Чтение онлайн

блеск), the way it took the light (то, как свет играл на нем: «то, как оно

светилось»), attracted the attention of the audience (привлекло внимание

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публики). Avice's blue looked drab by comparison (голубое платье Эвис

выглядело грязно-серым по сравнению /с платьем Джулии/). When they

reached the important scene they were to have together (когда они дошли до

важной сцены, которую они играли вместе: «которая у них была вместе»)

Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat (Джулия извлекла,

как фокусник извлекает кролика из шляпы; to produce — предъявлять,

создавать, производить), a large handkerchief of scarlet chiffon (большой

/носовой/ платок из алого шифона) and with this she played (и с ним она

играла). She waved it (она помахивала им), she spread it out as though to look at

it (она расправляла его, как будто бы для того, чтобы взглянуть на него), she

screwed it up (она скручивала его), she wiped her brow with it (она

прикладывала его ко лбу: «вытирала свой лоб»; brow — бровь; лоб, чело), she

delicately blew her nose (она деликатно сморкалась; to blow (blew, blown) —

дуть, развевать, продувать, прочищать).

sparkling ['spQ:klIN] consternation ["kOnstq'neIS(q)n]

comparison [kqm'pxrIs(q)n] conjurer ['kAndZqrq]

This she had worn at the dress rehearsal. But she had ordered another dress at the

same time, of sparkling silver, and to the surprise of Michael and the consternation

of Avice it was in this that she made her entrance in the second act. Its brilliance,

the way it took the light, attracted the attention of the audience. Avice's blue

looked drab by comparison. When they reached the important scene they were to

have together Julia produced, as a conjurer produces a rabbit from his hat, a large

handkerchief of scarlet chiffon and with this she played. She waved it, she spread it

out as though to look at it, she screwed it up, she wiped her brow with it, she

delicately blew her nose.

The audience fascinated (плененная публика) could not take their eyes away from

the red rag (не могла отвести глаз от красного лоскута; rag — тряпка, отрез

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ткани). And she moved up stage so (и она ушла в глубину сцены; to move up —

пододвинуться, продвинуться) that Avice to speak to her (так, что Эвис, чтобы

говорить с ней) had to turn her back on the audience (была вынуждена

повернуться спиной к публике), and when they were sitting on a sofa together

(и, когда они сидели на диване вместе) she took her hand (она взяла ее за

руку), in an impulsive way that seemed to the public exquisitely natural (так

импульсивно, что показалось публике изысканно естественным), and sitting

well back herself (и, сама сидя откинувшись назад) forced Avice to turn her

profile to the house (вынудила Эвис повернуться профилем ко зрителям). Julia

had noticed early in rehearsals (Джулия заметила еще раньше, на репетициях)

that in profile Avice had a sheep-like look (что в профиль Эвис напоминает

овцу).

fascinate ['fxsIneIt] impulsive [Im'pAlsIv] exquisite [Ik'skwIzIt]

The audience fascinated could not take their eyes away from the red rag. And she

moved up stage so that Avice to speak to her had to turn her back on the audience,

and when they were sitting on a sofa together she took her hand, in an impulsive

way that seemed to the public exquisitely natural, and sitting well back herself

forced Avice to turn her profile to the house. Julia had noticed early in rehearsals

that in profile Avice had a sheep-like look.

The author had given Avice lines to say (автор дал /героине/ Эвис такие строки

/для произнесения/) that had so much amused the cast at the first rehearsal

(которые настолько сильно развеселили актерский состав на первых

репетициях) that they had all burst out laughing (что они все разражались

смехом). Before the audience had quite realized how funny they were (до того,

как публика вполне осознала, насколько забавны они были) Julia had cut in

with her reply (Джулия встряла со своим ответом; to cut in — вмешиваться в

разговор, прерывать, to cut — резать, разрезать), and the audience anxious to

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hear it suppressed their laughter (и публика, страстно желая услышать ее ответ,

подавила /свой/ смех). The scene which was devised to be extremely amusing

(сцена, рассчитанная быть крайне смешной; to devise — придумывать,

изобретать) took on a sardonic colour (приобрела сардонический оттенок:

«цвет»), and the character Avice played acquired a certain odiousness (и героиня,