Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

But at last the train steamed in to Chicago and he exulted when he saw the long streets of grey houses. He could hardly bear his impatience at the thought of State and Wabash with their crowded pavements, their hustling traffic, and their noise. He was at home. And he was glad that he had been born in the most important city in the United States. San Francisco was provincial, New York was effete; the future of America lay in the development of its economic possibilities, and Chicago, by its position and by the energy of its citizens, was destined to become the real capital of the country.

"I guess I shall live long enough to see it the biggest city in the world (полагаю, что я доживу до того, чтобы: «что я буду жить достаточно долго, чтобы» увидеть /как Чикаго станет/ самым большим городом мира)," Bateman said to himself as he stepped down to the platform (сказал про себя Бейтман, ступая на платформу).

His father had come to meet him (его отец приехал, чтобы встретить его = его встречал отец), and after a hearty handshake (и после сердечного рукопожатия), the pair of them, tall, slender and well-made (они оба, высокие, стройные, хорошо сложенные; pair — пара, парные предметы), with the same fine, ascetic features and thin lips (с одинаковыми изящными аскетическими чертами лица и тонкими губами), walked out of the station (вышли из /здания/ вокзала). Mr. Hunter's automobile was waiting for them and they got in (их ожидал автомобиль мистера Хантера, и они сели в него). Mr. Hunter caught his son's proud and happy glance as he looked at the street (мистер Хантер перехватил гордый и счастливый взгляд сына, когда тот смотрел на улицу; to catch — схватить, поймать).

"Glad to be back, son (рад, что вернулся, сын)?" he asked (спросил он).

"I should just think I was (разумеется)," said Bateman.

His eyes devoured the restless scene (его глаза жадно наблюдали за неугомонным движением /за окном/; to devour — пожирать; поглощать; scene — место действия; вид, пейзаж).

ascetic [q'setIk], automobile ['O: tqmqbi: l], devour [dI'vaVq], scene [si: n]

"I guess I shall live long enough to see it the biggest city in the world," Bateman said to himself as he stepped down to the platform.

His father had come to meet him, and after a hearty handshake, the pair of them, tall, slender and well-made, with the same fine, ascetic features and thin lips, walked out of the station. Mr. Hunter's automobile was waiting for them and they got in. Mr. Hunter caught his son's proud and happy glance as he looked at the street.

"Glad to be back, son?" he asked.

"I should just think I was," said Bateman.

His eyes devoured the restless scene.

"I guess there's a bit more traffic here than in your South Sea island (полагаю, что движение здесь немного оживленнее, чем на твоем острове в Южных морях /т. е.в южной части Тихого океана/)," laughed Mr. Hunter (рассмеялся мистер Хантер). "Did you like it there (тебе там понравилось)?"

"Give me Chicago, dad (по-моему, ничто не может сравниться с Чикаго: «дай мне Чикаго», папа)," answered Bateman (ответил Бейтман).

"You haven't brought Edward Barnard back with you (ты не привез с собой Эдварда Бернарда)."

"No."

"How was he (как он)?"

Bateman was silent for a moment (Бейтман помолчал минуту), and his handsome sensitive face darkened (и его красивое тонкое лицо помрачнело; sensitive — чувствительный, нежный).

"I'd sooner not speak about him, dad (мне бы не хотелось говорить о нем, отец)," he said at last (сказал он наконец).

"That's all right, my son (хорошо, сынок). I guess your mother will be a happy woman to-day (я думаю, что твоя мать будет сегодня очень счастлива: «счастливой женщиной»)."