The Professor / Учитель. Книга для чтения на английском языке

“You see I am meditating in the field at eventide,” continued this shade. “God knows it’s cool work! especially as instead of Rebecca on a camel’s hump, with bracelets on her arms and a ring in her nose, Fate sends me only a counting-house clerk, in a grey tweed wrapper.” The voice was familiar to me – its second utterance enabled me to seize the speaker’s identity.

“Mr. Hunsden! good evening.”

“Good evening, indeed! yes, but you would have passed me without recognition if I had not been so civil as to speak first.

”

“I did not know you.”

“A famous excuse![51 - A famous excuse! – (разг.) Р?звестная отговорка!] You ought to have known me; I knew you, though you were going ahead like a steam-engine. Are the police after you?”

“It wouldn’t be worth their while; I’m not of consequence enough to attract them.”

“Alas, poor shepherd! Alack and well-a-day![52 - Alack and well-a-day! – (разг.

) Увы и ах!] What a theme for regret, and how down in the mouth you must be[53 - how down in the mouth you must be – (разг.) должно быть, пребываете в унынии], judging from the sound of your voice! But since you’re not running from the police, from whom are you running? the devil?”

“On the contrary, I am going post to him.”

“That is well – you’re just in luck[54 - you’re just in luck – (разг.) вам повезло]: this is Tuesday evening; there are scores of market gigs and carts returning to Dinneford to-night; and he, or some of his, have a seat in all regularly; so, if you’ll step in and sit half-an-hour in my bachelor’s parlour, you may catch him as he passes without much trouble.

I think though you’d better let him alone to-night, he’ll have so many customers to serve; Tuesday is his busy day in X – — and Dinneford; come in at all events.”

He swung the wicket open as he spoke.

“Do you really wish me to go in?” I asked.

“As you please – I’m alone; your company for an hour or two would be agreeable to me; but, if you don’t choose to favour me so far, I’ll not press the point. I hate to bore any one.[55 - I hate to bore any one. – (разг.) Терпеть не могу кому-либо навязываться.]”

It suited me to accept the invitation as it suited Hunsden to give it.