principal ['prɪnsɪpl], addicted [ə'dɪktɪd], opium ['əʋpɪəm], laudanum ['lɔ:dnəm], wreck [rek]
Isa Whitney, brother of the late Elias Whitney, D.D., Principal of the Theological College of St. George's, was much addicted to opium. The habit grew upon him, as I understand, from some foolish freak when he was at college; for having read De Quincey's description of his dreams and sensations, he had drenched his tobacco with laudanum in an attempt to produce the same effects. He found, as so many more have done, that the practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many years he continued to be a slave to the drug, an object of mingled horror and pity to his friends and relatives. I can see him now, with yellow, pasty face, drooping lids, and pin-point pupils, all huddled in a chair, the wreck and ruin of a noble man.
One night (однажды вечером) – it was in June '89 – there came a ring to my bell (пришел = раздался звонок в мой колокольчик), about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the clock (около того часа = примерно в то время, когда человек дает свой первый зевок = когда начинаешь уже зевать и посматриваешь на часы). I sat up in my chair (я выпрямился в кресле), and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap (и моя жена положила свое шитье на колени; needlework: needle – игла, work – работа) and made a little face of disappointment (и сделала небольшое выражение разочарованного лица = недовольно поморщилась).
“A patient (пациент)!” said she. “You'll have to go out (тебе придется выйти /к нему/).”
I groaned (я вздохнул), for I was newly come back from a weary day (так как я недавно вернулся после целого дня утомительной работы: «из утомительного дня»).
yawn [jɔ:n], needlework ['ni:dlwɜ:k], disappointment [,dɪsə'pɔɪntmənt], groan [ɡrəʋn], newly ['nju:lɪ], weary ['wɪərɪ]
One night – it was in June '89 – there came a ring to my bell, about the hour when a man gives his first yawn and glances at the clock. I sat up in my chair, and my wife laid her needlework down in her lap and made a little face of disappointment.
“A patient!” said she. “You'll have to go out.”
I groaned, for I was newly come back from a weary day.
We heard the door open (мы услышали, как открылась дверь), a few hurried words (несколько торопливых слов), and then quick steps upon the linoleum (и затем быстрые шаги по линолеуму). Our own door flew open (наша /собственная/ дверь распахнулась; to fly open – распахнуться), and a lady, clad in some dark-colored stuff (и дама, одетая в темное платье; to clothe – одевать; stuff – материал, ткань), with a black veil (с черной вуалью /на лице/), entered the room (вошла в комнату).
“You will excuse my calling so late (вы извините мое посещение так поздно = что я так поздно пришла),” she began (начала она), and then, suddenly losing her self-control (и затем, внезапно теряя = потеряв самообладание), she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck (она кинулась вперед, обняла мою жену: «бросила свои руки вокруг шеи моей жены»), and sobbed upon her shoulder (и зарыдала на ее плече). “Oh, I'm in such trouble (о, я в такой беде)!” she cried (воскликнула она); “I do so want a little help (мне так нужна помощь; to do перед основным глаголом используется для усиления).”
linoleum [lɪ'nəʋljəm], stuff [stʌf], veil [veɪl],excuse /гл./ [ɪk'skju:z], forward ['fɔ:wəd], trouble ['trʌbl]
We heard the door open, a few hurried words, and then quick steps upon the linoleum. Our own door flew open, and a lady, clad in some dark-colored stuff, with a black veil, entered the room.
“You will excuse my calling so late,” she began, and then, suddenly losing her self-control, she ran forward, threw her arms about my wife's neck, and sobbed upon her shoulder. “Oh, I'm in such trouble!” she cried; “I do so want a little help.”
“Why (как),” said my wife, pulling up her veil (поднимая ее вуаль), “it is Kate Whitney (это /же/ Кейт Уитни). How you startled me, Kate (как ты напугала меня, Кейт)! I had not an idea who you were when you came in (я не имела идеи, кем ты была, когда вошла = мне в голову не пришло, что это ты).”
“I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you (я не знала, что делать, поэтому я пошла прямо к тебе).” That was always the way (это был всегда путь = это было обычным явлением). Folk who were in grief (люди, которые были в печали = в беде) came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse (устремлялись к моей жене, как птицы к маяку).
“It was very sweet of you to come (это было очень приятно зайти с твоей стороны = ты правильно сделала, что пришла). Now, you must have some wine and water (теперь ты должна выпить немного вина и воды), and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it (садись здесь поудобнее и расскажи нам все об этом). Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed (или ты, может быть, хочешь, чтобы я отправила Джеймса спать)?”
straight [streɪt], grief [ɡri:f], wife [waɪf], lighthouse ['laɪthaʋs], wine [waɪn], water ['wɔ:tə], comfortably ['kʌmfətəblɪ]
“Why,” said my wife, pulling up her veil, “it is Kate Whitney. How you startled me, Kate! I had not an idea who you were when you came in.”
“I didn't know what to do, so l came straight to you.” That was always the way. Folk who were in grief came to my wife like birds to a lighthouse.
“It was very sweet of you to come. Now, you must have some wine and water, and sit here comfortably and tell us all about it. Or should you rather that I sent James off to bed?”
“Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too (я хочу совета и помощи /от/ доктора также). It's about Isa (это об Айзе = дело касается Айзы). He has not been home for two days (его не было дома два дня). I am so frightened about him (я так боюсь за него)!”
It was not the first time (это не было первым временем = не в первый раз) that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble (/когда/ она говорила с нами о горе: «беде» своего мужа; to speak – говорить, высказываться), to me as a doctor (со мной как с доктором), to my wife as an old friend and school companion (с моей женой – как со старой подругой и школьной приятельницей). We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find (мы утешали и успокаивали ее как могли: «такими словами, какие мы могли найти»; to soothe – успокаивать, смягчать; to comfort – утешать). Did she know where her husband was (знала ли она, где находится ее муж)? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her (было ли это возможно, что мы можем привести его обратно к ней = нельзя ли привести его обратно домой)?
advice [əd'vaɪs], frightened ['fraɪtnd], husband ['hʌzbənd], companion [kəm'pænɪən], soothed [su:ðd], comforted ['kʌmfətɪd]
“Oh, no, no! I want the doctor's advice and help, too. It's about Isa. He has not been home for two days. I am so frightened about him!”
It was not the first time that she had spoken to us of her husband's trouble, to me as a doctor, to my wife as an old friend and school companion. We soothed and comforted her by such words as we could find. Did she know where her husband was? Was it possible that we could bring him back to her?
