If the observation was meant to discomfit the widow it failed

"Gilbert says I mustn’t acknowledge to more than forty-nine for his sake," she answered blandly.

Mrs. Tower’s hands trembled slightly, but she found a retort.

"There is of course a certain disparity of age between you," she smiled.

"Twenty-seven years," said Jane. "Do you think it’s too much? Gilbert says I’m very young for my age. I told you I shouldn’t like to marry a man with one foot in the grave."

I was really obliged to laugh (я действительно был обязан = мнепришлось засмеяться; to oblige — обязывать), and Gilbert laughed too (и Гилберт тоже засмеялся). His laughter was frank and boyish (его смех был искренним и мальчишеским; boy — мальчик). It looked as though he were amused at everything Jane said (выглядело = казалось, будто он смеялся/забавлялся над всем, что говорила Джейн; to amuse — забавлять). But Mrs. Tower was almost at the end of her tether (но терпение миссис Тауэр было почти на исходе: «была на грани терпения»; tether — привязь/дляпасущегосяживотного/;перен. предел; граница), and I was afraid that unless relief came (и я боялся, что если обстановка не разрядится: «если не придет облегчение») she would for once forget that she was a woman of the world (она забудет, что она — светская женщина; world — мир; общество;свет). I came to the rescue as best I could (я поспешил на выручку, стараясь изо всех сил: «так лучше, как только мог»; torescue— спасать;rescue— спасение).

"I suppose you’re very busy buying your trousseau (полагаю, вы /сейчас/ очень заняты покупкой приданого)," I said.

"No. I wanted to get my things from the dressmaker in Liverpool (я хотела приобрести себе вещи у портнихи в Ливерпуле) I’ve been to ever since I was first married (у которой я бывала с тех пор, как впервые вышла замуж). But Gilbert won’t let me (но Гилберт не позволил мне). He’s very masterful (он очень властный/своенравный), and of course he has wonderful taste (и конечно же, у него прекрасный вкус)."

She looked at him with a little affectionate smile (она посмотрела на него с легкой любящей улыбкой), demurely (застенчиво), as though she were a girl of seventeen (словно она была семнадцатилетней девушкой).

oblige [q'blaIG], rescue ['reskjH], trousseau ['trHsqu], affectionate [q'fekSnIt]

I was really obliged to laugh, and Gilbert laughed too. His laughter was frank and boyish. It looked as though he were amused at everything Jane said. But Mrs. Tower was almost at the end of her tether, and I was afraid that unless relief came she would for once forget that she was a woman of the world. I came to the rescue as best I could.

"I suppose you’re very busy buying your trousseau," I said.

"No. I wanted to get my things from the dressmaker in Liverpool I’ve been to ever since I was first married. But Gilbert won’t let me. He’s very masterful, and of course he has wonderful taste."