The last week of my holidays old Mrs. Simmonds died above the shop and left all her fortune to her daughter. At the same time I got tonsillitis and could not return to school.

I was attended by our woman doctor, the widow of the town's former doctor who had quite recently died. This was the first time I had seen Dr. Gray, although I had known the other Dr. Gray, her husband, whom I missed. The new Dr. Gray was a sharp-faced athletic woman. She was said to be young. She came to visit me every day for a week. After consideration I decided she was normal and in the right, though dull.

Through the feverish part of my illness (когда у меня было лихорадочное состояние во время болезни; fever — лихорадка, жар) I saw Basil at the desk through the window (я видела Бэзила у рабочего стола, через окно) and I heard Dorothy scream (и слышала, как Дороти кричит). While I was convalescent (когда я выздоравливала) I went for walks (я ходила на прогулки), and always returned by the lane beside the Simmonds' house (и всегда возвращалась по переулку, ведущему мимо дома Симмондса). There had been no bickering over the mother's will (не было никаких пререканий о завещании /его/ матери). Everyone said the eye-drop affair was a terrible accident (все говорили, что та история с глазными каплями была ужасным несчастным случаем). Miss Simmonds had retired (мисс Симмондс отошла от дел) and was said to be going rather dotty (и говорили, что она тронулась умом; to go dotty — быть не в своем уме, рехнуться, тронуться).

I saw Dr. Gray leaving the Simmonds' at six o'clock one evening (я видела, как доктор Грей выходит от Симмондсов в шесть часов вечера). She must have been calling on poor Miss Simmonds (она, должно быть, посещала бедную мисс Симмондс). She noticed me at once as I emerged from the lane (она тут же заметила меня, когда я вышла с переулка).

" Don't loiter about, Joan (не слоняйся без дела, Джоан). It's getting chilly (становится прохладно; chilly — холодный, зябкий, промозглый)."

convalescent [" kOnvq'les(q)nt] bicker ['bIkq] loiter ['lOItq] chilly ['CIlI]

Through the feverish part of my illness I saw Basil at the desk through the window and I heard Dorothy scream. While I was convalescent I went for walks, and always returned by the lane beside the Simmonds' house. There had been no bickering over the mother's will. Everyone said the eye-drop affair was a terrible accident. Miss Simmonds had retired and was said to be going rather dotty.

I saw Dr. Gray leaving the Simmonds' at six o'clock one evening. She must have been calling on poor Miss Simmonds. She noticed me at once as I emerged from the lane.

" Don't loiter about, Joan. It's getting chilly."

The next evening (следующим вечером) I saw a light in the office window (я увидела свет в окне того кабинета). I stood under the tree and looked (я стояла под деревом и смотрела). Dr. Gray sat upon the desk with her back to me (доктор Грей сидела на столе, спиной ко мне), quite close (достаточно близко), Mr. Simmonds sat in his chair talking to her (господин Симмондс сидел в /своем/ кресле, разговаривая с ней), tilting back his chair (отклонив его назад; to tilt — наклонять, опрокидывать, откидывать). A bottle of sherry stood on the table (бутылка хереса стояла на столе). They each had a glass half-filled with sherry (у каждого из них был бокал, наполовину наполненный хересом). Dr. Gray swung her legs (доктор Грей покачивала: «болтала» ногами; to swing (swung) — качать, размахивать, раскачивать), she was in the wrong, sexy (она выглядела порочной, сексуальной), like our morning help (как наша помощница, приходившая по утрам: «наша утренняя помощница») who sat on the kitchen table swinging her legs (которая обычно сидела на кухонном столе, болтая ногами).

But then she spoke (но затем она сказала). " It will take time (это займет время), " she said. " A very difficult patient (очень сложный пациент), of course (конечно)."

Basil nodded (Бэзил кивнул головой; to nod — кивать головой). Dr. Gray swung her legs (доктор Грей покачивала ногами), and looked professional (и выглядела профессионально). She was in the right (она выглядела правильно), she looked like our games mistress who sometimes sat on a desk swinging her legs (она выглядела, как наша учительница физкультуры, которая иногда сидела на столе и болтала ногами; games mistress — преподавательница физкультуры, организатор спортивных игр).

tilting ['tIltIN] swinging ['swININ] patient ['peIS(q)nt] mistress ['mIstrIs]

The next evening I saw a light in the office window. I stood under the tree and looked. Dr. Gray sat upon the desk with her back to me, quite close. Mr. Simmonds sat in his chair talking to her, tilting back his chair. A bottle of sherry stood on the table. They each had a glass half-filled with sherry. Dr. Gray swung her legs, she was in the wrong, sexy, like our morning help who sat on the kitchen table swinging her legs.

But then she spoke. " It will take time, " she said. " A very difficult patient, of course."