Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или Платье от Диора

Reflecting now upon Mme. Colbert (размышляя теперь о мадам Кольбер; to reflect — отражать; размышлять), Mrs. Harris thought how the Frenchwoman had worked and schemed (миссис Харрис думала теперь, как эта француженка работала = старалась и замышляла/интриговала/планировала) to help her to realize her vain (чтобы помочь ей реализовать ее тщеславное), foolish wish to possess a Dior dress (глупое желание иметь платье от Диора). Had it not been for her and her clever plan at the end (если бы не она и ее умный план в конце) it would never have reached England (оно никогда бы не достигло Англии). And Mrs. Harris thought (и миссис Харрис подумала) that even the damage to "Temptation" might not be irreparable (что даже порчу «Искушения» можно поправить; irreparable — непоправимый). A letter to Mme. Colbert would result in the immediate dispatch of another beaded panel (письмо к мадам Кольбер будет иметь результатом незамедлительную отправку нового украшенного бусинами клина) such as had been destroyed (такого же, какой был испорчен). A clever seamstress could insert it so (умелая швея могла бы вставить = вшить его так) that the dress would be as good as new (что платье будет так же хорошо, как новое). And yet would it ever be the same again (но все же, будет ли оно когда-нибудь тем же самым снова)?

scheme [ski:m], damage ['dxmIdZ], immediate [I'mi:djqt]

Reflecting now upon Mme. Colbert, Mrs. Harris thought how the Frenchwoman had worked and schemed to help her to realize her vain, foolish wish to possess a Dior dress. Had it not been for her and her clever plan at the end it would never have reached England. And Mrs. Harris thought that even the damage to "Temptation" might not be irreparable. A letter to Mme. Colbert would result in the immediate dispatch of another beaded panel such as had been destroyed. A clever seamstress could insert it so that the dress would be as good as new. And yet would it ever be the same again?

This ephemeral question had a most curious effect upon Mrs. Harris (этот мимолетный вопрос произвел самый любопытный эффект на миссис Харрис; to have effect — подействовать, дать результат). It stopped the flow of tears from her eyes (он остановил поток слез из ее глаз) and brought her to her feet once more (и заставил ее подняться; to bring to one’s feet — заставить встать на ноги) as she looked about the flower-laden room (когда она осмотрела заполненную цветами комнату; laden — груженый, нагруженный) and the answer came to her in one shrewd, inspired burst of insight (и ответ пришел к ней в одной пронизывающей, вдохновенной вспышке интуиции; to inspire — внушать; инспирировать; вдохновлять).

It would not (оно не будет). It would never be the same again (оно никогда не будет прежним снова). But then neither would she (но, впрочем, также /не будет/ и она).

ephemeral [I'femqrql], curious ['kjuqrIqs], shrewd [Sru:d]

This ephemeral question had a most curious effect upon Mrs. Harris. It stopped the flow of tears from her eyes and brought her to her feet once more as she looked about the flower-laden room and the answer came to her in one shrewd, inspired burst of insight.

It would not. It would never be the same again. But then neither would she.

For it had not been a dress she had bought so much as an adventure and an experience (потому что она приобрела не столько платье, сколько приключение и опыт) that would last her to the end of her days (которые останутся с ней до конца ее дней). She would never again feel lonely or unwanted (она никогда больше не будет чувствовать себя одинокой или ненужной). She had ventured into a foreign country (она рискнула /отправиться/ в зарубежную страну) and a foreign people she had been taught to suspect and despise (и /столкнуться с/ иностранцами, /которых/ она была приучена подозревать и презирать). She had found them to be warm and human (она обнаружила, что они сердечные и человечные), men and women to whom human love and understanding was a mainspring of life (мужчины и женщины, для кого человеческая любовь и понимание были главной движущей силой жизни). They had made her feel that they loved her for herself (они заставили ее почувствовать, что они любили ее ради нее самой).

unwanted [An'wOntId], foreign ['fOrIn], taught [tO:t]

For it had not been a dress she had bought so much as an adventure and an experience that would last her to the end of her days. She would never again feel lonely or unwanted. She had ventured into a foreign country and a foreign people she had been taught to suspect and despise. She had found them to be warm and human, men and women to whom human love and understanding was a mainspring of life. They had made her feel that they loved her for herself.