She heard Michael come in and called out to him
"Michael, look at that miniature Charles has just given me. It's on the
chimney-piece. Are those diamonds or paste?"
Julia was somewhat nervous (Джулия немного нервничала) when Lady Charles
left her husband (когда леди Чарльз оставила мужа). She threatened to bring
proceedings for divorce (она угрожала довести дело до развода через суд;
proceeding — юр. судебное разбирательство, судопроизводство, divorce —
развод, расторжение брака) and Julia did not at all like the idea (и Джулии
совершенно не нравилась идея) of appearing as intervener (появиться /в суде/ в
качестве соответчика; intervener — юр. вступающий в дело в качестве
третьего лица). For two or three weeks she was very jittery (две или три недели
она была очень нервна и пуглива). She decided to say nothing to Michael (она
решила не говорить ничего Майклу) till it was necessary (до тех пор, пока это
бы не стало /совершенно/ необходимым), and she was glad she had not (и она
была рада, что не /сказала/), for in due course it appeared (так как со временем
оказалось) that the threats had been made (что угрозы были сделаны) only to
extract more substantial alimony (только для того, чтобы выудить: «извлечь»
еще более увесистую сумму алиментов; alimony — зд. суммы, уплачиваемые
жене на ее содержание на время раздельного жительства супругов) from the
innocent husband (с безвинного мужа).
threaten ['Tretn] jittery ['dZIt(q)rI] substantial [sqb'stxnS(q)l]
alimony ['xlImqnI]
Julia was somewhat nervous when Lady Charles left her husband. She
Threatened to bring proceedings for divorce, and Julia did not at all like the
Idea of appearing as intervener. For two or three weeks she was very jittery.
She decided to say nothing to Michael till it was necessary, and she was glad
She had not, for in due course it appeared that the threats had been made only
To extract more substantial alimony from the innocent husband.
Julia managed Charles with wonderful skill (Джулия умела обращаться с
Чарльзом с удивительны умением; to manage smb. — иметь подход к кому-
либо). It was understood between them (между ними было решено) that her great
love for Michael (что ее большая любовь к Майклу) made any close relation
between them out of the question (делала любые близкие отношения между
ними невозможными; out of the question — об этом не может быть и речи),
but so far as the rest was concerned (но в том, что касалось всего остального) he
was everything to her (он был для нее всем), her friend (ее другом), her adviser
(ее советчиком), her confidant (ее доверенным лицом), the man she could rely
on in any emergency (человеком, на которого она могла положиться при
любых чрезвычайных обстоятельствах) or go to for comfort in any
disappointment (или обратиться к нему за утешением /в случае/ любого
разочарования).
relation [rI'leIS(q)n] confidant ['kOnfIdxnt] emergency [I'mq:dZ(q)nsI]
Julia managed Charles with wonderful skill. It was understood between them
That her great love for Michael made any close relation between them out of
The question, but so far as the rest was concerned he was everything to her,
Her friend, her adviser, her confidant, the man she could rely on in any
Emergency or go to for comfort in any disappointment.
It was a little more difficult (ситуация осложнилась: «это оказалось немного
сложнее») when Charles, with his fine sensitiveness (когда Чарльз,
/обладавший/ тонкой восприимчивостью), saw that she was no longer in love
with Michael (увидел, что она больше не любила Майкла). Then Julia had to
exercise a great deal of tact (тогда Джулии пришлось прибегнуть к
бесконечному такту). It was not that she had any scruples (не то чтобы у нее
были хоть малейшие угрызения совести) about being his mistress (от /идеи/
стать: «быть» его любовницей); if he had been an actor who loved her so much
(если бы он был актером, который так сильно ее любил) and had loved her so
long (и любил ее уже так долго) she would not have minded popping into bed
with him (она бы не задумываясь прыгнула с ним в постель) out of sheer good
nature (/просто/ от /широты ее/ доброй души; sheer — настоящий,
абсолютный, полнейший); but she just did not fancy him (но она просто не
могла представить его /любовником/; to fancy — воображать, нравится,
любить). She was very fond of him (она очень любила его), but he was so
elegant (но он был настолько элегантным), so well-bred (настолько хорошо
воспитан), so cultured (настолько культурным), she could not think of him as a
lover (что она не могла думать о нем как о любовнике). It would be like going
to bed with an objet d'art (это больше было бы похожим на то, как лечь в
постель с предметом искусства).
exercise ['eksqsaIz] sheer [SIq] objet d'art ["ObZeI'dQ:]
It was a little more difficult when Charles, with his fine sensitiveness, saw that
She was no longer in love with Michael. Then Julia had to exercise a great deal
Of tact. It was not that she had any scruples about being his mistress; if he had
Been an actor who loved her so much and had loved her so long she would not
Have minded popping into bed with him out of sheer good nature; but she just