Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Мистер Всезнайка. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham. Mr. Know-All. Stories

I was really obliged to laugh, and Gilbert laughed too. His laughter was frank and boyish. It looked as though he were amused at everything Jane said. But Mrs. Tower was almost at the end of her tether, and I was afraid that unless relief came she would for once forget that she was a woman of the world. I came to the rescue as best I could.

"I suppose you’re very busy buying your trousseau," I said.

"No. I wanted to get my things from the dressmaker in Liverpool I’ve been to ever since I was first married. But Gilbert won’t let me. He’s very masterful, and of course he has wonderful taste."

She looked at him with a little affectionate smile, demurely, as though she were a girl of seventeen.

Mrs. Tower went quite pale under her make-up (миссис Тауэр совсем стала бледной = побледнела под макияжем; to go — идти; всочетаниисприл. означаетпереходвкакое-либосостояние: to go pale — побледнеть).

"We’re going to Italy for our honeymoon (свой медовый месяц мы собираемся провести в Италии; tobegoingtodosmth. — собираться что-либо сделать). Gilbert has never had a chance of studying Renaissance architecture (у Гилберта никогда не было возможности изучить/исследовать архитектуру Ренессанса; chance— шанс; возможность

), and of course it’s important for an architect to see things for himself (и конечно, для архитектора очень важно увидеть все самому). And we shall stop in Paris on the way and get my clothes there (а по пути мы остановимся в Париже и там купим мне одежду; toget— получать; покупать)."

"Do you expect to be away long (и надолго вы едете: «вы предполагаете/рассчитываете долго отсутствовать»; toexpect— ожидать; предполагать, рассчитывать)?"

"Gilbert has arranged with his office to stay away for six months (Гилберт договорился на работе, что сможет не приходить = отсутствовать шесть месяцев). It will be such a treat for him (для него это будет таким развлечением), won’t it (не так ли)? You see (понимаете), he’s never had more than a fortnight’s holiday before (раньше у него не было отпуска больше двух недель: «двухнедельного отпуска»)."

"Why not (почему же)?" asked Mrs. Tower in a tone that no effort of will could prevent from being icy (спросила миссис Тауэр тоном, в котором никаким усилием воли нельзя было скрыть холодность: «в /таком/ тоне, что никакое усилие воли не могло предотвратить того, что он был ледяным»).

"He’s never been able to afford it (он никогда не мог позволить себе этого), poor dear (бедняжка)."

"Ah!" said Mrs. Tower (ах, — сказала миссис Тауэр), and into the exclamation put volumes (и в это восклицание вложила всю /свою/ экспрессию; toputvolumes=tospeakvolumes— говорить очень выразительно/экспрессивно).

honeymoon ['hAnImHn], Renaissance [re'neIsqns], exclamation [eksklq'meISqn]

Mrs. Tower went quite pale under her make-up.

"We’re going to Italy for our honeymoon. Gilbert has never had a chance of studying Renaissance architecture, and of course it’s important for an architect to see things for himself. And we shall stop in Paris on the way and get my clothes there."

"Do you expect to be away long?"

"Gilbert has arranged with his office to stay away for six months. It will be such a treat for him, won’t it? You see, he’s never had more than a fortnight’s holiday before."

"Why not?" asked Mrs. Tower in a tone that no effort of will could prevent from being icy.