Jane remained perfectly composed. She observed her sister-in-law’s agitation with detachment

"I don’t think he is, you know, she replied. "I think he’s very fond of me."

"You’re an old woman, Jane."

"I’m the same age as you are, Marion," she smiled.

"I’ve never let myself go. I’m very young for my age. No one would think I was more than forty. But even I wouldn’t dream of marrying a boy twenty years younger than myself."

"Twenty-seven," corrected Jane.

"Do you mean to tell me that you can bring yourself to believe that it’s possible for a young man to care for a woman old enough to be his mother?"

"I’ve lived very much in the country for many years (я много лет прожила в сельской местности). I daresay there’s a great deal about human nature that I don’t know (пожалуй, есть многое, чего я не знаю о человеческой природе/сущности). They tell me there’s a man called Freud, an Austrian, I believe — (мне рассказывали, что есть человек по имени Фрейд, австриец, кажется)"

But Mrs. Tower interrupted her without any politeness at all (но миссис Тауэр прервала ее, совершенно не заботясь о вежливости: «совсем без какой-либо вежливости»).

"Don’t be ridiculous, Jane (не будь смешной, Джейн). It’s so undignified (это так недостойно; dignity — достоинство; to dignify — облагораживать; придаватьлоск, достоинство). It’s so ungraceful (так низко: «неизящно»; grace— грация; вежливость, приличие). I always thought you were a sensible woman (я всегда думала, что ты разумная женщина). Really you’re the last person I should ever have thought (ты ведь последний человек, на которого я бы могла подумать) likely to fall in love with a boy (что он способен влюбиться в мальчишку; likely— вероятный; способный;tofallinlove— влюбиться)."

"But I’m not in love with him (но я не влюблена в него). I’ve told him that (я сказала ему об этом). Of course I like him very much (конечно, он мне очень нравится) or I wouldn’t think of marrying him (иначе я бы и не подумала выходить за него). I thought it only fair (я считала, будет справедливым/честным) to tell him quite plainly (сказать ему откровенно/прямо) what my feelings were towards him (каковы мои чувства к нему)."

nature ['neICq], interrupt [Intq'rApt], undignified [An'dIgnIfaId]

"I’ve lived very much in the country for many years. I daresay there’s a great deal about human nature that I don’t know. They tell me there’s a man called Freud, an Austrian, I believe — "