undue [`An`dju: ], judicially [dZu(:)`dIS(q)lI], appreciation [qprI: SI`qIS(q)n]

"On the contrary, he was a moral prig," Haythorne blurted out, with apparently undue warmth. "He was a little scholastic shrimp without a drop of red blood in his body."

"Did you know him?"

"Never laid eyes on him. I never knocked about in university circles."

"One side of the shield again," Messner said, with an air of weighing the matter judicially. "While he did not amount to much, it is true — that is, physically — I'd hardly say he was as bad as all that. He did take an active interest in student athletics. And he had some talent. He once wrote a Nativity play that brought him quite a bit of local appreciation. I have heard, also, that he was slated for the head of the English department, only the affair happened and he resigned and went away. It quite broke his career, or so it seemed. At any rate, on our side of the shield, it was considered a knock-out blow to him. It was thought he cared a great deal for his wife."

Haythorne, finishing his mug of coffee (Хейторн, заканчивая свою кружку кофе), grunted uninterestedly (пробурчал безразлично/равнодушно; to grunt — хрюкать; ворчать, мычать /о человеке/; издавать неопределенный звук) and lighted his pipe (и зажег = закурил свою трубку).

"It was fortunate (к счастью; fortunate — счастливый, удачный) they had no children (они не имели детей)," Messner continued (продолжил Месснер).

But Haythorne, with a glance at the stove (но Хейторн, с быстрым взглядом на печку = посмотрев на печку), pulled on his cap and mittens (натянул свои шапку и рукавицы).

"I'm going out to get some wood (я иду наружу = на улицу, чтобы добыть/достать немного дров)," he said (сказал он). "Then I can take off my moccasins (затем я могу снять мои мокасины) and be comfortable (устроиться поудобнее)."

The door slammed behind him (дверь захлопнулась за ним). For a long minute there was silence (надолго воцарились тишина: «на долгое мгновение там была тишина/молчание»). The man continued in the same position on the bed (мужчина продолжал /лежать/ в том же самом положении на постели/кровати = койке). The woman sat on the grub-box (женщина сидела на ящике для провизии), facing him (смотря в лицо ему).

"What are you going to do (что ты собираешься делать)?" she asked abruptly (спросила она резко/внезапно).

Messner looked at her with lazy indecision (Месснер посмотрел на нее с ленивой нерешительностью). "What do you think I ought to do (что ты думаешь, я должен делать)? Nothing scenic (ничего сценического/театрального), I hope (я надеюсь). You see (ты видишь) I am stiff and trail-sore (я окоченевший /от мороза/ и утомленный дорогой; sore — больной, воспаленный; мучительный), and this bunk is so restful (а эта койка такая успокаивающая = удобная)."

fortunate [`fO: tSnIt], indecision [IndI`sIZ(q)n], abruptly [q`brAptlI]

Haythorne, finishing his mug of coffee, grunted uninterestedly and lighted his pipe.

"It was fortunate they had no children," Messner continued.

But Haythorne, with a glance at the stove, pulled on his cap and mittens.

"I'm going out to get some wood," he said. "Then I can take off my moccasins and be comfortable."

The door slammed behind him. For a long minute there was silence. The man continued in the same position on the bed. The woman sat on the grub-box, facing him.

"What are you going to do?" she asked abruptly.

Messner looked at her with lazy indecision. "What do you think I ought to do? Nothing scenic, I hope. You see I am stiff and trail-sore, and this bunk is so restful."

She gnawed her lower lip (она прикусила свою нижнюю губу; to gnaw — грызть, глодать) and fumed dumbly (и кипела /от злости/ молча; dumbly — молча, безмолвно, молчаливо).

"But (но) — " she began vehemently (она начала страстно/неистово), then clenched her hands (затем стиснула свои руки; to clench — сжимать кулаки; стискивать зубы) and stopped (и остановилась).

"I hope (я надеюсь) you don't want me to kill Mr. — er — Haythorne (ты не хочешь, /чтобы/ я убил мистера — э-э — Хейторна)," he said gently (сказал он мягко/кротко), almost pleadingly (почти умоляюще). "It would be most distressing (это было бы весьма удручающе), and, I assure you (и, я уверяю тебя), really it is unnecessary (действительно, это не нужно/в этом нет необходимости)."

"But you must do something (но ты должен сделать что-нибудь)," she cried (вскричала она).

"On the contrary (напротив), it is quite conceivable (это вполне возможно; conceivable — возможный; мыслимый, постижимый; to conceive — полагать, размышлять; постигать; представлять себе) that I do not have to do anything (что я не должен делать ничего)."

"You would stay here (ты останешься здесь)?"

He nodded (он кивнул).

She glanced desperately around the cabin (она отчаянно мельком осмотрела хижину) and at the bed unrolled on the other bunk (и постель, развернутую на другой койке). "Night is coming on (ночь наступает). You can't stop here (ты не можешь останавливаться здесь). You can't (ты не можешь)! I tell you (я говорю тебе), you simply can't (ты просто не можешь)!"

"Of course I can (конечно могу). I might remind you (я мог /бы/ напомнить тебе) that I found this cabin first (что я нашел эту хижину первый) and that you are my guests (и что вы — мои гости)."

gnaw [nO: ], vehemently [`vI: ImqntlI], conceivable [kqn`sI: vqbl]

She gnawed her lower lip and fumed dumbly.

"But — " she began vehemently, then clenched her hands and stopped.

"I hope you don't want me to kill Mr. — er — Haythorne," he said gently, almost pleadingly. "It would be most distressing, and, I assure you, really it is unnecessary."

"But you must do something," she cried.

"On the contrary, it is quite conceivable that I do not have to do anything."

"You would stay here?"

He nodded.

She glanced desperately around the cabin and at the bed unrolled on the other bunk. "Night is coming on. You can't stop here. You can't! I tell you, you simply can't!"

"Of course I can. I might remind you that I found this cabin first and that you are my guests."

Again her eyes travelled around the room (снова ее глаза обежали комнату; to travel — путешествовать; переходить от предмета к предмету /о взгляде/), and the terror in them leaped up at sight of the other bunk (и ужас в них сильно вспыхнул при виде другой койки; to leap — прыгать; to leap up — сильно забиться /о сердце/).

"Then we'll have to go (тогда мы должны ехать)," she announced decisively (объявила она решительно).

"Impossible (невозможно). You have a dry, hacking cough (у тебя сухой, отрывистый кашель) — the sort Mr. — er — Haythorne so aptly described (такой, который мистер — э-э — Хейторн так хорошо описал; apt — подходящий; sort — род, сорт; образ). You've already slightly chilled your lungs (ты уже слегка простудила легкие). Besides (кроме того), he is a physician and knows (он врач и знает). He would never permit it (он никогда /не/ позволит/разрешит это)."

"Then what are you going to do (тогда что ты собираешься делать)?" she demanded again (она спросила снова), with a tense, quiet utterance (с натянутым/напряженным, тихим выражением; utterance — выражение в словах, произнесение; произношение, манера говорить; дикция; to utter — издавать звук; произносить) that boded an outbreak (которое предвещало вспышку /гнева/).