fault [fO:lt], gesture ['dZestSq], exacting [Ig'zxktIN]

She tried to tell herself that it was not the fault of the girl, that it had been an accident and that only she herself was to blame for trying to play fairy godmother to this spoiled brat of a bad actress who had not even the grace to be grateful to her for her foolish gesture.

Mrs. Harris was a sensible person, a realist who had lived an exacting life and was not given to self-delusion. Looking now upon this singed and tragic wreck of her desires, she was well aware of her own foolish pride and vanity, not only involved in the possession of such a treasure, but in the displaying of it.

She had savored the casual way she might say to her landlady (она наслаждалась тем, как /совершенно/ обыденно она сказала бы своей домовладелице), when queried as to where she had been (когда спрошенная = на вопрос где она была): "Oh, I was only over in Paris, dearie (ах, я только была в Париже, дорогая), to look at the collection and buy me a Dior dress (взглянуть на коллекцию и купить себе платье от Диора). It's called ‘Temptytion’ (оно называется «Искушение»)." And, of course, she had visualized a hundred times the reaction of Mrs. Butterfield when she unveiled her prize (и, конечно, она представляла сотни раз реакцию миссис Баттерфилд, когда она покажет ей свою добычу; to unveil — снимать покрывало /с чего-л./; раскрывать; торжественно открывать /памятник/; veil — покров, завеса). There would be no calling in of her friend now (теперь не будет приглашения ее подруги = нет смысла приглашать подругу) — or anyone else (или кого-то еще) — for she would only croak (потому что она только будет брюзжать; to croak — каркать; брюзжать, ворчать): "Didn't I tell yer something orful would 'appen (разве я не говорила тебе, что что-то ужасное случится; awful — страшный, ужасный)? Things like that (такие вещи, как эта) ain't for the likes of us (не для таких, как мы)! What was you going to do with it, anyway (что ты собиралась с ним делать, в любом случае)?"

casual ['kxZjuql], query ['kwIqrI], unveil [An'veIl]

She had savored the casual way she might say to her landlady, when queried as to where she had been: "Oh, I was only over in Paris, dearie, to look at the collection and buy me a Dior dress. It's called ‘Temptytion’." And, of course, she had visualized a hundred times the reaction of Mrs. Butterfield when she unveiled her prize. There would be no calling in of her friend now — or anyone else — for she would only croak: "Didn't I tell yer something orful would 'appen? Things like that ain't for the likes of us! What was you going to do with it, anyway?"

What indeed had she been meaning to do with it (что, в самом деле, она думала делать с ним)? Hang it away in an old, stale closet (повесить его в старый, с затхлым запахом шкаф; stale — несвежий, черствый; спертый; затхлый) next to her aprons, overall, and one poor Sunday frock (рядом с ее передниками, плащом и скромным праздничным платьем: «воскресным платьем»), secretly to gloat over when she came home at night (чтобы тайно рассматривать его, когда она придет домой вечером; to gloat — пожирать глазами /over, upon/)? The dress had not been designed and created to languish in the dark of a cupboard (это платье не было задумано и создано для того, чтобы чахнуть в темноте платяного шкафа).