He caught something doubtful in her tone.

"What's wrong then? The part's wonderful. I mean, it's the sort of thing that

you can do better than anyone in the world. There's a lot of comedy and all

the emotion you want."

"It's a wonderful part, I know that; it's the man's part."

"Well, that's a damned good part too."

"I know; but he's fifty, and if you make him younger you take all the point

out of the play. You don't want to take the part of a middle-aged man."

"But I wasn't thinking of playing that. There's only one man for that. Monte

Vernon. And we can get him. I'll play George."

"But it's a tiny part. You can't play that."

"Why not?"

"But I thought the point of going into management was that we should both

play leads."

 

"Oh, I don't care a hang about that (о, мне совершенно наплевать на это; not to

care a hang about smth. — быть совершенно безразличным к чему-либо,

наплевать). As long as we can find plays (до тех пор, пока мы можем находить

пьесы) with star parts for you (со звездными ролями для тебя) I don't matter (я

не в счет: «я не важен»; to matter — иметь значение). Perhaps in the next play

(возможно, в следующей пьесе) there'll be a good part for me too (будет

хорошая роль и для меня тоже)."

Julia leant back in her chair (Джулия откинулась /назад/ в /своем/ кресле), and

the ready tears (и слезы тут же: «готовые слезы») filled her eyes (затуманили:

«наполнили» ее глаза) and ran down her cheeks (и побежали /вниз/ по ее

щекам).

"Oh, what a beast I am (о, какая я все-таки скотина; beast — зверь,

животное)."

 

 

 

 

 

 

He smiled (он улыбнулся), and his smile was as charming as ever (и его улыбка

была такой же очаровательной, как всегда; ever — когда-либо, когда бы то ни

было). He came over to her (он подошел к ней) and kneeling by her side (и

опускаясь на колени с ее стороны; to kneel — становиться на колени) put his

arms round her (он обнял ее).

"Lor lumme (= Lord, love me — Бог мой — выражает изумление), what's the

matter with the old lady now (что случилось со старушкой: «старой леди

сейчас»)?"

 

perhaps [pq'hxps] kneeling ['ni:lIN] lor [lO:] lumme ['lAmI]

 

"Oh, I don't care a hang about that. As long as we can find plays with star

parts for you I don't matter. Perhaps in the next play there'll be a good part

for me too."