Story of the Bandbox
(Повесть о шляпной картонке)

Up to the age of sixteen (вплоть до возраста шестнадцати /лет/), at a private school (в частной школе) and afterwards at one of those great institutions (и затем – в одном из тех великих заведений) for which England is justly famous (которыми Англия по справедливости знаменита), Mr. Harry Hartley had received the ordinary education of a gentleman (мистер Гарри Хартли получил обыкновенное воспитание джентльмена). At that period (за это время), he manifested a remarkable distaste for study (он обнаружил необычайное отвращение к учению); and his only surviving parent being both weak and ignorant (и /так как/ его единственный оставшийся родитель был и слаб, и невежествен), he was permitted thenceforward (ему было позволено впредь) to spend his time in the attainment of petty and purely elegant accomplishments (тратить свое время на приобретение незначительных и чисто светских достоинств). Two years later (два года спустя), he was left an orphan and almost a beggar (он остался сиротой и почти нищим: «был оставлен…»; to leave – оставлять, покидать).

 Up to the age of sixteen, at a private school and afterwards at one of those great institutions for which England is justly famous, Mr. Harry Hartley had received the ordinary education of a gentleman. At that period, he manifested a remarkable distaste for study; and his only surviving parent being both weak and ignorant, he was permitted thenceforward to spend his time in the attainment of petty and purely elegant accomplishments. Two years later, he was left an orphan and almost a beggar.

For all active and industrious pursuits (для всех деятельных и энергичных занятий), Harry was unfitted alike by nature and training (Гарри был неприспособлен равно по природе и образованию). He could sing romantic ditties (он умел петь романтические песенки), and accompany himself with discretion on the piano (и аккомпанировать себе с ловкостью на фортепиано); he was a graceful although a timid cavalier (он был грациозным, хоть и робким наездником); he had a pronounced taste for chess (у него был отчетливо выраженный вкус к шахматам); and nature had sent him into the world with one of the most engaging exteriors (и природа послала его в мир с одной из самых привлекательных наружностей; to send – послать) that can well be fancied (которую можно вообразить). Blond and pink (белокурый и розовый = розовощекий), with dove’s eyes (с глазами голубки = с невинным взором) and a gentle smile (и кроткой улыбкой), he had an air of agreeable tenderness and melancholy (он имел вид приятной нежности и задумчивости), and the most submissive and caressing manners (и крайне смирные и ласковые манеры). But when all is said (но когда все сказано = но при всем этом), he was not the man to lead armaments of war (он не был таким человеком, /который мог бы/ повести войска в бой), or direct the councils of a State (или управлять государством: «советами государства»).

 For all active and industrious pursuits, Harry was unfitted alike by nature and training. He could sing romantic ditties, and accompany himself with discretion on the piano; he was a graceful although a timid cavalier; he had a pronounced taste for chess; and nature had sent him into the world with one of the most engaging exteriors that can well be fancied. Blond and pink, with dove’s eyes and a gentle smile, he had an air of agreeable tenderness and melancholy, and the most submissive and caressing manners. But when all is said, he was not the man to lead armaments of war, or direct the councils of a State.

A fortunate chance and some influence (счастливый случай и некоторая протекция: «влияние») obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement (раздобыли для Гарри во время его лишений), the position of private secretary (место личного секретаря) to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B. (у генерал-майора сэра Томаса Венделера, кавалера Ордена Бани третьей степени). Sir Thomas was a man of sixty (сэр Томас был человек шестидесяти /лет/), loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering (громогласный, шумливый и властный). For some reason (по какой-то причине), some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied (/за/ какую-то услугу, суть которой часто называлась шепотом и постоянно опровергалась; to whisper – шептать), the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer (раджа Кашгара наградил этого офицера) with the sixth known diamond of the world (шестым /по величине/ известным алмазом в мире).

 A fortunate chance and some influence obtained for Harry, at the time of his bereavement, the position of private secretary to Major-General Sir Thomas Vandeleur, C. B. Sir Thomas was a man of sixty, loud-spoken, boisterous, and domineering. For some reason, some service the nature of which had been often whispered and repeatedly denied, the Rajah of Kashgar had presented this officer with the sixth known diamond of the world.

The gift transformed General Vandeleur from a poor into a wealthy man (этот подарок превратил генерала Венделера из бедного в богатого человека), from an obscure and unpopular soldier into one of the lions of London society (из никому не известного и непопулярного вояки – в одного из львов лондонского света); the possessor of the Rajah’s Diamond was welcome in the most exclusive circles (владелец Алмаза раджи был желанным /гостем/ в самых узких/высокопоставленных кругах); and he had found a lady (и он нашел женщину; to find – найти), young, beautiful, and well-born (молодую, красивую и из хорошей семьи: «хорошо-рожденную»), who was willing to call the diamond hers (которая пожелала назвать алмаз своим) even at the price of marriage with Sir Thomas Vandeleur (даже ценой брака с сэром Томасом Венделером). It was commonly said at the time (повсеместно говорилось в то время) that, as like draws to like, one jewel had attracted another (что, как подобное притягивается к подобному, одна драгоценность привлекла другую); certainly Lady Vandeleur was not only a gem of the finest water in her own person (несомненно, леди Венделер не только была самоцветом чистейшей воды сама по себе), but she showed herself to the world in a very costly setting (но она /также/ показывала себя миру в очень дорогой оправе); and she was considered by many respectable authorities (и она считалась многими уважаемыми знатоками), as one among the three or four best dressed women in England (одной из трех или четырех лучше всего одетых женщин в Англии).

 The gift transformed General Vandeleur from a poor into a wealthy man, from an obscure and unpopular soldier into one of the lions of London society; the possessor of the Rajah’s Diamond was welcome in the most exclusive circles; and he had found a lady, young, beautiful, and well-born, who was willing to call the diamond hers even at the price of marriage with Sir Thomas Vandeleur. It was commonly said at the time that, as like draws to like, one jewel had attracted another; certainly Lady Vandeleur was not only a gem of the finest water in her own person, but she showed herself to the world in a very costly setting; and she was considered by many respectable authorities, as one among the three or four best dressed women in England.

Harry’s duty as secretary was not particularly onerous (обязанности Гарри как секретаря были не особенно обременительны); but he had a dislike for all prolonged work (но он питал отвращение к любой продолжительной работе); it gave him pain to ink his fingers (пачкать чернилами свои пальцы причиняло ему /душевную/ боль: «давало»; to give – давать); and the charms of Lady Vandeleur and her toilettes (и очарование леди Венделер и ее туалетов) drew him often from the library to the boudoir (часто влекло его из библиотеки в будуар; to draw – тянуть). He had the prettiest ways among women (он имел приятнейшее обхождение среди женщин = умел с ними обходиться), could talk fashions with enjoyment (мог обсуждать моды с наслаждением), and was never more happy than when criticising a shade of ribbon (и никогда не был счастливее, чем когда критиковал оттенок ленты), or running on an errand to the milliner’s (или бежал с поручением к модистке). In short, Sir Thomas’s correspondence fell into pitiful arrears (коротко говоря, корреспонденция сэра Томаса оказалась запущена: «пала в прискорбную задолженность/отставание»; to fall – падать), and my Lady had another lady’s maid (а миледи приобрела новую горничную; to have – иметь).

 Harry’s duty as secretary was not particularly onerous; but he had a dislike for all prolonged work; it gave him pain to ink his fingers; and the charms of Lady Vandeleur and her toilettes drew him often from the library to the boudoir. He had the prettiest ways among women, could talk fashions with enjoyment, and was never more happy than when criticising a shade of ribbon, or running on an errand to the milliner’s. In short, Sir Thomas’s correspondence fell into pitiful arrears, and my Lady had another lady’s maid.

At last the General, who was one of the least patient of military commanders (наконец генерал, который был одним из наименее терпеливых военачальников), arose from his place in a violent access of passion (вскочил со своего места в жестоком приступе гнева; to arise – встать), and indicated to his secretary that he had no further need for his services (и указал своему секретарю, что у него нет дальнейшей нужды в его услугах), with one of those explanatory gestures (одним из тех объяснительных жестов) which are most rarely employed between gentlemen (которые крайне редко используются между джентльменами). The door being unfortunately open (/так как/ дверь была, к сожалению, открыта), Mr. Hartley fell downstairs head foremost (мистер Хартли скатился с лестницы головой вперед; to fall – падать).

 At last the General, who was one of the least patient of military commanders, arose from his place in a violent access of passion, and indicated to his secretary that he had no further need for his services, with one of those explanatory gestures which are most rarely employed between gentlemen. The door being unfortunately open, Mr. Hartley fell downstairs head foremost.

He arose somewhat hurt (он поднялся несколько ушибленный; to arise – встать; to hurt – вредить, поранить) and very deeply aggrieved (и очень глубоко обиженный). The life in the General’s house precisely suited him (жизнь в генеральском доме идеально: «точно» подходила ему); he moved, on a more or less doubtful footing, in very genteel company (он вращался, на более-менее шатком основании, в очень утонченном кругу), he did little (он делал мало; to do – делать), he ate of the best (он ел самое лучшее; to eat – есть), and he had a lukewarm satisfaction in the presence of Lady Vandeleur (и он испытывал теплое удовлетворение в присутствии леди Венделер), which, in his own heart, he dubbed by a more emphatic name (которое, в своем сердце, он называл более сильным словом: «именем»). Immediately after he had been outraged by the military foot (немедленно после того как он подвергся насилию солдатской ноги), he hurried to the boudoir and recounted his sorrows (он поспешил в будуар и поведал о своих горестях).

 He arose somewhat hurt and very deeply aggrieved. The life in the General’s house precisely suited him; he moved, on a more or less doubtful footing, in very genteel company, he did little, he ate of the best, and he had a lukewarm satisfaction in the presence of Lady Vandeleur, which, in his own heart, he dubbed by a more emphatic name. Immediately after he had been outraged by the military foot, he hurried to the boudoir and recounted his sorrows.

“You know very well, my dear Harry,” replied Lady Vandeleur (вы очень хорошо знаете, мой дорогой Гарри, – ответила леди Венделер), for she called him by name like a child or a domestic servant (ибо она звала его по имени, как ребенка или прислугу), “that you never by any chance do what the General tells you (что вы никогда ни при каких обстоятельствах не делаете, что вам говорит генерал). No more do I, you may say (как и я, скажете вы: «не более делаю я, вы можете сказать»). But that is different (но это другое /дело/). A woman can earn her pardon for a good year of disobedience (женщина может заслужить прощение за целый год неповиновения) by a single adroit submission (одним-единственным ловким подчинением); and, besides, no one is married to his private secretary (и вдобавок никто не женится на своем личном секретаре). I shall be sorry to lose you (мне будет жаль потерять вас); but since you cannot stay longer in a house where you have been insulted (но так как вы не можете оставаться дольше в доме, где вас оскорбили), I shall wish you good-bye (я пожелаю вам всего хорошего), and I promise you to make the General smart for his behaviour (и обещаю вам примерно наказать генерала за его поведение; smart – жгучая, сильная боль /от удара, раны и т. п./; горе, несчастье, печаль; страдание; to smart – испытывать жгучую боль; болеть; страдать, печалиться).”

 “You know very well, my dear Harry,” replied Lady Vandeleur, for she called him by name like a child or a domestic servant, “that you never by any chance do what the General tells you. No more do I, you may say. But that is different. A woman can earn her pardon for a good year of disobedience by a single adroit submission; and, besides, no one is married to his private secretary. I shall be sorry to lose you; but since you cannot stay longer in a house where you have been insulted, I shall wish you good-bye, and I promise you to make the General smart for his behaviour.”

Harry’s countenance fell (лицо у Гарри вытянулось: «упало»); tears came into his eyes (слезы выступили у него на глазах: «пришли в его глаза»; to come – прийти), and he gazed on Lady Vandeleur with a tender reproach (и он посмотрел на леди Венделер с мягким укором). “My Lady,” said he, “what is an insult (миледи, – сказал он, – что такое оскорбление)? I should think little indeed of any one (я был бы в самом деле невысокого мнения о любом: «думал бы мало») who could not forgive them by the score (кто не мог бы простить их все: «скопом, десятками»). But to leave one’s friends (но покинуть друзей); to tear up the bonds of affection (разорвать узы привязанности) – ” He was unable to continue (он был неспособен продолжать), for his emotion choked him (так как его чувства душили его), and he began to weep (и он принялся рыдать; to begin – начать). Lady Vandeleur looked at him with a curious expression (леди Венделер глядела на него с выражением любопытства /на лице/).