Fruit. It was a meal designed to satisfy legitimate hunger, but not to produce

Fat. The cook, warned by Margery that there was a guest to luncheon had

Hurriedly made some fried potatoes. They looked crisp and smelt appetizing.

Only the young man took them. Julia gave them a wistful look before she

Shook her head in refusal. Michael stared at them gravely for a moment as

Though he could not quite tell what they were, and then with a little start,

Breaking out of a brown study, said No thank you. 

They sat at a refectory table (они сидели за длинным обеденным столом;

refectory — трапезная в монастыре), Julia and Michael at either end (Джулия и

Майкл с противоположных концов: «на каждом конце») in very grand Italian

chairs (в величественных итальянских креслах), and the young man in the

middle (а молодой человек /сидел/ посередине) on a chair that was not at all

comfortable (в кресле, которое вовсе не было удобным), but perfectly in

character (но идеально: «совершенно» подходило /по стилю/). Julia noticed

(Джулия заметила) that he seemed to be looking at the sideboard   (что он,

казалось, посматривал на буфет) and with her engaging smile (и со своей

обворожительной улыбкой), leaned forward (наклонилась вперед).

"What is it (что такое)?"

He blushed scarlet (он зарделся; to blush — заливаться краской смущения,

стыда, краснеть).

"I was wondering (я думал) if I might have a piece of bread (могу ли я получить

кусок хлеба)."

"Of course (конечно)."

She gave the butler a significant glance (она многозначительно посмотрела на

дворецкого; significant — знаменательный, важный); he was at that moment

20

helping Michael to a glass of dry white wine (в тот момент он наполнял бокал

Майкла белым сухим вином; to help —   помогать, оказывать помощь,

обслуживать за столом), and he left the room (и он вышел из комнаты).

character ['kxrIktq] scarlet ['skQ:lIt] bread [bred] 

They sat at a refectory table, Julia and Michael at either end in very grand

Italian chairs, and the young man in the middle on a chair that was not at all

Comfortable, but perfectly in character. Julia noticed that he seemed to be

Looking at the sideboard and with her engaging smile, leaned forward.

"What is it?"

He blushed scarlet.

"I was wondering if I might have a piece of bread."

"Of course."

She gave the butler a significant glance; he was at that moment helping