conscious ['kOnSqs], engrossed [In'grqus], creature ['krJCq]

Mrs. Harris was hardly conscious that Lady Dant was speaking, she was still so engrossed in these living creations of silks and taffetas and chiffons in heart-lifting colors, daring cut and stiff with cunning internal construction so that they appeared to stand almost by themselves like creatures with a life of their own. "Coo," she gasped finally, "ain't they beauties. I'll bet they didn't 'arf cost a packet."

Lady Dant had been unable to resist the temptation to impress Mrs. Harris (леди Дант была не способна устоять перед соблазном произвести впечатление на миссис Харрис). London chars do not impress easily (лондонские уборщицы не впечатляются легко), in fact are the least impressionable people in the world (в действительности, они наименее впечатляемые люди в мире). She had always been a little afraid of Mrs. Harris (она всегда немного побаивалась миссис Харрис), and here was her chance to score (и тут был ее шанс выиграть/отыграться; score — зарубка, бороздка, метка; черта; счет очков /в игре/). She laughed her brittle laugh and said (она засмеялась своим нервным смехом и сказала: brittle — ломкий; нервный): "Well, yes, in a way (ну, да, в известном смысле). This one here (вот это) — 'Ivoire (цвет слоновой кости /фр./)' — cost three hundred fifty pounds (стоило 350 фунтов; to cost) and the big one, the red (а это большое, красное) — it's called 'Ravishing' (оно называется «Восторг») — came to around four hundred fifty (составило около 450). I always go to Dior, don't you think (я всегда покупаю у Диора, правда; to go — идти; обращаться)? Then, of course, you know you're right (только там знаешь, что сделал правильный выбор: «/только/ тогда, конечно, знаешь, что ты прав»)."

unable ['An'eIbl], laugh [lRf], of course ["Ov'kLs]

Lady Dant had been unable to resist the temptation to impress Mrs. Harris. London chars do not impress easily, in fact are the least impressionable people in the world. She had always been a little afraid of Mrs. Harris, and here was her chance to score. She laughed her brittle laugh and said: "Well, yes, in a way. This one here — 'Ivoire' — cost three hundred fifty pounds and the big one, the red — it's called 'Ravishing' — came to around four hundred fifty. I always go to Dior, don't you think? Then, of course, you know you're right."

"Four hundred fifty quid (450 фунтов стерлингов)," echoed Mrs. Harris (повторила эхом миссис Харрис), " 'ow would anyone ever get that much money (как кто-то может достать такие большие деньги: 'ow = how)?" She was not unfamiliar with Paris styles (она была знакома: «не была незнакома» с парижскими фасонами), for she was an assiduous reader of old fashion magazines sometimes presented to her by clients (потому что она была прилежной/неутомимой читательницей старых журналов мод, которые иногда ей дарили клиенты), and she had heard of Fath (и она слышала о Фате: to hear), Chanel and Balenciaga (Шанель и Баленсьяге), Carpentier (Карпентье), Lanvin and Dior (Ланвэне и Диоре), and the last-named now rang like a bell through her beauty-starved person (и последний из упомянутых сейчас звучал колоколом во всей ее жаждущей красоты душе: «личности»; to ring — звенеть; звучать).

unfamiliar ['Anfq'mIljq], assiduous [q'sIdjuqs], through [TrH]

"Four hundred fifty quid," echoed Mrs.