Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. Театр

But one or two of Dolly's remarks (но одно или два замечания Долли) had been

somewhat of a shock to Julia (были для Джулии некоторым потрясением:

«шоком»). They rankled (они мучили /ее/). It was disconcerting (приводило в

замешательство то) that gossip had so nearly reached the truth (что слухи были

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настолько близки: «достигали» к правде). But did it matter (но какое это имело

значение)? Plenty of women had lovers and who bothered (большое количество

женщин имело любовников, и кого это волновало)? And an actress (а

актриса). No one expected an actress to be a pattern of propriety (никто же не

ожидает, что актриса будет образцом правильности поведения).

"It's my damned virtue (это все моя чертова добродетель). That's at the bottom

of the trouble (вот в чем причина всей этой проблемы; bottom — низ, нижняя

часть; суть, основа)."

lipstick ['lIp"stIk] coldly ['kqVldlI] disconcert ["dIskqn'sq:t]

propriety [prq'praIqtI]

Dolly slipped her feet back into her shoes and getting her lipstick out of her bag

did her lips.

"Well, dear, you're old enough to know your own mind."

They parted coldly.

But one or two of Dolly's remarks had been somewhat of a shock to Julia. They

rankled. It was disconcerting that gossip had so nearly reached the truth. But did it

matter? Plenty of women had lovers and who bothered? And an actress. No one

expected an actress to be a pattern of propriety.

"It's my damned virtue. That's at the bottom of the trouble."

She had acquired the reputation of a perfectly virtuous woman (она приобрела

репутацию идеально добродетельной женщины), whom the tongue of scandal

could not touch (которую не могут коснуться скандальные языки), and now it

looked as though her reputation was a prison (и теперь, все выглядело так, что ее

репутация была тюрьмой) that she had built round herself (которую она сама

возвела: «построила» вокруг себя). But there was worse (но было еще хуже).

What had Tom meant by saying that she ate out of his hand (что это Том имел в

виду, когда говорил, что она ест с его руки)? That deeply affronted her (это

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глубоко оскорбило ее). Silly little fool (глупый дурачок). How dare he (как он

смеет)? She didn't know what to do about it either (она не знала, что ей делать и

с этим тоже). She would have liked to tax him with it (ей хотелось бы упрекнуть

его /за эти слова/; to tax smb. with smth. — делать выговор, обвинять). What

was the good (но какой в этом смысл)? He would deny it (он будет все

отрицать). The only thing was to say nothing (единственное что оставалось —

ничего не говорить); it had all gone too far now (все зашло теперь уже

слишком далеко), she must accept everything (она должна мириться со всем:

«принимать все»). It was no good not facing the truth (не было смысла не

признавать правды; to face the truth — смотреть правде в лицо), he didn't love

her (он не любил ее), he was her lover because it gratified his self-esteem (он был

ее любовником из-за того, что это потворствовало его самомнению:

«удовлетворяло его самоуважение»; esteem — уважение, почтение), because

it brought him various things he cared for (потому, что это приносило ему

различные вещи, которые были для него важны: «к которым он стремился»)

and because in his own eyes at least (и потому, что, по крайней мере, в его

собственных глазах) it gave him a sort of position (это давало ему некое

/солидное/ положение).

virtuous ['vq:tSVqs] tongue [tAN] affront [q'frAnt] various ['ve(q)rIqs]

She had acquired the reputation of a perfectly virtuous woman, whom the tongue

of scandal could not touch, and now it looked as though her reputation was a

prison that she had built round herself. But there was worse. What had Tom meant

by saying that she ate out of his hand? That deeply affronted her. Silly little fool.

How dare he? She didn't know what to do about it either. She would have liked to

tax him with it. What was the good? He would deny it. The only thing was to say

nothing; it had all gone too far now, she must accept everything. It was no good

not facing the truth, he didn't love her, he was her lover because it gratified his

self-esteem, because it brought him various things he cared for and because in his

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own eyes at least it gave him a sort of position.

"If I had any sense I'd chuck him (если бы у меня была хоть чуточка

благоразумия, я бы дала ему отставку: «бросила его»)." She gave an angry

laugh (она сердито рассмеялась). "It's easy to say that (легко так говорить). I

love him (я люблю его)."

The strange thing was (самым странным было то,) that when she looked into her