"Christ, what a sight I looked."

They decided to keep their engagement to themselves, and Julia told no one

about it but Jimmie Langton, two or three girls in the company and her

dresser. She vowed them to secrecy and could not understand how within

forty-eight hours everyone in the theatre seemed to know all about it. Julia

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

127

was divinely happy. She loved Michael more passionately than ever and would

gladly have married him there and then, but his good sense prevailed.

They were at present (они в настоящее время были) no more than (не более

чем) a couple of provincial actors (парой провинциальных актеров), and to start

their conquest of London (и начало покорения Лондона; conquest —

завоевание, покорение) as a married couple (/в качестве/ женатой пары) would

jeopardize their chances (могло бы помешать их шансам /на успех/; to

jeopardize — подвергать опасности, рисковать). Julia showed him as clearly

as she knew how (Джулия показала ему настолько ясно, насколько могла:

«знала как»), and this was very clearly indeed (и на самом деле /показала/

действительно ясно), that she was quite willing to become his mistress (что она

вполне готова стать его любовницей; to be quite willing to do smth. — быть

согласным, готовым, иметь желание сделать что-либо), but this he refused

(но он отказался /от этого/). He was too honourable (он был слишком

благородным) to take advantage of her (чтобы воспользоваться ей; to take

advantage of smb. — перехитрить/обмануть/ кого-либо, эксплуатировать,

использовать кого-либо в своих интересах: «взять преимущество»).

conquest ['kONkwest] jeopardize ['dZepqdaIz] mistress ['mIstrIs]

They were at present no more than a couple of provincial actors, and to start

their conquest of London as a married couple would jeopardize their chances.

Julia showed him as clearly as she knew how, and this was very clearly

indeed, that she was quite willing to become his mistress, but this he refused.

He was too honourable to take advantage of her.

"I could not love thee, dear, so much (я не мог бы любить тебя, дорогая, так

сильно), loved I not honour more (если бы я не любил честь больше)," he

quoted (процитировал он).

Мультиязыковой проект Ильи Франка www.franklang.ru

128

He felt sure (он был уверен: «чувствовал уверенность») that when they were

married (что когда они поженятся) they would bitterly regret it (они горько об

этом пожалеют; to regret — сожалеть, раскаиваться) if they had lived

together before (если бы они жили вместе до этого) as man and wife (как муж и

жена). Julia was proud of his principles (Джулия гордилась его принципами).

He was a kind and affectionate lover (он был добрым и нежным

возлюбленным), but in a very short while (но очень скоро: «за очень короткое

время»; a short while — время, промежуток времени) seemed to take her a

trifle for granted (казалось, стал воспринимать ее слегка как нечто само собой

разумеющееся; to take for granted — быть слишком самонадеянным,