Had in point of fact never been able to think of it since without a chuckle.

That had been an accident too (тот случай тоже был неожиданным:

«случайным»; accident — /несчастный/ случай, случайность). She had been

acting for a long time without a rest (она играла на сцене долгое время без

отдыха) and she badly needed one (и крайне нуждалась в нем /отдыхе/; badly —

/эмоц.-усил./ очень сильно, интенсивно). The play she was in was ceasing to

attract (пьеса, в которой она /играла/, переставала привлекать /внимание/) and

they were about to start rehearsing a new one (и они уже собирались начать

репетировать новою /постановку/; to be about to do smth. — намереваться

сделать что-то) when Michael got the chance (когда Майклу подвернулся

шанс; to get a chance — получить возможность) of letting the theatre to a

French company for six weeks (сдать театр французской труппе на шесть

недель; to let — зд. сдавать внаем, в аренду). It seemed a good opportunity (это

казалось хорошей возможностью) for Julia to get away (для Джулии уехать

/отдохнуть/; to get away — удрать, ускользнуть). Dolly had rented a house at

Cannes for the season (Долли сняла дом в Каннах на сезон) and Julia could stay

with her (и Джулия могла остановиться у нее). It was just before Easter (это

было как раз перед Пасхой) when she started off (когда она выезжала; to start

off = start out — отправляться в путь), and the trains south were so crowded (и

все поезда, /идущие/ на юг, были переполнены) that she had not been able to

get a sleeper (и у нее не было возможности: «она не смогла» получить /место/

в спальном вагоне; sleeper = sleeping-car — спальный вагон), but at a travel

agency they had said (но в туристическом агентстве сказали) that it would be

quite all right (что все будет в порядке) and there would be one waiting for her (и

что будет одно /спальное место/ для нее: «ждущее ее») at the station in Paris

(на вокзале в Париже).

Easter ['i:stq] crowded ['kraVdId] sleeper ['sli:pq]

That had been an accident too. She had been acting for a long time without a

Rest and she badly needed one. The play she was in was ceasing to attract and

They were about to start rehearsing a new one when Michael got the chance of

Letting the theatre to a French company for six weeks. It seemed a good

Opportunity for Julia to get away. Dolly had rented a house at Cannes for the

Season and Julia could stay with her. It was just before Easter when she

Started off, and the trains south were so crowded that she had not been able to

Get a sleeper, but at a travel agency they had said that it would be quite all

Right and there would be one waiting for her at the station in Paris.

To her consternation (к ее ужасу) she found when they got to Paris (она

обнаружила, когда /они/ прибыли в Париж) that nothing seemed to be known

about her (что о ней никто, как оказалось, не знал: «что ничего, казалось,

было известно о ней»), and the chef de train told her (и начальник поезда

сообщил ей) that every sleeper was engaged (что каждое спальное место было

занято). The only chance was (единственная возможность заключалась в том)

that someone should not turn up at the last moment (что кто-нибудь не явится в

последний момент; to turn up — зд. внезапно появляться, приходить). She did

not like the idea (ей не нравилась мысль) of sitting up all night in the corner of a

first-class carriage (просидеть всю ночь в углу купе первого класса; carriage —

экипаж, карета, пассажирский вагон), and went into dinner with a perturbed

mind (и отправилась обедать в встревоженном настроении: «в беспокойном

умонастроении»). She was given a table for two (ее посадили: «ей дали» за

столик на двоих), and soon a man came and sat down opposite her (и вскоре

пришел мужчина и сел напротив нее). She paid no attention to him (она не

обращала на него внимания; to pay attention — обращать внимание, to pay —

платить) Presently the chef de train came along (тем временем пришел

начальник поезда) and told her that he was very sorry (и сказал, что он очень

сожалеет), but he could do nothing for her (но он ничего не может сделать для

нее).

consternation ["kOnstq'neIS(q)n] perturb [pq'tq:b] opposite ['OpqzIt]

To her consternation she found when they got to Paris that nothing seemed to

Be known about her, and the chef de train told her that every sleeper was

Engaged. The only chance was that someone should not turn up at the last

Moment. She did not like the idea of sitting up all night in the corner of a first-