“Why do you bother to do that (зачем ты обременяешь себя делать это)?” said Barbara, in her soft, amused voice (своим мягким, веселым голосом; to amuse — развлекать; позабавить, развеселить) that seemed always to be full of laughter (который казался всегда полным смеха). “There’s nobody to see you (здесь нет никого, кто бы тебя видел).”
rebuke [rI'bju:k] furbelow ['fq:bOlqu] mouth [mauT]
The Starling swooped down, plucked it out of her hand and flew back to the windowsill. He began nibbling it greedily.
“Thank you!” said Mary Poppins, meaningly, but the Starling was too busy eating to notice the rebuke.
“I said ‘Thank you!’ ” said Mary Poppins a little louder.
The Starling looked up.
“Eh — what? Oh, get along, girl, get along. I’ve no time for such frills and furbelows.” And he gobbled up all but the last crumbs of his biscuit.
The room was very quiet.
John, drowsing in the sunlight, put the toes of his right foot into his mouth and ran them along the place where his teeth were just beginning to come through.
“Why do you bother to do that?” said Barbara, in her soft, amused voice that seemed always to be full of laughter. “There’s nobody to see you.”
“I know (я знаю),” said John, playing a tune on his toes (играя мелодию на своих пальцах ног). “But I like to keep in practice (но надо тренироваться: «мне нравится продолжать в практике»). It does so amuse the Grown-ups (это действительно так веселит взрослых). Did you notice (ты заметила) that Aunt Flossie nearly went mad with delight (что тетя Флосси чуть с ума ни сошлаот восторга; togomad — сойти с ума; mad — безумный) when I did it yesterday (когда я сделал это вчера)? ‘The Darling (дорогой), the Clever (умница), the Marvel (чудо), the Creature (создание)!’ — didn’t you hear her say all that (слышала ли ты, чтобы она говорила все это)?” And John threw his foot from him (и Джон выбросил ножки вперед: «от себя»; tothrow — бросать) and roared with laughter (и расхохотался; «заревел смехом»; toroar — реветь, орать; рычать) as he thought of Aunt Flossie (как только подумал о тете Флосси).
“She liked my trick, too (ей понравился мой фокус тоже),” said Barbara complacently (сказала Барбара самодовольно). “I took off both my socks (я сняла оба свои носочка) and she said I was so sweet (что я такая сладкая = милая) she would like to eat me (что она хотела бы съесть меня). Isn’t it funny (не смешно ли) — when I say I’d like to eat something (когда я говорю, что хотела бы съесть чего-нибудь) I really mean it (я действительно имею это в виду). Biscuits and Rusks (печенья и сухарики) and the knobs on beds and so on (и крошки на постели, и так далее). But Grown-ups never mean what they say (но взрослые никогда не имеют в виду то, что они говорят), it seems to me (кажется мне). She couldn’t have really wanted to eat me (она не могла действительно хотеть съесть меня), could she (не правда ли)?”
“No (нет). It’s only the idiotic way they have of talking (это только дурацкий способ разговора, который у них есть)” said John. “I don’t believe I’ll ever understand Grown-ups (я не верю, что когда-либо буду понимать взрослых). They all seem so stupid (они все кажутся такими глупыми). And even Jane and Michael are stupid sometimes (и даже Джейн и Майкл глупые иногда).”
“Um (угу),” agreed Barbara (согласилась Барбара), thoughtfully pulling off her socks (задумчивая стягивая свои носки).
complacently [kqm'pleIsntlI] wanted ['wOntId] understand [ֽAndq'stænd]
“I know,” said John, playing a tune on his toes. “But I like to keep in practice. It does so amuse the Grown-ups. Did you notice that Aunt Flossie nearly went mad with delight when I did it yesterday? ‘The Darling, the Clever, the Marvel, the Creature!’ — didn’t you hear her say all that?” And John threw his foot from him and roared with laughter as he thought of Aunt Flossie.
“She liked my trick, too,” said Barbara complacently. “I took off both my socks and she said I was so sweet she would like to eat me. Isn’t it funny — when I say I’d like to eat something I really mean it. Biscuits and Rusks and the knobs of beds and so on. But Grown-ups never mean what they say, it seems to me. She couldn’t have really wanted to eat me, could she?”
“No. It’s only the idiotic way they have of talking,” said John. “I don’t believe I’ll ever understand Grown-ups. They all seem so stupid. And even Jane and Michael are stupid sometimes.”
“Um,” agreed Barbara, thoughtfully pulling off her socks.
“For instance (например),” John went on (Джон продолжал: to go on — продолжать), “they don’t understand a single thing we say (они не понимают ни одной вещи, которую мы говорим; single — один; единственный). But, worse than that (но хуже, чем это), they don’t understand what other things say (то, что они не понимают, что другие вещи говорят). Why (да), only last Monday I heard Jane remark (только в прошлый понедельник я слышала, как Джейн упомянула) that she wished she knew what language the Wind spoke (что она хотела бы знать, на каком языке говорил = говорит ветер).”
“I know (я знаю),” said Barbara. “It’s astonishing (это удивительно; toastonish — удивлять). And Michael always insists (и Майкл всегда настаивает) — haven’t you heard him (ты не слышала его)? — that the Starling says (что скворец говорит) ‘Wee-Twe — ee — ee!’ He seems not to know (он, кажется, не знает) that the Starling says nothing of the kind (что скворец не говорит ничего подобного), but speaks exactly the same language as we do (но разговаривает точно на таком языке, как мы). Of course (конечно), one doesn’t expect Mother and Father to know about it (нельзя ожидать, что Мама и Папа знают об этом) — they don’t know anything (онинезнают ничего), though they are such darlings (хотя они являются такими очаровательными/прелестными) — but you’d think Jane and Michael would (но ты подумала бы = можно было бы предположить, что Майкл и Джейн могли бы) — ”
“They did once (они могли когда-то),” said Mary Poppins, folding up one of Jane’s nightgowns (складывая одну из ночных рубашек Джейн; to fold up — свертывать, завертывать).
“What (что)?” said John and Barbara together in very surprised voices (сказали Джон и Барбара вместе очень удивленными голосами; to surprise — изумлять, поражать, удивлять). “Really (действительно)? You mean they understood the Starling and the Wind and (вы подразумеваете, что они понимали скворца и ветер и) —”
“And what the trees say (и что деревья говорят) and the language of the sunlight (и язык солнечного света) and the stars (и звезд) — of course they did (конечно они понимали)! Once (когда-то),” said Mary Poppins.
“But — how is it that they’ve forgotten it all (но — как получилось, что они забыли это все)?” said John, wrinkling up his forehead (морща лоб; wrinkle — морщина; складка; to wrinkle — морщить) and trying to understand (и пытаясь понять).
“Aha (ага)!” said the Starling knowingly (произнес скворец понимающе), looking up from the remains of his biscuit (взглянув из-за остатков своего печенья). “Wouldn’t you like to know (не хотите ли вы знать)?”
“Because they’ve grown older (потому что они стали старше),” explained Mary Poppins (объяснила Мэри Поппинс). “Barbara, put on your socks at once, please (Барбара, надень свои носки немедленно, пожалуйста).”
“That’s a silly reason (это глупая причина),” said John, looking sternly at her (посмотрев строго на нее).
“It’s the true one, then (она — правдивая причина, тогда),” Mary Poppins said, tying Barbara’s socks firmly round her ankles (завязывая носки Барбары крепко вокруг ее лодыжек).
exactly [Ig'zæktlI] forehead ['fOrId] sternly ['stq:nlI]
“For instance,” John went on, “they don’t understand a single thing we say. But, worse than that, they don’t understand what other things say. Why, only last Monday I heard Jane remark that she wished she knew what language the Wind spoke.”
“I know,” said Barbara. “It’s astonishing. And Michael always insists — haven’t you heard him? — that the Starling says ‘Wee-Twe — ee — ee!’ He seems not to know that the Starling says nothing of the kind, but speaks exactly the same language as we do. Of course, one doesn’t expect Mother and Father to know about it — they don’t know anything, though they are such darlings — but you’d think Jane and Michael would — ”
“They did once,” said Mary Poppins, folding up one of Jane’s nightgowns.
“What?” said John and Barbara together in very surprised voices. “Really? You mean they understood the Starling and the Wind and — ”
“And what the trees say and the language of the sunlight and the stars — of course they did! Once,” said Mary Poppins.
“But — how is it that they’ve forgotten it all?” said John, wrinkling up his forehead and trying to understand.
“Aha!” said the Starling knowingly, looking up from the remains of his biscuit. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Because they’ve grown older,” explained Mary Poppins. “Barbara, put on your socks at once, please.”
“That’s a silly reason,” said John, looking sternly at her.
“It’s the true one, then,” Mary Poppins said, tying Barbara’s socks firmly round her ankles.
Well (что ж), it’s Jane and Michael who are silly (это Джейн и Майкл, которые глупые),” John continued (Джон продолжил). “I know (я знаю) I shan’t forget (я не забуду) when I get older (когда я стану старше).”
“Nor I (я тоже),” said Barbara, contentedly sucking her finger (довольно посасывая свой палец; to content — удовлетворять).
“Yes, you will (да, вы забудете),” said Mary Poppins firmly (сказала Мэри Поппинс твердо; firmly — крепко, твердо).
The Twins sat up and looked at her (близнецы сели и взглянули на нее).
“Huh (ха)!” said the Starling contemptuously (произнес скворец презрительно;