Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы

It was altogether too much for her and she burst into tears. She knew that at her age it was fatal to cry; her eyes would be swollen for twenty-four hours and she would look a sight. But there was no help for it. She wept. Jane remained perfectly calm. She looked at Marion through her large spectacles and reflectively smoothed the lap of her black silk dress.

"You’re going to be so dreadfully unhappy," Mrs. Tower sobbed, dabbing her eyes cautiously in the hope that the black on her lashes would not smudge.

"I don’t think so, you know (знаешь, я так не думаю)," Jane answered in those equable, mild tones of hers (ответила Джейн таким своим ровным, мягким голосом: «тоном»), as if there were a little smile behind the words (как будто она слегка улыбалась при этом: «за этими словами»). "We’ve talked it over very thoroughly (мы обсудили это достаточно подробно: «тщательно»; to talk over — подробнообсудить). I always think I’m a very easy person to live with (я думаю, что со мной легко жить: «я легкий человек, чтобы жить со /мной/»). I think I shall make Gilbert very happy and comfortable (я думаю, что сделаю Гилберта счастливым и довольным; comfort— утешение, поддержка; комфорт; покой). He’s never had anyone to look after him properly (о нем никто никогда как следует не заботился: «у него никогда не было никого, кто бы о нем как следует заботился»; proper— правильный, уместный). We’re only marrying after mature consideration (мы собираемся пожениться только после тщательного размышления). And we’ve decided that if either of us wants his liberty (и мы уже решили, что если кому-то из нас захочется свободы) the other will place no obstacles in the way of his getting it (другой не будет чинить никаких препятствий для ее обретения)."

Mrs. Tower had by now recovered herself sufficiently (к этому моменту миссис Тауэр достаточно пришла в себя/успокоилась) to make a cutting remark (чтобы сделать острое замечание; tocut— резать).

"How much has he persuaded you to settle on him (и сколько же он уговорил тебя отписать ему; tosettlesmthonsmb. — юр. завещать, отписать имущество)?"

"I wanted to settle a thousand a year on him (я хотела завещать ему тысячу в год), but he wouldn’t hear of it (но он об этом и слышать не захотел). He was quite upset when I made the suggestion (он был очень расстроен, когда я сделала это предложение). He says he can earn quite enough for his own needs (он говорит, что может заработать вполне достаточно на свои собственные нужды)."

"He’s more cunning than I thought (он хитрее, чем я думала)," said Mrs. Tower acidly (сказала миссис Тауэр едко; acid— кислота).

mature [mq'tjuq], obstacle ['Obstqkl], sufficiently [sq'fISqntlI], persuade [pq'sweId]

"I don’t think so, you know," Jane answered in those equable, mild tones of hers, as if there were a little smile behind the words. "We’ve talked it over very thoroughly. I always think I’m a very easy person to live with. I think I shall make Gilbert very happy and comfortable. He’s never had anyone to look after him properly. We’re only marrying after mature consideration. And we’ve decided that if either of us wants his liberty the other will place no obstacles in the way of his getting it."

Mrs. Tower had by now recovered herself sufficiently to make a cutting remark.

"How much has he persuaded you to settle on him?"

"I wanted to settle a thousand a year on him, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He was quite upset when I made the suggestion. He says he can earn quite enough for his own needs."