various ['veqrIqs], tingling ['tINglIN], grouse [graus]

The hour that Mrs. Harris devoted to Miss Penrose was from five to six and all the next day, as she worked in the various homes and made her peace with her clients, who were too happy to see her back to grouse about her prolonged absence, she lived in tingling anticipation of that moment. At last it came, and she hurried to the little flat that had once been a stables behind the great house in the square and, opening the door, stood for a moment at the foot of the narrow staircase.

At first it was only disappointment that she experienced for the place was dark and silent. Mrs. Harris would have liked to hear from the girl's own lips the story of the triumph scored by the Dior dress and its effect upon Mr. Korngold.

But it was the strange (но странный), unfamiliar odor (незнакомый запах) that assailed her nostrils (что проник в ее ноздри) that turned her cold with alarm (заставил ее похолодеть от тревоги) and set the skin of her scalp to pricking with terror (и кожу головы стало покалывать от ужаса; scalp — кожа черепа, кожа головы). And yet (и все же), on second thought (по здравом размышлении: «на второй мысли»), the odor was not unfamiliar (этот запах не был незнакомым). Why did it awaken memories of the war (почему он пробудил воспоминания о войне) she had lived through in London (/которую/ она пережила в Лондоне) — the rain of high explosives (град взрывчатки = осколочных снарядов) and the deluge of fire (и шквал огня; deluge — потоп, наводнение)?

unfamiliar [Anfq'miljq], nostril ['nOstril], deluge ['delju:dZ]

But it was the strange, unfamiliar odor that assailed her nostrils that turned her cold with alarm and set the skin of her scalp to pricking with terror. And yet, on second thought, the odor was not unfamiliar. Why did it awaken memories of the war she had lived through in London — the rain of high explosives and the deluge of fire?

At the top of the stairs (на верху лестницы) Mrs. Harris turned on the lights in the vestibule and the living room and went in (миссис Харрис включила свет в вестибюле и гостиной и вошла). The next instant she was staring down (в следующее мгновение она /пристально, уставившись/ глядела вниз), frozen with horror (оцепеневшая от ужаса), at the ruins of her dress (на остатки своего платья). And then she knew what the odor was that had assailed her nostrils (и затем она поняла, что это был за запах, что проник в ее ноздри; to assail — нападать, атаковать) and made her think of the nights (и заставил ее подумать о ночах) when the incendiaries had poured down upon London (когда зажигательные снаряды лились = сыпались градом на Лондон).

incendiary [In'sendjqrI], pour [pO:], assail [q'seIl]

At the top of the stairs Mrs. Harris turned on the lights in the vestibule and the living room and went in. The next instant she was staring down, frozen with horror, at the ruins of her dress. And then she knew what the odor was that had assailed her nostrils and made her think of the nights when the incendiaries had poured down upon London.

The Dior dress had been tossed carelessly upon the disordered couch (платье от Диора было брошено небрежно на смятую кушетку) with the burned-out velvet panel (с выгоревшим бархатным клином) where the fire had eaten into it (где огонь въелся в него) showing shockingly in a fearful gap of melted beadwork (показывая ужасающе в страшной бреши расплавленной вышивки бисером), burned and singed cloth (сожженную и опаленную ткань).

Beside it lay a pound (рядом с ним лежал фунт стерлингов) and a hastily scrawled note (и поспешно написанная каракулями записка). Mrs. Harris' fingers were trembling so (пальцы миссис Харрис дрожали так) that she could hardly read it at first (что она едва могла прочесть ее сначала), but at last its contents became clear (но затем ее содержание прояснилось).