She sat on a low stool by the fire, near her father-in-law (она села на низкий стул у огня, возле свекра). Her head was dropped, she seemed in a state of abstraction (ее голова была опущена, она казалась в состоянии погруженности мысли = казалось, погрузилась в свои мысли). From time to time she would suddenly recover (время от времени она неожиданно приходила в себя; to recover – вновь обретать; оправляться, приходить в себя /от болезни, потрясения и т. д./;), and look up at us, laughing and chatting (и поднимала на нас взор, смеясь и болтая). Then she would forget again (потом опять забывалась; to forget – забывать). Yet in her hulked black forgetting she seemed very near to us (однако в своем неуклюжем мрачном забвении она казалась очень близка к нам; to hulk – /диал./ ходить, двигаться неуклюже; forgetting – забывание).

 She attended to me with a kind of sinister, witch-like graciousness, her dark head ducked between her shoulders, at once humble and powerful. She was happy as a child attending to her father-in-law and to me. But there was something ominous between her eyebrows, as if a dark moth were settled there – and something ominous in her bent, hulking bearing.

She sat on a low stool by the fire, near her father-in-law. Her head was dropped, she seemed in a state of abstraction. From time to time she would suddenly recover, and look up at us, laughing and chatting. Then she would forget again. Yet in her hulked black forgetting she seemed very near to us.

The door having been opened, the peacock came slowly in, prancing calmly (поскольку дверь была открыта, медленно вошел павлин, спокойно, с важным видом; to prance – становиться на дыбы; ходить с важным, надменным видом). He went near to her, and crouched down, coiling his blue neck (он подошел к ней и присел, свернув кольцом синюю шею; to coil – свертывать/ся/ кольцом). She glanced at him, but almost as if she did not observe him (она мельком взглянула на него, но так, словно почти не замечала его; to observe – наблюдать, следить; замечать). The bird sat silent, seeming to sleep (птица сидела молча, как будто спала), and the woman also sat huddled and silent, seeming oblivious (и женщина тоже сидела, съежившаяся и молчаливая, будто в забытьи; to huddle – сваливать в кучу; толпиться; тесниться; съеживаться; свертываться калачиком; oblivious – забывчивый; не замечающий; рассеянный). Then once more there was a heavy step, and Alfred entered (затем снова раздались тяжелые шаги и вошел Альфред; step – шаг; звук шагов; поступь). He looked at his wife, and he looked at the peacock crouching by her (он посмотрел на жену и на павлина, свернувшегося возле нее). He stood large in the doorway (он стоял в дверях, большой), his hands stuck in front of him, in his breeches pockets (засунув руки в карманы бриджей перед собой). Nobody spoke (никто не говорил). He turned on his heel and went out again (он резко повернулся: «повернулся на каблуке» и снова вышел).

I rose also to go (я поднялся, чтобы тоже уйти). Maggie started as if coming to herself (Мэгги вздрогнула, словно приходя в себя).

 The door having been opened, the peacock came slowly in, prancing calmly. He went near to her, and crouched down, coiling his blue neck. She glanced at him, but almost as if she did not observe him. The bird sat silent, seeming to sleep, and the woman also sat huddled and silent, seeming oblivious. Then once more there was a heavy step, and Alfred entered. He looked at his wife, and he looked at the peacock crouching by her. He stood large in the doorway, his hands stuck in front of him, in his breeches pockets. Nobody spoke. He turned on his heel and went out again.

I rose also to go. Maggie started as if coming to herself.

“Must you go?” she asked (вам надо идти? – спросила она), rising and coming near to me, standing in front of me (вставая и подходя ко мне, становясь передо мной), twisting her head sideways and looking up at me (наклоняя голову на бок и глядя на меня). “Can’t you stop a bit longer (вы не можете остаться немного дольше)? We can all be cosy today, there’s nothing to do outdoors (нам всем сегодня можно посидеть в тепле и уюте, на улице делать нечего; cosy – уютный, удобный; приятный).” And she laughed, showing her teeth oddly (и она засмеялась, странно обнажая зубы). She had a long chin (у нее был длинный подбородок).

I said I must go (я сказал, что должен идти). The peacock uncoiled and coiled again his long blue neck as he lay on the hearth (павлин вытянул и снова свернул кольцом длинную синюю шею, лежа на коврике у камина). Maggie still stood close in front of me (Мэгги по-прежнему стояла /совсем/ близко передо мной), so that I was acutely aware of my waistcoat buttons (так, что я остро чувствовал пуговицы моего жилета).

“Oh, well,” she said, “you’ll come again, won’t you (ну хорошо, – сказала она, – вы ведь придете снова, правда)? Do come again (приходите же).”

I promised (я обещал).

 “Must you go?” she asked, rising and coming near to me, standing in front of me, twisting her head sideways and looking up at me. “Can’t you stop a bit longer? We can all be cosy today, there’s nothing to do outdoors.” And she laughed, showing her teeth oddly. She had a long chin.

I said I must go. The peacock uncoiled and coiled again his long blue neck as he lay on the hearth. Maggie still stood close in front of me, so that I was acutely aware of my waistcoat buttons.

“Oh, well,” she said, “you’ll come again, won’t you? Do come again.”

I promised.

“Come to tea one day – yes, do (приходите на чай когда-нибудь: «в один день»… да, приходите)!”

I promised – one day (я обещал – когда-нибудь).

The moment I was out of her presence I ceased utterly to exist for her (в тот миг, как я ушел от нее: «вышел из ее присутствия», я перестал существовать для нее) – as utterly as I ceased to exist for Joey (так же полностью, как перестал существовать для Джоуи). With her curious abstractedness she forgot me again immediately (со своей удивительной рассеянностью она тотчас меня забыла). I knew it as I left her (я знал это, уходя от нее). Yet she seemed almost in physical contact with me while I was with her (и все же она казалась почти в физическом контакте со мной, пока я был с ней = и все же я ощущал ее почти физически, когда мы стояли рядом).