Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

Arnold Jackson was impudent — there was no other word for it — and his callousness, whether assumed or not, was outrageous. The dinner proceeded. Bateman was asked to eat sundry messes, raw fish and he knew not what, which only his civility induced him to swallow, but which he was amazed to find very good eating. Then an incident happened which to Bateman was the most mortifying experience of the evening. There was a little circlet of flowers in front of him, and for the sake of conversation he hazarded a remark about it.

"It's a wreath that Eva made for you (это венок, который Эва сделала для вас)," said Jackson, "but I guess she was too shy to give it you (но думаю, она слишком стеснялась: «была слишком робкой», чтобы преподнести его вам)."

Bateman took it up in his hand (Бейтман взял его в руку) and made a polite little speech of thanks to the girl (и произнес вежливую речь, чтобы поблагодарить девушку).

"You must put it on (вы должны надеть его)," she said, with a smile and a blush (сказала она, улыбнувшись и зардевшись).

"I? I don't think I'll do that (я? не думаю, что буду это делать = пожалуй, я не стану)."

"It's the charming custom of the country (это чудесный обычай этой страны; charming— очаровательный, обаятельный)," said Arnold Jackson.

There was one in front of him (перед ним /также/ лежал венок из цветов) and he placed it on his hair (и он возложил его себе на голову; to place— ставить, помещать;hair— волосы). Edward did the same (Эдвард сделал то же самое).

"I guess I'm not dressed for the part (полагаю, что для этого я неподходяще одет)," said Bateman, uneasily (сказал Бейтман, испытывая неловкость).

"Would you like a pareo (не хотите ли парео)?" said Eva quickly (быстро спросила Эва). "I'll get you one in a minute (я сейчас принесу вам его)."

"No, thank you. I'm quite comfortable as I am (мне и так вполне удобно)."

"Show him how to put it on, Eva (покажи ему, как это надо надевать)," said Edward.

shy [SaI], custom ['kAstqm], uneasily [An'i: zIlI]

"It's a wreath that Eva made for you," said Jackson, "but I guess she was too shy to give it you."

Bateman took it up in his hand and made a polite little speech of thanks to the girl.

"You must put it on," she said, with a smile and a blush.

"I? I don't think I'll do that."

"It's the charming custom of the country," said Arnold Jackson.

There was one in front of him and he placed it on his hair. Edward did the same.

"I guess I'm not dressed for the part," said Bateman, uneasily.

"Would you like a pareo?" said Eva quickly. "I'll get you one in a minute."

"No, thank you. I'm quite comfortable as I am."

"Show him how to put it on, Eva," said Edward.

At that moment Bateman hated his greatest friend (в тот момент Бейтман ненавидел своего лучшего друга). Eva got up from the table (Эва встала из-за стола) and with much laughter placed the wreath on his black hair (и, смеясь, положила венок ему на голову: «на его черные волосы»; laughter — смех).

"It suits you very well (вам он очень идет; to suit — подходить; идти, быть к лицу)," said Mrs. Jackson. "Don't it suit him, Arnold (ведь правда, Арнольд: «ну разве он не идет ему, Арнольд»; don’t = doesn’t — миссис Джексон не совсем правильно говорит по-английски)?"

"Of course it does (конечно идет)."

Bateman sweated at every pore (Бейтман вспотел с головы до ног; pore— пора;at every pore— весь, с головы до ног).

"Isn't it a pity it's dark (ну разве не жаль, что уже темно)? " said Eva. "We could photograph you all three together (мы могли бы сфотографировать вас всех троих)."