Дом на Пуховом углу - [45]

"Oh, Eeyore," began Piglet a little nervously, because Eeyore was busy.

Eeyore put out a paw and waved him away.

"To-morrow," said Eeyore. "Or the next day."

Piglet came a little closer to see what it was. Eeyore had three sticks on the ground, and was looking at them. Two of the sticks were touching at one end, but not at the other, and the third stick was laid across them. Piglet thought that perhaps it was a Trap of some kind.

"Oh, Eeyore," he began again (ах, Иа, — начал он опять), "I just (я только) — "

"Is that little Piglet?" said Eeyore (это /ты/ маленький Пятачок? — спросил Иа), still looking hard at his sticks (все еще пристально глядя на свои палочки).

"Yes, Eeyore, and I (да, Иа, и я) — "

"Do you know what this is (ты знаешь, что это)?"

"No," said Piglet (но, — сказал Пятачок).

"It's an A (это А)."

"Oh," said Piglet (о, — сказал Пятачок).

again [q'gen], hard [hRd], know [nqu]

"Oh, Eeyore," he began again, "I just — "

"Is that little Piglet?" said Eeyore, still looking hard at his sticks.

"Yes, Eeyore, and I — "

"Do you know what this is?"

"No," said Piglet.

"It's an A."

"Oh," said Piglet.

"Not O — A," said Eeyore severely (не О, а А, — сказал Иа строго). "Can't you hear (разве ты не слышишь), or do you think you have more education than Christopher Robin (или ты думаешь, что у тебя больше образования, чем у Кристофера Робина)?"

"Yes," said Piglet (да, — сказал Пятачок). "No," said Piglet very quickly (нет, — сказал Пятачок очень быстро). And he came closer still (и он подошел еще ближе).

"Christopher Robin said it was an A (Кристофер Робин сказал, что это А), and an A it is (и это /будет/ А) — until somebody treads on it (пока кто-нибудь /не/ наступит на нее[36])," Eeyore added sternly (добавил сурово Иа).

Piglet jumped backwards hurriedly (Пятачок поспешно отпрыгнул назад), and smelt at his violets (и понюхал свои фиалки).

"Do you know what A means, little Piglet (ты знаешь, маленький Пятачок, что означает А)?"

"No, Eeyore, I don't (нет, Иа, не знаю)."

tread [tred], sternly [stWnlI], hurriedly ['hArIdlI]

"Not O — A," said Eeyore severely. "Can't you hear, or do you think you have more education than Christopher Robin?"

"Yes," said Piglet. "No," said Piglet very quickly. And he came closer still.

"Christopher Robin said it was an A, and an A it is — until somebody treads on it," Eeyore added sternly.

Piglet jumped backwards hurriedly, and smelt at his violets.

"Do you know what A means, little Piglet?"

"No, Eeyore, I don't."

"It means Learning (она означает Учение), it means Education (она означает Образование), it means all the things that you and Pooh haven't got (она означает все то, чего нет у тебя и Пуха). That's what A means (вот что значит А)."

"Oh," said Piglet again (о, — снова сказал Пятачок). "I mean, does it (я хочу сказать, вот как)?" he explained quickly (быстро пояснил он).

"I'm telling you (говорю тебе). People come and go in this Forest (ходят здесь в Лесу туда-сюда люди = всякие; to come and go — ходитьтуда-сюда, ходитьвзад-вперед), and they say (и /они/ говорят), 'It's only Eeyore, so it doesn't count (это всего лишь Иа, поэтому это не считается).' They walk to and fro saying 'Ha ha (они ходят взад и вперед и говорят: ха-ха)!' But do they know anything about A (но знают ли они что-нибудь об А)? They don't (нет). It's just three sticks to them (для них это просто три палочки). But to the Educated — mark this (но для Образованных — запомни это), little Piglet — to the Educated (маленький Пятачок — для Образованных), not meaning Poohs and Piglets (не имея в виду = я не имею в виду Пухов и Пятачков), it's a great and glorious A (это великая и славная А). Not," he added, "just something that anybody can come and breathe on (не просто что-то, к чему можно подойти и дохнуть на него, — добавил он; tobreatheon = breathupon пятнать чью-либо репутацию; чернить, клеветать)."

fro [frqu], glorious ['glLrIqs], breathe [brJD]

"It means Learning, it means Education, it means all the things that you and Pooh haven't got. That's what A means."

"Oh," said Piglet again. "I mean, does it?" he explained quickly.

"I'm telling you. People come and go in this Forest, and they say, 'It's only Eeyore, so it doesn't count.' They walk to and fro saying 'Ha ha!' But do they know anything about A? They don't. It's just three sticks to them. But to the Educated — mark this, little Piglet — to the Educated, not meaning Poohs and Piglets, it's a great and glorious A. Not," he added, "just something that anybody can come and breathe on."

Piglet stepped back nervously (Пятачок нервно отступил назад), and looked round for help (и оглянулся в поисках помощи).

"Here's Rabbit," he said gladly (вот и Кролик, — сказал он радостно). "Hallo, Rabbit (привет, Кролик)."

Rabbit came up importantly (Кролик важно подошел), nodded to Piglet, and said (кивнул Пятачку и сказал), "Ah, Eeyore," in the voice of one (а, Иа, — голосом персоны[37]) who would be saying "Good-bye" in about two more minutes (которая еще минуты через две скажет «до свидания»).

"There's just one thing I wanted to ask you, Eeyore (есть лишь одно дело, о котором я хотел спросить тебя / лишь один вопрос, который я хотел задать тебе, Иа). What happens to Christopher Robin in the mornings nowadays (что происходит с Кристофером Робином по утрам сейчас =