Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

He asked her to live with him. She refused. He had expected that and did not let it depress him, for he was sure that sooner or later she would yield. His love was irresistible. He told the old woman of his wishes, and found somewhat to his surprise that she and the neighbours, long aware of them, were strongly urging Sally to accept his offer. After all, every native was glad to keep house for a white man, and Neilson according to the standards of the island was a rich one. The trader with whom he boarded went to her and told her not to be a fool; such an opportunity would not come again, and after so long she could not still believe that Red would ever return. The girl’s resistance only increased Neilson’s desire, and what had been a very pure love now became an agonising passion. He was determined that nothing should stand in his way. He gave Sally no peace. At last, worn out by his persistence and the persuasions, by turns pleading and angry, of everyone around her, she consented.

But the day after (но на следующий день), when exultant he went to see her (когда, ликующий, он пошел навестить ее) he found that in the night she had burnt down the hut (он обнаружил, что ночью она сожгла дотла ту хижину) in which she and Red had lived together (в которой она и Рыжий жили вместе). The old crone ran towards him full of angry abuse of Sally (старая карга бежала к нему, сердито ругая Салли: «полная сердитой ругани в адрес Салли»), but he waved her aside (но он отмахнулся от нее); it did not matter (это не имело значения); they would build a bungalow on the place where the hut had stood (они построят бунгало на том месте, где стояла хижина). A European house would really be more convenient (европейский дом был бы, в самом деле, удобнее) if he wanted to bring out a piano and a vast number of books (если он хотел вывезти = привезти сюда рояль и огромное количество книг).

And so the little wooden house was built (так и был построен маленький деревянный дом) in which he had now lived for many years (в котором он уже прожил много лет), and Sally became his wife (а Салли стала его женой). But after the first few weeks of rapture (но после первых нескольких недель восторга), during which he was satisfied with what she gave him (в течение которых он был доволен: «удовлетворен» тем, что она давала ему), he had known little happiness (он познал мало счастья). She had yielded to him, through weariness (она уступила ему, устав /сопротивляться/: «от усталости»), but she had only yielded what she set no store on (но она уступила только /то/, чему /не/ придавала никакого значения). The soul which he had dimly glimpsed escaped him (та душа, которую он неясно увидел мельком, ускользнула от него). He knew that she cared nothing for him (он знал, что она совсем не любит его; to care— заботиться; питать интерес, любовь;nothing— ничего; нисколько). She still loved Red (она все еще любила Рыжего), and all the time she was waiting for his return (и все время ждала его возвращения). At a sign from him (и если бы он только объявился: «при каком-нибудь знаке от него»), Neilson knew that (Нилсон знал это), notwithstanding his love (/то/ несмотря на его любовь), his tenderness (его нежность), his sympathy (его сочувствие), his generosity (его щедрость), she would leave him without a moment’s hesitation (она бы ушла от него без малейшего колебания; to leave — покидать; оставлять; moment — момент; мгновение). She would never give a thought to his distress (она бы никогда /даже и не/ подумала о его = причиненном ему горе).

escape [Is`keIp], notwithstanding ["nOtwIT`stxndIN], generosity ["Genq`rOsItI]