Английский для смелых. Истории о духах и привидениях / Great Ghost Stories

 Within a few minutes Mr Anstruther had discovered Collins in the greenhouse, and they were on their way to the site of the projected rose garden. I do not know much about the conditions most suitable to these nurseries, but I am inclined to believe that Mrs Anstruther, though in the habit of describing herself as ‘a great gardener,’ had not been well advised in the selection of a spot for the purpose. It was a small, dank clearing, bounded on one side by a path, and on the other by thick box-bushes, laurels, and other evergreens. The ground was almost bare of grass and dark of aspect. Remains of rustic seats and an old and corrugated oak post somewhere near the middle of the clearing had given rise to Mr Anstruther’s conjecture that a summer-house had once stood there.

Clearly Collins had not been put in possession of his mistress’s intentions with regard to this plot of ground; and when he learnt them from Mr Anstruther he displayed no enthusiasm.

‘Of course I could clear them seats away soon enough (конечно, я бы мог достаточно быстро убрать эти скамейки; them seats = the seats[18])

,’ he said. ‘They aren’t no ornament to the place, Mr Anstruther, and rotten too (место они не украшают: «они не украшение для места», мистер Анструтер, да и прогнили: «гнилые» к тому же; they aren’t no ornament = they are no ornament). Look ’ere, sir (смотрите «сюда», сэр; ’ere = here)’ – and he broke off a large piece (и он отломал большой кусок) – ‘rotten right through

(прогнили прямо насквозь; right through – целиком; навылет). Yes, clear them away, to be sure we can do that (да, убрать их, конечно, это мы можем сделать).’

‘And the post (и столб),’ said Mr Anstruther, ‘that’s got to go too (его тоже надо убрать: «это тоже должно уйти»)

.’

Collins advanced, and shook the post with both hands (Коллинз подошел и подергал столб обеими руками; advance – движение вперед, продвижение; to shake – трясти; сотрясать): then he rubbed his chin (потом он потер подбородок).

‘That’s firm in the ground, that post is (крепко он /сидит/ в земле, этот /столб/),’ he said. ‘That’s been there a number of years, Mr Anstruther

(он тут уже некоторое количество лет стоит, мистер Анструтер). I doubt I shan’t get that up not quite so soon as what I can do with them seats (= I doubt I shall get that up nearly so soon as the seats; я сомневаюсь, что я смогу его вытащить и близко так же скоро, как эти скамейки: «смогу его вытащить не вполне так же скоро, как так, как я смогу вытащить эти скамейки»).’

‘But your mistress specially wishes it to be got out of the way in an hour’s time (но ваша госпожа в особенности хочет, чтобы его убрали с дороги через час),’ said Mr Anstruther.