw (эта шляпа была вроде плоской матросской шапочки из зеленой соломки; sailor — матрос, моряк; affair — дело; штука, нечто), but what made it distinguished was the pink rose on a short but flexible stem (но что делало ее особенной — это розовая роза на коротком, но гибком стебле) that was affixed to the front (которая была прикреплена спереди). It was, of course, her fondness for flowers and the rose (это, конечно, ее любовь к цветам и эта роза) that got Mrs. Harris (убедили миссис Харрис: to get — получить; убедить). They went into the shop (они вошли в магазин) and Mrs. Harris dutifully tried on shapes and materials considered to be within her price range (и миссис Харрис с чувством долга примеряла фасоны и материалы, /которые/ считались в пределах ее диапазона цен), but her thoughts and her eyes kept roving to the window (но ее мысли и ее глаза = взгляд продолжали устремляться к витрине; to rove — скитаться; странствовать; бродить; блуждать /о взгляде, мыслях/) where the hat was displayed (где была выставлена та шляпа). Finally she could contain herself no longer and asked for it (в конце концов, она не могла сдерживаться дольше и попросила ее).

straw [strL], distinguished [dIs'tINgwISt], dutifully ['djHtIfulI]

But Mrs. Harris would not have been a true London char had she not favored the one at a guinea, for it had been thought of, designed and made for members of her profession. The hat was a kind of flat sailor affair of green straw, but what made it distinguished was the pink rose on a short but flexible stem that was affixed to the front. It was, of course, her fondness for flowers and the rose that got Mrs. Harris. They went into the shop and Mrs. Harris dutifully tried on shapes and materials considered to be within her price range, but her thoughts and her eyes kept roving to the window where the hat was displayed. Finally she could contain herself no longer and asked for it.

Mrs. Butterfield examined the price tag with horror (миссис Баттерфилд посмотрела на: «проверила» ценник с ужасом). "Coo (да ну)," she said, "a guinea (одна гинея)! It's a waste of money (это пустая трата денег), you that's been syving for so long (/для/ тебя, экономившей так долго; syving = saving)."