Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

A life like mine annoys most people;they go to their jobs every day, attend to things, giveorders, pummel typewriters, and get two or threeweeks off every year, and it vexes them to see someone else not bothering to do these things and yet getting away with it, not starving, being lucky as theycall it. Skinny, when I had broken off our engagement, lectured me about this, but still he took me to Africa knowing I should probably leave his unit within a few months.

We were there a few weeks (мы были там несколько недель) before we began inquiring for George (до того как мы начали наводить справки: «узнавать» о Джордже) who was farming (который занимался плантацией: «фермерством») about four hundred miles away to the north (в четырехстах милях к северу: «около четыре сотен миль к северу»; north — север). We had not told him of our plans (мы не сказали ему о наших планах).

"If we tell George (если мы скажем Джорджу) to expect us (ожидать нас) in his part of the world (в этих краях: «в его части мира») he'll come rushing (он прибежит сломя голову; to rush — мчаться, нестись) to pester us the first week (надоедая нам в первую же неделю; to pester — докучать). After all (в конце концов), we're going on business (мы же едем по делу; to go on business)," Skinny had said (сказал Скинни).

farming ['fQ: mIN] business ['bIznIs] pester ['pestq]

We were there a few weeks before we began inquiring for George who was farming about four hundred miles away to the north. We had not told him of our plans.

"If we tell George to expect us in his part of theworld he'll come rushing to pester us the first week. After all, we're going on business," Skinny had said.

Before we left (до нашего отъезда: «до того, как мы уехали») Kathleen told us (Кэтлин сказала нам), "Give George my love (передайте Джорджу сердечный привет от меня; to give smb love) and tell him not to send (и скажите ему, чтобы он не отправлял: «не отправлять») frantic cables (отчаянные телеграммы; a cable — провод, телеграмма) every time I don't answer his letters (каждый раз, когда я не отвечаю на его письма) right away (сразу, немедленно). Tell him (скажите ему) I'm busy in the hat-shop (что я занята в шляпном магазине) and being presented (и должна там постоянно находиться). You would think (можно подумать: «вы подумаете») he hadn't another friend in the world (у него нет никого в целом мире: «другого друга в мире») the way he carries on (судя по тому, как он себя ведет: «по манере /в которой/ он продолжает»)."

frantic ['frxntIk] present ['prez(q)nt] hatshop ['hxtSOp]

Before we left Kathleen told us, "Give George mylove and tell him not to send frantic cables every timeI don't answer his letters right away. Tell him I'mbusy in the hat-shop and being presented. You wouldthink he hadn't another friend in the world the wayhe carries on."