Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

Another aspect of the information received by the Father Rector concerning our "Black Madonna " is one pertaining to childless couples of which three cases have come to his notice. In each case the couple claim to have offered constant devotion to the "Black Madonna," and in two of the cases specific requests were made for thefavourof a child. In all cases the prayers were answered. The proud parents… It should be the loving duty of every parishioner to make a special thanksgiving … The Father Rector will be grateful for any further information …

"Look, Raymond (смотри, Раймонд)," said Lou. "Read this (прочитай это)."

They decided (они решили) to put in for a baby to the Black Madonna (обратиться за ребенком к Черной Мадонне; to put in for smth. — ходатайствовать, подаватьзаявкуначто-либо).

The following Saturday (в следующую субботу), when they drove to the church for Benediction (когда они ехали в церковь на благословение; to drive — водитьмашину, ехать), Lou jangled her rosary (Лу бренчала своими: «ее» четками). Raymond pulled up outside the church (Раймонд остановился у церкви). "Look here, Lou (послушай, Лу)," he said, "do you want a baby in any case (ты хочешь ребенка при любых обстоятельствах: «в любом случае»)?" for he partly thought (так как он отчасти: «частично» думал, что) she was only putting the Black Madonna to the test (она только /хотела/ испытать /силу/ Черной Мадонны: «она только подвергала Черную Мадонну испытанию»; test — испытание, проверка) "Do you want a child (ты /действительно/ хочешь ребенка), after all these years (после всех этих лет)?"

This was a new thought to Lou (это была новая для Лу мысль). She considered her neat flat (она задумалась о своей аккуратной квартирке) and tidy routine (регулярной уборке; to tidy — прибирать, наводитьпорядок), the entertaining with her good coffee cups (приемы гостей и кофе из дорогих чашечек: «приемы гостей с ее хорошими кофейными чашками»; to entertain — приниматьгостей, развлекать), the weekly papers (еженедельные газеты; paper — бумага, документ, газета) and the library books (и книги из библиотеки), the tastes which they would not have been able to cultivate (привычки, которые они не могли бы развивать) had they had a family of children (если бы имели /семейство/ детей). She thought of (она подумала о) her nice young looks (ее приятной моложавой внешности; looks — наружность, внешнийвид) which everyone envied (которой все: «каждый» завидовали; to envy — завидовать), and her freedom of movement (и ее свободе передвижения).

jangle ['GxNg(q)l] routine [ru:'ti: n] entertaining ["entq'teInIN] envy ['envI]

"Look, Raymond," said Lou. "Read this."

They decided to put in for a baby to the Black Madonna.

The following Saturday, when they drove to the church for Benediction. Lou jangled her rosary. Raymond pulled up outside the church. "Look here. Lou," he said, "do you want a baby in any case?" for he partly thought she was only putting the Black Madonna to the test — "Do you want a child, after all these years?"

This was a new thought to Lou. She considered her neat flat and tidy routine, the entertaining with her good coffee cups, the weekly papers and the library books, the tastes which they would not have been able to cultivate had they had a family of children. She thought of her nice young looks which everyone envied, and her freedom of movement.