known actresses, and they were prodigal of their praise. Julia gave a beautiful
843
performance of unaffected modesty. The corridor was packed now with people
who wanted to get at least a glimpse of her. Dolly had to fight her way out.
"Try not to be too late," she said to Julia. "It's going to be a heavenly party."
"I'll come as soon as ever I can."
At last the crowd was got rid of (в конечном счете, от толпы удалось
избавиться) and Julia, having undressed, began to take off her make-up (и
Джулия, раздевшись, начала снимать грим). Michael came in, wearing a
dressing-gown (вошел Майкл, одетый в халат).
"I say, Julia, you'll have to go to Dolly's party by yourself (послушай, Джулия,
тебе придется ехать на прием к Долли одной). I've got to see the libraries (я
должен повидаться с газетчиками;
собираюсь их накачать: «возбудить»;
"Oh, all right (о, хорошо)."
"They're waiting for me now (они уже ждут меня сейчас). See you in the
morning (увидимся утром)."
He went out and she was left alone with Evie (он вышел, и она осталась одна с
Эви). The dress she had arranged to wear for Dolly's party was placed over a chair
(платье, которое она собиралась надеть на прием Долли, лежало на кресле).
Julia smeared her face with cleansing cream (Джулия намазало лицо
очищающим кремом;
library ['laIbr(q)rI] sting [stIN] smear [smIq]
At last the crowd was got rid of and Julia, having undressed, began to take off her
make-up. Michael came in, wearing a dressing-gown.
"I say, Julia, you'll have to go to Dolly's party by yourself. I've got to see the
844
libraries and I can't manage it. I'm going to sting them."
"Oh, all right."
"They're waiting for me now. See you in the morning."
He went out and she was left alone with Evie. The dress she had arranged to wear
for Dolly's party was placed over a chair. Julia smeared her face with cleansing
cream.
"Evie, Mr. Fennel will be ringing up tomorrow (Эви, мистер Феннелл будет
звонить завтра). Will you say I'm out (не скажешь ли ему, что меня нет на
месте)?"
Evie looked in the mirror and caught Julia's eyes (Эви посмотрела в зеркало и
поймала взгляд Джулии).
"And if he rings up again (а если он снова позвонит)?"
"I don't want to hurt his feelings, poor lamb (мне бы не хотелось обидеть его
чувств, бедный ягненочек), but I have a notion I shall be very much engaged for
some time now (но у меня такое представление, что теперь я буду очень
сильно занята на некоторое время)."
Evie sniffed loudly (Эви громко шмыгнула носом), and with that rather
disgusting habit of hers (и, с этой своей довольно отвратительной привычкой)
drew her forefinger across the bottom of her nose (провела своим указательным
пальцем под носом: «вдоль основания своего носа»).
"I understand (я поняла)," she said dryly (сказала она сухо).
"I always said you weren't such a fool as you looked (я всегда говорила, что ты
не такая дура, как выглядишь)." Julia went on with her face (Джулия
продолжила /очищать/ лицо). "What's that dress doing on that chair (что это
платье делает на том кресле)?"
"That (то)? That's the dress you said you'd wear for the party (это то самое
платье, которое, как вы сказали, вы наденете на прием)."
"Put it away (убери его: «отложи его в сторону»). I can't go to the party without
Mr. Gosselyn (я не могу идти на прием без мистера Госселина)."
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"Since when (с каких это пор)?"
sniff [snIf] disgusting [dIs'gAstIN] forefinger ['fO:"fINgq]
"Evie, Mr. Fennel will be ringing up tomorrow. Will you say I'm out?"
Evie looked in the mirror and caught Julia's eyes.
"And if he rings up again?"
"I don't want to hurt his feelings, poor lamb, but I have a notion I shall be very
much engaged for some time now."
Evie sniffed loudly, and with that rather disgusting habit of hers drew her
forefinger across the bottom of her nose.
"I understand," she said dryly.
"I always said you weren't such a fool as you looked." Julia went on with her face.
"What's that dress doing on that chair?"
"That? That's the dress you said you'd wear for the party."
"Put it away. I can't go to the party without Mr. Gosselyn."
"Shut up, you old hag (заткнись, ты старая ведьма). Phone through and say that
I've got a bad headache (дозвонись и скажи, что у меня сильная головная боль)
and had to go home to bed (и я была вынуждена поехать домой и лечь в