Tender is the night. F. Scott Fitzgerald. Учим английский, читая мировую классику. Елизавета Хундаева
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.
He spoke familiarly (обычно, привычно) to the children who were getting up from their outdoor (на открытом воздухе) supper.
«Hello, Lanier, how about a song? Will you and Topsy sing me a song?»
«What shall we sing?» agreed the little boy, with the odd (странный) chanting (говорить нараспев) accent of American children brought up (воспитанный)