Сборник лучших английских сказок. Уровень 1

When he came home his father said, �You must go and try your luck tomorrow,’ and the third day it seemed as if it would be the same thing over again[81 - over again – снова, ещё раз]. And he had half a mind not to go back at all, his father would be so angry. As he came to a bridge he leaned[82 - lean – прислониться] on the parapet thinking of his trouble, and that perhaps it would be foolish to run away from home, but he could not tell which to do; when he saw a girl washing her clothes on the bank below.

She looked up and said: �If it may be no offence[83 - offence – оскорбление] asking, what is it you feel so badly about?’

�My father has given me this skin, and I am to fetch it back and the price of it beside.’

�Is that all? Give it here, and it’s easy done.’

So the girl washed the skin in the stream, took the wool from it, and paid him the value of it, and gave him the skin to carry back.

His father was well pleased, and said to Jack, �That was a witty[84 - witty – остроумный] woman; she would make you a good wife.

Do you think you could tell her again?’

Jack thought he could, so his father told him to go by and by to the bridge, and see if she was there, and if so ask her come home to take tea with them.

And Jack spied her and told her how his old father had a wish to meet her, and would she be pleased to drink tea with them.

The girl thanked him kindly, and said she could come the next day; she was too busy at the moment.

�All the better,’ said Jack, �I’ll have time to make ready.’

So when she came Gobborn Seer could see she was a witty woman, and he asked her if she would marry his Jack. She said �Yes,’ and they were married.

Not long after, Jack’s father told him he must come with him and build the finest castle that ever was seen.

And as they went to lay the foundation-stone, Gobborn Seer said to Jack, �Can’t you shorten the way[85 - shorten the way – сократить путь] for me?’

But Jack looked ahead and there was a long road before them, and he said, �I don’t see, father, how I could break a bit off[86 - break off – зд.

срезать путь].’

�You’re no good to me, then, and had best be off home.’

So poor Jack turned back, and when he came in his wife said, �Why, how’s this you’ve come alone?’ and he told her what his father had said and his answer.