Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

snob. His only ambition in life is to be a gentleman, and he hasn't the sense to see

that the more he tries the more hopeless it is."

"I thought you liked him so much (я думала, что он тебе так нравится). Why, at

Taplow last summer you just lived in his pocket (ба, да в Тэплоу, прошлым

летом, вы просто не расставались: «ты просто жил в его кармане»; to live in

someone's pocket — торчать друг у друга на глазах)."

"I didn't dislike him (я не испытывал к нему неприязни). I made use of him (я

использовал его). He could tell me a lot of things that I wanted to know (он мог

рассказать мне кучу вещей, которые я хотел знать). But I thought him an

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insignificant, silly little thing (но я думал, что он просто ничтожный, глупый

/паренек/)."

Julia remembered how insanely jealous she had been of their friendship (Джулия

вспомнила, как безумно ревнива была она из-за их дружбы). It made her angry

to think (она даже рассердилась, подумав; to make smb angry — разгневать

кого-либо) of all the agony she had wasted (о всех тех муках, которые она зря

вынесла; to waste — расточать, растрачивать без пользы).

"You've dropped him, haven't you (ты бросила его, не так ли)?" he asked

suddenly (спросил он внезапно).

She was startled (она вздрогнула испуганно).

"I suppose I have more or less (полагаю что да, более или менее)."

"I think it's very wise of you (я думаю, что это очень мудро с твоей стороны).

He wasn't up to your mark (он не подходил тебе: «он был не на должной:

«твоей» высоте»; mark — знак, отметка, зд. норма, стандарт, уровень)."

pocket ['pOkIt] insignificant ["InsIg'nIfIkqnt] insanely [In'seInlI]

"I thought you liked him so much. Why, at Taplow last summer you just lived in

his pocket."

"I didn't dislike him. I made use of him. He could tell me a lot of things that I

wanted to know. But I thought him an insignificant, silly little thing."

Julia remembered how insanely jealous she had been of their friendship. It made

her angry to think of all the agony she had wasted.

"You've dropped him, haven't you?" he asked suddenly.

She was startled.

"I suppose I have more or less."

"I think it's very wise of you. He wasn't up to your mark."

He looked at her with his calm, reflective eyes (он посмотрел на нее своими

спокойными, задумчивыми глазами), and on a sudden Julia had a sickening fear

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(и внезапно, Джулия испытала тошнотворный страх) that he knew that Tom

had been her lover (что он знал, что Том был ее любовником). It was

impossible, she told herself (это невозможно, говорила она себе), it was only her

guilty conscience that made her think so (это /было/ только ее нечистая:

«виноватая» совесть, что заставляла ее думать так); at Taplow there had been

nothing (в Тэплоу ничего не было); it was incredible that any of the horrid gossip

had reached his ears (это было невероятным, что какие-нибудь отвратительные

слухи дошли до его ушей); and yet there was something in his expression (и все

же, было нечто в его выражении /лица/) that made her certain that he knew (что

убедило ее, что он знал /наверняка/; to make certain — удостовериться). She

was ashamed (ей было стыдно).

"I only asked him to come down to Taplow (я единственно пригласила его

приехать в Тэплоу) because I thought it would be nice for you (из-за того, что я

думала, что это было бы прятно для тебя) to have a boy of that age to play

around with (иметь юношу твоего возраста, с котором можно было бы

поразвлечься)."

"It was (так и было)."

calm [kQ:m] horrid ['hOrId] ashamed [q'SeImd]

He looked at her with his calm, reflective eyes, and on a sudden Julia had a

sickening fear that he knew that Tom had been her lover. It was impossible, she

told herself, it was only her guilty conscience that made her think so; at Taplow

there had been nothing; it was incredible that any of the horrid gossip had reached

his ears; and yet there was something in his expression that made her certain that

he knew. She was ashamed.

"I only asked him to come down to Taplow because I thought it would be nice for

you to have a boy of that age to play around with."

"It was."

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There was in his eyes a faint twinkle of amusement (был в его глазах легкий

веселый огонек; amusement — забава, развлечение; изумление). She felt

desperate (она почувствовала отчаяние). She would have liked to ask him (ей

очень бы хотелось спросить у него) what he was grinning at (над чем это он

ухмылялся), but dared not (но не посмела); for she knew (так как она знала /над

чем/); he was not angry with her (он не сердился на нее), she could have borne