Tender is the night. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Учим английский, читая мировую классику

But to be included in Dick Diver’s world for a while was a remarkable experience: people believed he made special reservations about them, recognizing the proud uniqueness (единство) of their destinies (судьба), buried (зарывать) under the compromises of how many years. He won everyone quickly with an exquisite (утонченный) consideration (вежливость, предупредительность) and a politeness that moved so fast and intuitively that it could be examined only in its effect (результат, вежливость, уважение). Then, without caution (предосторожность), lest (чтобы не) the first bloom (цвет) of the relation (отношение) wither (увядать), he opened the gate to his amusing (восхитительный) world. So long as they subscribed (подписаться) to it completely (полностью), their happiness was his preoccupation (главная забота; доминанта), but at the first flicker (мерцание, колеблющийся свет) of doubt (сомнение) as to (относительно) its all-inclusiveness he evaporated (испаряться) before their eyes, leaving little communicable (коммуникабельный; коммуникативно компетентный) memory of what he had said or done.

At eight-thirty that evening he came out to meet his first guests, his coat carried rather ceremoniously, rather promisingly (многообещающе), in his hand, like a toreador’s cape (накидка, плащ с капюшоном). It was characteristic that after greeting Rosemary and her mother he waited for them to speak first, as if to allow them the reassurance (подбадривание; вновь обретённая уверенность) of their own voices in new surroundings (обстановка).

To resume (резюмировать, возобновлять) Rosemary’s point of view (точка зрения) it should be said that, under the spell (чары) of the climb (подъём) to Tarmes and the fresher (более свежий) air, she and her mother looked about appreciatively (благодарно). Just as the personal qualities of extraordinary people can make themselves plain (простой, обыкновенный, незамысловатый) in an unaccustomed (необычный, непривычный) change of expression (выражение лица), so the intensely calculated (рассчитанный) perfection of Villa Diana transpired (обнаруживаться, становиться известным) all at once through such minute (мельчайший) failures (неудача, провал) as the chance (случайный) apparition (появление) of a maid (горничная, служанка) in the background or the perversity (несговорчивость) of a cork (пробка). While the first guests arrived bringing with them the excitement of the night, the domestic (домашний) activity of the day receded (отступать, пятиться; удаляться) past them gently (мягко), symbolized by the Diver children and their governess (гувернантка) still at supper on the terrace.

«What a beautiful garden!» Mrs. Speers exclaimed.

«Nicole’s garden,» said Dick. «She won’t let it alone – she nags (придираться, пилить) it all the time, worries about its diseases (заболевание). Any day now I expect to have her come down with Powdery Mildew or Fly Speck, or Late Blight.» He pointed his forefinger (указательный палец) decisively (решительно) at Rosemary, saying with a lightness (лёгкость) seeming to conceal (скрывать) a paternal (отцовский) interest, «I’m going to save your reason – I’m going to give you a hat to wear on the beach.»

He turned them from the garden to the terrace, where he poured (наливать) a cocktail. Earl Brady arrived, discovering Rosemary with surprise. His manner was softer than at the studio, as if his differentness (отличие) had been put on at the gate (ворота), and Rosemary, comparing him instantly (немедленно, тотчас, незамедлительно) with Dick Diver, swung (поворачиваться) sharply (резко) toward the latter (второй, последний (из двух упомянутых). In comparison Earl Brady seemed faintly (слегка) gross (крупный; тучный), faintly ill-bred (плохо воспитанный); once more, though, she felt an electric response (ответное чувство; отклик, реакция) to his person.

He spoke familiarly (обычно, привычно) to the children who were getting up from their outdoor (на открытом воздухе) supper.

«Hello, Lanier, how about a song? Will you and Topsy sing me a song?»

«What shall we sing?» agreed the little boy, with the odd (странный) chanting (говорить нараспев) accent of American children brought up (воспитанный) in France.

«That song about „Mon Ami (мой друг) Pierrot.“»

Brother and sister stood side by side (рядом) without self-consciousness (чувство неловкости, смущения) and their voices soared (взлетать, взмывать, парить) sweet and shrill (пронзительный; резкий) upon the evening air.

«Au clair de la lune

Mon Ami Pierrot

Prête-moi ta plume

Pour écrire un mot

Ma chandelle est morte

Je n’ai plus de feu

Ouvre-moi ta porte

Pour l’amour de Dieu.»

The singing ceased (прекратиться) and the children, their faces aglow (взволнованный, возбуждённый) with the late sunshine, stood smiling calmly at their success. Rosemary was thinking that the Villa Diana was the centre of the world. On such a stage some memorable (памятный, запоминающийся) thing was sure (наверняка) to happen (должно было произойти). She lighted up higher as the gate tinkled (звенеть; звонить; звякать) open and the rest of the guests arrived in a body – the McKiscos, Mrs. Abrams, Mr. Dumphry, and Mr. Campion came up to the terrace.

Rosemary had a sharp feeling of disappointment (разочарование) – she looked quickly at Dick, as though (как будто) to ask an explanation of this incongruous (нелепый, неподходящий, неуместный) mingling (смешивание). But there was nothing unusual in his expression. He greeted his new guests with a proud bearing (осанка) and an obvious deference (уважение, почтение) to their infinite [«ɪnfɪnət], (бесконечный, беспредельный, безграничный) and unknown possibilities. She believed in him so much that presently (с необходимостью, неизбежностью) she accepted the rightness of the McKiscos’ presence as if she had expected to meet them all along.

«I’ve met you in Paris,» McKisco said to Abe North, who with his wife had arrived on their heels (по пятам, следом), «in fact I’ve met you twice.»

«Yes, I remember,» Abe said.

«Then where was it?» demanded McKisco, not content (довольный) to let well enough alone.

«Why, I think – » Abe got tired (устать) of the game, «I can’t remember.»

The interchange (взаимообмен, обмен) filled a pause and Rosemary’s instinct was that something tactful should be said by somebody, but Dick made no attempt to break up the grouping formed by these late arrivals, not even to disarm Mrs. McKisco of her air (налёт) of supercilious (высокомерный, надменный, презрительный) amusement (развлечения, увеселения, забава). He did not solve this social problem because he knew it was not of importance at the moment and would solve itself. He was saving his newness for a larger effort, waiting a more significant moment for his guests to be conscious (осознавать) of a good time.

Rosemary stood beside Tommy Barban – he was in a particularly scornful (презрительный, пренебрежительный; насмешливый) mood and there seemed to be some special stimulus working upon him. He was leaving in the morning.

«Going home?»

«Home? I have no home. I am going to a war.»

«What war?»

«What war? Any war. I haven’t seen a paper lately but I suppose there’s a war – there always is.»

«Don’t you care what you fight for?»

«Not at all – so long as I’m well treated. When I’m in a rut (колея; охота) I come to see the Divers, because then I know that in a few weeks I’ll want to go to war.»

Rosemary stiffened (становиться холодным, высокомерным).

«You like the Divers,» she reminded (напоминать) him.

«Of course – especially her – but they make me want to go to war.»

She considered this, to no avail (безуспешно). The Divers made her want to stay near them forever (навсегда).

«You’re half American,» she said, as if that should solve the problem.

«Also I’m half French, and I was educated in England and since I was eighteen I’ve worn (носить) the uniforms (форма) of eight countries. But I hope I did not give you the impression that I am not fond of the Divers – I am, especially of Nicole.»

«How could any one help (предотвратить) it?» she said simply.

She felt far from him. The undertone (подтекст; скрытый смысл) of his words repelled (претить; вызывать отвращение, неприязнь; отталкивать) her and she withdrew (отзывать; отводить) her adoration (обожание) for the Divers from the profanity (брань; сквернословие) of his bitterness (горечь). She was glad he was not next to her at dinner and she was still thinking of his words «especially her» as they moved toward the table in the garden.

For a moment now she was beside Dick Diver on the path. Alongside his hard, neat brightness everything faded into the surety that he knew everything. For a year, which was forever, she had had money and a certain celebrity and contact with the celebrated, and these latter had presented themselves merely as powerful enlargements of the people with whom the doctor’s widow (вдова) and her daughter had associated in a hôtel-pension in Paris. Rosemary was a romantic and her career had not provided many satisfactory opportunities on that score (на тот счет). Her mother, with the idea of a career for Rosemary, would not tolerate (терпеть, выносить) any such spurious (поддельный; подложный, фиктивный) substitutes (субститут, замена) as the excitations available (доступный) on all sides, and indeed Rosemary was already beyond that – she was In the movies but not at all At them. So when she had seen approval (одобрение) of Dick Diver in her mother’s face it meant that he was «the real thing»; it meant permission to go as far as she could (как можно дальше).

Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.

Текст предоставлен ООО «Литрес».

Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на Литрес.

Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.

Примечания

1

Verdurous – заросший, поросший зеленью; зелёный и свежий.