IV. Read and translate this passage into Russian. Try to describe the appearance of the characters of it. What can you say about their characters? Retell this text.

From "Books for the Baron" by John Creasey

Inside the house, all had been quiet until that scream. Now its echo followed the woman as she fled from the study where she had found the Thing, into the great hall where the portraits of dead Lithoms looked down on her, as if contemptuous on her fear. She fled up the wide, circular staircase still screaming, into the gloom of the first floor and then into a wide passage, lit dimly by a tiny lamp at the far end, passing tall, dark, closed doors. She reached the door which stood ajar and stopped running. She fought for breath now; her face was drained of colour, her eyes were feverishly bright. She pressed one hand against her breast, where her dressing-gown gaped over silk-clad mounds. She began to shiver.

Two doors opened.

From one came a tall man, wearing dark blue pyjamas; he was behind the girl. At the other, a short woman whose grey hair was twisted on old-fashioned metal curlers faced the girl. The woman's face was shiny with night cream, her eyes looked angry and alarmed.

The man switched on the lights in his room. The old woman clutched her dressing-gown and said harshly:

"Gloria! What on earth are you doing?"

The girl stared at her, lips parted, blue eyes still reflecting terror.

"Gloria! Don't stand there gaping, tell me what's the matter?"

The girl tried to speak but could only mutter incoherently.

The man approached and rested a hand lightly on her shoulder. Although the June was warm, he could fell the tremors shaking her cold flesh.

"Gloria!" cried the old woman. "Control yourself! Have you had another nightmare? This can't go on, it –"

"Steady," interrupted the man mildly. "She'll be all right."

He led Gloria into her room, the one with the door ajar, and switched on the light.

The rest of the house was still and silent. In the room the man pushed a winged armchair closer to the fire, then bent on and switched it on.

"Sit down, and I'll get you a drink," he said. "There's nothing to worry about."

"Nothing to worry about indeed!" snorted the woman. "She'll drive us all mad before she's finished. It's bad enough by day, but if she's going to start at night, then I –"

The man, so tall and commanding, smoothed down his ruffled dark hair, and a gleam of amusement sparkled in his hazel eyes. Humorous lines which had not shown before appeared at the corners of his lips; his face was lean, handsome, tanned.

"Maggie, can you still make a cup of tea?" he asked.

"Can I what?"

"Make a cup of tea. That's what Gloria needs. There's a gas-ring in your room, and your secret hoard."

'Don't be absurd!"

"Don't be difficult!" said the man

The woman tossed back her head and glared, but turned and went out, her heel-less slippers sliding up and down her rosy heels.

The girl Gloria was leaning back with her eyes closed. Her breath still came uneasily and her hands were tight on the arms of her chair, the knuckles white. Her dark hair fell in rippling waves to her shoulders; there were dark rings under her eyes, traces of lipstick on her lips and of rouge on her cheeks. The man moved, to face her.

"What was it, Gloria?"

After a long pause, her lips moved.

It was – horrible! It couldn't be a dream! I saw a dead body in the study I'd been sleep-walking again, I suppose." She sat forward, stretching out a hand and clutching his; her fingers were icy cold.

"Why can't they cure me? It's horrible, John. Nobody seems to be able to do anything about it. I – I don't think they want to! That's what it is, they want me to go mad! I hate them, hate every one of them, especially her. They don't think I am fit to own Lithom Hall…"

"Whatever they think, you do own it," said the man, quiet and reassuring. "And you'll run it well, Gloria. You'll soon be free of this sleep-walking. The best doctors in England are helping, you know."

The older woman came in, carrying a tray on which were two cups and saucers, a tooth-glass, a teapot and a jug of milk. She carried them in front of her, the tray pressing lightly against her ample bosom. Milk spilled over the side of the jug as the woman banged the tray down.

contemptuous – пренебрежительный, презрительный, высокомерный incoherently – бессвязно, невнятно hoard – запас, скрытый запас денег, продовольствия

 

V. Stories about different people.

 

1. Read, translate and retell these stories.

The colonel is a fine good-looking man. His hair is snow-white. So is his moustache. His face is cleanly- shaven showing a bronze complexion. The expression of his face is kind though firm.

The colonel has three sons. Basil, the eldest of the boys, is seventeen years of age. He is a fine-looking lad though not handsome. He looks very brave and strong. His hair is straight and black. He is, in fact, the son of his father.

How very unlike him is Lucien, the second of age. Lucien is delicate, with a light complexion and very fair hair. She greatly resembles her mother.

The colonel's youngest son is a quick-witted, curly-haired boy of twelve, cheerful at all times.

* * *

Among the passengers there were two who interested me very much. One, a man of about thirty, was one of the tallest men I ever saw. He had yellow hair, a thick yellow beard, a handsome face and large eyes. His face made me think of someone I had seen before but at the time I could not remember who it was. The big man's name was Sir Henry Curtis.

The other man was short, stout and dark. He was always very neat and clean-shaven; he always wore an eyeglass in his right eye, and he never took it out. At first I thought he even slept in it, but afterwards I found that this was not so. He put it in his trousers pocket when he went to bed, together with his false teeth of which he had two beautiful sets. (H. R. Haggard)

* * *

When the child was three, his mother was forty years old. She was tall and straight, and her figure was graceful. She usually wore a simple black dress with a white collar round her neck. Her hair was black and thick. She parted it down in the middle of the head and gathered it behind in a simple coil. She had a small nose and brown eyes which sparked when she laughed. She had small but strong hands which could do any work. (Sean O'Casey)

* * *

Edward Reigart was a tall pale man of forty. His face spoke of his cleverness and kindness. He made a good impression.

But how different was his companion! He looked like a fox; his face was cruel and selfish. He was a short man, thinly-built, but he didn't look weak. He had black hair. His large-nosed face was deathly pale. He was about forty. (Mayne Reid)

* * *

Cedric was not tall, but broad-shouldered, long-armed and powerfully-made. His face was broad with large blue eyes, open and frank features, fine teeth and a well-formed head. He was frank but of hasty temper. There was pride and jealousy in his eyes, for his life had been spent in maintaining his rights. His long yellow hair was not yet grey, although he was almost sixty. (W. Scott)

jealousy – подозрительность (here)

* * *

She was described as having been a very pretty baby, with bright blue eyes. She was, however, so feeble until she was a year and a half old, that her parents hardly hoped to rear her. (Ch. Dickens)

* * *

She was a pretty young peasant girl. Her dark hair waved untidy across her broad forehead, her face was short, her upper lip short, showing her white teeth, her brows were straight and dark, her lashes long and dark, her nose straight; but her grey eyes were the wonder – dewy as if opened for the first time that day. She spoke without shyness, in a pretty, soft voice. (J. Galsworthy)

* * *

Eliza was thirty-five. Her face was lean and strong, and her eyes were as clear as water. Her figure was heavy in her gardening costume. She brushed a cloud of hair out of her eyes with the back of her hand, and left a smudge of earth on her cheek in doing it.

Eliza started the sound of her husband's voice as she straightened her back. He had come near quietly and leaned over the wire fence that protected her flower garden from dogs and chickens.

Eliza saw that he was a very big man. Although his hair and beard were greying he did not look old. His eyes were dark. The rough hands he rested on the fence were cracked, and every crack was a black line.

* * *

Jon! Dropped from the skies into her canteen, stronger-looking, better knit; with more jaw; and deeper set eyes, but frightfully, like Jon. (J. Galsworthy)