beneath [bI'nJT], concealment [kqn'sJlmqnt], floodlight ['flAdlaIt]

The passport photographer was not busy when they arrived and soon had Mrs. Harris posed before the cold eye of his camera while hump-backed he inspected her from beneath the concealment of his black cloth. He then turned on a hot battery of floodlights which illuminated Mrs. Harris' every fold, line and wrinkle etched into her shrewd and merry little face by the years of toil.

"And now, madam (а теперь, мадам)," he said, "if you would kindly remove that hat (если бы вы любезно сняли эту шляпу)…"

"Not b… likely (черта-с-два; b… = bloody — чертов /ругательство/; not likely — разг. конечно, нет /в ответ на вопрос, предложение/; likely — вероятный, возможный)," said Mrs. Harris succinctly (сказала миссис Харрис кратко). "What the 'ell do you think I've bought this 'at for (для чего, черт возьми, вы думаете, я купила эту шляпу) if not to wear it in me photograff (если не носить ее на моей фотографии)."

The photographer said (фотограф сказал): "Sorry, madam, against regulations (извините, мадам, /это/ против правил). The Passport Office won't accept any photographs with hats on (паспортный стол не примет никакие фотографии с шляпами). I can make some specials at two guineas a dozen for you later (я могу сделать несколько специальных /фотографий по две гинеи за дюжину для вас позже), with the hat on, if you like (в шляпе, если хотите)."

succinctly [sqk'sINktlI], bought [bLt], dozen [dAzn]

"And now, madam," he said, "if you would kindly remove that hat…"

"Not b… likely," said Mrs. Harris succinctly. "What the 'ell do you think I've bought this 'at for if not to wear it in me photograff."

The photographer said: "Sorry, madam, against regulations. The Passport Office won't accept any photographs with hats on. I can make some specials at two guineas a dozen for you later, with the hat on, if you like."

Mrs. Harris told the photographer a naughty thing to do with his two-guinea specials (миссис Харрис сказала фотографу пару не очень ласковых слов: «грубоватую вещь» о том, что ему сделать с его специальными снимками по две гинеи; naughty — непослушный; греховный, порочный, безнравственный; сомнительный, рискованный /слегка грубый/), but Mrs. Butterfield consoled her (но миссис Баттерфилд утешила ее). "Never mind, dearie (ничего: «не обращай внимания», дорогая)," she said, "you'll have it to wear it when you go to Paris (ты должна будешь надеть: «носить» ее, когда поедешь в Париж). You'll be right in with the fashion (ты будешь абсолютно в ногу с модой)."

naughty ['nLtI], console [kqn'squl], fashion ['fxSqn]

Mrs. Harris told the photographer a naughty thing to do with his two-guinea specials, but Mrs. Butterfield consoled her. "Never mind, dearie," she said, "you'll have it to wear it when you go to Paris.