Английский язык с Мюриэль Спарк (рассказы)

"Not for ages, if at all. He can't leave Leicester just now, and he hates London."

"You must get him to come and ask Richard what his intentions are. A young girl like you needs protection."

"Gwen, don't be silly."

Often Trudy would question Gwen about Richard and his mother (часто Труди спрашивала Гвен о Ричарде и его матери; to question — задаватьвопросы, расспрашивать).

"Are they well off (они богаты; well-off— состоятельный, обеспеченный)? Is she a well-bred woman (она хорошо воспитана /женщина/; well-bred— воспитанный, получивший хорошее образование)? What's the house like (какой /у них/ дом: «на что похож дом»)? How long have you known Richard (как долго ты знаешь Ричарда)? Why hasn't he married before (почему он не женился раньше; to marry, to get married — пожениться, выйтизамуж)? The mother, is she — (/его/ мать, она —)

"Lucy is a marvel in her way (Люси, она необыкновенный человек, в своем роде; marvel — чудо, диво, нечтонеобыкновенное, way — путь, дорога, способдействия)," Gwen said.

"Oh, do you call her Lucy (о, ты называешь ее Люси; tocall— звать называть)? You must know her awfully well (ты, должно быть, очень близко: «ужасно хорошо» ее знаешь)."

"I'm quite (я вполне),'' said Gwen (сказала Гвен), "a member of the family in my way (как член семьи, в некотором роде)."

"Richard has often told me that (Ричард часто говорит мне об этом). Do you go there every Sunday (ты ходишь к ним: «туда» каждое воскресенье)?"

"Most Sundays (почти каждое: «большинство из воскресений»)," Gwen said (сказала Гвен). "It is often very amusing (часто это достаточно забавно; amusing— смешной, занимательный), and one sometimes sees a fresh face (и иногда можно увидеть свежее лицо; fresh— свежий, новый)."

'"Why (почему)," Trudy said, as the summer passed (когда лето прошло) and she had already been away for several week-ends with Richard (и она уже провела несколько уик-эндов с Ричардом; tobeaway— отсутствовать, уезжать), "doesn't he ask me to meet his mother (он не зовет меня познакомиться со своей матерью)? If my mother were alive and living in London (если бы моя мать была жива и жила в Лондоне; alive— живой, в живых, существующий) I know I would have asked him home to meet her (я знаю, что я бы позвала его домой познакомиться с ней)."

marvel ['mQ: v(q)l] awfully ['O: f(q)lI] Sunday ['sAndI] already [O: l'redI]

Often Trudy would question Gwen about Richard and his mother.

"Are they well off? Is she a well-bred woman? What's the house like? How long have you known Richard? Why hasn't he married before? The mother, is she —"

"Lucy is a marvel in her way," Gwen said.

"Oh, do you call her Lucy? You must know her awfully well."

"I'm quite,'' said Gwen, "a member of the family in my way."

"Richard has often told me that. Do you go there every Sunday?"

"Most Sundays," Gwen said. "It is often very amusing, and one sometimes sees a fresh face."

'"Why," Trudy said, as the summer passed and she had already been away for several week-ends with Richard, "doesn't he ask me to meet his mother? If my mother were alive and living in London I know I would have asked him home to meet her."