"I did," interrupted Kismine, shrugging her shoulders (да, сказала, — прервала его Кисмин, пожимая плечами). "We can't very well imprison them like those aviators (мы не можем /вдруг взять и/ запереть их /куда-нибудь/ как тех авиаторов; to imprison — заключать в тюрьму; лишать свободы; prison — тюрьма), where they'd be a continual reproach to us every day (где они были бы для нас постоянным укором каждый день = изо дня в день). And it's always been made easier for Jasmine and me (нас с Жасмин всегда щадили), because father had it done sooner than we expected (так как отец устраивал это раньше, чем мы ожидали). In that way we avoided any farewell scene (таким образом мы избегали прощальных сцен) —"

calm [kRm], abominable [q'bOmInqbl], shoulder ['SqVldq]

"Now, I've told you, and I shouldn't have," she said, calming suddenly and drying her dark blue eyes.

"Do you mean to say that your father had them murdered before they left?"

She nodded.

"In August usually — or early in September. It's only natural for us to get all the pleasure out of them that we can first."

"How abominable! How — why, I must be going crazy! Did you really admit that —"

"I did," interrupted Kismine, shrugging her shoulders. "We can't very well imprison them like those aviators, where they'd be a continual reproach to us every day. And it's always been made easier for Jasmine and me, because father had it done sooner than we expected. In that way we avoided any farewell scene —"

"So you murdered them! Uh!" cried John (значит, вы их убивали! Ох!.. — закричал Джон).

"It was done very nicely (это делалось очень деликатно). They were drugged while they were asleep (им вкалывали наркотик/яд, пока они спали; drug — лекарство; снадобье; наркотик /любое вещество, применяющееся для воздействия на организм/) — and their families were always told that they died of scarlet fever in Butte (а их семьям всегда сообщалось, что они умерли от скарлатины в Бьютте)."

"But — I fail to understand why you kept on inviting them (я никак не могу не понять, почему вы продолжали приглашать их)!"

"I didn't," burst out Kismine (я не приглашала! — рассердилась Кисмин; to burst — лопаться; взрываться; to burst out — громко восклицать). "I never invited one (я никогда никого не приглашала). Jasmine did (это все Жасмин). And they always had a very good time (и они всегда очень хорошо проводили время). She'd give them the nicest presents toward the last (она дарила им премилые подарки = вещицы перед концом). I shall probably have visitors too (я, наверное, тоже стану приглашать гостей) — I'll harden up to it (я привыкну; to harden — становиться твердым; твердеть, закаляться /духом и т. п./). We can't let such an inevitable thing as death stand in the way of enjoying life while we have it (мы не можем = не должны допустить, чтобы такая неизбежная вещь, как смерть, стояла у нас на дороге и мешала наслаждаться жизнью, пока она /жизнь/ у нас есть). Think how lonesome it'd be out here if we never had any one (представь, как здесь было бы тоскливо, если бы у нас никогда никого не было = никто не гостил). Why, father and mother have sacrificed some of their best friends just as we have (/тоже ведь/ пожертвовали некоторыми своими лучшими друзьями, как и мы)."

visitor ['vIzItq], enjoy [In'GOI], friend [frend]

"So you murdered them! Uh!" cried John.

"It was done very nicely. They were drugged while they were asleep — and their families were always told that they died of scarlet fever in Butte."

"But — I fail to understand why you kept on inviting them!"

"I didn't," burst out Kismine. "I never invited one. Jasmine did. And they always had a very good time. She'd give them the nicest presents toward the last. I shall probably have visitors too — I'll harden up to it. We can't let such an inevitable thing as death stand in the way of enjoying life while we have it. Think how lonesome it'd be out here if we never had any one. Why, father and mother have sacrificed some of their best friends just as we have."

"And so," cried John accusingly (с упреком/обвинением; to accuse — обвинять), "and so you were letting me make love to you (значит, ты позволяла мне ухаживать за тобой) and pretending to return it (и притворялась, что отвечаешь взаимностью; to return — возвращать, отдавать; to return love — отвечать кому-л. взаимностью), and talking about marriage (и говорила о замужестве), all the time knowing perfectly well that I'd never get out of here alive (все это время прекрасно зная, что я никогда не выберусь отсюда живым) —"

"No," she protested passionately (страстно = с жаром запротестовала она). "Not any more (больше = теперь нет). I did at first (так и было в начале). You were here, I couldn't help that (ты был здесь, я ничего не могла с этим поделать), and I thought your last days might as well be pleasant for both of us (и я подумала: пускай твои последние дни пройдут приятно для нас обоих). But then I fell in love with you (но потом я в тебя влюбилась), and — and I'm honestly sorry you're going to — going to be put away (мне искренне жаль, что тебя… устранят) — though you’d be put away than ever kiss another girl (хотя пусть уж лучше тебя устранят, чем ты будешь целовать другую девушку; I'd rather = I would rather — я бы лучше/охотнее…; я хотел бы, я предпочитаю)."

"Oh, you would, would you?" cried John ferociously (да, лучше, лучше? — яростно закричал Джек; /would употреблено вместо would rather/).

honestly ['OnIstlI], rather ['rRDq], ferociously [fq'rqVSqslI]

"And so," cried John accusingly, "and so you were letting me make love to you and pretending to return it, and talking about marriage, all the time knowing perfectly well that I'd never get out of here alive —"

"No," she protested passionately. "Not any more. I did at first. You were here, I couldn't help that, and I thought your last days might as well be pleasant for both of us. But then I fell in love with you, and — and I'm honestly sorry you're going to — going to be put away — though I'd rather you'd be put away than ever kiss another girl."