acquire [q'kwaIq], magistrate ['mxGIstreIt], business ['bIznIs]

Mrs. Harris' Deity had been acquired at Sunday school at an early age, and had never changed in her mind from a Being who combined the characteristics of a nannie, a policeman, a magistrate, and Santa Claus, an Omnipotence of many moods, who was at all times concerned with Mrs. Harris' business. She could always tell which phase was uppermost in the Almighty by what was happening to her.

She accepted her punishments from Above (она принимала свои наказания Свыше) when she had been naughty (когда ей случалось бывать непослушной; naughty — непослушный, капризный, шаловливый; озорной) without quibbling (без уверток; quibble — софизм; увертка, уловка, ухищрение; to quibble — уклоняться от сути вопроса; говорить софизмами), as she would have accepted a verdict from the Bench (так же, как она приняла бы приговор суда: «скамьи /присяжных/»). Likewise (аналогично), when she was good (когда она была добродетельной) she expected rewards (она ожидала наград); when she was in distress (когда она была в беде/затруднительном положении) she asked for assistance (она просила поддержки), and expected service (и надеялась на помощь: service — служба; помощь); when things went well (когда дела шли хорошо) she was always prepared to share the credit with the Good Lord (она всегда была готова разделить заслугу от успеха с Боженькой). Jehova was a personal friend and protector (Иегова был личным другом и защитником), yet she was also a little wary of Him (однако она также немного опасалась Его: «была также немного опасливой»), as she might be of an elderly gentleman (как опасалась бы пожилого джентльмена) who occasionally went into fits of inexplicable tantrums (у которого порой случались необъяснимые вспышки гнева; fit — припадок, приступ).

punishment ['pAnISmqnt], quibble [kwIbl], inexplicable [In'eksplIkqbl]

She accepted her punishments from Above when she had been naughty without quibbling, as she would have accepted a verdict from the Bench. Likewise, when she was good she expected rewards; when she was in distress she asked for assistance, and expected service; when things went well she was always prepared to share the credit with the Good Lord. Jehova was a personal friend and protector, yet she was also a little wary of Him, as she might be of an elderly gentleman who occasionally went into fits of inexplicable tantrums.

That morning (тем утром) when she was awakened by the feeling (когда она была пробуждена чувством) that something wonderful was about to happen to her (что что-то удивительное должно было случиться с ней), she was convinced (она была убеждена) it could only have to do with her desire to own the dress (что это могло быть связано только с ее желанием иметь платье), and that on this occasion (и что в этом случае) she was to be brought nearer to the fulfillment of her wishes (ее должны были приблизить к исполнению ее желаний).

convince [kqn'vIns], own [qun], occasion [q'keIZqn]

That morning when she was awakened by the feeling that something wonderful was about to happen to her, she was convinced it could only have to do with her desire to own the dress, and that on this occasion she was to be brought nearer to the fulfillment of her wishes.

All day at her labors (весь день в своих трудах) she had attuned herself to receive further communications (она настраивала себя на получение дополнительных сообщений/сигналов) as to what form the expected bounty would take (относительно формы, которую примет ожидаемое благо; bounty — щедрость; щедрый подарок; премия).