Английский с Оскаром Уайльдом. Кентервильское привидение / Oscar Wilde. The Canterville Ghost

To her immense surprise, however, it was the Canterville Ghost himself! He was sitting by the window, watching the ruined gold of the yellowing trees fly through the air, and the red leaves dancing madly down the long avenue. His head was leaning on his hand, and his whole attitude was one of extreme depression. Indeed, so forlorn, and so much out of repair did he look, that little Virginia, whose first idea had been to run away and lock herself in her room, was filled with pity, and determined to try and comfort him. So light was her footfall, and so deep his melancholy, that he was not aware of her presence till she spoke to him.

“I am so sorry for you (мне очень жаль вас),” she said, “but my brothers are going back to Eton to-morrow (но мои братья возвращаются в Итон завтра), and then, if you behave yourself (и тогда, если вы будете вести себя хорошо), no one will annoy you (никто не будет досаждать вам).”

“I am so sorry for you,” she said, “but my brothers are going back to Eton to-morrow, and then, if you behave yourself, no one will annoy you.”

“It is absurd asking me to behave myself (нелепо просить меня вести себя хорошо),” he answered, looking round in astonishment at the pretty little girl (глядя с удивлением на хорошенькую девчушку) who had ventured to address him (которая посмела обратиться к нему), “quite absurd (совершенно нелепо).” I must rattle my chains (я должен греметь своими цепями), and groan through keyholes (и стонать через замочные скважины), and walk about at night (и бродить по ночам), if that is what you mean (если это и есть то, что вы имеете в виду). It is my only reason for existing (это единственная цель моего существования; reason – разум, рассудок; благоразумие; причина, повод, основание).”

“It is absurd asking me to behave myself,” he answered, looking round in astonishment at the pretty little girl who had ventured to address him, “quite absurd. I must rattle my chains, and groan through keyholes, and walk about at night, if that is what you mean. It is my only reason for existing.”

“It is no reason at all for existing (это вовсе не может быть целью существования), and you know you have been very wicked (и вы знаете, что вы были очень безнравственным). Mrs. Umney told us (миссис Амней сказала нам; to tell), the first day we arrived here (в первый день /когда / мы приехали сюда), that you had killed your wife (что вы убили свою жену).”

“It is no reason at all for existing, and you know you have been very wicked. Mrs. Umney told us, the first day we arrived here, that you had killed your wife.”

“Well, I quite admit it (да, я вполне признаю это),” said the Ghost petulantly (сказал призрак с обидой), “but it was a purely family matter (но это было чисто семейное дело), and concerned no one else (и не касалось никого другого).”