His letter was very cheerful (письмо его было очень бодрым). From the beginning Jean had told himself that Riri, with his mercurial temperament (с самого начала Жан сказал себе, что Рири, с его переменчивым характером; mercurial — ртутный; живой, подвижный), would soon forget Marie-Louise (вскоре забудет Марию-Луизу), and his letter looked as if he had already done so (и по его письму было похоже, словно он уже это сделал). He had done him no irreparable injury (/значит/, он не нанес ему непоправимого вреда; irreparable — непоправимый; injury — вред, повреждение, порча, убыток, ущерб). It was a justification (это было оправдание = так он оправдывал сам себя). For if he had lost Marie-Louise he would have died (потому что, если бы он /сам/ потерял Марию-Луизу, он бы умер); with him it was a matter of life and death (для него это был вопрос жизни и смерти).
cheerful ['tSIqf(q)l], mercurial [mW'kju(q)rIql], irreparable [I'rep(q)rqb(q)l], injury ['IndZqrI], justification ["dZAstIfI'keIS(q)n]
His letter was very cheerful. From the beginning Jean had told himself that Riri, with his mercurial temperament, would soon forget Marie-Louise, and his letter looked as if he had already done so. He had done him no irreparable injury. It was a justification. For if he had lost Marie-Louise he would have died; with him it was a matter of life and death.
For a year Jean and Marie-Louise were extremely happy (целый год Жан и Мария-Луиза были очень счастливы; extremely — крайне, чрезвычайно). Madame Meurice died, and Marie-Louise inherited a couple of hundred thousand francs (мадам Мерис умерла, и Мария-Луиза унаследовала пару сотен тысяч франков); but with the depression and the unstable currency (но из-за /экономической/ депрессии и неустойчивого /курса/ валюты; currency — употребительность; валюта, деньги) they decided not to have a child till the economic situation was less uncertain (они решили не заводить ребенка до тех пор, пока экономическая ситуация не станет более надежной: «менее сомнительной»). Marie-Louise was a good and frugal housekeeper (Мария-Луиза была хорошей и экономной хозяйкой; housekeeper — экономка; домашняяхозяйка). She was an affectionate, amiable and satisfactory wife (она была любящей, дружелюбной, хорошей женой; satisfactory — удовлетворительный; приятный, хороший).
extremely [Ik'stri: mlI], inherit [In'herIt], currency ['kArqnsI], frugal ['fru: g(q)l]
For a year Jean and Marie-Louise were extremely happy. Madame Meurice died, and Marie-Louise inherited a couple of hundred thousand francs; but with the depression and the unstable currency they decided not to have a child till the economic situation was less uncertain. Marie-Louise was a good and frugal housekeeper. She was an affectionate, amiable and satisfactory wife.