Английский язык с П. Треверс. Мэри Поппинс / P. L. Travers: Mary Poppins

“Here we are (вот и мы/ну вот)!” said Maia, as she pranced into the Toy Department (как только она протанцевала в отдел игрушек; toprance — становиться на дыбы; танцевать; прыгать, скакать; резвиться). “Now (теперь), what shall we choose (что мы выберем)?”

squealed [skwi:lt] shepherded ['∫epqd] shopwalkers ['∫OpֽwO:kqz]

“That’s it,” squealed Maia delightedly. “She’s quite right. I’ve come down to buy toys for them all. We can’t get away very often, you know, because we’re so busy making and storing up the Spring Rains. That’s the special job of the Pleiades. However, we drew lots and I won. Wasn’t it lucky?”

She hugged herself happily.

“Now, come on. I can’t stay very long. And you must come back and help me choose.”

And dancing about them, running now to one and now to another, she shepherded them back to the Toy Department. As they went, the crowds of shoppers stood and stared at them and dropped their parcels with astonishment.

“So cold for her. What can her parents be thinking of!” said the Mothers, with voices that were suddenly soft and gentle.

“I mean to say — !” said the Fathers. “It shouldn’t be allowed. Must write to The Times about it.” And their voices were unnaturally gruff and gritty.

The shopwalkers behaved curiously, too. As the little group passed they bowed to Maia as though she were a Queen.

But none of them — not Jane, nor Michael, nor Mary Poppins, nor Maia — noticed nor heard anything extraordinary. They were too busy with their own extraordinary adventure.

“Here we are!” said Maia, as she pranced into the Toy Department. “Now, what shall we choose?”

An Assistant, with a start (продавец, вздрогнув), bowed respectfully (поклонился почтительно; respect — уважение, почтение) as soon as he saw her (как только он увидел ее).

“I want something for each of my sisters (мне нужно что-нибудь для каждой из моих сестер) — six of them (которых шесть: «шести из них»). You must help me, please (вы должны помочь мне, пожалуйста),” said Maia, smiling at him (улыбнувшись ему).

“Certainly, madam (конечно, мадам),” said the Assistant agreeably (сказал продавец любезно; agreeably — приятно, славно, мило, симпатично).

“First (сначала) — my eldest sister (моей самой старшей сестре),” said Maia. “She’s very domestic (она очень домашняя/домоседливая). What about that little stove with the silver saucepans (как насчет той маленькой печи с серебряными кастрюлями)? Yes. And that striped broom (и ту полосатую метлу). We are so troubled with Stardust (мы так мучаемся со звездной пылью), and she will love having that to sweep it up with (и ей очень понравится подметать ее /пыль/ ею).”

The Assistant began wrapping the things in coloured paper (продавец начал заворачивать вещи в цветную бумагу; to wrap).

“Now for Taygete (а теперь для Тайгеты). She likes dancing (она любит танцевать). Don’t you think, Jane, a skipping-rope would be just the thing for her (не думаешь ли, Джейн, что скакалка будет как раз /подходящим/ подарком: «вещью» для нее; to skip — прыгать, скакать; rope — веревка)? You’ll tie them carefully, won’t you (вы свяжете их аккуратно, не правда ли)?” she said to the Assistant (она сказала продавцу). “I have a long way to go (мне предстоит долгий путь).”

She fluttered on among the toys (она порхала дальше среди игрушек), never standing still for a moment (не останавливаясь ни на минуту), but walking with a light quicksilver step (но идя легким быстрым, как ртуть, шагом; quicksilver — ртуть: «быстрое серебро»), as though she were still twinkling in the sky (как будто она все еще сверкала в небе; to twinkle — блестеть, сверкать; мигать).

Mary Poppins and Jane and Michael could not take their eyes off her (Мэри Поппинс, и Джейн, и Майкл не могли отвести от нее глаз) as she flickered from one of them to another asking their advice (когда она проносилась от одного к другому, спрашивая их совета).

“Then there’s Alcyone (затем /по порядку/ идет Алкиона). She’s difficult (она /такая/ трудная = капризная). She’s so quiet and thoughtful (она такая тихая и задумчивая) and never seems to want anything (и никогда ничего не хочет: «не кажется, что хочет что-либо»). A book, do you think, Mary Poppins (книгу, вы думаете, Мэри Поппинс)? What is this Family (что это за семья) — the Swiss-Robinsons (швейцарские Робинзоны)? I think she would like that (я думаю, ей это понравится). And if she doesn’t (а если ей не понравится), she can look at the pictures (она сможет смотреть на картинки). Wrap it up (заверните это)!”

saucepan ['sO:spqn] quicksilver ['kwIkֽsIlvq] tie [taI]

An Assistant, with a start, bowed respectfully as soon as he saw her.

“I want something for each of my sisters — six of them. You must help me, please,” said Maia, smiling at him.

“Certainly, madam,” said the Assistant agreeably.