Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

"I hope you'll have enough to eat," said Julia. "Michael and I have very small

appetites."

In point of fact there was grilled sole, grilled cutlets and spinach, and stewed

fruit. It was a meal designed to satisfy legitimate hunger, but not to produce

fat. The cook, warned by Margery that there was a guest to luncheon had

hurriedly made some fried potatoes. They looked crisp and smelt appetizing.

Only the young man took them. Julia gave them a wistful look before she

shook her head in refusal. Michael stared at them gravely for a moment as

though he could not quite tell what they were, and then with a little start,

breaking out of a brown study, said No thank you.

They sat at a refectory table (они сидели за длинным обеденным столом;

refectory — трапезная в монастыре), Julia and Michael at either end (Джулия и

Майкл с противоположных концов: «на каждом конце») in very grand Italian

chairs (в величественных итальянских креслах), and the young man in the

middle (а молодой человек /сидел/ посередине) on a chair that was not at all

comfortable (в кресле, которое вовсе не было удобным), but perfectly in

character (но идеально: «совершенно» подходило /по стилю/). Julia noticed

(Джулия заметила) that he seemed to be looking at the sideboard (что он,

казалось, посматривал на буфет) and with her engaging smile (и со своей

обворожительной улыбкой), leaned forward (наклонилась вперед).

"What is it (что такое)?"

He blushed scarlet (он зарделся; to blush — заливаться краской смущения,

стыда, краснеть).

"I was wondering (я думал) if I might have a piece of bread (могу ли я получить

кусок хлеба)."

"Of course (конечно)."

She gave the butler a significant glance (она многозначительно посмотрела на

дворецкого; significant — знаменательный, важный); he was at that moment

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франкаwww.franklang.ru

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helping Michael to a glass of dry white wine (в тот момент он наполнял бокал

Майкла белым сухим вином; to help — помогать, оказывать помощь,

обслуживать за столом), and he left the room (и он вышел из комнаты).

character ['kxrIktq] scarlet ['skQ:lIt] bread [bred]

They sat at a refectory table, Julia and Michael at either end in very grand

Italian chairs, and the young man in the middle on a chair that was not at all

comfortable, but perfectly in character. Julia noticed that he seemed to be

looking at the sideboard and with her engaging smile, leaned forward.

"What is it?"

He blushed scarlet.

"I was wondering if I might have a piece of bread."

"Of course."

She gave the butler a significant glance; he was at that moment helping

Michael to a glass of dry white wine, and he left the room.

"Michael and I never eat bread (Майкл и я никогда не едим хлеб). It was stupid

of Jevons (это было глупо со стороны Джевонса) not to realize that you might

want some (не понять, что вам может понадобится немного /хлеба/)."

"Of course bread is only a habit (конечно же хлеб — это просто привычка),"

said Michael (сказал Майкл). 'It's wonderful (удивительно) how soon you can

break yourself of it (как быстро можно отучиться от нее: «как скоро вы можете

оторваться от нее») if you set your mind to it (если сосредоточится на этой

идее; to set one's mind on smth. — очень хотеть чего-либо, сосредоточить все

свои мысли на чем-либо, поставить себе цель)."

"The poor lamb's as thin as a rail, Michael (бедный ягненок, он худой, как

щепка, Майкл; rail — перила; рельсы)."

"I don't not eat bread because I'm afraid of getting fat (я не ем хлеб не потому,