«Why, I haven’t heard that he was dead.» She looked at him curiously. «Where did you make his acquaintance?»
«I never clapped eyes on him (Я этого парня и в глаза никогда не видела).» – was the reply. «But I read some of his poetry out of that book there on the table just before you come in. How do you like his poetry?»
And there at she began to talk quickly and easily upon the subject he had suggested. He felt better, and settled back slightly from the edge of the chair (слегка поддался назад от краешка стула), holding tightly to its arms with his hands (крепко вцепившись руками за его подлокотники), as if it might get away from him (как будто он мог улизнуть от него) and buck (взбрыкнув, уронить) him to the floor. He had succeeded (удаваться) in making her talk, and while she rattled on (пока она безостановочно болтать), he strove (стараться, пытаться) to follow her, marvelling at (удивляться) all the knowledge that was stowed (укладывать, складывать) away in that pretty head of hers, and drinking in the pale (бледный) beauty of her face. Follow her he did (он на самом деле внимательно следил за тем, что она говорила), though bothered (беспокоить, озадачивать) by unfamiliar (незнакомый) words that fell glibly (бойко) from her lips and by critical phrases and thought-processes (мыслительный процесс) that were foreign (чуждый) to his mind (ум), but that nevertheless (тем не менее) stimulated (стимулировать) his mind and set it tingling (нервировать; возбуждать). Here was intellectual life, he thought, and here was beauty, warm and wonderful as he had never dreamed it could be (о чём он и помыслить не мог в своих мечтах). He forgot himself and stared at (пытливо всматриваться) her with hungry eyes. Here was something to live for (здесь было нечто, ради чего стоило жить), to win to, to fight for – ay, and die for. The books were true (В книгах была правда). There were such women in the world. She was one of them.
She lent (давать, придавать) wings to his imagination, and great, luminous (светящийся) canvases (полотно) spread themselves (разворачиваться; расстилаться) before him whereon loomed (неясно вырисовываться) vague (неясный, туманный), gigantic figures of love and romance, and of heroic deeds (подвиг) for woman’s sake (ради) – for a pale (бледный) woman, a flower of gold. And through the swaying (покачивающийся), palpitant (трепещущий) vision (видение, образ), as through (как будто) a fairy (волшебный) mirage, he stared at the real woman, sitting there and talking of literature and art. He listened as well, but he stared, unconscious of (не осознавая) the fixity (сосредоточенность) of his gaze (пристальный взгляд) or of the fact that all that was essentially (по существу) masculine (маскулинный, мужской) in his nature was shining (блестеть, сверкать) in his eyes. But she, who knew little of the world of men, being a woman, was keenly (остро) aware of his burning (горящий) eyes. She had never had men look at her in such fashion, and it embarrassed (озадачивать, сбивать с толку) her. She stumbled (сбиваться) and halted (приостанавливаться) in her utterance (речь, высказывание). The thread (нить) of argument slipped (ускользать) from her. He frightened (пугать) her, and at the same time it was strangely pleasant to be so looked upon (было непривычно приятно, когда на неё так смотрели). Her training (воспитание) warned her of peril (опасность) and of wrong, subtle (тонкий), mysterious (таинственный), luring (манящий, приманивающий); while her instincts rang clarion-voiced (чистый голос) through her being (существо), impelling (побуждать, принуждать, стимулировать) her to hurdle (превозмочь, преодолеть) caste and place and gain to (осуществить свой замысел относительно) this traveller from another world, to this uncouth (грубый, неотёсанный) young fellow with lacerated (разодранный) hands and a line of raw red caused by the unaccustomed (непривычный) linen (бельё, одежда) at his throat (горло), who, all too evidently, was soiled (пачкаться, грязниться) and tainted (окрашивать) by ungracious (грубый) existence. She was clean, and her cleanness revolted (бунтовать); but she was woman, and she was just beginning to learn the paradox of woman.
«As I was saying – what was I saying?» She broke off (прерывать речь, замолкать) abruptly (резко) and laughed merrily (весело) at her predicament (неловкое положение).
«You was saying that this man Swinburne failed bein’ a great poet because – an’ that was as far as you got, miss,» he prompted (подсказывать), while to himself he seemed suddenly hungry, and delicious (восхитительный) little thrills (трепет) crawled (ползти; виться) up and down his spine (позвоночник) at the sound of her laughter. Like silver, he thought to himself, like tinkling (звон, звяканье) silver bells (колокольчик); and on the instant (тотчас, немедленно), and for an instant (на мгновение), he was transported to a far land, where under pink (розовый) cherry (вишня; черешня) blossoms (цвет, цветок), he smoked a cigarette and listened to the bells of the peaked (остроконечный) pagoda calling straw-sandalled (в соломенных сандалиях) devotees (верующий) to worship (на службу).
«Yes, thank you,» she said. «Swinburne fails, when all is said, because he is, well, indelicate (бестактный). There are many of his poems that should never be read. Every line of the really great poets is filled with beautiful truth, and calls to all that is high and noble in the human. Not a line of the great poets can be spared without impoverishing (обеднять) the world by that much (столько, так много).»
«I thought it was great,» he