employer [Im'plOIq], accept [qk'sept], mysterious [mI'stI(q)rIqs], perplexed [pq'plekst], embarrass [Im'bxrqs], trivial ['trIvIql]
Edward's employer was a man who did not like delay and he had told him that if he took the post he offered he must sail that day week from San Francisco. Edward spent his last evening with Isabel. It was after dinner that Mr. Longstaffe, saying he wanted a word with Edward, took him into the smoking-room. Mr. Longstaffe had accepted good-naturedly the arrangement which his daughter had told him of and Edward could not imagine what mysterious communication he had now to make. He was not a little perplexed to see that his host was embarrassed. He faltered. He talked of trivial things. At last he blurted it out.
"I guess you've heard of Arnold Jackson (полагаю, ты слышал об Арнольде Джексоне)," he said, looking at Edward with a frown (сказал он, глядя на Эдварда нахмурившись; frown — сдвинутые брови; хмурый взгляд; насупленность, нахмуренность).
Edward hesitated (Эдвард замялся; to hesitate — колебаться, сомневаться; запинаться, заикаться). His natural truthfulness obliged him to admit a knowledge he would gladly have been able to deny (со свойственной ему правдивостью он был вынужден признать знакомство, которое он с радостью бы отрицал; natural — естественный, природный; врожденный, присущий; knowledge — знание; знакомство).
"Yes, I have. But it's a long time ago (но это было очень давно). I guess I didn't pay very much attention (полагаю, что я был не очень внимателен: «не очень-то обращал внимание»)."
"There are not many people in Chicago who haven't heard of Arnold Jackson (в Чикаго не много людей, которые бы не слышали об Арнольде Джексоне)," said Mr. Longstaffe bitterly (сказал мистер Лонгстаф с горечью), "and if there are they'll have no difficulty in finding someone who'll be glad to tell them (а если /такие/ и есть, то им совершенно нетрудно найти кого-то, кто с радостью им /все/ расскажет). Did you know he was Mrs. Longstaffe's brother (ты знал, что он брат миссис Лонгстаф)?"
"Yes, I knew that (да, я знал об этом)."
hesitate ['hezIteIt], truthfulness ['tru: Tf(q)lnIs], obliged [q'blaIdZd]
"I guess you've heard of Arnold Jackson," he said, looking at Edward with a frown.
Edward hesitated. His natural truthfulness obliged him to admit a knowledge he would gladly have been able to deny.
"Yes, I have. But it's a long time ago. I guess I didn't pay very much attention."
"There are not many people in Chicago who haven't heard of Arnold Jackson," said Mr. Longstaffe bitterly, "and if there are they'll have no difficulty in finding someone who'll be glad to tell them. Did you know he was Mrs. Longstaffe's brother?"
"Yes, I knew that."
"Of course we've had no communication with him for many years (конечно, мы не поддерживали с ним связь долгие годы). He left the country as soon as he was able to (он уехал из страны, как только смог), and I guess the country wasn't sorry to see the last of him (и, полагаю, что страна была рада отделаться от него: «не пожалела, что отделалась от него»; to see the last of smb. — видеть кого-либо в последний раз, отделаться от кого-либо). We understand he lives in Tahiti (насколько мы знаем, он живет на Таити; to understand— понимать; услышать, узнать). My advice to you is to give him a wide berth (мой тебе совет — избегай его; to give a wide berth to smb. — обходить, избегать /кого-либо/;berth— койка /на пароходе и т. п./; якорное место; причал; место у причала), but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know (но если ты узнаешь о нем что-нибудь, я и миссис Лонгстаф будем очень рады, если ты сообщишь нам /об этом/; to hear— слышать; услышать, узнать;to let smb.know— дать знать, сообщить кому-либо)."
"Sure (конечно)."
"That was all I wanted to say to you (вот и все, что я хотел тебе сказать). Now I daresay you'd like to join the ladies (а теперь, полагаю, ты захочешь присоединиться к дамам; to join— соединять, связывать; присоединяться, входить в компанию)."
berth [bWT], sure [Suq], daresay [(")deq'seI]
"Of course we've had no communication with him for many years. He left the country as soon as he was able to, and I guess the country wasn't sorry to see the last of him. We understand he lives in Tahiti. My advice to you is to give him a wide berth, but if you do hear anything about him Mrs. Longstaffe and I would be very glad if you'd let us know."
"Sure."
"That was all I wanted to say to you. Now I daresay you'd like to join the ladies."
There are few families that have not among their members one (мало есть семей, которые среди своих домочадцев не имеют одного такого; member — член) whom, if their neighbours permitted, they would willingly forget (которого они бы с готовностью позабыли, если бы им позволили соседи), and they are fortunate when the lapse of a generation or two has invested his vagaries with a romantic glamour (и им повезло, если через одно-два поколения его выходки окутываются романтическим ореолом; fortunate — счастливый, удачливый; lapse — упущение, оплошность; перерыв; to invest — вкладывать, инвестировать; одевать, облачать; окутать, окружить). But when he is actually alive (но когда он жив и здоров), if his peculiarities are not of the kind that can be condoned by the phrase, "he is nobody's enemy but his own," (и если его странности не того сорта, которые можно оправдать фразой: "он сам себе злейший враг": «он ничей враг, кроме как свой собственный»; peculiarity — особенность; странность; to condone — предать забвению; оправдывать/плохие поступки/) a safe one when the culprit has no worse to answer for than alcoholism or wandering affections (/а это/ подходящая фраза, когда виновный обвиняется только в алкоголизме или изменчивых привязанностях: «когда обвиняемый не несет ответственности ни за что более худшее, чем алкоголизм или изменчивые привязанности»), the only possible course is silence (единственно возможная линия поведения — молчание; course — курс, направление; линия поведения). And it was this which the Longstaffes had adopted towards Arnold Jackson (и именно такое /поведение/ и приняли Лонгстафы по отношению к Арнольду Джексону; to adopt — усыновить, удочерить; принимать, усваивать).
neighbour ['neIbq], willingly ['wIlINlI], vagary ['veIgqrI], glamour ['glxmq], peculiarity [pI" kju: lI'xrItI], culprit ['kAlprIt], alcoholism ['xlkqhOlIz(q)m]
There are few families that have not among their members one whom, if their neighbours permitted, they would willingly forget, and they are fortunate when the lapse of a generation or two has invested his vagaries with a romantic glamour. But when he is actually alive, if his peculiarities are not of the kind that can be condoned by the phrase, "he is nobody's enemy but his own," a safe one when the culprit has no worse to answer for than alcoholism or wandering affections, the only possible course is silence. And it was this which the Longstaffes had adopted towards Arnold Jackson.
They never talked of him (они никогда о нем не говорили). They would not even pass through the street in which he had lived (они даже не ходили по той улице, на которой он жил). Too kind to make his wife and children suffer for his misdeeds (/будучи/ слишком добрыми, чтобы заставить его жену и детей страдать за его злодеяния), they had supported them for years (они многие годы поддерживали их), but on the understanding that they should live in Europe (но на том условии, что они будут жить в Европе; understanding — понимание; условие). They did everything they could to blot out all recollection of Arnold Jackson (они делали все возможное, чтобы уничтожить все воспоминания об Арнольде Джексоне; to blot out — закрывать, заслонять; уничтожать, разрушать) and yet were conscious that the story was as fresh in the public mind (и в тоже время они понимали, что в /глазах/ общественности: «в общественном мнении» эта история была все так же свежа) as when first the scandal burst upon a gaping world (/как и в тот момент/, когда скандал впервые разразился перед изумленным миром; to burst — взрываться, разрываться; внезапно вспыхнуть, разразиться; to gape — зевать; глазеть, смотреть в изумлении/на что-либо/).
recollection ["rekq'lekS(q)n], conscious ['kOnSqs], scandal [skxndl]
They never talked of him. They would not even pass through the street in which he had lived. Too kind to make his wife and children suffer for his misdeeds, they had supported them for years, but on the understanding that they should live in Europe. They did everything they could to blot out all recollection of Arnold Jackson and yet were conscious that the story was as fresh in the public mind as when first the scandal burst upon a gaping world.
Arnold Jackson was as black a sheep as any family could suffer from (Арнольд Джексон был такой паршивой овцой, от которой могла бы пострадать любая семья). A wealthy banker (состоятельный банкир), prominent in his church (/занимающий видное место/ в церкви; prominent — выступающий, торчащий; известный, выдающийся), a philanthropist (филантроп), a man respected by all (всеми уважаемый человек), not only for his connections (не только за его связи) (in his veins ran the blue blood of Chicago (в его жилах текла голубая кровь Чикаго)), but also for his upright character (но также за его честность: «честную репутацию»; upright — вертикальный; честный, справедливый), he was arrested one day on a charge of fraud (в один прекрасный день он был арестован по обвинению в мошенничестве); and the dishonesty which the trial brought to light (и обман, который обнаружил суд; dishonesty — нечестность; обман; trial — испытание, проба; судебное разбирательство, суд; to bring — приносить) was not of the sort which could be explained by a sudden temptation (был такого сорта, что не мог быть объяснен внезапным соблазном); it was deliberate and systematic (он был преднамеренным и систематическим). Arnold Jackson was a rogue (Арнольд Джексон оказался жуликом/мошенником). When he was sent to the penitentiary for seven years (когда его отправили в тюрьму на семь лет) there were few who did not think he had escaped lightly (все подумали: «было мало таких, кто не подумал», что он легко отделался; to escape — бежать/из заключения/;избежать/опасности/,отделаться).
wealthy ['welTI], philanthropist [fI'lxnTrqpIst], fraud [frO: d], dishonesty [dIs'OnIstI], rogue [rqVg], penitentiary ["penI'tenS(q)rI]
Arnold Jackson was as black a sheep as any family could suffer from. A wealthy banker, prominent in his church, a philanthropist, a man respected by all, not only for his connections (in his veins ran the blue blood of Chicago), but also for his upright character, he was arrested one day on a charge of fraud; and the dishonesty which the trial brought to light was not of the sort which could be explained by a sudden temptation; it was deliberate and systematic. Arnold Jackson was a rogue. When he was sent to the penitentiary for seven years there were few who did not think he had escaped lightly.
When at the end of this last evening the lovers separated (когда в конце этого последнего вечера влюбленные расстались) it was with many protestations of devotion (/то расставание сопровождалось/ множеством заверений в любви; devotion — преданность, приверженность; глубокая привязанность, любовь). Isabel, all tears, was consoled a little by her certainty of Edward's passionate love (Изабелла, вся в слезах, немного утешилась своей уверенностью в страстной любви Эдварда). It was a strange feeling that she had (она испытывала довольно странное чувство). It made her wretched to part from him (она была несчастной, расставаясь с ним) and yet she was happy because he adored her (и в то же время она была счастлива, потому что он обожал ее).
wealthy ['welTI], philanthropist [fI'lxnTrqpIst], fraud [frO: d], dishonesty [dIs'OnIstI], rogue [rqVg], penitentiary ["penI'tenS(q)rI]
Arnold Jackson was as black a sheep as any family could suffer from. A wealthy banker, prominent in his church, a philanthropist, a man respected by all, not only for his connections (in his veins ran the blue blood of Chicago), but also for his upright character, he was arrested one day on a charge of fraud; and the dishonesty which the trial brought to light was not of the sort which could be explained by a sudden temptation; it was deliberate and systematic. Arnold Jackson was a rogue. When he was sent to the penitentiary for seven years there were few who did not think he had escaped lightly.
When at the end of this last evening the lovers separated (когда в конце этого последнего вечера влюбленные расстались) it was with many protestations of devotion (/то расставание сопровождалось/ множеством заверений в любви; devotion — преданность, приверженность; глубокая привязанность, любовь). Isabel, all tears, was consoled a little by her certainty of Edward's passionate love (Изабелла, вся в слезах, немного утешилась своей уверенностью в страстной любви Эдварда). It was a strange feeling that she had (она испытывала довольно странное чувство). It made her wretched to part from him (она была несчастной, расставаясь с ним) and yet she was happy because he adored her (и в то же время она была счастлива, потому что он обожал ее).
This was more than two years ago (это было более чем два года тому назад).
protestation ["prOtI'steIS(q)n], certainty ['sWtntI], wretched ['retSId]
When at the end of this last evening the lovers separated it was with many protestations of devotion. Isabel, all tears, was consoled a little by her certainty of Edward's passionate love. It was a strange feeling that she had. It made her wretched to part from him and yet she was happy because he adored her.
This was more than two years ago.
He had written to her by every mail since then (с тех пор он писал ей с каждой почтой), twenty-four letters in all, for the mail went but once a month (всего /он написал/ двадцать четыре письма, так как почта отправлялась только раз в месяц), and his letters had been all that a lover's letters should be (и его письма были совершенно такими, какими должны быть письма влюбленного). They were intimate and charming, humorous sometimes, especially of late, and tender (они были сокровенными и чарующими, иногда забавными, особенно в последнее время, и нежными). At first they suggested that he was homesick (сперва они явно показывали, что он тоскует по дому; to suggest — предлагать, советовать; вызывать/ассоциацию/,наводить/на мысль/), they were full of his desire to get back to Chicago and Isabel (они были полны его сильного желания вернуться в Чикаго и к Изабелле); and, a little anxiously, she wrote begging him to persevere (и, немного обеспокоенная, она писала ему, умоляя его упорно продолжать /работу/). She was afraid that he might throw up his opportunity and come racing back (она боялась, что он может бросить эту возможность и стремительно вернуться назад). She did not want her lover to lack endurance (ей не хотелось, чтобы ее возлюбленному недоставало стойкости) and she quoted to him the lines (и она процитировала ему следующие строчки; line — строка; стих, строчка стиха):
"I could not love thee,dear,so much(я не могла бы любить тебя, дорогой, так сильно),
Loved I not honour more (если б я не любила честь больше)."
humorous ['hju: m(q)rqs], desire [dI'zaIq], anxiously ['xNklqslI], persevere [pWsI'vIq], endurance [In'dju(q)rqns], quote [kwqut]
He had written to her by every mail since then, twenty-four letters in all, for the mail went but once a month, and his letters had been all that a lover's letters should be. They were intimate and charming, humorous sometimes, especially of late, and tender. At first they suggested that he was homesick, they were full of his desire to get back to Chicago and Isabel; and, a little anxiously, she wrote begging him to persevere. She was afraid that he might throw up his opportunity and come racing back. She did not want her lover to lack endurance and she quoted to him the lines:
"I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not honour more."
But presently he seemed to settle down (но постепенно он, казалось, успокоился; to settle down — поселяться; успокаиваться) and it made Isabel very happy to observe his growing enthusiasm (и Изабелла была очень счастлива, наблюдая его растущее воодушевленное желание) to introduce American methods into that forgotten corner of the world (ввести американские методы /работы/ в этом забытом уголке мира). But she knew him (но она его знала), and at the end of the year, which was the shortest time he could possibly stay in Tahiti (и к концу года, а это был самый короткий период времени, что он мог провести на Таити), she expected to have to use all her influence to dissuade him from coming home (она ожидала, что ей придется воспользоваться всем своим влиянием, чтобы отговорить его от возвращения домой). It was much better that he should learn the business thoroughly (было бы гораздо лучше, если бы он как следует изучил бизнес), and if they had been able to wait a year (и /к тому же/ если они смогли выдержать год) there seemed no reason why they should not wait another (казалось, не было никаких причин, почему бы им не подождать еще один).
enthusiasm [In'Tju: zIxz(q)m], method ['meTqd], forgotten [fq'gOtn], influence ['Influqns], thoroughly ['TArqlI]
But presently he seemed to settle down and it made Isabel very happy to observe his growing enthusiasm to introduce American methods into that forgotten corner of the world. But she knew him, and at the end of the year, which was the shortest time he could possibly stay in Tahiti, she expected to have to use all her influence to dissuade him from coming home. It was much better that he should learn the business thoroughly, and if they had been able to wait a year there seemed no reason why they should not wait another.
She talked it over with Bateman Hunter, always the most generous of friends (она обговорила это с Бейтманом Хантером, самым великодушным из друзей при любых обстоятельствах: «всегда») (during those first few days after Edward went she did not know what she would have done without him (во время тех первых дней, когда Эдвард уехал, она не знала, чтобы она без него делала)), and they decided that Edward's future must stand before everything (и они решили, что будущее Эдварда превыше всего: «должно стоять впереди всего»). It was with relief that she found as the time passed (когда прошло время, она с облегчением обнаружила) that he made no suggestion of returning (что он не собирался возвращаться: «не делал предложения о возвращении»).
"He's splendid, isn't he (он великолепен, не так ли)?" she exclaimed to Bateman (восклицала она /в разговоре/ с Бейтманом).
"He's white, through and through (он чрезвычайно порядочный; white— белый; честный, порядочный, благородный; through and through — совершенно, до конца)."
generous ['dZen(q)rqs], relief [rI'li: f], suggestion [sq'dZestS(q)n]
She talked it over with Bateman Hunter, always the most generous of friends (during those first few days after Edward went she did not know what she would have done without him), and they decided that Edward's future must stand before everything. It was with relief that she found as the time passed that he made no suggestion of returning.
"He's splendid, isn't he?" she exclaimed to Bateman.
"He's white, through and through."
"Reading between the lines of his letter I know he hates it over there (читая между строк его писем, я знаю, что ему там очень не нравится; to hate — ненавидеть;не выносить, испытывать отвращение), but he's sticking it out because (но он терпит, потому)…"
She blushed a little (она слегка покраснела) and Bateman, with the grave smile which was so attractive in him (и Бейтман, с мрачной улыбкой, которая была настолько привлекательной в нем), finished the sentence for her (закончил за нее фразу; sentence — грам. предложение).
"Because he loves you (потому что он тебя любит)."
"It makes me feel so humble (от этого я себя чувствую столь смиренной/робкой)," she said.
"You're wonderful, Isabel, you're perfectly wonderful (ты удивительна, Изабелла, ты просто чудо)."
attractive [q'trxktIv], sentence ['sentqns], humble ['hAmb(q)l]
" Reading between the lines of his letter I know he hates it over there, but he's sticking it out because…"
She blushed a little and Bateman, with the grave smile which was so attractive in him, finished the sentence for her.
"Because he loves you."
"It makes me feel so humble," she said.
"You're wonderful, Isabel, you're perfectly wonderful."
But the second year passed and every month Isabel continued to receive a letter from Edward (но вот прошел второй год, и каждый месяц Изабелла продолжала получить письма от Эдварда), and presently it began to seem a little strange that he did not speak of coming back (и теперь уже начинало казаться немного странным то, что он не говорил о возвращении). He wrote as though he were settled definitely in Tahiti (он писал так, словно он определенно = окончательно поселился на Таити), and what was more, comfortably settled (и, более того, поселился с комфортом). She was surprised (она была удивлена). Then she read his letters again, all of them, several times (затем она перечитала его письма, все письма, несколько раз); and now, reading between the lines indeed (и теперь, действительно читая между строк), she was puzzled to notice a change which had escaped her (она озадаченно обнаружила перемену, которая прежде ускользала от нее; to escape — бежать/из заключения/;ускользать/о смысле и т. п./).
continue [kqn'tInju: ], definitely ['defInItlI], surprise [sq'praIz]
But the second year passed and every month Isabel continued to receive a letter from Edward, and presently it began to seem a little strange that he did not speak of coming back. He wrote as though he were settled definitely in Tahiti, and what was more, comfortably settled. She was surprised. Then she read his letters again, all of them, several times; and now, reading between the lines indeed, she was puzzled to notice a change which had escaped her.
The later letters were as tender and as delightful as the first (последние письма были такими же нежными и очаровательными, как и первые), but the tone was different (но тон /их/ был другим). She was vaguely suspicious of their humour (она с некоторым недоверием отнеслась к их шутливому тону), she had the instinctive mistrust of her sex for that unaccountable quality (она инстинктивно, по-женски, не доверяла этой странной/необъяснимой черте /характера/; quality — качество, сорт; качество, свойство, характерная особенность), and she discerned in them now a flippancy which perplexed her (и теперь она разглядела в них легкомыслие, которое привело ее в недоумение). She was not quite certain that the Edward who wrote to her now (она не была вполне уверена, что тот Эдвард, который писал ей сейчас) was the same Edward that she had known (был тем же самым Эдвардом, которого она знала). One afternoon, the day after a mail had arrived from Tahiti (однажды, на следующий день после того, как прибыла почта с Таити), when she was driving with Bateman he said to her (когда они ехали в автомобиле вместе Бейтманом, он спросил ее; to drive — водить, вести; ездить, ехать):