dubious ['djHbjqs], towel ['tauql], consideration [kqn"sIdq'reISqn]

The clients had all been warned of the unusual event of Mrs. Harris' taking a day off, with Mrs. Butterfield substituting, and had reacted in accordance with their characters and natures. Major Wallace was, of course, dubious since he could not so much as find a clean towel or a pair of socks without the assistance of Mrs. Harris, but it was the actress, Miss Pamela Penrose, who kicked up the ugliest fuss, storming at the little char. "But that's horrid of you. You can't. I won't hear of it. I pay you, don't I? I've a most important producer coming for drinks here tomorrow. You charwomen are all alike. Never think of anybody but yourselves. I do think, after all I've done for you, you might show me a little consideration."

For a moment, in extenuation (на минуту, в оправдание; extenuation — извинение, частичное оправдание: in extenuation of an error — как частичное оправдание ошибки, в оправдание ошибки), Mrs. Harris was tempted to reveal where she was off to and why (миссис Харрис была склонна открыть, куда она едет и почему) — and resisted (но устояла). The love affair between herself and the Dior dress (любовная интрига между ней и платьем от Диора) was private (была личной). Instead she said soothingly (вместо этого она сказала успокаивающе): "Now, now, ducks, no need for you to get shirty (ну, ну, голубушка, незачем вам сердиться; shirty — раздраженный, рассерженный). Me friend Mrs. Butterfield will look in on you (моя подруга миссис Баттерфилд заглянет к Вам) on her way home tomorrow (по пути домой завтра) and give the place a good tidying up (и сделает хорошую уборку).

Your producer friend won't know the difference (ваш друг-продюсер не заметит разницы). Well, dearie, 'ere's 'oping 'e gives you a good job (ну, дорогая, будем надеяться, он даст вам хорошую работу; 'ere's 'oping 'e = here's hoping he)," she concluded cheerily (она заключила радостно), and left Miss Penrose glowering and sulking (и оставила мисс Пенроуз сердитой и мрачной; glower — нить накаливания; сердитый взгляд; to glower — сердито смотреть; to sulk — дуться; быть сердитым, мрачным, угрюмым).

extenuation [eks"tenju'eISqn], soothing ['sHDIN], cheerily ['CIqrIlI]

For a moment, in extenuation, Mrs. Harris was tempted to reveal where she was off to and why — and resisted. The love affair between herself and the Dior dress was private. Instead she said soothingly: "Now, now, ducks, no need for you to get shirty. Me friend Mrs. Butterfield will look in on you on her way home tomorrow and give the place a good tidying up.

Your producer friend won't know the difference. Well, dearie, 'ere's 'oping 'e gives you a good job," she concluded cheerily, and left Miss Penrose glowering and sulking.

SIX (6)

All thoughts of the actress (все мысли об актрисе), and for that matter all of her meandering back into the past (и, по правде говоря, все ее блуждания в прошлом: «в прошлое»; meander — извилина /дороги, реки; лабиринта/; to meander — извиваться /о реке, дороге/; слоняться без дела, без цели), were driven out of Mrs. Harris' head (были вытеснены из головы миссис Харрис; to drive — гнать) when with a jerk and a squeal of brakes the cab came to a halt at what must be her destination (когда с толчком и визгом тормозов такси остановилось там, где должно было быть ее место назначения/конечный пункт).