Done at the Comedie Franзaise and the same tirade as an English student at

The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art would deliver it. She made the company

Laugh very much and came away from the party flushed with success. It was a

Fine bright day and she made up her mind to walk from Hill Street to

Stanhope Place. A good many people recognized her as she threaded her way

Through the crowd in Oxford Street, and though she looked straight ahead of

Her she was conscious of their glances.

"What a hell of a nuisance it is that one can't go anywhere without people

staring at one."

She slackened her pace a little (она чуть замедлила шаг). It certainly was a

beautiful day (это определенно был прекрасный день).

She let herself into her house with a latch-key (она вошла в дом: «впустила себя

в дом» /открыв американский замок/ с помощью ключа) and as she got in (и,

как она вошла) heard the telephone ringing (услышала, что звонит телефон).

Without thinking (не задумываясь) she took up the receiver (она подняла

трубку; receiver — получатель; приемник; телефонная трубка).

"Yes?"

She generally disguised her voice (она обычно изменяла свой голос; to disguise

— маскировать, изменять внешность, искажать) when she answered (когда

она отвечала /по телефону/), but for once forgot to (но /именно/ сейчас забыла

/сделать это/).

"Miss Lambert (мисс Лэмберт)?"

"I don't know if Miss Lambert's in (не знаю, дома ли Мисс Лэмберт). Who is it

please (кто говорит, пожалуйста)?" she asked (спросила она), assuming quickly

a cockney accent (мгновенно используя акцент кокни; to assume —

принимать, притворяться).

The monosyllable had betrayed her (/однако/ то короткое: «односложное»

словечко, выдало ее). A chuckle travelled over the wire (в трубке раздался

смешок: «смешок переместился по проводу»).

"I only wanted to thank you for writing to me (я просто хотел поблагодарить вас

за то, что написали мне). You know you needn't have troubled (знаете, не

стоило брать на себя такой труд). It was so nice of you to ask me to lunch (но

это было так мило с вашей стороны — пригласить меня к ланчу), I thought I'd

like to send you a few flowers (и я подумал, что мне хотелось бы послать вам

цветы)."

slacken ['slxkqn] latchkey ['lxtSki:] cockney ['kOknI]

monosyllable ['mOnq"sIlqb(q)l]

She slackened her pace a little. It certainly was a beautiful day.

She let herself into her house with a latch-key and as she got in heard the

Telephone ringing. Without thinking she took up the receiver.

"Yes?"

She generally disguised her voice when she answered, but for once forgot to.

"Miss Lambert?"

"I don't know if Miss Lambert's in. Who is it please?" she asked, assuming

Quickly a cockney accent.

The monosyllable had betrayed her. A chuckle travelled over the wire.

"I only wanted to thank you for writing to me. You know you needn't have

Troubled. It was so nice of you to ask me to lunch, I thought I'd like to send

you a few flowers."

The sound of his voice (звук его голоса) and the words told her who it was (и

слова объяснили ей, кто это был). It was the blushing young man (это был тот

самый краснеющий молодой человек) whose name she did not know (чьего

имени она не знала). Even now, though she had looked at his card (даже сейчас,

хотя она глянула раньше на его карточку), she could not remember it (она не

могла вспомнить его /имя/). The only thing that had struck her (единственное,

что на нее произвело впечатление) was that he lived in Tavistock Square (так

это то, что он жил на Тэвисток-сквер).

"It was very sweet of you (это было очень мило с вашей стороны)," she

answered in her own voice (ответила она теперь уже своим голосом).

"I suppose you wouldn't come to tea with me one day (полагаю, вы не

согласитесь прийти и выпить чаю со мной, как-нибудь: «однажды»), would

you (так ведь)?"

The nerve of it (какая наглость; nerve — зд. разг. наглость, нахальство)! She

wouldn't go to tea with a duchess (она не пошла бы пить чай даже с

герцогиней); he was treating her like a chorus girl (он обращался с ней, как с

какой-то хористкой). It was rather funny (это было даже забавным) when you

came to think of it (если подумать хорошенько).

"I don't know why not (не вижу причины отказаться: “не знаю, почему бы и

нет»)."

"Will you really (вы действительно /придете/)?" his voice sounded eager (его

голос звучал с нетерпением). He had a pleasant voice (у него /был/ приятный

голос). "When (когда)?"

blushing ['blASIN] nerve [nq:v] funny ['fAnI]

The sound of his voice and the words told her who it was. It was the blushing

Young man whose name she did not know. Even now, though she had looked

At his card, she could not remember it. The only thing that had struck her was

That he lived in Tavistock Square.

"It was very sweet of you," she answered in her own voice.

"I suppose you wouldn't come to tea with me one day, would you?"

The nerve of it! She wouldn't go to tea with a duchess; he was treating her like