But she did not know it. She knew only that no man had ever affected (воздействовать) her before as this one had, who shocked her from moment to moment with his awful (ужасный) grammar.
«Yes, I ain’t no invalid,» he said. «When it comes down to hard-pan, I can digest (переварить) scrap-iron (железо, металлические обрезки). But just now I’ve got dyspepsia (диспепсия, расстройство пищеварения).
Most of what you was sayin’ I can’t digest. Never trained that way, you see. I like books and poetry, and what time I’ve had I’ve read ’em, but I’ve never thought about ’em the way you have.
That’s why I can’t talk about ’em. I’m like a navigator (мореплаватель, штурман, навигатор) adrift (плывущий по течению) on a strange (незнакомый, неизвестный) sea without chart (карта) or compass. Now I want to get my bearin’s (ориентироваться). Mebbe you can put me right (поправить меня). How did you learn all this you’ve ben talkin’?»
«By going to school (благодаря школе), I fancy (я думаю), and by studying,» she answered.
«I went to school when I was a kid (ребёнок),» he began to object (возражать).
«Yes; but I mean high school (высшее образование), and lectures, and the university.» «You’ve gone to the university?» he demanded in frank amazement (искренне изумление).
He felt that she had become remoter (удалиться, отдаляться) from him by at least (по крайней мере) a million miles. «I’m going there now. I’m taking special courses in English.»
He did not know what «English» meant, but he made a mental note (заметка в уме) of that item (вопрос) of ignorance (невежество) and passed on.
«How long would I have to study before I could go to the university?» he asked.
She beamed (излучать, испускать лучи; светить, сиять) encouragement (одобрение) upon his desire for knowledge, and said:
«That depends upon (зависеть от) how much studying you have already done. You have never attended (посещать, ходить) high school? Of course not. But did you finish grammar school?»
«I had two years to run, when I left (уходить),» he answered. «But I was always honorably (благородно, с уважением) promoted (продвигать) at school.»
The next moment, angry with himself for the boast (похвальба), he had gripped (схватить) the arms of the chair so savagely (дико) that every finger-end (кончик пальца) was stinging (жечь). At the same moment he became aware (узнать) that a woman was entering the room. He saw the girl leave her chair and trip swiftly (быстро) across the floor to the newcomer (новоприбывший, приезжий). They kissed each other, and, with arms around each other’s waists (талия), they advanced (приближаться) toward him. That must be her mother, he thought. She was a tall, blond woman, slender (стройный), and stately (полный достоинства), and beautiful. Her gown (платье, одежда) was what he might expect (тем, что он мог ожидать) in such a house. His eyes delighted (выражать восторг) in the graceful (изящный) lines of it. She and her dress together reminded him of women on the stage (на сцене). Then he remembered seeing similar (подобный, похожий) grand (величавый) ladies and gowns entering the London theatres while he stood and watched and the policemen shoved him back (отталкивать; отпихивать его) into the drizzle (моросящий дождь) beyond the awning (навес; тент).
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.