CHAPTER V. AUNT JANE. ||тітка|

"Lift me up, Phibbs—no, not that way! Підніми|||Фіббс|||| Confound your awkwardness—do you want to break my back? Збити||незручність||||||| Confondre votre maladresse - voulez-vous me briser le dos ? There! That's better. Now the pillow at my head. ||подушка||| Oh—h. What are you blinking at, you old owl?" |||мигання||||сову Pourquoi clignez-vous des yeux, vieille chouette ?" "Are you better this morning, Miss Jane?" asked the attendant, with grave deference. ||працівник служби||серйозною повагою|повага

"No; I'm worse." "You look brighter, Miss Jane." ||яскравіше|| "Vous avez l'air plus en forme, Mlle Jane". "Don't be stupid, Martha Phibbs. I know how I am, better than any doctor, and I tell you I'm on my last legs." Je sais comment je vais, mieux que n'importe quel médecin, et je vous dis que je suis sur la fin." "Anything unusual, Miss?" "Rien d'inhabituel, mademoiselle ?" "Of course. I can't be on my last legs regularly, can I?" Je ne peux pas être régulièrement à bout de souffle, n'est-ce pas ?" "I hope not, Miss." "What do you mean by that? Are you trying to insult me, now that I'm weak and helpless? ||||ти мене ображаєш|||||слабкий||безпорадний Answer me, you gibbering idiot!" |||бормотливий| Réponds-moi, espèce d'idiot qui baragouine !" "I'm sure you'll feel better soon, Miss. ||||||пані Can't I wheel you into the garden? ||колесо|||| It's a beautiful day, and quite sunny and warm already." |||||досить|сонячний||| "Be quick about it, then; and don't tire me out with your eternal doddering. |||||||втомлювати||втомлювати мене|||вічному|блукання "Il faut donc faire vite, et ne pas me fatiguer avec tes éternelles dodos. When a thing has to be done, do it. Lorsqu'une chose doit être faite, faites-la. That's my motto." ||девіз "Yes, Miss Jane." Slowly and with care the old attendant wheeled her mistress's invalid chair through the doorway of the room, along a stately passage, and out upon a broad piazza at the back of the mansion. ||||||прислужник|колісний||пані|хворий||||дверний отвір||||||урочистий|прохід|||||широкий|площа||||||особняк Lentement et avec précaution, la vieille servante fit rouler le fauteuil de sa maîtresse à travers la porte de la chambre, le long d'un passage majestueux, et sortit sur une large piazza à l'arrière du manoir. Here were extensive and carefully tended gardens, and the balmy morning air was redolent with the odor of flowers. ||широкі|||дбайливо доглянуті|сади||ці|м'який|ранок|||ароматний|||аромат|| Il y avait ici de vastes jardins soigneusement entretenus, et l'air doux du matin était imprégné de l'odeur des fleurs. Тут були великі і дбайливо доглянуті сади, а ранкове повітря було напоєне запахом квітів.

Jane Merrick sniffed the fragrance with evident enjoyment, and her sharp grey eyes sparkled as she allowed them to roam over the gorgeous expanse of colors spread out before her. |Меррік|вдихнула||аромат||очевидним|задоволення|||пронизливі|сірі||засяяли||||||блукати мандрувати|||чудовий|простір кольорів||кольорів|простерта||| Jane Merrick huma le parfum avec un plaisir évident, et ses yeux gris étincelèrent lorsqu'elle les laissa parcourir la magnifique étendue de couleurs qui s'étalait devant elle.

"I'll go down, I guess, Phibbs. This may be my last day on earth, and I'll spend an hour with my flowers before I bid them good-bye forever." ||||||||||||||||||попрощаюсь|||| C'est peut-être mon dernier jour sur terre, et je passerai une heure avec mes fleurs avant de leur dire adieu pour toujours." Phibbs pulled a bell-cord, and a soft faraway jingle was heard. |||дзвін|канат||||далекий||| Phibbs tira sur un cordon de sonnette et un doux tintement lointain se fit entendre. Then an old man came slowly around the corner of the house. His bare head was quite bald. He wore a short canvas apron and carried pruning-shears in one hand. |||||фартух|||обрізка|||| Il porte un tablier court en toile et un sécateur dans une main. Without a word of greeting to his mistress or scarce a glance at her half recumbent form, he mounted the steps of the piazza and assisted Phibbs to lift the chair to the ground. |||||||||рідкісний||погляд|||||||mounted|||||||допоміг|||||||| Sans un mot de salut à sa maîtresse, ni même un regard à sa forme à demi couchée, il monta les marches de la piazza et aida Phibbs à soulever la chaise jusqu'au sol.

"How are the roses coming on, James?" "Poorly, Miss," he answered, and turning his back returned to his work around the corner. Погано|||||||||||||| If he was surly, Miss Jane seemed not to mind it. |||грубий|Міс||здавалося|||| Her glance even softened a moment as she followed his retreating form. |погляд|||||||||відступаючий| Son regard s'adoucit même un instant alors qu'elle suivait sa forme en train de reculer.

But now she was revelling amongst the flowers, which she seemed to love passionately. |||||серед|||||здавалося|||пристрастно Phibbs wheeled her slowly along the narrow paths between the beds, and she stopped frequently to fondle a blossom or pull away a dead leaf or twig from a bush. |||||||стежки|||||||||||||||||||||| Phibbs la faisait rouler lentement le long des sentiers étroits entre les parterres, et elle s'arrêtait fréquemment pour caresser une fleur ou arracher une feuille ou une brindille morte d'un buisson. The roses were magnificent, in spite of the old gardener's croaking, and the sun was warm and grateful and the hum of the bees musical and sweet. |||||||||садівника||||||||||||||||| "It's hard to die and leave all this, Phibbs," said the old woman, a catch in her voice. "C'est dur de mourir et de laisser tout ça, Phibbs", dit la vieille femme, avec une nuance dans la voix. "But it's got to be done." "Mais il faut le faire". "Not for a while yet, I hope, Miss Jane." "Pas avant un certain temps, j'espère, Mlle Jane." "It won't be long, Phibbs. But I must try to live until my nieces come, and I can decide which of them is most worthy to care for the old place when I am gone." "Yes, Miss." "I've heard from two of them, already. They jumped at the bait I held out quickly enough; but that's only natural. ||||намішка||||||||| Ils ont sauté sur l'appât que j'ai tendu assez rapidement, mais c'est tout à fait naturel. And the letters are very sensible ones, too. Elizabeth DeGraf says she will be glad to come, and thanks me for inviting her. |||||||||||||запрошуючи| Louise Merrick is glad to come, also, but hopes I am deceived about my health and that she will make me more than one visit after we become friends. |||||||||||обманутий||||||||||||||||| Louise Merrick est également heureuse de venir, mais elle espère que je me trompe sur ma santé et qu'elle me rendra plus d'une visite une fois que nous serons devenues amies. A very proper feeling; but I'm not deceived, Phibbs. ||правильний|||||обманутий| C'est un sentiment très correct, mais je ne suis pas dupe, Phibbs. My end's in plain sight." |||прямий|видимість Ma fin est bien visible." "Yes, Miss Jane." "And somebody's got to have my money and dear Elmhurst when I'm through with them. "Et quelqu'un devra avoir mon argent et ce cher Elmhurst quand j'en aurai fini avec eux. Who will it be, Phibbs?" "I'm sure I don't know, Miss." "Nor do I. The money's mine, and I can do what I please with it; and I'm under no obligation to anyone." Ні||||||||||||||||||||| "Except Kenneth," said a soft voice behind her. "Sauf Kenneth", dit une voix douce derrière elle. Jane Merrick gave a start at the interruption and turned red and angry as, without looking around, she answered: |||||||перерва|||||||||||

"Stuff and nonsense! I know my duties and my business, Silas Watson." |||обов'язки||||| "To be sure," said a little, withered man, passing around the chair and facing the old woman with an humble, deprecating air. |||||||||||||||||||скромний|| "C'est sûr", dit un petit homme flétri, en contournant la chaise et en faisant face à la vieille femme d'un air humble et dédaigneux. He was clothed in black, and his smooth-shaven, deeply lined face was pleasant of expression and not without power and shrewd intelligence. |||||||||||||||||||||проникливий| Il était vêtu de noir, et son visage rasé de près, aux rides profondes, avait une expression agréable et n'était pas dépourvu de puissance et d'intelligence. The eyes, however, were concealed by heavy-rimmed spectacles, and his manner was somewhat shy and reserved. |||||||обрамлених||||||||| Ses yeux sont cependant cachés par des lunettes à monture épaisse et ses manières sont quelque peu timides et réservées. However, he did not hesitate to speak frankly to his old friend, nor minded in the least if he aroused her ire. Однак||||не вагався|||відверто||||||турбуватися|||||||| Cependant, il n'hésite pas à parler franchement à sa vieille amie, et ne se soucie pas le moins du monde de susciter son ire. Однак він не посоромився відверто поговорити зі своєю давньою подругою і анітрохи не злякався, що викликав її гнів.

"No one knows better than you, dear Miss Jane, her duties and obligations; and no one performs them more religiously. ||||||||||обов'язки||||||виконує|||релігійно "Personne ne connaît mieux que vous, chère Miss Jane, ses devoirs et ses obligations, et personne ne les accomplit plus religieusement. But your recent acts, I confess, puzzle me. |||||зізнатися|| Why should you choose from a lot of inexperienced, incompetent girls a successor to Thomas Bradley's fortune, when he especially requested you in his will to look after any of his relatives, should they need assistance? ||||||||недосвідчені|некомпетентні|||наступник|||||||||||||||||||||||допомога Pourquoi devriez-vous choisir parmi un grand nombre de jeunes filles inexpérimentées et incompétentes un successeur à la fortune de Thomas Bradley, alors qu'il vous a expressément demandé dans son testament de vous occuper de tous ses proches, s'ils avaient besoin d'aide ? Чому ви повинні вибирати з безлічі недосвідчених, некомпетентних дівчат спадкоємицю статків Томаса Бредлі, коли він особливо просив вас у своєму заповіті подбати про будь-кого з його родичів, якщо їм знадобиться допомога? Kenneth Forbes, his own nephew, was born after Tom's death, to be sure; but he is alone in the world now, an orphan, and has had no advantages to help him along in life since his mother's death eight years ago. ||||||||||||||||||||||сирота|||||||||||||||||| Kenneth Forbes, son propre neveu, est né après la mort de Tom, certes, mais il est seul au monde, orphelin, et n'a bénéficié d'aucun avantage pour l'aider dans sa vie depuis la mort de sa mère, il y a huit ans. I think Tom Bradley must have had a premonition of what was to come even though his sister was not married at the time of his death, and I am sure he would want you to help Kenneth now." ||||||||передчуття|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||| Je pense que Tom Bradley a dû avoir un pressentiment de ce qui allait se passer, même si sa sœur n'était pas mariée au moment de sa mort, et je suis sûre qu'il voudrait que vous aidiez Kenneth maintenant". Я думаю, що Том Бредлі, напевно, передчував те, що має статися, навіть якщо його сестра не була заміжня на момент його смерті, і я впевнений, що він хотів би, щоб ви допомогли Кеннету зараз". "He placed me under no obligations to leave the boy any money," snapped the old woman, white with suppressed wrath, "you know that well enough, Silas Watson, for you drew up the will." ||||||||||||різко|||||||гнів||||||||||склав||| "Il ne m'a pas obligée à laisser de l'argent à ce garçon", s'emporta la vieille femme, blanche de colère, "vous le savez bien, Silas Watson, puisque c'est vous qui avez rédigé le testament". "Він не зобов'язував мене залишати хлопчикові гроші, - огризнулася стара жінка, біла від пригніченого гніву, - ви це добре знаєте, Сайласе Вотсоне, бо ви склали заповіт". The old gentleman slowly drew a pattern upon the gravelled walk with the end of his walking-stick. |||||||||гравійною доріжкою|||||||| Le vieil homme dessine lentement un motif sur l'allée gravillonnée avec l'extrémité de sa canne. Старий джентльмен повільно намалював візерунок на гравійованій доріжці кінцем свого ціпка.

"Yes, I drew up the will," he said, deliberately, "and I remember that he gave to you, his betrothed bride, all that he possessed—gave it gladly and lovingly, and without reserve. ||склав|||||||||||||||||||||все що мав|||з радістю||||| "Oui, j'ai rédigé le testament, dit-il, délibérément, et je me souviens qu'il vous a donné, à vous, sa fiancée, tout ce qu'il possédait - il l'a donné avec joie et amour, et sans réserve. "Так, я склав заповіт, - сказав він навмисне, - і пам'ятаю, що він віддав тобі, своїй нареченій, все, що мав, - віддав з радістю, з любов'ю і беззастережно. He was very fond of you, Miss Jane. |||дуже любив|||| But perhaps his conscience pricked him a bit, after all, for he added the words: 'I shall expect you to look after the welfare of my only relative, my sister. |||совість|покусала|||||||||||||||||||добробут||||родич|| Katherine Bradley—or any of her heirs.' It appears to me, Miss Jane, that that is a distinct obligation. ||||||||||чіткий|зобов'язання The boy is now sixteen and as fine a fellow as one often meets." |||||||||young man|||| Le garçon a maintenant seize ans et c'est un bon garçon comme on en rencontre souvent". "Bah! An imbecile—an awkward, ill-mannered brat who is only fit for a stable-boy! |||незграбний||||||||||| Un imbécile, un gosse maladroit, mal élevé, digne d'un garçon d'écurie ! Імбецил - незграбна, невихована дитина, яка годиться хіба що на конюха! I know him, Silas, and I know he'll never amount to a hill of beans. Je le connais, Silas, et je sais qu'il ne vaudra jamais rien. Я знаю його, Сайласа, і знаю, що він ніколи не буде вартий і пагорба з бобами. Leave him my money? Not if I hadn't a relative on earth!" |||||родич|| Pas si je n'avais pas un parent sur terre !" Ні, якби у мене не було родича на землі!" "You misjudge him, Jane. Kenneth is all right if you'll treat him decently. ||||||||гідно Kenneth va bien si vous le traitez décemment. But he won't stand your abuse and I don't think the less of him for that." Mais il ne supportera pas vos abus et je ne l'estime pas moins pour cela." "Why abuse? Haven't I given him a home and an education, all because Thomas asked me to look after his relatives? ||||||||освіта|||||||||| Хіба не я дав йому дім і освіту, і все це тому, що Томас попросив мене подбати про його родичів? And he's been rebellious and pig-headed and sullen in return for my kindness, so naturally there's little love lost between us." |||бунтівний|||||||||||||||||| Et il a été rebelle, têtu et maussade en retour de ma gentillesse, alors naturellement il n'y a pas beaucoup d'amour perdu entre nous". "You resented your one obligation, Jane; and although you fulfilled it to the letter you did not in the spirit of Tom Bradley's request. |обурювалася|||обов'язок|||хоча і||виконали|||||||||||||| "Vous en vouliez à votre seule obligation, Jane, et bien que vous l'ayez remplie à la lettre, vous ne l'avez pas fait dans l'esprit de la demande de Tom Bradley. "Ти обурювалася своїм єдиним зобов'язанням, Джейн; і хоча ти виконала його дослівно, але не в дусі прохання Тома Бредлі. I don't blame the boy for not liking you." ||не звинувачую|||||| "Sir!" "All right, Jane; fly at me if you will," said the little man, with a smile; "but I intend to tell you frankly what I think of your actions, just as long as we remain friends." ||||||||||||||||||маю намір||||відверто||||||||||||| "D'accord, Jane ; attaquez-moi si vous voulez, dit le petit homme en souriant ; mais j'ai l'intention de vous dire franchement ce que je pense de vos actions, aussi longtemps que nous resterons amis. "Гаразд, Джейн, лети на мене, якщо хочеш, - сказав маленький чоловічок з посмішкою, - але я маю намір відверто сказати тобі, що я думаю про твої вчинки, доки ми залишаємося друзями". Her stern brows unbent a trifle. |суворий||||трохи Ses sourcils sévères se dégagent légèrement.

"That's why we are friends, Silas; and it's useless to quarrel with you now that I'm on my last legs. ||||||||||сварка||||||||| "C'est pour cela que nous sommes amis, Silas, et il est inutile de se disputer avec toi maintenant que je suis sur mes dernières jambes. A few days more will end me, I'm positive; so bear with me a little longer, my friend." He took her withered hand in his and kissed it gently.

"You're not so very bad, Jane," said he, "and I'm almost sure you will be with us for a long time to come. "Vous n'êtes pas si mal, Jane, dit-il, et je suis presque sûr que vous resterez avec nous encore longtemps. But you're more nervous and irritable than usual, I'll admit, and I fear this invasion of your nieces won't be good for you. |||||дратівливий||||||||||||||||| Are they really coming?" "Two of them are, I'm sure, for they've accepted my invitation," she replied. "Here's a letter that just arrived," he said, taking it from his pocket. "Perhaps it contains news from the third niece." "My glasses, Phibbs!" cried Miss Jane, eagerly, and the attendant started briskly for the house to get them. |Міс||прагнучи|||||пружно||||||

"What do you know about these girls?" asked the old lawyer curiously. |||адвокат|

"Nothing whatever. I scarcely knew of their existence until you hunted them out for me and found they were alive. |ледве||||існування|||||||||||| But I'm going to know them, and study them, and the one that's most capable and deserving shall have my property." Mr. Watson sighed.

"And Kenneth?" he asked.

"I'll provide an annuity for the boy, although it's more than he deserves. "Je lui verserai une rente, même si c'est plus que ce qu'il mérite. When I realized that death was creeping upon me I felt a strange desire to bequeath my fortune to one of my own flesh and blood. ||||||підкрадається|||||||||||||||||плоть|| Perhaps I didn't treat my brothers and sisters generously in the old days, Silas." "Perhaps not," he answered. "So I'll make amends to one of their children. |||виправлення||||| That is, if any one of the three nieces should prove worthy." ||||||||||доказати| "I see. But if neither of the three is worthy?" ||жоден|||||гідний "Then I'll leave every cent to charity—except Kenneth's annuity." The lawyer smiled. |адвокат|

"Let us hope," said he, "that they will prove all you desire. "Espérons, dit-il, qu'ils prouveront tout ce que vous désirez. It would break my heart, Jane, to see Elmhurst turned into a hospital." Phibbs arrived with the spectacles, and Jane Merrick read her letter, her face growing harder with every line she mastered. |||||||||||||||||||опанувала Phibbs arriva avec les lunettes, et Jane Merrick lut sa lettre, son visage devenant plus dur à chaque ligne qu'elle maîtrisait. Then she crumpled the paper fiercely in both hands, and a moment later smoothed it out carefully and replaced it in the envelope. |||||люто|||||||||||||поклала назад||||

Silas Watson had watched her silently.

"Well," said he, at last, "another acceptance?" ||||||прийняття "No, a refusal," said she. ||відмова|| "A refusal from the Irishman's daughter, Patricia Doyle." "That's bad," he remarked, but in a tone of relief. "C'est grave", a-t-il remarqué, mais sur un ton de soulagement. "I don't see it in that light at all," replied Miss Jane. "Je ne le vois pas du tout sous cet angle", répond Miss Jane. "The girl is right. "La fille a raison. It's the sort of letter I'd have written myself, under the circumstances. I'll write again, Silas, and humble myself, and try to get her to come." "You surprise me!" said the lawyer. ||адвокат

"I surprise myself," retorted the old woman, "but I mean to know more of this Patricia Doyle. Perhaps I've found a gold mine, Silas Watson!" J'ai peut-être trouvé une mine d'or, Silas Watson !"