Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

"Ah, you feel the atmosphere too (ах, вы тоже чувствуете атмосферу)". Puzzled, the old gentleman was racking his brain (озадаченный пожилой джентльмен напрягал мозги), trying to catch or connect with something that was stirring there (пытаясь уловить или связать с чем-то, что делалось = происходило там), something that seemed to be connected vaguely with his youth and his education (чем-то, казалось, связанным неопределенно с его молодостью и его образованием), which had been rounded out by two years at a British university (которое было дополнено: «округлено» двумя годами в Британском университете). He was remembering a dark and dingy closet (он вспоминал темную и грязную клетушку; closet — чулан; келья; уст. кабинет), dark-paneled (обшитую темными панелями), that had been his bedroom and study (которая была его спальней и кабинетом), cold and austere (холодную и аскетическую), opening off a dark hallway (открывавшуюся в темный коридор), and incongruously (и неуместно = почему-то), as the picture formed in his mind (как картина, возникшая в его сознании), there was a slop pail standing in the hall (там было помойное ведро, стоящее в коридоре) at the head of the stairs (на верхней площадке лестницы).

dingy ['dIndZI], closet ['klOzIt], austere [Os'tIq]

"Ah, you feel the atmosphere too". Puzzled, the old gentleman was racking his brain, trying to catch or connect with something that was stirring there, something that seemed to be connected vaguely with his youth and his education, which had been rounded out by two years at a British university. He was remembering a dark and dingy closet, dark-paneled, that had been his bedroom and study, cold and austere, opening off a dark hallway, and incongruously, as the picture formed in his mind, there was a slop pail standing in the hall at the head of the stairs.

Mrs. Harris' alert little eyes (живые маленькие глаза миссис Харрис) now dared to engage those of the old gentleman (теперь посмели встретиться с теми = с глазами пожилого джентльмена; to engage — вовлекать). They penetrated the fierceness of his exterior (они проникли сквозь свирепость его наружности), peering through the fringe of white hair and menacing eyebrows (всматриваясь сквозь челку белых волос и грозные брови; to menace — угрожать) and the immaculate front of his clothing (и безукоризненную манишку его одежды; front — передняя сторона чего-л.; манишка; часть сорочки, которая не закрыта пиджаком, фраком и т. п.) to a warmth that she felt within (в сердечность, которую она чувствовала внутри). She wondered what he was doing there (она удивлялась, что он делал здесь), for his attitude of hands folded over a gold-headed cane was of one who was unaccompanied (потому что положение его рук, сложенных на трости с золотым набалдашником, было руками человека без сопровождения: «кто был несопровождаем»). Probably looking for a dress for his granddaughter (возможно, в поисках платья для своей внучки), she thought (подумала она), and, as always (и, как всегда), with her kind (со своим характером; kind — вид; характер/сущность), resorted to the direct question to satisfy her curiosity (прибегла к прямому вопросу, чтобы удовлетворить свое любопытство). She did, however, as a gesture of benevolence advance the prospective recipient a generation (она продвинула /вперед/, тем не менее, в качестве жеста доброжелательности, поколение будущего получателя).

menace ['menqs], immaculate [I'mxkjulIt], benevolence [bI'nevqlqns]

Mrs. Harris' alert little eyes now dared to engage those of the old gentleman. They penetrated the fierceness of his exterior, peering through the fringe of white hair and menacing eyebrows and the immaculate front of his clothing to a warmth that she felt within. She wondered what he was doing there, for his attitude of hands folded over a gold-headed cane was of one who was unaccompanied. Probably looking for a dress for his granddaughter, she thought, and, as always, with her kind, resorted to the direct question to satisfy her curiosity. She did, however, as a gesture of benevolence advance the prospective recipient a generation.

"Are you looking for a dress for your daughter (вы ищете платье для своей дочери)?" Mrs. Harris inquired (спросила миссис Харрис).