And he felt that he could more profitably spend his evenings, when Julia was

Acting, by going to outlying theatres and trying to find talent. He kept a little

Book in which he made a note of every actor who seemed to show promise.

Then he had taken to directing. It had always grizzled him that directors

Should ask so much money for rehearsing a play, and of late some of them had

Even insisted on a percentage on the gross. At last an occasion came when the

Two directors Julia liked best were engaged and the only other one she trusted

Was acting and thus could not give them all his time.

"I've got a good mind (я намереваюсь; to have a good mind to — собираться

сделать что-то) to have a shot at it myself (попытать свои силы /в постановке

пьесы/; to have a shot at smth. — сделать попытку, попробовать что-либо),"

said Michael (сказал Майкл).

Julia was doubtful (Джулия сомневалась; to doubt — сомневаться, подвергать

сомнению). He had no fantasy (у него не было фантазии) and his ideas were

commonplace (и его идеи обычно были банальными). She was not sure (она не

была уверена) that he would have authority over the cast (будет ли он

пользоваться авторитетом у труппы). But the only available director (но

единственный доступный /на тот момент/ режиссер) demanded a fee

(потребовал такой гонорар) that they both thought exorbitant (который, как они

оба думали, был чрезмерным) and there was nothing left but to let Michael try (и

ничего /больше/ не оставалось, как позволить Майклу попытаться). He made a

much better job of it (у него получилось гораздо лучше; to make a good job of it

— хорошо справиться с делом) than Julia expected (чем ожидала Джулия). He

was thorough (он был скрупулезным); he worked hard (он работал прилежно и

трудолюбиво). Julia, strangely enough, felt (Джулия, /хотя это было/

достаточно странно, чувствовала) that he was getting more out of her (что он

добивался от нее большего) than any other director had done (чем любой

другой режиссер /добивался/).

fantasy ['fxntqsI] exorbitant [Ig'zO:bIt(q)nt] thorough ['TArq]

"I've got a good mind to have a shot at it myself," said Michael.

Julia was doubtful. He had no fantasy and his ideas were commonplace. She

Was not sure that he would have authority over the cast. But the only available

Director demanded a fee that they both thought exorbitant and there was

Nothing left but to let Michael try. He made a much better job of it than Julia

Expected. He was thorough; he worked hard. Julia, strangely enough, felt that