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Harry made but one bolt of it into the house, driving the maid before him; and the door was slammed in his pursuer’s countenance.
“Is there a bar? Will it lock?” asked Harry, while a salvo on the knocker made the house echo from wall to wall.
“Why, what is wrong with you?” asked the maid. “Is it this old gentleman?”
“If he gets hold of me,” whispered Harry, “I am as good as dead. He has been pursuing me all day, carries a sword-stick, and is an Indian military officer.”
“These are fine ma
“It is the General, my master,” answered Harry. “He is after this bandbox.”
“Did not I tell you?” cried the maid in triumph. “I told you I thought worse than nothing of your Lady Vandeleur; and if you had an eye in your head you might see what she is for yourself. An ungrateful minx, I will be bound for that!”
The General renewed his attack upon the knocker (генерал возобновил свою атаку на дверной молоток), and his passion growing with delay (и, так как его ярость росла вместе с промедлением), began to kick and beat upon the panels of the door (начал пинать и колотить дверные панели).
“It is lucky,” observed the girl, “that I am alone in the house (удачно, – заметила девушка, – что я одна в доме); your General may hammer until he is weary (ваш генерал может стучать, пока не устанет), and there is none to open for him (и некому открыть ему; none – никого). Follow me (следуйте за мной)!”
So saying she led Harry into the kitchen (сказав так, она провела Гарри на кухню; to lead – вести), where she made him sit down (где она усадила его: «заставила/пригласила сесть»), and stood by him herself in an affectionate attitude (и стала рядом с ним в нежной позе; to stand – стоять), with a hand upon his shoulder (с рукой у него на плече). The din at the door, so far from abating (грохот у двери, далекий от утихания), continued to increase in volume (продолжал возрастать в громкости), and at each blow the unhappy secretary was shaken to the heart (и при каждом ударе несчастный секретарь содрогался до глубины души: «до сердца»; to shake – трясти).
The General renewed his attack upon the knocker, and his passion growing with delay, began to kick and beat upon the panels of the door.
“It is lucky,” observed the girl, “that I am alone in the house; your General may hammer until he is weary, and there is none to open for him. Follow me!”
So saying she led Harry into the kitchen, where she made him sit down, and stood by him herself in an affectionate attitude, with a hand upon his shoulder. The din at the door, so far from abating, continued to increase in volume, and at each blow the unhappy secretary was shaken to the heart.
“What is your name?” asked the girl (как ваше имя? – спросила девушка).
“Harry Hartley,” he replied (Гарри Хартли, – ответил он).
“Mine,” she went on, “is Prudence (а мое, – продолжила она, – Пруденс). Do you like it (вам оно нравится)?”
“Very much,” said Harry (очень, – сказал Гарри[2]). “But hear for a moment how the General beats upon the door (но послушайте секунду, как генерал колотит по двери). He will certainly break it in (он ее точно выломает), and then, in heaven’s name (и тогда, во имя неба = Господа), what have I to look for but death (чего мне ждать: «искать», кроме смерти)?”
“You put yourself very much about with no occasion,” answered Prudence (вы очень волнуетесь без причины, – ответила Пруденс; to put oneself about – волноваться; occasion – случай, основание). “Let your General knock (пусть ваш генерал стучит), he will do no more than blister his hands (он лишь волдырей себе наставит: «он не сделает больше, чем насадить себе волдырей»). Do you think I would keep you here (вы думаете, я стала бы держать вас здесь) if I were not sure to save you (если бы не хотела непременно спасти вас)? Oh, no, I am a good friend to those that please me (о нет, я хороший друг тем, кто мне нравится)! and we have a back door upon another lane (и у нас есть задняя дверь = черный ход, /выходящий/ на другой переулок). But,” she added, checking him (но, – добавила она, придерживая его), for he had got upon his feet immediately on this welcome news (так как он вскочил на ноги немедленно при этой благоприятной новости), “but I will not show where it is (но я не покажу, где она) unless you kiss me (если вы меня не поцелуете). Will you, Harry (поцелуете, Гарри)?”
“That I will,” he cried, remembering his gallantry (с радостью, – воскликнул он, вспомнив свою галантность), “not for your back door (и не за вашу заднюю дверь), but because you are good and pretty (но потому что вы добрая и хорошенькая).”
And he administered two or three cordial salutes (и он несколько раз нежно поцеловал ее: «произвел… поцелуи»), which were returned to him in kind (которые были ему возвращены таким же образом = она тоже его поцеловала).
“What is your name?” asked the girl.
“Harry Hartley,” he replied.
“Mine,” she went on, “is Prudence. Do you like it?”
“Very much,” said Harry. “But hear for a moment how the General beats upon the door. He will certainly break it in, and then, in heaven’s name, what have I to look for but death?”
“You put yourself very much about with no occasion,” answered Prudence. “Let your General knock, he will do no more than blister his hands. Do you think I would keep you here if I were not sure to save you? Oh, no, I am a good friend to those that please me! and we have a back door upon another lane. But,” she added, checking him, for he had got upon his feet immediately on this welcome news, “but I will not show where it is unless you kiss me. Will you, Harry?”
“That I will,” he cried, remembering his gallantry, “not for your back door, but because you are good and pretty.”
And he administered two or three cordial salutes, which were returned to him in kind.
Then Prudence led him to the back gate (затем Пруденс отвела его к черному выходу), and put her hand upon the key (и положила руку на ключ = и взялась за ключ).
“Will you come and see me?” she asked (вы придете повидать меня? – спросила она).
“I will indeed,” said Harry (непременно приду, – сказал Гарри). “Do not I owe you my life (разве я не обязан вам жизнью)?”
“And now,” she added, opening the door (а теперь, – прибавила она, открывая дверь), “run as hard as you can (бегите со всех ног: «так усердно, как можете»), for I shall let in the General (так как я впущу генерала).”
Harry scarcely required this advice (Гарри едва ли нуждался в таком совете); fear had him by the forelock (страх держал его за чуб = его подгонял страх); and he addressed himself diligently to flight (и он пустился прилежно в бегство). A few steps (/еще/ несколько шагов), and he believed he would escape from his trials (и он полагал, что избавится от своих испытаний), and return to Lady Vandeleur in honour and safety (и вернется к леди Венделер с почестями и в безопасности).
2
Имя Пруденс означает «благоразумие», «осмотрительность».