Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или Платье от Диора

Mme. Colbert caught the look upon the face of the young auditor. She could have told him this was something they went through a hundred times each week, watching exquisite creations meant for beautiful women carried off by raddled old frumps. She touched his arm gently, distracting him, and explained in a few swift sentences in French. It failed to abate his anger at seeing the outer shell of his beloved so mocked and burlesqued.

"It don't need no altering (мне не нужна никакая подгонка; to alter — менять; видоизменять)," Mrs. Harris was saying (говорила миссис Харрис). "I'll take it just as it is (я возьму его, как оно есть). 'Ave it wrapped for me (заверните его для меня)."

Mme. Colbert smiled (мадам Кольбер улыбнулась). "But, my dear, surely you must know we cannot let you have this dress (но, моя дорогая, конечно, вы должны знать, мы не можем позволить вам приобрести это платье: to have — иметь; приобретать). This is the model (это образец) and there is yet another month of summer showings (и у нас кроме того еще один месяц летних показов). We will make you one (мы сделаем вам /платье/), of course, exactly like (конечно, точно такое же)…"

Alarm squeezed the heart of Mrs. Harris (тревога сжала сердце миссис Харрис) as the import of what Mme. Colbert was saying struck home (когда суть /того/, что говорила мадам Кольбер, дошла до сознания; home — дом; в цель). "Lumme (Господи)! Myke me one — (сделайте для меня одно; myke = make)" she repeated (повторила она), and suddenly looking like an older travesty of herself, asked (и вдруг, похожая на более старую карикатуру самой себя, спросила; travesty — пародия; карикатура), " 'Ow long does it take (как долго = сколько времени это займет)?"

wrap [rxp], exactly [Ig'zxktlI], heart [hQ:t]

"It don't need no altering," Mrs. Harris was saying. "I'll take it just as it is. 'Ave it wrapped for me."

Mme. Colbert smiled. "But, my dear, surely you must know we cannot let you have this dress. This is the model and there is yet another month of summer showings. We will make you one, of course, exactly like…"

Alarm squeezed the heart of Mrs. Harris as the import of what Mme. Colbert was saying struck home. "Lumme! Myke me one…" she repeated, and suddenly looking like an older travesty of herself, asked, " 'Ow long does it take?"

Mme. Colbert felt alarm now too (мадам Кольбер встревожилась теперь тоже). "Ten days to two weeks ordinarily (от десяти дней до двух недель обычно) — but for you we would make an exception (но для вас мы сделаем исключение) and rush it through in a week (и сделаем срочно через неделю)…"

The awful silence (ужасная тишина) following upon this revelation (последовавшая за этим открытием) was broken by the cry torn from the depth of Mrs. Harris (была нарушена криком, вырвавшимся из глубины /души/ миссис Харрис). "But don't you understand (но разве вы не понимаете)? I can't stay in Paris (я не могу оставаться в Париже). I've just enough money to get me 'ome (у меня только достаточно денег, чтобы добраться до дома; 'ome = home)! It means I can't 'ave it (это значит, я не смогу купить его)!" She saw herself back in the gloomy Battersea flat (она увидела себя снова в мрачной квартире в Баттерси), empty-handed (с пустыми руками), possessed only of her useless money (имея только свои бесполезные деньги; use — польза; to possess — обладать). What did she want with all that money (что она хотела = зачем ей все эти деньги)? It was ownership of "Temptation" for which she craved (она жаждала только обладание «Искушением»), body and soul (/жаждала/ телом и душой), even though she never again put it on her back (даже если она никогда вновь не наденет его на себя обратно).

revelation ["revI'leISqn], useless ['ju:slIs], ownership ['qunqSIp]

Mme. Colbert felt alarm now too. "Ten days to two weeks ordinarily — but for you we would make an exception and rush it through in a week…"

The awful silence following upon this revelation was broken by the cry torn from the depth of Mrs. Harris. "But don't you understand? I can't stay in Paris. I've just enough money to get me 'ome! It means I can't 'ave it!" She saw herself back in the gloomy Battersea flat, empty-handed, possessed only of her useless money. What did she want with all that money? It was ownership of "Temptation" for which she craved, body and soul, even though she never again put it on her back.