Tender is the night. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Учим английский, читая мировую классику

«So Mr. and Mrs. Neverquiver have arrived.»

«They’re this man’s friends,» Nicole reminded her, indicating (указывать на) Abe. «Why doesn’t he go and speak to them? Don’t you think they’re attractive (привлекательный)?»

«I think they’re very attractive,» Abe agreed. «I just don’t think they’re attractive, that’s all.»

«Well, I HAVE felt there were too many people on the beach this summer,» Nicole admitted. «OUR beach that Dick made out of a pebble (галька, булыжник, гравий) pile (куча, груда).» She considered (взвешивать, обдумывать), and then lowering (понижать) her voice out of the range of (вне предела досягаемости) the trio of nannies (няня) who sat back (позади) under another umbrella. «Still, they’re preferable (предпочтительнее) to those British last summer who kept shouting about (которые всё время кричали): „Isn’t the sea blue (Разве море не голубое)? Isn’t the sky white (Разве небо не белое)? Isn’t little Nellie’s nose red (Разве нос у маленькой Нелли не розовый)?“»

Rosemary thought she would not like to have Nicole for an enemy (в качестве врага).

«But you didn’t see the fight,» Nicole continued. «The day before you came, the married man, the one with the name that sounds like a substitute (заменитель, субститут) for gasoline (газолин, бензин) or butter – »

«McKisco?»

«Yes – well they were having words and she tossed (бросить) some sand (песок) in his face. So naturally he sat on top of her and rubbed (начищать, втирать) her face in the sand. We were – electrified (наэлектризованный, на грани). I wanted Dick to interfere (Я хотел, чтобы Дик вмешался).»

«I think,» said Dick Diver, staring down abstractedly (рассеянно, отвлеченно) at the straw mat (соломенный матрас), «that I’ll go over and invite them to dinner.»

«No, you won’t,» Nicole told him quickly.

«I think it would be a very good thing. They’re here – let’s adjust

(приспосабливать, регулировать) ourselves.»

«We’re very well adjusted,» she insisted, laughing. «I’m not going to have MY nose rubbed in the sand. I’m a mean (неподдающийся, трудный), hard (жёсткий, негибкий) woman,» she explained to Rosemary, and then raising her voice, «Children, put on your bathing suits!»

Rosemary felt that this swim would become the typical one of her life, the one that would always pop up (неожиданно возникать) in her memory at the mention of swimming. Simultaneously (одновременно) the whole party moved toward the water, super-ready (готовый, предвкушающий ужин) from the long, forced (вынужденный) inaction (бездействие), passing from the heat to the cool with the gourmandize (гурманство) of a tingling (покалывающий, пощипывающий) curry (карри) eaten with chilled (охлажденный) white wine. The Divers’ day was spaced (расписывать, распределять) like the day of the older civilizations to yield (давать плоды, получить) the utmost (всё, что модно) from the materials at hand (под рукой, подручный), and to give all the transitions (переходный период) their full value (цена), and she did not know that there would be another transition presently (в скором времени) from the utter (полный, абсолютный; крайний) absorption (погружённость; поглощённость, сосредоточенность) of the swim (плавание) to the garrulity (словоохотливость, болтливость) of the Provençal lunch hour (обеденный час). But again she had the sense that Dick was taking care of her, and she delighted (радоваться) in responding to (отвечать) the eventual (конечный, возможный) movement as if (как если бы) it had been an order (приказ, распоряжение).

Nicole handed (протянуть, вручить) her husband the curious (любопытный) garment (предмет одежды, одеяние) on which she had been working. He went into the dressing tent and inspired (вызывать) a commotion (суматоха, шум, нервное потрясение) by appearing (появиться) in a moment clad (облаченный) in transparent (прозрачный) black lace (кружевной) drawers (панталоны, рейтузы, кальсоны). Close inspection (тщательный осмотр) revealed (обнаружить, показать) that actually (самом) they were lined (оторочить) with flesh-colored (свежевыкрашенный) cloth (ткань).

«Well, if that isn’t a pansys trick!» exclaimed Mr. McKisco contemptuously (презрительно) – then turning quickly to Mr. Dumphry and Mr. Campion, he added, «Oh, I beg your pardon.»

Rosemary bubbled (журчать, булькать) with delight (восторг) at the trunks (купальные трусы, плавки). Her naïveté responded whole-heartedly to the expensive (дорогой, дорогостоящий) simplicity of the Divers, unaware (не знающий, не ведающий) of its complexity and its lack (отсутствие, недостаток) of innocence (невинность), unaware that it was all a selection (выбор) of quality (качество) rather than (а не) quantity (количество) from the run (функционирование, работа, ход, режим) of the world’s bazaar; and that the simplicity of behavior also, the nursery-like peace and good will (добрая воля), the emphasis (эмфаза, акцент, ударение) on the simpler virtues (добродетель), was part of a desperate (отчаянный) bargain (сделка) with the gods and had been attained (достигать) through struggles she could not have guessed (догадываться) at. At that moment the Divers represented (представлять) externally (внешне, явно) the exact furthermost (отдалённый) evolution of a class, so that most (большая часть, большинство) people seemed awkward (неуклюжий, неудобный) beside them – in reality a qualitative (качественный) change had already set (установиться, организоваться) in that was not at all apparent (явный, очевидный) to Rosemary.

She stood with them as they took sherry (херес, шерри) and ate crackers. Dick Diver looked at her with cold blue eyes; his kind, strong mouth said thoughtfully and deliberately (нарочно, намеренно, умышленно):

«You’re the only girl I’ve seen for a long time that actually did look like something blooming (цветущий).»

In her mother’s lap (колени) afterward Rosemary cried and cried.

«I love him, Mother. I’m desperately in love with him – I never knew I could feel that way about anybody. And he’s married and I like her too – it’s just hopeless (безнадёжный). Oh, I love him so!»

«I’m curious (мне интересно) to meet him.»

«She invited us to dinner Friday.»

«If you’re in love it ought to make you happy. You ought to (надо, следует) laugh.»

Rosemary looked up and gave a beautiful little shiver (дрожь, трепет) of her face and laughed. Her mother always had a great influence on her.

V

Rosemary went to Monte Carlo nearly as sulkily (надуто, угрюмо, мрачно) as it was possible for her to be. She rode up the rugged (труднопроходимый) hill to La Turbie, to an old Gaumont lot in process of reconstruction, and as she stood by the grilled (огражденный решёткой; с решётчатым ограждением) entrance (вход) waiting for an answer to the message on her card, she might have been looking into Hollywood. The bizarre (странный) débris (осколки, обломки; обрезки; лом) of some recent picture, a decayed (распавшийся; разрушенный) street scene in India, a great cardboard whale (кит), a monstrous tree bearing cherries large as basketballs, bloomed there by exotic dispensation (Божий промысел), autochthonous (автохтонный, местный, коренной) as the pale amaranth (амарант, щирица), mimosa, cork oak (пробковый дуб) or dwarfed (карликовый) pine. There were a quick-lunch shack (будка) and two barnlike (амбар; сарай; подсобное помещение) stages (подмостки, помост; платформа; сцена) and everywhere about the lot (масса, уйма), groups of waiting, hopeful (полный надежды), painted (раскрашенный) faces.

After ten minutes a young man with hair the color of canary (канарейка) feathers (перо) hurried (поспешить) down to the gate (ворота, калитка).

«Come in, Miss Hoyt. Mr. Brady’s on the set (съёмочная площадка), but he’s very anxious to see you (очень хочет увидеться с вами). I’m sorry you were kept waiting, but you know some of these French dames (дамочка) are worse about pushing themselves in – »

The studio manager opened a small door in the blank wall of stage building and with sudden glad familiarity Rosemary followed him into half darkness. Here and there figures spotted the twilight, turning up ashen (пепельно-бледный) faces to her like souls in purgatory (чистилище) watching the passage of a mortal (мертвый) through. There were whispers and soft voices and, apparently from afar, the gentle tremolo (дрожь) of a small organ. Turning the corner made by some flats, they came upon the white crackling (треск; потрескивание) glow (отсвет) of a stage, where a French actor – his shirt front, collar, and cuffs tinted (тонированный) a brilliant pink (розовый) – and an American actress stood motionless (неподвижный) face to face (лицом к лицу). They stared (уставиться) at each other with dogged (упрямый, упорный, настойчивый) eyes, as though (как будто) they had been in the same position for hours (часами); and still for a long time nothing happened, no one moved. A bank (ряд устройств; блок) of lights went off with a savage (дикий) hiss (шипение), went on again; the plaintive (заунывный) tap (стук) of a hammer begged (просить, умолять) admission (пропуск) to nowhere in the distance; a blue face appeared among the blinding (слепящий) lights above, called something unintelligible (не разборчивое) into the upper blackness. Then the silence was broken by a voice in front of Rosemary.

«Baby, you don’t take off the stockings, you can spoil ten more pairs. That dress is fifteen pounds.»

Stepping backward (отступая назад) the speaker ran against Rosemary, whereupon (на что) the studio manager said, «Hey, Earl – Miss Hoyt.»

They were meeting for the first time. Brady was quick and strenuous (напряженный). As he took her hand she saw him look her over from head to foot, a gesture she recognized and that made her feel at home (комфортно), but gave her always a faint (слабый) feeling of superiority (превосходство) to whoever made it. If her person was property (собственнность) she could exercise (осуществлять) whatever advantage was inherent (присущий, неотъемлемый) in its ownership.

«I thought you’d be along any day now,» Brady said, in a voice that was just a little too compelling (неотразимый, мощный, напористый) for private life, and that trailed (тянуть, тащить, волочить) with it a faintly (слегка) defiant (вызывающий; дерзкий, непокорный) cockney (кокни) accent (акцент). «Have a good trip?»

«Yes, but we’re glad to be going home.»

«No-o-o!» he protested. «Stay awhile (недолго) – I want to talk to you. Let me tell you that was some picture of yours – that „Daddy’s Girl.“ I saw it in Paris. I wired the coast right away to see if you were signed (отмечать, подписывать).»

«I just had – I’m sorry.»

«God, what a picture!»

Not wanting to smile in silly (глупый) agreement Rosemary frowned (нахмуриться).

«Nobody wants to be thought of forever (навсегда, навечно) for just one picture,» she said.

«Sure – that’s right. What’re your plans?»

«Mother thought I needed a rest. When I get back we’ll probably either sign up with First National or keep on with Famous.»

«Who’s we?»

«My mother. She decides business matters. I couldn’t do without her (обходиться без неё).»

Again he looked her over completely, and, as he did, something in Rosemary went out to him. It was not liking, not at all the spontaneous (спонтанный, самопроизвольный) admiration she had felt for the man on the beach this morning. It was a click. He desired her and, so far as her virginal (девственный; невинный, непорочный) emotions went, she contemplated (созерцать) a surrender (сдача; капитуляция, уступка) with equanimity (невозмутимость, спокойствие). Yet she knew she would forget him half an hour after she left him – like an actor kissed in a picture.

«Where are you staying?» Brady asked. «Oh, yes, at Gausse’s. Well, my plans are made for this year, too, but that letter I wrote you still stands (в силе). Rather make a picture with you than any girl since Connie Talmadge was a kid (ребёнок).»

«I feel the same way (также). Why don’t you come back to Hollywood?»

«I can’t stand the damn (чёртов, проклятый, треклятый) place. I’m fine here. Wait till after this shot (кадр, съёмка) and I’ll show you around (показать достопримечательность).»

Walking onto the set he began to talk to the French actor in a low (тихий), quiet voice.

Five minutes passed – Brady talked on, while from time to time the Frenchman shifted (передвигать) his feet and nodded (кивать). Abruptly (вдруг, внезапно, неожиданно), Brady broke off, calling something to the lights that startled them into a humming (гудящий, жужжащий) glare (ослепительный свет). Los Angeles was loud (вульгарный, развязный) about Rosemary now. Unappalled (не потрясенный, не пораженный) she moved once more through the city of thin partitions (перегородка, переборка), wanting to be back there. But she did not want to see Brady in the mood (настроение) she sensed (как она чувствовала) he would be in after he had finished and she left the lot with a spell (чары) still upon her. The Mediterranean (средиземноморской) world was less silent now that she knew the studio was there. She liked the people on the streets and bought herself a pair of espadrilles (эспадрильи; сандалии на верёвочной подошве) on the way to the train.

Her mother was pleased that she had done so accurately (точно) what she was told (было велено) to do, but she still wanted to launch her out and away (удалить её отсюда). Mrs. Speers was fresh in appearance but she was tired; death beds (смертный одр) make people tired (утомлять, вызывать усталость) indeed and she had watched beside (поблизости) a couple (пара).

VI

Feeling good from the rosy wine (вино) at lunch, Nicole Diver folded (сложить, склалывать) her arms high enough for the artificial (искусственный) camellia (камелия) on her shoulder to touch (касаться) her cheek (щека), and went out into her lovely (милый, прелестный) grassless garden. The garden was bounded (отграничить) on one side by the house, from which it flowed (брать начало, струиться) and into which it ran, on two sides by the old village, and on the last by the cliff (утёс) falling (ниспадать) by ledges (выступ, край) to the sea.

Along the walls on the village side all was dusty (в пыли), the wriggling (извиваться; изгибаться) vines (виноградная лоза), the lemon and eucalyptus (эвкалипт) trees, the casual (обычный) wheel-barrow (тачка; ручная тележка), left only a moment since, but already grown into (врастать) the path (тропа, дорожка), atrophied (чахлый) and faintly (слегка) rotten (прогнивший). Nicole was invariably (постоянно) somewhat (немного, слегка) surprised that by turning in (сворачивать) the other direction past a bed of peonies (пеон) she walked into an area (участок) so green and cool (прохладный) that the leaves and petals (лепесток) were curled (скручиваться, свёртываться) with tender (мягкий, лёгкий) damp (сырость, влажность).

Knotted (завязанный, стянутый узлом) at her throat she wore a lilac (сиреневый; лиловый) scarf that even in the achromatic (ахроматический, бесцветный) sunshine cast (отбрасывать) its color up to her face and down around her moving feet in a lilac (сиреневый; лиловый) shadow. Her face was hard (твёрдый), almost stern (суровый), save for (кроме) the soft gleam (отблеск) of piteous (жалобный, достойный сожаления) doubt (сомнение) that looked from her green eyes. Her once (однажды) fair (белокурый, светлый) hair had darkened (потемнеть), but she was lovelier (прелестнее) now at twenty-four than she had been at eighteen, when her hair was brighter (ярче, светлее) than she.

Following a walk marked (отмечать, характеризовать) by an intangible (неосязаемый, неуловимый; непостижимый) mist (туман) of bloom (цвет, цветение) that followed the white border (обрамлять, окаймлять) stones she came to a space overlooking (выходить на) the sea where there were lanterns (фонарь) asleep in the fig trees and a big table and wicker (сплетённый из ивовых прутьев) chairs and a great market umbrella from Sienna, all gathered about an enormous pine, the biggest tree in the garden (при этом самое большое дерево было в саду). She paused (остановиться) there a moment, looking absently (отсутствующе) at a growth of nasturtiums (настурция) and iris tangled (запутываться) at its foot (корень, подножие), as though (как будто) sprung spring from (всходить, выпрыгнуть) a careless (беззаботный) handful (пригоршня) of seeds (семена), listening to the plaints (жалоба, плач, стенание) and accusations (обвинение) of some nursery (детская, детские ясли; детский сад) squabble (пререкания, спор, мелкая ссора) in the house. When this died away (затихать, замирать) on the summer air, she walked on (идти дальше), between kaleidoscopic (калейдоскопический) peonies (пеон) massed (собираться в кучу, скапливаться) in pink (розовый) clouds, black and brown tulips (тюльпан) and fragile (хрупкий) mauve-stemmed (с розовато-лиловым стеблем) roses, transparent like sugar flowers in a confectioner’s (кондитерский магазин) window – until, as if the scherzo [’skeətsəu] (скерцо) of color could reach no further intensity (густота, интенсивность), it broke off (прерваться) suddenly in mid-air, and moist (влажный) steps (шаг, след (ноги), отпечаток) went down to a level five feet below.

Here there was a well (скважина, колодец) with the boarding (обшивка досками; доски) around it dank (влажный; сырой; мокрый) and slippery (скольский) even on the brightest days. She went up the stairs on the other side and into the vegetable garden; she walked rather quickly; she liked to be active, though at times (временами) she gave an impression (производить впечатление) of repose (отдых, покой, тишина) that was at once static and evocative (восстанавливающий в памяти, вызывающий воспоминания). This was because she knew few words and believed in none, and in the world she was rather silent, contributing just her share of urbane (вежливый; с изысканными манерами) humor with a precision (точность) that approached (приближаться) meagerness (скудность). But at the moment when strangers (незнакомец) tended to (иметь склонность) grow uncomfortable (чувствовать себя неловко) in the presence of (в присутствии) this economy she would seize (схватить, ухватиться, завладеть) the topic and rush off (нестись) with it, feverishly (лихорадочно) surprised with herself – then bring it back and relinquish (бросать, оставлять, отказываться) it abruptly (резко), almost timidly (стыдливо), like an obedient (покорный) retriever (охотничья (поисковая) собака), having been adequate and something more.

As she stood in the fuzzy [’fʌzɪ] (неясный, туманный, смазанный) green light of the vegetable garden, Dick crossed the path ahead of (впереди неё) her going to his work house. Nicole waited silently till he had passed (пройти мимо); then she went on through (через, сквозь) lines of prospective (будущий) salads to a little menagerie (зверинец) where pigeons and rabbits and a parrot made a medley (мешанина, «попурри») of insolent (дерзкий, наглый, нахальный) noises at her. Descending to another ledge (выступ, уступ; край) she reached a low, curved (изогнутый, кривой) wall and looked down seven hundred feet to the Mediterranean Sea.

She stood in the ancient (древний, античный) hill (холм) village of Tarmes. The villa and its grounds were made out of a row (ряд) of peasant (крестьянский) dwellings (жилище) that abutted (примыкать к, граничить с, упираться во (что-л.) on the cliff (утёс) – five small houses had been combined (соединять) to make the house and four destroyed (разрушать) to make the garden. The exterior (внешний) walls were untouched (нетронутый) so that (так что) from the road far below (далеко внизу) it was indistinguishable (неразличимый) from the violet (фиолетоый) gray mass of the town.

For a moment Nicole stood looking down at the Mediterranean but there was nothing to do with that, even with her tireless hands. Presently (вскоре) Dick came out of his one-room house carrying a telescope and looked east toward Cannes. In a moment Nicole swam into his field of vision (обзор, видение), whereupon he disappeared into his house and came out with a megaphone. He had many light mechanical devices.

«Nicole,» he shouted, «I forgot to tell you that as a final apostolic [апостолический; папский, святейший] gesture I invited Mrs. Abrams, the woman with the white hair.»

«I suspected (подозревать) it. It’s an outrage (грубое нарушение (закона, прав, приличий); произвол).»

The ease (лёгкость) with which her reply reached him seemed to belittle (недооценивать, принижать) his megaphone, so she raised her voice and called, «Can you hear me?»

«Yes.» He lowered the megaphone and then raised it stubbornly (упрямо). «I’m going to invite some more people too. I’m going to invite the two young men.»

«All right,» she agreed placidly (миролюбиво).

«I want to give a really BAD party. I mean it. I want to give a party where there’s a brawl (шумная ссора, перебранка, скандал; драка) and seductions (совращение, обольщение) and people going home with their feelings hurt (ранить) and women passed out (терять сознание, отключаться) in the cabinet de toilette. You wait and see.»

He went back into his house and Nicole saw that one of his most characteristic moods was upon him, the excitement that swept everyone up into it and was inevitably (неизбежно) followed by his own form of melancholy (меланхолия), which he never displayed (показывать) but at which she guessed (догадываться). This excitement (волнение, возбуждение) about things reached an intensity (напряжение) out of proportion (пропорция, отношение) to their importance, generating (вызывать, достигать) a really extraordinary virtuosity (виртуозность) with people. Save (за исключением, кроме, если бы не) among a few of the tough-minded (практичный, трезвый) and perennially (всегда, вечно; неизменно, постоянно) suspicious (подозрительный), he had the power of arousing (вызывать) a fascinated (очарованный; загипнотизированный) and uncritical love. The reaction came when he realized the waste and extravagance involved (вовлечённый, участвующий). He sometimes looked back with awe (страх, трепет, благоговение) at the carnivals (фестиваль; праздник) of affection любовь, привязанность) he had given, as a general might gaze (пристально глядеть; вглядываться; уставиться) upon a massacre (резня; бойня, избиение) he had ordered to satisfy an impersonal blood lust (вожделение).

But to be included in Dick Diver’s world for a while was a remarkable experience: people believed he made special reservations about them, recognizing the proud uniqueness (единство) of their destinies (судьба), buried (зарывать) under the compromises of how many years. He won everyone quickly with an exquisite (утонченный) consideration (вежливость, предупредительность) and a politeness that moved so fast and intuitively that it could be examined only in its effect (результат, вежливость, уважение). Then, without caution (предосторожность), lest (чтобы не) the first bloom (цвет) of the relation (отношение) wither (увядать), he opened the gate to his amusing (восхитительный) world. So long as they subscribed (подписаться) to it completely (полностью), their happiness was his preoccupation (главная забота; доминанта), but at the first flicker (мерцание, колеблющийся свет) of doubt (сомнение) as to (относительно) its all-inclusiveness he evaporated (испаряться) before their eyes, leaving little communicable (коммуникабельный; коммуникативно компетентный) memory of what he had said or done.

At eight-thirty that evening he came out to meet his first guests, his coat carried rather ceremoniously, rather promisingly (многообещающе), in his hand, like a toreador’s cape (накидка, плащ с капюшоном). It was characteristic that after greeting Rosemary and her mother he waited for them to speak first, as if to allow them the reassurance (подбадривание; вновь обретённая уверенность) of their own voices in new surroundings (обстановка).

To resume (резюмировать, возобновлять) Rosemary’s point of view (точка зрения) it should be said that, under the spell (чары) of the climb (подъём) to Tarmes and the fresher (более свежий) air, she and her mother looked about appreciatively (благодарно). Just as the personal qualities of extraordinary people can make themselves plain (простой, обыкновенный, незамысловатый) in an unaccustomed (необычный, непривычный) change of expression (выражение лица), so the intensely calculated (рассчитанный) perfection of Villa Diana transpired (обнаруживаться, становиться известным) all at once through such minute (мельчайший) failures (неудача, провал) as the chance (случайный) apparition (появление) of a maid (горничная, служанка) in the background or the perversity (несговорчивость) of a cork (пробка). While the first guests arrived bringing with them the excitement of the night, the domestic (домашний) activity of the day receded (отступать, пятиться; удаляться) past them gently (мягко), symbolized by the Diver children and their governess (гувернантка) still at supper on the terrace.

«What a beautiful garden!» Mrs. Speers exclaimed.

«Nicole’s garden,» said Dick. «She won’t let it alone – she nags (придираться, пилить) it all the time, worries about its diseases (заболевание). Any day now I expect to have her come down with Powdery Mildew or Fly Speck, or Late Blight.» He pointed his forefinger (указательный палец) decisively (решительно) at Rosemary, saying with a lightness (лёгкость) seeming to conceal (скрывать) a paternal (отцовский) interest, «I’m going to save your reason – I’m going to give you a hat to wear on the beach.»

He turned them from the garden to the terrace, where he poured (наливать) a cocktail. Earl Brady arrived, discovering Rosemary with surprise. His manner was softer than at the studio, as if his differentness (отличие) had been put on at the gate (ворота), and Rosemary, comparing him instantly (немедленно, тотчас, незамедлительно) with Dick Diver, swung (поворачиваться) sharply (резко) toward the latter (второй, последний (из двух упомянутых). In comparison Earl Brady seemed faintly (слегка) gross (крупный; тучный), faintly ill-bred (плохо воспитанный); once more, though, she felt an electric response (ответное чувство; отклик, реакция) to his person.