Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

already [O: l'redI] refer [rI'fq: ] apparently [q'pxrqntlI] neighbourhood ['neIbqhVd]

"I'm going to marry Kathleen."

"But you're already married."

Sometimes I heard news of Matilda from the one Rhodesian family with whom I still kept up. Theyreferred to her as "George's Dark Lady" and ofcourse they did not know he was married to her. Shehad apparently made a good thing out of George,they said, for she minced around all tarted up, neverdid a stroke of work, and was always unsettling therespectable coloured girls in their neighbourhood.According to accounts, she was a living example of the folly of behaving as George did.

"I married Matilda in the Congo (я женился на Матильде в Конго)," George was saying (говорил Джордж).

"It would still be bigamy," I said (это все равно остается двоеженством, — сказала я).

He was furious (он пришел в бешенство; furious — разъяренный, взбешенный) when I used that word bigamy (когда я произнесла: «использовала» то слово — двоеженство). He lifted a handful of hay (он поднял горсть сена) as if he would throw it in my face (как будто он собирался бросить его мне в лицо; to throw — бросать), but controlling himself (но сдержался: «контролируя себя»; to control — управлять, контролировать) meanwhile (тем временем) he fanned it at me (он замахал им /сеном/, как веером, мне в лицо; to fan — обмахивать веером, раздувать) playfully (шутливо; to play — играть).

"I'm not sure (я не уверен) that the Congo marriage (что брак в Конго) was valid (имеет юридическую силу: «был действительным»)," he continued (продолжил он). "Anyway (во всяком случае), as far as I'm concerned (насколько это касается меня; to concern — касаться, затрагивать), it isn't (он не действителен)."

"You can't do a thing like that (ты не можешь так поступить: «сделать вещь, как эта»)," I said.

"I need Kathleen (мне нужна Кэтлин). She's been decent to me (она была порядочна по отношению ко мне). I think (я думаю) we were always meant for each other (мы всегда были предназначены друг для друга; to mean — иметь в виду, означать), me and Kathleen (я и Кэтлин)."

"I'll have to be going (я должна идти)," I said.

bigamy ['bIgqmI] furious ['fjV(q)rIqs] meanwhile ['mi: nwaIl] fan [fxn]

"I married Matilda in the Congo," George wassaying.

"It would still be bigamy," I said.

He was furious when I used that word bigamy. Helifted a handful of hay as if he would throw it in myface, but controlling himself meanwhile he fanned itat me playfully.

"I'm not sure that the Congo marriage was valid,"he continued. "Anyway, as far asI'mconcerned, itisn't."

"You can't do a thing like that," I said.

"I need Kathleen. She's been decent to me. I thinkwe were always meant for each other, me andKathleen."

"I'll have to be going," I said.

But he put (но он прижал: «положил»; to put — класть) his knee (своим: «его» коленом) over my ankles (/на/ мои лодыжки), so that I couldn't move (так, что я не могла двинуться). I sat still (я сидела неподвижно) and gazed into space (и уставилась в пространство; to gaze — пристально смотреть).

He tickled my face (он пощекотал мое лицо; to tickle — щекотать, забавлять) with a wisp of hay (/с/ пучком сена).

"Smile up, Needle (улыбнись, Игла; to smile — улыбаться)," he said; "let's talk like old times (давай поболтаем, как в старые добрые времена)."

"Well (ну)?"

"No one knows (никто не знает) about my marriage to Matilda (о моем браке с Матильдой) except you and me (кроме тебя и меня)."

"And Matilda (и Матильды)," I said.