- •I wrapped my hanky round my thumb and got myself organized. George
- •I was known as Needle.
- •I stood silently among the people, watching. As you will see, I wasn't in a
- •I took a good look at this man accompanying Kathleen. It was her husband.
- •It was not for me to speak to Kathleen, but I had a sudden inspiration which
- •I must explain that I departed this life nearly five years ago. But I did not
- •Inspired to it. Indeed it's one of the things I can't do now — to speak out,
- •I taught in a private school in Kensington, for almost three months, very
- •I didn't love Skinny so I gave him back the ring.
- •I accompanied the party as a sort of secretary. Skinny vouched for me, he
- •I had broken off our engagement, lectured me about this, but still he took me
- •I'm busy in the hat-shop and being presented. You would think he hadn't
- •I must say I was myself a bit off-put by this news about the brown woman. I
- •Intelligent than a mule and sturdier than a horse. But I'm not having any
- •I was able to live on the fee I got for writing a gossip column in a local
- •I met George once more in a hotel in Bulawayo. We drank highballs and
- •I had half a mind to marry Skinny; perhaps, I thought, when his studies
- •I had already heard about the baby girl. Coal black, by repute, with
- •Impotence and need I secreted a venom which infected all my life for days on
- •I was nearly sick. One, because of my Scottish upbringing. Two, because of
- •I returned to England with Skinny's party just before the war.
- •I did not see George again till just before my death, five years ago.
- •I was waiting to write about life and it seemed to me that the good fortune lay in
- •I thought of my type of luck after I became a Catholic and was being
- •I visited Skinny twice in the two years that he was in the sanatorium. He was
- •Very close friends. We met several times each week, and after our Saturday-
- •If we had felt moved to do so.
- •I ought to get in touch with poor George. But then I think he would write
- •I did not speak of George's marriage, nor of any of his confidences in the
- •Impatience with him in former days; she said,
- •In the course of the morning he had told her of his wartime nightclub in
- •I was curious to see this version of George, but I was leaving for Scotland
- •Visited at week-ends; this old lady lived a few miles from Kathleen's aunt,
- •I should go ahead of her in the early afternoon to see to the provisions for our
- •I said no, I liked an empty house.
- •It was like a treasure hunt as I followed clue after clue through the cool silent
- •I found myself speaking to him almost as if he were a child.
- •I giggled, and looked at him. His face had grown much larger, his lips full, wide,
- •I still kept up. They referred to her as "George's Dark Lady" and of course
- •I said, "If Kathleen intends to marry you, I shall tell her that you're already
- •Vest year. Unfortunately, the byreman's hands were even brawnier and
- •If I hadn't been wearing my long-sleeved cardigan, it was said, the bruises
- •I dashed his hopes. I said, "Hallo, George!"
- •In that convivial street. I thought to myself. "He looks as if he had a mouthful
- •I might have been inspired to say more on that agreeable morning, but he
- •I doubt if George will ever see me again in the Portobello Road. He broods
- •Its few drooping tenants. They huddled together like birds in a storm; their
- •I was waiting for friends to come and pick me up on their way to Venice.
- •Importance was permitted to dawn upon strangers.
- •In the garden, strangely standing on a path between the flowers for
- •I climbed the lower slopes of the mountains while the experts in their boots
- •I was moved by the sight. The girl called Mitzi was watching me as I stood
- •In the kitchen doorway. "Coffee?'' she said.
- •I saw a black lacquered cabinet inlaid with mother-of-pearl, and just
- •I went into the polished dining-room, and Mitzi brought my coffee there.
- •It was that very day that the nuisance occurred. The double windows of my
- •It was a cold day. I sat in my room writing letters. I glanced out of the
- •I looked up a few moments later, and this time Herr Stroh was seated on a
- •I left my room and went down to complain to Frau Lublonitsch.
- •I returned to my room. Herr Stroh still sat in position, the field-glasses in
- •In his doorway blinking up at the roof of the Guest-house Lublonitsch. He
- •I didn't want to draw his attention by following the line of his gaze but I
- •In Frau Lublonitsch's splendid bedroom.
- •I turned the comer just as Herr Stroh gave up his gazing; he went indoors,
- •It while I waited for someone to come. I did not have to wait long, for two
- •Indeed were there, but invisible.
- •In the peeling pastel stucco of the little town, the unnecessary floral balconies,
- •Intrigued her.
- •Impassive neck.
- •Is she —"
- •Insurance manager. The successful kind."
- •I think twenty-two. I am twenty-two so far as Richard's concerned. I don't
- •If you want to be successful with men you have to hang on to your youth."
- •Invitation must come from Richard."
- •Valley.
- •I felt the need of his support. "
- •Including Gwen. The one called Grace was quite pretty, with a bewildered
- •I put on my dark glasses to shield my eyes from the sun and conceal my
- •It is discouraging to put on sun glasses in the middle of someone's intimate
- •I was sent to have my eyes tested. He took me into the darkened interior
- •I had seen Miss Simmonds once before, at a garden fete, where she stood on
- •I stopped looking round. I said. "Read what?" for I had been told I would
- •I recall reading the letters correctly down to the last few lines, which were
- •I broke the glasses by sitting on them during my school holidays two years
- •I washed my hair the night before and put a wave in it. Next morning at
- •I smiled and put my hand in my blazer pocket.
- •I formed an idea of his private life. "Dorothy" I speculated, "and Basil." I let
- •Is it to her?"
- •I invented for myself a recurrent scene in which brother and sister
- •I was sent for to try on my new reading glasses. I had the hat-pin with me I
- •I said, "Grandmother said to inquire after your mother."
- •I took to giving Basil a charming smile when I passed him in the street on
- •I took walks before supper round the back lanes, ambling right round the
- •Visible from the window. He laid it side by side with another sheet of paper
- •Ink and started writing on the bottom of the sheet of paper before him,
- •I shivered in my soaking wet clothes. Dorothy looked with her eye at the
- •I took them into Mr. Simmonds early that afternoon.
- •I had smeared them with cold cream first.
- •Interrupted:
- •I noted her correct phrase, "Are these they?" and it seemed just over the
- •Vicious, in the wrong.
- •I started screaming when I got home, and was given a sedative. By evening
- •It was put down to an accident. There was a strong hope that Miss
- •I said, "The bottle may have been tampered with, have you thought of
- •I was attended by our woman doctor, the widow of the town's former
- •I saw Dr. Gray leaving the Simmonds' at six o'clock one evening. She must
- •I walked on, certain that he had known my guilty suspicions all along.
- •I had come to the summer school to lecture on history and she on
- •Inmost lives. This is probably because they spend so much time hearing out
- •It and myself looked back at myself through the dark water. I looked at Dr.
- •I took them off for a moment. I rather liked her for her innocence in not
- •I had my glasses on again, and was walking on.
- •I thought, neither had I.
- •I said, "He might have stopped seeing eyes if you'd taken him at his word."
- •I could hardly believe she was shouting, who previously had been so calm.
- •I think it was then she recognised me.
- •It there and then. You see, he had to do it while it was still wet."
- •Vestments, or at least lace veil.
- •Vestments.
- •Instance, when a local Town Councillor resigned his office Raymond said,
- •In this particular, from the prejudices of that middle class to which they as
- •Introduce them to so many people." For the dark pair had, within a month,
- •In eyes, skin, teeth, which made him seem all the more eager. He called out
- •Irritated Lou, though she kept her peace.
- •Very well by Elizabeth." They had pulled up outside the house where
- •I'm not going to leave my kids in no nursery. I'm not going to send them to no
- •In that he took a tubercular turn, which was followed by a religious one. He
- •Very delicate question. She was amazed when, within three weeks, Oxford
- •In previous numbers, various references to the Black Madonna, how she had
- •It was the Saturday before that Sunday when Lou had her first sick turn.
- •In the next parish magazine. "Another case has come to light of the kindly
- •In fact, it was a very easy birth, a girl. Raymond was allowed in to see Lou
- •In the late afternoon. She was half asleep. "The nurse will take you to see the
- •In the other cots. "Far more so than the others."
- •Isn't hers, which is ridiculous."
- •Very long chance. I've never known it happen in my experience, but I've
- •Inquire after Lou. He rather regretted smashing up the cot in his first fury.
- •It white."
- •It must be back in the olden days the nigro some ansester but it is only nature.
- •I thank the almighty it has missed my kids and your hubby must think it was
I dashed his hopes. I said, "Hallo, George!"
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He looked in my direction, rooted in the midst of the flowing market-mongers
In that convivial street. I thought to myself. "He looks as if he had a mouthful
of hay." It was the new bristly maize-coloured beard and moustache
surrounding his great mouth suggested the thought gay and lyrical as life.
"Hallo, George!" I said again. (Привет, Джордж! — сказала я снова)
I might have been inspired (на меня, должно быть, снизошло вдохновение) to
say more (говорить подольше: «сказать больше») on that agreeable morning (в
то приятное утро), but he didn't wait (но он стал дожидаться: «не ждал»). He
was away (он убежал; to be away) down a side-street (по какой-то боковой
улочке; side (сторона) + street (улица)) and along another street (и вдоль
другой улицы) and down one more (и по следующей), zig-zag (бросался из
стороны в сторону; to zig-zag — делать зигзаги), as far and as devious as
(чтобы как можно дальше окольными путями) he could take himself (он мог
умчаться: «смог забрать себя») from the Portobello Road (от Портобелло
Роуд).
agreeable [q'gri:qb(q)l] zigzag ['zIgzxg] devious ['di:vjqs]
"Hallo, George!" I said again.
I might have been inspired to say more on that agreeable morning, but he
didn't wait. He was away down a side-street and along another street and
down one more, zig-zag, as far and as devious as he could take himself from
the Portobello Road.
Nevertheless (все же) he was back (он вернулся) again (снова) next week (на
следующей неделе). Poor Kathleen (бедная Кэтлин) had brought him in her car
(привезла его в своей машине). She left it at the top of the street (она оставила
ее в начале улицы; top — вершина), and got out with him (и вышла из нее
вместе с ним), holding him tight by the arm (крепко держа его за руку). It
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grieved me (меня расстроило; to grieve — огорчать, печалить) to see Kathleen
(видеть, как Кэтлин) ignoring (не обращает внимание; to ignore —
игнорирует) the spread of scintillations on the stalls (блеск роскоши на
прилавках; scintillation — сверкание, блеск; spread — распространение,
здесь: разложенные товары). I had myself seen (я сама видела) a charming
Battersea box (очаровательную коробочку из Баттерси; Battersea — район
Лондона, расположенный на южном берегу Темзы) quite to her taste (совсем в
ее вкусе), also a pair of enameled silver ear-rings (а также пару серебряных
серег с финифтью; enamel — эмаль). But she took no notice of these wares (но
она не обращала внимание на все эти безделушки: «кустарные изделия»),
clinging close to George (цепляясь крепко: «близко» за Джорджа), and poor
Kathleen (и бедняжка Кэтлин) — I hate to say how she looked (мне ужасно
неприятно говорить, как она выглядела; to hate — ненавидеть).
brought [brO:t] scintillation ["sIntI'leIS(q)n] enameled [I'nxm(q)ld]
Nevertheless he was back again next week. Poor Kathleen had brought him in
her car. She left it at the top of the street, and got out with him, holding him
tight by the arm. It grieved me to see Kathleen ignoring the spread of
scintillations on the stalls. I had myself seen a charming Battersea box quite
to her taste, also a pair of enameled silver ear-rings. But she took no notice of
these wares, clinging close to George, and poor Kathleen — I hate to say how
she looked.
And George was haggard (и Джордж был изможден). His eyes seemed to have
got smaller (его глаза, казалось, уменьшились) as if he had been recently in pain
(как будто бы все последнее время он испытывал боль; pain — боль). He
advanced up the road (он шел вдоль дороги) with Kathleen on his arm (с Кэтлин
под руку), letting himself lurch from side to side (шатаясь из стороны в
сторону: «позволяя себе крениться»; to lurch — крениться, пошатываться)
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with his wife bobbing beside him (с его женой, болтающейся:
«пританцовывающей» рядом с ним), as the crowds (в то время как толпы)
asserted their rights of way (принимали: «соглашались» их способ
передвижения).
"Oh: George!" I said. "You don't look at all well, George (ты ужасно выглядишь:
«ты совсем не выглядишь здоровым», Джордж).”
"Look (Смотри)!" said George. "Over there by the hardware barrow (там, возле
скобяной лавки). That's Needle (это Игла)."
Kathleen was crying (Кэтлин плакала; to cry — кричать, плакать). "Come back
home, dear (давай вернемся домой, дорогой)" she said.
"Oh, you don't look well (о, ты плохо выглядишь: «не выглядишь здоровым»).
George!" I said.
haggard ['hxgqd] assert [q'sq:t] hardware ['hQ:dwεq] crying ['kraIIN]
And George was haggard. His eyes seemed to have got smaller as if he had
been recently in pain. He advanced up the road with Kathleen on his arm,
letting himself lurch from side to side with his wife bobbing beside him, as the
crowds asserted their rights of way.
"Oh, George!" I said. "You don't look at all well, George."
"Look!" said George. "Over there by the hardware barrow. That's Needle."
Kathleen was crying. "Come back home, dear" she said.
"Oh, you don't look well. George!" I said.
They took him to a nursing home (они поместили: «забрали» его в частную
лечебницу; nurse — медсестра). He was fairly quiet (он был почти спокоен),
except on Saturday mornings (кроме как по субботним утрам) when they had a
hard time of it (когда они с большим трудом могли: «они имели трудное
время из этого») to keep him indoors (удержать его на месте: «в помещении»)
and away from the Portobello Road (и не пустить его на Портобелло Роуд).
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But a couple of months later (но пару месяцев спустя) he did escape (он смог
сбежать; to escape — избегать). It was a Monday (это был понедельник).
They searched for him in the Portobello Road (его искали: «они искали его» на
Портобелло Роуд), but actually he had gone off to Kent (но на самом деле он
отправился в Кент) to the village (в деревню) near the scene (рядом с местом
действия) of the Haystack Murder (Убийства в Стоге сена). There he went to the
police (там он отправился в полицию) and gave himself up (и выдал себя; to
give up — бросить, оставить, сдаться), but they could tell from the way he
was talking (но по его разговору было понятно: «но они могли сказать по
тому, как он говорил») that there was something wrong with the man (что он
был не вполне здоров: «что что-то неправильное было с человеком»).
nursing ['nq:sIN] escape [I'skeIp] village ['vIlIG] scene [si:n]
They took him to a nursing home. He was fairly quiet, except on Saturday
mornings when they had a hard time of it to keep him indoors and away from
the Portobello Road.
But a couple of months later he did escape. It was a Monday.
They searched for him in the Portobello Road, but actually he had gone off to
Kent to the village near the scene of the Haystack Murder. There he went to
the police and gave himself up, but they could tell from the way he was
talking that there was something wrong with the man.
"I saw Needle in the Portobello Road (я видел Иглу на Портобелло Роуд)
three Saturdays running (три субботы подряд; to run — бегать; running —
бегание, подряд)," he explained (объяснил он), "and they put me in a private
ward (и они поместили меня в частную палату; ward — опека, больничная
палата) but I got away (но я смылся; to get away — удрать, улизнуть) while
(пока) the nurses (сиделки) were seeing to the new patient (присматривали за
новым пациентом). You remember the murder of Needle (вы помните убийство
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Иглы) — well (вот). I did it (это я сделал). Now you know the truth (теперь вы
знаете правду), and that will keep bloody Needle's mouth shut (это заткнет рот
этой чертовой Иглы: это «будет держать рот чертовой Иглы закрытым»)."
Dozens (десятки) of poor mad fellows (сумасшедших бедолаг: «бедных
сумасшедших парней») confess to every murder (сознаются в любом:
«каждом» убийстве). The police (полиция) obtained (вызвала: «получила») an
ambulance (машину скорой помощи) to take him back (чтобы забрать его
обратно) to the nursing home (в лечебницу).
private ['praIvIt] ward [wO:d] ambulance ['xmbjVlqns]
"I saw Needle in the Portobello Road three Saturdays running," he
explained, "and they put me in a private ward but I got away while the
nurses were seeing to the new patient. You remember the murder of Needle —
well. I did it. Now you know the truth, and that will keep bloody Needle's
mouth shut."
Dozens of poor mad fellows confess to every murder. The police obtained an
ambulance to take him back to the nursing home.
He wasn't there long (он не долго пробыл там). Kathleen gave up her shop
(Кэтлин забросила свой магазин; to give up — бросить, отказаться) and
devoted herself (и посвятила себя; to devote) to looking after him at home (уходу
за ним на дому; to look after — ухаживать). But she found (но она считала:
«обнаружила») that the Saturday mornings (что утро субботы) were a strain
(было особенно напряженным; strain — напряжение, нагрузка). He insisted
(он настаивал) on going to see me in the Portobello Road (на прогулке по
Портобелло Роуд, чтобы увидеть меня) and would come back (и опять
возвращался) to insist (к идее: «настаивать») that he'd murdered Needle (что он
убил Иглу). Once he tried to tell her something about Matilda (однажды он
попытался рассказать ей кое-что о Матильде; to try — пытаться), but
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Kathleen was so kind and solicitous (но Кэтлин была так добра и заботлива), I
don't think (что не думаю) he had the courage (что у него хватило духа; courage
— мужество, храбрость) to remember what he had to say (рассказать ей то,
что он должен был сказать: «помнить, что он должен сказать»).
strain [streIn] insist [In'sIst] solicitous [sq'lIsItqs] courage ['kArIG]
He wasn't there long. Kathleen gave up her shop and devoted herself to
looking after him at home. But she found that the Saturday mornings were a
strain. He insisted on going to see me in the Portobello Road and would
come back to insist that he'd murdered Needle. Once he tried to tell her
something about Matilda, but Kathleen was so kind and solicitous, I don't
think he had the courage to remember what he had to say.
Skinny had always been rather reserved with George since the murder (Скинни
всегда был сдержан с Джорджем с момента убийства; to reserve — запасать,
откладывать). But he was kind to Kathleen (но он был добр к Кэтлин). It was
he who persuaded them (именно он: «это был он, кто» убедил их; to persuade
— уговаривать) to emigrate to Canada (иммигрировать в Канаду) so that
George should be well out of reach of the Portobello Road (чтобы Джордж не
смог добраться до Портобелло Роуд: «был хорошо далеко от досягаемости
Портобелло Роуд»).
George has recovered somewhat in Canada (в Канаде Джордж немного
пришел в себя; to recover — выздоравливать) but of course he will never be the
old George again (но, конечно, он никогда не будет прежним: «старым»
Джорджем), as Kathleen writes to Skinny (как писала Кэтлин Скинни). "That
Haystack tragedy did for George (та трагедия с убийством: «со стогом сена»
погубила Джорджа; to do for smb — губить, портить)," she writes (пишет
она). "I feel sorrier for George sometimes (иногда мне жалко Джорджа больше)
than I am for poor Needle (чем бедную Иглу). But I do often have Masses said
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(но я часто заказываю мессу; to say mass (for smb.'s soul) — служить обедню
за упокой души) for Needle's soul (за упокой души Иглы)."
persuade [pq'sweId] tragedy ['trxGIdI] soul [sqVl]
Skinny had always been rather reserved with George since the murder.
But he was kind to Kathleen. It was he who persuaded them to emigrate to
Canada so that George should be well out of reach of the Portobello Road.
George has recovered somewhat in Canada but of course he will never be the
old George again, as Kathleen writes to Skinny. "That Haystack tragedy did
for George," she writes. "I feel sorrier for George sometimes than I am for
poor Needle. But I do often have Masses said for Needle's soul."
I doubt (сомневаюсь) if George will ever see (увидит ли Джордж когда-
нибудь) me again in the Portobello Road (меня снова на Портобелло Роуд). He
broods much (он много и печально размышляет) over the crumpled snapshot
(над мятым снимком; to crumple — мять, snapshot — моментальная
фотография) he took of us (где мы: «который он снял с нас») on the haystack
(на стоге сена). Kathleen does not like the photograph (Кэтлин не нравится эта
фотография). I don't wonder (что и не удивительно: «я не удивляюсь»). For my
part (что касается меня; part — часть, сторона), I consider (я считаю; to
consider — рассматривать, обдумывать) it quite a jolly snap (это довольно
веселый снимок; jolly — веселый, радостный), but I don't think (но я не
думаю) we were any of us (что мы, каждый из нас) so lovely as (были такими
красивыми; to love — любить; lovely — красивый, очаровательный,
привлекательный) we look in it (какими мы выглядим на ней), gazing blatantly
(вглядывающиеся шумливо; to gaze — пристально глядеть, всматриваться;
blatant — крикливый, шумный) over the ripe cornfields (в спелые поля; ripe —
созревший; corn (зерно) + field (поле)). Skinny with his humorous expression
(Скинни с его забавным выражением лица; humorous — юмористический,
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веселый; to express — выражать). I secure in my difference from the rest (я,
уверенная в своей исключительности: «отличительности от других»; to
secure — обеспечивать безопасность; difference — разница, различие).
Kathleen with her head prettily perched on her hand (Кэтлин, ее головка
очаровательно упирается в кулачок: «располагается высоко на ее руке»;
pretty — милый, прелестный), each reflecting fearlessly (каждый бесстрашно
показывает: «отражает»; fear — страх; to reflect — отражать) in the face of
George's camera (в объектив: «лицо» фотокамеры Джорджа) the glory of the
world (все великолепие мира; glory — триумф, слава, красота), as if it would
never pass (как будто оно будет длится вечно: «как будто оно никогда не
кончится»).
brood [bru:d] crumple ['krAmp(q)l] jolly ['GOlI] blatant ['bleIt(q)nt]
perched [pq:Ct]