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

Another letter came from Edward for each of them (от Эдварда пришли следующие письма каждому из них), and still he made no mention of his return (и опять он не упомянул о своем возвращении); but when he wrote he could not have received Bateman's inquiry (но /в тот момент/, когда он писал, он не мог еще получить письма с вопросом от Бейтмана; inquiry — наведение справок; вопрос, запрос). The next mail would bring them an answer to that (на это письмо ответ должен был прибыть со следующей почтой). The next mail came, and Bateman brought Isabel the letter he had just received (доставили следующую почту, и Бейтман принес Изабелле письмо, которое он только что получил); but the first glance of his face was enough to tell her that he was disconcerted (но единственного: «первого» взгляда на его лицо было достаточно, чтобы сказать ей, что он был обескуражен; to disconcert— приводить в замешательство, смущать). She read it through carefully (она внимательно прочла его до конца; carefully— осторожно; тщательно, внимательно) and then, with slightly tightened lips, read it again (а потом, слегка поджав губы, перечитала его снова; to tighten— сжимать).

mention ['menS(q)n], inquiry [In'kwaI(q)rI], disconcerted ["dIskqn'sWtId], tighten [taItn]

"Perhaps in his answer to your letter he'll say when he's coming home. All we can do is to wait for that."

Another letter came from Edward for each of them, and still he made no mention of his return; but when he wrote he could not have received Bateman's inquiry. The next mail would bring them an answer to that. The next mail came, and Bateman brought Isabel the letter he had just received; but the first glance of his face was enough to tell her that he was disconcerted. She read it through carefully and then, with slightly tightened lips, read it again.

"It's a very strange letter (очень странное письмо)," she said. "I don't quite understand it (я его не вполне понимаю)."

"One might almost think that he was joshing me (можно даже подумать, что он поддразнивает меня; to josh — подшучивать, подтрунивать над кем-либо)," said Bateman, flushing (сказал Бейтман, краснея).

"It reads like that, but it must be unintentional (так оно и звучит, но это, наверное, случайно/непреднамеренно; tread— читать; читаться). That's so unlike Edward (это так не похоже на Эдварда)."

"He says nothing about coming back (он ничего не говорит о возвращении)."

"If I weren't so confident of his love I should think (если бы я не была так уверена в его любви, я бы подумала)… I hardly know what I should think (я даже и не знаю, что бы я подумала)."

josh [dZOS], unintentional ["AnIn'tenS(q)nql], unlike [An'laIk]

"It's a very strange letter," she said. "I don't quite understand it."

"One might almost think that he was joshing me," said Bateman, flushing.

"It reads like that, but it must be unintentional. That's so unlike Edward."

"He says nothing about coming back."

"If I weren't so confident of his love I should think… I hardly know what I should think."