The Enchanted April | Progressive Translation Books for Slovenian A1 Learners

The Enchanted April | Progressive Translation Books for Slovenian A1 Learners

This progressive translation technique brings multiple benefits to language learners. It lets you choose the difficulty level that matches your abilities, making sure the material is challenging but not too difficult. By focusing on understanding words in context, this method boosts your comprehension skills. While direct translations are slightly hidden to promote guessing from context, you can always check unfamiliar words. This approach makes learning a new language both engaging and accessible, offering the right mix of difficulty and encouragement. Embark on a journey through translated classics and enjoy the process of learning through reading.

Chapter1
ItbeganinaWoman’sClubinLondononaFebruaryafternoon—anuncomfortableclub,
in
and
amiserableafternoon—whenMrs.Wilkins,
ki
who
hadcomedownfromHampsteadtoshop
in
and
hadlunchedatherclub,tookupTheTimesfromthetableinthesmoking-room,
in
and
runningherlistlesseye
dol
down
theAgonyColumnsawthis:.
To
Tiste
Those
whoAppreciateWistariaandSunshine.
Majhen
Small
mediaevalItalianCastleontheshoresoftheMediterraneantobeLetFurnishedforthemonthofApril.
Necessaryservantsremain.
Z,Box1000,TheTimes.
To
That
wasitsconception;
yet,asinthe
primeru
case
ofmanyanother,theconceiverwasunawareofitatthemoment.
SoentirelyunawarewasMrs.WilkinsthatherAprilforthat
leto
year
hadthenandtherebeensettledforherthatshedroppedthenewspaper
z
with
agesturethatwas
tako
both
irritatedandresigned,andwentovertothewindow
in
and
stareddrearilyoutatthedrippingstreet.
Notforherweremediaevalcastles,
celo
even
thosethatarespeciallydescribedassmall.
NotforhertheshoresinApriloftheMediterranean,
in
and
thewistariaandsunshine.
Suchdelightswere
samo
only
fortherich.
Yet
je
the
advertisementhadbeenaddressedto
osebe
persons
whoappreciatethesethings,sothatithadbeen,anyhow,addressed
tudi
too
toher,forshecertainlyappreciated
jih
them
;
morethananybodyknew;
več
more
thanshehadevertold.
Ampak
But
shewaspoor.
In
je
the
wholeworldshepossessedofherveryown
samo
only
ninetypounds,savedfromyeartoyear,putbycarefullypoundbypound,outofherdressallowance.
Shehadscraped
ta
this
sumtogetheratthesuggestionofher
moža
husband
asashieldandrefuge
pred
against
arainyday.
Herdressallowance,givenherbyher
oče
father
,was£100ayear,sothatMrs.Wilkins’sclotheswerewhather
mož
husband
,urginghertosave,calledmodest
in
and
becoming,andheracquaintancetoeachother,
ko
when
theyspokeofheratall,whichwasseldomforshewas
zelo
very
negligible,calledaperfectsight.
Mr.
Wilkins,
je
a
solicitor,encouragedthrift,exceptthatbranchofitwhichgotintohis
hrano
food
.
Hedidnotcallthatthrift,hecalledit
slabo
bad
housekeeping.
Butforthethrift
ki
which
,likemoth,penetratedintoMrs.Wilkins’sclothes
in
and
spoiltthem,hehad
veliko
much
praise.
“Youneverknow,”hesaid,“whenthere
bo
will
bearainyday,
in
and
youmaybeverygladto
najdete
find
youhaveanest-egg.
Indeedwe
oba
both
may.”
LookingoutoftheclubwindowintoShaftesburyAvenue—herswasaneconomicalclub,
vendar
but
convenientforHampstead,whereshelived,
in
and
forShoolbred’s,wheresheshopped—Mrs.
Wilkins,havingstoodthere
nekaj
some
timeverydrearily,hermind’seyeontheMediterraneaninApril,
in
and
thewistaria,andtheenviableopportunitiesoftherich,
medtem ko
while
herbodilyeyewatchedthe
res
really
extremelyhorriblesootyrainfallingsteadilyonthehurryingumbrellas
in
and
splashingomnibuses,suddenlywonderedwhether
morda
perhaps
thiswasnottherainy
dan
day
Mellersh—MellershwasMr.Wilkins—hadsooftenencouragedhertopreparefor,
in
and
whethertogetoutofsuchaclimate
in
and
intothesmallmediaevalcastlewasn’t
morda
perhaps
whatProvidencehadallalongintendedhertodo
z
with
hersavings.
Partofhersavings,of
seveda
course
;
perhapsquiteasmall
del
part
.
Thecastle,beingmediaeval,might
tudi
also
bedilapidated,anddilapidationsweresurelycheap.
Shewouldn’tintheleastminda
nekaj
few
ofthem,becauseyoudidn’tpayfordilapidations
ki
which
werealreadythere;
onthecontrary—byreducingthepriceyouhadto
plačati
pay
theyreallypaidyou.
Toda
But
whatnonsensetothinkofit...
Sheturned
stran
away
fromthewindowwiththesamegestureofmingledirritation
in
and
resignationwithwhichshehadlaiddownTheTimes,
in
and
crossedtheroomtowardsthedoorwiththeintentionofgettinghermackintosh
in
and
umbrellaandfightingher
poti
way
intooneoftheovercrowdedomnibuses
in
and
goingtoShoolbred’sonher
poti
way
homeandbuyingsomesolesforMellersh’sdinner—Mellershwasdifficultwithfish
in
and
likedonlysoles,exceptsalmon—whenshebeheldMrs.Arbuthnot,awomansheknewbysightas
tudi
also
livinginHampsteadandbelongingtotheclub,sittingatthetableinthemiddleofthe
sobo
room
onwhichthenewspapers
in
and
magazineswerekept,absorbed,inherturn,inthefirstpageofTheTimes.
Mrs.
Wilkinshad
nikoli
never
yetspokentoMrs.Arbuthnot,
ki
who
belongedtooneof
je
the
variouschurchsets,and
ki
who
analysed,classified,dividedandregistered
je
the
poor;
whereassheandMellersh,
ko
when
theydidgoout,wentto
je
the
partiesofimpressionistpainters,ofwhominHampsteadtherewere
veliko
many
.
Mellershhadasisterwhohadmarriedoneofthem
in
and
livedupontheHeath,
in
and
becauseofthisallianceMrs.Wilkinswasdrawnintoacirclewhichwashighlyunnaturaltoher,
in
and
shehadlearnedtodreadpictures.
Shehadto
reči
say
thingsaboutthem,andshedidn’tknowwhatto
reči
say
.
Sheusedtomurmur,“Marvellous,”
in
and
feelthatitwasnot
dovolj
enough
.
Butnobodyminded.
Nobodylistened.
NobodytookanynoticeofMrs.Wilkins.
Shewasthekindof
oseba
person
whoisnotnoticedatparties.
Herclothes,infestedbythrift,madeherpracticallyinvisible;
her
obraz
face
wasnon-arresting;
herconversationwasreluctant;
shewasshy.
In
And
ifone’sclothesand
obraz
face
andconversationareallnegligible,thoughtMrs.Wilkins,
ki
who
recognisedherdisabilities,what,atparties,isthereleftofone?
Prav tako
Also
shewasalwayswithWilkins,thatclean-shaven,fine-lookingman,whogave
je
a
party,merelybycomingtoit,
je
a
greatair.
Wilkinswas
zelo
very
respectable.
Hewasknowntobehighlythoughtofbyhisseniorpartners.
Hissister’scircleadmired
ga
him
.
Hepronouncedadequatelyintelligentjudgmentsonart
in
and
artists.
Hewaspithy;
hewasprudent;
he
nikoli
never
saidawordtoomuch,nor,ontheother
strani
hand
,didheeversayaword
preveč
too
little.
Heproducedtheimpressionofkeepingcopiesof
vsega
everything
hesaid;
andhewassoobviouslyreliablethatitoftenhappenedthatpeoplewhomethimat
teh
these
partiesbecamediscontentedwiththeirownsolicitors,
in
and
afteraperiodofrestlessnessextricatedthemselves
in
and
wenttoWilkins.
NaturallyMrs.Wilkinswasblottedout.
“She,”saidhis
sestra
sister
,withsomethingherselfof
je
the
judicial,thedigested,and
je
the
finalinhermanner,“should
ostati
stay
athome.”
ButWilkinscouldnotleavehis
žene
wife
athome.
Hewasafamilysolicitor,
in
and
allsuchhavewives
in
and
showthem.
Withhisinthe
tednom
week
hewenttoparties,and
z
with
hisonSundayshewenttochurch.
Beingstillfairlyyoung—hewasthirty-nine—andambitiousofoldladies,ofwhomhehadnotyetacquiredinhispracticeasufficientnumber,hecouldnotaffordtomisschurch,
in
and
itwastherethatMrs.Wilkinsbecamefamiliar,
čeprav
though
neverthroughwords,withMrs.Arbuthnot.
Shesawhermarshalling
je
the
childrenofthepoorintopews.
Shewouldcomeinat
je
the
headoftheprocessionfrom
je
the
SundaySchoolexactlyfiveminutes
pred
before
thechoir,andgetherboys
in
and
girlsneatlyfittedintotheirallottedseats,
in
and
downontheirlittlekneesintheirpreliminaryprayer,
in
and
upagainontheirfeetjust
kot
as
,totheswellingorgan,
je
the
vestrydooropened,and
je
the
choirandclergy,big
z
with
thelitaniesandcommandmentstheywerepresentlytorollout,emerged.
Shehad
je
a
sadface,yetshewasevidentlyefficient.
Je
The
combinationusedtomakeMrs.Wilkinswonder,forshehadbeentoldbyMellersh,ondays
ko
when
shehadonlybeenabletogetplaice,that
če
if
onewereefficientonewouldn’tbedepressed,
in
and
thatifonedoesone’s
delo
job
wellonebecomesautomaticallybright
in
and
brisk.
AboutMrs.Arbuthnot
ni
there
wasnothingbrightandbrisk,
čeprav
though
muchinherway
z
with
theSundaySchoolchildren
ki
that
wasautomatic;
butwhenMrs.Wilkins,turningfrom
je
the
window,caughtsightofherin
je
the
clubshewasnotbeingautomaticatall,
toda
but
waslookingfixedlyat
en
one
portionofthefirstpageof
Je
The
Times,holdingthepaper
povsem
quite
still,hereyesnotmoving.
Shewas
samo
just
staring;
andherface,asusual,wasthe
obraz
face
ofapatientanddisappointedMadonna.
Obeyinganimpulseshewonderedateven
medtem ko
while
obeyingit,Mrs.Wilkins,theshy
in
and
thereluctant,insteadofproceedingasshehadintendedtothecloakroom
in
and
fromthencetoSchoolbred’sinsearchofMellersh’sfish,stoppedatthetable
in
and
satdownexactlyoppositeMrs.Arbuthnot,towhomshehad
nikoli
never
yetspokeninherlife.
Itwas
ena
one
ofthoselong,narrowrefectorytables,sothattheywere
precej
quite
closetoeachother.
Mrs.
Arbuthnot,however,didnotlook
navzgor
up
.
Shecontinuedtogaze,
z
with
eyesthatseemedtobedreaming,atonespot
samo
only
ofTheTimes.
Mrs.
Wilkinswatchedher
je
a
minute,tryingtoscrewupcouragetospeakto
njo
her
.
Shewantedtoaskherifshehadseen
je
the
advertisement.
Shedidnotknow
zakaj
why
shewantedtoaskher
to
this
,butshewantedto.
Kako
How
stupidnottobeabletospeakto
njo
her
.
Shelookedsokind.
Shelookedsounhappy.
Zakaj
Why
couldn’ttwounhappypeoplerefresheachotherontheir
poti
way
throughthisdustybusinessof
življenje
life
byalittletalk—real,naturaltalk,aboutwhattheyfelt,whattheywouldhaveliked,whattheystilltriedtohope?
In
And
shecouldnothelpthinking
da
that
Mrs.Arbuthnot,too,wasreading
da
that
verysameadvertisement.
Hereyeswereonthevery
delu
part
ofthepaper.
Was
ona
she
,too,picturingwhatitwouldbelike—thecolour,
je
the
fragrance,thelight,thesoftlappingof
je
the
seaamonglittlehotrocks?
Colour,fragrance,light,sea;
insteadofShaftesburyAvenue,
in
and
thewetomnibuses,andthefishdepartmentatShoolbred’s,
in
and
theTubetoHampstead,
in
and
dinner,andto-morrowthe
isto
same
andthedayafterthe
isto
same
andalwaysthesame...
SuddenlyMrs.Wilkinsfoundherselfleaningacross
je
the
table.
“Areyoureading
o
about
themediaevalcastleandthewistaria?”
sheheardherselfasking.
NaturallyMrs.Arbuthnotwassurprised;
toda
but
shewasnothalfsomuchsurprisedasMrs.Wilkinswasatherselfforasking.
Mrs.
Arbuthnothadnot
še
yet
toherknowledgeseteyesontheshabby,lank,loosely-put-togetherfiguresittingoppositeher,
z
with
itssmallfreckledface
in
and
biggreyeyesalmostdisappearing
pod
under
asmashed-downwet-weatherhat,
in
and
shegazedathera
trenutek
moment
withoutanswering.
Shewasreading
o
about
themediaevalcastleand
je
the
wistaria,orratherhadread
o
about
ittenminutesbefore,
in
and
sincethenhadbeenlostindreams—of
svetlobe
light
,ofcolour,offragrance,of
je
the
softlappingoftheseaamonglittlehotrocks...
“Whydoyouaskmethat?”
shesaidinhergravevoice,forhertrainingof
in
and
bythepoorhadmadehergrave
in
and
patient.
Mrs.
Wilkinsflushed
in
and
lookedexcessivelyshyandfrightened.
“Oh,
samo
only
becauseIsawit
tudi
too
,andIthoughtperhaps—Ithoughtsomehow—”
shestammered.
WhereuponMrs.Arbuthnot,hermindbeingusedtogetting
ljudi
people
intolistsanddivisions,fromhabitconsidered,asshegazedthoughtfullyatMrs.Wilkins,
pod
under
whatheading,supposingshehadtoclassifyher,shecould
najbolj
most
properlybeput.
“AndIknowyoubysight,”wentonMrs.Wilkins,
ki
who
,likealltheshy,
ko
once
shewasstartedplunged
na
on
,frighteningherselftomore
in
and
morespeechbythesheersoundofwhatshehadsaidlastinherears.
“EverySunday—Iseeyou
vsako
every
Sundayinchurch—”.
“Inchurch?”
echoedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Andthisseemssuchawonderfulthing—thisadvertisement
o
about
thewistaria—and—”.
Mrs.
Wilkins,
ki
who
musthavebeenat
vsaj
least
thirty,brokeoffandwriggledinherchair
z
with
themovementofanawkward
in
and
embarrassedschoolgirl.
“Itseemssowonderful,”shewentoninakindofburst,“and—itissuchamiserable
dan
day
...”
AndthenshesatlookingatMrs.Arbuthnot
z
with
theeyesofanimprisoned
psa
dog
.
“Thispoorthing,”thoughtMrs.Arbuthnot,whose
življenje
life
wasspentinhelping
in
and
alleviating,“needsadvice.”
Sheaccordinglypreparedherselfpatientlytogiveit.
“Ifyouseemeinchurch,”shesaid,kindly
in
and
attentively,“IsupposeyouliveinHampsteadtoo?”
“Ohyes,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
In
And
sherepeated,herheadonitslongthinneckdroopinga
malo
little
asiftherecollectionofHampsteadbowedher,“Ohyes.”
“Where?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot,
ki
who
,whenadvicewasneeded,naturally
najprej
first
proceededtocollectthefacts.
Toda
But
Mrs.Wilkins,layingher
roko
hand
softlyandcaressinglyon
je
the
partofTheTimes
kjer
where
theadvertisementwas,asthough
je
the
mereprintedwordsofitwereprecious,
samo
only
said,“Perhapsthat’swhythisseemssowonderful.”
“No—I
mislim
think
that’swonderfulanyhow,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,forgettingfacts
in
and
faintlysighing.
“Thenyouwerereadingit?”
“Yes,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,hereyesgoingdreamy
spet
again
.
“Wouldn’titbewonderful?”
murmuredMrs.Wilkins.
“Wonderful,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot.
Her
obraz
face
,whichhadlitup,fadedintopatience
spet
again
.
“Verywonderful,”shesaid.
“Butit’s
ni
no
usewastingone’stimethinkingof
takih
such
things.”
“Oh,butitis,”wasMrs.Wilkins’squick,surprisingreply;
surprising
ker
because
itwassomuchunlike
je
the
restofher—thecharacterlesscoat
in
and
skirt,thecrumpledhat,
je
the
undecidedwispofhairstragglingout.
“And
samo
just
theconsideringofthemisworthwhileinitself—sucha
sprememba
change
fromHampstead—andsometimesIbelieve—I
res
really
dobelieve—ifoneconsidershard
dovolj
enough
onegetsthings.”
Mrs.
Arbuthnotobservedherpatiently.
Inwhatcategorywouldshe,supposingshehadto,puther?
“Perhaps,”shesaid,leaningforward
je
a
little,“youwilltellmeyour
ime
name
.
Ifwearetobefriends”—shesmiledhergravesmile—“asI
upam
hope
weare,wehad
bolje
better
beginatthebeginning.”
“Ohyes—howkindofyou.
I’mMrs.Wilkins,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Idon’texpect,”sheadded,flushing,asMrs.Arbuthnotsaidnothing,“thatitconveysanythingtoyou.
Včasih
Sometimes
it—itdoesn’tseemtoconvey
ničesar
anything
tomeeither.
But”—shelookedround
z
with
amovementofseekinghelp—“IamMrs.Wilkins.”
Shedidnot
všeč
like
hername.
Itwasamean,small
ime
name
,withakindoffacetioustwist,shethought,
o
about
itsendliketheupwardcurveofapugdog’stail.
Tam
There
itwas,however.
Therewasnodoing
ničesar
anything
withit.
Wilkinsshewas
in
and
Wilkinsshewouldremain;
in
and
thoughherhusbandencouragedhertogiveitonalloccasionsasMrs.Mellersh-Wilkinsshe
le
only
didthatwhenhewaswithinearshot,forshethoughtMellershmadeWilkinsworse,emphasisingitinthewayChatsworthonthegate-postsofavillaemphasisesthevilla.
Ko
When
firsthesuggestedshe
naj
should
addMellershshehadobjectedfortheabovereason,
in
and
afterapause—Mellershwas
veliko
much
tooprudenttospeakexcept
po
after
apause,duringwhichpresumablyhewastakinga
skrbno
careful
mentalcopyofhiscomingobservation—hesaid,
veliko
much
displeased,“ButIamnotavilla,”
in
and
lookedatherashelookswhohopes,forperhapsthehundredthtime,thathemaynothave
poročil
married
afool.
Ofcoursehewasnotavilla,Mrs.Wilkinsassured
ga
him
;
shehadneversupposedhewas;
shehadnotdreamedofmeaning...
shewasonlyjustthinking...
The
bolj
more
sheexplainedthemoreearnestbecameMellersh’s
upanje
hope
,familiartohimbythistime,forhehadthenbeena
mož
husband
fortwoyears,thathemightnotbyanychancehave
poročil
married
afool;
andtheyhadaprolongedquarrel,
če
if
thatcanbecalledaquarrelwhichisconducted
z
with
dignifiedsilenceonone
strani
side
andearnestapologyontheother,astowhetherornoMrs.WilkinshadintendedtosuggestthatMr.Wilkinswasavilla.
“Ibelieve,”shehadthought
ko
when
itwasatlastover—ittook
je
a
longwhile—“thatanybodywouldquarrel
o
about
anythingwhenthey’venotleftoffbeing
skupaj
together
forasingledayfor
dveh
two
wholeyears.
Whatwe
oba
both
needisaholiday.”
“Myhusband,”wentonMrs.WilkinstoMrs.Arbuthnot,tryingtothrowsomelightonherself,“isasolicitor.
He—”
Shecast
o
about
forsomethingshecouldsayelucidatoryofMellersh,
in
and
found:
“He’sveryhandsome.”
“Well,”saidMrs.Arbuthnotkindly,“that
mora
must
beagreatpleasuretoyou.”
“Why?”
askedMrs.Wilkins.
“Because,”saidMrs.Arbuthnot,a
malo
little
takenaback,forconstantintercourse
z
with
thepoorhadaccustomedhertohaveherpronouncementsaccepted
brez
without
question,“becausebeauty—handsomeness—isagift
kot
like
anyother,andifitisproperlyused—”.
Shetrailedoffintosilence.
Mrs.Wilkins’sgreatgreyeyeswerefixedonher,
in
and
itseemedsuddenlytoMrs.Arbuthnotthat
morda
perhaps
shewasbecomingcrystallisedintoahabitofexposition,
in
and
ofexpositionafterthemannerofnursemaids,throughhavinganaudiencethatcouldn’tbutagree,thatwouldbeafraid,
če
if
itwished,tointerrupt,thatdidn’tknow,thatwas,in
resnici
fact
,athermercy.
ButMrs.Wilkinswasnotlistening;
forjustthen,absurdasitseemed,apicturehadflashedacrossherbrain,
in
and
thereweretwofiguresinitsitting
skupaj
together
underagreattrailingwistariathatstretchedacrossthebranchesofatreeshedidn’tknow,
in
and
itwasherselfandMrs.Arbuthnot—shesawthem—shesawthem.
In
And
behindthem,brightinsunshine,were
stari
old
greywalls—themediaevalcastle—shesawit—theywere
tam
there
...
ShethereforestaredatMrs.Arbuthnot
in
and
didnothearawordshesaid.
In
And
Mrs.ArbuthnotstaredtooatMrs.Wilkins,arrestedbytheexpressiononherface,whichwassweptbytheexcitementofwhatshesaw,
in
and
wasasluminousandtremulous
pod
under
itaswaterinsunlight
ko
when
itisruffledbyagustofwind.
At
tem
this
moment,ifshehadbeenataparty,Mrs.Wilkinswouldhavebeenlookedat
z
with
interest.
Theystaredateachother;
Mrs.Arbuthnotsurprised,inquiringly,Mrs.Wilkins
z
with
theeyesofsomeone
ki
who
hashadarevelation.
Of
seveda
course
.
Thatwashowitcouldbedone.
Sheherself,shebyherself,couldn’taffordit,
in
and
wouldn’tbeable,even
če
if
shecouldaffordit,to
iti
go
thereallalone;
butshe
in
and
Mrs.Arbuthnottogether...
Sheleanedacross
je
the
table.
“Whydon’twetry
in
and
getit?”
shewhispered.
Mrs.
Arbuthnotbecame
še
even
morewide-eyed.
“Getit?”
sherepeated.
“Yes,”saidMrs.Wilkins,stillasthoughshewere
boji
afraid
ofbeingoverheard.
“Not
samo
just
sithereandsay
Kako
How
wonderful,andthengo
domov
home
toHampsteadwithouthavingputoutafinger—go
domov
home
justasusualandseeaboutthedinner
in
and
thefishjustaswe’vebeendoingforyears
in
and
yearsandwillgoondoingforyears
in
and
years.
Infact,”saidMrs.Wilkins,flushingto
je
the
rootsofherhair,for
je
the
soundofwhatshewassaying,ofwhatwascomingpouringout,frightenedher,and
vendar
yet
shecouldn’tstop,“Iseeno
konca
end
toit.
Thereisno
konec
end
toit.
Sothatthereoughttobea
odmor
break
,thereoughttobeintervals—ineverybody’sinterests.
Why,itwould
res
really
bebeingunselfishtogo
stran
away
andbehappyfora
malo
little
,becausewewouldcomebackso
veliko
much
nicer.
Yousee,afterabit
vsi
everybody
needsaholiday.”
“But—howdoyoumean,getit?”
askedMrs.Arbuthnot.
“Takeit,”saidMrs.Wilkins.
“Takeit?”