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Aunt Jane’s Nieces by L. Frank Baum, CHAPTER XII. UNCLE JOHN GETS ACQUAINTED.

CHAPTER XII. UNCLE JOHN GETS ACQUAINTED.

Beth went out to find Louise, and discovered her standing near the stables, where a boy was rubbing down the sides of a sorrel mare with wisps of straw.

"Something has happened," she said to Louise in a troubled voice. "What?" "A man has arrived who says he is Aunt Jane's brother." "Impossible! Have you seen him?" "No; he says he's Aunt Jane's brother John." "Oh; I know. The peddler, or tinker, or something or other who disappeared years ago. But it doesn't matter." "It may matter a good deal," said practical Beth. "Aunt Jane may leave him her money." "Why, he's older than she is. I've heard mother say he was the eldest of the family. Aunt Jane wont leave her money to an old man, you may be sure." Beth felt a little reassured at this, and stood for a moment beside Louise watching the boy. Presently Oscar came to him, and after touching his hat respectfully took the mare and led her into the stable. The boy turned away, with his hands in his pockets, and strolled up a path, unaware that the two dreaded girls had been observing him.

"I wonder who that is," said Beth. "We'll find out," returned Louise. "I took him for a stable boy, at first. But Oscar seemed to treat him as a superior." She walked into the stable, followed by her cousin, and found the groom tying the mare.

"Who was the young man?" she asked.

"Which young man, Miss?" "The one who has just arrived with the horse." "Oh; that's Master Kenneth, Miss," answered Oscar, with a grin. "Where did he come from?" "Master Kenneth? Why, he lives here." "At the house?" "Yes, Miss." "Who is he?" "Master Tom's nephew—he as used to own Elmhurst, you know." "Mr. Thomas Bradley?" "The same, Miss." "Ah. How long has Master Kenneth lived here?" "A good many years. I can't just remember how long." "Thank you, Oscar." The girls walked away, and when they were alone Louise remarked:

"Here is a more surprising discovery than Uncle John, Beth. The boy has a better right than any of us to inherit Elmhurst." "Then why did Aunt Jane send for us?" "It's a mystery, dear. Let us try to solve it." "Come; we'll ask the housekeeper," said Beth. "I'm sure old Misery will tell us all we want to know." So they returned to the house and, with little difficulty, found the old housekeeper.

"Master Kenneth?" she exclaimed. "Why, he's just Master Tom's nephew, that's all." "Is this his home?" asked Beth.

"All the home he's got, my dear. His father and mother are both dead, and Miss Jane took him to care for just because she thought Master Tom would 'a' liked it." "Is she fond of him?" enquired Louise.

"Fond of the boy? Why, Miss Jane just hates him, for a fact. She won't even see him, or have him near her. So he keeps to his little room in the left wing, and eats and sleeps there." "It's strange," remarked Beth, thoughtfully. "Isn't he a nice boy?" "We're all very fond of Master Kenneth," replied the housekeeper, simply. "But I'll admit he's a queer lad, and has a bad temper. It may be due to his lack of bringin' up, you know; for he just runs wild, and old Mr. Chase, who comes from the village to tutor him, is a poor lot, and lets the boy do as he pleases. For that reason he won't study, and he won't work, and I'm sure I don't know whatever will become of him, when Miss Jane dies." "Thank you," said Beth, much relieved, and the girls walked away with lighter hearts. "There's no danger in that quarter, after all," said Louise, gaily. "The boy is a mere hanger-on. You see, Aunt Jane's old sweetheart, Thomas Bradley, left everything to her when he died, and she can do as she likes with it." After luncheon, which they ate alone and unattended save by the maid Susan, who was old Misery's daughter, the girls walked away to the rose arbor, where Beth declared they could read or sew quite undisturbed. But sitting upon the bench they found a little old man, his legs extended, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, and a look of calm meditation upon his round and placid face. Between his teeth was a black brier pipe, which he puffed lazily.

Beth was for drawing back, but Louise took her arm and drew her forward.

"Isn't this Uncle John?" she asked.

The little man turned his eyes upon them, withdrew his hands from his pockets and his pipe from his mouth, and then bowed profoundly.

"If you are my nieces, then I am Uncle John," he said, affably. "Sit down, my dears, and let us get acquainted." Louise smiled, and her rapid survey took in the man's crumpled and somewhat soiled shirt-front, the frayed black necktie that seemed to have done years of faithful service, and the thick and dusty cow-hide boots. His clothing was old and much worn, and the thought crossed her mind that Oscar the groom was far neater in appearance than this newly-found relative.

Beth merely noticed that Uncle John was neither dignified nor imposing in appearance. She sat down beside him—leaving a wide space between them—with a feeling of disappointment that he was "like all the rest of the Merricks." "You have just arrived, we hear," remarked Louise. "Yes. Walked up from the station this forenoon," said Uncle John. "Come to see Jane, you know, but hadn't any idea I'd find two nieces. Hadn't any idea I possessed two nieces, to be honest about it." "I believe you have three," said Louise, in an, amused tone. "Three? Who's the other?" "Why, Patricia Doyle." "Doyle? Doyle? Don't remember the name." "I believe your sister Violet married a man named Doyle." "So she did. Captain Doyle—or Major Doyle—or some such fellow. But what is your name?" "I am Louise Merrick, your brother Will's daughter." "Oh! And you?" turning to Beth.

"My mother was Julia Merrick," said Beth, not very graciously. "She married Professor DeGraf. I am Elizabeth DeGraf." "Yes, yes," observed Uncle John, nodding his head. "I remember Julia very well, as a girl. She used to put on a lot of airs, and jaw father because he wouldn't have the old top-buggy painted every spring. Same now as ever, I s'pose?" Beth did not reply.

"And Will's dead, and out of his troubles, I hope," continued Uncle John, reflectively. "He wrote me once that his wife had nearly driven him crazy. Perhaps she murdered him in his sleep—eh, Louise?" "Sir," said Louise, much offended, "you are speaking of my mother." "Ah, yes. It's the same one your father spoke of," he answered, unmoved. "But that's neither here nor there. The fact is, I've found two nieces," looking shrewdly from one face into the other, "and I seem to be in luck, for you're quite pretty and ladylike, my dears." "Thank you," said Louise, rather coldly. "You're a competent judge, sir, I suppose." "Tolerable," he responded, with a chuckle. "So good a judge that I've kep' single all my life." "Where did you come from?" asked the girl.

"From out on the coast," tossing his grizzled head toward the west. "What brought you back here, after all these years?" "Family affection, I guess. Wanted to find out what folks yet belonged to me." An awkward silence followed this, during which Uncle John relighted his pipe and Beth sat in moody silence. Louise drew a pattern in the gravel with the end of her parasol. This new uncle, she reflected, might become an intolerable bore, if she encouraged his frank familiarity.

"Now that you are here," she said, presently, "what are you going to do?" "Nothing, my dear." "Have you any money?" He looked at her with a droll expression.

"Might have expected that question, my dear," said he; "but it's rather hard to answer. If I say no, you'll be afraid I'll want to borrow a little spendin' money, now an' then; and if I say yes, you'll take me for a Rockyfeller." "Not exactly," smiled Louise. "Well, then, if I figure close I won't have to borrow," he responded, gravely. "And here's Jane, my sister, just rolling in wealth that she don't know what to do with. And she's invited me to stay a while. So let's call the money question settled, my dear." Another silence ensued. Louise had satisfied her curiosity concerning her new uncle, and Beth had never had any. There was nothing more to say, and as Uncle John showed no intention of abandoning the arbored seat, it was evident they must go themselves. Louise was about to rise when the man remarked:

"Jane won't last long". "You think not?" she asked.

"She says she's half dead a'ready, and I believe it. It's about time, you know. She's let her temper and restless disposition wear her out. Pretty soon she'll blow out, like a candle. All that worries her is to keep alive until she can decide who to leave her money to. That's why you're here, I s'pose, my dears. How do you like being on exhibition, an' goin' through your paces, like a bunch o' trotting hosses, to see which is worth the most?" "Uncle John," said Beth, "I had hoped I would like you. But if you are going to be so very disagreeable, I'll have nothing more to do with you!" With this she arose and marched up the path, vastly indignant, and Louise marched beside her. At the bend in the walk they glanced back, and saw Uncle John sitting upon the bench all doubled up and shaking with silent laughter.

"He's a queer old man," said Beth, flushing; "but he's impudent and half a fool." "Don't judge hastily, Beth," replied Louise, reflectively. "I can't make up my mind, just yet, whether Uncle John is a fool or not." "Anyhow," snapped Beth, "he's laughing at us." "And that," said her cousin, softly, "is the strongest evidence of his sanity. Beth, my love, Aunt Jane has placed us in a most ridiculous position." That evening at dinner they met Uncle John again, seated opposite Aunt Jane in the great dining hall. The mistress of Elmhurst always dressed for this meal and tonight she wore a rich black silk and had her invalid chair wheeled to her place at the head of the table. Uncle John had simply changed his old black necktie for a soiled white one. Otherwise his apparel was the same as before, and his stubby gray hair was in a sad state of disarray. But his round face wore a cheerful smile, nevertheless, and Aunt Jane seemed not to observe anything outre in her brother's appearance. And so the meal passed pleasantly enough.

After it was finished Uncle John strolled into the garden to smoke his pipe under the stars and Louise sang a few songs for Aunt Jane in the dimly-lit drawing room. Beth, who was a music teacher's daughter, could not sing at all. It was some time later when John Merrick came to his sister's room to bid her good night. "Well," she asked him, "what do you think of the girls?" "My nieces?" "Yes." "During my lifetime," said the old man, "I've always noticed that girls are just girls—and nothing more. Jane, your sex is a puzzle that ain't worth the trouble solving. You're all alike, and what little I've seen of my nieces convinces me they're regulation females—no better nor worse than their kind." "Louise seems a capable girl," declared Aunt Jane, musingly. "I didn't care much for her, at first; but she improves on acquaintance. She has been well trained by her mother, and is very ladylike and agreeable." "She's smarter than the other one, but not so honest," said Uncle John. "Beth has no tact at all," replied Aunt Jane. "But then, she's younger than Louise." "If you're trying to figure out what they are, and what they are not," returned the man, "you've got a hard job on your hands, Jane, and like as not you'll make a mistake in the end. Where's the other niece? Aren't there three of them?" "Yes. The other's coming. Silas Watson, my lawyer, has just telegraphed from New York that he's bringing Patricia back with him." "Had to send for her, eh?" "Yes. She's Irish, and if I remember rightly her father is a disgraceful old reprobate, who caused poor Violet no end of worry. The girl may be like him, for she wrote me a dreadful letter, scolding me because I hadn't kept her parents supplied with money, and refusing to become my guest." "But she's changed her mind?" "I sent Watson after her, and he's bringing her. I wanted to see what the girl is like." Uncle John whistled a few bars of an ancient tune.

"My advice is," he said, finally, "to let 'em draw cuts for Elmhurst. If you want to leave your money to the best o' the lot, you're as sure of striking it right that way as any other." "Nonsense!" said Jane Merrick, sharply. "I don't want to leave my money to the best of the lot." "No?" "By no means. I want to leave it to the one I prefer—whether she's the best or not." "I see. Jane, I'll repeat my former observation. Your sex is a puzzle that isn't worth solving. Good night, old girl." "Good night, John."

CHAPTER XII. UNCLE JOHN GETS ACQUAINTED. |||||ознайомлений KAPITEL XII. ONKEL JOHN MACHT BEKANNTSCHAFT. CAPÍTULO XII. EL TÍO JOHN SE FAMILIARIZA. 第12章.ジョン叔父さん、知り合いになる CAPÍTULO XII. O TIO JOÃO CONHECE-SE.

Beth went out to find Louise, and discovered her standing near the stables, where a boy was rubbing down the sides of a sorrel mare with wisps of straw. ||||||||||||конюшні|||||прибираючи шерсть|||боків|||руда|кобила||пучки соломи||солома Beth sortit à la recherche de Louise et la découvrit près des écuries, où un garçon frottait les flancs d'une jument sorrel avec des brins de paille.

"Something has happened," she said to Louise in a troubled voice. "What?" "A man has arrived who says he is Aunt Jane's brother." "Impossible! Have you seen him?" "No; he says he's Aunt Jane's brother John." "Oh; I know. The peddler, or tinker, or something or other who disappeared years ago. |торговець дрібницями||ремісник|||||||| But it doesn't matter." |||важливо "It may matter a good deal," said practical Beth. "Cela peut avoir une grande importance", dit Beth la pratique. "Aunt Jane may leave him her money." "Why, he's older than she is. I've heard mother say he was the eldest of the family. Aunt Jane wont leave her money to an old man, you may be sure." ||не залишить||||||||||| Beth felt a little reassured at this, and stood for a moment beside Louise watching the boy. ||||заспокоєна|||||||||||| Presently Oscar came to him, and after touching his hat respectfully took the mare and led her into the stable. тепер же||||||||||з повагою|||кобила|||||| Oscar s'approcha de lui et, après avoir touché son chapeau, prit respectueusement la jument et la conduisit à l'écurie. The boy turned away, with his hands in his pockets, and strolled up a path, unaware that the two dreaded girls had been observing him. |||||||||кишенях||прогулювався||||не підозрюючи||||боязкі||||| Le garçon se détourna, les mains dans les poches, et remonta un sentier, sans se douter que les deux redoutables filles l'observaient.

"I wonder who that is," said Beth. "We'll find out," returned Louise. "I took him for a stable boy, at first. But Oscar seemed to treat him as a superior." ||здавалося||||||вищий за статусом She walked into the stable, followed by her cousin, and found the groom tying the mare. ||||||||||||конюх|прив'язуючи||кобила Elle entra dans l'écurie, suivie par sa cousine, et trouva le palefrenier en train d'attacher la jument.

"Who was the young man?" she asked.

"Which young man, Miss?" "The one who has just arrived with the horse." "Oh; that's Master Kenneth, Miss," answered Oscar, with a grin. |||||||||посмішка "Where did he come from?" "Master Kenneth? Why, he lives here." "At the house?" "Yes, Miss." "Who is he?" "Master Tom's nephew—he as used to own Elmhurst, you know." "Mr. Thomas Bradley?" "The same, Miss." "Ah. How long has Master Kenneth lived here?" "A good many years. I can't just remember how long." "Thank you, Oscar." The girls walked away, and when they were alone Louise remarked:

"Here is a more surprising discovery than Uncle John, Beth. The boy has a better right than any of us to inherit Elmhurst." |||||||||||успадкувати| "Then why did Aunt Jane send for us?" "It's a mystery, dear. Let us try to solve it." "Come; we'll ask the housekeeper," said Beth. ||||домогосподарка|| "I'm sure old Misery will tell us all we want to know." So they returned to the house and, with little difficulty, found the old housekeeper.

"Master Kenneth?" she exclaimed. "Why, he's just Master Tom's nephew, that's all." "Is this his home?" "Est-ce que c'est sa maison ?" asked Beth.

"All the home he's got, my dear. "Toute la maison qu'il a, ma chère. His father and mother are both dead, and Miss Jane took him to care for just because she thought Master Tom would 'a' liked it." Son père et sa mère sont tous les deux morts, et Miss Jane l'a pris en charge juste parce qu'elle pensait que Maître Tom l'aurait aimé". "Is she fond of him?" ||любить|| enquired Louise.

"Fond of the boy? Why, Miss Jane just hates him, for a fact. She won't even see him, or have him near her. Elle ne veut même pas le voir, ni l'avoir près d'elle. So he keeps to his little room in the left wing, and eats and sleeps there." ||||||||||крила||||| "It's strange," remarked Beth, thoughtfully. ||||замислено "Isn't he a nice boy?" "We're all very fond of Master Kenneth," replied the housekeeper, simply. "But I'll admit he's a queer lad, and has a bad temper. ||визнати|||незвичайний||||||норов It may be due to his lack of bringin' up, you know; for he just runs wild, and old Mr. Chase, who comes from the village to tutor him, is a poor lot, and lets the boy do as he pleases. |||може бути через|||||виховання||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||дозволяє C'est peut-être dû au fait qu'il n'a pas été élevé, vous savez, car il se déchaîne, et le vieux M. Chase, qui vient du village pour lui donner des leçons, est un pauvre type qui laisse le garçon faire ce qu'il veut. For that reason he won't study, and he won't work, and I'm sure I don't know whatever will become of him, when Miss Jane dies." "Thank you," said Beth, much relieved, and the girls walked away with lighter hearts. |||||полегшена|||||||легшими серцями| "There's no danger in that quarter, after all," said Louise, gaily. ||||||||||весело "The boy is a mere hanger-on. ||||лише|паразит| "Le garçon n'est qu'un simple parasite. You see, Aunt Jane's old sweetheart, Thomas Bradley, left everything to her when he died, and she can do as she likes with it." |||||коханий|||||||||||||||||| After luncheon, which they ate alone and unattended save by the maid Susan, who was old Misery's daughter, the girls walked away to the rose arbor, where Beth declared they could read or sew quite undisturbed. |обіду||||||непристутні|||||||||нещасного|||||||||альтанка||||||||шити||безперешкодно Après le déjeuner, qu'elles prirent seules, sans autre surveillance que celle de la servante Susan, qui était la fille du vieux Misery, les jeunes filles s'éloignèrent vers la tonnelle de roses, où Beth déclara qu'elles pouvaient lire ou coudre sans être dérangées. But sitting upon the bench they found a little old man, his legs extended, his hands thrust deep into his pockets, and a look of calm meditation upon his round and placid face. |||||||||||||випрямлен|||засунуті|||||||||||||||спокійний| Between his teeth was a black brier pipe, which he puffed lazily. ||||||||||попускав д| Між зубами у нього була чорна люлька, яку він ліниво пихкав.

Beth was for drawing back, but Louise took her arm and drew her forward. |||||||||||потягнула|| Beth voulait reculer, mais Louise lui a pris le bras et l'a fait avancer.

"Isn't this Uncle John?" she asked.

The little man turned his eyes upon them, withdrew his hands from his pockets and his pipe from his mouth, and then bowed profoundly. ||||||||вийняв||||||||||||||вклонився|глибоко

"If you are my nieces, then I am Uncle John," he said, affably. "Sit down, my dears, and let us get acquainted." ||||||||ознайомимося Louise smiled, and her rapid survey took in the man's crumpled and somewhat soiled shirt-front, the frayed black necktie that seemed to have done years of faithful service, and the thick and dusty cow-hide boots. |||||огляд||||||||||||||краватка||||||||вірній службі||||||пилові||| Louise sourit, et son regard rapide se porta sur le devant de la chemise froissée et quelque peu salie de l'homme, la cravate noire effilochée qui semblait avoir fait des années de bons et loyaux services, et les bottes en peau de vache épaisses et poussiéreuses. His clothing was old and much worn, and the thought crossed her mind that Oscar the groom was far neater in appearance than this newly-found relative. ||||||||||перейшла|||||||||охайніший||зовнішності||||| Ses vêtements étaient vieux et très usés, et elle pensa qu'Oscar, le marié, avait une apparence bien plus soignée que ce nouveau parent.

Beth merely noticed that Uncle John was neither dignified nor imposing in appearance. |лише|||||||гідний||||зовнішності Beth remarque simplement que l'oncle John n'est ni digne ni imposant. She sat down beside him—leaving a wide space between them—with a feeling of disappointment that he was "like all the rest of the Merricks." |||||||||||||||розчарування|||||||||| Elle s'assit à côté de lui, laissant un large espace entre eux, avec un sentiment de déception de le voir "comme tous les autres Merrick". "You have just arrived, we hear," remarked Louise. "Yes. Walked up from the station this forenoon," said Uncle John. "Come to see Jane, you know, but hadn't any idea I'd find two nieces. Hadn't any idea I possessed two nieces, to be honest about it." ||||маю|||||чесно|| "I believe you have three," said Louise, in an, amused tone. |||||||||задоволений| "Three? Who's the other?" "Why, Patricia Doyle." "Doyle? Doyle? Don't remember the name." "I believe your sister Violet married a man named Doyle." |||||||||Дойл "So she did. Captain Doyle—or Major Doyle—or some such fellow. ||||||||людина But what is your name?" "I am Louise Merrick, your brother Will's daughter." "Oh! And you?" turning to Beth.

"My mother was Julia Merrick," said Beth, not very graciously. |||||||||не дуже ввічливо "She married Professor DeGraf. I am Elizabeth DeGraf." "Yes, yes," observed Uncle John, nodding his head. |||||киваючи головою|| "I remember Julia very well, as a girl. She used to put on a lot of airs, and jaw father because he wouldn't have the old top-buggy painted every spring. ||||||||||балакати|||||||||фаетон||| Elle avait l'habitude de prendre de grands airs et de faire des reproches à son père parce qu'il ne voulait pas faire repeindre le vieux top-buggy chaque printemps. Same now as ever, I s'pose?" |||як завжди|| Beth did not reply.

"And Will's dead, and out of his troubles, I hope," continued Uncle John, reflectively. |||||||||||||задумливо "He wrote me once that his wife had nearly driven him crazy. Perhaps she murdered him in his sleep—eh, Louise?" Elle l'a peut-être assassiné dans son sommeil... Louise ?" "Sir," said Louise, much offended, "you are speaking of my mother." "Ah, yes. It's the same one your father spoke of," he answered, unmoved. ||||||говорив|||| C'est le même que celui dont parlait votre père", répondit-il, impassible. "But that's neither here nor there. ||ні те ні ін||| The fact is, I've found two nieces," looking shrewdly from one face into the other, "and I seem to be in luck, for you're quite pretty and ladylike, my dears." ||||||||проникливо||||||||||||||||||||| Le fait est que j'ai trouvé deux nièces", dit-elle en passant d'un visage à l'autre, "et il semble que j'aie de la chance, car vous êtes très jolies et dignes d'une dame, mes chéries". "Thank you," said Louise, rather coldly. |||||холодно "Merci", dit Louise, assez froidement. "You're a competent judge, sir, I suppose." "Vous êtes un juge compétent, monsieur, je suppose." "Tolerable," he responded, with a chuckle. терпимо|||||посмішка "Tolérable", répond-il avec un petit rire. "So good a judge that I've kep' single all my life." "Si bon juge que je suis resté célibataire toute ma vie." "Where did you come from?" asked the girl.

"From out on the coast," tossing his grizzled head toward the west. ||||узбережжя|кидаючи||сіре волосся|||| "What brought you back here, after all these years?" "Family affection, I guess. |сімейна любов|| Wanted to find out what folks yet belonged to me." An awkward silence followed this, during which Uncle John relighted his pipe and Beth sat in moody silence. |незручна|||||||||||||||похмурому| Louise drew a pattern in the gravel with the end of her parasol. |намалювала||||||||||| Louise dessine un motif dans le gravier avec le bout de son parasol. This new uncle, she reflected, might become an intolerable bore, if she encouraged his frank familiarity. |||||||||нудний співроз|||заохочувала||відвертий|знайомство Ce nouvel oncle, se dit-elle, pourrait devenir d'un ennui insupportable si elle encourageait sa franche familiarité.

"Now that you are here," she said, presently, "what are you going to do?" |||||||тепер|||||| "Nothing, my dear." "Have you any money?" He looked at her with a droll expression.

"Might have expected that question, my dear," said he; "but it's rather hard to answer. "J'aurais pu m'attendre à cette question, ma chère, répondit-il, mais il est assez difficile d'y répondre. "Я очікував цього запитання, дорогенька, - сказав він, - але на нього досить важко відповісти. If I say no, you'll be afraid I'll want to borrow a little spendin' money, now an' then; and if I say yes, you'll take me for a Rockyfeller." "Not exactly," smiled Louise. "Well, then, if I figure close I won't have to borrow," he responded, gravely. |||||||||||||серйозно "Alors, si je me rapproche, je n'aurai pas besoin d'emprunter", a-t-il répondu gravement. "And here's Jane, my sister, just rolling in wealth that she don't know what to do with. ||||||||багатстві|||||||| "Et voici Jane, ma sœur, qui se roule dans des richesses dont elle ne sait que faire. "А ось Джейн, моя сестра, просто купається в багатстві, яке вона не знає, що з ним робити. And she's invited me to stay a while. So let's call the money question settled, my dear." ||||||вирішено|| Another silence ensued. Louise had satisfied her curiosity concerning her new uncle, and Beth had never had any. ||задовольнила||цікавість|||||||||| Louise avait satisfait sa curiosité à l'égard de son nouvel oncle, et Beth n'en avait jamais eu. There was nothing more to say, and as Uncle John showed no intention of abandoning the arbored seat, it was evident they must go themselves. ||||||||||||намір||залишаючи||||||очевидно||||самі Il n'y avait plus rien à dire, et comme l'oncle John ne montrait aucune intention d'abandonner le siège arboré, il était évident qu'ils devaient partir eux-mêmes. Louise was about to rise when the man remarked:

"Jane won't last long". "Джейн довго не протягне". "You think not?" she asked.

"She says she's half dead a'ready, and I believe it. It's about time, you know. She's let her temper and restless disposition wear her out. |||гнів|||||| Elle a laissé son tempérament et son caractère agité l'épuiser. Pretty soon she'll blow out, like a candle. All that worries her is to keep alive until she can decide who to leave her money to. |||||||в живих|||||||||| That's why you're here, I s'pose, my dears. How do you like being on exhibition, an' goin' through your paces, like a bunch o' trotting hosses, to see which is worth the most?" ||||||||||||||група||||||||вартість|| Que pensez-vous du fait d'être exposé et d'être mis à l'épreuve, comme une bande de chevaux au trot, pour voir lequel vaut le plus ?" "Uncle John," said Beth, "I had hoped I would like you. "Oncle John, dit Beth, j'avais espéré que vous me plairiez. But if you are going to be so very disagreeable, I'll have nothing more to do with you!" |||||||||неприємний|||||||| Mais si vous êtes si désagréable, je n'ai plus rien à faire avec vous !". With this she arose and marched up the path, vastly indignant, and Louise marched beside her. |||встала||пішла||||дуже обурена|обурена|||пішла|| Sur ce, elle se leva et remonta le sentier, très indignée, et Louise marcha à ses côtés. At the bend in the walk they glanced back, and saw Uncle John sitting upon the bench all doubled up and shaking with silent laughter. |||||||поглянули||||||||||||||||| Au détour de la promenade, ils jetèrent un coup d'œil en arrière et virent l'oncle John assis sur le banc, tout retourné et secoué d'un rire silencieux. На повороті вони озирнулися і побачили дядька Джона, який сидів на лавці, зігнувшись удвоє, і трясся від тихого сміху.

"He's a queer old man," said Beth, flushing; "but he's impudent and half a fool." ||незвичайний|||||заливаючись|||нахабний|||| "C'est un vieil homme bizarre, dit Beth en rougissant, mais il est impudent et à moitié fou. "Don't judge hastily, Beth," replied Louise, reflectively. ||поспішно||||замислено "I can't make up my mind, just yet, whether Uncle John is a fool or not." "Anyhow," snapped Beth, "he's laughing at us." в будь-якому випад|різко сказала|||сміється|| "And that," said her cousin, softly, "is the strongest evidence of his sanity. |||||||||докази|||розуму "Et cela, dit doucement sa cousine, est la plus forte preuve de sa santé mentale. Beth, my love, Aunt Jane has placed us in a most ridiculous position." That evening at dinner they met Uncle John again, seated opposite Aunt Jane in the great dining hall. The mistress of Elmhurst always dressed for this meal and tonight she wore a rich black silk and had her invalid chair wheeled to her place at the head of the table. La maîtresse d'Elmhurst s'habille toujours pour ce repas et ce soir, elle porte une riche soie noire et fait rouler son fauteuil d'invalide jusqu'à sa place en bout de table. Uncle John had simply changed his old black necktie for a soiled white one. Otherwise his apparel was the same as before, and his stubby gray hair was in a sad state of disarray. Pour le reste, ses vêtements étaient les mêmes qu'auparavant, et ses cheveux grisonnants étaient dans un triste état de désordre. But his round face wore a cheerful smile, nevertheless, and Aunt Jane seemed not to observe anything outre in her brother's appearance. ||||||радісну||тим не менше||||здавалася|||||||||зовнішності Mais son visage rond arborait néanmoins un sourire joyeux, et tante Jane semblait ne rien remarquer d'anormal dans l'apparence de son frère. Але на його круглому обличчі все одно була весела усмішка, і тітка Джейн, здавалося, не помічала нічого надзвичайного в зовнішності брата. And so the meal passed pleasantly enough.

After it was finished Uncle John strolled into the garden to smoke his pipe under the stars and Louise sang a few songs for Aunt Jane in the dimly-lit drawing room. ||||||прогулявся||||||||||||||||||||||||| Beth, who was a music teacher's daughter, could not sing at all. It was some time later when John Merrick came to his sister's room to bid her good night. "Well," she asked him, "what do you think of the girls?" "My nieces?" "Yes." "During my lifetime," said the old man, "I've always noticed that girls are just girls—and nothing more. "Au cours de ma vie, dit le vieil homme, j'ai toujours remarqué que les filles sont des filles, rien de plus. Jane, your sex is a puzzle that ain't worth the trouble solving. |||||||||||розгадування Jane, ton sexe est un puzzle qui ne vaut pas la peine d'être résolu. You're all alike, and what little I've seen of my nieces convinces me they're regulation females—no better nor worse than their kind." ||однакові|||||||||переконує||||||||||| Vous êtes toutes pareilles, et le peu que j'ai vu de mes nièces me convainc qu'elles sont des femelles réglementaires, ni meilleures ni pires que les autres." "Louise seems a capable girl," declared Aunt Jane, musingly. |||здатна||||| "I didn't care much for her, at first; but she improves on acquaintance. ||||||||||||знайомстві "Je ne l'aimais pas beaucoup au début, mais elle s'améliore quand on la connaît. She has been well trained by her mother, and is very ladylike and agreeable." "She's smarter than the other one, but not so honest," said Uncle John. |||||||||чесна||| "Beth has no tact at all," replied Aunt Jane. "But then, she's younger than Louise." "If you're trying to figure out what they are, and what they are not," returned the man, "you've got a hard job on your hands, Jane, and like as not you'll make a mistake in the end. "Si vous essayez de comprendre ce qu'ils sont et ce qu'ils ne sont pas, reprit l'homme, vous avez un travail difficile à faire, Jane, et il est probable que vous finirez par vous tromper. Where's the other niece? Aren't there three of them?" "Yes. The other's coming. Silas Watson, my lawyer, has just telegraphed from New York that he's bringing Patricia back with him." "Had to send for her, eh?" "Yes. She's Irish, and if I remember rightly her father is a disgraceful old reprobate, who caused poor Violet no end of worry. |||||||||||ганебний|||||||||| Elle est irlandaise et, si je me souviens bien, son père est un vieux réprouvé qui a causé bien des soucis à la pauvre Violet. The girl may be like him, for she wrote me a dreadful letter, scolding me because I hadn't kept her parents supplied with money, and refusing to become my guest." |||||||||||жахливу||||||||||забезпеченими||||відмовляючись|||| La jeune fille est peut-être comme lui, car elle m'a écrit une lettre épouvantable, me réprimandant parce que je n'avais pas fourni d'argent à ses parents et refusant d'être mon invitée". "But she's changed her mind?" "I sent Watson after her, and he's bringing her. I wanted to see what the girl is like." Uncle John whistled a few bars of an ancient tune. ||свистів||||||давня| L'oncle John siffle quelques mesures d'un air ancien. Дядько Джон насвистував кілька тактів старовинної мелодії.

"My advice is," he said, finally, "to let 'em draw cuts for Elmhurst. "Mon conseil est," dit-il finalement, "de les laisser faire des coupes pour Elmhurst. "Моя порада, - сказав він наостанок, - дозволити їм накреслити схеми для Елмхерста. If you want to leave your money to the best o' the lot, you're as sure of striking it right that way as any other." |||||||||||||||||вибору||||||| Si vous voulez laisser votre argent aux meilleurs, vous êtes aussi sûrs de réussir de cette façon que de n'importe quelle autre." Если вы хотите оставить свои деньги лучшему из них, то вы так же уверены, что сделаете это правильно, как и любой другой". Якщо ви хочете довірити свої гроші кращим з кращих, ви можете бути впевнені в тому, що це буде правильний вибір, як і будь-який інший". "Nonsense!" said Jane Merrick, sharply. "I don't want to leave my money to the best of the lot." "Я не хочу оставлять свои деньги лучшему из лучших". "Я не хочу залишати свої гроші кращим з кращих". "No?" "By no means. I want to leave it to the one I prefer—whether she's the best or not." Je veux le laisser à celle que je préfère, qu'elle soit la meilleure ou non." "I see. Jane, I'll repeat my former observation. Your sex is a puzzle that isn't worth solving. |||||||варта|розгадування Good night, old girl." "Good night, John."