Jane herself had only been able to find a little coat of John’s (сама Джейн смогла найти маленькое пальто Джона), but she squeezed her arms into it (но она втиснула руки в него) and opened the door (и открыла дверь). There was nobody there (здесь никого не было), but they seemed to hear something (но им показалось, что они услышали что-то) hurrying away down the stairs (спешащее прочь вниз по ступенькам). Jane and Michael followed (Джейн и Майкл побежали следом; to follow — следовать). Whatever it was (что бы это ни было), or whoever it was (или кто бы это ни был), kept continually in front of them (оно держалось все время впереди них).
They never saw it (они никогда = вовсе не видели это), but they had the distinct sensation (но они имели ясное ощущение) of being led on and on by something (что их увлекали и увлекали чем-то: «быть ведомыми чем-то»; tolead — вести) that constantly beckoned them to follow (что постоянно манило их следовать за ним; tobeckon — манить, кивать; делать знак /рукой, пальцем/). Presently they were in the Lane (наконец они оказались на улице), their slippers making a soft hissing noise on the pavement (их тапочки производили мягкий шипящий/свистящий шум на тротуаре) as they scurried along (когда они бежали /по улице/; toscurry — бежать стремглав, нестись).
whoever [hu(:)'evq] sensation [sen'seI∫(q)n] scurried ['skArId]
Jane and Michael could never remember having been put to bed so quickly as they were that night. Mary Poppins blew out the light very early, and went away as hurriedly as though all the winds of the world were blowing behind her.
It seemed to them that they had been there no time, however, when they heard a low voice whispering at the door.
“Hurry, Jane and Michael!” said the voice. “Get some things on and hurry!”
They jumped out of their beds, surprised and startled.
“Come on,” said Jane. “Something’s happening.” And she began to rummage for some clothes in the darkness.
“Hurry!” called the voice again.
“Oh dear, all I can find is my sailor hat and a pair of gloves!” said Michael, running round the room pulling at drawers and feeling along shelves.
“Those’ll do. Put them on. It isn’t cold. Come on.”
Jane herself had only been able to find a little coat of John’s, but she squeezed her arms into it and opened the door. There was nobody there, but they seemed to hear something hurrying away down the stairs. Jane and Michael followed. Whatever it was, or whoever it was, kept continually in front of them.
They never saw it, but they had the distinct sensation of being led on and on by something that constantly beckoned them to follow. Presently they were in the Lane, their slippers making a soft hissing noise on the pavement as they scurried along.
“Hurry (скорей)!” urged the voice again from a nearby corner (подгонял голос снова из-за ближайшего угла), but when they turned it (но когда они повернули за него) they could still see nothing (они все еще ничего не могли видеть). They began to run (они начали бежать), hand in hand (держась за руки; «рука в руке»), following the voice down streets (следуя за голосом по улицам), through alleyways (через аллеи), under arches and across Parks (под арками и через парки) until (пока), panting and breathless (запыхавшиеся и тяжело дышащие), they were brought to a standstill (они «были приведены к остановке» = остановились) beside a large turnstile in a wall (рядом с большим турникетом в стене).
“Here you are (вот вы и здесь)!” said the voice (сказал голос).
“Where (где)?” called Michael to it (обратился Майкл к нему). But there was no reply (но ответа не было). Jane moved towards the turnstile (Джейн двинулась по направлению к турникету), dragging Michael by the hand (волоча Майкла за руку).
“Look (смотри)!” she said. “Don’t you see where we are (ты не видишь, где мы)? It’s the Zoo (это зоопарк)!”
A very bright full moon was shining in the sky (очень яркая полная луна светила в небе) and by its light Michael examined the iron grating (и в ее свете Майкл осмотрел железную решетку) and looked through the bars (и заглянул через прутья). Of course (конечно)! How silly of him not to have known (как глупо с его стороны не узнать) it was the Zoo (что это был зоопарк)!
“But how shall we get in (но как мы войдем)?” he said. “We’ve no money (у нас нет денег).”
“That’s all right (все в порядке)!” said a deep, gruff voice from within (произнес глубокий = низкий, грубый/хриплый голос изнутри; within — внутри). “Special Visitors allowed in free tonight (особенным посетителям позволено войти бесплатно сегодня; toallow — позволять). Push the wheel, please (толкните колесо, пожалуйста)!”
Jane and Michael pushed (Джейн и Майкл толкнули) and were through the turnstile in a second (и прошли: «были» через турникет через секунду).
“Here’s your ticket (вот ваш билет),” the gruff voice said (хриплый голос сказал), and, looking up (и, поглядев вверх), they found (они обнаружили; tofind) that it came from a huge Brown Bear (что он исходит от огромного бурого медведя) who was wearing a coat with brass buttons (который был одет в пальто с медными пуговицами) and a peaked cap on his head (и в кепке: «заостренной шляпе» на голове). In his paw were two pink tickets (в его лапах были два розовых билета) which he held out to the children (которые он протянул детям; toholdout — протягивать, предлагать; tohold — держать).
nearby ['nIqbaI] arch [Q:t∫] special ['spq∫(q)l]
“Hurry!” urged the voice again from a nearby corner, but when they turned it they could still see nothing. They began to run, hand in hand, following the voice down streets, through alleyways, under arches and across Parks until, panting and breathless, they were brought to a standstill beside a large turnstile in a wall.
“Here you are!” said the voice.
“Where?” called Michael to it. But there was no reply. Jane moved towards the turnstile, dragging Michael by the hand.
“Look!” she said. “Don’t you see where we are? It’s the Zoo!”
A very bright full moon was shining in the sky and by its light Michael examined the iron grating and looked through the bars. Of course! How silly of him not to have known it was the Zoo!
“But how shall we get in?” he said. “We’ve no money.”
“That’s all right!” said a deep, gruff voice from within. “Special Visitors allowed in free tonight. Push the wheel, please!”
Jane and Michael pushed and were through the turnstile in a second.
“Here’s your ticket,” the gruff voice said, and, looking up, they found that it came from a huge Brown Bear who was wearing a coat with brass buttons and a peaked cap on his head. In his paw were two pink tickets which he held out to the children.
“But we usually give tickets (но мы обычно даем билеты),” said Jane.
“Usual is as usual does (не все обычное бывает обычно: «обычным является то, что обычно делается /а может делаться и что-либо другое/»).Tonight you receive them (сегодня вечером вы получаете их),” said the Bear, smiling (сказал медведь, улыбаясь; tosmile).
Michael had been regarding him closely (Майкл изучал его близко/вплотную = внимательно).
“I remember you (я помню тебя),” he said to the Bear (он сказал медведю). “I once gave you a tin of golden syrup (я однажды дал тебе банку золотистого сиропа; tin — олово; жесть; жестянаяконсервнаябанка; жестянка = tin can).”
“You did (ты давал),” said the Bear. “And you forgot to take the lid off (и ты забыл снять крышку; to take off — снять). Do you know (знаешь ли ты), I was more than ten days working at that lid (что я больше чем десять дней работал над этой крышкой)? Be more careful in the future (будь более внимателен в будущем).”
“But why aren’t you in your cage (но почему ты не в клетке)? Are you always out at night (ты всегда выходишь наружу ночью)?” said Michael.
“No — only when the Birthday falls on a Full Moon (нет — только когда день рождения выпадает на полнолуние). But you must excuse me (но вы должны извинить меня). I must attend to the gate (я должен следить за воротами; toattend — уделять внимание; следить).” And the Bear turned away (и медведь развернулся) and began to spin the handle of the turnstile again (и начал вращать рукоятку турника снова).
Jane and Michael, holding their tickets (держа свои билеты), walked on into the Zoo grounds (прошли вперед на угодья зоопарка; ground — земля, грунт; grounds — сад, парк при доме; участок вокруг дома). In the light of the full moon every tree and flower and shrub was visible (в свете полной луны каждое дерево и цветок, и кустарник был виден: «был видимым»), and they could see the houses and cages quite clearly (и они видели дома и клетки довольно четко/ясно).
“There seems to be a lot going on (кажется, здесь много чего происходит),” observed Michael (отметил Майкл).
And indeed (и действительно), there was (происходило). Animals were running about on all the paths (животные бегали вокруг по всем тропинкам), sometimes accompanied by birds (иногда в сопровождении птиц: «сопровождаемые птицами») and sometimes alone (а иногда одни). Two wolves ran past the children (два волка пробежали мимо детей), talking eagerly to a very tall stork (говоря энергично с очень высокой цаплей) who was tiptoeing between them (которая шла на цыпочках между ними) with dainty, delicate movements (с изысканными, изящными движениями). Jane and Michael distinctly caught the words “Birthday” and “Full Moon” as they went by (Джейн и Майкл отчетливо поймали слова «День рождения» и «Полнолуние», когда они проходили мимо; to catch — ловить, поймать).
future ['fju:t∫q] excuse [Iks'kju:s] accompanied [q'kAmp(q)nId]
“But we usually give tickets,” said Jane.
“Usual is as usual does.Tonight you receive them,” said the Bear, smiling.