Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

"I saw Needle in the Portobello Road threeSaturdays running," he explained, "and they put mein a private ward but I got away while the nurseswere seeing to the new patient. You remember the murder of Needle — well. I did it. Now you know thetruth, and that will keep bloody Needle's mouthshut."

Dozens of poor mad fellows confess to every murder. The police obtained an ambulance to takehim 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 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 theSaturday mornings were a strain. He insisted ongoing to see me in the Portobello Road and wouldcome back to insist that he'd murdered Needle. Oncehe tried to tell her something about Matilda, butKathleen was so kind and solicitous, I don't think hehad 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 (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 withGeorge since the murder. But he was kind toKathleen. It was he who persuaded them to emigrateto Canada so that George should be well out of reachof the Portobello Road.