Her heart beat with delight. The prospect of spending a whole week with

Michael was enchanting. It was just like his good nature to come to the rescue

When he knew she was at a loose end. But she saw there was something he

Wanted to say, yet did not quite like to.

"What is it?"

He gave a little laugh of embarrassment.

"Well, dear, you know, my father's rather old-fashioned, and there are some

Things he can't be expected to understand. Of course I don't want you to tell a

Lie or anything like that, but I think it would seem rather funny to him if he

Knew your father was a vet. When I wrote and asked if I could bring you

down I said he was a doctor."

"Oh, that's all right."

Julia found the Colonel (Джулия обнаружила, что полковник) a much less

alarming person (гораздо менее пугающий человек; to alarm — поднять

тревогу, напугать) than she had expected (чем она ожидала). He was thin and

rather small (он был худой и довольно маленький), with a lined face (с

морщинистым лицом; lined — изборожденный морщинами, морщинистый)

and close-cropped white hair (и коротко стриженными седыми: «белыми»

110

волосами). His features had a worn distinction (черты его лица были как бы

размыты: «имели      стертые различия, характерные  черты»; worn —

изношенный, потертый, старый). He reminded you (он напоминал /вам/) of a

head on an old coin  (профиль: «голову» на старой монете) that had been in

circulation too long (которая слишком долго была в обращении). He was civil

(он был вежлив; civil — гражданский; вежливый, корректный), but reserved

(но сдержан; to reserve — откладывать, запасать, приберегать). He was

neither peppery (он не был ни вспыльчивым; pepper — перец) nor tyrannical (ни

тираничным) as Julia      (как Джулия), from her knowledge of the stage

(основываясь на ее знаниях пьес: «сцены»), expected a colonel to be (ожидала,

каким полковник должен быть). She could not imagine him        (она не могла

представить его) shouting out words of command (выкрикивающим команды)

in that courteous   (своим: «тем»  учтивым), rather cold voice       (достаточно

спокойным: «холодным» голосом). He had in point of fact retired (он, на самом

деле, вышел в отставку) with honorary rank  (в чине шефа полка: «почетном

звании»; honorary colonel — шеф полка в Англии) after an entirely

undistinguished career (после совершенно посредственной карьеры;

distinguished — известный, выдающийся; to distinguish — различать,

отличать), and for many years (и уже многие годы) had been content to work in

his garden (довольствовался работой в саду; content — довольный,

удовлетворенный) and play bridge at his club (и игрой в бридж в своем клубе). 

alarming [q'lQ:mIN] circulation ["sq:kjV'leIS(q)n] tyrannical [tI'rxnIk(q)l] 

courteous ['kq:tIqs] 

Julia found the Colonel a much less alarming person than she had expected.

He was thin and rather small, with a lined face and close-cropped white hair.

His features had a worn distinction. He reminded you of a head on an old coin

That had been in circulation too long. He was civil, but reserved. He was

Neither peppery nor tyrannical as Julia, from her knowledge of the stage,

111

Expected a colonel to be. She could not imagine him shouting out words of

Command in that courteous, rather cold voice. He had in point of fact retired

With honorary rank after an entirely undistinguished career, and for many