Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

have been. It never occurred to her that the look in her eyes when they danced

together betrayed her. She looked upon her position as so privileged that it never

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occurred to her that people at last were beginning to gossip.

When this gossip reached the ears of Dolly de Vries she laughed. At Julia's request

she had invited Tom to parties and once or twice had him down for a week-end in

the country, but she had never paid any attention to him. He seemed a nice little

thing, a useful escort for Julia when Michael was busy, but perfectly insignificant.

He was one of those persons who everywhere pass unnoticed, and even after you

had met him you could not remember what he was like. He was the extra man you

invited to dinner to make an odd number even. Julia talked of him gaily as "me boy

friend" or as "my young man"; she could hardly have been so cool about it, so

open, if there were anything in it.

Besides, Dolly knew very well (кроме того, Долли знала это совершенно точно)

that the only two men there had ever been in Julia's life (что единственными

двумя мужчинами, которые когда-либо были в жизни Джулии) were Michael

and Charles Tamerley (были Майкл и Чарльз Тэмерли). But it was funny of Julia

(но это было достаточно странным: «забавным», что Джулия), after taking so

much care of herself for years (после того, как она заботилась о себе все эти

годы), suddenly to start going to night clubs three or four times a week (внезапно

начала шататься по ночным клубам по три или четыре раза в неделю). Dolly

had seen little of her of late (Долли немного виделась с ней в последнее время;

of late — недавно) and indeed had been somewhat piqued by her neglect (и, на

самом деле, была немного уязвлена ее невниманием). She had many friends in

theatrical circles (у нее было много друзей в театральных кругах) and she began

to make inquiries (и она начала наводить справки). She did not at all like what

she heard (ей совершенно не понравилось то, что она услышала). She did not

know what to think (она не знала, что ей думать). One thing was evident (одно

было очевидным), Julia couldn't know what was being said about her (Джулия не

могла знать, что говорилось о ней), and someone must tell her (и кто-то должен

сказать ей).

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pique [pi:k] neglect [nI'glekt] evident ['evId(q)nt]

Besides, Dolly knew very well that the only two men there had ever been in Julia's

life were Michael and Charles Tamerley. But it was funny of Julia, after taking so

much care of herself for years, suddenly to start going to night clubs three or four

times a week. Dolly had seen little of her of late and indeed had been somewhat

piqued by her neglect. She had many friends in theatrical circles and she began to

make inquiries. She did not at all like what she heard. She did not know what to

think. One thing was evident, Julia couldn't know what was being said about her,

and someone must tell her.

Not she; she hadn't the courage (но не она, у нее не хватало мужества). Even

after all these years (даже после всех этих лет) she was a little frightened of Julia

(она немного побаивалась Джулию). Julia was a very good-tempered woman

(Джулия была очень уравновешенной женщиной; good-tempered — с веселым

нравом,схорошимхарактером; temper — нрав,характер), and though her

language was often brusque (и, хотя ее высказывания: «ее язык» были часто

резкими) it was hard to ruffle her (было достаточно сложно рассердить ее); but

there was something about her (но в ней было нечто такое) that prevented you

from taking liberties with her (что не позволяло фамильярничать с ней; to

prevent — предотвращать, мешать

); you had a feeling that if once you went

too far (складывалось такое чувство, что если раз позволить себе зайти

слишком далеко) you would regret it (то пожалеешь об этом). But something

must be done (но что-то должно было быть сделано). Dolly turned the matter

over in her mind for a fortnight (Долли обдумывала эту проблему /в голове/

целых две недели), anxiously (с беспокойством); she tried to put her own

wounded feelings aside (она пыталась отбросить свои собственные

оскорбленные чувства; wounded — раненный, уязвленный) and look at it only

from the point of view of Julia's career (и взглянуть на ситуацию только с точки

зрения карьеры Джулии), and at last she came to the conclusion (и, в конце

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концов, она пришла к выводу: «заключению») that Michael must speak to her

(что Майкл должен поговорить с ней). She had never liked Michael (ей никогда

не нравился Майкл), but after all he was Julia's husband (но все же он был

мужем Джулии) and it was her duty to tell him (и это было ее долгом —