The young man blushed again and his Adam’s apple moved in his thin neck.

"It's awfully kind of you." He gave his clothes a troubled look. "I'm absolutely filthy."

"You can have a wash and brush up when we get home."

The car was waiting for them at the stage door, a long car in black and chromium, upholstered in silver leather, and with Michael's crest discreetly emblazoned on the doors. Julia got in.

"Come and sit with me. Michael is going to drive."

 

They lived in Stanhope Place (они жили на /улице/ Стэнхоуп-плейс), and when they arrived (и когда они приехали; to arrive — прибывать, приезжать, приходить) Julia told the butler (Джулия сказала дворецкому) to show the young man where he could wash his hands (показать молодому человеку, где он может помыть руки). She went up to the drawing-room (она сама отправилась в гостиную). She was painting her lips (она подкрашивала губы; to paint — красить, писать красками) when Michael joined her (когда Майкл присоединился к ней; to join — соединять, связывать, вступать в члены).

"I've told him to come up as soon as he's ready (я сказал ему подходить, как только он будет готов)."

"By the way, what's his name (между прочим, как его зовут: «как его имя»)?"

"I haven't a notion (понятия не имею; notion — понятие, представление, взгляд, идея)."

"Darling, we must know (дорогой, мы должны знать). I'll ask him to write in our book (я попрошу его расписаться: «написать» в нашей книге)."

"Damn it (черт возьми; to damn — проклинать), he's not important enough for that (он не достаточно важный для этого)." Michael asked only very distinguished people (Майкл просил только известных: «выдающихся» людей) to write in their book (расписываться в их книге). "We shall never see him again (мы никогда его больше не увидим)."

At that moment (в тот момент) the young man appeared (появился молодой человек; to appear — появляться, показываться). In the car Julia had done all she could (в машине Джулия сделала все возможное: «все что она могла») to put him at his ease (чтобы он почувствовал себя свободно; to put smb. at his ease — избавить кого-то от смущения, успокоить кого-либо), but he was still very shy (но он все еще был очень застенчив; shy — стеснительный, стыдливый). The cocktails were waiting (коктейли уже были сервированы: «коктейли ждали») and Michael poured them out (и Майкл разлил их /по бокалам/; to pour — лить, наливать). Julia took a cigarette (Джулия достала: «взяла» сигарету) and the young man struck a match for her (и молодой человек зажег спичку; to strike a match — чиркнуть спичкой), but his hand was trembling so much (но его рука дрожала так сильно) that she thought (что она подумала) he would never be able to hold the light (/что/ он никогда не сможет поднести: «держать» огонь) near enough to her cigarette (достаточно близко к ее сигарете), so she took his hand and held it (тогда она взяла его руку и удержала ее; to hold (held) — держать, удерживать).

"Poor lamb (ягненочек: «бедный ягненок»)," she thought (она думала), "I suppose (я полагаю) this is the most wonderful moment in his whole life (это самый удивительный момент во всей его жизни; wonderful — удивительный, поразительный). What fun it'll be for him (как интересно: «занимательно» будет ему; fun — веселье, забава, интерес) when he tells his people (когда он расскажет своим /людям/). I expect (я думаю даже: «ожидаю»; to expect — ждать, рассчитывать, надеяться) he'll be a blasted little hero in his office (он будет, черт побери, героем: «чертовым маленьким героем» в своем офисе; blasted — разрушенный, взорванный; проклятый)."

 

enough [I'nAf] distinguished [dIs'tINgwISt] lamb [lxm] blasted ['blQ:stId]

They lived in Stanhope Place, and when they arrived Julia told the butler to show the young man where he could wash his hands. She went up to the drawing-room. She was painting her lips when Michael joined her.

"I've told him to come up as soon as he's ready."

"By the way, what's his name?"

"I haven't a notion."

"Darling, we must know. I'll ask him to write in our book."

"Damn it, he's not important enough for that." Michael asked only very distinguished people to write in their book. "We shall never see him again."

At that moment the young man appeared. In the car Julia had done all she could to put him at his ease, but he was still very shy. The cocktails were waiting and Michael poured them out. Julia took a cigarette and the young man struck a match for her, but his hand was trembling so much that she thought he would never be able to hold the light near enough to her cigarette, so she took his hand and held it.

"Poor lamb," she thought, "I suppose this is the most wonderful moment in his whole life. What fun it'll be for him when he tells his people. I expect he'll be a blasted little hero in his office."

 

Julia talked very differently (Джулия разговаривала совершенно по-разному): to herself (сама с собой) and to other people (и с другими людьми) when she talked to herself (когда она говорила с собой) her language was racy (ее язык был колоритным; racy — острый, пикантный, скабрезный). She inhaled the first whiff of her cigarette with delight (она с удовольствием затянулась: “она вдохнула первый дымок своей сигареты с удовольствием»; whiff — дуновение, затяжка, сигаретный дым). It was really rather wonderful (это действительно было достаточно замечательно), when you came to think of it (когда поразмыслишь об этом), that just to have lunch with her (что только /возможность/ позавтракать с ней) and talk to her for three quarters of an hour (и поговорить с ней три четверти часа), perhaps (пожалуй), could make a man quite important (может сделать человека достаточно важным) in his own scrubby little circle (в его собственном ничтожном кружке; scrubby — низкорослый, мелкий, захудалый).

The young man forced himself to make a remark (молодой человек заставил себя сказать несколько слов: «сделать замечание»; remark — замечание, примечание, наблюдение).

"What a stunning room this is (какая это потрясающая комната)."

 

language ['lxNgwIdZ] delight [dI'laIt] circle ['sq:k(q)l]

Julia talked very differently to herself and to other people: when she talked to herself her language was racy. She inhaled the first whiff of her cigarette with delight. It was really rather wonderful, when you came to think of it, that just to have lunch with her and talk to her for three quarters of an hour, perhaps, could make a man quite important in his own scrubby little circle.