geranium [GI'reInjqm], desperately ['despqrqtlI], conquer ['kONkq]

Outside the windows of her basement flat were two window boxes of geraniums, her favorite flower, and inside, wherever there was room, there was a little pot containing a geranium struggling desperately to conquer its environment, or a single hyacinth or tulip, bought from a barrow for a hard-earned shilling.

Then too (к тому же еще), the people for whom she worked (люди, на кого она работала) would sometimes present her with the leavings of their cut flowers (иногда дарили ей остатки от своих срезанных цветов) which in their wilted state she would take home (которые она /уже/ увядшими приносила домой) and try to nurse back to health (и пыталась выходить: «выходить обратно к здоровью»), and once in a while (а изредка), particularly in the spring (особенно весной), she would buy herself a little box of pansies (она сама покупала небольшой ящик анютиных глазок), primroses or anemones (примул или анемонов). As long as she had flowers Mrs. Harris had no serious complaints concerning the life she led (пока у нее были цветы, миссис Харрис не имела серьезных жалоб касательно жизни, которую она вела; to lead). They were her escape from the somber stone desert in which she lived (они были ее спасением от мрачной каменистой пустыни, в которой она жила). These bright flashes of color satisfied her (эти яркие вспышки цвета приносили ей удовлетворение = радовали ее; to satisfy — удовлетворять). They were something to return to in the evening (они были тем, /к чему можно было/ возвратиться вечером), something to wake up to in the morning (тем, /для чего/ просыпаться утром).

primroses ['prImrquzIz], anemones [q'nemqnIz], somber ['sOmbq]

Then too, the people for whom she worked would sometimes present her with the leavings of their cut flowers which in their wilted state she would take home and try to nurse back to health, and once in a while, particularly in the spring, she would buy herself a little box of pansies, primroses or anemones. As long as she had flowers Mrs. Harris had no serious complaints concerning the life she led. They were her escape from the somber stone desert in which she lived. These bright flashes of color satisfied her. They were something to return to in the evening, something to wake up to in the morning.

But now as she stood before the stunning creations hanging in the closet (но теперь, когда она стояла перед сногсшибательными творениями, висящими в шкафу) she found herself face to face with a new kind of beauty (она оказалась лицом к лицу с новым видом красоты; to find — находить) — an artificial one created by the hand of man the artist (искусственным, созданным руками человека-художника), but aimed directly and cunningly at the heart of woman (но нацеленным прямо и умело/искусно в сердце женщины). In that very instant she fell victim to the artist (в тот самый момент она стала жертвой художника; to fall — падать; пасть); at that very moment there was born within her the craving to possess such a garment (в тот самый момент в ней родилось страстное желание обладать таким платьем: «одеянием»).

creation [krJ'eISqn], beauty ['bjHtI], heart [hRt]

But now as she stood before the stunning creations hanging in the closet she found herself face to face with a new kind of beauty — an artificial one created by the hand of man the artist, but aimed directly and cunningly at the heart of woman. In that very instant she fell victim to the artist; at that very moment there was born within her the craving to possess such a garment.

There was no rhyme or reason for it (для этого не было ни рифмы = связи ни мотива/причины = это было ни с того, ни с сего); she would never wear such a creation (она никогда бы не надела такое платье: «творение»); there was no place in her life for one (/для него/ не было места в ее жизни).