Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

There was no need in him to question her as to how it was possible for her to fulfill such a wish. He knew from his own experience something of the nature of these special Englishwomen and simply assumed that she had been left a legacy, or had suddenly acquired a large sum of money through one of those massive and extraordinary football lotteries he was always reading about in the papers as conferring untold wealth upon British railroad porters, coal miners or grocery clerks. But had he known just how Mrs. Harris had come by the entire sum needed to satisfy her ambition he would not have been surprised either.

They now understood one another (они теперь понимали один другого = друг друга) as did old friends (как старые друзья) who had much in life behind them (которые через многое прошли вместе: «имели многое в жизни позади них»).

"I wouldn't let on to anyone else (я не сказала бы никому другому; to let on — выдавать секрет)," Mrs. Harris confessed from the comfort of her new-found friendship (миссис Харрис призналась от ободрения = приободрившись, благодаря вновь обретенной дружбе), "but I was frightened to death to come 'ere (но я была напугана = боялась до смерти приехать сюда)."

The old man looked at her in astonishment (пожилой джентльмен посмотрел на нее с удивлением). "You? Frightened? (Вы? Напуганы?)"

"Well (ну)," Mrs. Harris confided (сказала по секрету/доверилась), "you know, the French (вы знаете, французы) ..."

frightened [fraItnd], death [deT], confide [kqn'faId]

They now understood one another as did old friends who had much in life behind them.

"I wouldn't let on to anyone else," Mrs. Harris confessed from the comfort of her new-found friendship, "but I was frightened to death to come 'ere."

The old man looked at her in astonishment. "You? Frightened?"

"Well," Mrs. Harris confided, "you know, the French ..."

The gentleman emitted a sigh (джентльмен вздохнул: «испустил вздох»). "Ah yes (о, да). I know them very well (я знаю их очень хорошо). Still, there is nothing now but for you to choose the gown (однако, теперь вам ничего не остается, кроме как выбрать платье) that you like the best (которое вам понравится больше всего). It is said (говорят) the collection this spring is superb (что коллекция этой весной превосходна)."

There was a stir and a rustle (там были = послышались движение и шорох; stir — шевеление; движение). A chic (элегантная), expensively dressed woman (дорого одетая = одетая в дорогую одежду женщина) came in acolyted by two salesladies (вошла, сопровождаемая двумя продавщицами; to acolyte — помогать, ассистировать; acolyte — прислужник в церкви; псаломщик) and made for the seat beside Mrs. Harris (и направилась к месту рядом с миссис Харрис; to make for — направиться) where the shabby handbag containing the latter's fortune (где потертая сумка, содержащая богатство последней; latter — последний /из двух названных/) reposed momentarily (лежала временно; momentarily — на мгновение, на минуту).

superb [sju:'pq:b], rustle [rAsl], chic [Si:k]

The gentleman emitted a sigh. "Ah yes. I know them very well. Still, there is nothing now but for you to choose the gown that you like the best. It is said the collection this spring is superb."

There was a stir and a rustle. A chic, expensively dressed woman came in acolyted by two salesladies and made for the seat beside Mrs. Harris where the shabby handbag containing the latter's fortune reposed momentarily.

Mrs. Harris snatched it away with an (миссис Харрис резко убрала ее, сказав; to snatch — хватать) "Oops, dearie, sorry (ой, дорогая, простите)!" then brushed the seat of the chair with her hand and (затем почистила сиденье стула своей рукой), smiling cheerily, said (радостно улыбаясь): "There you are now (вот). All ready for you (все готово для вас)."

The woman, who had close-set eyes and a too small mouth (женщина, у которой были близко посаженные глаза и слишком маленький рот), sat down with a jangle of gold bracelets (села со звоном золотых браслетов), and immediately Mrs. Harris felt herself enveloped in a cloud of the most delectable and intoxicating perfume (и тотчас миссис Харрис почувствовала себя окутанной облаком самых восхитительных и опьяняющих духов). She leaned closer to the woman (она наклонилась ближе к женщине) for a better sniff (чтобы лучше почувствовать запах: «для лучшего принюхивания») and said with sincere admiration (и сказала с искренним восхищением): "My (вот это да: my — мой; надо же!/вот это да!), you do smell good (как вы хорошо пахнете)."

bracelet ['breIslIt], delectable [dI'lektqbl], sincere [sIn'sIq]