Tree Men on the Bummel / Трое на четырех колесах. Книга для чтения на английском языке

I shall tell her,” I continued, turning to Harris, “that it is you who have shown me my duty in this respect; that it is to you we shall owe – ”

Harris put down his glass rather hurriedly.

“If you don’t mind, old man,” he interrupted, “I’d really rather you didn’t. She’ll talk it over with my wife, and – well, I should not be happy, taking credit that I do not deserve[2 - taking credit that I do not deserve – (зд.) принимая комплименты, которых не заслужил].

”

“But you do deserve it,” I insisted; “it was your suggestion.”

“It was you gave me the idea,” interrupted Harris again. “You know you said it was a mistake for a man to get into a groove, and that unbroken domesticity cloyed the brain[3 - cloyed the brain – (разг.) способствовало разжижению мозгов].”

“I was speaking generally,” I explained.

“It struck me as very apt,” said Harris. “I thought of repeating it to Clara; she has a great opinion of your sense, I know.

I am sure that if – ”

“We won’t risk it,” I interrupted, in my turn; “it is a delicate matter, and I see a way out of it. We will say George suggested the idea.”

There is a lack of genial helpfulness about George that it sometimes vexes me to notice. You would have thought he would have welcomed the chance of assisting two old friends out of a dilemma; instead, he became disagreeable.

“You do[4 - you do – (разг.

) только попробуй],” said George, “and I shall tell them both that my original plan was that we should make a party – children and all; that I should bring my aunt, and that we should hire a charming old chateau I know of in Normandy, on the coast, where the climate is peculiarly adapted to delicate children, and the milk such as you do not get in England. I shall add that you over-rode that suggestion, arguing we should be happier by ourselves.”

With a man like George kindness is of no use; you have to be firm.

“You do,” said Harris, “and I, for one, will close with the offer[5 - I, for one, will close with the offer – (разг.) что касается меня, то я – за]. We will just take that chateau. You will bring your aunt – I will see to that[6 - I will see to that – (разг.) уж я об этом позабочусь], – and we will have a month of it. The children are all fond of you; J.