Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

It was not in the nature of Mrs. Harris (миссис Харрис было несвойственно) to be abashed or put out of countenance by anyone (быть смущенной или приведенной в замешательство: «выведенной из спокойствия» кем бы то ни было; countenance — сдержанность; хладнокровие, спокойствие), but the thought that she might have been rude (но мысль, что она, должно быть, была невежлива) stirred her to contrition (подвигла ее к раскаянию) and she favored the old gentleman with a self-deprecating smile (и она наградила пожилого джентльмена самоосуждающей улыбкой).

abash [q'bxS], countenance ['kauntInqns], rude [ru:d]

The thin beak nose aimed itself at her; the keen blue eyes scrutinized her, but the voice that addressed her in perfect English was sere and tired. "Is there something wrong, madame?"

It was not in the nature of Mrs. Harris to be abashed or put out of countenance by anyone, but the thought that she might have been rude stirred her to contrition and she favored the old gentleman with a self-deprecating smile.

"Fancy me gawking at you like you was a waxworks (кажется, я таращу на вас глаза, как будто вы восковая фигура)," she apologized (извинилась она). "Where's me manners (где мои манеры)? I thought that was a rose in yer button 'ole (я думала, это роза в вашей петлице; 'ole = hole — отверстие, дыра; button — пуговица). Jolly good idea, too (очень хорошая идея, кстати; jolly — веселый, радостный; приятный; чудный, замечательный)." Then in explanation she added (затем в оправдание: «в объяснение» она добавила): "I'm very fond of flowers (я очень люблю цветы)."

gawk [gO:k], apologize [q'pOlqdZaIz], explanation ["eksplq'neISqn]

"Fancy me gawking at you like you was a waxworks," she apologized. "Where's me manners? I thought that was a rose in yer button 'ole. Jolly good idea, too." Then in explanation she added: "I'm very fond of flowers."

"Are you (в самом деле)," said the gentleman (сказал джентльмен). "That is good (это хорошо)." Whatever hostility had been engendered by her stare (всякая враждебность, порожденная ее пристальным взглядом) was dispelled by the engaging innocence of her reply (была рассеяна обаятельной простотой ее ответа; innocence — невинность). He looked upon his neighbor with a new interest (он посмотрел на свою соседку с новым интересом) and saw now that she was a most extraordinary creature (и увидел теперь, что она была самым необычным/экстраординарным созданием) and one he could not immediately place (и тем, кого он не мог сразу узнать/вспомнить: «разместить = определить ее место в уме, памяти»). "Perhaps (возможно)," he added (он добавил), "it would be better (было бы лучше) if this were indeed a rose instead of a — rosette (если бы это была действительно роза, а не розетка/орденская ленточка)."

engender [In'dZendq], innocence ['Inqsqns], extraordinary [Iks'trO:dnrI]

"Are you," said the gentleman. "That is good." Whatever hostility had been engendered by her stare was dispelled by the engaging innocence of her reply. He looked upon his neighbor with a new interest and saw now that she was a most extraordinary creature and one he could not immediately place. "Perhaps," he added, "it would be better if this were indeed a rose instead of a — rosette."

Mrs. Harris did not understand this remark at all (миссис Харрис не поняла его замечания вовсе), but the pleasant manner in which it had been delivered (но приятная манера, в которой оно было высказано; to deliver — освобождать, доставлять; высказывать) showed her that she had been forgiven for her rudeness (показала, что она была прощена за свою невежливость) and the tiny shadow that had fallen across her mood was dispelled (и крохотная тень, которая упала на ее настроение, была рассеяна). "Ain't it loverly 'ere (разве здесь не прекрасно; loverly = lovely)?" she said by way of keeping the conversation going (спросила она, чтобы продолжить разговор; to keep — держать; поддерживать).

pleasant [pleznt], dispel [dIs'pel], rudeness ['ru:dnIs]

Mrs. Harris did not understand this remark at all, but the pleasant manner in which it had been delivered showed her that she had been forgiven for her rudeness and the tiny shadow that had fallen across her mood was dispelled. "Ain't it loverly 'ere?" she said by way of keeping the conversation going.