expensive [Iks'pensIv], marching ['mRCIN], obvious ['ObvIqs]

"If you mean the Boutique…"

Mrs. Harris cocked an ear. "Bou — what? I didn't arsk for any booties. It's them dresses I want, the expensive ones. Pull yourself together, dearie. I've come all the way from London to buy me one of your dresses and 'aven't any time to waste." All was as clear as day to Mme. Colbert now. Every so often an error came marching up the grand staircase, though never before one quite so obvious and ghastly as this one, and had to be dealt with firmly.

Her own troubles and frustrations (ее собственные проблемы и неудачи) rendered the manageress colder and more unsympathetic (сделали управляющую холоднее и более черствой) than usual in such circumstances (чем обычно в таких обстоятельствах). "I am afraid you have come to the wrong place (боюсь, вы ошиблись: «пришли в неправильное место»). We do not display dresses here (мы не выставляем платья здесь). The collection is only shown privately here in the afternoons (коллекция показывается конфиденциально здесь после полудня; privately — неофициально, частным образом). Perhaps if you go to the Galeries Lafayette (возможно, если вы пойдете в «Галери Лафайет»---"

Mrs. Harris was completely bewildered (миссис Харрис была полностью сбита с толку). "Wot Galleries (какие Галереи)?" she asked. "I don't want no galleries (я не хочу никаких галерей). Is this Dior or ain't it (это Диор или нет)?"

frustration [frAs'treISqn], unsympathetic ['An"sImpq'TetIk], circumstances ['sWkqmstqnsIz], privately ['praIvItlI]

Her own troubles and frustrations rendered the manageress colder and more unsympathetic than usual in such circumstances. "I am afraid you have come to the wrong place. We do not display dresses here. The collection is only shown privately here in the afternoons. Perhaps if you go to the Galeries Lafayette---"

Mrs. Harris was completely bewildered. "Wot Galleries?" she asked. "I don't want no galleries. Is this Dior or ain't it?"

Then before the woman could reply (затем, прежде чем женщина смогла ответить) she remembered something (она вспомнила о чем-то). She used to encounter the word "collections" in the fashion magazines (она привыкла встречать слово «коллекции» в модных журналах; collection — коллекция, сбор, денежные пожертвования), but thought they had something to do with charity (но думала, что они были как-то связаны с благотворительностью; to have to do with smth. — иметь отношение, быть связанным с чем-л.), such as the collection in the church on Sunday (как например, сбор /пожертвований/ в церкви в воскресенье). Now her native shrewdness cut through the mystery (теперь присущая ей проницательность проникла в тайну; to cut — резать). "Look 'ere (послушайте)," she said, "maybe it's this 'ere collection I want to see (может быть, именно коллекцию я хочу увидеть), what about it (как насчет этого)?"

encounter [In'kauntq], charity ['tSxrItI], church [tSq:tS]

Then before the woman could reply she remembered something.