Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или платье от Диора

forecast ['fO:kQ:st], lamb [lxm], bewildering [bI'wIldqrIN]

The theme of the show was the high waist and hidden hips. There were hints and forecasts of the sack and trapeze to come. Every known fur from Persian lamb, mink and nutria to Russian baum marten and sable were used in trim or in the shape of stoles or jackets. It was not long before Mrs. Harris began to become accustomed to this bewildering array of richness and finery and soon came to recognize the various models upon their appearance in rotation.

There was the girl (там была девушка) who walked slinky sly (которая ходила гибко, как пружинка; slinky — облегающий /о платье/; изящный; плавный; sly — коварный; лукавый, озорной) — with her stomach protruded a good six inches before her (с животом, выдававшимся на добрых шесть дюймов /2,5 см/ впереди нее), and the petite one with the come-hither eyes (и /еще/ одна — маленького роста с привлекательными глазами; come hither — иди сюда) and provocative mouth (и соблазнительным ртом). There was the model (там была манекенщица) who seemed to be plain (которая, казалось, была некрасивой) until Mrs. Harris noted her carriage and quiet air of elegance (пока миссис Харрис не заметила ее осанку и скромный вид элегантности; quiet — тихий; скромный; air — воздух; вид), and another who was on the plump side (и другая, которая была из числа толстушек: «на пухлой стороне») just sufficiently to convey the idea to a stout customer (как раз в меру, чтобы передать замысел для полного клиента; idea — мысль; концепция/замысел). There was the girl (там была девушка) with her nose in the air and disdain at her lips (с высоко поднятым носом и надменностью на губах), and an opposite type (и противоположный образ), a red-haired minx (рыжеволосая кокетка) who wooed the whole salon as she made her rounds (которая старалась завлечь весь салон, когда делала свои выходы; to woo — ухаживать; свататься; добиваться).

stomach ['stAmqk], elegance ['elIgqns], opposite ['OpqzIt]

There was the girl who walked slinky sly — with her stomach protruded a good six inches before her, and the petite one with the come-hither eyes and provocative mouth. There was the model who seemed to be plain until Mrs. Harris noted her carriage and quiet air of elegance, and another who was on the plump side just sufficiently to convey the idea to a stout customer. There was the girl with her nose in the air and disdain at her lips, and an opposite type, a red-haired minx who wooed the whole salon as she made her rounds.

And then, of course, there was the one and only Natasha, the star (и затем, конечно, там была единственная и неповторимая Наташа, звезда). It was the custom in the salon (существовал обычай в салоне) to applaud when a creation made a particular hit (аплодировать, когда модель имела особый успех у аудитории; creation — создание; модель; to make a hit — иметь успех; hit — удар), and Mrs. Harris' palms (и ладони миссис Харрис), horny from application to scrubbing brush and mop (мозолистые от работы с чистящей щеткой и шваброй; application — прикладывание), led the appreciation (первыми выражали высокую оценку; to lead — вести; быть первым) each time Natasha appeared (каждый раз, /когда/ Наташа появлялась), looking lovelier than the last (выглядя еще прекраснее, чем последний = предыдущий /раз/). Once, during one of her appearances (как-то, во время одного из ее появлений), the charwoman noticed a tall (уборщица заметила высокого), blond (белокурого), pale young man (бледного молодого человека) with an odd scar on his face (со странным шрамом на лице) standing outside, staring hungrily as Natasha made an entrance (стоящего снаружи, смотрящего с жадностью, как Наташа делала выход), and said to herself (и сказала себе): "Coo, he ain't 'arf in love with her, he ain't... (ого, он не на шутку влюблен в нее, он влюблен: «он не на половину влюблен»)"

particular [pq'tIkjulq], appreciation [q"pri:SI'eISqn], during ['djuqrIN]

And then, of course, there was the one and only Natasha, the star. It was the custom in the salon to applaud when a creation made a particular hit, and Mrs. Harris' palms, horny from application to scrubbing brush and mop, led the appreciation each time Natasha appeared, looking lovelier than the last. Once, during one of her appearances, the charwoman noticed a tall, blond, pale young man with an odd scar on his face standing outside, staring hungrily as Natasha made an entrance, and said to herself: "Coo, he ain't 'arf in love with her, he ain't..."