Английский язык с миссис Харрис, или Платье от Диора

But now as she stood before the stunning creations hanging in the closet (но теперь, когда она стояла перед сногсшибательными творениями, висящими в шкафу) she found herself face to face with a new kind of beauty (она оказалась лицом к лицу с новым видом красоты; to find — находить) — an artificial one created by the hand of man the artist (искусственным, созданным руками человека-художника), but aimed directly and cunningly at the heart of woman (но нацеленным прямо и умело/искусно в сердце женщины). In that very instant she fell victim to the artist (в тот самый момент она стала жертвой художника; to fall — падать; пасть); at that very moment there was born within her the craving to possess such a garment (в тот самый момент в ней родилось страстное желание обладать таким платьем: «одеянием»).

creation [krJ'eISqn], beauty ['bjHtI], heart [hRt]

But now as she stood before the stunning creations hanging in the closet she found herself face to face with a new kind of beauty — an artificial one created by the hand of man the artist, but aimed directly and cunningly at the heart of woman. In that very instant she fell victim to the artist; at that very moment there was born within her the craving to possess such a garment.

There was no rhyme or reason for it (для этого не было ни рифмы = связи ни мотива/причины = это было ни с того, ни с сего); she would never wear such a creation (она никогда бы не надела такое платье: «творение»); there was no place in her life for one (/для него/ не было места в ее жизни). Her reaction was purely feminine (ее реакция была чисто женской). She saw it and she wanted it dreadfully (она увидела его и ей ужасно захотелось его /иметь/). Something inside her yearned and reached for it (что-то внутри нее стремилось/жаждало и тянулось к нему) as instinctively as an infant in the crib snatches at a bright object (так же инстинктивно, как младенец в кроватке хватается за яркий предмет; crib — стойло; ясли, кормушка; детская кроватка /с боковыми решетчатыми стенками/; колыбель). How deeply this craving went (как глубоко это страстное желание зашло), how powerful it was (каким сильным оно было; power — мощь), Mrs. Harris herself did not even know at that moment (миссис Харри даже сама не знала в тот момент). She could only stand there enthralled (она только могла стоять там, восторженная; to enthrall — покорять, порабощать; очаровывать, увлекать, захватывать), rapt and enchanted (восхищенная и очарованная), gazing at the dresses (пристально разглядывая платья), leaning upon her mop (опершись на свою швабру), in her music-hall shoes (в своих нелепых/смешных туфлях: «туфлях для мюзик-холла = водевильных»), soiled overall (в грязном рабочем халате; soiled — запачкавшийся, грязный; overall — рабочий халат; спецодежда: «поверх всего»), and wispy hair down about her ears (тонкие волосы /были зачесаны/ за уши), the classic figure of the cleaning woman (классическая фигура уборщицы).

rhyme [raIm], yearn [jWn], enthralled [In'TrLld]

There was no rhyme or reason for it; she would never wear such a creation; there was no place in her life for one. Her reaction was purely feminine. She saw it and she wanted it dreadfully. Something inside her yearned and reached for it as instinctively as an infant in the crib snatches at a bright object. How deeply this craving went, how powerful it was, Mrs. Harris herself did not even know at that moment. She could only stand there enthralled, rapt and enchanted, gazing at the dresses, leaning upon her mop, in her music-hall shoes, soiled overall, and wispy hair down about her ears, the classic figure of the cleaning woman.

It was thus that Lady Dant found her (все было так, когда леди Дант обнаружила ее) when she happened to come in from her writing room (когда она случайно зашла из своего кабинета). "Oh!" she exclaimed (она воскликнула). "My dresses (мои платья)!" And then noting Mrs. Harris' attitude and the expression on her face, said (а затем, заметив состояние миссис Харрис и выражение ее лица, сказала): "Do you like them (они вам нравятся)? I haven't made up my mind yet (я еще не решила) which one I am going to wear tonight (которое я надену сегодня вечером)."

exclaim [Iks'kleIm], attitude ['xtItjHd], wear [weq]

It was thus that Lady Dant found her when she happened to come in from her writing room. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "My dresses!" And then noting Mrs. Harris' attitude and the expression on her face, said: "Do you like them? I haven't made up my mind yet which one I am going to wear tonight."