«Now Longfellow – «she was saying.
«Yes, I’ve read ’m,» he broke in impulsively (импульсивно), spurred on (подхлёстывать, подталкивать) to exhibit (показать, продемонстрировать) and make the most (показать наилучшим образом) of his little store (запас) of book knowledge, desirous (жаждущий) of showing her that he was not wholly a stupid clod (законченный тупица). «„The Psalm of Life,“ „Excelsior („Все выше“),“ an’ … I guess that’s all.»
She nodded (кивнуть) her head and smiled, and he felt, somehow (в какой-то степени), that her smile was tolerant (терпеливый), pitifully (жалостливо) tolerant. He was a fool (глупец) to attempt (пытаться) to make a pretence that way (притворяться так). That Longfellow chap (парень, молодчина) most likely (весьма вероятно) had written countless (бесчисленный) books of poetry.
«Excuse me, miss, for buttin’ in that way. I guess the real facts is that I don’t know nothin’ much about such things. It ain’t in my class. But I’m goin’ to make it in my class.»
It sounded (звучать) like (как) a threat (угроза). His voice was determined (полный решимости), his eyes were flashing (сверкать), the lines of his face had grown (становиться) harsh (жесткий). And to her it seemed that the angle (угол) of his jaw (челюсть) had changed; its pitch (угол наклона) had become unpleasantly (неприятно) aggressive. At the same time a wave (волна) of intense virility (возмужалость) seemed to surge (нахлынуть) out from him and impinge upon (налететь, сталкиваться с) her.
«I think you could make it in – in your class,» she finished with a laugh. «You are very strong.»
Her gaze (взгляд) rested (остановиться) for a moment on the muscular (мускулистый) neck, heavy corded (отделанный тесьмой), almost bull-like (почти как у быка), bronzed by the sun, spilling over (переливать через край) with rugged (крепкий) health and strength. And though he sat there, blushing (заливаться румянцем от смущения) and humble (застенчивый, робкий), again she felt drawn (как её тянет) to him. She was surprised by a wanton (несдержанный) thought that rushed into her mind (пронестись в мозгу). It seemed to her that if she could lay (положить) her two hands upon that neck that all its strength and vigor (жизненнвя энергия) would flow out (переливаться) to her. She was shocked by this thought. It seemed to reveal (открыть) to her an undreamed depravity (порочность; безнравственность) in her nature. Besides, strength (сила) to her (в е1ё понимании) was a gross (грубый, явный, бросающийся в глаза) and brutish (животный, грубый) thing. Her ideal of masculine (мужской) beauty had always been slender (тонкий) gracefulness (изящество). Yet the thought (эта мысль) still persisted (упорствовать, удерживаться). It bewildered (поразить) her that she should desire (желать) to place her hands on that sunburned neck. In truth, she was far from robust (крепкий, здоровый; сильный), and the need of her body and mind was for strength.
But she did not know it. She knew only that no man had ever affected (воздействовать) her before as this one had, who shocked her from moment to moment with his awful (ужасный) grammar.
«Yes, I ain’t no invalid,» he said. «When it comes down to hard-pan, I can digest (переварить) scrap-iron (железо, металлические обрезки). But just now I’ve got dyspepsia (диспепсия, расстройство пищеварения).
Most of what you was sayin’ I can’t digest. Never trained that way, you see. I like books and poetry, and what time I’ve had I’ve read ’em, but I’ve never thought about ’em the way you have.
That’s why I can’t talk about ’em. I’m like a navigator (мореплаватель, штурман, навигатор) adrift (плывущий по течению) on a strange (незнакомый, неизвестный) sea without chart (карта) or compass. Now I want to get my bearin’s (ориентироваться). Mebbe you can put me right (поправить меня). How did you learn all this you’ve ben talkin’?»
«By going to school (благодаря школе), I fancy (я думаю), and by studying,» she answered.
«I went to school when I was a kid (ребёнок),» he began to object (возражать).
«Yes; but I mean high school (высшее образование), and lectures, and the university.» «You’ve gone to the university?» he demanded in frank amazement (искренне изумление).
He felt that she had become remoter (удалиться, отдаляться) from him by at least (по крайней мере) a million miles. «I’m going there now. I’m taking special courses in English.»
He did not know what «English» meant, but he made a mental note (заметка в уме) of that item (вопрос) of ignorance (невежество) and passed on.
«How long would I have to study before I could go to the university?» he asked.
She beamed (излучать, испускать лучи; светить, сиять) encouragement (одобрение) upon his desire for knowledge, and said:
«That depends upon (зависеть от) how much studying you have already done. You have never attended (посещать, ходить) high school? Of course not. But did you finish grammar school?»
«I had two years to run, when I left (уходить),» he answered. «But I was always honorably (благородно, с уважением) promoted (продвигать) at school.»
The next moment, angry with himself for the boast (похвальба), he had gripped (схватить) the arms of the chair so savagely (дико) that every