The Enchanted April | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

The Enchanted April | Progressive Translation Books for Danish B2 Learners

Discover the advantages of this innovative translation method, designed to cater to your learning needs. You can select your preferred difficulty level, ensuring a well-balanced challenge that isn't too overwhelming. This technique sharpens your comprehension skills by encouraging you to derive meaning from context, minimizing the need for direct translations. While some words are purposefully obscured to promote contextual guessing, looking up unclear terms is always an option. With this method, language learning becomes both accessible and enjoyable, blending challenge with support. Explore translated classics and experience the excitement of learning through literature.

Chapter1
ItbeganinaWoman’sClubinLondonona
Februar
February
afternoon—anuncomfortableclub,andamiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,whohadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshopandhadlunchedatherclub,tookupTheTimesfromthetableinthesmoking-room,andrunningherlistlesseyedowntheAgonyColumnsawthis:.
ToThosewhoAppreciateWistariaandSunshine.
SmallmediaevalItalianCastleontheshoresofthe
Middelhavet
Mediterranean
tobeLetFurnishedforthemonthofApril.
Necessaryservantsremain.
Z,Box1000,TheTimes.
Thatwasits
opfattelse
conception
;
yet,asinthecaseofmanyanother,theconceiverwasunawareofitatthemoment.
So
helt
entirely
unawarewasMrs.WilkinsthatherAprilforthatyearhadthenandtherebeensettledforherthatshedroppedthenewspaperwitha
gestus
gesture
thatwasbothirritatedandresigned,andwentovertothewindowand
stirrede
stared
drearilyoutatthedrippingstreet.
Notforherweremediaevalcastles,eventhosethatare
specielt
specially
describedassmall.
NotforhertheshoresinAprilofthe
Middelhavet
Mediterranean
,andthewistariaand
solskin
sunshine
.
Suchdelightswereonlyfortherich.
Yettheadvertisementhadbeenaddressedtopersonswhoappreciatethesethings,sothatithadbeen,anyhow,addressedtootoher,forshecertainlyappreciatedthem;
morethananybodyknew;
morethanshehadevertold.
Butshewaspoor.
Inthewholeworldshe
besad
possessed
ofherveryownonlyninetypounds,savedfromyeartoyear,putbycarefully
pund
pound
bypound,outofherdress
tilskud
allowance
.
Shehadscrapedthis
sum
sum
togetheratthesuggestionofherhusbandasa
skjold
shield
andrefugeagainsta
regnfuld
rainy
day.
Herdressallowance,givenherbyherfather,was£100ayear,sothatMrs.Wilkins’sclotheswerewhatherhusband,
opfordrer
urging
hertosave,calledmodestandbecoming,andher
bekendtskab
acquaintance
toeachother,whentheyspokeofheratall,whichwas
sjældent
seldom
forshewasverynegligible,calledaperfectsight.
Mr.
Wilkins,a
advokat
solicitor
,encouragedthrift,exceptthat
gren
branch
ofitwhichgotintohisfood.
Hedidnotcallthatthrift,hecalleditbadhousekeeping.
Butforthethriftwhich,like
møl
moth
,penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’sclothesand
ødelagde
spoilt
them,hehadmuch
ros
praise
.
“Youneverknow,”hesaid,“whentherewillbea
regnfuld
rainy
day,andyoumaybeverygladtofindyouhaveanest-egg.
Indeedwebothmay.”
LookingoutoftheclubwindowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasaneconomicalclub,butconvenientforHampstead,whereshelived,andforShoolbred’s,wheresheshopped—Mrs.
Wilkins,havingstoodtheresometimeverydrearily,hermind’seyeonthe
Middelhavet
Mediterranean
inApril,andthewistaria,andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherich,whileher
kropslige
bodily
eyewatchedthereallyextremelyhorriblesootyrainfalling
støt
steadily
onthehurryingumbrellasandsplashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedwhetherperhapsthiswasnotthe
regnfulde
rainy
dayMellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsooften
opmuntret
encouraged
hertopreparefor,andwhethertogetoutofsucha
klima
climate
andintothesmallmediaevalcastlewasn’tperhapswhat
Providence
Providence
hadallalongintendedhertodowithhersavings.
Partofhersavings,ofcourse;
perhapsquiteasmallpart.
Thecastle,beingmediaeval,mightalsobedilapidated,anddilapidationsweresurelycheap.
Shewouldn’tintheleastmindafewofthem,becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidationswhichwerealreadythere;
onthecontrary—by
reducere
reducing
thepriceyouhadtopaytheyreallypaidyou.
Butwhatnonsensetothinkofit...
Sheturnedawayfromthewindowwiththesame
gestus
gesture
ofmingledirritationand
resignation
resignation
withwhichshehadlaiddownTheTimes,andcrossedtheroomtowardsthedoorwiththe
hensigt
intention
ofgettinghermackintoshand
paraply
umbrella
andfightingherwayintooneoftheovercrowdedomnibusesandgoingtoShoolbred’sonherwayhomeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultwithfishandlikedonlysoles,exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,awomansheknewbysightasalsolivinginHampsteadandbelongingtotheclub,sittingatthetableinthemiddleoftheroomonwhichthenewspapersandmagazineswerekept,absorbed,inherturn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.
Mrs.
WilkinshadneveryetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,whobelongedtooneofthe
forskellige
various
churchsets,andwhoanalysed,classified,dividedand
registrerede
registered
thepoor;
whereassheandMellersh,whentheydidgoout,wenttothepartiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadthereweremany.
Mellershhadasisterwhohadmarriedoneofthemandliveduponthe
Heath
Heath
,andbecauseofthis
alliance
alliance
Mrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacirclewhichwashighly
unaturlig
unnatural
toher,andshehadlearnedto
frygte
dread
pictures.
Shehadtosaythingsaboutthem,andshedidn’tknowwhattosay.
Sheusedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”andfeelthatitwasnotenough.
Butnobodyminded.
Nobodylistened.
NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.
Shewasthekindofpersonwhoisnotnoticedatparties.
Herclothes,infestedbythrift,madeher
praktisk
practically
invisible;
herfacewasnon-arresting;
herconversationwas
tilbageholdende
reluctant
;
shewasshy.
Andifone’sclothesandfaceandconversationareallnegligible,thoughtMrs.Wilkins,who
anerkendte
recognised
herdisabilities,what,atparties,isthereleftofone?
AlsoshewasalwayswithWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingman,whogaveaparty,
blot
merely
bycomingtoit,agreatair.
Wilkinswasvery
respektabel
respectable
.
Hewasknowntobehighlythoughtofbyhisseniorpartners.
Hissister’scircle
beundrede
admired
him.
Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentsonartandartists.
Hewaspithy;
hewas
forsigtig
prudent
;
heneversaidawordtoomuch,nor,ontheotherhand,didheeversayawordtoolittle.
Heproducedthe
indtryk
impression
ofkeepingcopiesofeverythinghesaid;
andhewassoobviously
pålidelig
reliable
thatitoftenhappenedthatpeoplewhomethimatthesepartiesbecamediscontentedwiththeirownsolicitors,andafteraperiodof
rastløshed
restlessness
extricatedthemselvesandwenttoWilkins.
Naturligvis
Naturally
Mrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.
“She,”saidhissister,withsomethingherselfofthe
retslige
judicial
,thedigested,andthefinalinher
måde
manner
,“shouldstayathome.”
ButWilkinscouldnotleavehiswifeathome.
Hewasafamily
advokat
solicitor
,andallsuchhavewivesandshowthem.
Withhisintheweekhewenttoparties,andwithhisonSundayshewenttochurch.
Beingstill
ret
fairly
young—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomhehadnotyetacquiredinhispracticeasufficientnumber,hecouldnotaffordtomisschurch,anditwastherethatMrs.Wilkinsbecamefamiliar,thoughneverthroughwords,withMrs.Arbuthnot.
Shesawhermarshallingthechildrenofthepoorintopews.
ShewouldcomeinattheheadoftheprocessionfromtheSundaySchoolexactlyfiveminutesbeforethe
koret
choir
,andgetherboysandgirlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,anddownontheirlittlekneesintheir
indledende
preliminary
prayer,andupagainontheirfeetjustas,totheswelling
orgel
organ
,thevestrydooropened,andthe
koret
choir
andclergy,bigwiththelitaniesandcommandmentstheywere
øjeblikket
presently
torollout,emerged.
Shehadasadface,yetshewas
tydeligvis
evidently
efficient.
ThecombinationusedtomakeMrs.Wilkinswonder,forshehadbeentoldbyMellersh,ondayswhenshehadonlybeenabletogetplaice,thatifonewere
effektiv
efficient
onewouldn’tbedepressed,andthatifonedoesone’sjobwellonebecomes
automatisk
automatically
brightandbrisk.
AboutMrs.Arbuthnottherewasnothingbrightandbrisk,thoughmuchinherwaywiththeSundaySchoolchildrenthatwas
automatisk
automatic
;
butwhenMrs.Wilkins,turningfromthewindow,caughtsightofherintheclubshewasnotbeing
automatisk
automatic
atall,butwaslookingfixedlyatone
del
portion
ofthefirstpageofTheTimes,holdingthepaperquitestill,hereyesnotmoving.
Shewasjust
stirrede
staring
;
andherface,asusual,wasthefaceofapatientanddisappointedMadonna.
Adlød
Obeying
animpulseshewonderedatevenwhile
adlød
obeying
it,Mrs.Wilkins,theshyandthe
tilbageholdende
reluctant
,insteadofproceedingasshehadintendedtothecloakroomandfromthencetoSchoolbred’sinsearchofMellersh’sfish,stoppedatthetableandsatdownexactlyoppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomshehadneveryetspokeninherlife.
Itwasoneofthoselong,
smalle
narrow
refectorytables,sothattheywerequiteclosetoeachother.
Mrs.
Arbuthnot,however,didnotlookup.
Shecontinuedto
stirre
gaze
,witheyesthatseemedtobedreaming,atonespotonlyofTheTimes.
Mrs.
Wilkinswatchedheraminute,tryingtoscrewupcouragetospeaktoher.
Shewantedtoaskherifshehadseentheadvertisement.
Shedidnotknowwhyshewantedtoaskherthis,butshewantedto.
Howstupidnottobeabletospeaktoher.
Shelookedsokind.
Shelookedsounhappy.
Whycouldn’ttwounhappypeoplerefresheachotherontheirwaythroughthis
støvede
dusty
businessoflifebyalittletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheyfelt,whattheywouldhaveliked,whattheystilltriedtohope?
AndshecouldnothelpthinkingthatMrs.Arbuthnot,too,wasreadingthatverysame
annonce
advertisement
.
Hereyeswereontheverypartofthepaper.
Wasshe,too,picturingwhatitwouldbelike—thecolour,the
duften
fragrance
,thelight,thesoftlappingoftheseaamonglittlehotrocks?
Farve
Colour
,fragrance,light,sea;
insteadofShaftesbury
Avenue
Avenue
,andthewetomnibuses,andthefishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,andthe
Tube
Tube
toHampstead,anddinner,andto-morrowthesameandthedayafterthesameandalwaysthesame...
SuddenlyMrs.Wilkinsfoundherselfleaningacrossthetable.
“Areyoureadingaboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria?”
sheheardherselfasking.
Naturligvis
Naturally
Mrs.Arbuthnotwassurprised;
butshewasnothalfsomuchsurprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforasking.
Mrs.
Arbuthnothadnotyettoherknowledgeseteyesontheshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfiguresittingoppositeher,withitssmallfreckledfaceandbig
grå
grey
eyesalmostdisappearingunderasmashed-downwet-weatherhat,andshe
stirrede
gazed
atheramomentwithoutanswering.
Shewasreadingaboutthemediaevalcastleandthewistaria,orratherhadreadaboutittenminutesbefore,andsincethenhadbeenlostindreams—oflight,of
farve
colour
,offragrance,ofthesoftlappingoftheseaamonglittlehotrocks...
“Whydoyouaskmethat?”
shesaidinhergravevoice,forhertrainingofandbythepoorhadmadehergraveandpatient.
Mrs.
Wilkinsflushedandlookedexcessivelyshyandfrightened.
“Oh,onlybecauseIsawittoo,andIthoughtperhaps—Ithoughtsomehow—”
shestammered.
WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,hermindbeingusedtogettingpeopleintolistsanddivisions,from
vane
habit
considered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,underwhatheading,supposingshehadtoclassifyher,shecouldmostproperlybeput.
“AndIknowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,who,likealltheshy,onceshewasstartedplungedon,
skræmme
frightening
herselftomoreandmorespeechbythe
rene
sheer
soundofwhatshehadsaidlastinherears.
“EverySunday—IseeyoueverySundayinchurch—”.
“Inchurch?”
echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Andthisseemssuchawonderfulthing—this
reklame
advertisement
aboutthewistaria—and—”.
Mrs.
Wilkins,whomusthavebeenatleastthirty,brokeoffandwriggledinherchairwiththemovementofan
akavet
awkward
andembarrassedschoolgirl.
“Itseemssowonderful,”shewentoninakindofburst,“and—itissuchamiserableday...”
AndthenshesatlookingatMrs.Arbuthnotwiththeeyesofanimprisoneddog.
“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,whoselifewasspentinhelpingandalleviating,“needsadvice.”
She
derfor
accordingly
preparedherselfpatientlytogiveit.
“Ifyouseemeinchurch,”shesaid,
venligt
kindly
andattentively,“IsupposeyouliveinHampsteadtoo?”
“Ohyes,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
Andsherepeated,herheadonitslongthinneckdroopingalittleasiftherecollectionofHampsteadbowedher,“Ohyes.”
“Where?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot,who,whenadvicewasneeded,
naturligvis
naturally
firstproceededtocollectthefacts.
ButMrs.Wilkins,layingherhand
blødt
softly
andcaressinglyonthepartofTheTimeswheretheadvertisementwas,asthoughthemere
trykte
printed
wordsofitwereprecious,onlysaid,“Perhapsthat’swhythisseemssowonderful.”
“No—Ithinkthat’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,forgettingfactsandfaintly
sukke
sighing
.
“Thenyouwerereadingit?”
“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyesgoing
drømmende
dreamy
again.
“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”
murmuredMrs.Wilkins.
“Wonderful,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot.
Herface,whichhad
tændt
lit
up,fadedintopatienceagain.
“Verywonderful,”shesaid.
“Butit’snousewastingone’stimethinkingofsuchthings.”
“Oh,butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,surprising
svar
reply
;
surprisingbecauseitwassomuch
modsætning
unlike
therestofher—thecharacterlesscoatand
nederdel
skirt
,thecrumpledhat,theundecidedwispofhairstragglingout.
“Andjusttheconsideringofthemisworthwhileinitself—suchachangefromHampstead—andsometimesIbelieve—Ireallydobelieve—ifoneconsidershardenoughonegetsthings.”
Mrs.
Arbuthnot
observerede
observed
herpatiently.
Inwhat
kategori
category
wouldshe,supposingshehadto,puther?
“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaningforwardalittle,“youwilltellmeyourname.
Ifwearetobefriends”—shesmiledhergravesmile—“asIhopeweare,wehadbetterbeginatthebeginning.”
“Ohyes—howkindofyou.
I’mMrs.Wilkins,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Idon’texpect,”sheadded,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnotsaidnothing,“thatit
formidler
conveys
anythingtoyou.
Sometimesit—itdoesn’tseemto
formidle
convey
anythingtomeeither.
But”—shelookedroundwithamovementofseekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”
Shedidnotlikehername.
Itwasamean,smallname,withakindoffacetious
twist
twist
,shethought,aboutitsendlikethe
opadgående
upward
curveofapugdog’stail.
Thereitwas,however.
Therewasnodoinganythingwithit.
WilkinsshewasandWilkinsshewouldremain;
andthoughherhusband
opfordrede
encouraged
hertogiveitonalloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinssheonlydidthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forshethoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthewayChatsworthonthegate-postsofa
villa
villa
emphasisesthevilla.
WhenfirsthesuggestedsheshouldaddMellershshehadobjectedfortheabovereason,andafterapause—Mellershwasmuchtooprudenttospeakexceptaftera
pause
pause
,duringwhichpresumablyhewastakingacarefulmentalcopyofhiscomingobservation—hesaid,muchdispleased,“ButIamnotavilla,”andlookedatherashelookswhohopes,forperhapsthehundredthtime,thathemaynothavemarriedafool.
Ofcoursehewasnota
villa
villa
,Mrs.Wilkinsassuredhim;
shehadneversupposedhewas;
shehadnotdreamedofmeaning...
shewasonlyjustthinking...
ThemoresheexplainedthemoreearnestbecameMellersh’shope,familiartohimbythistime,forhehadthenbeenahusbandfortwoyears,thathemightnotbyanychancehavemarriedafool;
andtheyhadaprolonged
skænderi
quarrel
,ifthatcanbecalleda
skænderi
quarrel
whichisconductedwith
værdig
dignified
silenceononesideandearnestapologyontheother,astowhetherornoMrs.WilkinshadintendedtosuggestthatMr.Wilkinswasa
villa
villa
.
“Ibelieve,”shehadthoughtwhenitwasatlastover—ittookalongwhile—“thatanybodywould
skændes
quarrel
aboutanythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeingtogetherforasingledayfortwowholeyears.
Whatwebothneedisaholiday.”
“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,tryingtothrowsomelightonherself,“isa
advokat
solicitor
.
He—”
ShecastaboutforsomethingshecouldsayelucidatoryofMellersh,andfound:
“He’sveryhandsome.”
“Well,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot
venligt
kindly
,“thatmustbeagreatpleasuretoyou.”
“Why?”
askedMrs.Wilkins.
“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,alittletakenaback,for
konstant
constant
intercoursewiththepoorhadaccustomedhertohaveherpronouncementsacceptedwithoutquestion,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isagiftlikeanyother,andifitisproperlyused—”.
Shetrailedoffintosilence.
Mrs.Wilkins’sgreat
grå
grey
eyeswerefixedonher,anditseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotthatperhapsshewasbecomingcrystallisedintoa
vane
habit
ofexposition,andofexpositionafterthe
måde
manner
ofnursemaids,throughhavinganaudiencethatcouldn’tbutagree,thatwouldbeafraid,ifitwished,to
afbryde
interrupt
,thatdidn’tknow,thatwas,infact,athermercy.
ButMrs.Wilkinswasnotlistening;
forjustthen,
absurd
absurd
asitseemed,apicturehadflashedacrossherbrain,andthereweretwofiguresinitsittingtogetherunderagreattrailingwistariathat
strakte
stretched
acrossthebranchesofatreeshedidn’tknow,anditwasherselfandMrs.Arbuthnot—shesawthem—shesawthem.
Andbehindthem,brightinsunshine,wereold
grå
grey
walls—themediaevalcastle—shesawit—theywerethere...
Shetherefore
stirrede
stared
atMrs.Arbuthnotanddidnothearawordshesaid.
AndMrs.Arbuthnot
stirrede
stared
tooatMrs.Wilkins,arrestedbytheexpressiononherface,whichwas
fejet
swept
bytheexcitementofwhatshesaw,andwasasluminousandtremulousunderitaswaterin
sollys
sunlight
whenitisruffledbyagustofwind.
Atthismoment,ifshehadbeenataparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhavebeenlookedatwithinterest.
They
stirrede
stared
ateachother;
Mrs.Arbuthnotsurprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkinswiththeeyesofsomeonewhohashada
åbenbaring
revelation
.
Ofcourse.
Thatwashowitcouldbedone.
Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’taffordit,andwouldn’tbeable,evenifshecouldaffordit,togothereallalone;
butsheandMrs.Arbuthnottogether...
Sheleanedacrossthetable.
“Whydon’twetryandgetit?”
she
hviskede
whispered
.
Mrs.
Arbuthnotbecameevenmorewide-eyed.
“Getit?”
sherepeated.
“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,stillasthoughshewereafraidofbeingoverheard.
“NotjustsithereandsayHowwonderful,andthengohometoHampsteadwithouthavingputoutafinger—gohomejustasusualandseeaboutthedinnerandthefishjustaswe’vebeendoingforyearsandyearsandwillgoondoingforyearsandyears.
Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingtotherootsofherhair,forthesoundofwhatshewassaying,ofwhatwascomingpouringout,
skræmte
frightened
her,andyetshecouldn’tstop,“Iseenoendtoit.
Thereisnoendtoit.
Sothatthereoughttobeabreak,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.
Why,itwouldreallybebeingunselfishtogoawayandbehappyforalittle,becausewewouldcomebacksomuchnicer.
Yousee,afterabiteverybodyneedsaholiday.”
“But—howdoyoumean,getit?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Takeit,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Takeit?”