hesitation ["hezIteISqn], volition [vqu'lISqn], entire [In'taIq]

Her pencil was resting on the first line of the pool coupon. She turned her attention to it and said: "Now then, 'ere goes for it." And without another moment's hesitation, almost as though her fingers were working outside her own volition, she filled in line after line, win, lose, draw, win, win, draw, draw, draw, lose, and win, until the entire blank was completed. She had never done it like that before. "There," she said.

"Good luck to you, love (удачи тебе, дорогая)," said Mrs. Butterfield. She was so fascinated by her friend's performance (она была так восхищена тем, как проделывает все это ее подруга; performance — исполнение, выполнение) that she paid only perfunctory attention to her own (что она уделила только поверхностное внимание своему /купону/) and soon had it completed (и вскоре заполнила его).

Still in the grip of something (все еще во власти чего-то), Mrs. Harris said hoarsely (миссис Харрис сказала охрипшим голосом): "Let's post them now, right now (давай отправим их сейчас, прямо сейчас) while me luck is running (пока удача сопутствует мне: «пока моя удача бежит = действует»)."

fascinate ['fxsIneIt], perfunctory [pq'fANktqrI], hoarsely ['hLslI]

"Good luck to you, love," said Mrs. Butterfield. She was so fascinated by her friend's performance that she paid only perfunctory attention to her own and soon had it completed.

Still in the grip of something, Mrs. Harris said hoarsely: "Let's post them now, right now while me luck is running."

They put on coats (они надели пальто), bound scarfs about their heads (укутали: «обвязали» шарфами свои головы) and went off into the rain and the dripping fog (и пошли в дождь и влажный туман) to the red pillar box gleaming faintly on the corner beneath the street lamp (к красному стоячему почтовому ящику, слабо мерцающему на углу под уличным фонарем; pillar — столб, колонна; опора, стойка). Mrs. Harris pressed the envelope to her lips for a moment, said (миссис Харрис, прижав конверт к губам на мгновение, сказала) " 'Ere's for me Dior dress (это для моего платья от Диора)," and slipped the letter through the slit (и опустила письмо в щель; to slip — скользить; тихонько бросить, опустить /что-л., что при этом соскользнет вниз/), listening for its fall (прислушиваясь к его падению). Mrs. Butterfield posted hers with less confidence (миссис Баттерфилд отправила свое с меньшей самоуверенностью). "Don't expect nuffink and you won't get disappointed (не жди ничего, и ты не будешь разочарована; nuffink = nothing /особенность просторечного произношения/). This's my motto (это мой девиз)," she said (это мой девиз, сказала она). They returned to their tea (они вернулись к своему чаю = и они пошли пить чай).

beneath [bI'nJT], through [Tru], motto ['mOtqu]

They put on coats, bound scarfs about their heads and went off into the rain and the dripping fog to the red pillar box gleaming faintly on the corner beneath the street lamp. Mrs. Harris pressed the envelope to her lips for a moment, said " 'Ere's for me Dior dress," and slipped the letter through the slit, listening for its fall. Mrs. Butterfield posted hers with less confidence. "Don't expect nuffink and you won't get disappointed. This's my motto," she said. They returned to their tea.

THREE (3)

"D-d-d-ducks (г-г-голубушка)," she stammered (сказала она заикаясь; duck — утка), "ducks, it's 'APPENED (голубушка, это случилось: to happen)!"

marvelous ['mRvqlqs], quivering ['kwIvqrIN], apoplexy ['xpqupleksI]

The marvelous and universe-shattering discovery was made that weekend not by Mrs.