Various ['veqrIqs], tingling ['tINglIn], grouse [graus]

The hour that Mrs. Harris devoted to Miss Penrose was from five to six and all the next day, as she worked in the various homes and made her peace with her clients, who were too happy to see her back to grouse about her prolonged absence, she lived in tingling anticipation of that moment. At last it came, and she hurried to the little flat that had once been a stables behind the great house in the square and, opening the door, stood for a moment at the foot of the narrow staircase.

At first it was only disappointment that she experienced for the place was dark and silent. Mrs. Harris would have liked to hear from the girl's own lips the story of the triumph scored by the Dior dress and its effect upon Mr. Korngold.

But it was the strange (но странный), unfamiliar odor (незнакомый запах) that assailed her nostrils (что проник в ее ноздри) that turned her cold with alarm (заставил ее похолодеть от тревоги) and set the skin of her scalp to pricking with terror (и кожу головы стало покалывать от ужаса; scalp — кожа черепа, кожа головы). And yet (и все же), on second thought (по здравом размышлении: «на второй мысли»), the odor was not unfamiliar (этот запах не был незнакомым). Why did it awaken memories of the war (почему он пробудил воспоминания о войне) she had lived through in London (/которую/ она пережила в Лондоне) — the rain of high explosives (град взрывчатки = осколочных снарядов) and the deluge of fire (и шквал огня; deluge — потоп, наводнение)?

unfamiliar [Anfq'miljq], nostril ['nOstril], deluge ['delju:dZ]

But it was the strange, unfamiliar odor that assailed her nostrils that turned her cold with alarm and set the skin of her scalp to pricking with terror. And yet, on second thought, the odor was not unfamiliar. Why did it awaken memories of the war she had lived through in London — the rain of high explosives and the deluge of fire?

At the top of the stairs (на верху лестницы) Mrs. Harris turned on the lights in the vestibule and the living room and went in (миссис Харрис включила свет в вестибюле и гостиной и вошла). The next instant she was staring down (в следующее мгновение она /пристально, уставившись/ глядела вниз), frozen with horror (оцепеневшая от ужаса), at the ruins of her dress (на остатки своего платья). And then she knew what the odor was that had assailed her nostrils (и затем она поняла, что это был за запах, что проник в ее ноздри; to assail — нападать, атаковать) and made her think of the nights (и заставил ее подумать о ночах) when the incendiaries had poured down upon London (когда зажигательные снаряды лились = сыпались градом на Лондон).

Incendiary [In'sendjqrI], pour [pO:], assail [q'seIl]

At the top of the stairs Mrs. Harris turned on the lights in the vestibule and the living room and went in. The next instant she was staring down, frozen with horror, at the ruins of her dress. And then she knew what the odor was that had assailed her nostrils and made her think of the nights when the incendiaries had poured down upon London.

The Dior dress had been tossed carelessly upon the disordered couch (платье от Диора было брошено небрежно на смятую кушетку) with the burned-out velvet panel (с выгоревшим бархатным клином) where the fire had eaten into it (где огонь въелся в него) showing shockingly in a fearful gap of melted beadwork (показывая ужасающе в страшной бреши расплавленной вышивки бисером), burned and singed cloth (сожженную и опаленную ткань).

Beside it lay a pound (рядом с ним лежал фунт стерлингов) and a hastily scrawled note (и поспешно написанная каракулями записка). Mrs. Harris' fingers were trembling so (пальцы миссис Харрис дрожали так) that she could hardly read it at first (что она едва могла прочесть ее сначала), but at last its contents became clear (но затем ее содержание прояснилось).

couch [q'seIl], fearful ['fIqful], scrawl [skrO:l]

The Dior dress had been tossed carelessly upon the disordered couch with the burned-out velvet panel where the fire had eaten into it showing shockingly in a fearful gap of melted beadwork, burned and singed cloth.

Beside it lay a pound and a hastily scrawled note. Mrs. Harris' fingers were trembling so that she could hardly read it at first, but at last its contents became clear.

"Dear Mrs. Harris (дорогая миссис Харрис), I am terribly sorry (мне ужасно жаль) I could not stay to explain in person (что я не могла остаться, /чтобы/ объяснить лично), but I have to go away for a little while (но я должна уехать на некоторое время). I am most awfully sorry about what happened to the dress (я крайне сожалею о том, что случилось с платьем), but it wasn't my fault (но это не было моей виной), and if Mr. Korngold had not been so quick (и если бы мистер Корнголд не был бы столь быстр) I might have burned to death (я, наверное, сгорела бы насмерть). He said I had a very narrow escape (он сказал, что я едва спаслась: «я имела очень узкое спасение»). After dinner we went to the 30 Club (после обеда мы пошли в клуб «30»), where I stopped to comb my hair in front of a mirror (где я остановилась причесать волосы перед зеркалом), and there was an electric heater right underneath (но там был электрический обогреватель прямо внизу), and all of a sudden I was burning (и внезапно я загорелась: «была горящей») — I mean the dress (я имею в виду платье), and I could have burned to death (и я могла сгореть насмерть). I am sure they will be able to repair it (я уверена, они смогут его починить/восстановить) and your insurance will take care of the damage (и ваша страховка покроет ущерб: «позаботится об ущербе = о возмещении ущерба»), which is not as bad as it looks (который не так уж и велик, как может показаться) as it is only the one panel (так как это только один клин). I am going away for the week (я уезжаю на неделю). Please look after the flat as usual (пожалуйста, присматривайте за квартирой, как обычно). I am leaving a pound for your wages in the meantime (я оставляю фунт жалования за этот промежуток времени)."

awfully ['O:fulI], comb [kqum], mirror ['mIrq]

"Dear Mrs. Harris, I am terribly sorry I could not stay to explain in person, but I have to go away for a little while. I am most awfully sorry about what happened to the dress, but it wasn't my fault, and if Mr. Korngold had not been so quick I might have burned to death. He said I had a very narrow escape. After dinner we went to the 30 Club, where I stopped to comb my hair in front of a mirror, and there was an electric heater right underneath, and all of a sudden I was burning — I mean the dress, and I could have burned to death. I am sure they will be able to repair it and your insurance will take care of the damage, which is not as bad as it looks as it is only the one panel. I am going away for the week. Please look after the flat as usual. I am leaving a pound for your wages in the meantime."

It was astonishing (было удивительно) that when Mrs. Harris had finished reading the letter she did not cry out (что, когда миссис Харрис закончила чтение письма, она не разрыдалась), or even murmur (или хотя бы /что-то/ прошептала = издала хоть какой-нибудь звук), or say anything at all (или сказала что-нибудь вообще). Instead (вместо этого) she took up the damaged garment and, folding it carefully (она взяла испорченное платье и, складывая его с осторожностью), packed it once more into the old plastic suitcase (упаковала его снова в старый пластмассовый чемодан) Mme. Colbert had given her (/который/ мадам Кольбер дала ей) and which she retrieved from the closet where she had stowed it the night before (и который она достала из шкафа, куда убрала его прошлым вечером; to stow — укладывать, складывать). She left the letter and the money lying on the couch (она оставила письмо и деньги лежащими на кушетке), went downstairs and into the street (спустилась вниз по ступенькам и /вышла/ на улицу).

murmur ['mq:mq], instead [In'sted], retrieve [rI'tri:v]

It was astonishing that when Mrs. Harris had finished reading the letter she did not cry out, or even murmur, or say anything at all. Instead she took up the damaged garment and, folding it carefully, packed it once more into the old plastic suitcase Mme. Colbert had given her and which she retrieved from the closet where she had stowed it the night before. She left the letter and the money lying on the couch, went downstairs and into the street.

When she had closed the outside door (когда она закрыла наружную дверь) she paused only long enough to remove the key to the flat from her chain (она сделала паузу, необходимую лишь для того, чтобы снять ключ от квартиры со своей цепочки), since she would not be needing it any more (поскольку она не будет нуждаться в нем больше), and push it through the slot of the mail drop in the door (и протолкнуть его через щель почтового ящика в двери). Then she walked the five minutes to Sloane Square (затем она шла пешком пять минут до Слоун-Сквер), where she caught a bus for home (где она села на автобус домой).

enough [I'nAf], remove [rI'mu:v], caught [kO:t]

When she had closed the outside door she paused only long enough to remove the key to the flat from her chain, since she would not be needing it any more, and push it through the slot of the mail drop in the door. Then she walked the five minutes to Sloane Square, where she caught a bus for home.

It was damp and chilly in her flat (было влажно и зябко в ее квартире). She put the kettle on for tea (она поставила чайник /на плиту/ для чая = чтобы приготовить чай) and then, guided by habit, she did all of the things she was used to doing (и затем по привычке: «управляемая привычкой» она сделала все, что привыкла делать), even to eating (даже поела), though she hardly knew what food she tasted (хотя она едва ли понимала, какую пищу она пробовала = ела). She washed up the dishes and put everything away (она вымыла тарелки и все убрала). But there the mechanism ended (но на этом ее завод кончился: «механизм закончился»), and she turned to the unpacking of the ruins of the Dior dress (и она принялась за распаковывание остатков платья от Диора; to turn — поворачивать; переходить к другому предмету/приниматься).

guide [gaId], though [Dqu], mechanism ['mekqnIzm]

It was damp and chilly in her flat. She put the kettle on for tea and then, guided by habit, she did all of the things she was used to doing, even to eating, though she hardly knew what food she tasted. She washed up the dishes and put everything away. But there the mechanism ended, and she turned to the unpacking of the ruins of the Dior dress.

She fingered the charred edges of the velvet (она трогала пальцами обугленные края бархата) and the burned and melted jet (и сожженный и расплавленный черный янтарь). She knew night clubs (она знала ночные клубы), for she had cleaned in them (потому что она убиралась в них). She thought she could see it happening (она думала, что могла представить, как это случилось) — the girl, half drunken (девушка, полупьяная), coming down the stairs from without (спускающаяся по лестнице снаружи = с улицы), on the arm of her escort (под руку со своим кавалером; escort — эскорт; сопровождающий), thoughtless (беспечная), heedless of all but that which concerned herself (не думающая ни о чем, кроме того, что касалось ее лично; heed — внимание), pausing before the first mirror (останавливающаяся у первого зеркала) to study herself and apply a comb (чтобы осмотреть себя и поправить прическу: «приложить расческу»).

char [tSQ:], drunken ['drANkqn], thoughtless ['TO:tlIs]

She fingered the charred edges of the velvet and the burned and melted jet. She knew night clubs, for she had cleaned in them. She thought she could see it happening — the girl, half drunken, coming down the stairs from without, on the arm of her escort, thoughtless, heedless of all but that which concerned herself, pausing before the first mirror to study herself and apply a comb.

Then the sudden ascent of smoke from her feet (затем неожиданное появление дыма из-под ног), the little shriek of fright (небольшое вскрикивание от испуга), perhaps an orange line of fire in the dress (возможно, оранжевая полоска огня на платье) and the man beating at it with his hands until it was extinguished (и мужчина, сбивающий его своими руками, пока огонь не был погашен) and only the smoldering wreck of the most beautiful and expensive frock in the world remained (и осталось только тлеющее нечто от самого красивого и дорого платья в мире; wreck — остов разбитого судна; остатки кораблекрушения; развалины).

And here it was in her hands now (и вот оно было в ее руках теперь), still with the stink of charred cloth rising from it (все еще с запахом обугленной ткани, исходящим от него: «поднимающимся») and which all the perfume given to her by Natasha would not suffice to blot out (и уничтожить который не хватит всех духов, подаренных ей Наташей; blot — пятно; клякса; to blot out — стирать). A thing once as perfect and beautiful (вещь, прежде такая совершенная и прекрасная) as human hands could make it (какую только могли сотворить человеческие руки) was destroyed (было уничтожена).

ascent [sent], extinguish [Iks'tINgwIS], suffice [sq'faIs]

Then the sudden ascent of smoke from her feet, the little shriek of fright, perhaps an orange line of fire in the dress and the man beating at it with his hands until it was extinguished and only the smoldering wreck of the most beautiful and expensive frock in the world remained.

And here it was in her hands now, still with the stink of charred cloth rising from it and which all the perfume given to her by Natasha would not suffice to blot out. A thing once as perfect and beautiful as human hands could make it was destroyed.

She tried to tell herself (она пыталась сказать себе) that it was not the fault of the girl (что девушка невиновна), that it had been an accident (что это был несчастный случай) and that only she herself was to blame (и что лишь ее саму можно винить = что она сама виновата) for trying to play fairy godmother (за попытку сыграть добрую фею) to this spoiled brat of a bad actress (для этой избалованной и плохой актрисы; spoiled brat — испорченный отпрыск; brat — надоедливый ребенок; плохо воспитанный ребенок) who had not even the grace to be grateful to her for her foolish gesture (у кого даже не было вежливости быть благодарной ей за ее неразумный поступок; gesture — жест; поступок; grace — грация; изящество; вежливость, учтивость, любезность, обходительность).

Mrs. Harris was a sensible person (миссис Харрис была здравомыслящим человеком), a realist who had lived an exacting life (реалистом, кто прожил суровую жизнь; exacting — требовательный; взыскательный; обременительный, трудный; тяжкий) and was not given to self-delusion (и не была склонна к самообману; to give — давать; предаваться). Looking now upon this singed and tragic wreck of her desires (смотря теперь на эти опаленные и ужасные/прискорбные остатки своих желаний), she was well aware of her own foolish pride and vanity (она хорошо осознавала свою неразумную гордыню и тщеславие), not only involved in the possession of such a treasure (не только в обладании таким сокровищем; to involve — втягивать, вовлекать; касаться, затрагивать), but in the displaying of it (но и в /том, что она решилась/ показать его).

fault [fO:lt], gesture ['dZestSq], exacting [Ig'zxktIN]

She tried to tell herself that it was not the fault of the girl, that it had been an accident and that only she herself was to blame for trying to play fairy godmother to this spoiled brat of a bad actress who had not even the grace to be grateful to her for her foolish gesture.

Mrs. Harris was a sensible person, a realist who had lived an exacting life and was not given to self-delusion. Looking now upon this singed and tragic wreck of her desires, she was well aware of her own foolish pride and vanity, not only involved in the possession of such a treasure, but in the displaying of it.

She had savored the casual way she might say to her landlady (она наслаждалась тем, как /совершенно/ обыденно она сказала бы своей домовладелице), when queried as to where she had been (когда спрошенная = на вопрос где она была): "Oh, I was only over in Paris, dearie (ах, я только была в Париже, дорогая), to look at the collection and buy me a Dior dress (взглянуть на коллекцию и купить себе платье от Диора). It's called ‘Temptytion’ (оно называется «Искушение»)." And, of course, she had visualized a hundred times the reaction of Mrs. Butterfield when she unveiled her prize (и, конечно, она представляла сотни раз реакцию миссис Баттерфилд, когда она покажет ей свою добычу; to unveil — снимать покрывало /с чего-л./; раскрывать; торжественно открывать /памятник/; veil — покров, завеса). There would be no calling in of her friend now (теперь не будет приглашения ее подруги = нет смысла приглашать подругу) — or anyone else (или кого-то еще) — for she would only croak (потому что она только будет брюзжать; to croak — каркать; брюзжать, ворчать): "Didn't I tell yer something orful would 'appen (разве я не говорила тебе, что что-то ужасное случится; awful — страшный, ужасный)? Things like that (такие вещи, как эта) ain't for the likes of us (не для таких, как мы)! What was you going to do with it, anyway (что ты собиралась с ним делать, в любом случае)?"

casual ['kxZjuql], query ['kwIqrI], unveil [An'veIl]

She had savored the casual way she might say to her landlady, when queried as to where she had been: "Oh, I was only over in Paris, dearie, to look at the collection and buy me a Dior dress. It's called ‘Temptytion’." And, of course, she had visualized a hundred times the reaction of Mrs. Butterfield when she unveiled her prize. There would be no calling in of her friend now — or anyone else — for she would only croak: "Didn't I tell yer something orful would 'appen? Things like that ain't for the likes of us! What was you going to do with it, anyway?"

What indeed had she been meaning to do with it (что, в самом деле, она думала делать с ним)? Hang it away in an old, stale closet (повесить его в старый, с затхлым запахом шкаф; stale — несвежий, черствый; спертый; затхлый) next to her aprons, overall, and one poor Sunday frock (рядом с ее передниками, плащом и скромным праздничным платьем: «воскресным платьем»), secretly to gloat over when she came home at night (чтобы тайно рассматривать его, когда она придет домой вечером; to gloat — пожирать глазами /over, upon/)? The dress had not been designed and created to languish in the dark of a cupboard (это платье не было задумано и создано для того, чтобы чахнуть в темноте платяного шкафа). It was meant to be out (оно было предназначено быть видимым: «быть вне») where there was gaiety (там, где было веселье), lights (огни), music and admiring eyes (музыка и восхищенные взгляды).

closet ['klOzIt], languish ['lxNgwIS], gaiety ['geIqtI]

What indeed had she been meaning to do with it? Hang it away in an old, stale closet next to her aprons, overall, and one poor Sunday frock, secretly to gloat over when she came home at night? The dress had not been designed and created to languish in the dark of a cupboard. It was meant to be out where there was gaiety, lights, music and admiring eyes.

Quite suddenly she could not bear to look upon it any longer (внезапно она больше не могла смотреть на него: «не могла вынести смотреть»). She was at the end of her resistance to grief (она больше не могла сопротивляться горю: «была в конце сопротивления горю»). She reinterred it in the plastic suitcase (она вновь убрала его в пластмассовый чемодан; to inter — хоронить), hurriedly blotting out the sight of it with the crumpled tissue paper (поспешно скрывая его /платья/ вид мятой оберточной бумагой) and then, flinging herself upon her bed (а затем, бросившись на свою кровать), buried her face in her pillow (зарыла свое лицо в подушку) and commenced to cry (и начала рыдать).

quite [kwaIt], crumpled [krAmpld], tissue ['tISu:]

Quite suddenly she could not bear to look upon it any longer. She was at the end of her resistance to grief. She reinterred it in the plastic suitcase, hurriedly blotting out the sight of it with the crumpled tissue paper and then, flinging herself upon her bed, buried her face in her pillow and commenced to cry.

She wept silently (она плакала тихо), inconsolably and interminably (безутешно и бесконечно), after the fashion of women whose hearts have been broken (как женщины, чье сердце было разбито; after the fashion of — наподобие/в манере). She wept for her own foolishness (она плакала из-за своей глупости), and too for her self-acknowledged guilt of the sin of pride (а также из-за своей вины в грехе гордыни, в чем она прекрасно отдавала себе отчет; to acknowledge — признавать), and the swift sure punishment that had followed upon its heels (и из-за незамедлительного наказания, что последовало по пятам = следом), but mostly she wept simply and miserably for her lost dress (но больше всего она плакала просто и несчастно из-за своего потерянного платья) and the destruction of this so dear possession (и из-за /того/, что ее любимое имущество уничтожено; destruction — разрушение).