Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы

If there was one thing that Frank Hickson prided herself on more (если была одна вещь = если и было что-то, чем Фрэнк Хиксон гордилась больше; toprideoneselfon— гордиться чем-либо) than on being a match for any man (чем быть достойным соперником для любого мужчины) it was that she was a gentlewoman (это было /то/, что она была леди; gentlewoman— дама, леди /женщина, получившая хорошее воспитание и образование/), and her reply was perfect in its combination of majesty and graciousness (и ее ответ был совершенным в своем сочетании величественности и любезности).

"We've all enjoyed having you here, Lena (нам всем очень понравилось твое пребывание здесь: «иметь тебя здесь», Лина; toenjoy— наслаждаться; любить /что-либо/, получать удовольствие /от чего-либо/)," she said. "It's been a real treat (это было настоящее удовольствие; treat— большое, ни с чем не сравнимое удовольствие)."

But when she turned away from the departing train (но когда она отвернулась от отходящего поезда) she heaved such a vast sigh of relief (она испустила такой огромный вздох облегчения; toheave— поднимать, перемещать /тяжести/; тяжело дышать, глотать воздух) that the platform shook beneath her (что перрон под ней затрясся). She flung back her massive shoulders and strode home to the villa (она расправила: «отбросила назад» свои массивные плечи и зашагала домой к вилле; tostride— шагать /большими шагами/).

"Ouf! " she roared at intervals. "Ouf (уф! ревела она время от времени, уф; ouf/фр./ — уф! ух! /выражение облегчения/;roar— рев, рык; вопль; гул; грохот)! "

ignore [Ig`nL], gracious [`greISqs], roar [rL]

By the time Lena 's fortnight drew to its close the three fat women were barely on speaking terms. They kept up appearances before Lena, but when she was not there made no pretences. They had got past quarrelling. They ignored one another, and when this was not possible treated each other with icy politeness.

Lena was going to stay with friends on the Italian Riviera and Frank saw her off by the same train as that by which she had arrived. She was taking away with her a lot of their money.

"I don't know how to thank you," she said, as she got into the carriage. "I've had a wonderful visit."

If there was one thing that Frank Hickson prided herself on more than on being a match for any man it was that she was a gentlewoman, and her reply was perfect in its combination of majesty and graciousness.

"We've all enjoyed having you here, Lena," she said. "It's been a real treat."

But when she turned away from the departing train she heaved such a vast sigh of relief that the platform shook beneath her. She flung back her massive shoulders and strode home to the villa.

"Ouf! " she roared at intervals. "Ouf!"