Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

Their flat in Cripps House had three rooms and a kitchen. All round them theirneighbourswere saving up to buy houses. A council flat, once obtained, was a mere platform in space to further the progress of the rocket. This ambition was not shared by Raymond and Lou; they were not only content, they were delighted, with these civic chambers, and indeed took something of an aristocratic view of them, not without a self-conscious feeling of being free, in this particular, from the prejudices of that middle class to which they as good as belonged. "One day," said Lou, "it will be the thing to live in a council flat."

They were eclectic as to their friends (они были эклектичны в выборе: «что касается их» друзей). Here (в этом: «здесь»), it is true (надо признать: «это правда»), they differed slightly from each other (они отличались слегка друг от друга). Raymond was for inviting the Ackleys to meet the Farrells (Раймонд выступал за то, чтобы пригласить Экли познакомиться с Фарреллами; tobeforsmth. — быть за;toinvite— приглашать). Mr. Ackley was an accountant at the Electricity Board (мистер Экли работал: «был» бухгалтером в департаменте по электричеству). Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were respectively a sorter at Manders’ Figs in Syrup and an usherette at the Odeon (мистер и миссис Фаррелл были соответственно сортировщиком /на заводе/ «Инжир в Сиропе Мандерса» и, билетершей в Одеоне; OdeonCinemas— цепь кинотеатров в Великобритании).

"After all (в конце концов)," argued Raymond (убеждал Раймонд;toargue— спорить, аргументировать), "they're all Catholics (все они католики)."

"Ah well (ну хорошо)," said Lou, "but now, their interests are different (но сейчас, их интересы различны). The Farrells wouldn't know what the Ackleys were talking about (Фарреллы не поймут: «не будут знать» о чем говорят Экли). The Ackleys like politics (Экли любят /говорить о/ политике). The Farrells like to tell jokes (Фарреллы любят рассказывать анекдоты; joke— шутка). I'm not a snob, only sensible (я не сноб, я просто благоразумна)."

inviting [In'vaItIN] usherette ["ASq'ret] sensible ['sensqb(q)l]

They were eclectic as to their friends. Here, it is true, they differed slightly from each other. Raymond was for inviting the Ackleys to meet the Farrells. Mr. Ackley was an accountant at the Electricity Board. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell were respectively a sorter at Manders" Figs in Syrup and an usherette at the Odeon

"After all," argued Raymond, "they're all Catholics."

"Ah well," said Lou, "but now, their interests are different. The Farrells wouldn't know what the Ackleys were talking about. The Ackleys like politics. The Farrells like to tell jokes. I'm not a snob, only sensible."

"Oh, please yourself (о, поступай, как считаешь нужным; pleaseyourself! — делайте, как хотите)." For no one could call Lou a snob (потому как никто не мог назвать Лу снобом), and everyone knew she was sensible (и все знали, что она была благоразумной).