Читаем Английский с Уилки Коллинзом. Женщина из сна полностью

 Houseless and homeless as she was, she never asked me to give her a shelter for the night. It was my proposal that she should rest, under my roof, unknown to my mother and my aunt. Our kitchen was built out at the back of the cottage: she might remain there unseen and unheard until the household was astir in the morning. I led her into the kitchen, and set a chair for her by the dying embers of the fire. I dare say I was to blame – shamefully to blame, if you like. I only wonder what you would have done in my place.

On your word of honor as a man, would you have let that beautiful creature wander back to the shelter of the stone quarry like a stray dog? God help the woman who is foolish enough to trust and love you, if you would have done that!

I left her by the fire, and went to my mother’s room.

IX

If you have ever felt the heartache, you will know (если вы когда-нибудь чувствовали сердечную боль, то поймете) what I suffered in secret when my mother took my hand, and said (что я втайне испытывал, когда матушка взяла мою руку и сказала), “I am sorry, Francis, that your night’s rest has been disturbed through me (прости, Фрэнсис, что твой ночной сон был потревожен из-за меня; through – через, сквозь; из-за).” I gave her the medicine (я дал ей лекарство); and I waited by her till the pains abated (и ждал /сидя/ рядом с ней, пока боли утихнут; to abate – ослаблять/ся/, уменьшать/ся/, утихать). My aunt Chance went back to her bed (тетушка Чанс вернулась к себе в постель); and my mother and I were left alone (матушка и я остались одни: «были оставлены одни»). I noticed that her writing-desk, moved from its customary place (я заметил, что ее письменный стол, передвинутый со своего обычного места; customary – обычный, привычный), was on the bed by her side (стоит на кровати рядом с ней; side – бок; место рядом).

She saw me looking at it (она увидела, что я смотрю на него). “This is your birthday, Francis (сегодня твой день рождения, Фрэнсис),” she said. “Have you anything to tell me (тебе есть что мне рассказать)?”


 If you have ever felt the heartache, you will know what I suffered in secret when my mother took my hand, and said, “I am sorry, Francis, that your night’s rest has been disturbed through me.” I gave her the medicine; and I waited by her till the pains abated. My aunt Chance went back to her bed; and my mother and I were left alone. I noticed that her writing-desk, moved from its customary place, was on the bed by her side.

She saw me looking at it. “This is your birthday, Francis,” she said. “Have you anything to tell me?”

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